The Way We Are

16

"Hey!" Looking up at the sound of someone calling out, Hank lowered Lola to the ground. She seemed hugely reluctant to let him go, as in she didn't want to. She was more than content hiding away against his shoulder, all comfortable in his arms. It was Alex, he looked at them both with a serious look. Alex often looked serious, that was just how he was, and instead of coming out with some sarcastic comment about Hank and Lola, or rather Hank's carrying of Lola, he beckoned them quickly. "You might want to see this." He said while the two of them ran up and into the building. Alex kicked the door shut and pushed gently past them and lead them towards the living room. He walked quickly, which meant that something serious was happening.

The last time Hank had been urgently summoned to watch something, it had been before the whole Cuba ordeal. He shook his head, pushing that to one side it was no less different now. There was still a group of people, all huddled around a television and watching the footage on the small screen.

He couldn't help but frown at the sight of burning buildings, his hand got suddenly held onto. Hank looked down to see Lola wrapping her arms worriedly around one of his. She clutched onto his hand tightly, and he applied the same gentle pressure to let her know she was fine. She was here. She wasn't there. No matter how much the footage was displeasing and worrying her.

Hank narrowed his eyes at the headline, "Anti-mutant protest goes up in flames?" He tilted his head, he wasn't certain that was enough justification. Inferno might be more apt.

From the look which Charles sent his way, it was clear that even he didn't believe all that was being shown. In other words: why would anti-mutant protestors burn down their own base of operations? The answer was clear enough: they didn't, because someone else did. Now, there could be reasons for it burning, humans, normal impartial humans could've had enough. Wouldn't be the first time people have clashed against each other for certain ideals. Sure, benefit of the doubt, the anti-mutant people could've burned the building because of surmounting evidence which would probably wind them all, if not some, in jail. Still seemed a bit unlikely. The last option was mutants themselves. Clearly not those who wished to try and stay off the radar. And how many of them were known? More like, how many were known to need a gentle push of persuasion to do something else someone else has asked?

They weren't pointing fingers at Erik. No way were they. But when it came to the rights of mutant kind, and sticking up for them...it seemed like something he would do. It wasn't like he couldn't find information out about them, he did after all have Emma on his side. Charles was unaware whether she was the lone telepath, but to be honest, she was enough to contend with.

"Well deserved," Alex commented from beside Lola, she lifted her head away from Hank's shoulder and looked to him. He shifted his weight and crossed his arms, "Oh, come on. Don't look at me like that. You're thinking it too." He paused when Hank looked at him uncertainly too. "It was only a matter of time before they pissed someone off." Heaven forbid ever pissing Erik off and having him gunning for them, still not pointing fingers, but hypothetically; he was potentially the worst person to have as an enemy. It seemed the resounding thoughts and feelings amongst those who knew him, suspected it was him behind this. The others weren't certain who was to blame.

"But what if someone died in there?"

"They chased you, Lola." Alex turned and looked at her with a hard look. "They chased you. Let that sink in, and remember that experience."

"I don't need to remember it!" Lola shouted with a scared expression. "I was there, it happened to me, remember?!"

"Then how can you defend them?"

"How can you not?" Lola narrowed her eyes. "People fear what they don't understand. I get that. But if that's how you think, then why the hell are you still here?" Lola asked, honestly, from what she could gather, Charles's outlook was to eventually try and get along with the humans. Those who opposed that thought had gone elsewhere, or so she thought. Maybe Alex was just one of those contradictory people. He meant good, but couldn't help being jaded.

"Are you kidding me?" Alex despaired. "You've been here five minutes and already-" he got cut off by suddenly being pushed back from Lola. He had taken a step too close, and Hank had retaliated. He slightly bared his teeth and a low growl rumbled from him. With narrowed yellow eyes he watched Alex back up with his hands held in the air. "It's fine, Beast," Alex nudged past other people present and left the room. They watched him go before looking back to the television and seeing the report had finished. Watching the weather forecast with very little enthusiasm, everyone parted ways.

Hank looked to Lola, she was looking worriedly around before just looking downwards. Turning and looking to where Charles remained, Hank looked between them before moving over. Charles blinked and seemed to come to reality with a jolt as Hank placed a hand to his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Charles smiled thinly, "We knew something like this would happen." It was, after all, only a matter of time before there were clashes. Charles just hoped that the time of this selective slither of peace had lasted longer. Charles nodded in Lola's direction, "Is she okay?"

Hank looked to where she stood to one side awkwardly. "Honestly? I don't think she properly addressed what happened to her. Nor do I think her first experience of arguing with Alex was how she expected."

Charles couldn't help but lightly laugh, "It's an experience."

"Yeah..."

"So?" Charles watched as Lola got addressed by one of the other girls which now called this manor home. She got dragged away by the overly smiling female and was gone from sight in a second. Hank looked down at him with a frown, Charles smiled and just nodded at him.

"Oh," Hank had forgotten, "One day, I wouldn't say I promised Lola one day without taking the serum. But yeah, one day."

Charles just smiled, "And?"

"What?" Hank looked down at him confused, even more so when Charles sighed and hung his head. Shaking it gently he looked back up at him, yet Hank still stood looking lost.

"Have you been persuaded to stop?" Charles asked, he thought Hank could be smart enough to pick up on the vibe and hint, yet no. Shouldn't have been surprised. By the expression on his face, Charles was also inclined to say that the answer was a no. Charles shook his head again, he wouldn't lecture, whatever made Hank comfortable, and feel like he was able to generally coexist when he chose to, then fine.

Hank eventually shrugged, "Cut back, I suppose?"

"Don't make it sound like such a life mystery, Hank!" Charles laughed, with the way Hank spoke it was like the heaviest, and hardest question to ever ask.

He blinked and sat down slowly, Charles just looked at him patiently. "It's strange to me."

"Which part?" Charles could probably hazard a guess and come up with ten potential options and answers.

Hank looked at him frankly. "All of it." Well that narrowed it down, Charles tilted his head. "Having a girlfriend, let alone..." Hank pointed a finger at himself.

"She seems very fond of you, either way, Hank. I wouldn't let appearances hinder your thoughts and feelings on this. You're getting caught up on one thing, one thing which really doesn't matter to her. Take this, Hank, take it and run with it and enjoy it for what it is." Charles said while watching as Hank awkwardly looked away and thought over what was being said. "Also, double check she's okay. If she says no, she's probably lying."

"Is that a common thing?" Hank stood up looking slightly worried.

Charles laughed, "My friend, you have no idea." Charles gestured to the door and the two commenced leaving the room. His words really didn't fill Hank with confidence. Words alone were sometimes a struggle. Let alone if one word meant something else entirely. That just wasn't fair of Charles to make Hank double think over everything he knew so far.