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Maybe I should start listening to Emma, Erik thought to himself as he ran through the streets, keeping away from floating his way out of the situation thanks to the damned helicopter in the sky. At least on the ground he could twist some things and keep himself hidden so he didn't get shot.
When his cape caught on a trashcan and made him halt, almost falling to the ground on his ass, Erik cursed Emma just a little for not making him listen more carefully.
"Plan better, Magneto," the woman had said, not even bothering to look up at him as she filed her nails, her voice demanding and annoyed. "You're too careless for your own good, and you'll end up getting caught."
Erik remembered replying with something along the lines of, "I'm the Master of Magnetism, no one will catch me."
Now, as the police tried to get him, and got uncomfortably close to actually doing it with their fucking weird non-metal gun and bullets, he felt like Emma was laughing at him somewhere, even if he knew she was most likely making a run for her freedom as well.
He took a turn on another empty street, cursing in English, Yiddish and German as he hit a fire hydrant by accident. At that point, his clothes wouldn't be the only thing purple with how much he seemed to be stumbling on things — he had always been better at running away by flying, and yet that wasn't exactly an option now. Down the street, Erik saw an alley, quickly turning and entering it; there was a backdoor to one of the stores from that main street, and Erik didn't take long to decide to unlock it and enter.
Christmas at least served a purpose this time other than just making him have to deal with Merry Christmas wishes and eating chinese food inside his home while he waited for the holiday to pass. This time, Christmas meant less crowded streets in the small town they were in, less people to stop him — and, of course, Erik had ruined those cops' Christmases, which was a big plus. Christmas Eve also meant closed stores, and freedom for Erik to enter the one where he was in and listen to see if the cops had followed him.
He could hear the helicopter outside, but it passed the building, and there were no sounds of anyone following him now. He could stay there for a while, just to be sure, before floating back to his headquarters.
Relaxing finally, feeling the pain on the bruises from all the bumping and falling, Erik sighed in relief, leaning heavily against the door he had entered through before picking himself up and looking around himself. A kitchen, he noticed, seeing a few machines that he recognized from coffee shops. Maybe he could even make himself a cup of coffee and see if there was any leftover food around for dinner. He was sure ordering chinese wasn't a good call yet.
His idea died down, however, when he noticed a light on, shining yellow somewhere further inside the shop, wary now that maybe he wasn't alone in there. He reached out with his power, feeling the coffee machines and the metal chairs, until he curiously noticed a wheelchair just around where that light was on, as well as a watch, warmed by someone's wrist, confirming someone's presence there. As he considered leaving and trying to get back to his group, he heard the police again, grunting and walking a little more into the shop.
He was careful enough not to make a sound as he stepped to the counter, seeing some leftover cookies inside the glass case and frowning annoyedly that he'd have to pass them since that stranger was there. He jumped the counter, using his powers to lower his feet down silently to the ground, moving his hands up to the helmet covering his head to take it off, wanting the visibility of not having it on to deal with the stranger.
As soon as he had the helmet up, Erik froze. He thought for a moment that it was strange that he had frozen when he didn't feel scared at all, maybe only a little wary, until he noticed how it felt like a telepathic grip. Emma had done that to him once, but whoever was doing it to him felt more powerful, the hold more precise than Emma's. So Erik just stood there and tried not to panic, watching a dark form strutting towards him from the corner where the light was on, slowly realizing that it was a cat when it rubbed against his legs and meowed up at him.
Well now, this is awkward, a voice said inside Erik's head, British, posh, and very amused. Erik almost felt offended that it wasn't scared of him. Judging by your thoughts and the helicopter I just saw passing, as well as the cops searching everything left and right, you're Magneto.
Let me go, Erik thought pointedly.
Another cat emerged from the hidden spot in the corner of the café, orange and fat, intent on staring at Erik as he stood frozen.
I'm afraid I can't do that until I'm sure you're not a danger, my friend. But don't worry, I won't hurt you.
Erik thought a series of mean things, apparently only helping in making the stranger amused. The stranger chuckled out loud, and soon Erik was seeing the man, wheeling himself back in his wheelchair as he pushed cats out of the way and faced Erik. Erik's first thought was questioning why there were so many cats there, and, even in the dim lighting, Erik could see the stranger's lips curving up just a little bit in an amused smile.
"This is a cat café," he explained, although Erik couldn't care less. "And, right now, your best chance of escaping the police. May I know why they were trying to catch you this time?"
No, Erik thought stubbornly, but he knew he couldn't fully control his mind to not remember what he had done before he got there, let alone when a telepath was probably looking for it in the first place.
The stranger's eyes seemed to widen before his expression softened again and he gave Erik another smile.
"Alright, this time I'll agree with your methods. The mutant research facilities did need to be taken care of considering the government did nothing," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And no one was hurt, surprisingly. I guess you just earned yourself a table at the café, Magneto. Or should I call you Erik?"
Don't call me Erik, Erik thought pointedly.
"Alright."
The grip on his body loosened, arms finally putting the helmet down on the counter like he had meant to do before, and eyes narrowing at the telepath.
"What-"
"The police will be entering the store in a few minutes," the stranger said, crossing his arms over his chest. Erik finally noticed the ugly Christmas sweater around him — the fact that Erik had been out powered by a man wearing that made him feel ridiculous. "I'll need you to be very quiet so I can hide you from them when they do. Unless you want to make a run for it, which I would not advise doing."
"And why are you helping me exactly?"
"Out of pity," the stranger said, Erik's mouth going ajar at the audacity as the man laughed. "I just think it's not the time for you to get caught. Now, come on. I'll make you a coffee and get you something to eat. Careful with the cats, they like to cuddle."
Erik considered running, taking his chances with his escape. The helicopter flew over the building again, the light shining next to the shop's glass storefront, and Erik reluctantly moved to the corner where the light was turned on and sat down on one cushioned bench. Immediately, one of the cats moved towards him, chirping and trying to get on his lap. Erik watched the cat as the cat watched him back, until the stranger's voice sounded in his mind again.
That's Mr. Fluffy Bums, he said. The idea that a powerful telepath like that man had used his power to say that to Erik was baffling. He likes butt scratches.
Mr. Fluffy Bums did, indeed, like butt scratches, and he seemed to be in some kind of heaven with Erik petting him as the stranger came back with a cup of steaming coffee and a plate with a few cookies.
"Merry Christmas, my friend," the stranger said, picking up one of the cats from the ground to let it get comfortable over his lap.
"I'm jewish."
"Then happy Thursday for you."
Despite himself, Erik had to hold back from chuckling, taking a sip of his coffee and a bite from one of the cookies, sighing right after. He hadn't realized he was hungry.
Mr. Fluffy Bums jumped down from his lap once he noticed there would be no more petting, that orange cat from before sitting by Erik's side and looking up at him with its tail moving slowly.
"And what's this one's name?" Erik asked mindlessly, not even bothering to look back at the stranger. It was better than just staying silent.
"Tangerine," he answered, almost proud of the answer. Erik finally looked back at him.
"Do you name them?"
"Me and my sister," the stranger shrugged, the easy smile on his lips making Erik wonder how he could be so comfortable in Erik's presence. Maybe because he knows he could win over me, Erik thought to himself. "I named Tangerine, my sister named Mr. Fluffy Bums."
"And what other interesting names are there?"
"Look at you, striking casual conversation with the man holding your freedom in his hands," the stranger teased, making Erik give him a glare. He wasn't affected by it in the slightest. "Well, there's Pipsqueak, Hershey's Bar, Chicken Soup, Cookie, Destroyer, Jamerson-"
"Jamerson?"
"My sister's idea because the cat looks like a person named Jamerson," the man shrugged, pointing at one of the cats. Erik stared at it, seeing that man's sister's point. "There's also God Killer, Chicken- not to be confused with Chicken Soup- Miss Banana Smoothie and Charles, which was my sister's idea again."
"That's very weird," Erik said, seeing the man laugh.
"It certainly is amusing to run around the shop and scream for Chicken," the man grinned, clearly delighted with the awful names. Erik once again held down a smile. "And my sister likes to make a show of calling Charles and making me guess if she's calling me or the cat."
Erik raised his eyebrows. The man had a name now, and, somehow, "Charles" fit well with the man in front of him.
Charles seemed to smile, probably catching Erik's thoughts.
"What? Expected some other name?"
"I was trying to guess," Erik shrugged, surprising himself at the playfulness in his voice. "Maybe your name was Mr. Coffee Beans."
Charles' eyes shone for a moment, looking around himself before picking a cat up, an all brown maine coon who looked young.
"Well, this one didn't have a name yet, so I guess we know what we're calling him now." Charles chuckled, holding the cat close as the animal rubbed his face against Charles' neck, purring up a storm. "Oh, also, slide your coffee and cookies over to my side of the table."
Erik blinked. "What?"
"Do it, Magneto, would you?"
Erik hesitated, but did what he was told. Seconds after, the door to the coffee shop opened and the cops entered, Erik getting ready to run when Charles sent a wave of calm towards him and he realized the cops weren't looking at him at all.
"Officers! Merry Christmas! Is there something I can do for you?" Charles asked with a cheery voice, a smile on his lips as he turned his chair around enough to be able to look at the men there.
"Sir, why are you open today?"
"Oh, I like to spend Christmas Eve with my cats," Charles shrugged as Erik watched everything curiously. The officer seemed to twist his face in disgust at Charles' words for a second before he hid it. "Is there something wrong?"
"There's a manhunt going on. Magneto, leader of the Brotherhood, I'm sure you've heard of him."
"Indeed. He attacked again?"
"He did. Killed a lot of people this time," the officer said, a surge of fiery fury running through Erik's whole body.
Calm down, I know he's lying, Charles' voice said calmly inside his head. He's just trying to convince me to say if I saw something.
Erik thought about screwing Charles' plans and attacking the police officer, but sat back and waited, hands clenched into fists over the table.
"He was last seen around the area. Would you mind if we took a look across the shop?"
"Not at all, although I'd know if Magneto of all people came here," Charles smiled to the officer, his voice sounding in Erik's mind right after with, Slowly float your helmet from the counter to you to keep it close but, please, don't put it on so I can still talk to you.
Erik did what he was told and watched warily as the cops searched everything. Charles wheeled himself back towards their table, picking up one of Erik's cookies and taking a bite of it. He knew it served to keep the appearances that Charles had been the one eating it, but he couldn't help the helpless expression on his face as he lost one of the cookies.
I'll give you another one, Charles hummed inside his head, the feeling of a head pat against his hair all of the sudden. There, there.
It would be demeaning if it wasn't comfortable.
When the cops finally left, Charles slid the coffee and the cookies back towards Erik and smiled.
"Thank you," Erik mumbled, eating the cookies again.
"No problem," Charles nodded. "But the coffee and the cookies will be $8.30."
Erik looked up at the man, seeing the sincerity in Charles' eyes. What the fuck.
"I don't… I don't have my wallet with me."
Charles made a show of sighing, petting Mr. Coffee Beans when he meowed, wanting more affection apparently.
"I think that means you'll just have to come back another time to pay me and see me again..."
Erik blinked at him, seeing the smile on Charles' lips. This time, he couldn't hold back the surprised smile and chuckle.
"Confident, aren't you?"
"It's for the cats," Charles shrugged, picking Mr. Coffee Beans up and showing him to Erik, making a show of pouting. "They liked you."
If it was any other person, Erik would probably think it ridiculous, and yet Charles had saved his ass, given him something to eat and had the bluest eyes Erik had ever seen, now that he stopped to notice. He could almost hear Emma in his head telling him he was going soft.
"Won't your clients find off-putting that the Master of Magnetism is coming into your shop?"
"What, will you be wearing those clothes every time you come here?"
Erik frowned and looked down at himself before looking back up at Charles. "Do you have a problem with them?"
"Some problems," Charles nodded, Erik's face turning into a frown. "But I can't say they don't fit you well. But I'd rather the next time you come here you have something else on. Having a date with a man in spandex isn't exactly what I dreamed of."
A date. The confidence in that man…
Even so, Erik felt himself giddy at the idea of a date.
He left later that night with Charles' phone number written on his hand with a pen, feeling like a teenager again when Charles had taken his hand to write down the number and smiled up at him when the number was there. The cats seemed to follow him around, trying to play with his cape as it floated behind him. Tangerine seemed to have finally decided to take action instead of just watching Erik, standing on its hind legs and supporting itself against Erik's thigh, meowing softly in a clear wish to be picked up.
He picked the fat cat up, feeling it purr as he scratched behind its ear.
"See? Now you have to come back. Tangerine is emotionally attached to you now."
"It would be rude of me not to," Erik nodded, seeing the smile on Charles' lips grow. "And in other clothes, since I'm sure these ones are full of cat hair now."
"That'd be a good idea," Charles nodded. "Take care, Magneto."
"Erik," he corrected, seeing Charles grin and nod.
"Take care, Erik," Charles said again, chuckling before he uttered a "Happy Thursday!" to an already leaving Erik.
This time, despite himself, Erik laughed.