driftfleet | (no subject)

Of course, but surely you knew that.

With my wealth of knowledge and thousands of good relationships?

[ That is a sobering thought. His smile doesn't leave, but it softens at the edges. Erik and Charles' relationship had been . . . tumultuous at best. They had died for each other as much as they have hurt each other. Even though it looks perfect on the outside at times . . . they both knew better. ]

Knowledge rarely helps. Experience doesn't either. I think the best thing you need when you go into a relationship is the desire to make it work.

Well, I definitely have that.

[ She had always wanted it with Hank, even when they were young and silly, and now she wants to make this work for both of them - because they're happy, and they're in love, and they want to be with each other. It's not exactly easy, but they're doing it.

Settling down against Charles again, she wraps her arms around him. ]

It's better than when we first met. We've grown up since then.

[ He nods quietly. He rubs her arms, fingers gliding over scales and skin without a care. Charles has always been tactile in nature, an easy way to display affection. Most of those gestures have been strangled by his new way of life and pitfalls. ]

We all have.

[ It's nice, she thinks, to be able to hug Charles and not worry about what she looks like; she leans against him and closes her eyes, basking in the touch. This is what they should've always had, but it hadn't worked out like that - but they can make it better now. ]

Want to hear something that sucks?

[ Charles hums softly. ]

By all means.

Every single newspaper in the world has my face on it.

[ Her nose wrinkles, and she huffs against him a little more. ]

And I can't even sue them.

What a terrible fate.

[ But he can see how that would be frustrating. ]

You've changed the world. And the world has seen you - and mutantkind with clearer eyes than any of us expected. I doubt things will be perfect - but it'll be better.

Better for them, which is what's important.

[ She thinks, considering it for a moment. ]

I just... I never wanted to change the world. I just wanted to stop the killing.

Better for us too.

[ A world where Erik's plan prevails . . . he's seen the end of it. He'd say that it's important to live in a world together - they both have to share it, but Charles isn't sure she'd believe him. ]

Don't think you think those go hand in hand?

Stopping one man murdering mutants shouldn't - I mean, of course, but -

[ She makes a soft, irritated noise. ]

It's not that simple.

Maybe not. But perhaps acts of kindness can speak louder than acts of violence.

[ Charles doesn't believe it's that simple, but the Sentinels were gone. Buried. A future that'll never see the light. That doesn't mean other futures, terrible ones couldn't exist.

But now he knows - for all Erik's proof that the humans will turn - his way doesn't work. ]

Acts of kindness.

[ It's not going to be that easy, she thinks, but at least it gives her a good idea. Maybe there is something she can do in the future, and it can be good rather than bad. She can fight for her people without hurting others - and that's something that settles inside of her.

Tilting her head back up to him, she swallows. ]

Kill them with kindness, right?

I don't know if that's your calling.

[ He has a hard time picturing that. ] I think it's more that - we have options available to us. And we shouldn't dismiss them. Just like I've learned to be . . . tougher at times.

I can be kind.

[ With - difficulty, okay, but she could try. ]

I'll have to see what things are like when we go home. There's no point making plans for a completely unknown situation.

I don't doubt it.

[ He truly doesn't. It showed in perfect clarity in Washington. ]

Precisely. It'll be a few years before we really move on from what happened.

That sounds like forever.

[ Still, at least she's here, cuddled up to Charles, and she makes a soft noise. ]

But it won't be, not with how we're ageing.