Trauma Therapy

Sorry about the long wait!! My muse has been testy lately!! Hope you like it!!

Chapter 4-This…can’t be!!

Charles sighed heavily as he thought out the best way to approach Asta about what happened last night. ‘Damn…this is not going to be easy…I might as well just come straight out and tell her. It was after lunch, so Charles knew Asta would be outside practicing her tracking. Sighing again, he headed out to find the young girl to have the most difficult…and possibly dangerous talk of his life.

* * * * * * * *

Charles found her easily, she must have taken a break because he found her sitting under the shade of a tree not too far from the mansion. She was watching the clouds pass over head. When she heard him, she locked eyes with him flashing a bright smile his way. ‘God, she’s so young, but her eyes always show a depth that comes with age. Her eyes…have they always sparkled like that?’ He wondered, feeling his mouth go dry as she stood up and walked toward him. ‘Get ahold of yourself!! Ahhh! Beautiful…they’re so green in this light!!’

Asta stopped just in front of him, smiling mysteriously. Suddenly she leaned foreward, capturing his lips in a heated kiss. Charles was so shocked that he couldn’t do anything for a minute. ‘I…need to…shit!!’ He pulled back suddenly, barely registering the hurt look on her face. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his embrace and kiss her all day, but he couldn’t. ‘Come on!! Remember what you need to do!! Stay focused!!’ He commanded himself.

“Asta, I have to tell you this before it gets out of hand.” She frowned at him, not liking where this was going. “I know you have a crush on me, and it can’t go any farther than that.” Hoping he wouldn’t have to explain anymore than that.

“What are you saying?” She asked, confusion evident on her face.

“Asta…you’re an underaged child, there is no way this will ever work out. You’ll find someone your own age to like.” Her face turned instantly angry and hurt.

“No I won’t!!” She yelled at him. “And I know you like me too!! You were going to kiss me yesterday before Kitty showed up! And later you…we…” She trailed off feeling her throat tighten with anger, confusion, and hurt.

“No Asta.” He stated firmly. “I wasn’t going to do anything.” He lied through his teeth. “There can be nothing between us at all. Your childish crush will disappear soon.” He said, trying to convince himself as well as her.

“I…you…this isn’t right!!” Her words failed as she shook with anger. Tears welled in Asta’s eyes as she looked up at the older man.

“Asta…” Charles started, taking a step closer and reaching out for her.

“Just stay the hell away from me!!” She screamed, spinning on her heel and racing into the forest. Charles sighed heavily, his arm dropped as he stared miserably at the ground.

“This is…harder than I thought it would be…” He mumbled as he felt a sharp pain rip through his chest at her words. Frowning he turned and walked slowly to the house, trying to gather his thoughts before he got there.

* * * * * * * *

*Asta’s POV*

‘Why was I so stupid??’ I asked myself angrily as I hurried deeper into the forest. I stopped in a clearing and allowed myself to break down. I sobbed piteously as I recalled everything that happened in the month since I’d first gotten here. ‘Everyone took a while to get to know me, and still don’t fully trust me yet. But Logan and…Charles…they both helped me so much! And…well…maybe I deluded myself into thinking HE had strong feelings for me, but he led me on!!’

My anger overrode the sadness as I recalled how close he had gotten to me. ‘He’s closer to me than Logan is, and the things he’s done led me to believe he had feelings for me!! It’s his fault I feel this way!!’ I felt the anger inside me bubble out and I screamed at the sky, tears falling quickly down my face. I couldn’t control myself as I began slashing into a tree, trying to vent all the hurt, frustration, sadness and anger welling out of me.

Suddenly I was hit with an electrical shock that sent me writhing on the ground. I heard heavy footsteps as they came out of the forest to stop in front of me. Looking up I saw a tall man with a feral look on his face, I’d never seen him in person but from what Logan had told me…this was his enemy…Sabertooth.

“Hello, little brat!!” He spat, reaching down to grip the front of my shirt and pulling me up to eye level. “Hydra may be gone, but there are still people from that organization who want to study you…and that will give anything to have you back in there grasp.” He grinned twisted at me and I felt an ice cold fear spread through my body.

“NO!!!!” I screamed, trying to break free. “I can’t go back there!! You can’t make me!” I fought fiercely but could barely move. Sabertooth just laughed and slung me over his shoulder and ran into the forest with me tightly in his grasp.

* * * * * * * *

Logan burst into Charles office, looking completely angry and shocked. “What is it?” The telepath asked instantly alarmed.

“Asta!!” Logan yelled, Charles felt his whole body freeze and his eyes widened. Storm and Hank stepped into the room, having seen Logan’s frantic run into the house. “She’s been taken by Sabertooth!!” Charles felt his heart stop briefly, his hands clenched painfully on the arms of his chair. It felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest. ‘It…can’t be…” Only Storm was able to see how deeply he was affected by those few simple words…

“We…have to find her…” Charles whispered softly. “Sabertooth would never think up something like this…someone else has to be pulling the strings. But the only people I know that would want her are Hydra…but they were destroyed, or were they?” He was talking mostly to himself, but Logan answered anyway.

“Somebody from the attacks must still be alive. The question is, who?”

tbc

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