They had expected to return to something, just not destruction. Charles wasted no time in rushing forwards in search of his sister, and Moira and Erik weren't too far behind. Upon seeing her in one piece, Charles still wasted no time in throwing an arm around her and holding onto her tightly as if she was suddenly going to disappear.

"You should have seen it," Raven said still sounding shaken. "He almost killed Darwin. Angel...she went with him."

"Almost?" Charles repeated and looked to the man in question. "What happened?"

"You should've seen it, we thought she was gone. Then up she comes, charging straight for him like she's got nothing to lose and basically saves my ass from being blown up." Darwin explained.

"She..." Charles looked around before snapping to look at Erik. Honestly, Charles had never seen him look so tense. Not even on the coast guard ship when Liesel was unconscious in his arms. This was a whole new level. He stood stock still, frowning and staring unblinkingly at Darwin, his hands clenched and unfurled by his sides; as if this would relieve some of the tension he was so deeply feeling. "Erik-"

"Where?" Erik merely cut Charles off before he could try and reassure him with hollow sounding words. Darwin looked hesitant, so did the others. "Where is she?!" He exclaimed angrily while looking fit to inflicting more damage to the building than what Shaw had already done, if it released some of this anger then he found that to be fine.

"Ah, seriously...please, no shouting, my head is a bit sensitive, yes? Something about a minor concussion, but it is not like that is news to me. Though I do have a hard head, but yes, no shouting. Since when did the sun get so bright too?" Erik turned sharply on his heels and looked behind himself. Liesel stood on unsteady legs, bandaged up, bruised, cut, bleeding still from underneath bandages and dressings; but she was alive. Liesel rocked on her heels and narrowed her eyes as if that'd get them to focus. "There are two Erik's...I don't think the world can deal with two...one is enough, yes?" Liesel whispered in a hoarse sounding voice, she laughed and winced. She rubbed tentatively at her midsection as her other hand went to her head. "Not good...this feeling..."

"Then you shouldn't have left the medics." Erik said sternly while narrowing his eyes at her. There were confused looks exchanged. For someone who was moments ago close to destroying all just to know where the German woman was, he certainly did not seem concerned anymore. He still appeared tense, but his tone sounded angered.

Liesel pointed a shaky finger at him, or at least one of him; whether it was the correct one she didn't know. "I saw you returning." Holding up a hand she looked about herself before awkwardly limping forwards. "Are you okay?"

Darwin looked confused to say the least when she stopped by his side and looked at him with unfocused eyes full of worry. "Yeah, I'm good. You should go get checked up though."

"Touché," awkwardly turning she didn't get far before sitting on the debris because she felt like she was going to fall over.

Charles knelt down in front of her. "Liesel?"

"Ja?" Her eyes opened as she looked to him.

He smiled, "What you did was brave. But moving before you're ready is rather silly of you." He turned and nodded, he watched as two medics came rushing over. They were stretched thin, there were so many injured and not enough medical people around to aid. "Please allow these two to look you over."

"I...just wanted to know that everyone was okay...they were all so scared, I know that fear...I know that fear too well...it is the fear of knowing that before you is someone who can kill you with a click of his fingers. I just...I don't remember much, I couldn't remember if everyone was alive when I blacked out, or started to..." Liesel explained in a wavering tone as she looked about with sudden clear eyes, Charles smiled lightly yet sadly, and nodded over her words. Side stepping he stood back beside Erik, who had turned rather stoic by the whole situation.

"It is not your fault." Charles whispered as he watched as the medics helped move Liesel back to an ambulance.

Erik narrowed his eyes down at him. "Then why does it feel that way?" He said through gritted teeth.

Charles looked at him sadly. "Because...when you see someone you care for hurt, you cannot help but blame yourself. Even if the events that led up to that injury were beyond your control; were something you could not and did not play a part in, you still blame yourself." Charles replied in a quiet tone so only he could hear. "Now bloody well get over there. At least just to check up on her, remember what you firstly told me: she hates doctors. How's she going to react to them now, hm?" Charles questioned while seeing some of the tension leave Erik's body. 

He gave a slow nod before moving awkwardly forwards. Through the blame he felt, she did after all keep finding herself on the tail end of Shaw's attacks both verbal, psychological, and physical now, she found herself like that because he had bought her along. Truly, if Erik left her alone, Liesel would surely still be living in Poland ignorant to this all. But then, what if Cerebro had found her? Would they have honestly gone all that way for her?

Erik shook his head as he stopped by the ambulance, the medics had wired her up to a drip and were checking her vitals. Running a hand down his face, he couldn't help but feel a small slither of pride. She had fought back. And that took so much more courage than he thought she would ever know. He had never felt such an odd mixture of pride and guilt before. This was a first. Noticing that one medic had said something to him, Erik looked confused before he realised that he was asking him if he'd like to sit in with her. He jumped into the back of the vehicle and sat beside her.

"I punched Azazel." Liesel whispered while opening an eye and looking to him. "I actually punched that annoyance. And you know what? It felt good."

"What about punching Shaw?" Erik asked while she shifted uncomfortably on the stretcher.

"...That was terrifying," she admitted while looking slowly around the ambulance and then to him. "But it did feel good. It was a wasted attempt, but it still felt good. It is strange, I always envisioned him to be this untouchable thing, yet he is flesh and he is bone. He is no more mortal than us, and he can be killed...hurt, I mean...whatever," Liesel said awkwardly while shutting her eyes. "They're taking me in, for observations." She opened her eyes again and looked to him. "That and they need to make sure they've got all the glass out of me." Liesel inhaled painfully and tilted her head to the side. "Don't look at me like that. I'm fine!"

"You are so far from fine it is somewhat ridiculous, Liesel." Erik said sharply while leaning against his knees and looking to her with a frown. Honestly, he had not seen her in such bad shape since she was a child. And that, that somewhat struck harder than the initial reasons to why she was hurt now in the first place. Shaw did not have the right to keep on hurting her.

He got pulled from his thoughts by Liesel sitting up the best she could. She reached up to place a hand on the back of his head before pulling him closer. Leaning her forehead against his, she simply smiled. "I am strong. And it'll take a lot more than my own power being used against me, to keep me down."

"Sir? We're going to have to leave now." Naturally the poor medic that appeared at the doorway got a look shot in their direction. They shrunk back and disappeared around the side of the vehicle. The quiet sounds of the front door opening and shutting echoed throughout the back.

"That's your cue," Liesel said while she slowly moved back to rest against the stretcher again. "Do not get me wrong, I am not trying to get rid of you. But I'm rather sure you're meant to be elsewhere, no?"

"I think after this, we should stop parting ways again." Erik said awkwardly while standing up and moving to the door. Each time they did something always happened. He'd feel much more peaceful, mind wise, if they stayed within each other's company for a while.

"You are the one who said you would not leave my side for a while."

Erik turned just as he jumped out of the vehicle. "There will be times where we can't always be together, Liesel."

"And that is why I said that." She sat up somewhat to smile sadly at him. "You cannot always look out for me, and that is why you said what you just did, I understand, honest I do. I think now, perhaps, you understand my worry and concern for you, yes?" After all, when he tried to face off against Shaw and instead got attacked by Emma, Liesel had been rather upset on the fact that he had been hurt, and that she honestly thought she'd lost him. If anything, this moment was a full circle of sharing the concern. Allow him to feel a little of what she felt. And by the uncertain look on his face, he did. "You're not getting rid of me so easily! So try and look somewhat happy, Erik! I will be gone a day, perhaps two...we will see each other again, believe that." Liesel laughed and smiled at him, she looked quickly to another medic as he slammed one door shut. She had to lean to the side to look out. "Smile, Erik...don't look so miserable!"

"Your concussion is really kicking in. That or the painkillers." He said while crossing his arms. Liesel laughed and nodded, it was perhaps both really. Though not wholly serious with his words he did send a small smile her way, which caused her to look rather content with her own smile.

Laying down she waved a quick farewell to him as the other door slammed shut. The medic moved back to the front and turned in his seat to check her over. Seeing as how she was fine, or as fine as could be, he belted up and faced forwards. Shutting her eyes, Liesel awkwardly shifted. Getting comfortable was awfully hard. Either she resulted in laying on a bruise, or a cut. Luckily the painkillers she was rigged up to were helping, somewhat. Sighing lightly she allowed the rocking motion of the vehicle to lull her into a light, dreamless sleep. She didn't know how long it'd take to get to the nearest hospital, but she strangely found herself comfortable in the silence of the emergency vehicle. Sure, she was not wholly pleased with going to a hospital...but it needed to be done. She wasn't so idiotic and hateful of clinical places to not accept the healthcare aid she so needed.

----

When arriving at his former home, Charles honestly thought that the time now spent here could be spent in each other's company. After all, conflict should make people closer, not push them further apart. They had all crossed paths with Shaw or at least, someone to do with him. Now that they all saw firsthand what they were capable of, they should try and work to better fight against them. As charming of an idea as it was, hoping that this would be resolved without fighting was just plain idiotic.

"What's got you looking so upset?" Charles had taken to hiding away in the study; a room he hadn't stepped foot in for years. Honestly, it always seemed much bigger. 

Turning away from the window, he looked to Erik. So far he had hidden himself away too, while also looking quite despondent and irritated. At face value he was grateful, Charles thought, to be somewhere away from agents, and the never ending regime of rules which surrounded them. But then as soon as the tour of the house ended, with thanks to Raven, he along with everyone else had stayed secluded in their rooms. Really, Charles only had Moira for company and she left. Something to do with getting clothes for Liesel, and then popping in to see her and if she's doing okay. In other words: restore what little clothes she had, which got destroyed by the collapse of the base, and make sure she's not getting into trouble.

When Charles dwelt on that, truly the last person he thought Liesel would want to see is Moira. They didn't exactly see eye to eye, or get along too well. Diverting back to his earlier musings though, Charles was not surprised by Erik's lapse into seclusion. After all when first meeting him, he did believe him to be a stay alone type. The others though, they had awkwardly got to know each other. If he was to be honest; coming here hadn't panned out quite like he thought. He was suffering from memories of childhood which were not exactly perfect, and because everyone was hiding away, it was like he was in this big, quiet, spacious manor all on his lonesome.

"Seriously, if you stood in the wind I'm rather sure your expression would stick like that." Erik said while continuing to lean against the door frame with his arms crossed.

Charles frowned and stuffed his hands roughly into his pockets. "That is very kind of you."

Erik smiled, "I wasn't being kind, that's sort of the point. Got a reaction, and now you're no longer looking like a sulking child, and are talking to me."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Erik. Feeling ignored?"

"As if, the peace and quiet is actually rather nice. It makes a change actually."

Charles looked at him before shaking his head. Laughing quietly he moved across the room to one of two arm chairs present. He more or less collapsed in the thing before slouching in it. Giving the other chair a look, Erik got the hint and moved into the room at last. Unlike Charles he sat down and stretched his legs out in front of himself. Crossing one leg over the other at the ankle, he merely looked about the room. "You don't honestly really mean that though, do you?" Charles asked while somehow managing to sink more into the cushioned seat.

Erik glanced at him oddly before eyeing up the stacked, and jammed bookcases in the room. They pretty much lined the walls, all full to the brim with books. It looked like to get one out, someone would have to use a crowbar to lever it. "No." He replied at length, he thought over other things he could've said as a reply, but why not be honest this one time? "I don't like it. I don't like being without something to do."

Charles shut his eyes and shrugged. "That's because you've always been busy with something." After all, he'd seen quite a chunk of activities Erik had done while slipping into his mind. "Now that you have an opportunity to just relax for a day, you're at a loss." He paused to finally straighten up in his seat. "We all have those moments, you're not alone." Charles smiled and looked about himself, Erik watched him assessing the surroundings for a few seconds before standing up. Truth be told, he was bored. Horribly, agonisingly bored. There was not much to do here. The isolation of it meant that getting to and from the city itself was a task. He didn't exactly see Charles freely giving him a car to go out. Which really rendered him to walking the halls, corridors lined with different paintings and other trinkets, and exploring any room which wasn't on Raven's tour. "I get the feeling though, that your unrest doesn't solely come from having nothing to do." Charles turned to look at Erik as he made his way to the door. Narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, Charles stood up too. Perhaps shutting himself away in here wasn't helping his melancholic mood either.

Erik waited in the corridor for the shorter male, "And?" Yes, okay, he did miss Liesel. But he wasn't going to openly admit that. Least of all to Charles, though by the smug look on his face, he knew already. This in turn caused Erik to frown and start to move off and away from the study.

"May I ask, will she like this place?"

"Does approval of your home matter so much to you?" Erik asked, resisting the urge to smile at the sheer idiocy of this. Yet he failed, lightly smiling and turning the corner into the foyer he shook his head.

"Our, it's our home. And yes, it does. I don't quite like the thought of her returning from hospital and being miserable. Because then not only will I have to contend with her mood, but yours too. You two really are an odd pair, I have to admit." Charles had never really seen two people, slightly opposite yet the same in characteristics and dispositions, be linked in such a way.

Erik frowned at this and shrugged loosely. "Well," he mused for a moment before sadly smiling down at Charles. "She'll most likely like all your books. But other than that, no." Charles looked hopeful only to then sadden somewhat.

"May I ask why?" He asked anyway as they walked towards the living room.

Erik tilted his head in thought for a moment. Truth or a lie, it was hard considering Charles would be able to tell the difference. Even without snooping, he was a very perceptive person. "Because it looks like the orphanage, I call it that but it really wasn't, that we were placed in after our hospital stint. Yet again, I call it a hospital, but it really wasn't."

"It was not a good time for you both." Charles said quietly, getting the gist of his words.

"What would you do with two liberated mutant children? Perhaps you are the wrong person to ask that question to." Erik frowned, of course Charles was. He already made it plain he wished to aid every mutant possible.

"But they didn't know you were mutants."

Erik smiled awkwardly, "We're different, and we acted differently. Regardless of what we came from, we acted doubly strange in comparison to the other children around. Look this is getting off the subject; no, she won't like this place. But she will after time. After all, we're here for good, right?" Erik asked while his tone turned rather blunt and to the point. It was too much reminiscing talk for his own good. Even with Liesel, the pair rarely spoke of their childhood. Yet there was something about Charles which made speaking to him so easy. With another frown, Erik looked about himself, not realising they'd got to the living room and were now standing in a rather awkward silence.

----

Edited: 10/June/2019

Reedited: 17/August/2021