Typically, Erik likes to clean up by himself, or clean up with his partner and then resume cuddling, maybe go out and get some fresh air on the balcony or the porch or something. But he just wants to be in Charles's presence, taking up his space and his mindspace, massaging shampoo onto his scalp, getting him all lathered up.
If Charles kisses him anymore then they'll both be a little weak in the legs, but he doesn't care about that really. It's the idea that Charles feels free enough to show off his gifts, that Erik does to do the same. It's the feeling that, even if they didn't know the other was a mutant, there would still be a spark of attraction. And it's knowing that, regardless of where this goes, they are friends. They are friends who trust each other, who live in synchronicity, and who now draw breath together.
Something about that makes Erik feel lightheaded in a way that he knows isn't just the steam.
"Thank you, Charles," he says against his lips, and pulls him in for a deeper kiss. They might not leave the hotel at this rate, and might not even leave the shower until they prune. Still, he doesn't speed up the process, he slows it down. He wants to remember all of this. Yet, he peers at the window and tries not to heave a sigh, it's definitely already late morning (well, late as far as Erik is concerned), and they need to get a move on. They haven't even eaten yet; they might have to go through a (he shudders to think) drive-through.
"You'll have to feed me later," he explains. "And we'll have fast food wrappers all over the car."
Charles never thought it could feel like this, to be with someone the next morning. Usually he's the one rolling away with hurry and eagerness to put distance between them, but no, he's right here, pressing tightly against Erik as they kiss, deepening the liplock as he best can. Part of him wonders if this is the rush that lovers feel in those novels Raven reads. If this is how falling in love feels like.
But for once he doesn't want to overthink it, either. He just wants to live it. All of it.
Erik is alone in worrying about the trip. Charles honestly has forsaken all thoughts about responsibility. It doesn't happen easily, either. The idea of returning to the world is distant and quiet. He knows it'll come and they'll do it together. But for now, he's still with Erik in a misty shower and very little else matters.
"What a horrid fate awaits us," he says, teasingly while pulling Erik under the spray of water and for a moment rendered quiet while he helps the foam to rinse away from Erik's hair and his body.
"You know I could help that a little with..." he says after they both are rinsed clean and lifts a few fingers up, wiggling them in a very disgraceful way of describing his powers. "We can have whatever you want and I'll have them prepare it for us and we can just go in and pick it up, leave. It'll be quicker than drive through."
Erik thinks it's a ludicrous way to use his powers. A total waste. Absolute abuse. But he grins at the novelty of the idea, of how Charles could honestly make anyone do his bidding at any time. Right now, Erik would do it out of his own free will, he's so enamored with Charles. Erik looks so fond of him in this moment, eyes shining and mouth quirked upwards. "Alright," he says. "We could just call ahead and pick it up, but if you insist on doing it your way..."
He offers Charles a few more lighthearted kisses and then rinses himself off a final time, before stepping onto the bathmat. One of them has to be a responsible adult, and that's probably going to have to be Erik. He doesn't mind; it's very strange having someone else around but he's managed fine his whole life.
He'll let Charles enjoy the rest of the shower as he gets himself dressed and starts packing up all their things for checkout, which is-- Oh, wow, which is way quicker than he had imagined. No wonder he's so hungry for breakfast.
Though he wanted to return and be there waiting with a warm towel to wrap around Charles, he instead zips up their suitcases and does another sweep around the room, shouting that he'd be downstairs checking out with the key but he'd be back up to carry everything and that Charles should take his time. Inside he's, of course, thinking that Charles should hurry it up, but he tries not to make it too obvious.
The moment didn't get to last too long, but there will hopefully be countless others...
Charles doesn't take that long to follow Erik. He might be a little slow because his back is developing an ache and his legs are still wobbly but he tries to keep up, because he knows that Erik wants to get going as fast as possible. He dresses up and packs his bags but doesn't leave right away.
Instead he takes a moment to locate a cleaning lady. They're already making their rounds. He pulls her in with his powers, has her strip down the bed while he chatters with her about everything and nothing. Then they take away the cot together. No one needs to be gossiping around about the fact that the cot was never used and there are some stains on the sheets.
Once he's done with that, he follows Erik to the car and hefts his bag into the trunk.
"Nice weather," he says with a smile as he squints at the sunny sky.
Erik opens his mouth to distract the maid but then is left with it still agape as he watches Charles work his powers and get them out of a questionable situation. After she's gone, Erik steals a kiss from Charles to offer a thank you to him, and then goes to check out while Charles gets in the car.
When they're all ready to leave, Erik is still looking at the hotel, a little fondly, much more than he did when they pulled in. He'll always remember this place as their spot, the one where he realized what he felt for Charles. "Beautiful day for a drive," he replies, and then gets into the car and shuts the door; it already smells inside from the sun shining on the leather interior and trapped in by the windowpanes.
He takes Charles's hand when they peel out of the parking lot, and his mind gives a content hum like a persistent machine running background processes. Usually so good at keeping his emotions locked inside, he can't help but have his whole face light up. He and Charles are trapped in a car for at least the next twelve hours of solid time being in each other's company.
"We should stop here on our way back," Charles says as he slips into the car. He too gives the hotel one last fond glance. It will go into his memories as a place of happiness.
Charles slips in a lot closer to Erik today, pulling his hand up to press a kiss to his knuckles when they're firmly off the parking lot. He pulls one of his knees up to the bench between them and leans his elbow onto the back of the seat while entangling is fingers with Erik.
"The adult in me says we should talk about it," he says as they have settled to a good driving speed. "But I'm thinking maybe we should stop and get some coffee and breakfast first." A high chuckle says that he's feeling awfully relaxed and good, smile never leaving his face.
"Coffee and breakfast sound good," Erik replies, scoping out a nearby place with his mind. "But what do we need to talk about?" he asks, a hint of concern in his voice. After all, he thinks things are going smoothly. Like do they really need to... talk? Discuss boundaries, or definitions and labels, or... how they feel? Erik doesn't really think they need to do that, and the only other thing is that Charles might think they're going too fast, or that this whole thing is a mistake.
No, Erik thinks to himself. That's not what Charles thinks, this wasn't just some spur-of-the-moment decision that he regrets.
He holds Charles's hand tighter anyway.
He thinks, I like you. He thinks, there's a good chance I will love you someday. He thinks, I don't care if you feel or don't feel the same about the future. I like what we have right now. You're incredible, he thinks. Frustrating, brilliant, captivating, and incredible.
Well, interestingly Erik pretty much covers it all in one breath. And Charles is left staring at him with his mouth twisting into a ridiculously sunny smile.
"I see," he says after a moment and then dissolves into a high, amused laughter, his head tilting back for a moment because this is just awfully easy and he doesn't know if he's supposed to be afraid of what that means or truly happy for it. He fails to feel any future dread though.
"I think you pretty much expressed everything I wanted to say. Thank you, Erik. Though, you are more familiar with this sort of situation than I am. I've only ever had this kind of dalliances that I had no desire to continue. Yet, I would loathe a thought that this would be the last and only time we managed to enjoy each other like that."
He tilts his head to rest upon his palm as he keeps looking at Erik's profile with a disgustingly sweet smile. You make me happy. I truly hope I can make you happy, too.
Erik is slightly worried when Charles starts laughing, but his heart is quickly put to ease and he tries very, very hard to focus on the road instead of pulling over and kissing Charles until he's good and breathless and the case is settled all at once. Instead, he gives Charles's hand a little squeeze.
You make me happy, he thinks. Like no one else could possibly make me happy.
And it's true, that no one else could look into Erik's mind, really know what it's in it, and still tell him he's a worthwhile companion. No one else could really see what was beneath this glossy exterior of leather jackets and wayfarers. No one has a mind to offer him to match wit, to talk to him about the truly important.
And absolutely no one has a smile as infectious as Charles Xavier's, and Erik tries unsuccessfully to bite one back.
Charles knows Erik is not just the sum of those awful things he's done or the awful things he wants to do. He's so much more. There's a wonderful man under all that haunted grime that has stuck on him along the years. There's a man with so much to give and so much to discover. If only...
If only someone would love him like he's supposed to be loved. Not even romantically so, but just someone to give him a chance. Charles is very adamant about being that person. He wants to make sure Erik knows he's not going to ditch him just because they disagree on some things, just because Erik's life has taught him to be hard instead of soft and amiable.
And that makes me happy, he replies readily, watching Erik's mouth twitching into a smile and he can't help it. He leans in with a sweet laughter and smacks a kiss to Erik's cheek. You're adorable.
Erik bristles a bit at being called adorable, mostly because he's a grown-ass manly man, adorable is something he'd call a kitten. But then he just turns a light shade of pink, because... Charles thinks he's cute. And it ties his stomach into knots and makes his heart beat fast despite itself, makes him feel like his insides are made of cotton candy. It's... a nice feeling, if a foreign one.
"You're wrong," he starts. "I don't know more about this than you do, I'm not more experienced." He feels a little scared to admit it, but he keeps going on. "We're just going to have to figure this out together," he lands on, and it's a comfortable landing. He doesn't know why, he suddenly wants to tell Charles everything but he also hasn't felt so nervous talking to Charles since they first met.
He feels a place nearby with a lot of patrons gathering for breakfast, so he assumes that's a good local spot to eat. He starts driving in that direction, where they'll be soon to grab some food.
maybe something that isn't this clunky. Seriously, I just need to find the time and inclination
"Alright," Charles agrees easily and settles against the back of the seat. Unlike Erik, he's excited. He's not a shy person by any means but the fact that Erik is makes him almost gleeful.
Because look at that pink hue upon his cheeks. Charles can't even begin to describe how adorable that is. He wants to kiss it. And he let's Erik know it, without any words, but just through quiet thoughts and ideas. He thinks Erik's blush is utterly and absolutely cute and Charles desperately needs to press his lips to that heated cheek.
"We'll figure it out together," he says softly as he separates a line of thought in his head and reaches to the place Erik found. He fishes out the menu from a waitress' mind and pitches the foods at Erik. Once he's chosen, Charles makes an order. The food will be ready and packed for them when they get there.
Erik is impressed when they drive up to the diner and the woman there hands him their food and tells him the price, before he even opens his mouth. He's confused at first, thinking she's mistaken them for another order, but then he gives a sideways glance to Charles. God.
He doesn't think he could be more infatuated with Charles right now.
He tries so hard not to kiss him in public, but he just used his powers for such a mundane task, and it was so easy for him. All to what, shave down a little time? Feed Erik in the car maybe? He smiles so wide and so fondly that the other patrons who even bother to notice them are wondering what joke he's just remembered. He tips the waitress generously, and flashes her a flirtatious smile that doesn't have anything to do with her.
It's the quickest transaction that Erik's ever made, and he takes their things to the car, where he dumps their takeout bags in Charles's lap because he can't eat while he's driving. Well, technically he could, but he thinks the other people on the road might mind a little bit. "You're amazing, have I told you that lately?" he asks as they get back on the road.
Charles can't help it. He laughs aloud, high and sunny, to Erik's surprise and the obvious appreciation. He thanks the waitress with a grin and nods at the other customers as they walk out of the diner in record time.
He takes the bag and starts to pull out food as they sit back in the car. Erik's praise makes him sputter for a moment and snort out another burst of laughter. Most people have no idea how mundane tasks I use my powers for, he admits. But isn't it the same for everyone? You probably pull out hot pans out of oven with your powers, too, don't you?
There's a hint of colour on Charles' cheeks now.
"In which order you want the food?" he asks as he starts to organise the containers. He's going to feed Erik, of course he will, since he has an excuse to do so.
Of course I use my powers to pull hot pans out of the oven, he thinks. Haven't ruined any potholders since the forties. But. To use it and then to see someone else displaying it are just two separate things. And Erik just finds it so fascinating, finds Charles so... Charles.
"Mm, whatever isn't messy, I'll eat. You'll have to feed me, they gave us plasticware." He says, knowing that he could easily take his hands off the wheel, but thinking that might get them in a spot of trouble if someone saw them driving down the highway with Erik eating a full three-course meal...
"Unless you want to shield us?" he asks. "Could you even do that?" and yes, his tone is... competitive on purpose.
"Erik," Charles says as he opens the containers and peers in, finally picking one to take a plastic spoon to. It's a soup. They can share. He busies himself with sliding closer to Erik and moving the rest of the containers on the seat beside him. "We could drive from here to Alaska without anyone noticing us if I wanted to," he says softly but there's a certain edge in his voice. Not an agitated edge, but one that comes with pride.
"Let me show you," he says softly as he takes the first spoon for himself, to test the temperature. It's perfect. Next one will be for Erik. The car in front of them gives them way as Charles reaches for the driver. The next one does so as well. They won't know why but they do it. Charles grabs the mind of the person coming towards them and even if Erik steps on the gas, they won't be able to notice the car that comes towards them. It's not a problem to do this. Charles never really pushes himself but he can focus on several things at the same time, no problem. It's just a matter of compartmentalising.
"Open up," he says as he brings the spoon to Erik's mouth.
He will never cease to be in complete awe of Charles's powers, watching as the other drivers move aside for them as they cut a straight path through. It's... God, it's riveting just to know that all of that comes from Charles, that in that body lies the will and the force to do this so effortlessly and seamlessly. He's got the whole world at his beck and call, and he chose to be here in this car spoonfeeding Erik.
He takes a bite.
"I don't tell you enough that you're amazing," he says, and lets go of the pedal, leaning his chair back and lounging with Charles, as if the car could drive itself. Between the two of them, it could.
Don't hold back. I'll make sure it won't be a problem, Charles promises with a smile, one that he presses against Erik's jaw because he can. No one will see it. He doesn't usually stretch himself out like this, but once he's already doing it, why not go all the way?
Erik's gift is so powerful he could fly them out of this highway and all the way to where they need to be as the birds fly. It makes Charles feel humble and at the same time excited, as if someone had strapped him to a rocket and just lit up the fuse. Erik has the potential to be the most powerful mutant the world has ever seen.
He nudges another spoon towards Erik's mouth, popping another into his own mouth too and smiling around the spoon at Erik. His stomach hasn't stop fluttering since they left the hotel.
"Maybe I am but so are you," he says and he doesn't think he's sounded this shy for decades.
It's not what he says, really, but the way he says it, that makes Erik think he might be falling in love already. These quiet moments of great power and subdued intimacy are, after all, solely for them. No one else in the entire world has this, has a best friend who's a telepath who's honestly into someone who thought they might never need another person to weigh them down physically and emotionally.
And Erik... he yearns for Charles, touches his hand to steady the spoon every chance he gets, catches looks in his eye, can't stop just wanting to be around him.
Good thing they're stuck in this small metal contraption then.
He gets plenty of chances to touch Charles because Charles will put himself in there, practically offering, asking Erik to steady him, to lick his thumb when he slides it across the corner of Erik's lips to swipe away a little bit of soup. And every touch is like a brief lick of fire, heating up an oven that has been fuming for a while.
"This?" Charles asks and he pauses for a moment to just look at Erik quietly. He's never discussed the extend of his powers with anyone.
"No," he says softly, hesitantly, perhaps a little embarrassed. He's never really found the place where pushing becomes too much. He's been telepathic for well over two decades, it's in his spine, it's in the way he breathes. This is just a few people on the highway. It's nowhere close to the limits of his powers.
He looks so innocent, like he's not telling Erik that he has the power to be the most influential person on the planet and all he really wants to do is teach kids and wear those old-man sweaters he loves so much. He is. Beyond sweet, just a guy who wants to open his arms and pockets to everyone who needs him.
And Erik has never met someone so selfless, so generous, so giving.
He tells Charles all this in the form of thoughts, feelings more than concrete things, emotions that fill up a cup and then overflow. It feels kind of like lying underneath the sun to Erik, just a warm, light feeling. He hopes this doesn't end after the honeymoon phase. He hopes he can instill even half the amount of feeling in Charles.
Charles just tilts his head at Erik's surprise. The problem with this line of thinking is that he could change so much. With Cerebro, he could reach the whole country most likely and just flicking a switch in some brains... it would be so easy.
But at that line of thought waits madness. His hubris. His arrogance and it would never be the same if he'd let himself wander down those paths.
Especially given how Erik thinks about him a moment later. Charles forgets the soup for a moment and just leans his forehead against Erik's shoulder. He doesn't know what to say or how to respond to that at all. There's gratitude that he broadcasts back, shy, hopeless, heart-filling gratitude and shame because he's not that amazing, not really. He struggles with his arrogance constantly, doesn't he?
Erik reaches around his shoulders and keeps Charles pressed against him, momentarily forgetting about lunch for the moment and choosing instead to focus on the sound of Charles breathing, the hum of his heartbeat against his arm, how he is in this moment, so connected to somebody else.
He doesn't think he's ever been so close to the feeling of infinity before. But that's just what this feels like. "Don't fall asleep," he says, because then they'd both have to sit up and return to normal.
Charles draws in a long breath and lifts his head when Erik speaks. He nuzzle Erik's jaw and pulls back just a little bit.
He's never felt this close to someone. Of course he's close to Raven but it's different. She asked him to not use his powers on her a long time ago and there's a wedge between them because of that.
"No chance of falling asleep," he says with a small chuckle. "I haven't felt this awake for... " Years. "For a long while."
He takes the coffee from Erik and sips on it, grimacing but keeping the mug because he needs his caffeine. "What a man wouldn't do for his poison of choice?"
The coffee mug goes between his legs and he takes out the soup again, alternating between himself and Erik with spoonfuls.
Erik snerks and says, "Thought you preferred tea? We can throw it out if it's really that bad, I just don't want it. I'll be fine. We'll pick up some at the gas station," he says. It's preferable to the stuff they got. Somehow. Sadly.
"I can't wait until we're done driving for today," Erik admits, even though it's early on. He doesn't think this excited buzz will leave his skin for the next ten hours. And every so often he gets a memory of how Charles felt on top of him, how they felt after.
He doesn't know if he'll survive this workday.
He loosens up his collar a bit, and clears his throat pointedly.
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If Charles kisses him anymore then they'll both be a little weak in the legs, but he doesn't care about that really. It's the idea that Charles feels free enough to show off his gifts, that Erik does to do the same. It's the feeling that, even if they didn't know the other was a mutant, there would still be a spark of attraction. And it's knowing that, regardless of where this goes, they are friends. They are friends who trust each other, who live in synchronicity, and who now draw breath together.
Something about that makes Erik feel lightheaded in a way that he knows isn't just the steam.
"Thank you, Charles," he says against his lips, and pulls him in for a deeper kiss. They might not leave the hotel at this rate, and might not even leave the shower until they prune. Still, he doesn't speed up the process, he slows it down. He wants to remember all of this. Yet, he peers at the window and tries not to heave a sigh, it's definitely already late morning (well, late as far as Erik is concerned), and they need to get a move on. They haven't even eaten yet; they might have to go through a (he shudders to think) drive-through.
"You'll have to feed me later," he explains. "And we'll have fast food wrappers all over the car."
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But for once he doesn't want to overthink it, either. He just wants to live it. All of it.
Erik is alone in worrying about the trip. Charles honestly has forsaken all thoughts about responsibility. It doesn't happen easily, either. The idea of returning to the world is distant and quiet. He knows it'll come and they'll do it together. But for now, he's still with Erik in a misty shower and very little else matters.
"What a horrid fate awaits us," he says, teasingly while pulling Erik under the spray of water and for a moment rendered quiet while he helps the foam to rinse away from Erik's hair and his body.
"You know I could help that a little with..." he says after they both are rinsed clean and lifts a few fingers up, wiggling them in a very disgraceful way of describing his powers. "We can have whatever you want and I'll have them prepare it for us and we can just go in and pick it up, leave. It'll be quicker than drive through."
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He offers Charles a few more lighthearted kisses and then rinses himself off a final time, before stepping onto the bathmat. One of them has to be a responsible adult, and that's probably going to have to be Erik. He doesn't mind; it's very strange having someone else around but he's managed fine his whole life.
He'll let Charles enjoy the rest of the shower as he gets himself dressed and starts packing up all their things for checkout, which is-- Oh, wow, which is way quicker than he had imagined. No wonder he's so hungry for breakfast.
Though he wanted to return and be there waiting with a warm towel to wrap around Charles, he instead zips up their suitcases and does another sweep around the room, shouting that he'd be downstairs checking out with the key but he'd be back up to carry everything and that Charles should take his time. Inside he's, of course, thinking that Charles should hurry it up, but he tries not to make it too obvious.
The moment didn't get to last too long, but there will hopefully be countless others...
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Instead he takes a moment to locate a cleaning lady. They're already making their rounds. He pulls her in with his powers, has her strip down the bed while he chatters with her about everything and nothing. Then they take away the cot together. No one needs to be gossiping around about the fact that the cot was never used and there are some stains on the sheets.
Once he's done with that, he follows Erik to the car and hefts his bag into the trunk.
"Nice weather," he says with a smile as he squints at the sunny sky.
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When they're all ready to leave, Erik is still looking at the hotel, a little fondly, much more than he did when they pulled in. He'll always remember this place as their spot, the one where he realized what he felt for Charles. "Beautiful day for a drive," he replies, and then gets into the car and shuts the door; it already smells inside from the sun shining on the leather interior and trapped in by the windowpanes.
He takes Charles's hand when they peel out of the parking lot, and his mind gives a content hum like a persistent machine running background processes. Usually so good at keeping his emotions locked inside, he can't help but have his whole face light up. He and Charles are trapped in a car for at least the next twelve hours of solid time being in each other's company.
Everything seems brighter this morning.
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Charles slips in a lot closer to Erik today, pulling his hand up to press a kiss to his knuckles when they're firmly off the parking lot. He pulls one of his knees up to the bench between them and leans his elbow onto the back of the seat while entangling is fingers with Erik.
"The adult in me says we should talk about it," he says as they have settled to a good driving speed. "But I'm thinking maybe we should stop and get some coffee and breakfast first." A high chuckle says that he's feeling awfully relaxed and good, smile never leaving his face.
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No, Erik thinks to himself. That's not what Charles thinks, this wasn't just some spur-of-the-moment decision that he regrets.
He holds Charles's hand tighter anyway.
He thinks, I like you. He thinks, there's a good chance I will love you someday. He thinks, I don't care if you feel or don't feel the same about the future. I like what we have right now. You're incredible, he thinks. Frustrating, brilliant, captivating, and incredible.
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"I see," he says after a moment and then dissolves into a high, amused laughter, his head tilting back for a moment because this is just awfully easy and he doesn't know if he's supposed to be afraid of what that means or truly happy for it. He fails to feel any future dread though.
"I think you pretty much expressed everything I wanted to say. Thank you, Erik. Though, you are more familiar with this sort of situation than I am. I've only ever had this kind of dalliances that I had no desire to continue. Yet, I would loathe a thought that this would be the last and only time we managed to enjoy each other like that."
He tilts his head to rest upon his palm as he keeps looking at Erik's profile with a disgustingly sweet smile. You make me happy. I truly hope I can make you happy, too.
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You make me happy, he thinks. Like no one else could possibly make me happy.
And it's true, that no one else could look into Erik's mind, really know what it's in it, and still tell him he's a worthwhile companion. No one else could really see what was beneath this glossy exterior of leather jackets and wayfarers. No one has a mind to offer him to match wit, to talk to him about the truly important.
And absolutely no one has a smile as infectious as Charles Xavier's, and Erik tries unsuccessfully to bite one back.
god I need to take these icons to photoshop.....
If only someone would love him like he's supposed to be loved. Not even romantically so, but just someone to give him a chance. Charles is very adamant about being that person. He wants to make sure Erik knows he's not going to ditch him just because they disagree on some things, just because Erik's life has taught him to be hard instead of soft and amiable.
And that makes me happy, he replies readily, watching Erik's mouth twitching into a smile and he can't help it. He leans in with a sweet laughter and smacks a kiss to Erik's cheek. You're adorable.
new icons new icons!
"You're wrong," he starts. "I don't know more about this than you do, I'm not more experienced." He feels a little scared to admit it, but he keeps going on. "We're just going to have to figure this out together," he lands on, and it's a comfortable landing. He doesn't know why, he suddenly wants to tell Charles everything but he also hasn't felt so nervous talking to Charles since they first met.
He feels a place nearby with a lot of patrons gathering for breakfast, so he assumes that's a good local spot to eat. He starts driving in that direction, where they'll be soon to grab some food.
maybe something that isn't this clunky. Seriously, I just need to find the time and inclination
Because look at that pink hue upon his cheeks. Charles can't even begin to describe how adorable that is. He wants to kiss it. And he let's Erik know it, without any words, but just through quiet thoughts and ideas. He thinks Erik's blush is utterly and absolutely cute and Charles desperately needs to press his lips to that heated cheek.
"We'll figure it out together," he says softly as he separates a line of thought in his head and reaches to the place Erik found. He fishes out the menu from a waitress' mind and pitches the foods at Erik. Once he's chosen, Charles makes an order. The food will be ready and packed for them when they get there.
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He doesn't think he could be more infatuated with Charles right now.
He tries so hard not to kiss him in public, but he just used his powers for such a mundane task, and it was so easy for him. All to what, shave down a little time? Feed Erik in the car maybe? He smiles so wide and so fondly that the other patrons who even bother to notice them are wondering what joke he's just remembered. He tips the waitress generously, and flashes her a flirtatious smile that doesn't have anything to do with her.
It's the quickest transaction that Erik's ever made, and he takes their things to the car, where he dumps their takeout bags in Charles's lap because he can't eat while he's driving. Well, technically he could, but he thinks the other people on the road might mind a little bit. "You're amazing, have I told you that lately?" he asks as they get back on the road.
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He takes the bag and starts to pull out food as they sit back in the car. Erik's praise makes him sputter for a moment and snort out another burst of laughter. Most people have no idea how mundane tasks I use my powers for, he admits. But isn't it the same for everyone? You probably pull out hot pans out of oven with your powers, too, don't you?
There's a hint of colour on Charles' cheeks now.
"In which order you want the food?" he asks as he starts to organise the containers. He's going to feed Erik, of course he will, since he has an excuse to do so.
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"Mm, whatever isn't messy, I'll eat. You'll have to feed me, they gave us plasticware." He says, knowing that he could easily take his hands off the wheel, but thinking that might get them in a spot of trouble if someone saw them driving down the highway with Erik eating a full three-course meal...
"Unless you want to shield us?" he asks. "Could you even do that?" and yes, his tone is... competitive on purpose.
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"Let me show you," he says softly as he takes the first spoon for himself, to test the temperature. It's perfect. Next one will be for Erik. The car in front of them gives them way as Charles reaches for the driver. The next one does so as well. They won't know why but they do it. Charles grabs the mind of the person coming towards them and even if Erik steps on the gas, they won't be able to notice the car that comes towards them. It's not a problem to do this. Charles never really pushes himself but he can focus on several things at the same time, no problem. It's just a matter of compartmentalising.
"Open up," he says as he brings the spoon to Erik's mouth.
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He takes a bite.
"I don't tell you enough that you're amazing," he says, and lets go of the pedal, leaning his chair back and lounging with Charles, as if the car could drive itself. Between the two of them, it could.
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Erik's gift is so powerful he could fly them out of this highway and all the way to where they need to be as the birds fly. It makes Charles feel humble and at the same time excited, as if someone had strapped him to a rocket and just lit up the fuse. Erik has the potential to be the most powerful mutant the world has ever seen.
He nudges another spoon towards Erik's mouth, popping another into his own mouth too and smiling around the spoon at Erik. His stomach hasn't stop fluttering since they left the hotel.
"Maybe I am but so are you," he says and he doesn't think he's sounded this shy for decades.
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And Erik... he yearns for Charles, touches his hand to steady the spoon every chance he gets, catches looks in his eye, can't stop just wanting to be around him.
Good thing they're stuck in this small metal contraption then.
"This doesn't tire you at all?"
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"This?" Charles asks and he pauses for a moment to just look at Erik quietly. He's never discussed the extend of his powers with anyone.
"No," he says softly, hesitantly, perhaps a little embarrassed. He's never really found the place where pushing becomes too much. He's been telepathic for well over two decades, it's in his spine, it's in the way he breathes. This is just a few people on the highway. It's nowhere close to the limits of his powers.
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He looks so innocent, like he's not telling Erik that he has the power to be the most influential person on the planet and all he really wants to do is teach kids and wear those old-man sweaters he loves so much. He is. Beyond sweet, just a guy who wants to open his arms and pockets to everyone who needs him.
And Erik has never met someone so selfless, so generous, so giving.
He tells Charles all this in the form of thoughts, feelings more than concrete things, emotions that fill up a cup and then overflow. It feels kind of like lying underneath the sun to Erik, just a warm, light feeling. He hopes this doesn't end after the honeymoon phase. He hopes he can instill even half the amount of feeling in Charles.
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But at that line of thought waits madness. His hubris. His arrogance and it would never be the same if he'd let himself wander down those paths.
Especially given how Erik thinks about him a moment later. Charles forgets the soup for a moment and just leans his forehead against Erik's shoulder. He doesn't know what to say or how to respond to that at all. There's gratitude that he broadcasts back, shy, hopeless, heart-filling gratitude and shame because he's not that amazing, not really. He struggles with his arrogance constantly, doesn't he?
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He doesn't think he's ever been so close to the feeling of infinity before. But that's just what this feels like. "Don't fall asleep," he says, because then they'd both have to sit up and return to normal.
Erik takes a sip of his coffee and frowns.
It's terrible.
"Do you want this?" he asks.
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He's never felt this close to someone. Of course he's close to Raven but it's different. She asked him to not use his powers on her a long time ago and there's a wedge between them because of that.
"No chance of falling asleep," he says with a small chuckle. "I haven't felt this awake for... " Years. "For a long while."
He takes the coffee from Erik and sips on it, grimacing but keeping the mug because he needs his caffeine. "What a man wouldn't do for his poison of choice?"
The coffee mug goes between his legs and he takes out the soup again, alternating between himself and Erik with spoonfuls.
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"I can't wait until we're done driving for today," Erik admits, even though it's early on. He doesn't think this excited buzz will leave his skin for the next ten hours. And every so often he gets a memory of how Charles felt on top of him, how they felt after.
He doesn't know if he'll survive this workday.
He loosens up his collar a bit, and clears his throat pointedly.
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