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It's been over half a decade since Raven found her way, against all plausibility, into the rather odd family living at a certain mansion in Westchester. Only a year or so shorter than Cain's own arrival on the property, but as it would happen one of the last times they'd all three be there for who knows how long.
Arrangements that had been easier to pass off as just more chores and paperwork prior are starting to really have a ring of finality when uniforms are delivered and actual ship-out orders are received. For all that, it's a lovely day in Westchester, all dappled sun and blooming flowers. Charles is sitting out on a patio table, reading something which should come as no surprise to anyone.
*
Cain didn't even want to be here. He wanted to be gone, long ago, but this is where they punched his ticket to basic training. He didn't imagine it would be much - the war was churning up bodies too fast.
He steps out on the patio to light a cigarette, squinting over at his stepbrother, "Books ain't gonna do you much good out there, Chuck," he says with his usual derisive snarl. "Ain't gonna kill a lotta Nazis by papercut."
*
Raven. Well. According to most in her school, she was shaping up to be a very nice housewife. Her grades were mediocre. Mediocre enough to pass the class, but she was also smart enough to know that being a housewife wasn't her deal. Yet, economics did her well. For she comes out of the kitchen with fresh baked cookies upon a plate, and a pitcher of lemonade with three empty glasses for them to drink together.
"I wish you two didn't have to go." Raven mutters faintly, carefully placing the tray down upon the table. "It's really not fair. Everyone shouldn't have to do this."
*
"You're about six years too late if you were hoping to fight Nazis, Cain." Charles notes pleasantly without ever looking up from his book. "And a good thing, for us and the world in general. And we won't be deployed forever…" Charles finally folds closed the book, turning to smile when Raven appears. "And I for one intend to be ready for the next step when we're back… is that lemonade?" he wonders.
*
Charles gets up, clearing off the small table a bit to make room for Raven's burdens. "And no need for the long face. We're doing our part.. and we'll get to see some very interesting places, I suspect."
*
Xavier has partially disconnected.
*
Cain snorts, "Yeah, interesting places, that's what war's about," he says. "The next step if you don't get your legs blown off or a bullet through your thick skull," he says with obvious irritation.
He shrugs at Raven's point, "Don't always get to do what we wanna do. Believe me, if I could just ignore the world and do whatever I pleased, it wouldn't be this," he mutters.
*
The cookies and lemonade were sat down, Raven standing finally, her gold curls idly toyed with as she finally sits down. With a lean forward, she begins to pour the glasses of lemonade, a little grin pressed to Charles and yet, Cain's obvious irritation at the whole thing nearly gets her goat.
"Yes. It's moms." Parents, they were gone. And for now, the three only had each other. "Come on Cain, stop it, please. And just have a seat? I don't want to hear this. I mean, we have all the money in the world in between us three. Why can't we just go traveling instead of doing it.. the government way."
*
There's a brief twinge tangible to all three at mention of Charles' mother, even with the years that still hasn't entirely passed. He retakes his seat, accepting one of the glasses just the same. "Thank you for making it." he says.
"And there are good reasons to go. Even aside from the cause, father had ties with the government, well— ours and yours. It served them well. And it should be a broadening experience. If we're lucky we may even do some good." Yes, he knows Raven isn't the same age as them, and he knows some of the trials she's been through…but he's always been the sort of person who focuses on the bright side even if some part of him knows having a bright side means there's another darker one that goes with it.
*
Cain takes a seat and grabs a glass, although he isn't particularly gracious about it. He's got a mustache at this point in his life, sitting back in his seat as he looks with hooded eyes at the other two. Cozy as bugs, those two, they always were. And Cain on the outside, as usual.
"Well, ain't you the opportunist. Maybe you can make some money on the way. And don't worry, kid, you won't have to keep me from picking on precious little Charlie much longer," he mutters, the anger roiling in him still. It always would.
*
"You're welcome!" Raven says cheerily. Despite her age, and the falseness of it all. She manages to keep up the demeanor of being a teen; almost bubbily, somewhat studious, with a little bit of wild streak that would never leave her side. "There's usually no good reason to go and die, Charles. What if you two get shot? What then?" She jerks a little as Cain snatches his drink, a clear disapproving frown upon her face.
She stands, then moves towards the larger brother, forcibly wrapping her arms around his neck as she stands behind him. "Big Cain is angry-wangy about not picking on Chawlie no more!" MUAHMUAHMUAH! Right on top of his head! Only because she -knew- that he hated it! But she stops, resting her chin there, if only to make him more uncomfortable. "Promise me, you two will take care of each other? Then I'll stop complaining."
*
"I'd rather not fight at all." Charles admits. "But there are other people who are already getting shot at, Raven. Innocent people. If this is the only way I can reasonably help stop that.." he shrugs, betraying more uneasiness than he means to. He's told himself he's made peace with the situation, but sometimes that's easier said than done.
"We'll just have to do our best to be careful."
That anger radiating from Cain is nothing new or startling. It's been a dismaying constant over the years. As many times as Charles has tried to diffuse it, to convince Cain that they could all be a family, he only ever seems to make it worse. Even so, as Raven makes an opening, he jumps right after her, ever optimistic. "She's right, you know." he says, finally meeting Cain's eye over the table. "We're not squabbling children any more. We're better than that now, surely? Let's watch each other's backs over there, and then who knows? Perhaps the three of us can all travel Europe together once we're back." Charles offers his hand over the table with a tentative smile. Perhaps this change will be the chance they need to make a fresh start?
*
Cain takes a long sip of his drink. "Better than that? Yeah," he says. He knows Charles thinks he's better than him. Father certainly did - Charles was the apple of his eye, the son he always wanted. Cain was smart, but not smart enough, not in the right way, not in the things his father wanted.
Charles was a devious bastard, too. If he turned down the hand now, he'd look like a big jerk in front of their little sister. Somehow everything always worked out to make him into the villain and sainted Charles the innocent hero in all this.
He takes the hand and squeezes hard, "Yeah, sure," he says aloud.
*
"I know that." Raven says, hugging Cain tight around the neck. Borderline choking! "This all makes no sense. This war crap." She finally lets the bigger man go, flopping in between them upon her own chair. She does nod, offering up a sad little smile as she glances towards Cain. Yes. It was all on him to actually make the decision to look after each other. And once their hands join, her own lands atop of them, practically wiggling in her seat.
"See!" She nearly shrieks, drawing back, fingers curled into a fist as she giddily squeals. "My brothers are -finally- friends!" She leaps up out of the chair, immediately smoothing her dress down. "Excuse me. But.. I think this deserves a celebration. A feast! I'm going to start making dinner! And then we're going to party. We have about a good week, I think we can fill in everything until you guys leave!" She bounces, bounding to give Cain a hug first (since he's angry), and a smooch upon the cheek. Charles? Well, he's suffered with the same assault, though she practically knocks him out of the chair with her affection.
"Okay, stay here, I won't be long. I love you guys!" At least this time, she really meant it.
*
Well…it's something. Charles' mind-reading isn't exactly news to either of the other two, so Cain probably knows exactly why there's a disappointed look in Charles' eye even as Raven gleefully joins in on the hand shake. Charles forces a smile and gives a determined nod however, just the same. "Alright, then." he agrees. It's a start, surely.
Charles chuckles as Raven bounds around, talking of celebrations. "Quite right!" he replies, somehow managing to keep his seat in the face of her ballistic affection. He returns the hug warmly, kissing her cheek in turn. "I'd say we should make plans, but it sounds as if you've already got a full itinerary rattling around in that mind of yours." he calls after her as she bounds into the house.
*
Cain takes his hand back, accepting the affection from Raven and unable to entirely resist grinning at the girl's affection. She was a sweet little thing, no doubt about that.
When she departs, he looks at Charles levelly and says, "Even poking around in her head, too, huh? Just remember - I catch you rattling around in mine again and I'll break your damn fingers…brother," he says, then raises his glass. "To family." he says and then can't help but laugh a bit before he drinks.
*