Chapter Text
It had been a hell of a time getting the CIA to let them go recruiting on their own. Luckily, they had both the power of persuasion, and a telepath, on their side. The first few weeks went by quickly, hopping from town to town in a dusty red truck that Charles swore Erik had fallen in love with at first sight. So far, only about three people had signed on. While a light persuasion might have worked on the CIA, it was infinitely more morally sound to give everyone else the freedom of choice.
Charles made an exasperated noise, placing his watch on the side table. They had reached out to two mutants in this town, and it seemed that neither of them were going to take up the offer. Erik had beelined towards the shower, letting Charles have his space for some well deserved brooding. He leaned back on the bed, closing his eyes. The world was too loud, all the time. He needed a break, but now wasn’t the time. Maybe someday when all of this was over, he could take a vacation somewhere exotic. Somewhere with nice beaches, far away.
He wondered if Erik would ever want to go with him. It might be odd to invite him on a vacation, but he had become a beacon of hope for Charles on their trip so far. His sort of pessimistic nihilism was refreshingly different from Charles’ usual undying optimism. Sometimes he needed someone to ground him, though lately their roles had felt reversed. Charles was the one chiding Erik at their losses.
It was then that he noticed there was only one bed. They had been in such a rush to get settled that it hadn’t occurred to him. He gripped at the sheets lightly, trying to focus on something concrete. He didn’t often have a temper, but this entire trip was starting to get on his nerves. Not that he would ever let that show around any of the mutants they tried to recruit.
Before his thoughts could get the better of him, Erik emerged from the bathroom, holding his previous clothes in a small bundle. Charles sat up, rubbing his temples as Erik put his clothes back in his duffle bag.
“Where are we off to tomorrow?” Erik plopped down on the opposite side of the bed, flipping through a magazine.
“Helena, Montana”
“How far?” Erik absentmindedly flipped through the pages, most of them were advertisements or unknown models.
“I don’t know” Charles gave an irritated sigh.
Erik looked over, taking in how tired Charles looked. He had a right to be crabby, Erik couldn’t image having to use his abilities all day everyday for this long. It would be downright exhausting. He moved closer, patting Chales’ back. Subconsciously, Charles pushed into the touch. It was odd not having Raven around. She was so affectionate. He realized for the first time since they had left, that he missed her terribly.
He turned over to look at Erik, who still had his hand on his back, stroking small circles. His focus was on an article about a new type of cars. Charles quietly studied Erik’s form, the ease with which he sat back and the line of his jaw in concentration. It was enthralling. He traced the outline of Erik’s body on the bed with his eyes, taking in the silence of the room as a small comfort. After a moment, Erik felt eyes barreling into his skull and turned to face Charles.
“Have you thought any more about dinner?” Erik continued rubbing small circles, to which Charles was practically purring like a cat.
“Room service sounds divine” Charles mumbled, letting his head fall back on the wooden bedframe.
“Would you like me to call down?” Erik eyed the very sleepy looking Charles, knowing that he was no longer spiraling.
“Yes, darling, that would be fantastic” Charles mumbled, running a hand over his face.
Erik picked up the phone, taking his hand off of Charles’ back. Charles whimpered lightly at the loss. He was too tired to hide how starved of attention he had become on their trip. Raven was constantly wrapping herself around him in one way or another, it was comforting. There was a difference with Erik though. He always felt special when Erik touched him, however slight. Raven was like that with everyone. Lately Hank had been taking most of her attention away. Even if he were home, he would likely still feel the same.
When Erik had finished ordering, he went back to reading. He flipped the pages slowly, his full attention on whatever features were included in this new model of car. Charles tried to read over his shoulder, scooting closer to get a good look, but it was no use. For someone who had read hundreds of academic papers, the intricate detailing of an automobile bored him. He was content to rest his head on Erik’s shoulder and listen to his breathing.
Erik was not an affectionate person. The act of something so soft was weak. He was made to be a soldier, but just like the rest of his defenses, it seemed that Charles was slowly breaking that away too. He moved his shoulder to make it more comfortable for Charles’ head, wrapping his arm around to touch Charles’ side gently.
Only about fifthteen minutes after Charles had fallen asleep wrapped around Erik, there was a knock at the door. Erik ran a hand through Charles’ hair, moving away to get their food. He pulled the cart inside fully before turning to motion towards the door, it closed and locked on it’s own. Charles smiled. That never got old. He could sit and watch Erik do menial tasks with his power for hours and never bore of it.
“I got you the fish” Erik placed a small plate in front of Charles.
“Thank you” Charles nodded, he had been starving for half the afternoon.
Before he could speak up for utensils, Erik turned and motioned for a small set to float towards Charles as he set up his own meal. They ate in silence. Tomorrow they would have plenty to talk about. Long drives gave them each the confidence to indulge things they wouldn’t normally. So far Charles had told the story of how he had once convinced Raven that the world was the shape of a candy until she was sixteen. While on the opposite side of the spectrum, Erik had told a detailed account of the horrors he saw in Germany. Either way, their conversations were lively.
Erik finished, standing up to take his plate back to the small cart they were given. He leaned over the bed, reaching for Charles’ empty plate as well. All of their silverware made it’s way back on to the cart and Charles watched in wonder.
“Fancy a game of chess?”
“Not tonight” Erik smiled politely, returning to his side of the bed.
He thought about that for a moment. His side. Funny how often things were beginning to line up just right. How he normally took that side, and Charles happened to sleep on the other. A small part of him wondered if it was purely coincidental or not.
Charles walked over to his suit case, pulling out some more comfortable clothes and making his way towards the bathroom. The mirror was still slightly fogged from Erik’s shower earlier. He tried not to dwell on that thought. He had a habit of accidentally poking around in Erik’s head. Nothing that Erik wouldn’t mind sharing, hopefully. He tells himself it’s just like how he used to watch Raven closely when it came to buy her birthday present. It was purely surface level. Though Erik was mostly an open book, and Charles doubted he would get very far if he really tried to see any further. Erik had become rather privy to feeling the telepath in his head.
He exited the bathroom, finding Erik now moving a couple of coins in between his fingers. It had become routine to see Erik practising, though he wouldn’t call it that. Erik had perfect control. He suspected it had something to do with the intricacies of the coins. Maybe one say he would get the courage to ask him how it feels, stop scratching the surface and jump in completely.
“It’s getting late” Charles yawned, looking around the room quickly before pulling the comforter back on his side of the bed.
“That it is” Erik sets the coins down on his nightstand, moving to pull back the comforter as well.
“Goodnight” Charles leans over to put out his lamp.
Before Charles can pull the string on his lamp, Erik snaps and the lights flash off.
“Spectacular” Charles mumbles and Erik pretends not to hear it.
“Goodnight” Erik rolls onto his side, facing away from Charles.
Charles is the one to wake up in the middle of the night, realizing that Erik’s arm is draped over him. His sleepy mind leans into the touch, moving to flush his back against Erik’s chest. He doesn’t dare move any more than that. He falls back asleep the most sound he has the entire trip.
It’s probably two hours later that Charles wakes up again, this time more irritated, as the entire bed is shaking. It takes him a moment to realize that it’s Erik. As much as he loves seeing the other use his abilities, it’s not preferred to feel them like this. He pushes lightly at Erik’s mind, feeling the grips of a nightmare. He breaths out deeply, forcing himself to not push any further. Instead, he shakes Erik awake gently.
The shaking stops immediately, as Erik’s bleary eyes open to see Charles there. He absently pulls Charles closer before drifting off again, this time nightmare free. The rest of the night goes on without incident, and Charles wonders how many times that has happened and he never noticed. It hurts him a little more than he thinks it should for someone he’s only known for a couple of months, but he knows more about Erik than he knows about some of the people he’s known his entire life. All of it stems from the night they met, Charles couldn’t help but look as deep as he could. There was something telling him to keep looking and never stop. He drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Erik in his mind, and he would be lying to himself if he said it was the first time.
They wake up to the call Charles put in at the front desk. Erik shuts off the phone without thinking and Charles grumbles at him. Erik goes to move his arm, finding it already draped over Charles chest. His chin is tucked into Charles’ hair, he has to pull away slowly to keep himself from staying there.
“Sorry” is mumbled as he gets up.
“Don’t be” Charles waves him off, sitting on the edge of the bed.
They get breakfast at the buffett in the lounge of the hotel, talk a bit about where they’re going and routes. Erik usually does the driving, he has a finesse when it comes to large metal cars. It makes him feel at home, when he’s never really had a home before. He’s still trying to figure out if that’s really the car though.
After breakfast, they start on the drive. The road is empty and the summer heat beats down on them through rolled down windows. Charles feels a repreve from the noise. It’s only him and Erik for miles. He can feel the sun heating his undershirt, it never was a good idea for them to wear suits everywhere. They won’t arrive for awhile, so he takes off the suit jacket, rolling up his sleeves as well.
Erik quickly glances over at Charles, not long enough to fully comprehend that he’s now turning to sit against the door with his feet nearing closer to Erik’s lap.
“What’s the best thing you’ve ever done?” Charles crosses his arms, kicking off his shoes onto the floor of the car.
“I haven’t done a lot of good in my life, I’m afraid” Erik, as much as he opposes, does enjoy Charles’ icebreakers.
“I would have to disagree. Now answer the question, what’s the best thing you’ve ever done?” He asks the question lower this time, tentatively.
Erik takes a minute to think. He rolls through a laundry list of memories that come to the forefront of his mind. All of them involve trauma, trauma that he isn’t ready to convey to anyone, let alone Charles. The answer comes to him quickly, simply.
“I stayed” Erik turns to see Charles fully now, realizing just how much has happened in the couple of minutes they’ve been on the road.
“And now you’re here. How curious” Charles smirks, breaking eye contact with Erik to look back out at the road, his arm proped up on the dash.
They swap stories and go back and forth for the rest of the ride, finding an innocuous motel when they arrive. Per usual, Erik takes a shower while Charles searches for who they’re looking for. Tonight she’s finishing her shift at the dinner, which will be their first stop the next morning. Erik walks out with a towel around his waist, grabbing a bundle of clothes from his bag and disappearing back into the bathroom. Unfortunately there’s two beds tonight.