but that's how we like it, and that's all we want

[atthemercyof]

[ He wakes up, and he's not where he should be. Gone is Charles Xavier's bedroom, the warm press of a body beside him, and in it's place is - well, Erik thinks it's a library. He pushes himself up off the mattress on the floor, black wood shelves looming into view. He doesn't know what's happening, only that he feels a little outside it all. Nobody could have moved him in his sleep, and if they wanted to, they wouldn't leave him somewhere like this.

He turns around to glance at the room twice, moves a little closer to the shelves to draw his fingers across the spines, not plucking them free just yet. There's a sound, somewhere outside the room, and he abandons the examination in favour of opening the door, taking the hall at a quick, but not frantic pace. He's curious, which is bizzare in and of itself.

Though he doesn't look into any of the rooms he's passing, it does feel like there's life in here, wherever here is. He hears the noise again, traces it through. ]

Comments

[atthemercyof]

It isn't my fault you've always seen right through me. One is not used to a man who's two steps ahead always.

[oldcardigans]

You've found some ways around my meddling from time to time. And, really, trying to drown yourself called for my extra attention, no matter how much you complained about me rooting through your head.

[atthemercyof]

Were you always that impulsive? [ Grinning. ]

[oldcardigans]

[ Coughing quite suddenly. Not suspicious at all. ] Ah, I don't know what you're talking about.

[atthemercyof]

[ Laughing under his breath. ] Of course not, silly me.

[oldcardigans]

[ Covering his tracks. ] And I suppose you often put yourself in danger so charitable, yet handsome telepaths can pick up on you?

[atthemercyof]

Ja. [ Mischievously. ] I find danger attracts them.

[oldcardigans]

Ah yes, well a master of magnetism would know all about attraction, wouldn't he?

[atthemercyof]

It's something I'm well-versed in.

[ Another smile, another shift of his shoulders. ] I'll share the secrets one day.

[oldcardigans]

Please do. I thought you simply beckoned and all the nice boys and girls would flock to you, but from the sound of it, there's a subtle art.

[atthemercyof]

Well, I only ever wanted you, so I suppose I don't need the secret any longer.

[oldcardigans]

[ Charles looks at him curiously. ] Only me? You never..? [ He doesn't know how a man looking like that could possibly get through life without wanting a single person until well into his thirties. ]

[atthemercyof]

[ His eyes widen slightly, like he hadn't ever thought to voice it, because to him it had been obvious. Erik hadn't known what attraction had felt like until he'd met Charles. ] No.

[oldcardigans]

[ Oh. Oh. So it wasn't only a case of not being interested in relationships or using sex as a means to an end, Erik never - oh dear. How extraordinary a creature Erik is.

There's a touch more colour in Charles' face now. ] I'm - well, flattered, for one. And a bit sorry that I, too, had to wait so long to find someone so exceptional as yourself.

[atthemercyof]

[ Smiling again, ducking his head. ] Yes, well. It worked out in the end.

[oldcardigans]

In many ways. [ There are questions he'd like to ask about that, about what that was like, but Charles does have tact enough to refrain. And somehow, Erik's feelings haven't changed with Charles' paralysis, which is so out of the telepath's reach of what he understood about his friend that he can't help being eternally grateful.

Gaze raking across the room's ornate beauty once more and waiting for the tight happiness in his chest to dissipate until he can speak. ] Shall we be off, dear?

[atthemercyof]

Mm.

[ He's going to come back, explore at some later time when he can drag Charles' around. Until then, he's happy enough to smile, cross the room back to him. ]

[oldcardigans]

Next time we have a few hours to ourselves, I'll let you strong arm me into wherever you choose to embarrass me.

[Rising to his feet, Charles reaches for him as soon as he's near, taking both hands for no practical reason. Sighing, clearing his head, his eyes fall shut, pushing his power down the right pathways to safely bring them out. ] Wake up.

[atthemercyof]

[ Coming to is a strange experience, Erik's eyelids fluttering open to the view of Charles' shoulder, a smile flickering to life. ] Charles?

[oldcardigans]

[ At first, he's able to muster little energy than to project a tiny ? at him, shaking off the effects of sleep like snow slowly melting. But he's aware, mind awake and whirring, an engine that's warmed up and ready for use, and it's left to his limbs to work past the pleasant ache and push his head up to turn bleary eyes on Erik.

The smile that blooms is sated and happy, voice gently teasing. ] Oh, you're still here?

[atthemercyof]

I don't have any prior engagements, so of course.

[ Smile coming off timid, Erik stretching at his side to shake off the lethargy. ] Are you all right?

[oldcardigans]

No reason I shouldn't be. [ Alert now and cracking a half smile, he raises up to sit with the sheets pooled at his bare waist, lethargically stretching to bend over his legs with the satisfying pop in his bones. Looking back over his shoulder. ] Are you?

[atthemercyof]

[ Watching him, a smile slowly making its way across his face, something possessive in the way he follows his movements. ] Yes.

[oldcardigans]

[ Sending a pleased little spark of thought, he reaches to rub soothingly at the flat of Erik's stomach, something quiet and wanting to the touch. ] I apologise for the unplanned trip. I don't object to it having happened, of course, but usually I do ask about these things before I do something.

[atthemercyof]

Oh. [ His smile widens at the touch and then Charles' words, dark eyes fixing upon him and taking hold. ] I thought perhaps I'd dreamt the whole thing up.

[ A half chuckle. ] It was fascinating, never apologise, I enjoyed it far too much.