11 | video/action;

[arethebettermen]

[ The video feed turns on to show one (1) Professor Xavier, sitting at the small cafe that he's adopted in his time in Aliunde. Compared to the last time most saw him, he looks more anxious than happy. The idea of this city that they had no idea about doesn't sit too well with him. At all. ]For those of you who are preparing to go to this new found

Comments

[ironfail]

(video)

You know, I've been meaning to ask, can you boost your psychic voodoo with tech in any way?

[ironfail]

[Tony nods, finally looking away. Charles trusted him enough to share all that, he should reciprocate, it'd...only be fair, he thinks that's how it works. Secret for secret or something like that?]

This arc reactor. It keeps me alive. [He's touching the metal in his chest again without really realizing it.] There was a man, he was like a father to me. Until I found out he was the one who'd tried to have me killed in Afghanistan. When that didn't work, he built a suit like mine, took the reactor from my chest and left me to die. He tried to kill Pepper. [A pause. His tone is cold, distanced.] I killed him.

[arethebettermen]

[ It generally is, but Tony doesn't operate like a normal person. Thus? He doesn't expect him to. Charles sits up straight, listening to him. ]

He had to be stopped. [ While Charles wants to avoid killing as much as possible... he can sense from Tony that there was no other choice. No other alternative. ]

[ironfail]

That night shows up in my nightmares too. Being paralyzed... [Well, it's nothing like how Charles must've felt, must still feel, but it was terrifying at the time.] I managed to crawl down to my lab, get an older reactor that Pepper had saved for me. Almost didn't make it.

[Tony shrugs, staring down at his hands in his lap. And that's it, pretty much. Charles knows all - okay, not all, but most of his biggest secrets. Feel better now, Charles?]

[arethebettermen]

Near death experiences are ones that stick closer to the mind than most. It's the fear, the adrenalin, and the absolute loss of the rational hold on our emotions. [ Charles experienced it when he was inside Shaw's mind, feeling the life fall away from him when Erik sent the coin through his skull. He swallows and closes his eyes, taking a moment to compose himself. ]

No one knows this besides Virgina, do they? [ Then he frowns. No, Tony. It's not a matter of feeling better. ]

[ironfail]

[Tony shakes his head. Pepper knew because she was there - he's not even sure he would have told her had she not already known.] Erm, wait, maybe Natasha, because she's creepy like that. And works for SHIELD. But other than them...

[arethebettermen]

Agent Romanoff does tend to know things that would be kept private. Except she doesn't share the things she should... hopefully that will change by your next mission.

[ironfail]

[He shrugs.] She knows how to do her job. Can't fault her for that.

[arethebettermen]

I can fault her for not communicating with the people she calls teammates. [ Given his experience, but still. He knows Natasha is going to try and that is what matters. ] Though, we're hardly here to talk about Agent Romanoff.

[ironfail]

[Tony can't fault her for that either, since that'd totally be pot calling the kettle black. He sighs, leaning back in the chair.] You already said there's nothing you can do unless you wipe my memories.

[arethebettermen]

There are other ways of deaing with trauma, Anthony.

[ironfail]

Yeah? Well I haven't found a good one yet. [And he's tried, really, but in the end it always just comes back to booze and parties and more booze. He's talked to JARVIS more about this than he's talked to Pepper, which makes him feel even worse. But JARVIS can't worry (so Tony tells himself) and Pepper can and it just seems kinder to keep it that way.]

[arethebettermen]

They say talking about it helps relieve some of it. [ He sighs. He's not quite sure how well it will work out. ] Or some way to resolve it... but given both parties of ours are not here in Aliunde, we'll have to find different ways.

[ironfail]

[Resolve it? Who would Tony even talk to? The men in the cave? Obie? There is no one to talk to, at least for him. Just people who can only try to understand what happened.] That guy, the one who shot you. Did you try to talk to him before this?

[arethebettermen]

He left me on a beach with three of our team members and the CIA agent who first found me. There wasn't much time to talk. Nor have I seen him since then to talk. [ Clearly, Tony. This is a 'no.' ] His name is Erik.

[ironfail]

Harsh. [Putting it lightly.] Do you hate him?