#cause i personally think Charles but i bet someone think it's Erik.

[inmymagnetoera]

[kimoralov3]

Hello, Old Friend

Requested by: @nuclearpizza84

Word Count: 2449

Pairing: Erik Lehnsherr x gn!black!mutant!reader

espèce d'imbécile = idiot in french according to google translate

Warnings: swearing, talks of attempted murder, mention of racial slurs

Charles’ POV

“Who’s the next person on our list?” Erik asked as he sat in one of the chairs, propping his feet up on my desk. I pushed his feet off of my desk then picked up the notebook filled with mutants we could possibly recruit.

“Someone by the name of (Y/N) (Y/LN). They live in Atlanta, Georgia, and as of now it doesn't seem as if they have a job."

"(Y/N)? I used to know someone with that name. Do you have a guess as to what their mutation may be?" Erik sat up straighter in the chair. Oh, now he's interested now that this person has the same name as an old friend of his?

"No I don't, but I guess we shall find out soon. If we want to make it there and back before midday tomorrow, we should leave in the next 30 minutes." Erik nodded and stood up, walking towards the door. "What if this person happens to be your old friend?"

"If this is the same (Y/N) as the one I know, they'll need a lot more convincing than us being in the same boat as them. They're quite stubborn in that way." Erik said as he stopped and turned to face me.

"Like you?" I asked as I titled my head to the side slightly. Erik glared at me before exiting the room, not bothering shutting the door behind him. There was definitely something else going on between Erik and his supposed old friend.

----

Erik's POV

I stepped out of the car, buttoning up my coat as I took in my surroundings. We had taken a taxi to a small town, not too far from Atlanta. There was a corner store across from us, some restaurants down the street, and a combined book/coffee shop. Of course you would run away here. It's the perfect place to escape from your past. 

"Well, it certainly is quite lovely here. According to Cerebro, (Y/N) comes here every other week to get some more books for the orphanage across town. Very nice of them." Charles said as he made his way towards the book/coffee shop. I followed him, taking one last look at the street before stepping inside.

One half of the shop was filled with floor to ceiling bookshelves, all marked with whatever genre of book filled the shelves. If we were to walk about a foot forward, we'd be standing directly in front of the white and grey display case. There was a counter attached where the coffee machine sat. The back of other side of the shop was filled with bean bag chairs and pillows, while the front is where the tables and chairs sat. 

"Welcome gentlemen, would you like a cup of- Erik?" A voice said as they came from the back. I turned my attention towards the owner of the voice and smiled.

"Hello, (Y/N). How have you been?"

"Wow, he wasn't lying, he actually has friends. I'm impressed." Charles said with a hint of mockery in his tone.

"Erik, what are you doing here? I thought we agreed to never look for each other again." (Y/N) asked as they walked around the counter to stand in front of us.

"Well that was then, and this is now. We need your help." I said. They haven't changed a bit. 

"Oh, I've heard that before. You can fuck off Erik, I'm never helping you again." They said as they glared up at me. You always did look cute when you were upset.

"I don't know what the history between the two of you is, but he's not asking for your help. I am. In return I'm offering to help you control your mutation. If we could sit down I could explain everything further." Charles said as he looked between the two of us.

"Mutation? What are you talking about, I don't have any type of mutation. And who even are you?" (Y/N) asked as they finally turned their attention towards Charles, giving him a once over.

"I'm Charles Xavier. You see, the three of us all have a gene- well, a mutated gene- that gives us specific abilities. I'm a telepath, and Erik can control metal." 

"You're crazy. The whole time Erik and I worked together, he never showed signs of having any special 'abilities'. Other than being an asshole." (Y/N)'s lips curled into a slight smirk at the insult.

"It's not my fault you kept getting in the way." I said.

"You pushed me off a fucking train, Erik. I think it's safe to say that that wasn't my fault."

"You're the one who wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. I told you to stay in the train and wait for me, but you just couldn't follow directions." 

"So you decided that the safest bet was to push me off a moving train?"

"Exactly."

"Erik, you're not helping. (Y/N), I understand that you probably don't trust Erik, but you can trust me. If anything goes wrong, I'll take full responsibility. So what do you say?"

(Y/N) took a deep breath, looking between the two of us. I was beginning to think that they'd say no and kick us out, but they finally came to a decision. "Fine, I'll help. As long as Erik doesn't double cross me. Again."

Charles looked at me expectedly, making me roll my eyes. Please, we need all the help we can get. Charles communicated to me telepathically. "Fine, I won't double cross you."

"Excellent! (Y/N,) let's take a taxi to your place so you can gather some of your things. On the way, I can tell you all about my research and what exactly it is we're doing here. I'm sure you'll find it all very interesting." Charles said as he led (Y/N) out of the shop. 

"You coming, espèce d'imbécile?" (Y/N) asked as they got in the taxi. I snapped out of whatever trance I was in and got in the taxi.

----

(Y/N)'s POV

Charles had spent both taxi rides and most of the plane ride explaining his findings about mutants. To be honest, I didn't understand most of it, but he seemed excited to share this information with someone new, so I wasn't going to stop him. All I knew was that I had another reason for people to call me a freak. Once the plane landed, Charles drove us to his house- excuse me, I mean mansion. "Well shit. You lived here by yourself?" I asked as I got out of the car. 

"Well, not entirely. I have a sister named Raven, you'll meet her soon." Charles said as we walked inside. I can't believe I'm in a fucking mansion. If only my parents could see me now. 

"Oh good, you're back! Hello there, I'm Raven." The blond girl said as she smiled brightly and ran over to me and gave me a hug. I was shocked for a second, but I quickly hugged her back. Is this usually how people greet each other?

"I'm (Y/N), it's nice to meet you. You're Charles' sister, right?" I asked as she pulled away. She nodded and turned to Charles. 

"The boys are sitting in the kitchen. Can you take (Y/N)'s stuff to their room while I introduce them to everyone else?" She asked him. He nodded and grabbed my suitcases, walking somewhere down the hall. She then turned to Erik. "Are the two of you getting along well?"

Erik scoffed. "Me and Charles or me and (Y/N)? Because me and Charles are getting along swimmingly, but (Y/N) is being a bit dramatic if you ask me."

"Says the man who spent 30 minutes crying because he lost track of some stupid guy." I shot back quickly. Erik's jaw clenched as he gave me a once over, then walked in the same direction that Charles went.

"Well that was rude of him. Anyway, come on, let's go meet the rest of the boys." She said as she grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the kitchen. One boy was standing in front of the sink with a beer in his hand, another one with glasses sitting at the table with a bunch of files in front of him, and a messy brown haired boy digging through the fridge. "Boys, we have a new friend. Introduce yourselves please."

"Alex." The boy with the beer said.

The boy rummaging through the fridge stood up, holding a bottle of water in one hand and waving at me with the other. "I'm Seth."

"I'm Hank, nice to meet you." He gave me an awkward smile.

"(Y/N), nice to meet you all." 

"So, what are your special abilities?" Alex asked as he threw the bottle in the trash.

"Anatomy manipulation. You?" They all looked at me like I was crazy. Did I say something wrong?

"A-Anatomy manipulation? That's a pretty violent thing." Hank said as he pushed his glasses to sit correctly on his nose.

"Yeah, it can get pretty ugly. That's why I don't really like to use them. Hurting people isn't really my style."

"I learned that the hard way." Erik's voice came from behind us. I swear this man gets on my fucking nerves.

"Hey Erik. Did you need something?" Raven asked as she turned around to face him. She is definitely interested in him. 

"I would like to speak to (Y/N) in my room."

"Why would I go anywhere with you. You gonna try and kill me again or something?"

"I promised not to, remember? Now come with me." He grabbed my hand and dragged me to his room, closing the door behind us and locking it. First of all, that's creepy. Second of all he could've given me a chance to walk without him dragging me along like I'm some child.

"What do you want, Erik?" I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I want to apologize. For being an ass. And for anything else I might have done that caused you pain. Will you forgive me?" He said. His words were rushed, he stumbled a little and he seemed out of breath. He must not be used to having to apologize for his actions. Typical.

I stared at him for a moment, switching my focus between his eyes before speaking. "Well I'm not going to say that I forgive you, but I'm glad that you decided to apologize. What made you want to do that?"

"Charles helped me see something that I couldn't see before. Although there's something I need to do to prove his theory."

"And what's that? Be nice to everyone for a day? Well good luck with that because the day that you're nice to people is the day that hell freezes over." 

"Has anyone ever told you that you make things extremely difficult?" Erik asked as he looked down at you. Why did he have to be so tall? 

"No, but then again I've never had to work with someone as stubborn as you."

"Oh I'm the stubborn one? Aren't you the one who refused to leave a bar until the bartender apologized for calling you that horrid word? Then when he finally did mutter out a half assed apology, you still wouldn't leave? Or am I just remembering things incorrectly?" Erik stated, his smile growing bigger at each sentence. I chuckled and shook my head.

"You see, that was different. He called us both slurs, and I wasn't just going to let him get away with that. Plus you know you enjoyed it, you sat there laughing the whole time." I said as I poked him in his chest. 

"I always did love the way you would stand up for what you thought was right." 

"Oh, so you don't hate me? Well there's a shock. You are full of surprises today, aren't you?"

"Why would I hate you? You're the closest thing to a friend I have at the moment."

"If I'm the closest thing you have to a friend, you seriously need to work on your social skills."

"Yeah, Charles said the same thing. Just a lot more complicated, honestly I stopped listening about a minute in. He tends to take the long way of explaining things."

"I think he's just excited to be with other people. He's been alone in this big house with only one other person to talk to. I'd be happy to be around other people too."

"That's fair. So what have you been up to since the last time we talked?" Erik asked as he sat down on the bed, patting the spot next to him. I sat down and smiled at him.

"You mean since the last time you tried to kill me? Nothing much really. As you see I moved to Atlanta, and I was working at a coffee/book shop. Sometimes I babysit the owner's kids while she goes away for work, and when I'm not at work, I volunteer at the orphanage. Pretty boring stuff if you ask me. How about you? Still chasing after Shaw?" I ask as I look up at him. 

"Of course, he has to pay for what he's done. This is the closest I've gotten to catching him."

"I understand. But what are you gonna do once you finally kill him? Are you gonna move away again?"

"No, I don't think I will. I think I might stay here and help Charles with his plan- even though it sounds utterly insane."

"What plan?" 

"He wants to turn this place into a school for people like us- his preferred term is mutant. He wants to help other people in the way that we never had help."

"That's actually very kind of him." Charles does seem like the kind of guy to put others before himself.

"Yeah, I guess. You should stay too, you've always been more of a people person than I."

"Maybe I will. It'd give me more time to annoy the hell out of you." I said as I nudged his shoulder. He chuckled and nudged me back.

"It's getting late, you should head to bed. It's been a long day." Erik said as he helped me off the bed.

"Yeah, I am getting pretty tired. Thanks for the trip down memory lane."

"Any time. Goodnight (Y/N)." He leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I smiled and waved as I walked away, in search of my new room. Maybe Erik Lehnsherr does have a heart under all those steel walls after all.

[spectovrs]

so this is specifically dedicated to the amazing @sigyncevans cause shes in love with stevie and cause we wanted a crossover between verch x steve and ivonne x charles. so yea here you go, i hope you'll like it lmao

side note: before every part there's a title of a song that matches this part's vibe :D also, as you'll probably see, I'm a Swiftie and NBHD stan <3

warnings: mentions of war, canon level violence, some swears, apart of that none - pure fluff

word count:

hope you enjoy <3

I'M GONNA UPDATE THIS LATER THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY

------------------------- "Paper rings"

"Verch, hey Verch wake up, the sun has already risen!"

"And what do you want me to do, photosynthesis?" Verch asked Steve who tried to wake her up

"Hey, you don't need to be aggressive" said Steve with a little smirk "I just want to eat breakfast with my beautiful girlfriend"

"As you should tho" she yawned "wait a second I'm coming"

Steve gave her this heart eyes look which always made her heart melt. He took a few steps back so she had more space to get up. He looked at her as she stretched her arms, grabbed a hoodie and made her bed. When she was done he took her hand and together they went downstairs to the kitchen.

"What do you wanna eat?" Steve asked

"Anything babe" Verch responded "you cook so good, everything you make is great" she added.

"Okay,, it's cereal then" he said

"Not very ambitious but I love it" she laughed "thanks Stevie"

"Really it's my pleasure" Steve chuckled and started preparing the food.

Verch brought the bowls and cereal while Steve was finding milk. Few minuted later they had everything finished. Together they sat at the table, chatting happily, appreciating the fact that they had each other. They both knew damn right that they were so lucky that they met and that they had someone to share everything with, to talk about everything, sometimes cry to. They loved each other, there was no doubt about that.

----------------------------- "London boy"

Charles opened his eyes slowly and blinked as the sun hit him right in the face. He moved his head and now he was facing her. Ivonne. She was still sleeping, breathing quietly, hugging him very thighly for a sleeping person. Suddenly she yawned and started blinking just like Charles did. She scrunched her nose a little.

"I love your cute nose scrunch" Charles said "it reminds me of Edith" /fyi Edith is a cat Charles and Ivonne adopted/

"Since when I'm compared to our cat Charlie?" Ivonne asked with overdramatic tone.

"Since we got her. You remember when we first saw her? She had exact same look on her face as you had" he laughed "still, I think you look adorable"

"Thanks I guess" she yawned again "I'm hungry" she added.

"This was so random darling" Charles put her hair behind her ear "but same, so maybe let's go and eat something"

"Good idea" she sat on the bed and rubbed her face "this sun is attacking me" she complained as she covered her eyes with her hand.

"You're right" Charles said and rolled out of bed. He immediately stood up, offered Ivonne his hand ("will you take my hand ma'am?") and dancing with her to the melody they together sang he guided her to the kitchen.

-------------------------- "Play with fire"

"So, did you like the movie?" Steve asked as they went out of the cinema.

"Yes of course! My favourite part was when all heroes went into the sunshine in the end. So emotional" Verch said, tearing up a little bit "If I was in a movie I would end it exact same way" she added.

Steve nodded and smiled at her softly. For some time they remained silent as they both imagined their perfect endings.

"You know what?" Verch asked "It's not about going to a certain place. It's about who you go there with" she stopped for a second. "In my perfect ending, I go into the sunshine with you and all our friends. We're all happy cause we know that we did everything we could to leave this world better than we arrived in it"

"It's a beautiful ending" Steve imagined it in his head "I would love it to be real" he added. "It can be real if we try hard enough" Verch smiled hopefully "I want to try Steve. For you, for all of us" "Me too darling, me too" he kissed her cheek gently "I love you Verch and I always will"

Suddenly they heard a high pitched sound, as if someone vey angry tried to tear all metal around them into pieces. Verch curled up in pain, covering her ears. Steve immediately pulled her closed and hugged her so the noise was less painful.

"What the hell is that?" Verch asked with pain in her voice

"I have no idea" Steve replied, at same time trying to find the source of sound. He looked up to the sky... and saw a man in a strange looking suit, long cape and a helmet who was floating in the air and basically... worked like a big magnet. All metal from the street, which was cars, phones, street lamps, wires etc were flying in this man's direction and creating some kind of field around him.

"Maybe we should do something about this?" Verch yelled as noise was getting louder.

"Yeah you're right" Steve yelled back "luckily I have my shield with me"

"Wait Stev-" Verch tried to warn him but he didn't hear her. Steve threw the shield at the man and yeah of course shield didn't come back cause.. it was metal.

"What the hell Steve, this man rules metal and you throw your METAL shield at him?!"

"Yes, maybe this was not the best idea" Steve said with a bit of shame in his voice "plan B then, run"

They both started running away from the metal ruler. There was noone here, all other people ran away much earlier. Suddenly they saw a white light before them. The light was growing fast and it formed a circle. It looked like a... portal. They stopped like 100 meters away from the circle. They saw a silhouette coming out of the portal. Woman, dark hair, blue eyes, something about 25 years, in a black suit with white stripes forming "X" on her chest. She looked serious yet her view had something comforting in it. She saw them standing and gestured to the portal.

"Come on Steve, take Verch to the portal" how did she know their names? "quick, it's mot safe for you here" she rushed them. Steve, still in shock, took Verch's hand and ran with her to the portal. Last thing they saw before portal closed was that the woman's hands were glowing just like Wanda's but not red. Left white and right black.

------------------------ "Little dark age"

They ran onto a lawn. Very big lawn to be honest. Somewhere in front of them they noticed huge, old-looking mansion.

"Where the hell are we?" Verch was a little scared " and how this girl knew our names, who was she and who was this magnet man?"

"Well, I can answer all your questions, if you let me" they heard a calm voice. They looked around to find the talking person but there was noone in their sight.

"Uhm, who are we talking to?" Steve asked also worried

"I'm Charles. Charles Xavier. And I'm sorry I am in your minds but I didn't know if I can fully trust you" said the voice.

"Wait- you're in our heads?" Verch asked now absolutely frightened

"I'm sorry, but I had to check" Charles replied "wait a minute, I'm already near to you" he added. As soon as he finished the sentence, they saw him walking down the lawn. Tall, blue eyed and dark haired just like the woman who they've met before. He stopped few meters away from them and looked at them for a second. Finally Steve asked the question both him and Verch wanted to ask.

"This woman who opened the portal... you know her?"

"Yes, her name is Ivonne. She sensed that you're in trouble and immediately got herself in the middle of a multidimensional hole. But, here she comes" Charles said and, in fact the portal opened again and woman, or Ivonne as they just learned, appeared again.

"And how did it go?" Charles asked her "what did you do with him? I hope you didn't kill him"

"Oh no, of course not, stupid" she said with a cocky smile "the Avengers showed up and bet his ass"

"The Avengers?" Steve and Verch gasped

"Yeah, the Avengers" Ivonne said "not that they introduced themselves" she winked at Charles and laughed

"Ivonne's a telepath, just like me" Charles explained "we can read people's minds"

"So this is how you knew our names right?" Verch turned to Ivonne

"Yep" the girl replied "I know, it's wasn't really good but I didn't have time to explain"

"It's okay" Verch chuckled "thank you for saving us tho" she added

"No problem and you're welcome" Ivonne smiled "and I love your hair Verch. It looks great"

"Thank you" Verch smiled at her "I love your suit"

"Now thank you" Ivonne smiled back "well, I guess you're hungry, maybe you want to come in and eat something?" she asked

"Great idea" Charles joined in "Verch, Steve what do you think?"

"Sounds great" Steve said

"Yeah same" Verch responded

"Okay, Ivonne, can you guide us?" Charles asked

"Of course, this way" Ivonne started walking to the mansion and the rest followed her.

--------------------- "Meet me at our spot"

"So, how did you know we're in trouble?" Verch asked when everyone finished eating.

"I'm not sure, but it's possible that something or someone broke the reality and that it's possible to travel between different universes" Ivonne said and Charles nodded

"We think someone was at the end of time and did something that consequented into forming a multiverse" Charles added.

"So this guy, this wielding metal one, was from different universe?" Steve was completely shocked

"Yes, specifically for OUR universe" Charles replied "his name is Erik, also known as Magneto. He is... was my friend. I don't think I know him anymore" Charles saddened "anyway, he probably didn't intentionally go into your verse. He just got himself into a hole between a parallel verse, which we found out to be your verse aka Avengers Verse. In shorter version we call it AVerse"

"Wait, so now everyone can travel between universes?" Verch was clearly very interested in the topic.

"Not everyone, just people with powers to bend reality, for example me, or people who just got themselves into a colliding verses like Erik" Ivonne answered.

"Wow.. this must be so cool to have powers like yours" Verch smiled sadly "I don't have any superpowers, I'm just... like everyone"

"No, you're definitely not like everyone" Charles tried to cheer her up.

"Yes, he's right" Steve hugged her "you're unusually intelligent, smart, charming... you're the one and only" he added

"I'm sure you have powers but just don't know it yet" Ivonne smiled "you'll figure it out someday. Maybe faster than you think"

"Thank you guys" Verch gave them a soft smile "but if you'll excuse me, can we go to sleep now? I'm horribly tired and I'd love to get some rest"

"Now that you say it I feel sleepy too" Ivonne yawned.

"Great, I'll show you a room" Charles stood up from the table "one bed or two?"

"One of course" Steve winked at Verch

"Oh I understand" Charles looked at Ivonne "we have same thing going on"

"Oh God, can you stop flexing with it" look on Ivonne's face told that this is not the first time she had to deal with this "he literally tells that to every single couple we meet. "Hi, I'm Charles and this is Ivonne, hey did you know she's my girlfriend? Oh well she is, yeah we sleep in the same bed" and it goes and goes and goes and it never ends"

Verch chuckled but Charles looked like someone just punched him in the face.

"I didn't know it bothers you that much darling" he said looking in Ivonne's eyes

"Well, no it doesn't, I just like messing with you" she gave him a filtry smile "alrighty then, Verch, Steve come on, I'm gonna show you your room"

"Goodnight" Charles said as they were going up the stairs. They said goobe to him too and followed Ivonne who was already upstairs. They walked through the corridor to its end and Ivonne opened the door before them.

"I hope you'll like the room" she pointed at door on the right side of the room "here's a bathroom, I think towels are already there, if you'll need anything just focus on it, Charles or I will hear you" she checked again if everything was on its place "goodnight and see you tomorrow"

"Bye" Verch said "sweet dreams"

Ivonne closed the door behind her. Verch went to the shower and Steve waited for her outside the bathroom. When she finished, she walked out so Steve could wash himself too. She jumped on the bed. It was very comfy and soft. She wrapped herself up into the blanket. She didn't even know when she fell asleep.

------------------------- "Don't blame me"

"We can't leave it like that Charles" Ivonne confronted him "waiting won't give us more time and you know it. Do you want our world to be taken over again?"

"No, I just think we should know more about the problem before we start doing something about it" his voice was calm but his eyes were saying different thing.

"We already know what the problem is: the multiverse" Ivonne bit her lip "we don't have time Charles. Erik went to AVerse, what if someone bad from AVerse will arrive in our world? Avengers don't have telepaths in their squad and we don't know how to fight their bad guys"

"You're right, but still, we don't know if the multiverse is actually the problem. Maybe we misunderstood something or maybe only the two verses collided. We don't know it and, till we will not be absolutely sure, it's not wise to take any actions. Also we don't know what caused the break of reality so we don't know how to patch it up"

"You're just scared" Ivonne let out a little snort "you're scared of doing anything about it"

"No, I'm scared about YOU doing anything about it" Charles looked her in the eyes

"Why? I think I can handle my powers, you yourself said it"

"It's not about your powers, I just... I just don't want you to be hurt" did his eyes fill with tears or was it just the light? "you suffered enough Vonnie. I don't want to see you in pain again"

Ivonne moved closed to him and hugged him delicately. "I don't want you to be hurt too Charles" she whispered "you mean everything to me, never forget that". She missed him softly and rest her head on his shoulder.

"I love you so much Vonnie"

------------------------ "Sweater weather"

Verch woke up in the middle of the night from a nightmare. She didn't remember everything but she saw light, felt pain and... she had some kind of powers? It was beautiful and terrifying at same time. She tried to calm her mind but she only stressed herself even more. She heard quiet knock on the door. They opened and Verch saw Ivonne standing on the corridor.

"Hey Verch" Ivonne said quietly trying not to wake up Steve "is everything okay? I heard your mind and I wanted to find out. You sounded very... terrified"

"I'm fine, totally, just had a nightmare. It's nothing really, I'm sorry I woke you up" Verch felt really bad for waking her up "I'm really fine" she added

"You sure about that? It's okay, I couldn't sleep anyway" Ivonne smiled calmly "if you want to talk, I'm here"

"Uhh it's just that.. this nightmare.. it felt so real. I felt pain, my pain, and saw light coming from me, and I'm scared cause I don't fucking know what that means"

"Do you need a hug? Sometimes it's the best way to help"

"Yeah thanks"

Ivonne walked to her and hugged her softly

"I can help you fall asleep if you need it"

"Do you think I really have superpowers?" Verch asked after some time.

"Yes, actually, now when you had this dream I'm sure about it" Ivonne hugged her a little thither "they will appear really soon in my opinion"

"Thanks Ivonne" Verch smiled "I could use your help going back too sleep if it's okay"

"Of course"

Verch watched her as she rised her right hand and touched her scalp. Her mind went blank and she fell asleep with no dreams.

------------------------- "Leaving tonight"

Next day, Verch and Steve woke up and went downstairs. They met Charles who clearly didn't sleep well, dark circles under his eyes told them everything.

"Woah, you look like you didn't sleep at all" Steve asked him, raising his brows.

"I didn't actually" Charles yawned "it was a very bad night. Ivonne didn't sleep too"

"Oh my god what happened, I hope it wasn't our fault" Verch really didn't want to be a problem.

"No of course not, it's just... our world is not perfect and... I don't know if I can tell you that actually. I have to ask her first, wait a second" Charles touched his head like Ivonne did when she came to help Verch. He looked like he's contacting someone without words. "Alright, she's okay with it. Well, I am from a family that loved me and stuff but Ivonne isn't. Her parents never accepted her powers and basically threw her out of the house. She was fifteen at the time. She used her powers to get food, water and have a place to sleep. She was still studying and decided to go to university. Oxford specifically. That's where I met her. She was very closed and didn't trust me at first but after some time she told me everything about her past and about her being a telepath. When I was assembling the team I asked her if she wanted to join. She said yes. She was mostly doing a spy job and she was really good at it. But once we lost contact with her. She was sent to New York to find a well known scientist, who we thought might be in danger. She arrived there but suddenly she disappeared. We tried everything to contact her again but her mind was gone too. I was so worried about her that I went to NY to find her. She was in fact captured by CIA and investigated. They asked her about our team but she didn't tell them anything so they became more brutal. I somehow managed to break her out but she already was totally terrified. She has photographic memory. She remembers every single detail of the investigation. How she was tortured and stuff. She has nightmares. Every single night. But sometimes, it's worse, like today. Panic attacks for sure. Its hard to calm her down and it takes me whole night sometimes"

"This is awful, how is she feeling now?" Verch and Steve felt sorry for her "is there any way to help her?"

"I'm afraid not" Charles smiled sadly "but thank you. Now, would you like to eat something?"

"Yeah, sure"

"Okay, come on, let's prepare breakfast"

-------------------- "Call it what you want"

It was afternoon, Steve was training with his shield in the garden (Ivonne gave it back to him after Avengers bet up Erik). He thought about everything: about the danger multiverse created, about how he was in parallel universe now, about how are Avengers doing without him and about... Verch. She seemed a lot more serious last days and he didn't know if it was because of everything they went through recently or because of something she didn't want to tell him. She clearly had a secret and Steve was okay with it, he just didn't want her to go through this alone. He loved her and wouldnt sleep well knowing he ignored her problems and didn't do something to help. He threw his shield again, it bounced off the trees and came back to him. He threw it harder. And harder and harder. He catched the shield and sat on the grass, covering his head in his hands.

"Steve?"

He immediately recognised this voice. Verch.

"You alright?" Verch asked again.

"Yes sweetheart, I'm fine. Just a little tired" he tried not to sound weird. He didn't want her to worry about him.

"Steve. Don't lie to me, I see something isn't right" Verch didn't let him trick her "you can tell me everything, you know it"

"I just worry about you Verchie. You are more serious now, you laugh less, you don't seem happy, I mean you don't have to be happy all the time but I just feel something is wrong"

Verch went silent for a few seconds. When she finally spoke her voice was shaking.

"I feel like I have a power inside me. It awakened some time ago. And it scares me. I don't know if I will control it, what if I hurt someone? I... don't know anymore who I really am. I don't know what these powers even are" her eyes filled with tears. Steve hugged her and stroked her hair softly as she cried in his arms.

"I'm afraid Steve, I don't want to hurt anyone"

"You won't sweetie and don't be afraid, I will always be here with you, I promise"

"Thank you Stevie"

"I love you Verchie"

--------------------------- "Best friend"

Verch didn't remember next few days well, it all blurred into fear, sleep, eating and wandering around the mansion. Ivonne was feeling better, Verch talked to her a lot, she was checking up on her very often which Ivonne appreciated. The two grew up closer, Verch started to think that she finally has a friend other than Steve. She couldn't call the Avengers her real friends cause they didn't talk much. She saw them sometimes when they were coming to her house to pick up Steve. They were all cool, dangerous and... had superpowers. Were better than average people. It scared her a bit and always made her feel a little anxious. Did she say everything right? Didn't she annoy any of them? Maybe they didn't like what she did or said and now she made new enemies? Steve always told her that they like her and that she did everything right but she didn't really believe him. One small part of her always doubted that.

So she really appreciated Ivonne. She felt like she had someone who doesn't judge her, who genuinely likes her and who won't turn their back on her once she disagrees with them. Ivonne felt same way but, as she had in her character, didn't tell Verch about that. Ivonne's one and only real friend, apart from Verch, was Charles. He always was there for her, understood her so well and never left her side. She always thought about him as a very good friend but deep inside she knew that he's something more. "Idiot in love" she called herself out one day.

Now, that she had Verch, she was damn sure that she finally has a best girl friend who will always stand with her.

And Verch thought same about her.

------------------------- "Flawless"

Charles called them all to his office telling them that they must think about a plan. So, the four was now sitting on comfy armchairs brainstorming how to end the multiverse. For now, noone had any ideas.

"My brain hurts" Steve complained "I'm not used to this much thinking about complicated stuff"

"Same" Ivonne rubbed her eyes "even tho I am a MSc in genetics"

"I need a break" Verch let her head fall on the back of her armchair "this shit is tiring, all these... dangers, oh my god they are just-" she yawned

"Yeah I think we need a break" Charles also seemed sleepy "wanna go outside or have a nap here?"

"Move Xavier, I'm coming" Ivonne stood up and three fast steps later she was on his lap.

"Steve, you move too" Verch followed her friend's example, sat down next to Steve and cuddled into him.

"I'll take as a "we wanna take a nap here"" Charles chuckled and started playing with Ivonne's hair.

Steve pulled Verch closer and watched her for a second as she fell asleep.

"How did you confess to Verch?" Charles suddenly asked him.

"What? Oh, I invited her to the cinema then we went to a tower, she loves night views from high places, and I just... told her. Kinda basic but I couldn't think of anything better to be honest. She liked me back so anything would work anyway. But there was also one situation, we were at the Avengers Tower at a party. We danced a lot and I told her that I love her for the first time and we kissed.. all Avengers saw it so it was kinda awkward" he laughed quietly "and you?"

"Well, it was more complicated" Charles chuckled again "Ivonne's a telepath so if she wanted to, she could've known the truth immediately. But I wanted to tell her myself and I did. It was in the middle of a battle, she was injured. I took her away from the battlefield, tried to cheer her up and it just... happened. She was first girl I ever kissed"

"Wow now that's elite" Steve couldn't help laughing a bit "what was your friends' reaction to you two dating?"

"Raven said she wasn't surprised, Hank said that he knew it all along, Erik didn't care, only Peter and Alex were totally shocked and didn't stop joking about it since then" Charles made a face that let Steve know that he doesn't like Peter and Alex's jokes "oh, and Logan said that it's really nice to hear that we're happy and stuff, only one normal person really"

"Well my friends were supportive, at least most of them. Nat was totally in heaven when I told her, she told me she shipped us from the beginning, Tony joked about it but he was genuinely happy for us, Clint said that he will take care of our kids when we have them, Vision as he has in habit, was VERY much like Tony but nicer, Thor said that he can arrange us a nice wedding in Asgard and Bruce... well Bruce was in shock but in a nice shock I mean he was happy but shocked"

"I would love to meet your friends"

"And I'd love to meet yours"

------------------------- "Softcore"

So, after some more talks they came out with a plan. It was simple: find The Avengers and maybe some X-Men and make a team out of that. They weren't sure if it will work and if anyone would be interested but they thought they should do it anyway. In worst case they would just end up alone and fight without any help.

They all started training, each one different. Steve trained with his shield, mostly ran around an obstacle course Ivonne made for him. Verch trained sword fighting as she was great in it and it was useful. Ivonne trained her powers in other obstacle course which also included using knifes. Charles just walked around the town trying to confuse people.

After two weeks they were ready. They suited up and walked out on the lawn.

"Alright, yall ready?" Ivonne asked them "I'm opening the portal"

They watched her as she moved her hands in some kind of circle and then pushed it forward. Portal opened.

"Welcome to the Avengers reality" she said with some fear in her voice "everyone remembers who they need to find?"

Everyone remembered so they went through the portal. They appeared in New York, near the Avengers Tower.

"Good luck" Verch said "see you soon"

Steve walked down the street to the Tower, Verch caught a bus to Louisiana, Ivonne quickly found out which way she should go and Charles turned back and went to the city centre.

------------------------- "Stargazing"

Steve was standing before the Tower. He took a deep breath and opened the door. He took a lift to highest floor. The lift stopped and he got out. He was home.

His best friends were here but who should he talk to first? Who would believe him? Sam was in his house, Bucky also was away and Scott... well he didn't know but he definitely was not here. Suddenly the idea flashed in his head. Thor! He would believe him if he wasn't in Asgard. Steve went to the living room, expecting at least one of his friends to be there. He was right but the person chilling on the sofa wasn't Thor.

"Steve! You're back" Clint shouted as he saw Steve coming "where have you been mate?!"

"Oh you wouldn't believe me" Steve hugged his friend "I was in alternate reality"

"For real?! Oh God this is amazing!" Clint looked now like a puppy whom you offered a walk "how does it look like, are the people nice, do I exist there, are there superheroes, is there McDonald-"

"Clint please don't ask me this much questions in one minute, my brain aches" Steve laughed "it's pretty much like ours, but there are no Avengers, their superheroes are called X-Men"

"Did you meet them?" Clints eyes shone like two stars from excitement

"Yes, to be honest I lived with two of them in one house for three weeks. They're really nice" Steve tried to calm Clint down

"What superpowers do they have?" Clint couldn't stop asking

"They're both telepaths but one has also powers pretty much like Wanda's"

"What are their names and can I meet them?"

"They are Charles and Ivonne and no, you cannot you HAVE TO. We need your help to patch the multiversal mess up"

"OH. MY. GOD IM GONNA TRAVEL TO ANOTHER UNIVERSE" Clint yelled so loud that he woke up Tony

"Why are you yelling Clint" Tony asked with a sleepy voice "Oh hey Steve, I thought you died"

"Hello Tony, no I'm not dead" Steve was not surprised with Tony's joke "Clint you tell him, I'm gonna find and informate the rest"

"Of course Cap" Clint saluted as Steve walked to the kitchen. Steve heard Clint happily explain everything to Tony and Tony sobbing cause he didn't understand anything from Clint's babbling.

"At least they didn't change" Steve whispered to himself.

---------------------------------

Verch got out of the bus and looked around. She was in Louisiana and she needed to find one person. From what Steve told her and she knew herself she figured out that she needs to go to the forest so she did. Few minutes later she walked onto a lawn. She saw a nice looking house and two kids playing outside of it.

"Hey boys" she smiled at them "can you tell me if Sam Wilson lives here?"

"Yup, he does" the taller one answered "should I ask him to come here?"

"Yes, thank you" Verch answered. Boys went to the house and she waited outside. After a minute Sam walked out of the house.

"Oh my, Verch! Hi its been a while" he smiled and hugged her "it's so nice to see you"

"Back at you Birdie" Verch hugged him back

"So what is going on? I know that you want something from me, what happened?"

"Multiverse. Steve, I and our new friends are assembling the team to fix the problem"

"Let me guess, your new friends are not from our world"

"How did you- okay nevermind. Yes they are, and they will help us a lot. When we get everyone from our universe we gonna find heroes from theirs"

"Who do you have for now?"

"Me, Steve, Clint for sure, maybe Nat and Bruce, Thor, Tony if he will not laugh at Steve and you"

"Nice team, what about Wanda and Vision?"

"We don't know where to find them. But we will ask Doctor Strange if he wants to join"

"Oh that's great, are you gonna ask Bucky? I personally think he would be very useful"

"Right, we have that covered tho. One of our new friends is going to ask him"

"Is he or she a good fighter? Just in case Bucky gets,, you know scared"

"She's a telepath"

"Well then I think she will handle him. Also, I'm in. I wanna be in the team"

"Thanks Sam"

------------------------------

Ivonne stopped before a bar. She felt persistence of Bucky Barnes inside it. Thanks to everything Steve told her about him, he was easy to find. But, she was a telepath so everyone was easy to find for her.

She entered the bar and quickly located Barnes. He was sitting in the darkest corner, alone. She took her chance and sat at other side of his table.

"What do you want" he asked her, his voice sounded a bit russian.

"I want your help, James" she used his first name cause she didn't know if she can call him Bucky.

"Wow I see youre informed" he sounded chill but she felt his thoughts - his head was flashing red lights

"Not to worry James, I'm not your enemy, i don't want to hurt you. I'm Ivonne Xavier, Steve Rogers sent me" she thought it won't be a good idea to reveal her powers till she won't fully trust him

"So that's how you knew my name" he finally raised his head and looked at her. His eyes were nearly same color to Charles'.

"Yeah. Stev- WE need your help. Multiverse emerged and we need everyone we can get help from to fix it. You are on the list"

"We? Who do you mean?"

"Me, Steve, Verch and my fiancé. Also the entire world and probably the whole multiverse"

"Wait.. you're not from our universe are you? No, don't answer, if you were you would've been recruited by the Avengers long time ago. You clearly have superpowers"

"How did you know?"

"When you entered the bar, door opened but you didn't use your arm for this. Yes, you raised your hand but none of your muscles moved when you opened the door. Small detail, I think noone spotted it except me"

"Wow you have nice sight. Anyway, do you wanna join our funky team?"

"Give me time to think about it" he thought about something for a second "come back in two hours. I'll tell you what I decided"

"Sure. See you in two hours then" she stood up and left with a thought that James is definitely hiding something, but she didn't know what. Yet.

----------------------------------

177A Bleeker Street. Charles read the address and looked at the building he had in front of him. He was at the right place. He knew it not only because the address was right but also because he sensed someone very powerful inside of the building. Probably Doctor Strange. Now he needed to convince Sorcerer Supreme to help him.

He took a deep breath and opened the door. He was in a big hall, before him there were huge stairs. He raised his hand to his head and "scanned" the area upstairs. Nothing.

"Well, you're a telepath. Nice gift" Charles heard a voice on his right. He moved around and saw a tall, dark haired man in a long, red cloak.

"You're Doctor Strange right? Steve Rogers sent me, we need your help"

"Yes, it's me. And what do you need help with? Multiverse, maybe?"

"Exactly. So you already know something about it"

"Yes, it is in fact a multiverse, and I suppose you are from a parallel universe, am I right?"

"You are. Anyway, would you help us fix the problem? You would help a lot, cause we don't know much about realities, universes and stuff like that"

"Let me think.. yeah I think I can help you. In fact, I was actually gonna start looking for a solution for the multiverse issue and I've already collected some clues"

"That's great! When do we start?"

-------------------------------

[earnestly-endlessly]

Can i request Cherik fic rec of collage au? Pretty please? Extra cookie points if it’s long fic

Thank you for the request anon! I am so sorry how late this is, but I hope that this list will give you plenty of new fics to read and enjoy!! 

College/University Cherik AU 

** Where they’re both college/university students**

A Road Trip to Pennsylvania – Aainiouu

Summary: For a year Charles has nurtured the biggest and most embarrassing crush known to man towards Erik. They are friends and roommates and when Erik asks Charles to accompany him to home on Thanksgiving of course Charles goes.

Of kittens and teacups and love – Ren

Summary: Modern AU in which Charles and Erik are flatmates. Charles studies psychology and likes tea and chess and keeps bringing home stray kittens, and Erik lets him because he's maybe perhaps a little bit sort of in love with him.

Love Medley – ikeracity

Summary: Charles and Erik have been friends and roommates for two years. They've also, coincidentally, been in love with each other for two years. Neither of them has ever had the courage to admit it to the other, but Erik's new friendship with Magda and an untimely accident forces them to confront their feelings once and for all.

it was a red scarf semester – ikeracity

Summary: When Erik makes a bet that he can get into Charles Xavier's pants before the semester ends, he doesn't expect Charles to resist quite so much. And he doesn't expect Charles to change everything he thought he knew about mutants, friendship, and love.

Can You Feel My Heart – FuryRed

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr hates Charles Xavier.It’s as true as the words written on the wall in the bathroom at the university that Erik attends. Erik sees them one day- accompanied by a crude drawing of Erik and Charles glaring at each other- and recognises the truth of the sentence, and smiles.

He hates Charles. Probably…

Enemies With Benefits – bettysofia

Summary: Casual sex with your sworn enemy gets tricky once feelings get involved.

CMUniverse - Pookaseraph

Summary: A series of fics that star Tony, Charles, and Erik (and probably some others as the idea expands) at Carnegie Mellon University. Some are AU of each other, don't use logic.

Math Reasons - pearl_o, pocky_slash

Summary: "Mom says Erik always knows what he wants, it just sometimes takes him a little while to actually realize it," Ruth said.

Charles fell in love with Erik the first night they met, the first week of freshman year. Two years of friendship, adventures, arguments, hijinks, secrets, and summer visits later, Erik is starting to catch up.

Still Life with Cookies – stlkrchck

Summary: It wasn't fair that he only wanted Erik to draw him when Erik wanted to listen to him talk about how unfair the lack of emphasis that tenure committees placed on teaching ability was and tuck him into the hat and scarf and mittens that he wore even though it wasn’t properly cold yet and kiss his gorgeous, ridiculously red mouth and make out with Charles on the bed that he'd apparently wedged between the window and "pipes of some sort, don't ask me why there are pipes in my room, Erik," in his tiny dorm room.

Or: Charles is a nude model, and Erik is an art student.

The Pretender – Clocks

Summary: Charles is sick of having his best friend Erik drop to one knee and fake-propose to him in restaurants, just to score a free dessert. He doesn’t know which is worse: the complete embarrassment, or the likelihood that Erik doesn’t mean a word of it.

That time the System didn’t work – bluexlily

Summary: "pick each other up from bad dates" au

They had stablished The System a long, long time ago.

Since they became each other’s roommate, actually, and realized that they had more in common than their home state and decided they should be friends.

Whenever he or Charles is on a date, they send a first message after meeting the prospected boyfriend.

Accidentally Welcome to the Rest of Your Lives - Kianspo

Summary: Non-powered college AU. Erik and Charles have nothing in common until they end up having sex at someone's party. They don't have much in common after that, either, but find each other a hard habit to quit.

A Study in Advanced Lecherism - orphan_account

Summary: Charles has this thing he does when he's drunk. He gets completely lecherous. For some reason, that really pisses Erik off. Who knew?

Learning Curve – pocky_slash

Summary: (Non-powered college AU) Erik takes a trip back to campus to visit a despondent Charles and does his best to offer comfort.

Charles Does Not Buy a Shamwow - Madneto

Summary: Charles and Erik are spending the first few days of their university's winter break alone at Erik's mother's house. Then, Erik's mother decides to come home early unannounced... while Erik and Charles are naked on the living room couch.

5 Times Charles Had Nothing to Say and 1 Time He Did – BadLuckBlueEyes

Summary: Charles Xavier usually has a lot to say. But sometimes he doesn't and that's nice too. (Written for the prompt: Erik befriending and falling in love with mute!Charles)

Five Useful Signs When Dating Charles Xavier (a down under remix) – letosatie

Summary: Erik meets a fascinating mute boy and rapidly discovers sign language is useful.

Home Together (The Finding Our Way Remix) – significantowl

Summary: Erik is not the sort of person other students strike up conversations with. His expression, his posture, every part of his manner say: Don’t talk to me. I don’t want to talk to you. But none of that stops the boy ahead of him in line with the collapsible white cane, and nothing can stop Erik from falling for him, like it or not.

The Wall (a.k.a.  Erik Lensherr) – fkbunnyclub

Summary: Charles doesn't really want to have a crush on the cute stoic senior who keeps dropping by the library where he works who also has a pregnant girlfriend. Or so he thinks.

Building a fire – dedkake

Summary: Erik wishes he were in law school instead of med school, because then he would be researching the legal remedies for the doubtless thousands of violations his apartment building's slumlord owner, Sebastian Shaw, has perpetrated on his tenants.

On the bright side, maybe he can finally coax his bizarrely oblivious roommate, Charles into sharing his bed, or curling up together on the couch under many blankets. Purely for surviving the night, of course.

April Showers – ikeracity

Summary: Walking home in the dark in a rainstorm is not Charles' idea of a pleasant night. Of course, the stranger with the umbrella who offers to walk him home makes the experience infinitely more agreeable.

Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei – Darksknight

Summary: “My mother has expressed that if I come dateless, I will be assigned one, to put it lightly. So, you see... well, I have a favor to ask. Erik, darling. Will you be my pretend boyfriend?"

Erik thinks it over for a second. "... No."

Mutant House at Dead Kings College – mabyn

Summary: When it comes to romance, Charles has terrible timing.

Best of Enemies – Black_Betty

Summary: Student and mutant rights activist Erik Lehnsherr is furious when the college newspaper chooses to interview his opponent Charles Xavier instead of him.

He's mad because of the politics of the thing. It nothing to do with how hot Charles looks in the picture accompanying the article.

Seriously.

The Luck You’re Born With – Lynds

Summary: College AU. Erik thinks Charles Xavier is an arrogant, rich brat, whose only redeeming quality is his intellect. Charles never disputes this image. Then through an accident Erik finds out that Charles has been long cut off from his family and is essentially a single parent to a ten-year-old Raven.

Like Roses and Wine – Schwoozie

Summary: Charles is not what you would call a “sports person” - but the promise of free kisses after the game, especially with one Erik Lensherr playing midfield, is a temptation Charles can't resist.

Every Song I Know – Fengirl88

Summary: “Erik,” Janos says wearily, “you had amazing sex with this guy. He obviously really likes you. You have, what, a month, six weeks left? You can spend it moping and hiding and worrying you're going to run into him. Or you can call him, have a good time, and figure out where you go from there.”

Erik groans. It's what he wants to do, so much it scares him.

[or, the one where Erik and Charles meet and fall in love as exchange students, break up, and meet again by chance seven years later]

Argue me tender, argue me true – Wild_Imagination

Summary: “You’re having your bad-boy crisis with seven years of delay, Charles.”

“Why must he spit out those hateful, misanthropic, science-free, separatist ideas of his with a face like that!”

Charles and Erik attend the same college, and they never, ever agree on anything. But that's fine, because Charles can't stand him. No, really.

Simultaneity – TurtleTotem

Summary: Trying to deliver roses to his girlfriend, Erik knocks on the wrong door -- but Charles is so happy to get them, how can Erik possibly tell him the truth? Love, lies and exhaustion follow as Erik tries to keep boyfriend and girlfriend happy and, most importantly, unaware of each other!

**Where one of them is a college/university student**

in the moonlight, on a joy ride – scarlettblush

Summary: Librarian AU. Charles is the young librarian and Erik is the college student who is completely besotted with him.

Mutually Beneficial Transaction – Pookaseraph

Summary: In his sophomore year at Columbia University, Erik, feeling slowly strangled by his mounting college debt, places an add on a sugar daddies website. He doesn't know exactly what to expect from it, but when he's contacted by a man named Charles who seems less creepy than the other people who have responded to his profile, he decides to give it a shot. Charles is nothing like what he expected, and Erik finds himself slowly falling in love with his sugar daddy while trying to find out exactly what caused this amazing guy to buy his emotional and sexual intimacy when he clearly deserves so much more than that.

Authority kink – aesc, Subtilior

Summary: “You’re going to be in your room, on Skype with full video, when I call you tonight, at … nine o’clock sharp, your time.”

Tonight.

Erik, a proud and surly graduate student, keeps his deepest, darkest desires under tight control. Charles, his genetics professor, keeps handcuffs on his copy of the university handbook. You can see where this is going.

An Ideal Grace – afrocurl, nekosmuse

Summary: Erik Lehnsherr is a visiting professor at Columbia University, as well as an acclaimed and award winning poet. Charles Xavier is a lead researcher with the Genetics Department who is well on his way to tenure. But what happens when Charles has to cancel a class because half his students abandon him in favour of a mysterious new English Lit professor? Naturally he ends up sitting in in the class, where Professor Lehnsherr mistakes him for a student. It's really too bad Erik has such a strict policy against dating students. It's also too bad Erik doesn't seem to know how to use Google.

Note: This is not technically a university/college AU, but I’ll let it slide because it’s one of the best cherik fics out there and for the majority of the fic Charles is in Erik’s class (even though, unbeknownst to Erik, he’s a professor as well).

[hearteyes-for-killmonger]

*Ignore if you've already read this I just wanted to tag

Part 20: Recovery

My shit busted, Erik frowned frustrated as he sat looking through the rearview mirror in the Wawa parking lot. He hated this part of the job. Though he could take a hit and it wasn't his first, second, or third time getting shot, he didn't like the feeling of being dependent on someone else for help, even with a wound. Getting severely injured was always a risk but he preferred dealing with things on his own. Aside from that, he didn't trust hospitals. He probably needed surgery again but definitely not in Texas. Sighing, he decided to swallow his pride for the umpteenth time to go ahead and call the man he always went to when he got shot, stabbed, or had something bad happen to him that he couldn't completely fix in his own with a needle, some Tylenol, and time.

Dr. Charles. He had the equipment and resources and made private trips. He also knew Erik personally from his military days. On top of that, he was a proud Nigerian and didn't ask for specifics of Erik's dealings, deciding that it was best for him not to know so that he stayed out of it. Erik trusted him more because of it.

"Yellow," Charles answered on the first ring. Erik's eyes rolled. The man was in his sixties and it showed.

"Sup Chief. My leg's busted again. I'm a fly to you-"

"No no," he spoke forcefully. "If you're bleeding you must contain it. You will stay down and rest! Keep your leg elevated. Have you wrap-"

"Yea yea... it's in a tourniquet," Erik sighed. He felt like a child being fussed at by an elder.

"Where are you?! Drive to the nearest hospital and give them my information! I'll take care of it. We will bring you in and I will take a look."

"Or I could just-"

"No!" It was absolute. Erik's mouth set in a straight line. Charles reminded him a lot of his father. No one else could talk to him like that. "You pay me too much to be abandoned! Eh? Let us help," he insists kissing his teeth. Erik had no retort. He stared through the mirrors silently biting his thumbnail.

"Bet."

---

"Alřiiight," you sing listening to Erik's 'Necessary' playlist in the background. Moving around has warmed you up despite the fact that his A/C is pumping. Shake the Room with Pop Smoke and Quavo plays, the vocalizations in the background sounding like a lowkey creepy chant a secretly possessed Tebetian monk would do. You switch to some song called Kalifornia and climb the stairs to toss the cleaning rag into laundry taking your phone from its charger. "Downstairs is officially spotless... and sanitizzzed," you gasp to the walls as you stretch backwards feeling that sweet pull and release of tension in your back and shoulders. When you head back down, the entire bottom level smells like coconut mango, lysol, and tea tree oil mixed. "Mmm," you sigh having inhaled deep to smell the goodness. It was fresh. "That good shit," you chuckle.

Again, it feels so, so good to be in this house in the clear brightness of daytime. It's calm, spacious, and beautiful like a retreat or vacation home. You can go completely nude and feel at ease, alone with no one peeping at you in a private space. You can look outside and not feel as nervous in stepping out to the driveway. So you do just that.. proudly in the nude to feel the heat on your skin. It's still hot and muggy with the sun beating down so you head back into the A/C deciding to hit the hot tub instead.

"Oh my God," you nearly cry with a homemade smoothie in hand as you chill in heated water, the bottom of your fro soaked and hanging on your shoulders as you sit butt naked and slumped. "I'm never leaving this house... this is officially MY house now..."

It's an entire hour later when you dry off, as relaxed as Katt Williams' hair on a good day. You head through the lower level again before going back upstairs. You can't help but to be nosey looking again through his rooms and belongings. Where is the kink? This is ridiculous! It's all too simplistic... minimalistic. It's just weird... For someone who lives as boldly as Erik does to have no evidence of it anywhere. It seems sneaky and bizarre. You wonder why he hasn't accumulated a house of unique knickknacks. Maybe a toy drawer? Even you have a toy drawer. Alas, the craziest things you find are six different bongs, an ugly tie dyed pair of shorts that are way too short, a keyboard piano, and boxers printed with Obama's face. He's really good at hiding his deviance. "I bet it's all in that lil room," you mutter heading to the locked door. You try the knob again thinking of using a credit card to get in. Whether it actually works you're not sure.. and you don't want to mess up your card. You'd bet good money that everything you wonder about is behind that door.

"Anyway."

---

"Fuck this shit," Erik gritted through his teeth as he hunched over the outdoor freezer of the Wawa. Goddamn kid, cracker ass bitch, shooting don't know what the fuck.. He definitely needed fixing on his leg before he bleed out slowly in the Wawa parking lot. He was convinced he looked absolutely insane with a busted leg held tightly by his handmade tourniquet. It hurt like hell and he knew he had to do something. He hid the injury. No one could see it unless they really paid attention, he'd overlapped it with bandana and draped a jacket around his waist. He pulled the ice bag out of the freezer and sat it on the ground, not needing to look up to spot the camera above. In fact, he wouldn't look up because of it. Erik looked to a hefty ginger kid in a camo cap, beige shorts, and sandals. He couldn't be more than thirteen and he was hanging onto the glass door with a plastic bag of snacks dangling from his wrist as two rednecks entered through the door he held.

"Hey kid," Erik nodded watching the boy's eyes drift to his injury in question. He was observant causing Erik to shift the leg. "...Faulty machinery. Hence the ice.. but could you do me a big favor and save me some walking?" He held out a twenty and the boy took it. "And a strawberry milkshake," Erik called behind the boy who went back inside to pay for the ice as Erik limped back to the stolen vehicle. The kid was back and at his window quickly.

"Here's your change." The kid held it out, ready to drop it regardless of Erik's hand not being out to receive it.

"Keep it," Erik muttered.

"Nah, you look like you need it a lot more than me," the kid muttered scooting off. Erik stared after him. Little bastards. He scoffed starting the engine.

He pulled up to the hospital as instructed sending the info to Dr. Charles and as promised, Dr. Charles came through, calling on Erik's behalf. Erik initially refused the treatment learning that they intended on treating him right there in that hospital. "Treat me yourself," he'd fussed on the line with the trusted doctor. In the end he was swayed. He ended up in a hospital bed in Texas getting x-rayed despite his protests. Turned out they did need to operate to repair the fractured bone and tend to his vascular injury. The operation took three hours. When he woke, he was in recovery aka lockdown. His head was a little cloudy from their drugs. He decided to call the one person who he could count on to be truly excited to hear from him. He thought about how he'd start the conversation to keep her from asking too much. He just wanted to feel that warm glow she always gave him.. feel that she was with him without giving too much away.  

Thinking bout you.. Just wanted to hear your voice..

What you doing.. how'd you sleep?

Y/N. Can you talk to me for a bit while I listen? I'm tired...

Hey forehead...

---

Brrrrr.

That's your pocket buzzing. Pulling out your phone you do a double take at the screen and a streak of irritation surfaces, plucking your nerve. Perfect time to ask about that so called colleague he's probably hitting and he'd better fess up to whatever it is he's hiding.

Erik: You alive?

Instead of texting nonsense back, you dial his number and he picks up on the first ring.

"Angel... I miss you already girl."

"Well then you know where to find me," you snap hearing his soft chuckle. "And what the hell is so funny?"

"You... with all this bass. You hungry?"

"Don't ask me nothing dumb like that."

"Yeaah.... you need your tummy full. When's the last time you ate?"

"Erik?.. Shut up. You know what I wanna talk about," your voice lowers. "Tell me why that girl felt comfortable waltzing into your house last night and getting into my face like she belonged there.. Last I checked you don't have any friends."

"Well last I checked...," he kisses his teeth. "Nah, I ain't call you for all that..," his voice calms. "Just know we ain't close like you thinking. She happened to pop up. Ain't like I invited her."

"But if she's close enough to you to perform pop-ups then I feel like you should've mentioned her to me like you mentioned your other three."

"It's like I said, wasn't nothing to mention." Silence stretches as you wait for him to explain. "We work together. Work is all I have. Work is all she has. We just understand that about each other, that's all it is."

"Are you telling me the truth?"

"You starting to piss me off. Yes."

"Don't get smart.. I'm choosing to believe you."

"Uh huh. Eat something."

"I am," you squint fixing your face when the waitress brings your drink and smiles. "I'm at PF Changs now."

"Oh? What you order?"

"Potstickers... lettuce wraps.... Thinking of getting some spring rolls... but also kinda wanna wait to see how I feel first. I don't wanna order it and have all these plates on the table at the same time and I'm the only one sitting here... you know?"

He chuckles and it's a light breath of amusement. "You know what?... I'm proud of you, kid. You survived the night alone in that big scary house. Such a big girl."

"Erik, don't patronize me," you flush, glad he's not there to see it. Your tone gives nothing away. "I live alone. You forget that."

"But that's different.. were you scared?"

"Not at all!" You sip your ginger beer. "What are you doing now?"

"Mm. Resting before I head out. I'll see you soon though.. before you know it."

"No rush actually. I'm enjoying the house, you can stay where you at."

"Here are your potstickers.. lettuce wraps..," the waitress hums setting the white plates on the wooden square table. "Anything else for you?"

"Not yet, I'll have to see how this goes." The food looks delicious so you talk to it instead of her.

"Understood," she smiles warmly dashing off to the kitchen as you pray silently to yourself. You almost forget Erik's on the phone as you eat until he speaks up a minute later.

"Y/N.. Do you miss me?"

"Nope." You take another few sips of ginger beer as he's silent. "..I'm kidding."

"Are you though?"

"Shut up. I told you come home."

"Shame we couldn't finish that little exercise when we were out together. I wonder how you'd have fared if we had."

"You were gonna have me do something ridiculous, I already know it." Sauce drips down your finger from the lettuce wrap and you catch it with the paper napkin from under your glass.

"Mm.. It's only ridiculous if you're easily embarrassed.. which means you care too much how you're viewed by others. It's holding you back."

"We all care about how we're presenting ourselves in society." With another sip of ginger beer you pick up a potsticker and dip it. "It's called self-awareness it's how we maneuver.. and as much as we don't like it, image is important especially when you're black working against people's pre-judgements."

"Yes and awareness is crucial but avoidance is a fear-based response that you specifically utilize as a self-imposed barrier. You could go.. so much further.. if you wouldn't avoid the situations that could cause others to view you in a way you don't particularly like.. also keeping in mind you're not a psychic to know what others are thinking."

"It doesn't take a psychic to read the room."

Silence.

"You know.. I'd love to see you be yourself.."

"I'm already myself."

"With others and not just with me. Although I love having part of you to myself," he pauses. "If I'm ever.. not with you for some reason, I want you to take that with you. Keep that same energy wherever you go. 'Cause you don't and your interactions suffer for it."

"I'm out at P.F. Chang's eating lunch.. Why? Why do we always go to therapy when I'm eating?"

"Watchu mean? That's the best time to talk to you, when your mouth is full. As a matter of fact, ballpark. How many people in the restaurant?"

"NO." You bite another potsticker.

"YES. What we just talk about? Tell me how many."

"Too many."

He chuckles again, breathily. "More than 10?"

"Yes! More than 10!"

"So here's the thing. You do it and I'll do something you want when I get back, don't matter what it is."

"And if I don't?"

"Then your punkass don't get shit. Easily put. This what I want you to do.."

"No, wait," you frown and chew on your straw. "Let's wait until you get back. It'll give you incentive to come back quicker." The waitress brings your refill. "I'll take those spring rolls," you tell her.

"You think you slick," Erik laughs. He sounds dead tired. "Okay. When I get back."

"You okay? You don't sound too good." Listening more closely, you hope he's not coming down with anything.

"Yeah I'm good. Did a lil workout, you know.. nigga a lil.. tired," he exhales.

"Oh. Intense exercise. Can't relate.. Okay, hurry back. Bye!"

"Don't hang up, I like hearing you talk!"

"Negro this food ain't gonna eat itself."

"Aight," he chuckles. "Enjoy."

Hanging up, you grin having skipped out on embarrassing yourself. The lettuce wraps are calling your name and now you're thinking of getting shrimp dumplings.

For $5!

@soufcakmistress @itsiesha @ju5tp34chy @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @blackpantherimagines @blackpinup22

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[gerec]

Emma’s Birthday/Holiday Party and Erik’s Stupid Face

I don’t know why but I absolutely love writing fics about/set during big parties, especially birthdays or during the holidays as an excuse to throw everybody together for shenanigans! Anyway, here’s 1400 words of a modern au for @lachatblanche, featuring Charles and his childhood bestie Tony Stark. It has all our (hers and mine) favourite tropes including:

- Tony and Charles and Emma as filthy rich, emotionally damaged childhood best friends - Avengers crossovers - Erik as the asshole ex Charles can’t get over - Charles with a VHG (very hot guy) expressly to make Erik green with jealousy  - Still have powers au where everyone exists but nobody is a superhero

Enjoy!

He’s been in the car for ten minutes when his cell starts ringing, blasting AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ loud enough to jolt him from his half comatose state. 

“Oh my god I just landed,” Charles groans into his state-of-the-art, Stark issued phone slash satellite GPS slash probable supercomputer, “can’t whatever this is wait until I get home? Preferably after I throw myself face first into my bed for the next twenty four hours?”

“No can do, Charles-y my boy,” is the answer he gets, which – to be fair – is exactly the answer he’d expect from his best and oldest friend. “It’s T minus nine hours until Emma’s party and you’re nowhere near ready for a full scale, Frost patented holiday extravaganza.”

A week ago it had seemed like a brilliant idea, catching a ride back to New York on Tony’s private jet, after wrapping his semester as guest lecturer at Oxford. He would make it back in time for Emma’s birthday, and then spend the rest of the holidays binging on Netflix and Chinese take-out. But the last forty eight hours had turned out to be an absolute slog, trying to tie up so many loose ends that he can barely keep his eyes open, and the last thing he wants to do now is get all dressed up and go to a glitzy, high profile party—

“Do you think I could get away with a no show?” he asks, heaving a tired sigh when Tony starts laughing, entirely unsympathetic and not at all helpful. “I mean, how painful do you think it’ll be on a scale of one to ten? When I’m being murdered by Emma in cold blood.”

“She’ll kill you, resurrect you and then kill you again,” Tony replies, which is ridiculous and also, not that far from the truth. “Listen, all you have to do is make an appearance, kiss the birthday girl and drink some champagne…we used to party much, much harder on way less sleep.”

“God, Tony that was over ten years ago! I have an actual career these days, and responsibilities, and—”

“Stop, stop, you’re killing me here, Charles,” Tony interjects. “If I can do it than you can do it too! In case you’ve forgotten I am also a very important person, making big decisions and doing all the grown up things!”  

Charles scoffs. “You mean you have Pepper handling all your actual work while you tinker in your lab day and night. And unless you’re willing to let me hire her away—”

“No! You get your own Pepper, Xavier! She’s a thousand percent off limits I mean it—”

He closes his eyes and tilts his head back with a sigh, content to listen to Tony go off on a tangent about his PA. It’s a little funny, how the man is still in such ridiculous denial over his very intense, very possessive feelings for Pepper; though hopefully, Tony figures it out soon – by New Year’s ideally – or Charles is going to lose his shirt in the gang’s betting pool.

“—are you even listening to me? Charles? Did you fall asleep?”

“No, no sorry just resting my eyes,” he answers, and Tony huffs with feigned annoyance, before launching into another tirade about Charles acting like a boring old man. The whole thing is inexplicably soothing and familiar, making him realize just how much he’s been missing his sister and his closest friends in the months he’s been away. 

Still, there’s no good reason to give in to Tony’s machinations without putting up at least a token fight.

“I don’t have anything to wear. My tux was ruined remember? And I haven’t had the chance to get a new one yet.”

“Emma picked one out for you and my tailor’s on his way over with it. He’ll get you fitted and do the alterations there.”

“My hair’s a right mess. I need to get it cut.”

“Raven’s got a guy. She’s bringing him over.”

“Food? Sleep? I’m in no shape for—”

Tony cuts him off before he can finish. “Done and done. Food will be delivered and you have five hours to nap. That leaves you four hours to shower, shave and get dolled up for the party. My car’s coming to get you at seven p.m. sharp.”

Charles can’t help it; he laughs and laughs at the absurd, military-like precision of Tony’s whole ‘get Charles to the party’ operation. “Did you happen to get me a date too? Is someone going to be gift wrapped and hand delivered to my door at nineteen hundred hours?”

He’s kidding of course, because even Tony wouldn’t go so far as to set him up with a blind date within his first twenty four hours back on U.S. soil. But then—

“Actually, yeah. I know a guy. Handsome, artist, ex-Army Captain. Too bland for me but he’s right up your alley. You’ve got a thing about good manners.”

It takes a moment for Charles to actually register the words, before his mind catches up to the implication of what Tony’s just said. “Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. I’m in absolutely no shape to meet new people. Especially hot new people I might want to make a good first impression on. And possibly take home some other time I’m not feeling like death warmed over for sex.”

There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and then a considering hum before Tony decides to drop the proverbial bomb. “Are you sure? ‘Cause your ex is coming tonight.”

Charles doesn’t whine – though it’s a near thing – but he does groan pitifully, leaning forward to bang his head on the back of the front passenger seat. “Why? Why did you guys invite him? You know how I get around Erik, especially after a few drinks—”

“Hey it wasn’t me! Emma invited him, ‘cause I guess they’re still friends or some shit. You have only yourself to blame though, with all that ‘it’s fine that we broke up you guys don’t have to pick sides or stop being friends with him’ crap. You know if you just told her how you really feel she’ll stab him in the heart with her stiletto heel and serve it to you on a silver platter.”

“She’s a telepath too! I shouldn’t have to tell her…” It’s a weak assed excuse and he knows it.

“Whatever. Are you sure you don’t want a hot date? You and I both know that bastard’s going to bring someone young and flashy to try and make you jealous, and you’re going to totally fall for it again like you did last time and the time before that. And then you’re going to end up having hate sex with him again, even though you swore it would never, ever happen, until the next time it happens and you—"

“Ugh please shut up; you’re the worst friend I’ve ever had in my entire life!”

Tony snorts. “You mean I’m the best friend you’ve ever had or will ever have, because who else would line up a bona fide sex god for you to piss off your stupid ex-boyfriend? Me that’s who. Now are you in or not?”

“Send me a picture,” he says and promptly hangs up, cutting Tony off before he can remind Charles what a mess his life has become, and how he really shouldn’t have tried to take the high road after the messy breakup ten months ago.

The cell pings then, three, four, five times in rapid succession; no doubt the pictures of said blind date as Charles requested. His interest is half-hearted at best, that is, until he gets an eyeful of sweaty, muscle-y biceps in the very first image, a side shot of a tall, blond, very well built man making mincemeat out of the swaying punching bag. The next shot is even better, showing the front of the man as he’s jogging towards the camera, t-shirt slightly too tight over his bulging chest and arms. He’s absolutely, positively, drop dead gorgeous, and Charles can’t wait to walk into Emma’s party, arm-in-arm with his very own Adonis come to life.

It does not give him a hot surge of vicious satisfaction, imagining the sour expression on Erik’s stupid face.

He sends Tony a quick text. Name?

Steve Rogers. Rank Captain. Retired, US Army.

Charles scrubs his face and chuckles as he types his reply. 

I’m in.

[irelise]

the yew tree 2.2/?

Erik has worked with Sebastian Shaw, mutant revolutionary, ever since Shaw rescued him from human experimentation when he was a boy. He is reluctantly enlisted to assist in Shaw’s newest scheme: seducing the wealthy and enigmatic Lord Xavier and claiming his vast fortune. With Shaw posing as Xavier’s doctor, Erik goes undercover as Xavier’s personal manservant to convince him to fall in love with Shaw.

But Xavier has secrets of his own, and it isn’t long before Erik starts having second thoughts about the whole thing…

(the handmaiden inspired au - no canon knowledge required

part one now on ao3!

and click here for the beginning of part 2!)

Oof, a bit later than usual since last week was super busy, but I’m still really excited to keep writing!

Warnings for this part: Referenced human experimentation, sexual exploitation of children Rating: M Word count: 3123

Someone is crying in the dark.

“…Keep me rather in this cage and feed me sparingly...”

Maybe it’s him?

“…It is only when you make me suffer that I feel safe and secure…”

He’s scared. Uncle is in a black mood.

stupid boy idiot doesn’t even understand what he’s reading

Charles doesn’t know how to make him stop being so angry.

help please help

Why can’t he do anything right?

i need to get out of here

***

He starts dreaming of the things he’s read, dim impressions of hands and mouths, fucking and crying.

He dreams of darkness and iron bars, painful emptiness gnawing at his stomach.

He dreams of the reading room and a flight of stairs leading down, down, down, into darkness broken only by a glint of gold.

***

Monday in the reading room, he looks around for stairs but sees nothing.

Tuesday, his uncle takes the switch to him for inattention, and his cries join the ones in his head, a wailing din echoing around the room. His aunt reads calmly through it all.

On Wednesday his tutor presses a hand to his forehead to check for fever, the corners of his eyes crinkling with worry. Charles flinches away. The cries in the reading room grow louder and nobody cares.

Thursday night. He can’t bear it any longer. Whoever is crying is so alone. So scared.

Charles is scared too, but he can’t do nothing. He should have tried to do something sooner. Guilty and heartsick, he creeps soft-footed through the darkened halls of the mansion – don’t see me don’t see me – slipping into the wing Uncle had claimed and hugging the walls as he makes his way towards the reading room.

It’s strange to be here without Aunt and Uncle. Charles stops at the doorway, biting his lip. The hall is quiet and empty, the reading lectern packed away, all the books carefully shelved. It could just be any other room.

Just any other room, he tells himself. So why are his feet glued to the floor? He’s shaking from head to toe as he forces himself to take a step forward.

Just any other room.

He looks for a staircase that goes down and down, but nothing had changed since Monday; there’s still no staircase. But he’s so sure…

He wishes he could ask someone. He bets Uncle would know. Only, thinking about Uncle – books darkness cage needles gleaming – makes him shiver and wrap his arms around himself, and he chews on his lip and tries not to think about Uncle any more.

Charles has a hunch that he should check the back of the room. No, the floor? Sure, enough, on the floor behind one of the benches is a trapdoor. It’s not even that well-hidden. Charles knows without being told that Uncle is confident no one would get this deep into his inner sanctum without his permission.

His heart is thumping wildly in his chest, panicked, but Charles forces himself to take a deep breath and kneel. The trapdoor opens easily under his small hands. There are stairs, leading down and down until everything is all eaten up by darkness.

He starts walking.

He wants to help whoever is down there.

He doesn’t want them to be hungry and frightened and alone.

(He doesn’t want to be alone.)

A set of heavy steel doors looms in front of him, barred. He’s never been here before in his life but somehow he knows exactly what to do. In a trance, Charles steps forward, undoing the complicated mechanism that keeps the doors tightly shut, that locks the things inside.

He throws opens the doors. There’s a heavy lever on the wall which he pulls down, flooding the room in harsh light. It’s so cold, the room, all bulky angles, most of the space taken up by heavy machinery with coils and coils of thick wire winding treacherously across the ground. He gingerly steps over the wires, heading deeper into the bunker.

Cabinets. Files. An examination table, with heavy straps built-in. He walks past all of those. His head is pounding, wrapped in a miasma of fear and determination.

He’s close.

At the end of the long, long room is a line of cells. And inside one of those cells –

Uncle.

Charles skitters back a step, heart pounding.

“Boy!” Uncle growls. His big hands wrap around the bars of the cell, and he shakes and shakes at them, the metal jangling. “Let me out of here, boy!”

Charles takes another step back, shaking his head.

“I’m warning you, boy!”

Stop, Charles says, but all that comes out is a choked noise. Another step back. He stumbles into a table, hand knocking painfully against a corner.

He finds his voice. “You’re not my uncle.”

Uncle – the thing that looks like Uncle – is staring at him, shocked and then scared.

“You’re not,” Charles insists, stronger this time. Uncle is in bed, dreaming red dreams of heat and need. He knows it as surely as he knows that Aunt is sitting silently by the window, watching the play of shadows over the grounds, her eyes fixed on the looming tree in the distance.

“N-nonsense,” the Uncle-shaped thing says, and Charles frowns severely because Uncle would never stutter like that.

“Who are you?”

“I’m… I’m…”

“Stop it,” a new voice says. Charles jumps as a mousy-looking boy shuffles into view. He had hidden himself behind the bulky frame of the man that isn’t Uncle, and even though Charles is looking at the boy now, it’s like he isn’t fully here. He feels so small, all curled up into himself with fear and self-hatred, wishing he doesn’t exist.

“It’s no use,” the boy says bitterly. He has funny feet that look like one of those apes Charles had seen in his textbooks and at the zoo. “He must be working with Dr. Marko. What do you want?” He scowls at Charles.

“Dr. Marko is my uncle.” Charles says, unsure.

“See? Told you.” The boy nods at his cellmate.

Charles shakes his head. “I’m not working with him.” It feels very important to say that. “I came because…”

‘Uncle’ scowls and crosses his arms. “Because you wanted to look at the freaks?” He sneers. Suddenly his form ripples like a shoal of gleaming cobalt fish, and before Charles stands a tiny blue girl, something right out of a fairytale. “Happy now?”

Charles can only stare.

“Well?” The girl demands. She sounds angry, but Charles knows she’s scared, and sad, and lonely.

“You’re very pretty,” he says, wanting to cheer her up.

“No she’s not,” the other boy says. The fight had left him; now he’s just tired, his toes curling unhappily against the floor. “We’re freaks, that’s why we’re here.”

“My uncle keeps you here?”

“Mm-hmm,” the girl says. “Him and a few other people. It’s ‘cause we’re mutants.”

“Mutants?” Charles tries to remember what he had read in his science books, rattling off a definition: “Mutation is a mistake or a change in the genetic material of a living thing.”

“Yeah,” the boy says. “A mistake.”

The girl looks at him reproachfully. “Stop talking about us like that!”

“What? It’s true.”

Charles’ head hurts. “Please don’t argue. I still don’t understand why you two are down here. Where are your parents?”

They exchange looks, then shrug together.

“They want to run tests on us to figure out why we’re different,” the girl explains.

“Tests?” Charles has a sinking feeling. “You mean, like – experiments?”

“Uh-huh. They like to make me change shapes a lot.”

“And they make me run these agility courses. Lift weights with my feet. Things like that.”

It all sounds so innocent. Charles bites his lip, knowing they’re holding back. Fear colours the air. He can still remember the desperation he had felt, the crying, the despair. “Do these tests hurt?”

Another exchange of looks. Then the girl turns around and for the first time Charles sees the huge plaster bandage covering half her back.

“They took some skin from me,” she says, more quietly than before. “’Cause I’m all blue, see? So they want to know why.”

There’s a lump in Charles’ throat. It feels like he can’t breathe properly. His back itches and burns; he wants to scratch it, scratch until he can bleed out the itch.

“They wanted to take one of my feet, but I talked them out of it.” The boy looks resigned. “I told them they can’t do their agility tests if I only have one foot.”

“Same with my eyes,” the girl says, matter-of-fact. “They wanted to take one. But Hank is amazing, he argued with them for so long and they actually listened to him!”

“You’re Hank? I’m Charles.” Charles nods a polite hello at the boy, because it’s easier to focus on that than on how much he wants to throw up. “What about you? What’s your name?”

“Raven.” The girl’s tiny blue face scrunches up into a frown. “Are you really related to Dr. Marko? You’re too nice.”

“Afraid so.”

Hank looks wary. “Did he send you?”

“I told you already, I’m not working for him.”

Hank squints at him. “I’m not sure I believe you.” Then he yelps as Raven punches him in the arm. “Ow!”

“He could help us!” Raven exclaims, turning her golden eyes onto Charles. “Please, let us out, please?”

It’s not even a question. It doesn’t matter how much his body shivers and how fast his heart beats when he thinks about disobeying Uncle. He knows so much now, from the books. He knows all the way disobedient boys can be punished. He knows exactly how it’ll feel, and he knows how much his uncle will enjoy it.

It doesn’t matter. He’ll help them – he has to.

“Of course I will. I’ll make sure you’re safe. I promise.”

Raven smiles at him, and the brightness of her smile is a reward all on its own. Even Hank looks a bit hopeful.

Charles tries the cell door, but predictably, it’s locked. “Is there a key?”

“I think the doctor keeps it somewhere in this room,” Hank says, motioning vaguely towards the end of the room. “Close to the door? He always has to stop and get something there before he lets us out.”

“Okay.” It feels wrong leaving them behind even if it’s just to make his way back to the opposite side of the bunker, and Charles knows they have doubts too, wondering if he’ll just run away and leave them behind. “I won’t leave,” he calls out. “I’m right here, see?” He walks more forcefully than he usually would, making sure his footsteps ring out loud and clear, and is rewarded with the feeling of their relief drifting to him.

Charles looks around the bunker, frowning. There are just so many places to hide a key. He begins poking around at random, opening drawers and cabinets.

So much paperwork. He hunts around for a bit before picking out a heavy binder that looks especially important titled Protocols, hoping it contains a protocol for opening the cells. Or maybe a protocol for an emergency exit?

Instead, it seems to be instructions for experiments that look really interesting, but then he remembers the experiments are done on other humans and Charles feels sick instead. He closes the binder and stuffs it back into place.

The next binder is slimmer. There’s a table of contents that’s just a short list of names. ‘Raven’ – F06-002 jumps out at him first. He looks for Hank’s name but doesn’t see anything, although there is a McCoy, Henry – M05-001.

There’s not very many names. He sees Toynbee, Mortimer; Rasputin, Piotr; Lehnsherr, Erik….

He jumps when Raven calls out: “Find anything?”

“Not yet!” He can’t get distracted. Charles shelves the folder again and continues looking. If he was Uncle, where would he put it…? Somewhere convenient? Maybe he’s been overthinking it all along? He looks around the walls for a key hook, but that’s a little too easy. Next he tries to figure out where in the room Uncle spends most of his time working – keeping up a constant stream of chatter with Raven and Hank – and finally in one of the drawers he finds a set of keys.

He must have been down here for over an hour already and his eyelids are starting to droop, but Charles pinches himself firmly. Uncle could wake up at any moment. He’s not a deep sleeper. Raven and Hank watch him nervously as he tries key after key, until at last the lock clicks open and the two of them tumble out, Raven darting towards him for an exuberant hug before jumping back just as quickly, hopping nervously from foot to foot.

“Now what?” She asks.

“I was thinking we could go to my room first.” Could they stay there? Forever? Charles knows as soon as the thought crosses his mind that it’s impossible. His uncle is going to be so angry once he wakes up and finds Raven and Hank gone. He’ll upend the whole house looking for them. They won’t ever be safe here.

But he can’t just send them away… Can he?

Hank frowns. “Shouldn’t we just run while we can?”

“No, I’ll get you some new clothes first.” Charles says firmly, trying to project a confidence he doesn’t really feel. Raven and Hank need someone to lean on right now. “And then we’ll go get food. And bags, lots of bags, so you can take whatever you need.”

Raven is nodding vigorously, but her eyes are wide. “That’s so much! Charles, are you sure?”

“I just wish I could do more,” Charles answers honestly. He feels awful again, guilt and fear squirming in his belly. Why didn’t he do something earlier? Maybe then he could have gotten them out before Raven was hurt so bad.

How could he not know his own uncle is doing something like this, right under the room where he reads those stories?

“Come on.” Charles grabs their hands. “Ready?”

The journey back to his room is awful. They creep forward like mice, hugging the walls and peeking around corners before they move on. Every little creak sends Charles jumping. Poor Hank is even worse off, all hunched up miserably into himself. Raven is the only one who seems calm; she had changed shapes again into Uncle, and every time her broad shadow falls over Charles, he has to stop himself from shivering. Don’t wake up don’t wake up, he chants in his head, don’t see us we’re not here there’s nothing to see…

They collapse into a pile once they reach his room and Charles locks the door behind them. Charles doesn’t know who’s the first to start giggling – himself, maybe? – but soon all three of them are tumbling against each other, giddy with relief.

But it’s not over yet. Charles is the one to sober up first, an uneasy feeling crawling up his spine. “Help yourself to anything you need,” he says, throwing open closets and trunks and cabinets.

“Won’t you get into trouble?” Hank looks worried, but he’s peering at a set of shoes anyway.

“I can handle it.” He tries to be strong and steady, to not let his voice shake.

Raven is busy trying on different shapes, and she had wrapped herself in one of Charles’ thickest coats. Right now she’s a young boy that looks like a blend of Charles and Hank. “What if he finds out?” She frets. “What if he puts you down there instead?”

Charles swallows. “I won’t let him. If he puts me down there, I’ll–”

I’ll never read for him again. But what if they ask him what he means?

“I’m more worried about you,” Charles says instead. “Where are you guys going to go?”

“Anywhere!” Raven says firmly. “Anywhere else is better than here.”

“Raven’s right. We can figure out a plan as we go.” Hank squints at his feet, trying unsuccessfully to stuff them into a pair of shoes much too small.

“Isn’t there someone you can talk to? The police?”

They both shake their heads immediately. “Don’t trust ‘em,” Raven says decisively. “They won’t help us.”

“Do you know where the nearest town is?” Hank asks.

Charles nods. Between the three of them, they find shoes for Hank and pack bags and bags of food, as much as the two of them can carry. Charles tries to find some money for them too, but he doesn’t know where Uncle keeps it, and all three of them are getting jumpy and nervous, so Charles takes a deep breath and leads them out into the grounds.

It’s cold. It’s dark. They all huddle into their coats, eyes glued to the ground as they troop together to the gigantic tree right at the edge of the property. They come to a stop under its shadow and Charles bites his lip, looking at the road that leads far, far away.

“You’re really going?”

“We can’t stay,” Hank says, but he doesn’t sound very sure.

“It’s dangerous here,” Raven reminds him, tugging on his sleeve. She had disguised herself as a blond girl.

“Dangerous everywhere,” Hank mumbles. Charles can tell he misses the warmth of the mansion.

He wants them to stay. It’s been so long since he’s talked to someone his own age. He can’t remember the last time he had laughed with someone else, or the last time he had been hugged or even just had a conversation.

But asking them to stay would be selfish.

“Raven’s right,” he says firmly, taking charge again. “You won’t be safe here. Not with my uncle around.”

Raven hesitates, then blurts out: “You should come with us!”

“Huh?”

“Doctor is going to be so so mad at you. You said we won’t be safe here, but you won’t either! Charles, come with us!”

“I–” Charles looks past the looming darkness of the tree, at the pale gleam of the road under moonlight. “You really think so?”

“Yes!”

It’s such a huge step to take. He’ll be leaving behind everything he knows.

…He’ll be holding them up. He’s not special like they are. He doesn’t even know anything about the world outside the mansion or boarding school, and even his memories of boarding school are fading already.

“I shouldn’t,” he says quietly, taking a step back. Raven’s face falls, but Hank nods.

“Thank you so much, Charles.”

Raven puts on a brave smile. “We won’t forget you.”

There’s nothing else to say after that. His eyes burning, his throat painfully tight, Charles stands under the yew tree and watches as Raven and Hank slip away to freedom.

(next part)

[jeezperseus]

A PLOTTING CALL IN TWO PARTS.

like for a msg !

CHARACTERS & INFO.

perseus hayden alexander xavier lehnsherr.

APPLICATION / INTRO / MUSING TAG

— adopted son of charles xavier & erik lehnsherr. nineteen. pansexual. accidentally married. regenerative healing & healing touch. fc: nick robinson. generation why by canon gray.

split knuckles, impulse tattoos, red solo cups, the copper taste of blood, post-ripped jeans, a story told in two parts, peals of laughter strong as vodka, shaking hands shoved in pockets, greasy fast food, low flying planes, cuffed shoes, the soft notes of a piano, a baseball bat in the back seat.

barbara “bobbi” morse.

APPLICATION / MUSING TAG

— former agent 19. thirties. bisexual. divorced. enhanced. fc: jessica alba. emotionless by drake.

gentle hands, biting remarks, unknown skill, non-disclosure agreements, hidden stashes of cash, studyblr accounts, handmade bullets, a tongue taught to deceive, coffee-mug rims, set shoulders, precise results, minimalism, lilting accent, a broken mirror, clean test tubes, red-painted nails around the hand of a gun.

andromeda rosalie isley-quinzel.

APPLICATION / INTRO / MUSING TAG

 — adopted daughter of pamela isley & harleen quinzel. twenty-one. pansexual. single ( see below ). precognition. fc: lana condor. finest hour by cash cash.

whispers from a voice both soft and powerful, sloppily cut hair, pointe shoes, paint stains on every article of clothing, cassandra foretelling the trojan war, dirt under your fingernails, a love a week, the gold tinsel of a crown, unexplainable dreams, bundles of flowers, the soft rustling of worn cards.

roman darkhölme.

APPLICATION / INTRO / MUSING TAG

— son of raven darkhölme. twenty-four. pansexual. enchanted. persuasion & power absorption. fc: miles heizer. lost boy by ruth b.

the unexpected answer, washing your hands, casual disinterest, stacks of cash, little clear baggies, practiced ease, a silver tongue, whispers of the past, old cobblestone streets, bad decisions in the best way, sweaters and flannel, the burning of flowers, white lab coat, fear of the unknown.

loki.

APPLICATION / MUSING TAG

— the god of mischief. 1000s. fluid. open marriage. fc: daniel gillies & katie mcgrath. wild things by alessia cara.

dark skies, a long steel dagger, fog coming in, green & gold banners held high, the twisted around truth, stories told from a thousand tongues, crooked grin, a crown just out of reach, salt in wounds, ourborous, contrary to a point, blood superiority, loneliness as something else, eyes in the back of your head.

winona falcone.

APPLICATION / INTRO / MUSING TAG

— daughter of sofia falcone. twenty-six. bisexual. single. darkness manipulation. fc: shay mitchell. take me to church by hozier.

expensive fur, champagne glasses, hands covered in blood, instagram perfect, beautiful but deadly, the rich kids of gotham, sharp edges for a reason, dark hair in waves, a product of a situation, cherry stems tied with your tongue, heels on a hardwood floor, the many shades of red.

skylar helix mccoy.

APPLICATION / INTRO / MUSING TAG

— daughter of hank mccoy. twenty-two. lesbian. single ( see below ). genetic atavism & genius intelligence. fc: jennie kim. 400 lux by lorde.

a field of vibrant yellow flowers, the yipping of a small dog, fangs bared, constellations of words, no apologies, thousands of discarded ‘what ifs,’ the call of the wild, a small crescent moon necklace, pride without arrogance, false confidence, spitting blood, intelligence without direction.

CHARACTERS & WCS.

perseus hayden alexander.

a former foster care sibling.

it’s been a while, but he’s a pretty memorable kid / hasn’t changed much at all. until age 5 / 2004, percy was in foster care + went through a bunch of homes. this is someone who was in one of them! probs knows stuff abt him that even he doesn’t/doesn’t rem. the possibilities! 

first relationship / current enemy. TAG

basically, it was percy’s first relationship back in his teens !! cute lil puppy love except he’s awful so not puppies more like … squirrels. like his first everything !! and then they broke up n it didn't go great !!! since then it has evolved and gotten much much worse - they’re now totally and completely against each other, hate each other, and will fuck w each other when given half a chance. 

first relationship / current enemy.

basically, it was percy’s first relationship back in his teens !! cute lil puppy love except he’s awful so not puppies more like … squirrels. like his first everything !! and then they broke up n it didn't go great !!! since then it has evolved and gotten much much worse - they’re now totally and completely against each other, hate each other, and will fuck w each other when given half a chance.

barbara “bobbi” morse.

old mission target.

bobbi worked with shield for a very long time! she went on various missions, undercover and classified and the like. on this particular mission, this is someone she was targetting. what for is up to you, but the options are rather open to interpretation. just generally something that would have set them against shield’s desires.

rival.

bobbi being widely competitive when it comes to just about anything (science, training, lecturing) is bound to attract some friendly competition. they’re constantly versing each other, even in the simplest things, like giving out test results or getting ready.

ex that ended on bad terms.

it’s a common story. girl meets person, girl dates person, girl and person breaks up, girl literally hopes person dies in a fire. for whatever the reason, they didn't part ways peacefully. and you bet your sweet ass she plays the part of scorned ex great.

andromeda rosalie isley-quinzel.

poly ship. ( 0 / 2 ) TAG

andy has baggage, certainly. she’s a past weapon x detainee, unbeknownst to her, adopted from a broken family, and had her heart broken by the first person she dated. she’s serial dated for years. but these people, they made her stop & start to appreciate love for what it is again. this connect can be filled by someone of any gender.

ex. TAG

andy was younger and very awfully naive. she’s never really gotten over it. for whatever reason, they broke up— it could have to do with her slightly overbearing personality, or general attitude, or whatever, totally up to you, but it was the other muse’s decision to break up, leaving andromeda heartbroken and now seeking out love in places it’s not.

former prediction.

andy PREDICTED something about this muse, in the past. how long ago and what is up to you. it was something SERIOUS, though, and most likely bad. it could be as wild as death, or marriage, or a death in the family, or a regret, etc. it’s rly up to u !!

roman darkhölme.

childhood love.

this is honestly rly cute. they were lil lil kids when they were friends and were super cute n close. they got fake “married” once or something. they were just best friends who grew apart. now roman is hella dif. he’s manipulative and a total fiend and it’s like “where’s that cute lil kid who promised to fight off all the bad guys in my life??” like … cute n sad.

enemy.

they see him for what he is: a manipulator. they either have past experience with him or are just adept ( VERY adept; he’s good at hiding ) at noticing him. they don’t enjoy him. not his view of the world, his actions, or his drug dealing. roman doesn’t like them for a point. he doesn’t like being exposed.

clientelle.

the darkhölme-mccoy drug dealing business is going great, actually. paragon is full of just the type. and with roman’s skill of persuasion, they haven’t gotten caught yet. this is someone that roman knows from that particular side of his work. he sells them drugs.

loki.

someone he had a kid with.

the other side of the story. not someone he fathered/mothered, but rather someone he had a child w. can be any gender for obvs reasons. how old the child is is up to u!!!

someone he pretended to be someone else with, extendedly.

for them, he pretended to be a different person… for a very extended period of time. it’s a trick he played often, but for them it was honestly excessive. the nature of their relationship is up to you, but upon coming to paragon this person finds out that loki is LOKI ! god of mischief, stories, lies, what have u. they’re probs pissed lmao 

asgardians.

while most midgardians known them as the god of mischief / alien asshole, this character knows a side of loki outside of the lore. they’ve met their kids & can even remember little loki, just around causing mischief, not trying to overthrow odin & what else. they have a better understanding.

winona falcone.

older sibling.

the oldest falcone ! mwahaha. so it’s this whole big thing that WINONA IS THE HEIR, but she wasn’t always. she has an older sibling who was disinherited from the family & cast out. a big ole family disgrace that none of them like to talk about. the reason behind this is up to you ! but it can range from being a MUTANT to a DEGENERATE to being SOFT to whatever. sofia is a pretty uptight gal.

best friend.

she’s not trying to replace raph. she didn’t think she would actually ever be given the chance, and for good reason. i mean, look at what happened to the last guy who took the spot. but they’re friends, for whatever reason ( and, damn, do the people commenting on her instagram posts speculate ).

ex.

she’s always been the exception that proves the rule. her sexuality is no different in that she’s not hte most comfortable with it. it’s just another thing she never told sofia about, lest her position as heir was to be threatened. that makes her exes an interesting story, especially considering she won’t acknowledge some of them.

skylar helix mccoy.

hateship to ship.

open to fem aligning nb & girls / both have reputations that proceed themselves ! sky obvs bc she had one inherently n bc of what happened & the other for w/e reason. pref an xkid. they knew each other when sky was younger but they didnt get along & when they reconnect , they dont get along right either. theyre a PLAYER really. like new girl on their arm every month. sky becomes one of the girls, rly. and sparks fly. and shes mad abt it. they have this antagonistic hatefuck relationship. and she finds herself starting to rly like them, falling in lov w them, unbeknownst to their own feelings (that shes the ONE). and like that

tutoree.

girl is, in fact, a genius, though people of many have expressed their disbelief at such a fact. she literally didn’t have education for eleven whole years of her development and is still ahead of her peers. she tutors in her free time. while totally organized, studyblr style, her teaching style leaves something to be desired in her paraphrasing of many a thing. ( vicki vc king george iii did what? sky vc fucked half of england )

someone who knew her before.

she was a prodigy child. famous beyond her years. even now, she’s on vogue lists, has millions of instagram followers, the whole thing — but for different reasons. this person knew her before she got taken, and are likely a child of the xmen or someone who was at xaviers. they remember the fearless child, ready to dive into anything, the kid who was always the top of her class. brash and happy, but kind, in a way she no longer is.

[cherikyassss]

Charles had certainly experienced more than a few awkward moments since he’d started his new job, but this one took the cake. Hell, it took the whole fucking bakery.

It was all his new boss’ fault of course. Charles had never had the easiest time working at Shaw Industries given he hated the owner Sebastian Shaw with the fiery intensity of a thousand suns. But he loved mutants and all of the wonderful powers they possessed, and so Charles had swallowed down his opposition in order to continue with his work- composed of researching mutations and publishing articles on the relevant findings.

But then, one day, Charles was told his department would be expanding. That he would be getting a new boss. That said boss was none other than Erik Lehnsherr- renowned mutant activist and overly-stubborn turtleneck-wearing maddeningly-infuriating fanatic. At least, in Charles’ humble opinion…

Charles had scowled for so long when he’d been told the news that his co-worker Hank had felt compelled to ask Charles if he’d accidentally sat on a microscope. Charles hadn’t, he’d just been so incensed by the idea of working for someone so utterly impenetrable, and he feared that such an involvement might adversely affect his work. As it turned out, working for Erik wasn’t generally as bad as Charles had presumed, but in some ways it was worse.

Erik was quiet. Composed. Precise and meticulous, intelligent and thoughtful. He possessed an air of authority about him without him even having to lift a finger to assert himself, though Charles had heard of the nature of Erik’s mutation and recognised how powerful he undoubtedly was. Most of all he was utterly fucking unreadable. For a telepath such as Charles the notion was maddening, because as much as Charles found himself wanting to know what Erik was thinking, general taste and decency forbade such intrusion, and Charles was moral if nothing else.

“Moral...” Charles reminded himself as he shimmied out of his underwear one night- wandering over to the sofa in his living room and lying back artfully across the cushions. Okay, so it was probably a bad idea. One of Charles’ worst. But, after a terrible day at work chased up with several glasses of whiskey, Charles was feeling silly and tipsy and vulnerable, and in need of a slight pick-me-up. Naturally, trawling Grindr for hot men was the best bet, and that meant dangling pictures of his member out there on the internet and hoping for a bite.

As Charles arranged himself carefully in preparation for the perfect picture his mind wandered back to the incident earlier that day that had caused his annoyance- when Erik had criticised Charles about his substandard work so vehemently that Charles was left feeling distinctly like he’d been spanked, and not in the fun way… During the confrontation Erik hadn’t exactly been rude, or even unfair, but regardless just the strong tone of his voice was enough to rile Charles up- especially as in this particular case Charles hadn’t even done anything wrong, he was actually covering for the screw-up of another co-worker.

It wasn’t the first disagreement they’d had. Given their opposing views on the varying complexities of mutant issues Charles and Erik had clashed more than once, and though Charles knew he was supposed to just keep quiet and agree to whatever his boss said, he found he just couldn’t back down when Erik was being so fucking single-minded and uncompromising. And so, they sniped. And bitched. And argued. Until some of Charles’ co-workers had begun to refer to their antics as those of an old married couple.

Charles did not appreciate the comparison.

“After all, married couples at least have sex…” Charles reasoned, and then immediately felt compelled to push that errant thought back to wherever it had come from. He did not want to have sex with Erik. What a ridiculous notion.

But, ridiculous or not, the fleeting idea ended up being the thing to prompt Charles’ cock into standing to attention, and he was slightly mortified to feel his member harden considerably against his stomach as he thought of Erik- not even the idea of sex with Erik, just the memory of Erik standing in front of him earlier, strong arms folded across his chest as he calmly and methodically gave Charles a severe dressing down (though perhaps not the kind of ‘dressing down’ Charles really wanted…)

It was unfair really for someone so infuriating to be so goddamn gorgeous- to have a defined jaw and broad shoulders and a slim waist and a ridiculously sexy voice. Not that Charles had ever considered any of these things, of course…

For the rest of the evening there were intermittent thoughts of Erik washed down with more whiskey, and eventually Charles had enough dick pics to tempt the guys of Grindr into flirting with him for the night. Charles exchanged messages with a few people- most of which didn’t go anywhere- but eventually Charles hit it off with one particular gentleman and they swapped numbers and began a brief exchange of pictures. At least, that’s what Charles thought happened…

The next morning Charles awoke still naked on his sofa, with his cock in his hand and a pounding in his head. Dimly from across his apartment he could hear the sound of his alarm going off in his bedroom, and as he tumbled ungracefully off the sofa and crawled over towards it he glanced at the clock on the nearby wall, and realised with some horror that he was very, very late for work.

Half an hour later Charles was practically fucking sprinting into Shaw Industries’ high-rise office building, mentally cursing himself for his night of slutty excess. It was not a good day to be late for work. There was a very important audit coming up, and Charles knew he would be forced to stay at his desk until all of his research was fully documented, regardless of how long that would take.

That day Charles remained at work long after everyone else had gone home- due in part to the fact that he’d missed about an hour that morning, along with the fact that he could barely concentrate thanks to the pounding in his head. At around 6pm Charles realised that he’d consumed nothing but copious amounts of coffee for the whole day, and so he decided to take a short break to eat something and to relax a little. He retrieved some food from the nearby kitchen and was sat back at his desk munching happily on his snacks when he was interrupted by someone reaching out to him.

It wasn’t something that happened all that often. Though most of Charles’ co-workers knew he was a telepath none of them chose to communicate with him psychically, except for one person…

For some reason, Erik had always favoured summoning Charles to his office by way of a mental request rather than picking up a phone. Charles didn’t mind- in fact, he often found having Erik’s rather sultry voice in his head to be undeniably thrilling- but when most subsequent meetings ended up descending into one slanging match or another Charles found, on this particular occasion, that the idea was not welcome.

Charles scowled, retrieving his phone from his pocket and unlocking it for the first time that day as he prepared to commence an epic rant to his sister Raven about how much his job sucked and how he hated his boss and how he was going to go upstairs and tell Erik to go fist himself right now, when suddenly he realised something.

As soon as Charles unlocked his phone there in front of him was his message log from yesterday- a picture of his cock sent late last night, but the recipient wasn’t the guy from Grindr.

It was Erik.

Charles felt his stomach drop as he saw the evidence of his mistake- realising that, sometime after maybe his fifth glass of whiskey, he must have blurred the lines between thinking about Erik and messaging his new Grindr friend, and his cock shot had gone awry. It wasn’t a bad picture (thank heavens for reasonably-sized mercies) but it certainly wasn’t the kind of message Charles wanted to send to his boss. Not the same boss who appeared calm and composed on the surface but had a tendency to make all the metal in the room shake when he was angry.

It was perhaps a minute before Charles realised he was still standing there, gaping at the phone in his hands, and then he felt it again- Erik’s voice reaching for him, saying: “Charles. My office. Now”.

Charles sucked in an unsteady breath, running his fingers through his hair as he stared at the ceiling and tried to prepare himself for what was likely to be the worse bollocking of his life. He was going to be fired for sure- he just knew it- so perhaps the only thing to do now was to go out with some semblance of dignity…

When Charles reached the door of Erik’s office he knocked once with hands that trembled just a little, and when there was a curt “Come in” from inside he stepped into the room and wandered over to where Erik was stood with his back to Charles. There was a chair just in front of where Erik was standing so Charles dropped down into it, folding his arms across his chest and preparing himself for the fight that was surely to follow.

“I suppose you know why I called you in here?” Erik asked, continuing to face away from Charles as he fiddled with something on his desk.

Charles huffed, deciding in that moment to just tackle the situation head on and face whatever punishment might be coming to him.

“Yes… It’s because I accidentally sent you a dick pic”.

Erik stood upright at that, and turned, and looked at Charles quizzically, and as Charles’ gaze panned down and he took in the bottle of wine in Erik’s hands and the glasses on the table Charles still didn’t quite put things together, not until Erik said: “Accidentally?”

Oh.

Oh.

Oh fuck.

Charles was rarely at a loss for words but in that moment speech failed him, because Erik was looking at Charles with more expression on his face than Charles had ever seen, but it wasn’t anger or annoyance that Charles could read in those stormy grey-green-blue eyes of his, it was more like disappointment.

Neither of them said anything for a long moment. Charles stared at Erik, heart racing as he took in the evident tension in every fine line of Erik’s body- in the clench of his jaw, in the crease of his brow, in the clutch of his hands on the wine bottle. Erik was completely immobile at first, but then he dropped his gaze and turned away, and as he placed the bottle back on his desk he quietly mumbled: “I see…”

“You see?” Charles replied. “Well, could you help me out a little because I don’t…” he added, leaning forward in his seat in an attempt to see Erik’s face better so he could clarify his suspicions.

“I thought…” Erik started, but the end of the sentence was lost no matter how hard Charles looked for it, and Erik didn’t turn back around.

It had never been more tempting for Charles to use his telepathy to get closer to Erik- in truth it had always been an abject desire simmering just under the surface of Charles’ thoughts- and when Erik still remained mute and unresponsive and hunched over like he was trying to hide, Charles decided he would just do it.

Charles composed himself as he watched Erik’s shoulders rise and fall with measured breath, and then he reached his fingers to his temple in a gesture that always helped him concentrate as he carefully, so carefully brushed against Erik’s mind.

It was like getting a taste of something sweet and wonderful- something that lingered on the tongue and made Charles ache for more even though he couldn’t have it. Erik’s mind was strong and disciplined, but there was softness there. Vulnerability. Kindness and compassion. It made Charles’ heart ache to feel it- with sentiment, and with longing.

Charles didn’t remain in Erik’s consciousness for long- just time enough for him to pick up on the thrum of thought running through Erik’s mind; a stream of consciousness that made Charles’ heart beat faster with each word overheard.

“…such a Dummkopf… what was I thinking… of course that picture wasn’t meant for me… of course it was an accident… Mein Gott he’s so good and so gorgeous… there’s no way he would be interested in me…”

Slowly, Charles extracted himself from Erik’s mind. And paused. And smiled. And experienced a moment of pure, giddy joy that seemed to come from nowhere- joy that was expressed as a small, involuntary chuckle which seemed loud in the quiet room.

Erik finally turned around at that, but he no longer looked just disappointed- he looked annoyed, and hurt…

“You don’t have to laugh at me”, Erik muttered. “I know I jumped to conclusions but there’s no need to be such an Arschloch about it”.

Charles stopped laughing, but he couldn’t keep the smile from his face- not because he was amused at Erik’s expense, but because Erik looked so defenceless and so abashed, and quite frankly it was adorable.

Without hesitation Charles rose from his seat- crossing the room towards Erik in three decisive steps until he was stood very firmly in Erik’s personal space, gazing up at him in pure wonder. In turn Erik looked rather less certain. He stared down at Charles with confusion but definite interest on his face- interest that increased further as Charles shifted just a little bit closer and fixed Erik with his flirtiest gaze.

“So… What did you think?” Charles asked.

“What?” Erik blinked.

“What did you think?” Charles repeated, raising his eyebrows pointedly.

“I… You mean about the dick pic…? Does it matter? You said it wasn’t for me…”

“I know… it wasn’t… but now I kind of wish it had been”.

Erik paused, looking at Charles cautiously- and hopefully- for a moment.

“You-- really?” he replied.

Charles smiled. “Erik, why didn’t you tell me you were interested in me before?”

“Well… Because we fight all the time. And because I’m your boss”.

“We do… You are… But suddenly I’m thinking that shouldn’t be a problem unless we want it to be. And besides…” Charles added, stepping closer and placing his hands carefully on Erik’s waist. “You’ve seen me naked now, so it’s practically like we’re dating already…”

At the first touch of Charles’ hands it was like Erik stopped breathing. Charles could practically feel the tension coming off of Erik’s body- especially given the way his stomach muscles tensed under Charles’ palms and his eyes grew wide as he stared down at Charles. But Charles didn’t need his telepathy to know that Erik appreciated the closeness, and it was only a moment before some of the tension abated and Erik began to smile.

“Hmm, I suppose you’re right…” Erik replied. “It is like we’re already dating”. He brought his face closer to Charles’, so that their mouths were just inches away from touching and added: “Does this mean I get more pictures?”

Charles smiled, sliding his fingers to firmly grasp the front of Erik’s trousers and pulling him closer. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours”, he murmured.

“Deal”, Erik whispered, before closing the distance and stealing a kiss.