driftfleet | though it hurts to breathe

Who: Raven, Hank, Charles and Erik
Broadcast: No
Action: On the Heron
When: Now onwards!

[ It had taken her a little while to calm down with Hank at her side, long enough that she's practically itching to make her way over to the Heron as soon as she can, device in her hand - the temptation to text ahead, to make sure they're really there, that they're okay, is almost a little too daunting and there's not much Raven can do other than force herself to stop. She's stronger than this, true, but coming out of the other side of something as horrendous as Apocalypse and standing tall, waking up on the Fleet, trying to figure out if she can handle it all again - it's too much.

The only thoughts in her mind are that she needs to find Charles, she needs to find Erik, and she needs to make sure they're alive, that they're safe, that they're here. This is going to be impossibly difficult for all four of them, Hank at her side, but they could work through it. They beat an all powerful mutant 'God', they came together as a family and they worked, hard, to make sure they all came out alive the other side.

What was the Fleet after all that?

It doesn't take her long to break away from Hank into a practical run as she reaches the Heron, a flash as she makes her way down the hall to find the other two mutants. Erik is important in her mind, of course, but her first instinct is to call out for Charles, standing outside the door and pressing her fingers against it, afraid for a moment that he won't answer, that he won't be there. The fear grips her, and her hands shake, but she does it anyway, knocking and calling for her brother.

After that, later... Well, she has to take time to calm down. Once she's sure Charles is safe, that Erik is safe, she can actually move to relax herself, the weight on her shoulders fading away. It takes time, but it happens, slowly... But she doesn't leave. She doesn't feel like she can leave either of them, and she wonders how they're going to handle that. ]

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[ Finally - at some point, Raven untangles herself from Charles and goes to check on Erik that Charles can finally look at Hank, his expression carefully smoothing over the creases. ]

Well, if it isn't Professor Hank.

[he hasn't laughed in weeks and this is what breaks that. You son of a bitch, right into bickering they go]

Shut up, professor. [and he leans down to hug him tightly]

[ He chuckles, patting Hank's back gently. ]

How are you holding up?

[he doesn't bother standing back up, simply kneeling where he is to better speak to Charles.

He gives him a long look before he shrugs, a little wry]

I'm managing. How are you holding up?

I'm all right. Really.

[ He's not lying. There's certainly a fair bit of uncertainty in this new situation they have found themselves in. ]

[of course he's going to worry anyway, but that eases it some. He lets out a breath and sits back on his heels]

You know, if you'd let me shave your head years ago, this wouldn't have happened.

[he's going to joke, because Charles is all right and he believes that, and he doesn't know what else to talk about that won't make things less all right.

And because this a running twenty year joke he will never let die]

Hank, that is the definition of something happening, just at a different point of time.

[ Bald jokes. He can handle bald jokes. ]

[it's the only one he's going to make, at least. He huffs, but even that falls a little flat]

I'm just saying. It's not a bad look. [a pause, and he frowns] I think I told you that already.

I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that you've been picturing me without hair.

[deadpanned] Every time you used Cerebro.

Frankly, that's disturbing.

I know, that's why it's a joke.

It's a terrible joke. I'm actually embarrassed for you.

You're the one who said I pictured it. Don't be rude, Charles.

I think I'm allowed.

You've never been allowed, but that's never stopped you. I think it's gotten worse in your old age.

[ He chuckles. ]

I suppose a lot of things have.

They have. [bluntly] I'll make you a list when my headache goes away.

[but he goes quiet for a moment, and it's easy enough to joke around and fall into bickering with one another, but - he glances behind him at the door, before he looks back to Charles. One of his hands moves to cover his on the armrest]

You're really alright? [it isn't disbelief; it's confirming it once again, for the sake of his own sanity]

[ Charles doesn't need to be a telepath to know what Hank was thinking about. ]

I'm really all right. I imagine there will be times when I'm quite not, but right now . . . I am.

[there's a lot of things he's thinking, but . . . he nods, and pats Charles' hand]

When you're not - you know where to find me. [an offer, always open. Has been for years]

I know.

[ He exhales. ] But now's not the time for that.

No, it's not. [he understands. They were a lot alike, after all.

. . . ]

I'm just reminding you. Old age and all.

I do need the reminder.

[ But he doesn't know what else to say. Charles feels like he's reaching his limits. ]

Mmm.

[he finally pushes to his feet with a sigh, running a hand through his hair] Do you want - need some time to yourself? I know Raven wants to stay, but - I can always ask her to come with me when I go speak to Winter.

[because that's what you do, politely inform the captain you're invading his ship for a few days]

[ There was no possible way Charles could refuse Raven. Not right now. ]

No, it's all right. I can manage.

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