The Dakest Metal

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik was far from pleased at the moment. While he should be happy to be out of prison -- which he was -- he had another issue to address right now. There was word that some of Magneto's 'followers' had decided to embark on a mission that was far too advanced and technical for their capabilities. So naturally, it resulted in failure. It was a group of young teenage mutants, and while he understood that they were trying to help, they were proving to be more of a hindrance. Yet, Magneto could not turn a blind eye. Even when he should be laying low after his escape from prison, and his public stunt where he threatened the current president, he could not turn a blind eye to these young mutants. It was why he had made an appearance. And he was always one for the theatrics and histrionics. He was clad in his uniform, with his helmet to avoid any lurking telepathic mutants -- aka, Charles -- and had his cape and his basic uniform underneath. He emerged as Magneto, not Erik. The mutants were rounded off to the side, and Magneto took control of all the guns, having them facing the large group of police officers. He was also taking their vehicles and tossing them around so that they would not be able to drive away.

He was standing on one side, his hands out to control all the metal he could possibly find. He was also ignoring the other mutants, for they had their own helmets on, made of plastic. Completely ineffective. "Release them," Magneto ordered in a strong voice. The men were hesitant, which was foolish considering he had the weapons pointed at them. "Or perhaps you need more incentive." Using his powers, he then pulled the trigger from one of the guns, but stopped the bullet right before it entered the target's throat: the chief of police who had joined the scene. Magneto was going to repeat himself however before he could, a few officers suddenly came running to the scene, equipped with plastic guns and . . . there were no metal bullets in side. It was something else, and Magneto wasn't sure he cared to find out. They aimed it at him, warning him to back down and release his hold on the guns and cars. Magneto was not panicked. He remained calm, however, he was quickly trying to find a way out of this suddenly compromising position. It seemed that with him being a fugitive for high ranking crimes, they had developed weapons to stop him. It was the first time humans showed a semblance of intelligence.

-- Tag Darklit --

[Lana Kane]

"You are really too kind, good sir, I hope the local boys know just how lucky they are to have you working for them." Lana said, her voice light and grateful, while following the officer-who was almost as short as she was-down the narrow hall. Some young mutant kids were catch after doing some dumb stunt, and Lana was trying to get a meeting with them to find out how she could help them get out of this mess. With a bit of luck--and a bit of skill with making the local beat cop feel like the king of the world--she was getting her meeting.

Pausing she looked back over her shoulder. What was that emotion. Fear. Panic. Hate. Anger. PANIC! Lana jumped as a blast of fear and panic hit her just as a gun went off. Someone had feared for their life . . . and still fearing for it. "Oh shite," she muttered, as the cop pulled her down, and told her to get behind him. He pulled his gun and ran toward the back room back where they'd just come from.

Feeling drawn to the chaos, Lana slowly walked toward the room, and when she hesitantly entered along the side it took her almost a whole second to come out of her stupper. It was him! Lana had to hold her breath to keep in her next curse. Oh shite indeed!--and what the hell was on his head? A cape? Gone was Erik, and there in his place was the magnet man . . . Magneto. Exhaling slowly and as silently as she could, as if he would be able to hear even that; Lana looked around. Everything was about to get out of hand. Either was not going to back down.

Closing her eyes, and doing as she was taught--iconicly by Erik--she blocked out the fear, and when she opened her eyes the room took on a relax feeling as she removed the emotions that were going to get them killed. The leader, whatever rank he held, leaned back on the pole near him and smiled. Maybe she just over killed it, but right now she was giving them confidence, and removing the fear, the hate.

But she couldn't even feel Erik. It was that stupid hat! Knowing he's know something was happening, Lana leaned on the wall and smirked at him. Being the last time she had saw him was during a failed prison break, this was going to go great. Especially since she's left him there to rot.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Something was wrong. Or off. There was a shift in the mood among the men. The chief who he had just fired a bullet at was smiling at him. It made no sense. While Magneto did not lower his guard in the slightest, he was far too aware that something was happening. Looking at the mutant teenagers, he motioned for them to leave. "Go," he instructed, and the five of them went running off, though he could see their hesitation in fleeing the scene for they wanted to know what happened next. Magneto had a feeling that they would not stray too far. With them to safety, he could not focus on the situation at hand. The officers were all preoccupied with something else, and it was not the guns that he had pointed in their directions. His eyes searched through the room, and finally laid to rest on the source of this sudden bizarre shift in events. Lana. Or, Darklit.

He looked at her, his expression void of any happiness or joy in seeing her. Someone that he had once called ally, had abandoned him in a prison, tried for a crime that he did not commit. Now it all made sense. Why the officers were suddenly so calm. He turned all the guns so that they were pointed directly at her. "Perhaps we should test how well I've trained you." A reminder, that he was the one who had taken her in. He was the one who had helped perfect her gift. And she was the one who had abandoned him. Before, she had lost control of her emotions when fearful and panicked. And now, with so many barrels of guns pointed right at her, he wondered how well she remembered her lessons.

[Lana Kane]

He looked over at her and her smirk became a smile as she--WHAT THE HELL! Straightening up as the guns pointed at her, Lana found her smile turning to nervous grin. Holding up her hands to slowly take a few steps forward, she warned "I have a few new tricks too." Though nothing that would work on him, or for her favor with the guns.

Closing her eyes, she focused hard, and when she opened them everyone in the room besides Erik and her feel to their knees. Void. It was what she called this feeling. Cut off from everything, and overwhelmed at the same time. It made them almost comatose in their actions, but their faces still read whatever she was flicking through them faster then she could think of what to hit them with. "Can't hold it long, so if you planned a grand exit this would be the moment."

Still very aware that he had every gun on her, she stepped to the side, then back, and back again; moving toward the exit door. "Guessing your still mad over the last time we said our goodbyes." Not that anyone said any goodbyes that time either. "Understandable, but for now how about you not kill me and we get out of here . . . since you were kind enough to out me for being a mutant." Jerk.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik watched her as she remained confident and calm, stating that she had some new tricks. He watched, waiting to see what they were. Suddenly all the men in the room collapsed to their knees. His eyes briefly glanced around at them but the main source of his focus was her. So he continued to look at her. It appeared that now she was willing to help him. Why? Because he already had the upper hand? Because it was not a lost battle? He was unamused. While loyalty was not something automatically granted, he had believed to have earned hers. Never would he have left her in that kind of situation. And the disappointment he felt that she had done so, was immense. "Impressive," he told her, his voice not overly praising of her abilities. "Let us see how well versed you have become," he added.

With that, he pulled the trigger to three of the guns, causing three bullets to shoot out of them, directly at her. One toward each of her eyes, and the third to her forehead. However, he stopped them right before the tip of the bullet would have pierced through each part it was aimed at. "Are you still calm? Are you still in control?" His actions were truly testing her limits and capabilities. Was she as well trained as he believed her to be, or perhaps better? He would not kill her, he knew that much. But there was no need in letting her know that. She knew better than to wear metal, however Magneto also knew to carry some around with him at all times. Though this time, the homo sapiens had provided him with that.

[Lana Kane]

The high pitch scream that came with the shots fired almost made her look around for the source--almost because she was surprised it came from her. Opening her eyes she look at the bullets, before slowly closing them again. After a few deep calming breaths she opened them again. Lana stepped to the right, but the bullets followed. Alright them. She stepped the left and again they followed. Then she faked left only to jump right . . . and still they followed.

Dropping her hands, and forcing herself to pretend to be calm, she edged closer to the door. Please be bullet proof! "You know, after you scaring the bloody hell out of me over and over again, you'd think I'd have that fear thing down pat." She tried to joke. "If you want to play, Erik, take off your . . . . quite fine hat, and lets play."

While talking to him, she picked an officer that was behind him. She removed the void, and filled him with her own fear, panic, and the need to live. He shook his head a few times then grabbed his gun and fired a few rounds off at Erik. Lana was fairly sure he could stop them but while he was distracted . . . . and bolted for the doors.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She seemed to be attempting to out smart the bullets, and ultimately him. Not wise. Her words were not amusing to him, not her attempt at a joke, nor her insult of his helmet. This helmet, protected him from anyone getting inside of his head, and more importantly in this context, from her getting a hold of his emotions. Though what he did notice, was that everyone else in the room remained in the same state. Which meant, she still had a hold of them. She was still able to keep control of her powers in the face of fear. Seemed that she had remembered his lessons after all. She then altered one of the man's emotions -- another advancement of her skill to so easily sway just one man in a crowd -- who fired a gun at him. Foolish. He held up his hand and the bullets stopped right in front of them. He returned the favor. Turning them, he shot them at her, but they hit the metal door that she was trying to get out of.

Not just anywhere around the door. They were strategically aimed right near her head and shoulders, an outline of bullets now surrounding her, though now embedded in the thick metal. "You disappoint me, Lana," he began to say, taking a few steps toward her. He purposely used her human name because he was, ashe had expressed, disappointed with her. "Though I am hardly surprised at your attempt to flee." It seemed that was what she did best. "I am surprised at your lack of strength and courage." Not strength with her powers, but strength of mind and heart. He was not pleased with her at all. Taking a few steps closer and closer still, he was now standing near her. Nearer than he had been in years to her. "Surely, I taught you better than this." Maybe if she had stayed with him long enough, he could have.

[Lana Kane]

"Shite!" She jumped back from the door, and spun around to stare at him while he walked forward and spoke to her at the same time. Bloody man! He was going to talk her to death! Lana almost wished he'd just shot her and get it over with. "Taught me better then this?" She returned when he was done, and shook her head slowly. What would he have had her do? Join him in prison? Let her be someone's prison bitch? She was too cute for that! It wasn't happening! Let him fight the war, she just wanted to live.

"You want to shot me, Erik, then shot me." Taunting him was the worse thing she could do, but right now her control on the room was fragile and slipping. "But do it before you monolog." Her hands were behind her back, resting on the door handles which she pointlessly kept trying though she knew he would not let them budge. Her breathing was deep and almost frantic. She wasn't a fighter. Had never been able to master the lessons he gave her in that. She was a survivor. That she'd done on her own.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

She was really making things worse for herself. Erik was already displeased with her and now she was taunting him with a rather tempting suggestion. Shoot her. He knew that was not what she wanted. She was not suicidal. She was not sacrificial. She had proven that she values her own life above anyone else's. He had believed her to be loyal to him, but he had learned that day that she was only loyal to herself. "For all that I have done for you," he began to say. He kept his eyes locked on her however used his abilities to pull out a set of hand cuffs from one of the officers pockets. He then moved them toward Lana, the metal link against her neck and each cuff pressed against the metal door. This locked her in place, and he tightened the metal chain against her throat. Not enough to suffocate her, but enough to strain her. "This is how you treat me?" Not this in the present, but this in what she had done to him; betrayed him. Left him in a cell.

He was not pleased; not pleased at all. Tightening the chain even still out of slight bitterness, he then motioned with his hands moved the entire metal door and pressed it against the wall, so that she was against it, pinned in place with the handcuffs, and he had conveniently made an exit for himself. Before he made his departure though, he went up to her, placing his index finger under her chin and tilting her head up a little. He looked at her, standing directly in front of her, their faces rather close. "Such a pitiful display," he said with a thick tone of disdain. Meaning, her. She was a pitiful display. A disgrace. Had they parted on better terms, he never would have thought her to be any of these things. But his bitterness and anger was not yet gone, even after years passed since it happened. With that, he pulled his finger away, and made his way through the now fully opened exit. When he was out of reach, the metal would release it's hold on her and she could do whatever she needed to get out of that situation. He knew she would make it out. She was after all, a survivor.

[Lana Kane]

She had not bothered to look to see what he was doing--she rather not see her death coming--but when she felt it on her neck and everything tightened, her hands flew to it in a pointless effort to free herself. He walked closer, even moved the door while he continued to taunt her. Pitiful display? His finger touched her, and her eyes narrowed. Pitiful display? "Your the one in the cape." She bit out, as he walked away though Lana had no idea if he heard her or not.

Trapped there while he walked away, she kept the room dead. Once she was free however, Lana dropped to the floor coughing, and then took off. Unlike Erik's talent, her gifts didn't just turn off, she had to do it herself when she got it this strong. On her exit she stumbled down the steps and looked around the street. DAMN HIM! "So bitter, but nor did you care enough to ask me why!" She hissed into the air, knowing he was too far to hear her. Next time she'd be ready for his antics.

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik did not stick around to see if she made it out. He knew she did. And he did not need to speak to her again. Even that last encounter had been unexpected. Instead, he sought out the teenagers and as presumed, they did not venture far. He explained that they should not carry out such poorly thought out plans and they seemed to comply with his words. When he was certain they would not be followed by the authorities, he sent them on his way. He then returned to his own headquarters, where there were still mutants loyal to him. Now, more than ever. Ones who believed that what he preached was true. The war had already started. With that Trask Industries was authorized to do. They had killed far too many mutants in the name of science and experimentation. When would such persecution end? It was only a matter of time before they would be forced to be branded, or they would be gathered and throw in some sort of confinement. He had seen it before, and it would inevitably happen again.

Due to Magneto's severe crimes, news spread about his escape. After all, the supposed murderer of JFK was not something they would release so easily, even if he knew he did not do it. Due to this, he had to be extremely cautious when he went around searching for others and gathering information for his next ploy. Which was why he remained out of sight for the few days following his assistance in breaking out the young mutants. But even he could not keep a low profile forever. On the fifth day, he ventured out to a spot familiar to most mutants: a shelter, an abandoned warehouse where they could have a roof over their head for the night. He did not fear being turned in by them. If they did, he could defend himself. But he also knew that there were those who agreed with his political views. Which is why this would be the perfect place to recruit. Clad once again in his uniform, he entered, standing in front of all of them and delivering his speech. He spoke of how many mutants Trask Industries, a government approved project, had murdered. Of the cruel experimentation they had undergone. His voice was strong and passionate.

He spoke of how the war against mutants had already started. How there was a genocide upon them. Government officials still hunted their kind like animals, desperate to understand their powers and willing to make whatever sacrifices, and kill however many mutants they pleased, for their cause. 'For science' as they so commonly used this excuse. Magneto then asked his question of who would stand against them. Whether there was anyone in the ground who would fight for the rights of mutants to be free and live void of constant fear. He could see in the faces of others that he had captured several in the audience. Some agreed with his views but did not join him; others agreed with him and did join the Brotherhood. And the rest, just didn't want to get involved. When he was done he stepped down and was immediately approached by a few, and then a few more after, and then a few more after that. Not every single one joined them, but he had conversations with most all of them. He did shake every one of their hands, welcoming those who wanted to join to the Brotherhood and giving them more information about it. It seemed that he was not going to have to worry about defending himself after all.

[Lana Kane]

Entering the shelter, Lana paused and stepped back out. SSHHIITTTEEEEE! He was here! She had managed to go years, and years without even looking over her shoulder and now twice in one bloody week he just where she needed to be. Ironically she had made plans to be ready for him next time--in the form of a gun with rubber bullets--but had not though to bring it with her here!

Turning she walked back in, coming in behind him. Lana watched the end of his speech, and rolled her eyes at the appropriate parts. When he was done she watched him greet the crowd, playing into them with his kindness and charm. It was why she'd fallen for him, but then she'd realized she wasn't willing to die for his cause. The way she figured, he wasn't going to openly attack her here while he was trying to win everyone over.

The man who ran the shelter saw her and called out to her 'Lana!', drawing the attention of many in the room and exposing her sulking spot. She picked the duffel bag up, and passed it over to him. In it was some supplies to help some of the mutants here. Some medicines from a local doctor's office and things to make sandwiches.

Since she had everyone's attention, in stead of a hello she spoke to Erik. "Still spilling the same speech I see? Join the fight. War is coming. The path to freedom is paved with the sacrifices we make now." She wasn't saying it in a mocking tone, but one that still disapproved. "You'd think after some of your more flashy stunts of late that people would flock to you--then again, you do look a bit villainous on tv."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik heard someone call an all too familiar name, yet he chose to ignore it. She was here. Shocking. Then again, not really. Perhaps she was here to take advantage of the roof it offered her. He was not overly concerned about how she kept herself fed, clothed, or sheltered. She was merely Lana to him, no longer was she Darklit. Yet his attempt to not acknowledge her failed when she approached him, pointing out that he was giving the same speech. How wrong she was. He turned to look at her, not surprised she had made it out alive. Though it was slightly unexpected that she speak to him now. "Perhaps you should listen more attentively, for the war is not coming. It is already here." And those who failed to recognize that, were naive and oblivious to the truth.

"The truth about society is far too political and complex for you, Lana." She was less naive than when he first met her, but her actions in the recent past, and dismissiveness of what he was talking about, still convinced him that she was not fully aware of what was happening to mutants in today's world. "You have proved to be incapable of handling it. It goes above your mental capabilities. Far beyond your means of comprehension." And he would not make that same mistake twice of placing faith and trust in her, only to have her flee in the face of danger; to prove to be a coward. "Seems that you are one of such people you speak of who flocks to me, for I seem to constantly find you in my presence." Though when it counted, she was had not been there with him or for him. And that was what remained in his memory more than any other instance in their past.

[Lana Kane]

He was insulting her, but Lana only smirked at him while waiting for him to ramble on. She was confidant enough to know when someone was saying something hurtful but true and when someone was just trying to bring you down to make their own selves feel better. "Well, the first time our paths crossed--you recall the time you shot at me? I was trying to help the children you call followers out of prison."

"This time you came into one of my safe houses." She didn't own it, but she was here often while trying to help them. "See I make sure they have what they need, so they don't have to feel the need to pick a side because someone charming promises them a soft bed and warm food."

Walking a bit closer to him, she let her voice drop. It was easy to see that everyone here felt uneasy about them bickering. While they might like him, she was someone who helped them out without ever demanding anything from them. Both well liked. It was making the room's mood vary. "Take a walk with me Erik. Just around the back where your little minions can still see you're safe. If we are to keep crossing paths, I rather have this out now."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik was not impressed with her explaining how she helped. Why? Because it was unproductive. It was repetitive. It was encouraging a lifestyle where they had to hide in secret and find a safe place to live. What kind of life was that? They could not forever live in shelters, outcast from society, fear of discovery. This was the flaw. This is what Charles did. And she was like him in that sense too. They did not seek to change the lifestyle of mutants: they sought to live day by day. This was precisely why people like her would never make a difference for mutants in the long run. Because long term, this, doing things like offering help every day with food, would not fix the larger issue.

She told him to take a walk with her, and while Magneto had nothing to say to her, it seemed that there was something she wanted to say to him if she was requesting his presence in private. He was not afraid of her. Nor was he reluctant. He gave a small nod to those he had previously conversing with. With that, he began to walk toward the back of the shelter. What could she possibly have to say to him? He was curious enough to accept her request which was the only reason he was now standing here in private with her. At least he had his helmet on. For now was not the time for her to play with his emotions. Not that there had ever been a suitable time for that. So instead, he just waited silently, allowing her to speak first as she was clearly the one who had something to get off her chest.

[Lana Kane]

He said nothing and instead turned to walk out, leaving Lana to shot a wink at the others before following him out. Once a suitable amount of space was between them and the house she moved to face him, and just stared at him for a minute. Gathering her thoughts or her courage--she wasn't sure which. "I left you to rot in prison." There. She said it! Put it out between them.

"I was young, and I was frightened, and I realized I wasn't willing to die for or for a cause that I could only see getting more people killed--of either side." It was harsh, and she knew she was waving the red flag at the bull but it needed to be said so he could build a bloody bridge and get over it---or kill her and move on. Which she was wondering if she wasn't just asking for the later. "I was never a solider, Erik. Expecting me to act as one, was short sighted of you. Blame me all you want. I left you there, yeah. I didn't even look back."

"You want an apology? Fine, I'm sorry I betrayed you. Would I do it again? Yes, but was it an easy thing to do? Not really." She held out her hands in a shrug before dropping them to her side. "You asked me once, what I wanted from life. Tomorrow, Erik. It's almost been to live to see tomorrow. You might see it as selfish but I wont fight in some war. I can't be the girl I started off being. Not for you. Not for any man."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik let her speak, taking in all the words she spoke. It started off with her saying that she left him to rot in prison. Not exactly what he wanted to hear, but nor should it come to a surprise any more for her actions that day had made it clear that she had no intention to help him. She then attempted to justify her reasoning. Saying she was frightened. She wasn't willing to die. That she was not a solider. That she would leave him again. He doubted her words that it was a difficult decision. It most likely wasn't. For if it was one she would repeat, then how difficult could it be? How much of a burden on her conscience was it truly? When she was done, he let a few moments of silence pass, absorbing her words, deciding what was worth saying to her. She knew his political views so he was not going to give her a lecture on them. But she was still so naive. Still so foolish if she thought that she was out of the conflict. "You are already fighting in a war," he told her. "Every day, you and other mutants fight to survive." Whether it be for his cause or not, mutants were struggling. "Do not act as if I put you in a dangerous situation. Mutants live in danger and fear every moment that they are in this society." How could she not see that? How could mutants like Charles not see that?

Her apology meant nothing to him. While he was not going to kill her, he was not going to embrace her either. "The girl you started off being was frightened, struggling to find a hot meal to eat, living on the streets." A reminder to who she was before she met him. He did not forget that girl, though she seemed to. "I took you in." Another reminder. "I trained you. I gave you all you wanted; gave you what you most longed for at that time." Tomorrow. He remembered her words without her reminder. She had wanted tomorrow, and he given her so many of that. "Whether you remain ineffective in this war against homo sapiens that everyone is inevitably involved in, is your choice. But to betray another mutant as you betrayed me, is something I never would have expected from you." Because she was afraid of dying; because she was afraid of homo sapiens. Which proved his point: mutants lived in fear of humans. "If mutants are betraying one another, then what hope do we have of thriving in a world that seeks to destroy us?" This was why the Brotherhood was in existence. Because he offered them a family. He gave mutants that sense of unity so they would not fear betrayal. She already knew this. He had explained it to her then, when she was allied with him -- so that was what he had believed.

"So do not stand here and play the victim. Do not act as if the only thing I exposed you to was war and danger." She had already been exposed to that. He took a step toward her, not in a threatening manner, but nor was it in an amicable one. "Mutants are dying every day. I fight for them and give those who want to fight for justice a chance to join in. You may believe you are sheltering yourself from the war, but mark my word, the day will come when you will be forced to choose a side. And I pity the mutant, or mutants, you betray when that day comes." Because she was disloyal to him. Because she had proven that whatever he did for her, in that moment, meant nothing. She had granted him that permission to call her selfish and while he had not used that word, it was implied in his words. He no longer thought highly of her. Because while she still may be exceedingly powerful, she did not have the principals and values that he believed mutants should have. Loyalty. Honor. A sense of justice.

[Lana Kane]

"Your right, you took me in and showed me a world I never even dreamed of, but then told me that if I wished to keep it then I had to fight for it. Kill for it. Kill or be killed, prepare for battle." She had hated the fight training, hated the fighting. "I feel everything Erik. DO you know what I battle is to me? When I can't not feel everything everyone is feeling there? Not everyone has a magic condom hat that protects them from others."

"You've made so many foes, and are so afraid of what they might do to you that you can't even walk around without armor on." His helmet. "I don't want that life. Had I tried harder to help you I'd be deeper in your world, or in that same prison with you; and I wasn't going to give up my tomorrow in order to live in one that I can't stand."

"And just to be clear; Yes you took me in. You gave me clothes, and food and hope. Most of what I am now is because of your influence." Her tone wasn't angry but it was firm. She didn't get angry, but she was close enough. "But you never loved me . . . and I never loved you. Tomorrow isn't something you can just hand someone. I earn it every day, and help others find their own way."

"I'm not the victim here . . . but neither are you."

[Erik Lehnsherr]

Erik once again listened to her express her perspective of how things were. "I never gave you that ultimatum," he argued. "All I suggested was that you do something to help others mutants who do not have the safety and security you did. And the moment you had to do something apart from sleep in a bed, eat to your heart's content, and enjoy the luxuries provided to you, you fled like a coward." He would never force someone to stay with The Brotherhood, but if they agreed to embark on a mission, then he expected them to stay loyal and carry out the plan. Not flee the see the moment it looked like the enemy was gaining the upper hand. And that was precisely what she had done. "Mutants fear homo sapiens, afraid of what they may do if they are exposed." Which is why some of them had to hide. "Not all mutants can blend in as easily as you and I." Nor should they have to. "Just as not all mutants can use their abilities to gain the bare necessities of the day." Like she had. She could use her powers to get what she needed, as she had done so before he had met her and probably still now. But there were other mutants who's abilities could not give them the basic requirements of the day, like food, shelter and so on.

She was right about one thing: he never loved her. Not in a romantic way. He did have an affection for those in the Brotherhood, for they were his kin. They were united with him under a similar objective: to fight for human rights. And she had broken that when she refused to help a mutant who required her aid. She spoke now of how she was helping others every day, and he strongly disagreed with the methods of how she supposedly helped them. "And what exactly are you doing to help?" He questioned rhetorically. "You merely give them what they need for the day, and the following day, repeat the same cycle." This was no way to live. "All you are helping doing, is perpetuating an oppressive society for mutants." Couldn't she and the others see the big picture? Couldn't they understand that unless they did something, it was only a matter of time before they were all rounded and treated like a plague, more so than they already were. "Emma, Angel, Riptide, Azazel . . . so many others died because of humans fascination with our abilities. How is giving a handful of mutants food and shelter going to help the hundreds of others who are suffering every day." He didn't expect answers from her, he was merely attempting to broaden her perspective, trying to make her understand that it wasn't just about helping a select few mutants. It was about changing society so that they could all live freely.

[Lana Kane]

Erik was click off his points, one by one and Lana was already forming her reply. She knew exactly what she would say and even formed some dramatic ways to express them--but it was some of his words that caused her heat to drain from her body, and for her to step a stumbling step backwards in shock. Wait. Dead?

"They're dead?" She asked, ignoring everything else. "Wh-when? How?" Apart of her knew because of his later words, but she needed to hear it. Hear the reminder of why it was best not to get involved. They died because they fought, and the 'humans' came for them. She felt sad that people she once called friends were gone, and she had not even known.

A part of her also braced for Erik to tell her it was her fought for leaving them. Let him, she knew better. They had been there longer then her, were stronger then her, and if she had not left then she'd be among the dead. He'd just given her proof.