#been a while since i invoked the horsemen rule but here we are

[i-drink-and-i-write-fics]

Against The Odds

Chapter 4: Apocalypse

Summary: Charlie finds out it’s not just her Apocalypse wants.

They were on the road an hour after sunrise, Charlie at the wheel with Ben to her right and Mike in the back behind Ben. He had wanted to sit up front instead of the rare chance of a car accident. Something that haunted both men. But Ben wanted to sit by Charlie and try to get on her good side again, so Mike let it go.

She kept her word, explaining how Logan got his metal bones, who Apocalypse was, and what he wanted.

“The only thing is I don’t believe he knows fully what Turbo can do, or he would take over her body instead of using her as a horseman.”

“How does he find the mutants for his horsemen?” Mike asked from the back.

“My guess is Psylocke is helping him this time around. She used to work with Caliban and she would have the best idea of who could do what and where they were. As best as one can do without Cerebro.”

“What’s Cerebro?”

“Who’s Caliban?” Ben asked at the same time.

“Caliban is a mutant that helps other mutants. But not like Charles.”

Ben instantly understood. “Fake IDs.”

Charlie nodded her head. “He ran a quiet underground function with a few psychics by his side. Psylocke is- was his bodyguard. No idea if he put a pause on things to find a new one.”

“What’s his powers?”

“I never asked. Didn’t seem important.”

“Did you need his help?” Came Mike’s deep voice.

Charlie looked at him in the rearview mirror. “I needed his help for another.”

It was quiet for a moment. Mike wondered who Charlie had been helping while Ben knew it had been for her. And it was his fault.

“As for Cerebro, it’s…. hard to describe. But basically, Professor Xavier uses it to locate mutants, no matter where they are on earth. Humans, too.”

The silence about Cerebro worried Charlie so she peeked into Ben’s mind.

Why did you tell us? You know the US government will want it.

What makes you think they can have it? And I had to tell you. How else are we going to find Apocalypse? Hope he tries to come for me again?

Ben sighed and Mike decided it was time to change subjects. “What does Turbo do that makes you think Apocalypse would rather take her body instead of using her as a horseman? What would he gain?”

“Her powers,” Charlie’s grip tightened on the wheel. “She’s an omega level mutant. And her powers are telekinesis and telepathy.  I’m doubtful that he has those powers yet. When he transfers into a new body, he takes their mutations.”

Ben cleared his throat. “Ok, I think that was enough of the serious talk for now. We have at least six more hours ahead of us.”

Charlie frowned as Ben began to mess with the radio. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Shotgun calls the radio. You know the rules.”

“Excuse you? We haven’t invoked those rules in years. This is my car!”

“And?”

“Stop. Touching. My. Radio.” Charlie used her right hand to smack at Ben as he kept trying to find a station. “We are in the middle of the woods. There are no radio stations out here.”

“Fine.” He smacked her hand away and opened the glove compartment. “Oooh, what’s this?”

Charlie briefly glanced over to see Ben holding a CD holder. “Holy hell. That’s probably Wade’s. He’s the only one who still uses CDs.”

“Perfect.” He pulled out one of the CDs and popped it into the car’s stereo.

Rubberband Man by The Spinners began to pour out of the speakers. Mike sat quietly in the back as he watched Ben try to reconnect with his estranged sister-in-law. It was the happiest he had seen Ben since Margaret passed. How long had they been estranged? And why? Why wasn’t she at Margaret’s funeral?

How long have they known each other? At least over thirty years, that much Mike guessed. Ben and Margaret had been high school sweethearts and Ben was now in his mid-40s. Though Charlie didn’t look to be out of her 30s. So many holes. So many questions.

And if Ben was hiding her, what else did Mike not know?

In the front seat, Ben was singing along - badly - and poking Charlie to join him. She tried to ignore him, swatting his finger away as he wagged it in her face. But there was a smile she was trying - and failing - to hide. Soon she was laughing and singing as well. Her voice was amazing, to Mike’s surprise. Though, he supposed he shouldn’t be as he had heard Margaret a few times as well. Clearly, the sisters had been gifted with amazing voices.

Before long, Charlie was pulling up to a very long driveway that lead up to an oldish mansion.

“Welcome to Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.”

She pulled in front of a set of stone steps that lead up to the front door. The guys climbed out and followed after Charlie as she didn’t even bother to knock on the front door - just walked on in as if she did it all the time.

“Where’s Charles?” She questioned as they ran into Logan on his way out.

“With Hank, Havoc, and Raven down in Cerebro.”

“Raven’s here?” Charlie did a double-take.

Logan smirked. “That’s what I said. I’ll catch you in a few, Bub. I’m heading to town for a few things.”

“Alright, Logan. See ya.” She turned to Ben and Mike. “Let’s go. I can’t imagine he’ll be in there long and we can ask our questions once he’s done.”

They made their way down to the staff elevator, passing a few students in the process. Mike was amazed at how it just looked like an ordinary mansion, both inside and out.

“Do all mutants live here?”

“Far from it,” Charlie led them inside the elevator before pressing the code that would grant them access to Cerebro’s floor. “Too many mutants in the world. The X-Men live here as well as any mutants that come here needing a home.”

“You’re here often enough to have an access code?”

Charlie smirked. “Nothing gets by you, does it, Agent Banning?”

“You’re not going to answer, are you?”

“If it helps, I also have access codes at the Avengers’ Compound.”

“That just raises more questions.”

“That’s the point.”

There was a short pause before Mike cleared his throat. “Is Turbo here?”

Ben choked on a laugh as Charlie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, she’s around. She knows how Ben wants you to work together, but she also knows what you think of mutants.”

Mike nodded his head. “I’d rather work with you. A shame you’re not a mutant.”

This time Ben’s face began to grow red as he held in his laughter and Charlie shot him a side look. You’re lucky he’s behind us, dumbass. You really should have told people.

I know, I know. But this is priceless.

Before Charlie could retort, an excruciating pain ran through her. She dropped to her knees and let out an ungodly scream as she clutched her head.

“Charlie?!” Ben was at her side in an instant, Mike following after. “Charlie, what’s wrong?!”

“Charles,” she panted. “Charles is hurt.”

“How can you tell?” Mike tried to get her to pull her hands away from her head so she could hear him better.

“Xavier is a telepath,” Ben tried to get Charlie to look at him. “He may be projecting his pain.”

“But isn’t he here?”

The elevator reached its destination and was immediately greeted with the other group rushing out of Cerebro, Xavier unconscious in his chair.

With the help of Ben and Mike, Charlie climbed to her feet and rushed over. “Hank what happened?! I could feel Xavier’s pain in the elevator.”

“Someone tapped into Cerebro through Charles,” Hank explained. “Alex had to destroy it to break the connection.”

Charlie noticed the hole in the middle of Alex’s shirt. “What?! How is that possible?”

“No idea,” Raven breathed. Then she noticed the men with Charlie. “Why the fuck is the President here?”

“Raven is this really the-” Charlie was cut off by the slight sound of a portal opening.

A portal orb pulled back and they were face-to-face with Apocalypse and three of his Horsemen: Angel (with brand new metal wings), Psylocke, and Magneto.

“Erik,” Raven whispered.

Magneto’s eyes briefly flashed at her before he reached his hand out. Charles’ wheelchair lifted into the air and flew towards Apocalypse.

“NO!” Charlie didn’t think as she leaped into action, her hand reaching out as Mike pulled out his gun. Not understanding how useless that would be.

A blue, electric glow surrounded Xavier and he stopped mid-air. Magneto gritted his teeth as he tried to fight Charlie, but he was slowly losing the fight. Charlie kept her eyes focused on Erik, but concentrated on pulling Charles back towards her.

Apocalypse noticed how Charlie’s eyes slowly turned from grey to bright blue. “So, there you are. Why have you been hiding, my child?”

“Don’t call me your child, you creepy bastard.” Charlie gritted her teeth. “And it’ll be a cold day in hell before you get me for your twisted needs. I’m not some broken toy you can reprogram.”

“All mutants are my children. And you know better than most how it feels to be broken. To feel loss. To have people be afraid of you.”

Images from Charlie’s childhood began to seep into her mind.

“Don’t,” she whispered, now struggling with her hold on Xavier.

“Why else have you been forced to hide who you are, child? Not even your family accepts you.”

More images flooded her head and Charlie began to cry.

“Stop it!”

“All could have been prevented. All can be avenged. Come with us, my child.”

Charlie, stop! You’ll kill us!

The voice wasn’t inside her head. It was her memory coming back to haunt her.

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Charlie shrieked and used her powers to toss Apocalypse into the door behind him.

That moment was all Magneto needed to take Xavier. Mike fired his gun but the bullets stopped midair.

“What the shit?” Mike looked confused. And then in fear, as the bullets turned around.

But Magneto never stood a chance as a blue glow dissolved them in one swipe. The look on Charlie’s face was pure rage.

“Hey! Hey, asshole!”

Charlie noticed Alex running in front of her and the words barely escaped. “HAVOC, DON’T!”

But she couldn’t stop him. Not with her mind still in the past.

Apocalypse disappeared with his group as Alex fired a beam of cosmic energy. And a scream was stuck in Charlie’s throat as she reached out to shield the others as the sound of the X-Jet exploding raced towards them. Followed by the enormous fireball.

But then…. nothing.

No pain. No fire. No death.

There was a huge rush of wind and Charlie found herself outside with everyone from the school. She looked around and saw Mike next to her clutching his stomach and Ben behind him, bent over his knees. Turning some more she found the answer: Peter Maximoff.

“Good thing I arrived when I did. Another second too late and your shield would have prevented me from saving you.”

Charlie took a shaky breath. “My shield would have protected us. But thank you. How did you-”

“I was looking for the Professor.”

“They took him,” came Raven’s quiet answer. She was now completely blue, forgetting to hide her true form.

“Well,” came the rough voice Charlie was growing attached to, “so many questions just got answered.”

As she turned to face Mike, a strand of blue hair fell into her vision. Of course. When she was rescued, she didn’t focus on keeping up her false appearance. She sighed. “Well, as we regroup, Ben and I will answer the rest. But right now, you two must feel nauseous as hell.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Ben groaned between retching.

“So what’s the plan?” Mike forced himself to stand up straight.

“There’s no way Logan didn’t feel Xavier nor heard that blast. He couldn’t have gotten that far in that short amount of time. Once he’s back to keep the students safe, we’ll head to the Avengers’ Compound. I would say we’ll fly there, but that was the X-Jet Havoc destroyed.”

“We could still fly,” Ben chimed up quietly.

“No. You don’t even have the stomach for that right now.”

“You got a better idea?”

Charlie sighed. “Goddamnit.”

Chapter 5

#fanfic #fan fic #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #olympus has fallen #cinematic universe crossover #against the odds #original female character #mike banning #mike banning x original female character #canon typical violence #angst #gerard butler