No Good Deed Goes Unpunished {Pietro}

[Erik Lensherr]

Henryk Gurszky. He was going by the name Henryk Gurszky. And so far, all was well. All he wanted to do was to live his life in peace, to be able to enjoy his family, something he thought he'd never have a chance to have. But he and Magda had found one another again. She already knew what he was; he hadn't had to worry about driving her away by telling her. She knew about his past, and still, she accepted him.

They had been married, and they moved away, back to Poland, where Erik had lived for a short time with his family before they'd all been sent to Auschwitz.

But no, he wouldn't think about that now, despite the fact that he could feel the ink set into his skin, the number used to brand him as a Jew. He had been the victim of the hatred of others once before; never again. Erik would live his life as a simple factory worker, and he and his family would be at peace.

It was part of the reason he'd chosen to work in a metal-working factory; to be around so much of the element he could control, but to do his job as a regular person? It had been a challenge, at first, but it served as a reminder to him, one that he would do well not to forget.

Today, however, he had had a different reaction. There had almost been an accident at the factory, today. One of the workers had almost been crushed when part of one of the machines had broken off. Instinctively, Erik stopped it before it could hit the man, dropping it to the ground as soon as he'd moved, trying to appear as though he hadn't had anything to do with it.

But at least one of his coworkers had seen him, he knew it. They were going to have to move. Better that than the alternative.

He made his way inside the small home he shared with his family, and his daughter, a precocious child named Wanda, ran up to him and gave him a hug. He smiled down at her, kissed the top of her head, and told her to run and play; he needed to talk to her mother.

<"We have to go,"> he told her, his voice soft, <"There was almost an accident at the factory; I saved a man's life."> And for that, they would string him up. < "We could go to Romania,"> he suggested. As long as they were together, they would find somewhere, but right now, he had to protect his family.

Tag: Pietro Maximoff

[Pietro Maximoff]

Magda watched her husband embrace their daughter. She saw the moment he stepped over their threshold that something was wrong.  It was written on his face for her to see, though it was thinly veiled for the children's sake.  Wanda did not seem to notice the tension her father brought with him and did as she was told, running out of the house to find her brother.  Magda's dark eyes searched Erik's and she gave a small, firm nod.  He did not need to explain further.

Magda reached out and gently touched his hand, pulling it close to hold it in both of hers.  "It does not matter where we go."  She was Romani-- it was in her blood to move.  In her heart this place had never been a permanent thing.  She had never thought of it that way.  "How much time do we have?"  There had always been an emergency plan.  There was a bag under their mattress with papers and money, but she would need to pack clothes and other necessities for the children.

The door burst open and banged loudly on its hinges as a silver haired boy burst into the kitchen.  He heard the bang and winced, ducking his head, anticipating a scolding for banging the door again.  Outside Wanda was yelling that their papa had told them to play outside, but Pietro ignored her.  He went up to Erik, breathless with excitement, and proudly held up a blue ribbon for him to see.  "Look what I won!"

Pietro was growing up.  His boyish round face was thinning out and his arms and legs were as gangly as a newborn colt's.  He had Magda's near-black eyes and inexplicable silver hair.  He was a restless ball of energy nearly every waking moment, which made school challenging for him.  He was often made fun of for his strange hair and his poor grades (he tried to listen, he tried to sit still...).  Outside of the classroom he excelled.  That day at the school they had held a little field day, and Pietro had won a blue ribbon at the 100 meter dash.

Now, standing before his father, his narrow little chest swelled with pride.  "I beat everybody in the whole school, Papa!"

[Erik Lensherr]

As soon as Wanda had gone to find Pietro, Magda took his hand in both of hers, her dark eyes searching his. She didn't even ask him to expand upon what had happened; she was ready to leave, just like that, and for that, Erik was grateful. He knew that moving was in her blood, but this place was all the children had known. It would be harder on them than on their parents.

Then she asked how much time they had. A little frown slipped onto Erik's face as he considered this. There was really no telling what could happen. <"The sooner we leave, the better,"> was all he said, hoping that she would understand. It was no longer safe for them here; they couldn't linger.

And then, suddenly, the door banged open as in charged Pietro, Wanda's twin brother. Though the two could not look more different if they had tried. Wanda looked so much like Magda while Pietro took after Erik. But those dark, dark eyes were his mother's, no doubt about it.

Before either Magda or Erik could say anything to the boy about the banging door (not that Erik was inclined to scold him at the moment; he was too concerned with their safety), Pietro held a blue ribbon aloft, excitedly showing him what he'd won.

Erik felt a smile slip onto his face, despite his worry. His children were his pride and joy, and he would do anything for them.

<"Well done, my boy!"> he exclaimed, pulling his son into his arms to give him a hug. <"I want you to tell me all about it,"> Erik said, smiling. They had time for that, at least.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Despite the situation they were in, Magda smiled down at her son.  Pietro had been holding on to that ribbon since he got home, anxious to show his father.  He so very rarely got recognized at school that his was a big deal for the little boy.  She let Erik and Pietro have this moment and moved past them, her hand lightly brushing her husband's shoulder as she called for Wanda to come inside.  The two of them went down the hallway to the twins' bedroom.  As they walked down the hall, Magda could be heard telling Wanda that they were going on a trip and that they needed to pack.

Pietro leaned against Erik's chest as his father hugged him.  He always smelled like oil and smoke when he came home from the factory.  Pietro didn't mind it.  It was a scent he associated with safety.  It had been part of his father's homecoming hugs since before Pietro could remember.  The boy had his father's complete attention now, which for a twin was always a savored moment.  <"I had to win twice.  There were three races with all the kids from the big tree to the finish line, which was a jump rope.  Then the winners of those three races had to race.  It was me, and Agata, and Moszek.  I didn't think I would win because Moszek is fast but I was faster.">

Pietro glanced toward the hallway, where he could hear Magda and Wanda talking.  Looking back at his father, Pietro tilted his head. < "Where are we going?  Do we have to go to school tomorrow?">

[Erik Lensherr]

Magda and Wanda moved down the hall, to start getting everything in order. He and Pietro would join them soon enough, but it was clear that his son wanted to tell him about his victory at school. Despite his intelligence, Pietro tended not to do very well, grade-wise, because he couldn't sit still, and Erik knew how much being recognized meant to him.

The little boy practically puffed up with pride as he told his father about how he'd had to win two races, and that he'd beat everyone else in their little school to win, even children who were bigger than he was.

A smile slipped onto Erik's face as he listened to Pietro's story; he had no doubt in his mind that his children were going to do great things. They already made him so proud, and all he wanted to do was keep them safe so that they could grow up to do those great things.

<"Of course you won, Pietro,"> Erik said, offering his son a little smile, <"You can do anything you set your mind to,"> he murmured. <"I'm so proud of you, my son,"> he hugged him again, a swift, fierce embrace. Come hell or high water, he would let nothing happen to his family, not if he could help it.

At Pietro's question, Erik stood up, glancing down at his son. <"No, you don't have to go to school tomorrow,"> he replied, brushing his son's silver hair out of his face, <"Your mama and I are going to teach you for a while. We're going to go back to Romania, so that we can show you where Mama is from."> Hopefully, that would be enough to distance themselves from his past, so that he could raise his family in peace.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Erik pulled him into another fierce hug and Pietro hugged his neck.  Then Erik released him and stood, gently ruffling the boy's hair.  Pietro bowed his head as if receiving a blessing from his father's touch, only to look up at his face with an expression of pure joy.  No School!  Ha!  And even better, his parents were going to teach them for a while.  This was a perfect scenario for Pietro.  He learned very well from Magda and Erik and knew 5 languages as a result.  Pietro was very very smart-- he just needed someone who understood how he learned to teach him.

<"Romania?"> Pietro echoed.  His mama had told him stories-- mostly fairy tales-- from Romania.  Thinking about it now, Pietro assumed that the family was going on a holiday.  It didn't occur to him that they were leaving the little house he had grown up.  This was his home.  To Pietro, a trip meant sweets and staying up late and exploring and running.  By the sound of it, they were leaving soon.  <"I'll go get my football.">

When considering what to pack for any trip, the top of the boy's list was of course his football.  He'd kick the thing around the yard for hours and sometimes Wanda would join in.  It was his favorite toy.  Stuffing his blue ribbon back in his pocket, Pietro left the house (banging the door AGAIN) and jumped over the two little steps into the grass.  He followed the path down to the edge of the yard where he'd left the ball and scooped to pick it up.

It was at that moment that a large hand clamped down on his upper arm and another over his mouth.  He was yanked back against the wide chest of a man.  For a moment Pietro was too stunned to do anything, his black eyes darting from one face to the next.  More men were coming around the side of the house now, moving quietly.  Most of them had weapons.

<"Holy shit, he has kids?"> one man said.  Pietro began to squirm and kick and the man holding him twisted his arm, forcing him to fall still.  <"They're kids now,"> another man said, <"But in a few years they'll be just like the rest of them.">

Now another man stepped before the house.  <"Henryk Gurszky!  We have your son.  Come out and surrender peacefully, and we'll be on our way.">

[Erik Lensherr]

It was clear that Pietro was excited by what his father had told him. A small smile slipped onto Erik's face; he doubted that his son fully understood what was going on. They would explain it to him, to both of them, when they were well away from here. For now, it would do no harm for him to think that they were simply going on holiday. It might even be better, for a little while.

The boy announced that he was going to go get his ball, and Erik couldn't help but laugh. That had certainly been one of the best presents they'd given him; he loved that thing. Yes, he was going to do great things, someday. Perhaps he'd be a football star. Or maybe he'd change the world. There was no telling what his children would do.

Erik moved further into their little house, so that he could gather up what few valuables they had. He was no stranger to packing up and leaving a place quickly; he'd had to do it quite a few times, over the years. Erik had simply hoped that, for the sake of his children, that he wouldn't have to do it again.

But he had chosen to save a man's life, and now, they were leaving once more.

Before he had done much, however, he heard a voice outside.

He moved to the window, peering outside the best he could without being seen. At least, he'd been planning on it, but the moment the voice said that they had his son, that was the moment when everything changed.

Erik crossed the small house in a few, long, quick strides, banging the door open as he rushed outside.

<"Let him go,"> he said, his voice soft and calm, but with a touch of danger behind it. They thought they knew what he was capable of, but if they hurt his son..., they would see what he could really do.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Pietro started struggling again.  The man who held him had his arms pinned at his sides and most of his face covered by his huge hand.  The door banged open and his father appeared.  Pietro hesitated, his eyes wide.  Whatever was happening, his papa would fix it, right?

The man who seemed to be the ring leader was named Cezar and worked at the factory with Erik.  He was a hateful bigoted little man who had seen what Erik had done and worked everyone up into a frenzy.  Mutants in the village.  A dangerous man, a criminal, a monster.  He had been the loudest voice calling for the group to take action now, to chase the mutant out of their village before another accident like that could happen-- because he had seen Erik cause the accident, he was sure of it.

Now Cezar looked up at Erik with cold concept in his eyes.  <"Now now, Henryk.  Kasper is being gentle with the lad.  Ain't yah, Kasper?">  The man holding Pietro smirked.  <"See?  Nothing's gonna happen to him, so long as you behave.">

At that moment, Pietro managed to bite the man's hand.  Kasper yelled and cursed.  Pietro managed to shout 'Papa!' before the man's hand gripped his neck instead, forcing his chin up and his head back.

Cezar ignored this, his eyes fixed on Henryk.  <"Now this is how this is gonna go.  We're gonna take a ride into the city and turn you over to the police.  You sit quietly and do as you're told and we'll bring the boy back here when we're done.  We got a deal, Henryk?  Or should I say, Erik Lensherr?">

[Erik Lensherr]

Erik might have known it would be Cezar; the man had always been a bigot, and not just towards mutants. He was the sort that would have cheerfully joined the Nazi party, if he'd been given the chance. He was the sort of man that Erik loathed above all others. And now...., he had his son, was demanding that Erik comply with him, or Pietro would be their victim.

The mutant's hands clenched into fists; he was trying very hard to keep himself in check, to keep himself calm, for Pietro's sake.

When he heard Cezar's demands, Erik raised an eyebrow. So, that's what he thought was going to happen, was it? He didn't trust the man for a moment, especially not with his child.

It was at that moment that Pietro shouted. Erik felt his heart thump in his chest and he glanced around for his son, clenching his fists even harder when he saw the way that Kaspar was holding him.

Taking a deep breath, he turned back to the ringleader, his fury mounting. <"No, Cezar,"> Erik responded, his voice deadly calm. <"You are going to let my son go. When, and only when he is safe, I will go with you. But if you so much as leave a bruise, you will regret it to the end of your days."> Which would not be far behind, at that point. If they hurt Pietro...., they would pay with their lives.

[Pietro Maximoff]

Cezar raised his bushy eyebrows and gave a pointed look to the various men gathered around.  <"Now you all heard that with your own ears.  The freak mutant threatened me.">  There were sneers and guffaws from the men standing in the yard.  Many of them had weapons that contained no metal, including a few who carried a bow and arrows.  Cezar looked back at Erik.  <"Now I think you misunderstood so I'll lay it out for you.  You are not in charge here.  You do not call the shots.  You answer to me.">

Cezar gestured to the man holding Pietro, who walked over.  "Now.  You're going to come with us.  Or I'll start breaking the little tyke's fingers."

Pietro made a sound like a growl or a grunt, it was impossible for him to speak with the man's huge hand crushing his neck the way it was.  Cezar found his wrist and held it out and Pietro balled his little hand into a fist.  He didn't understand what was happening, and frankly he was terrified.  Why were these men here?  Where did they want his father to go?  His heart was racing like a bird in a cage but he did not cry.

[Erik Lensherr]

While Erik had been willing to give himself up, to go with these men before, in order to protect his family, the moment that they had threatened his son, that had changed. And now, when it appeared as though they were going to carry out those threats, well, Erik was done talking.

<"You are the one who is mistaken, Cezar,"> Erik growled, somehow keeping himself in check. His hands were balled into tight fists, but he could feel every metal object in the direct vicinity, and he would use all of them and more if he had to, to save his family. <"You do not have the power here. When I said that you were going to let my son go, I meant it.">

And then, suddenly, without any warning, Erik unballed his fists, and before anyone could react, there were various metallic objects floating in the air, pointed at each and every member of the gang. There were pitchforks, garden hoes, garden shears, anything he could get his powers on.

<"Do not make me repeat myself,"> Erik warned, and his tone was deadly. The expression on his face brooked no refusal; if they did not do exactly as he said, he would kill each and every one of them.

He did not want to have to do that in front of his son, but if they pushed him...., he would save Pietro.

[Pietro Maximoff]

The result of Erik's threat was instant.  It was clear that many of the men didn't really know what they were getting in to.  One or two of the turned and ran outright, before any more words could be said.  Others had taken a step back, their eyes focused on the sharp objects hovering before them.

Cezar began to yell at the men who were running when Kaspar quickly put Pietro down on his feet and stepped back from the kid, his hands in the air in surrender.  Pietro yanked his hand free and ran and fast as he could away from the men and up the steps to his father, where he threw his arms around him and buried his face in his stomach.

Cezar, now left with absolutely nothing to bargain with, glared at Erik.  <"... This isn't over, Lensherr.">  The mob was already breaking apart as men quickly fled.  Soon everyone had gone, leaving an eerie quiet around the house.  The sun was almost set now and the fire flies were coming out.  It was as if none of it had ever happened.

[Erik Lensherr]

As soon as he made good on his threat, using his powers to show these men that he was not joking around, most of them ran. The man who had hold of Pietro put him down and stepped back, holding his hands up to show his surrender. A small, grim smile slipped onto Erik's face. It appeared that at least a few members of Cezar's ill-conceived gang had a little bit of sense.

As soon as he was free, Pietro ran as fast as he could to his father, throwing his arms around him. Erik held his son close with his right hand, his left still outstretched to show the others that he was in control, that <i>he</i> was the one calling the shots. If they so much as made a move towards the little house, they would regret it, that much was certain.

Cezar glared at him, warned him that it wasn't over, and turned to leave, following the rest of the mob away from the little house. The sun was starting to set; by the time they came back, the little family would be gone. At least, that's what Erik was planning.

The moment Cezar turned away, Erik dropped everything, knelt on the ground, and pulled Pietro into his arms, holding him close. After a moment, he pulled back so that he could look at him, his blue eyes searching Pietro's dark ones. <"Are you all right?"> he asked, his concern clear in those eyes. His heart was still pounding; he couldn't believe what had almost happened. They had to get out of here, and quickly.

But first, he needed to make sure that Pietro was all right. Then they could deal with everything else.

[Pietro Maximoff]

At the sound of all the gardening equipment falling to the ground Pietro gave a start and gripped clumps of Erik's shirt in his hands, his knuckles white.  Then his father moved to kneel before him and Pietro loosened his hold only enough to let this happen.  Erik held him close and Pietro rested his chin on Erik's shoulder, his eyes squeezed shut.

Erik gently pulled away enough that he could see Pietro and look him over.  Pietro at first resisted, wrapping his arms tighter around his father, but it lasted only a moment.  Pietro looked back and forth at his father's eyes and swallowed hard.  Was he okay?  Physically, yes.  ... However, this was the first time Pietro had ever come so close to that sort of hate.  He knew there were bad people in the world, just as there were wolves and bears.  But these things were far away from his home, right?  But suddenly they had been in his back yard, trying to hurt him...

... But his father had saved him.  He was safe now.  Pietro slowly nodded to answer his father's question.  <"I'm okay, Papa.">  His voice was a little scratchy, but otherwise he was just as he had been.

Pietro turned his head and looked down at the objects that had been floating in the air moments before.  A little frown formed on his face, his brow furrowed.  Finally, he looked back at his father.  <"You can make things fly?">

[Erik Lensherr]

Pietro clung to him and Erik felt his heart break. This was the first time his son had really experienced such cruelty....., and he knew that, if Pietro developed any mutant powers (which was very likely, considering that he was a mutant and the X-gene was passed down from father to child), it would only get worse. Erik wished with all his heart that he could protect his children from having to face such horrors, but he knew that there was only so much he could do.

And getting them away from here would be the first step. They could start a new life, where people didn't know who he was, where they could blend in and no one would be suspicious of them. For his children's sake, he would strive to live as one of them.

The little boy slowly nodded in response to his question, stating that, yes, he was all right. His voice was slightly ragged, but Erik couldn't see any injuries. Physically, at least; the poor boy had to be scared. But he would do everything in his power to protect him.

And speaking of power, Pietro glanced down at some of the objects that Erik had been controlling, a little frown on his face. He turned to his father and asked if he was able to make things fly.

A small smile slipped onto Erik's face as he shook his head. <"No, Pietro, I can't make things fly,"> he murmured. He stood up once more, concentrating on a pair of gardening shears, bringing it to him. <"I can control metal,"> he explained, setting the shears down. And then, he turned his attention to a rock, showing Pietro that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't lift it. <"That's my mutant power,"> he added softly, <"Magnetokinesis: the ability to control and manipulate metal."> There was more to it than that, but this explanation would do for now.