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

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

[ 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. ]

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[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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.

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

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?

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. ]

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.

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

[ 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?

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?

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?

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

[ 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.

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.

[ It's less a laugh than a sudden exhale of air, the stretch of Charles' mouth half hidden behind his shoulder, but he doesn't pull out of Erik's robe, absently petting him like an overgrown cat. He meets his gaze again, and it's a grim dark morning now that grey clouds are perpetually in the sky, but in the dim, Erik's eyes hold secrets his mind could never tell. ] I'm glad. Most people would be afraid, but you're not them, are you?

Why should I be? [ Lifting up to press a kiss to Charles' shoulder. ] Your mind would never hurt me.

[ From the beginning Erik had been distrustful, cruel, but now he has this, Charles' love like a balm to the bits of him that may have been scared. ] I felt nothing but safe there, dear. Don't fret.

It's still a trifle disorientating to be invited to take liberties. [ Spending a good deal of his life cut out of his own sister's mind, it's easy for her to believe she's the one discriminated against, that people wouldn't accept her true form even if Charles did, but Charles never got that courtesy until Erik. Among the extraordinary and varied mutations of his people, he'd still remain on the outside were it not for Erik, and it's enough to have that much.

Giving a surrendering little smile. ] All right, all right, fretting is over.

Good man. [ Lips ghosting over his skin. ] Your ability is wonderful, I don't deny you that.

[ That bright, swelling knot of happiness is lingering there, almost a physical pain that Charles gets for his cares, but Erik treats him so well. Turning slightly, he leans to kiss Erik with all the trembling sweetness he has to offer. ] Mm, and good morning to you too. I trust you're well?

Very.

[ Leaning into him with a sigh. ] You're not cross?

[ Letting out a long, slow breath. ] Not since last night, no.

I did trespass on your privacy.

[ Pressing lips against his throat again. ] Not that I won't do it again.

[ There's that sensitivity again, his hand twitching and settling on Erik's knee. ] Mm, I'll be very cross, then, just for you. I might have to keep you in here to make sure the children are safe from it.

[ Muffling his laughter against Charles' shoulder. ] How noble.

Ah, I am the best of us all. [ Says the telepath in his most arrogant tone. ]

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