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▎ BEAUTIFUL CRIME ▎
»»-----　act three. change of tides
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE ━━
all comes crashing down

ᵒ .༄ ࿐ ࿔* 🌊♟💦
♯ ❝WE MUST FIND HIM FIRST! ❞ 
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IT FELT LIKE STEPPING INSIDE A MEMORY. THE CORRIDORS WERE THE SAME, THE ART IN ELEGANT FRAMES STILL ON THE WALL, BUT THE XAVIER MANSION WAS FAR MORE LIVELY than Maggie had remembered it. There was constant laughter that rung through the halls, students mingling and classes being taught. Even Lena looked enthralled by the sights around her, from the peculiar children displaying their powers to the tall stature of Hank, coming their way.

He wore a kind smile upon noticing them, lips spreading in a dazzling smile that she returned easily despite their reason for being here. The redhead in her arms was staring but luckily Hank did not seem to mind. "I'm glad you could come Maggie." He greeted them sincerely.

"The world was depending on it...again." She shrugged, albeit nervously. "It seems we never meet for a nice lunch or something."

He chuckled before letting his eyes fall on the little girl in her arms, confusion flashed in his bright blue eyes, and he looked almost hesitantly at her. Getting the unspoken question she grinned up at the tall mutant. "This is Lena. She's my kid-well adopted, but you know."

"It is very nice to meet you Lena." Hank ducked his head down to meet her eye level. The young girl giggled happily, outstretching her palm to the man and Hank watched with awe as a small flower sprouted from her skin. "Nice to meet you too."

"It's good to see you Hank." Henry stepped up next to Maggie. "You look erh... good?"

Laughter rumbled through Hank's chest as he regarded the human man in front of him. "It is good to see you too Henry. But I have to say I did not expect to see you here."

"I tried to tell him to stay home." Maggie cut in, as shifted the little girl in her arms. "it is very dangerous." She told pointedly.

"And I already told you, I'm not letting you face imminent death on your own."

"She's going to stay here with you guys." Maggie ignored Henry's words and instead turned to speak to Hank again.

"We'll be happy to have her." Hanks replied before motioning the group to follow him. "Let's not keep Charles waiting. He get's grumpy when people are late."

Maggie laughed, shaking her head before following after the blue mutant in a quick pace.

The quickly ascended the oak stairs up to the second level of the mansion before walking towards the end of the brightly lid corridor. Pushing the door open, Maggie passed the scientist and entered the study only to abruptly halt upon the sight in front of her. "Raven?"

The young, curly haired blonde on the couch looked barely like the young woman she had met so many years ago-and despite the still youthful glimmer in her eyes, her face had matured over time.

"Maggie?"

Surprised laughter bubbled from her throat and after placing Lena on the ground, in a couple quick paces she reached the blonde mutant and embraced her tightly. Raven reciprocated the hug equally strong, her own laughter ringing through the small study. "It's been so long."

Taking a step back, to take a good look at her, Maggie smiled softly. "You look good."

Raven smiled broadly at the words before letting her eyes roam over the older mutant's body. "You do too."

"Who are you?" Lena suddenly spoke up as she popped up from behind Maggie, doe eyes staring inquisitively at the blonde.

"My name is Raven. I'm an old friend of Maggie." She stated, "and you?"

"Lena Hendrix!" She thrusted her hand out, almost hitting the blonde in the face if she hadn't recoiled backwards in time. "are you a mutant too?"

Instead of answering the girl verbally, Raven grinned mischievously before turning her golden blonde curls a deep shade of red-like Lena's

The small girl gasped, eyes twinkling in delight. "whoa...that's so cool!"

"Thank you." Raven smiled, "Are you a mutant too?"

Lena hummed in confirmation before motioning for Raven to hold her hand out.

After a quick glance at Maggie who nodded, Raven did as she was told and Lena placed her own hand on top of her larger one. Withing second a golden hue immitted from beneath her palm and when she lifted her hand again, a large daisy had bloomed in Raven's palm. "That is really cool too, Lena." The mutant praised the redhead who blushed deeply after mumbling a soft thank you.

"Lena sweetheart would you mind waiting outside for a minute? I have to speak with the other adults." Maggie asked the girl softly. "Henry will go with you."

The tiny girl nodded, skipping outside the room with Henry following after the girl, but not before granted Maggie one last doubtful smile.

"It's good to see you home Raven." Charles spoke, the professor just as surprised to have found the girl back here.

"This isn't my home." She cut in and Maggie frowned at the growing tension.

"It was once." He offered but the blonde just shook her head.

"No it was your home. I just lived here."

"Raven..." Maggie breathe out with sympathy, "you know that's not true."

Raven looked over her shoulder at Maggie, "it is." She looked back at Charles, "I barely even recognise it now."

"You know I have big plans for this place." Charles continued, "A real campus. A university and not just for mutants either, for humans too. Living and working...growing together."

"You know I really believed that once."

Maggie's own thoughts swirled with doubt at Charles words, memories replaying-Lena's unknown parents.

"I really believed we could change them after DC." Raven spoke honestly.

"We did."

"No Charles. They still hate and fear us."

"It's true Charles..." Maggie added in, albeit sadness in her tone, "I wish it wasn't true, but mutants are still hiding, running...afraid. Lena was one of them."

"That's why you're not in your natural blue form?" Charles questioned Raven, directing his wheelchair closer.

"I'm not gonna be a face of a world that doesn't exist."

"Things are better. The world is better." Charles denied and annoyance bubbled inside Maggie's stomach.

"Charles, you can preach all you want, but they all have just become better at hiding their hatred." Maggie clenched her jaw. "If all was well, there should be no need for my safe haven Charles, but there is. Mutants still need to find refuge."

"Maybe in Westchester, out there mutants are still running, hiding, living in fear." Raven continued when Maggie fell silent, "Just because there's not a war, doesn't mean there is peace. You want to teach your kids something, teach them that. Teach them to fight. otherwise they might as well live in the house for the rest of their lives."

"You both still sound just like him." Charles spat out, voice trembling, "you sound just like Erik."

"Erik might not be completely right Charles," Maggie leaned down on his desk, palms flat on the cold wood, "but neither are you. It's not just black and white."

"That's why I'm here." Raven suddenly spoke and Maggie's eyes flashed in surprise.

"What?" She gasped, "You know where he is? Is he okay?"

If raven was surprised by her worried tone, she did not let it show. "He's resurfaced. He had a wife and a child. They were killed."

Maggie blinked, tears gathering in her eyes. Just the thought of someone killing Lena was already enough to fuel her anger. She could not imagine what Erik must have been feeling.

"Along with a handful of policemen."

"The whole world will be looking for him."

"The we must find him first." Maggie intercepted, tone laced with worry. "he needs all the help he can get."

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MAGGIE CANNOT FANTHOM WHEN SHE HAD LAST SEEN CEREBRO, NOR HAD SHE EVER EXPECTED TO STAND HERE AGAIN-ESPECIALLY NOT TO LOOK FOR ERIK. BUT TIME showed once more she should expect the unexpected at this point. The dome that housed Cerebro was dimly lit with blue lights as they entered. It felt like déjà vu standing on the metal platform behind Charles as he rode to the contraption.

"Moira." Charles called out. "I will have to ask you to keep this a secret."

Another surprise had been to find Moira among their ranks once more, but it quickly was brough to light that the agent had no recollection of them and their time at the Xavier Mansion.

"I-I don't even know what this is." The brunette stammered as the metal door behind her closed.

"It's Cerebro." Raven elaborated. "The new model."

"I based the colour on-" Hank looked at Raven before shyly shaking his head. "Eh...it doesn't matter."

Maggie chuckled, nudging Raven in the side with a knowing look in her eyes.

"Let's find him." Maggie hummed, placing a hand on Charles' shoulder when he lifted the helmet on his head.

Moira gasped, steadying herself before she tripped over her own feet as light erupted around them. "What are those?"

"Those are all the humans of the world." Charles replied, "And these..." Slowly lights dimmed before the blue lights were replaced by vivid red one. "Are all the mutants of the world. I'm connected to all of their minds."

Moira looked around in awe, brown eyes gleaming with excitement. "The CIA would kill for this." She breathed out.

"I know they would." He stated solemnly and Maggie clenched her jaw.

"Where are you Erik?" He muttered under his breath.

"Hello old friend." The words were a mere whisper and Maggie immediately tensed. Trepidation filled the air as they waited with bathed breath. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I feel your pain. And your loss."

It felt terrible not to be able to hear the conversation, to hear his voice after so long.

"What happened to them, it was terrible wrong. But come back to us. I can help you."

"Think of your wife, think of your daughter, what would they have wanted?" Charles voice grew more desperate with each syllable and Maggie, despite a small thread of hope, knew in her heart what would happen next.

Confusion was written all over Charles' face "Hank."

There were nerves in his voice and Maggie felt her heart speed up.

"He's not alone."

"What?" Maggie whispered before realisation hit her, "It's him. Charles you have to disconnect!"

"Oh my God!"

Chaos erupted around them as Cerebro started to malfunction, the red vivid light turning a omnious purple colour. "Charles?" Maggie shook his shoulder, "Charles you need to get out. Now!"

"I never have felt power like this before." His voice was ragged.

"Charles?" Hank crouched down in front of the telepath, "Charles get out of there!"

"What's going on? What's happening to him?" Moira called out fearfully.

"I-I don't know." Hank stammered our, "Someone is trying to take over Cerebro."

"It is him Hank." Maggie stated surely, "the first mutant. Who else has such power?"

"He's trying to connect." Hank breathed out in realisation but before anyone could say anything else, screams of anguish erupted from Charles' throat and everyone jumped back startled.

"Shit." Maggie cursed, looking unsurely at Hank for answers.

"Hank! DO something!" Raven shouted and the scientist in turn launched his fist against the control panel in a desperate attempt to destroy Cerebro.

"Alex." Maggie shouted at the younger blonde, "destroy it! Destroy everything!" She commanded, gathering water around her to send shard of ice at the walls. "Now!"

Alex shouted, as he channelled his power at Cerebro, the red laser-like beams emitting unfathomable heath around them in mere seconds. Spark flew as technology was destroyed and Charles screams of pain only seemed to grow louder, painfuller.

Ripping the helmet from Charles' head when he lulled forward, Hank was quick to roll his wheelchair backwards. Pieces of metal and bars and rods started to fall from the sky, flames bursting around them. "We need to get out of here." Maggie shouted as she dragged a distraught Moira with her, Raven running ahead to open the metal doors.

"Charles?" Are you okay?" Hank crouched down, words rushed and breathless.

For a moment time stood still as rumbling echoed around the underground tunnel, the same pruple light that had illuminated Cerebro seconds ago, now glowed from a small distance.

Maggie stood up, gathering the water in the air around them protectively whilst Alex started to walk forward to step in front of the Professor.

For a moment a bright flash of light blinded Maggie and when she looked up again, her heart stuttered at the sight of him.

Erik stood tall, wearing clothes that resembled the uniform he once wore as Magneto. His eyes looked haunted as he regarded the group in front of him and for a moment their eyes clashed. Hazel against blue.

Her breath hitched. "Erik?"

He did not reply, he did not acknowledge her before swiftly raising his arm. Charles hovered above the ground for a second before he came barrelling towards Erik.

Reacting quickly, Maggie raised her own arm, a tentacle of water soaring forwards to clutch Charles's wheelchair.

She grunted, as she planted her feet firmly on the ground in a desperate attempt to bring the telepath back. "Erik! Please stop this!" She cried out, as slowly she too, started to stumble towards the other mutants across the hall. Alex rushed forward, grabbing her arm to help keep her steady.

"Give him back asshole!" Alex shouted when Maggie stumbled forward, falling on her knees when she could no longer resist Erik's strength. The blonde rushed passed her, desperate shouts leaving his lips.

Maggie lifted her head once more to see Erik looking at her, but his face remained impassive.

"All will be reveal soon child." The ancient mutant spoke calmly and just as Alex shot a beam of power at the group, they disappeared just as quick as they had come.

"Alex no!"

But it was too late.

Fire exploded all around them.

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