Running Time

They needed kinetic energy to stop Apocalypse before he made the world his. What they had couldn't stop him, though once Peter volunteered his speed for the turbine to give them more odds… Erik had no idea that it would make him age immediately.

The roar of the tornado began to halt. As it went down, a figure was seen. Instead of a youthful face, an old man was in his place.

"Peter…!" Erik ran to where he stood.

Just about collapsing to the floor, Erik caught his dainty frame. This wasn't happening, no… He was a boy just a few minutes ago, he can go back to being his juvenile self.

He removed his goggles. The frame before him was gasping on for dear life. His insides shrivelled. For a moment, he thought he saw himself aged fifty more years…

Hank told them the downside of Peter's powers. Even though he can run at super speed, his fast metabolism was also a downfall of his, making him age faster.

Erik had a feeling he was Peter's father. They had spend time on the mansion training, though they were side by side as strangers.

Peter's voice began to croak. "Did we win?"

Peter was so, so talented with his gift. Any father would be proud how far he came. If only he could hold him as his son, and not his friend.

Erik nodded. "Yes… Yes, we did."

A smile went through his wrinkles. "Son of a bitch… we did it." His own pair of eyes looked back at him. "How did I do?"

Erik tried to smile. "You did splendidly. You were so… so splendid."

I'm so proud of you… You made papa so proud.

Peter's old eyes looked towards the skies.

"Never thought I'd actually save the world," he began. "Thought I'd always be a bad kid, though now… guess I'm not a kid anymore."

They both chuckled.

He was barely holding on. Erik took his hand into his, feeling the ageing against his skin.

"I am so proud of you…" rapid tears flew out of his eyes. "So… so proud of you."

His tired eyes seemed to gleam along with his wrinkled smile. The gleam was now gone. There was no life inside those old eyes. That's when Erik knew, he passed on.

He firmly grasped his hand, holding him in an embrace. He kissed his old forehead. He was gone. What used to be so vibrant, so alive was now still. Peter saved the world. This was his boy, his son… and he didn't even told him.

"My boy…" he sobbed. "My boy! I'm so… so proud of you. My boy…"