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“Erik.” It was the first word out of Charles’s mouth when Erik saw him. The look on his face was one of concern and relief as he rolled toward him just a little faster.
Erik, for his part, continued limping in Charles’s direction just as fast as he could manage until they met in the middle. Charles wrapped his arms around Erik and Erik—leaning down—hugged him back. It took a moment for him to realize that he was the one who was shaking and Charles was holding him steady, keeping him from falling.
“We need to get you checked out, make sure you’re okay,” Charles whispered and Erik nodded. What he was really thinking was that there was no way he was okay but, in Charles’s arms, he was a little closer.
They continued to hold each other a little longer before Charles gently pulled back. He kept one hand in Erik's, the other on his hip, watching to make sure he stood up okay without falling over. Only then did his hands let go and he led the way back down into the lab of the school where Hank would be waiting.
Erik hadn’t seen Charles in years when he started trying to reach out mentally, hoping Charles might be listening in. He had gotten himself into a bit of trouble at a mutant rights rally and, while he normally did well enough getting arrested, this wasn’t the same situation.
He found himself in something more like a bunker than a cell. The concrete block walls surrounded him. A small room, maybe six-foot square, almost big enough for him to lay down in if he so pleased.
The people who were holding him there were certainly not pigs either, though they seemed to have the same beliefs. He was nothing more than a plaything to them. His helmet was gone so at least he could hope for Charles’s help, but there was also no other metal in the room. None of the people holding him were dumb enough to make that mistake.
For a while, he fought back, but when it was five against one and he didn’t even have his powers, there was only so much he could do, so long he could hold out. He was beaten over and over, kicked around until bruises were blooming over his stomach and ribs, blood was dripping down his face, and his eye was swollen closed. Every breath hurt, and every movement was painful.
At least he could say he broke a few of their bones in return for everything they did to him. While he wasn’t keeping a running tab, at least he knew he had broken one of their noses, one’s leg, and another’s arm. If he wasn’t mistaken there were a few broken ribs he’d gladly given them as well.
And then he heard Charles in his mind, finding out where he was, reassuring him that help was coming. Erik knew he could trust Charles, no matter what happened between them, no matter how long had passed, he knew if Charles said someone was coming for him, then someone was coming.
So that was how they got there, Erik following behind Charles, walking slowly, limping on his way to get checked over. Even in the jet on the way back to the school, Erik hadn’t felt nearly as safe and secure as he had in Charles’s arms. He could admit, if only to himself, that he would never feel that way other than with Charles.
They came to a stop just outside of the lab doors and Charles turned to look up at Erik. “You go on in and I’ll wait right here for you, alright love?” He asked, his voice low and reassuring but Erik hated the idea and shook his head.
“Come with me?” He asked, softly, hoping he didn’t sound as pathetic as he felt he did. Even at the best of times, he didn’t trust Hank and, right now, with his body hurting so much, he didn’t want to be alone. If something happened, he wanted someone he trusted there with him. And the only person he trusted was Charles.
“Are you sure?” Charles asked, giving him the option but not trying to argue either way or rub it in Erik’s face that he didn’t want to be alone with Hank. Not that he thought Charles would, but he still wasn’t comfortable with showing weakness, even if Charles had seen him at some particularly weak points in his life.
“Yes,” Erik replied, then hesitated briefly, trying to bite back the word the same as he was trying to push it out. “Please?”
Charles nodded, “Of course, darling,” He replied, then opened the door and let Erik follow him into the lab where everything was already set up for him. “Hop up on the table,” He ordered, stopping next to it and Erik did as he was instructed before he reached out for Charles’s hand, holding it tightly in his own. He never wanted to let go again.
The exam was painful. Not just in the physical sense but in the emotional and mental sense. His dignity was hurt that he was holding on to Charles so tightly but he was too terrified to let go. The memories of every other time he found himself on an exam table were dancing in his mind, overlapping just enough that he couldn’t tell what was happening now and what had happened in the past.
Charles was trying to make it better, Erik knew. He was talking to him, talking to Hank. The sound of his voice helped, but it wasn’t quite enough to calm him down and ground him in the moment.
Eventually, though, it came to an end and Erik slowly sat himself back up with a little help from Charles. He could hear the other two talking again but Erik couldn’t bring himself to listen, unable to focus on a single word they were saying. If it was important, Charles would fill him in later, but for now, he would let them handle everything.
“Come on, darling. I think we should get you cleaned up and into bed, what do you say?” Charles asked a few moments later, “I want to get you in my arms and hold you for a while. It’s been too long since you were last in my bed.”
Erik felt himself relaxing at the words, at Charles’s voice in his mind once again. He nodded in agreement and stood.
Without the knowledge that he was going to be with Charles in Charles’s bed, Erik wasn’t sure that he would’ve agreed. The idea of being close to him, however, was winning Erik over. He would happily stay in bed with Charles for as long as possible right now after years without the man.
This time, Erik led the way as they made the trip up in the elevator to Charles’s room. It took longer than it normally would, getting to and from the elevator with the speed Erik was moving but he wasn’t going to let that stop him, even if it did slow him down. And, soon enough, they were closing the door behind them both, with Erik walking over to the bed to sit down on the edge of it.
“How are you feeling, love?” Charles asked, coming to a stop right in front of him, their knees almost touching, “Now that we’re alone, I want an honest answer.” They both knew that, for anyone else, Erik would’ve lied, even if it was an obvious one.
“Everything hurts,” Erik confessed, “Every breath. Every movement. I didn’t get much of what Hank was saying before but I’m guessing broken ribs?” He asked and Charles nodded.
“You would be guessing correctly,” He replied, “Hank said three broke and two bruised. Other than that, he didn’t find any other breaks, just some bad bruising, cuts, and scrapes. He said you should be resting up for a few weeks at least and I’m hoping to keep you here while you do.”
It wasn’t a question and Erik knew that. Charles was stating he wanted Erik here, but it wasn’t a demand, or even a question of if he would stay. Still, Erik found himself nodding. If he was out on his own and something happened, he wouldn’t be much help to himself, after all, he would be nothing but an easy target in his current state. It would be a risk and one he wasn’t willing to take.
“If you’re sure you want me to be here, I won’t decline the offer,” He said, almost hesitantly, as though Charles would take his suggestion back now, after all these years of offering. Erik could never be certain, good things didn’t tend to happen to him, after all.
“Darling, I always want you here. There’s always going to be room here, anytime you need a place to stay, no matter how long you need, you have a place. And I don’t just mean in the school but in my bed too.” Charles’s hand wrapped around Erik’s holding onto it gently, as though he was worried he would hurt Erik more, “After all, we both know what side is yours and what side is mine.”
Erik smiled a little at that and nodded, “Thank you,” He said, his voice low and quiet, just for the two of them. “You said something about cleaning up? I think I would like to get the blood off me and the other remnants of the last few days.”
“Of course, come on, we can shower together. I’m not sure I trust you on your feet alone just yet,” Charles confessed, “There’s enough room for two. Even on the shower bench.”
Erik stood up, already mentally working on his protests against sitting down in the shower. As long as his legs were working and not broken he would manage.
Alas, mentally working on a protest when said protest is against a telepath only works so well and Erik found himself sitting on the shower bench next to Charles only a few minutes later while Charles washed him with so much love and gentleness from head to toe.