Alone
an X-Men story
by Chate Noire
The hall was cold and silent. High walls of stone rose to its sides and distant doors sealed both ends. It radiated...solitude.
A drop of water fell on the stone floor, echoing quietly in the emptiness. Another followed, and then another. From up high, where the ceiling opened into a wide round skylight, a shadow drifted down, shedding random drops of water onto the nearing ground. Its less than graceful descent ended with a soggy landing, and heavy boots walked slowly towards one end of the hall.
The door opened, and a hunched figure silouhetted against the light from the hall. Tired footsteps walked down carpet-covered stairs, a torn cape was thrown on a nearby table, and Magneto, his white hair wet and his piercing eyes half-shut, sank heavily into a big armchair. He sighed and closed his eyes, reanacting the fight in his mind. Erik Magnus Lehnsherr was not one to lose battles; he either triumphed or knew precisely when to leave so that even his retreat held a certain kind of victory. But not half an hour ago he was on his hand and knees, soaked and disoriented, years of training and an insurmountable control of metal proven to be...just not enough. His life could have been taken so easily with the slash of an adamantium- clad claw or the blast of optic rays had Charles but given the order; but the old fool would never do such a thing.
Erik smiled wearily, thinking of his old friend. After all these years, Charles still believed there was good inside of him, that he would abandon his ways and join the formidable X-Men in their holy quest for the well being of mutants and mankind.
A shudder interrupted Magneto's thoughts, and he returned to the cold here and now of his dark chambers. Bloody Ororo and her spontaneous rainstorms, he muttered wordlessly as he rose and approached the dead fireplace. Messing about with the wood and matches, he momentarily longed for Storm's powers; a slight tempering with the temperature would be bliss right now. Magneto finally managed to light a small fire, and rose slowly, his eyes fixed upon the flame. The biting contraditction between its soothing warmth and his own frozen skin surprised him with its intensity, as a shudder went all the way through his back and ended up sharply in his nose, exploding in a sudden "heh'UHSshuh!"
Magento touched a purple gloved knuckle to his nose, trying with a soft rub to rid it of any more such explosions. A distant scratch in his throat, however, assured him it was hardly the last of it, and suddenly he longed far more for powers like Wolverine's, whose healing factor must prevent even the thought of falling ill. Was it Storm's doing, or was his body already fighting this annoyance for some time? That might explain an unusual defeat in another fight today, Magento thought, allowing that notion, be it a mere excuse or true reason, lift his spirits somewhat. Before he could fully enjoy it, though, a second uncontrolled tickle spread through his nose and he shut his eyes for a body-bending "HUhursshhuh!". Giving his nose a more thorough rub, he walked away from the fire and towards his chair, ridding himself of a wet shirt that stuck to his chiseled back and grabbing a thick woolen blanket on the way.
"huh...h'ih-h'ih-HUURSHhhuuh! heh'UHSSshhoo!"
The sneezes reverberated in the big room, dying down a moment later. Magento leaned back, wrapping the blanket tightly around himself, and watched the dancing of the flames.
It was no illness that beat him today. It was the X-Men, with technique and strategy and practice and, clearly, firm leadership. With Charles as their mentor, they just might be able to fulfill their pointless dream. Magneto sighed, and a tired smile spread slowly on his face. In a different world, in a different time...they might have been his own. His X-Men.
Perhaps he too would form his own team of talents, not only to match Xavier's, but to bring his own vision into being. Perhaps, one day. But for now, he thought as he slowly drifted to sleep, it was good to be alone.
Spoilers: Hardly. I don't even think it's canon with X-Men history, since /there's so many of them/.
All characters belong to Marvel Comics.
Response to Bunny #89: Evil character goes to cozy place to recover.