though it hurts to breathe

[athru]

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. ]

Comments

[axiomed]

[ He runs a hand through her hair unconsciously, leaning on old habits. ]

It'll take a little work, but it'll get there.

[athru]

Is there anything I can do to help?

[ She tilts her head up, leaning into the touch, closing her eyes. ]

Any techniques or something we can do together?

[axiomed]

[ He laughs, eyes crinkling in the dim light of his room. ]

You make it sound rather mystical. Honestly, I never figured out how I learned control or shielding. I just - had to. The alternative was . . . well, we know what the alternative would be.

[athru]

I'm trying out how it feels to be a caring professor.

[ She shifts, leaning to rest her head on his shoulder gently. ]

I don't know how it works, obviously. I just know how mine works - and I couldn't explain how I do it just like you can't explain your telepathy. I just meant... Something like anchoring yourself, or focussing, or - I don't know. I'm trying to be helpful, can you tell?

[axiomed]

I can tell. I know, Raven. I just don't have the answers.

[ Quietly. ] This has never happened before. No one's ever come this close.

[ But his voice becomes more solid, more firm. ] But I'm not broken. Give it some time.

[athru]

I don't think you're broken.

[ Moving, she lifts her hand, letting it rest against his cheek gently. She had meant to come and just... Check, but her heart is in her throat and she leans close. ]

I think time is something we're going to end up with too much of.

[axiomed]

[ He frowns, perplexed. ]

How so?

[athru]

We're stuck here again, aren't we? We've got as much time as we could ask for to do - practically anything.

[axiomed]

[ He's quiet for a while. ]

That's frightening in its own right . . . but time well spent has a way of paying off.

[athru]

You've been teaching too long. Everything you say sounds like a lesson.

[axiomed]

[ He huffs. ]

You can't blame me for that.

[athru]

Did I say it was a bad thing?

[axiomed]

You were certainly leading up to calling me old fart. Don't deny it.

[athru]

I can't call you an old fart all the time. It'll lose it's edge.

[axiomed]

It hasn't in the last couple of years.

[athru]

Don't be grumpy. You like it when I tease you.

[axiomed]

I don't recall admitting that.

[athru]

You don't need to admit it. A sister knows.

[axiomed]

Well.

[ He brushes a lock of her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. ] Far be it for me to dispute the prowess of a sister.

[athru]

There you go.

[ Raven settles, tilting her head, because she's always liked it when she could settle beside Charles and he would touch her or hold her. It made it like the rest of the world had disappeared, and maybe she needs that, selfishly, right now. ]

You can't argue with me.

[axiomed]

I wasn't trying to . . . much.

[athru]

Much. [ She huffs, cuddling herself against him for a moment. She's conscious of not smothering him, but it's been years and years since they were this close; she can't help herself. ] You love 'debating' with me.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles and finds himself relaxing despite himself. ]

One of the many things I do love about you, dear.

[athru]

Is there a list?

[ Because she would definitely listen, if there was a list. ]

[axiomed]

An extensively long list.