Chapter Text
“What are you making?”
Erik smiled softly up at Charles, knife carving down another section of wood.
“I’m not sure yet.”
Setting the project aside in the grass for now, he fondly coursed his fingers through Charles’ hair, deliberately lengthy in contrast to Erik’s, neat and short. Lying back, Erik sighed, gaze traveling up to watch the clouds drift lazily across the sky.
They stayed like that for quite some time, Charles’ head on Erik’s stomach, their fingers loosely intertwined. Finally, Erik made note of the hour and said, however reluctantly, “I should tend to the light.” He looked down at Charles. “Care to come with me?”
Pulling his coat back on, he led Charles over to the eighty-something steps up to the light. Erik was more experienced, but they shared lightkeeping duties as well as they could manage. Tonight, Erik let Charles set the light ablaze.
It was a tranquil evening. Erik spent most of it whittling steadily away at his project, Charles curled into his side switching between reading and watching Erik’s elegant, deft hands. Eventually, he fell asleep, and Erik gently carried him to bed. He glanced out the window to check that the light was turning, and let a sleepy Charles tug him down into the sheets.