The altercation with the vampires helped Erik realise how closely the tide could turn in Atlantis and with his own world at risk, he could focus on being of some assistance. He worked diligently in Engineering, though he kept mostly to himself and built plans for defensive weapons and shields that could be put into use by his Mutant brothers and sisters.
His family - or the family of his alternate self - had also given him reason to be curious about them. Knowing more about Billy made him curious about Teddy, too. So, he had invited the boy out for coffee. With two steaming cups, he sat on a stool at the coffeehouse looking to the world like he had always been there. Self possessed, he kept an eye to the door and waited to see when the young man would arrive.
Teddy wasn’t stupid enough (or uninterested enough) to say no to an invitation from Magneto, but he couldn’t say it didn’t put him on edge. He hadn’t spent a lot of time with Magneto in their world so far -- really, it had just been when they were searching for Billy’s mom and went to Latveria, and there hadn’t been much time to get to know each other.
This was a different Magneto, too, and they had a completely clean slate. It was exciting, but Teddy also just wanted to keep making a good impression on all of Billy’s assorted alternate-universe relatives.
So he agreed to meet for coffee. He was running a few minutes behind, so when he skidded to a stop in front of the coffee shop and hurried inside, it was all in a flurry of movement. He wasn’t out of breath, but he did look suitably embarrassed. “Sorry, I hope I’m not too late.”
Erik gestured for him to take a seat. Teddy and Billy has been two of the first to accept him despite whatever preconceived notions they possessed and it had clearly softened him to both boys. When, in particular, Teddy displayed a dearth of manners, he smiled broadly.
“Not to worry. I’m glad you could make it,” he said. “I can think of a few who would turn down this invitation.”
Teddy took the seat across the table from Erik. He could think of a few people who’d turn it down, too.
“Yeaaaaah, well.” He shrugged. He and Billy were both short on family, and Magneto had helped Billy out. “We don’t really know you. You know?” Teddy didn’t want to get into the habit of writing someone off before he even got to know them. That wouldn’t be very king-like, and Teddy was very conscious of the sort of behaviors he’d need to exhibit to be a good king one day. Or even just a good hero. “Turning it down kinda runs contrary to that.”
“I appreciate the consideration.” And Erik further determined that Teddy’s interest in considering all sides of a story made him a curious person. Far more curious than some of the absolutist’s from his own world. He smiled.
“What might you like to know about me?”
“Um.” What didn’t he want to know would be an easier question to answer. Teddy put off answering for a moment by picking up his cup of coffee instead. He wanted to know how different the two Magnetos were. He wanted to know if he should worry about Billy. He wanted to know if Erik was predisposed to hating Skrulls or Kree, or if he even knew what they were.
“Whatever you want to share with us, I guess,” he finally answered. It was no secret that whatever Teddy knew, Billy would know too. “I know Billy really appreciates being able to get to know you.”
“I …” Erik tilted his head curiously and considered if Billy or Teddy had ever journeyed (or could) to his own world. He wasn’t sure if the boys would care to; they were unlikely to be welcomed as polarization and ignorance were all too often the name of the day. “I lost my family recently. And in doing so, I seemed to forget that we have a found family. It may be because I’m not good at being a part of a collective.”
Teddy’s smile was a little lopsided. “That’s not too different from the you I’ve met.” It was reassuring, in a way, to know there were some parallels. Sort of. He hoped not everything was the same, though.
“I lost mine, too,” he added, struggling to keep the bright smile on his face as he thought about the mother who’d raised him and the parents he’d never known. “My mom -- she, uh. She was killed. But she wasn’t my birth mom. She died when I was a baby. If it wasn’t for Billy and his family… I don’t know where I would’ve ended up.” Kidnapped by Skrulls or Kree, somewhere in foster care -- none of the options were great. “I’m sorry about yours. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
“ … I’m so sorry,” he said, infused quietly with that earnest belief hiding deep beneath all of Erik’s interactions. “I’m glad that Billy was an important part of your upbringing though. He really is found family.” A pause. It was easier to talk about Billy and Teddy. He wondered if it was as good for Teddy to tell as it was for Erik to listen. “How long have you both been together?”
“I got really lucky.” It’d taken Teddy a little while to understand that; he’d been angry that his mother hadn’t told him the truth, and lost because he still had so many unanswered questions. But Billy had always been there. So had his parents. Teddy didn’t think he’d ever be able to repay them.
“Couple years. It feels like a lot longer.” Teddy supposed that was what happened when you packed all of the things they’d done into a few short years.
Time was never kind. He had hoped he could stretch his decade of happiness into a lifetime but fate had come crashing in; to be two years into a relationship? One that had been borne in crafting one’s own family? Erik envied that Teddy seemed still at the beginning of his journey. He foresaw many years and universes between he and Billy.
He smiled. “That isn’t bad.”
“Practically a lifetime when you’re a teenager,” Teddy joked, though he knew it was just a short time when stacked up against fifty years. They had been different people when they’d met, in a lot of ways, however. He felt pretty sure that if they could get through everything they’d been through so far, they could handle anything.
“Actually, um. Before we get more cozy. Do you have Skrulls in your world? Kree?”
He frowned, puzzling over the words. “Skrulls and Kree? No. What are those?”
Teddy let go of the breath he’d been holding and smiled a little as he rolled his shoulders to release the tension in them. “So. Human beings aren’t the only sentient species in the universe, but I’m sure you’ve figured that out by being here. They’re, um. Mortal enemies. Sometimes hell bent on universe domination. Suuuuuper fun…. my birth mom was a Skrull, my dad was Kree. I guess they fell in love, but I don’t really know.” Teddy shrugged. He’d heard the stories, of course, but both of his parents were still such distant figures in his life. He figured they always would be. “Lots of people don’t really trust the Skrulls. For good reason, sometimes. But it’s kind of this, I don’t know, enormous weight I have to carry, you know? I didn’t ask -- I didn’t ask to be the heir to their empire. Or any empire.”
He was rambling a bit, and he knew it. Teddy grimaced. “I don’t really talk about this stuff, except for with Billy.”
To his credit, Erik took the news with only an arched brow. Teddy’s parentage and his destiny notwithstanding, here was what could only be described as an alien sitting with him. But logic told him, in this Atlantean study of different worlds and different races, his life and his world could not have ever been as small as he’d imagined. With that in mind, he leaned forward and touched the back of Teddy’s hand with his fingertips.
“You’re okay. You’re right here and you don’t have to worry about any of that right now. At least not where I am concerned. We are …” he paused for a moment. “We’re family.”
If the Skrulls or the Kree showed up in Atlantis, Teddy knew there’d be problems with Erik’s insistence that they were family. (The Skrulls might even be there already, he thought, and no one would be the wiser.) But that hadn’t happened yet, and Erik’s promise still meant a lot to him. He had no way of knowing if anyone would take issue with what he was; it was reassuring to know Erik would have his back, too.
“We’re family,” he echoed, practically beaming at Erik. “How’s it feel? To get here and have all this family you had no idea even existed?”
Erik sat back, giving Teddy’s question a moment to breathe. It was Charles who was always surrounded by people; Erik seemed to be compounded by violence and loss. He didn’t want to scare Teddy or surprise him (regardless of what he knew about the Magneto from his own world). But having this family meant something. It was a gift that he didn’t know how to measure.
“I’m thrilled, honestly.” He smiled slightly. “I feel lucky.”
“We are pretty great,” Teddy agreed. His grin widened. He wasn’t normally full of himself like that, but he and Billy had come a long way since they’d met and he was more sure of who he was now than ever. “I think we’re lucky too. And I’m glad you’re here. I think … whatever happened in your world, whatever led you to where you were, things can be different here. It’s a second chance. For a lot of us.”
Erik nearly told Teddy that he had no regrets requiring second changes; it was a bloviation, certainly. And one that was untrue. He had plenty of regrets and a pile of woes stacked nearly as high as his body count. He supposed they were not the ones most people expected. So, he determined in that moment it would make better sense to stay mum.
Because he really did want a second chance. There was family here; family that he could treasure and protect.
“I’m going to hold you to your sunny disposition.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Well, not always. He had his insecurities, he’d had his doubts. But between himself and Billy, he’d become their rock. The steadying, confident influence that could break through Moridun’s infection and encourage Billy when he needed it most.
Sometimes, now, Teddy looked in the mirror and he thought he saw a man who could be king.
He finished off the rest of his coffee quickly. “What was your world like?” he asked, a little abruptly. “Sorry if that’s -- a big question, I guess. I just, I only know what it’s like where we’re from. I don’t know what you’ve been facing.”
“That’s … hmmm.” Erik thought a moment and took the opportunity to motion for the barista to replace Teddy’s drink. “That’s an interesting question.” He supposed he could start at the end and work his way back as much as he cared (or dared).
“Did you encounter a mutant named Apocalypse? We had just defeated him. I allowed him to manipulate me but together with the X-Men, we were able to save the world instead of remolding it in his image.” He paused. “I had just been talking with Charles and found the road, intent on finding a new way to live in a world that didn’t see me as a Presidential assassin.”
Teddy shook his head. He knew he’d heard about Apocalypse -- he read just about everything about the heroes he admired, Avengers and X-Men alike, particularly during the months he thought he was a mutant. But he hadn’t faced Apocalypse himself.
“Can’t imagine you’d really get to enjoy life if the world saw you that way,” Teddy said. Probably he’d get locked up, or he’d have to go on the run. “I’ve never met Professor Xavier. You and I have only met a couple times. Avengers and X-Men kinda run in their own circles.”
“They’re not in the same universe where I come from,” he said with a shrug. And from what he knew of the Avengers, he was quite sure he wouldn’t exactly fit in with their view of the world. That was fine. If Erik ever found them in his world, he was sure he could handle them.
“Let’s pray Charles doesn’t decide to show up here. There are quite enough pedantic geniuses on the island.”
“He’d upset everything,” Teddy added, trying to be deadpan even though his face wanted to rebel and laugh, “it’s like a finely balanced human pyramid. One person too many and the whole thing collapses.” A small voice in his head pointed out that if he couldn’t even keep a straight face here, there was no way he’d be able to keep himself together spying, but he tried to shake that doubt away. “On the other hand, we could probably use him to…” Teddy’s eyes darted around a little, suddenly worried that the wrong person might overhear. “You know.”
With a snort, Erik eased his chin onto the backs of his knuckles and lifted a brow in some modicum of thought. “ … we could probably use him to bore COS to death.” Admittedly, Charles’ ability would be useful in getting into the minds of those on the other side of their war. But it meant so much sermonising.
“He’s young and full of himself. Well …” a narrowed eye. “Younger.”
Teddy grinned. That sounded a bit like someone else he knew, but he didn’t want to say that outloud and risk Erik’s potential wrath. This relationship was still too new for Teddy to feel that comfortable teasing him. Instead, he just played coy. “So are you. Younger, I mean.” Erik was probably closer to the age of an uncle than a grandfather, at this point. Teddy didn’t mind. Honestly, it was kind of nice.
“We’ll just have to figure it out without him. Between you and me, I think we already have the tools we need.” It was just a matter of time, Teddy thought. One day, they’d get it done.
The news regarding his counterpart’s age wrought a small smirk; he didn’t mind having something over on this other Magneto. But he turned his attention back to Teddy. The young man wasn’t just smart and observant … he was quick to see the positive outcome. Erik found himself admiring such a quality, as well. Teddy didn’t seem to do this as blindly as Charles. He had logic and observations on his side. It made Erik want to trust him.
“You’re not wrong. We’ll just have to put our heads together.”
“I believe in us.” Teddy meant it, completely. There was nothing he and Billy had faced that they hadn’t been able to handle. They’d stumbled, sure, but they got through it every time. There was no reason why they wouldn’t make it through this, too. Besides, it was their job. … even if they’d retired. “They won’t know what hit ‘em.”