[#47] To Rest At Last (X-Men)

[queenkatyastar]

Theme Prompt: #47: Rebuilding
Title: To Rest At Last
Fandom: X-Men
Rating/Warnings: PG/K+, Future Fic
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 1,000
Summary: Charles is bothered by his school being destroyed again.









This very same catastrophe has happened time and again over the years he was alive and since he's been dead. Yet, somehow, the pain still feels fresh every time, even now when he is no longer responsible for the lives meant to be sheltered by this school and home. He no longer has any responsibilities here. Even his most loyal students do not realize he still walks among them. It still hurts to see the school in shambles yet again.

"You look troubled, Charles."

"Of course I'm troubled, Erik."

"You should leave this dimension. These lives and these pains are no longer yours by which to be influenced."

Charles cocks a single, cool eyebrow at his lover. "So says the man who once ran to outer space and founded his own asteroid in his attempts to escape prejudice."

"Prejudice, like simple minds, will never be escaped. No matter how long we lived, and how long the Earth still spins without us, neither we nor those still living will ever be able to escape such horrid, simple minds as those who did this."

"Then my dream, and all our work, is for naught."

"No. Never say, or think, that, beloved. Look around you. Look at those suffering even now to rebuild. The children of your precious X-Men, Jubilee who sadly will be the last X-Man as predicted now that she is a Vampire -- "

"Vampires can be killed."

Erik continued as though he'd not heard him. "Ororo whose hair would be white now regardless, Rogue . . . " He sighed suddenly. "She looks beautiful even with wrinkled skin."

Charles piqued another eyebrow at him. "Should I be jealous?" he asked.

"Would it do any good? If you thought I had interest in your old students, would it finally convince you to leave them and come home with me?"

Charles turned and continued walking, his hands clasped together behind his back. "This is home," he said after a minute.

"With as many places as the X-Men have been -- "

"But we've always come home to Salem Center," Charles reminded him. "We may have journeyed through Australia, Muir Isle, California, the Savage Land, Antarctica, even space, but we always eventually came home here. That's why we still run into Logan so often at Harry's bar."

Erik sniffed disdainfully. "That, and because he's still trying to drink himself to death even though he's already dead."

Charles laughed before he could stop himself. "The point remains," he said, drawing serious once more, "we always came home here. Westchester is our home."

"But you've done all you can," Erik's tone turned gentle as he continued to try to reassure him. "You've cared for younger mutants for well over a hundred years now. Give it up, Charles. It's time to rest."

"I'll remind you of that the next time there's an encampment."

"That's different."

"No, Erik, it's not. We may be gone from our people, but our hearts remain. That is why our spirits are still bound to this place."

"Professor?"

Both Charles and Erik whipped around in surprise. Jubilee stood before them, her red eyes narrowed into diagonal slits. "Maybe . . . " She shrugged. "I hate to say it, but maybe Magneto's right? You spent your whole life caring for our people and trying to make this world a better place. In some ways, it is, but . . . " She shook her dark head. "Forgive the language, but shit still happens. Hatred still happens. It always will with humans, and other species too. You shouldn't have to spend your afterlife worrying about the future of mutantkind, or humankind; you did way more than enough when you were alive. It's time to -- well, not live 'cause you're dead obviously, but exist for yourself." Her eyes darted back and forth between the two men. "Even if that means building an afterlife with him. Although if you hurt him," she added, glowering at Magneto, "I swear I'll find a way to kick ghost ass."

Both men were still staring in shock at the Vampire. "What? Don't think I can't do it," she warned him. "I totally can. Wolvy taught me everything he knew," she boasted, "and I've learned more since. I can take you, ghost or not."

"I just . . . We just," Charles corrected, "did not know you could see us."

"Vamp-ire," Jubilee indicated, overly stressing each syllable. "I can see the dead, the living, and everything in between." Shaking her head, she added, "Rather I want to or not." She looked with compassion and great concern at her former teacher. "Look, I know it sucks that the school got destroyed yet again, but it happens. We'll rebuild. We always do, always have, and always will. But we've got this. You taught us well, and we're teaching the younguns what you taught us. Your lessons, your mission, your dream will continue. But you deserve to rest. You deserve to be happy. You always did."

Charles' eyes slowly trailed to Magneto's handsome face and outstretched hand. He was clearly caught offguard and contemplating all the possibilities so clearly laid before him.

"Yeah," Jubie insisted, "even if it means being with that nut. We'll be fine, and we'll see each other again one day. Please rest. Please be happy. You know, that's really what we all wanted for you."

"Is it?" Charles asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah!" She shrugged. "Granted, most of 'em didn't know that meant you being with old Helmet Head there."

"And you did?" Charles questioned, her word choice not lost on him.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Kinda knew what Wolvy's biggest problem was too. His story to tell, not mine, but you two are more similar than you know."

Charles smiled, his old, blue eyes twinkling. If the girl only knew!

"So how 'bout it? Will you finally be happy for your students, your family?"

"Erik -- "

"I am not the one still running, Charles."

Beaming, Charles took Erik's hand and squeezed it. "Thank you, Jubilation."

"'Bout time. Geez. Tell Wolvy I said 'hi'." She raced indoors while the two old ghosts walked away together into the rising sun.

The End