"Of course." Charles leans away slightly to look at Erik then. He completely understands. What happened to him as a child had been a traumatic event, and killing Shaw hadn't fixed that. Erik still has those nightmares. Sometimes Erik would wake up in the middle of the night covered in cold sweat, but Charles is always there to help calm him down, just as he's doing now, trying to keep his focus on the present, not on the past.
"We have all the time in the world. I'm not going anywhere." He rubs his thumb over Erik's cheek affectionately, and he presses a quick kiss to his lips before he reaches down to grab at the blanket that had slid off their lap, tugging it over Erik's shoulder to get him comfortable.
"Now, where was I..." Charles says as he picks up his book again, looking to read another few chapters before joining Erik for a nap. They've a few more hours before they're in Oxford and it'll be late afternoon by the time they get there. He wants to drop by the store to buy some basic toiletries before heading to the apartment, and then they'll need to open all the windows because no one's been there for months. He really hopes the place isn't a terrible mess. He can't remember if he'd bothered to clean up before he'd left in a hurry after meeting Moira.
He's happy in that he's found a partner in Charles who's so very understanding, who can always just take a look inside his mind to see. And yes, sometimes he relies on that too often, but Erik has decided that he's going to learn to live with those moments, and try not to hold them against Charles.
He's going to try and be more understanding of him in return.
And so, he gives Charles a sweet kiss before he moves to find somewhere to lay his head, as he's promised to be up for lots of activities later, once they get to Oxford. He thinks it'll be nice, getting to spend all this time with Charles, as lovers do on vacation.
It'll make their relationship seem more 'real'... and he's never needed the approval of others, never thought that they were less legitimate because they weren't public, but he still enjoys the idea of getting to do the normal things other couples do. That's all he's ever wanted: to live a normal life, to be left alone to do so.
This bit of normalcy is exactly what they need after that whole mess in Cuba. Now that he's managed to make everyone forget who they are, they're safe from the government coming after them. There's no need for them to worry that they'd be hunted down and imprisoned somewhere. Charles has vowed to do whatever he can to keep them protected. He still believes and hopes that someday they'll be able to be accepted into society, but for now, he'll keep his focus on building the school first. Baby steps.
It's raining cats and dogs by the time they get to Oxford and out of the airport, so it's straight to the mall they go for some shopping and a quick meal. Charles had taken more of Hank's serum before they'd landed because it would be inconvenient otherwise and he wants to be able to show Erik around.
"Are you sure we've got everything we need?" Charles had grabbed all the basic necessities and tossed them into the basket. He really hadn't bothered to pack anything but some clothes and books. "Condoms, Erik? Ooh, I know we'll be needing these..." He'll reach for the band-aids because Erik has a tendency to get himself hurt. If it's not a razor cut from a bad shave, it's accidentally cutting his finger in the kitchen or getting into some kind of a fight. Except now he can't blame Hank or Logan for any of it.
"Yes, Charles, I've packed everything we'll need. Including band-aids," he says, pulling them out of the basket. He puts the condoms back too, because he'd packed plenty and because he thinks it's a little bit odd for them to show up to buy it as if they're a couple. They are, but he thinks it's a bit dangerous for them to do something so brazenly public.
He knows Charles could just erase this person's memories, but Erik is always hiding in the shadows, trying not to stand out until it's time to strike. He doesn't want to live this way, of course, but he's always felt like he's had to hide a part of who he is. His judaism, his mutantism, his sexuality.
In some ways, he feels like all the things he identifies with are still a trap. And he'd hate to have to ruin Oxford for Charles. "We'll pick up some groceries also," he says. "If the rain continues on like this. No biking into the city tomorrow."
Erik somehow being the more responsible and careful one between them makes Charles smile a little, but he doesn't say anything; simply moves along to get whatever else they might need.
"I should have checked the weather report," he murmurs the words out while deciding between getting the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner or just the more expensive shampoo and standalone conditioner. He decides on the latter. "Whatever will we do if we're going to be stuck indoors all day, Erik..." Honestly, he's not too disappointed about that as long he's got Erik with him, but he's going to hope for some better weather this week because it would be nice for them to go biking around town.
"But all right. Groceries. Good idea. I was thinking I'll make us breakfast tomorrow." How hard is it to make pancakes, right? Well. He might just be a bit too ambitious. It'll probably be more like brunch if anything because he does plan on sleeping in. After all, it'll just be the two of them, and he's looking forward to some peace and quiet at last. No Sean and Alex screaming at the top of their lungs about being hungry every few hours, as if Erik's their personal chef. Charles had told the boys they needed to learn how to cook for themselves, and thankfully, so far, they've managed to not burn down the kitchen the last few times they tried. Not that they didn't ruin some of Erik's favourite pots and pans...
"We should probably call home later and check in with the kids and make sure they're not getting into any trouble." It hasn't even been a day and Charles is already worried. "Then again, I suppose Emma would let us know if something comes up." Besides, he already knows Raven would have issues with him checking in on them, as if she can't be trusted to be an adult. They'd been having enough of these sort of arguments as of late.
Leaving Raven and Emma in charge of the kids could have been all right, but it also could have been a total disaster. Erik's still not sure what side of the fence he's going to land on there, because the two of them together are a little bit chaotic, but he won't count them out. He can't. He does recall the last time they left the kids and came back to an actual fiery hellscape, but hopefully there's not a repeat.
And, after all, they had the others: Hank, Azazel. Janos even had his moments of responsibility.
"Sure," he says, giving Charles' hand a little squeeze. Yes, he might have ruined some pots and pans, but Erik is Erik. He never really gets attached to anything material, opting instead to care for his loved ones. He'd started over so many times, and so many times that he'd left without people: his parents, Darwin. He'd almost left Charles once.
He has to take a breath and readjust, realize that the most important thing is that he and the people he loves are together, that they are safe. That's worth more than anything in the world, that he has time to spend with them. And if that means he has to choke down a few burnt turkey sausages and overcooked eggs, that will be just fine with him.
"We could trade off. You do breakfast, I'll do lunch. Maybe we could picnic, if the weather permits." It seems a little romantic, but Charles is an academic and Erik is always dressed like a beatnik. They could bring a chess set, and no one would be any the wiser.
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"We have all the time in the world. I'm not going anywhere." He rubs his thumb over Erik's cheek affectionately, and he presses a quick kiss to his lips before he reaches down to grab at the blanket that had slid off their lap, tugging it over Erik's shoulder to get him comfortable.
"Now, where was I..." Charles says as he picks up his book again, looking to read another few chapters before joining Erik for a nap. They've a few more hours before they're in Oxford and it'll be late afternoon by the time they get there. He wants to drop by the store to buy some basic toiletries before heading to the apartment, and then they'll need to open all the windows because no one's been there for months. He really hopes the place isn't a terrible mess. He can't remember if he'd bothered to clean up before he'd left in a hurry after meeting Moira.
no subject
He's going to try and be more understanding of him in return.
And so, he gives Charles a sweet kiss before he moves to find somewhere to lay his head, as he's promised to be up for lots of activities later, once they get to Oxford. He thinks it'll be nice, getting to spend all this time with Charles, as lovers do on vacation.
It'll make their relationship seem more 'real'... and he's never needed the approval of others, never thought that they were less legitimate because they weren't public, but he still enjoys the idea of getting to do the normal things other couples do. That's all he's ever wanted: to live a normal life, to be left alone to do so.
no subject
It's raining cats and dogs by the time they get to Oxford and out of the airport, so it's straight to the mall they go for some shopping and a quick meal. Charles had taken more of Hank's serum before they'd landed because it would be inconvenient otherwise and he wants to be able to show Erik around.
"Are you sure we've got everything we need?" Charles had grabbed all the basic necessities and tossed them into the basket. He really hadn't bothered to pack anything but some clothes and books. "Condoms, Erik? Ooh, I know we'll be needing these..." He'll reach for the band-aids because Erik has a tendency to get himself hurt. If it's not a razor cut from a bad shave, it's accidentally cutting his finger in the kitchen or getting into some kind of a fight. Except now he can't blame Hank or Logan for any of it.
no subject
He knows Charles could just erase this person's memories, but Erik is always hiding in the shadows, trying not to stand out until it's time to strike. He doesn't want to live this way, of course, but he's always felt like he's had to hide a part of who he is. His judaism, his mutantism, his sexuality.
In some ways, he feels like all the things he identifies with are still a trap. And he'd hate to have to ruin Oxford for Charles. "We'll pick up some groceries also," he says. "If the rain continues on like this. No biking into the city tomorrow."
no subject
"I should have checked the weather report," he murmurs the words out while deciding between getting the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner or just the more expensive shampoo and standalone conditioner. He decides on the latter. "Whatever will we do if we're going to be stuck indoors all day, Erik..." Honestly, he's not too disappointed about that as long he's got Erik with him, but he's going to hope for some better weather this week because it would be nice for them to go biking around town.
"But all right. Groceries. Good idea. I was thinking I'll make us breakfast tomorrow." How hard is it to make pancakes, right? Well. He might just be a bit too ambitious. It'll probably be more like brunch if anything because he does plan on sleeping in. After all, it'll just be the two of them, and he's looking forward to some peace and quiet at last. No Sean and Alex screaming at the top of their lungs about being hungry every few hours, as if Erik's their personal chef. Charles had told the boys they needed to learn how to cook for themselves, and thankfully, so far, they've managed to not burn down the kitchen the last few times they tried. Not that they didn't ruin some of Erik's favourite pots and pans...
"We should probably call home later and check in with the kids and make sure they're not getting into any trouble." It hasn't even been a day and Charles is already worried. "Then again, I suppose Emma would let us know if something comes up." Besides, he already knows Raven would have issues with him checking in on them, as if she can't be trusted to be an adult. They'd been having enough of these sort of arguments as of late.
no subject
And, after all, they had the others: Hank, Azazel. Janos even had his moments of responsibility.
"Sure," he says, giving Charles' hand a little squeeze. Yes, he might have ruined some pots and pans, but Erik is Erik. He never really gets attached to anything material, opting instead to care for his loved ones. He'd started over so many times, and so many times that he'd left without people: his parents, Darwin. He'd almost left Charles once.
He has to take a breath and readjust, realize that the most important thing is that he and the people he loves are together, that they are safe. That's worth more than anything in the world, that he has time to spend with them. And if that means he has to choke down a few burnt turkey sausages and overcooked eggs, that will be just fine with him.
"We could trade off. You do breakfast, I'll do lunch. Maybe we could picnic, if the weather permits." It seems a little romantic, but Charles is an academic and Erik is always dressed like a beatnik. They could bring a chess set, and no one would be any the wiser.