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Magneto was sitting on a hospital bed, reading a book. His wounded chest and legs hurt like hell. He passed out and woke up there, wounds nicely patched up and a book waiting for him on the nightstand next to the bed. He didn't have to guess where he was, but he didn't know why he was there. He thought of escaping but his injured legs would surely give out if he tried. Great. Sensational. Now he is stuck… Here.
The door opened and a man entered the room. Professor Charles Xavier. Of course it was fucking Charles Xavier. He navigated his wheelchair to the bed. Magneto closed the book and looked him in the eye. Neither of them spoke. Then Magneto sighed.
“The Master and Margarita? Really?” He asked, waving the book.
“I thought you liked it.” Xavier shrugged. “Besides, it's one of my favourite love stories.” He added with an expression Magneto couldn't place anywhere. He snorted.
“I thought you liked it because it has a talking cat with a gun.” He smirked.
“That too is important.” Xavier nodded. Then his face turned serious. “How are you doing?” He asked.
“I’ll stay alive.” Magneto said, putting the book to the side. “Don’t... don't expect gratitude though.” He quickly added. Xavier didn’t say anything, he just looked at him with the same, unreadable expression. Magneto turned his gaze away from him. “Why? Why even bring me here, why bother?”
“We have a policy here. We leave no injured mutants behind. That goes for our enemies too.” Xavier explained.
“Your bleeding heart will cause your demise one day.” Magneto warned.
“Oh?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. “Is it today?” Magneto looked over him. He wanted to punch his stupid face so much.
“No.” He sighed with frustration. Xavier smirked. “Oh wipe that grin off your face, will you? We are not friends.” He rolled his eyes.
“Alright, I'll leave then. It was nice seeing you.” Xavier said nonchalantly, turning around his wheelchair.
“No! Don't leave! Please…?” Magneto realised he sounded way too desperate. He hoped, really hoped that Xavier didn't pick up on that.
“Alright.” Xavier shrugged, turning back. He was smirking again. That god awful smirk. Magneto wanted to be angry at him. Because if he couldn't be angry…
“You love to make everything so damn complicated, don't you?” He said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“What do you mean by that?” Xavier asked.
“We are enemies, Charles, like it or not. I wanted to kill you. Multiple times I might add. And you bring me here, because I'm injured?!”
“I told you, we have a policy.”
“I don't give a damn about your policy!” Magneto said, eyes darting Xavier. But he stared back firmly. Magneto gave up. Xavier was always better at this.
“You're confused because you feel like you owe me now?” Xavier asked.
“I don't owe you anything.” Magneto scoffed. Then he sighed. “But… I
I guess I should thank you.”
“You guess?” Xavier crossed his arms.
“I… Thank you for saving me.” Magneto said with a soft voice. Then he shook his head slightly. “There, I said it. Are you happy now, Charles?”
“Very much so, Erik.” Xavier nodded. Magneto scoffed.
“Don’t let it get to your head.”
“Wouldn't dream of it.” Xavier said. He seemed to be… hesitating? “Would you mind if I sat on the bed with you?” He asked carefully. Magneto froze.
“No.” He whispered, voice slightly trembling. Xavier seemed relieved at that. “Do you want me to help with the…?”
“No, no thank you.” Xavier said, lifting himself up to the bed with his arms.
“I didn't mean this as-” Magneto started apologising.
“I know you didn't.” Xavier smiled.
They looked at each other. It has been too long, far too long since they had been alone like this. All of those memories left a bitter taste in the mouth now. Despite all of that though, there was something in the air, vibrating between them. Sometimes we have to decide which one is stronger: hate or love. At that moment, Magneto chose the latter.
“Look, who’s making things complicated now?” Xavier asked. It just registered in Magneto that he kissed him. He quickly turned away, furiously blushing.
“Well, you didn't seem to mind!” He said defensively, covering his mouth.
“No. No, I didn't.” Xavier smiled.
“Wait… You knew it, didn’t you?” Magneto said, as a sudden realization hit him.
“Knew what?”
“Oh, don't be so coy, you know what I mean.” Magneto rolled his eyes.
“I… hoped that you still…” Xavier said, looking down on his hands.
“Do I?!” Magneto asked, almost hysterically. “I think of you every single day of my life!”
“Erik…” Xavier gasped. He looked up at Magneto, his face burning. Magneto looked away. Xavier reached out and took his hand. Magneto didn't say anything, but he locked his fingers tight around Xavier’s.
“I guess we both made this… complicated.” Magneto said, forcing an awkward smile on his face. Xavier sighed and nodded. “So what happens now?”
“Well, we could have a truce.” Xavier suggested.
“A truce?!” Magneto looked at him, flabbergasted.
“Just while you stay here. Healing.” Xavier explained. He gently rubbed Magneto’s hand with his thumb.
“Well, I could try to not kill you for a couple of days…” Magneto shrugged. His stomach did three backflips as Xavier stroked his hand. He tried to not let it show on his face.
“ Try ?” Xavier raised an eyebrow. Magneto rolled his eyes.
“Fine. I won't do anything to you, or your X-Men while I am here. Are you happy now?” He grumbled.
“Very much so. Thank you, Erik.” Xavier smiled. They looked at each other. Magneto wanted to be angry, but couldn't anymore.
“Be honest with me Charles, do you miss me?” He asked, with a slightly desperate tone.
“Don’t you think you're a touch too obsessed with me, Erik?” Xavier smirked.
“I am ABSOLUTELY NOT obsessed with you.” Magneto said, his cheeks flushing. “But do you miss me?”
“As you yourself put it. I think of you every single day of my life.” Xavier nodded.
“Please kiss me.” Magneto whispered with a faint voice. He looked up at Xavier. He looked away, face turning red. “I… I didn't mean to say it out loud.” He muttered.
“I would have heard it anyway.” Xavier smiled, knocking on his head. Magneto scoffed.
“Sure, make fun of me while you're at it.” He pouted.
“So you don't want that kiss?” Xavier smirked.
“Oh, go to hell, Charles.” Magneto grumbled. “Yes! Yes I do!”
Xavier smiled at him in a way that melted all that anger off of his face. He let go of Magneto’s hand and cupped his face between his palms. Magneto embraced Xavier’s shoulders. They both leaned in at the same time, meeting in the middle, melting into the kiss. For a brief moment, everything felt like everything was as it used to be. That everything was alright. Maybe it could be. Just for a brief amount of time. Just for these couple of days. They parted with a sincere smile on their faces.
“I missed this so much.” Magneto sighed. “And you. I missed you terribly.”
“I know.” Xavier nodded. “And I missed you too.”
“You know?”
“Your thoughts are horribly loud, dear.”
“You-You were listening to me?!” Magneto gasped. “You bastard! ”
“Oh please, I know you too well.” Xavier rolled his eyes. “I know you do that on purpose.”
“I…might.” Magneto admitted.
“Erik, you could have just called me.”
“Would you pick up?”
“For you? Always.” Xavier smiled. He gently stroke Magneto’s hair. “I like your hair.” He said.
“You do?” Magneto asked with a shy expression. “You told me once that long hair would look good on me, so I grew it out a little.”
“It does suit you.” Xavier nodded.
“Flattery will not get you on my good side, Charles.” Magneto teased, despite the flattery clearly working. He leaned in for another kiss, when the door opened again.
“Professor, the news is on, and- oh.” Both men turned around to see a very uncomfortable Rogue. “Am I… Interrupting something?”
“No, it's alright.” Xavier gave her a reassuring smile. “We were just having a conversation. What did you want?”
“Nothing, I was just uh, I wanted to ask if you want to see the news.” Rogue stammered.
“No, not now.” Xavier shook his head. “We were in the middle of a discussion. I’ll join you later.”
“Alright, I'll uh, I'll leave then.” Rogue said, quickly leaving and closing the door. Magneto scoffed.
“This is just great , she will tell everyone that we…” He grumbled, trying to get up. The sudden movement sent a terrible pain into his chest.
“Easy, easy, dear. Please don't strain yourself. You're injured, in case you forgot.” Xavier reminded him, as he put his hand on his chest. “Besides, we didn't do anything when she entered.”
“Alright.” Magneto sighed. Then he smirked a little. “Now, where were we?”
—
“I’m telling you, there's something suspicious going on!” Rogue argued.
Everybody was arguing in the common room, when Wolverine entered. He looked around. He took a deep breath. “Alright, what is it about this time?” He sighed.
“Rogue claims she saw the Professor and Magneto do things in the recovery area.” Cyclops said.
“But I did!” Rogue argued.
“What did you see exactly?” Wolverine asked.
“I dunno, they were like. Weird. Lookin’ at each other with so much love…”
“Rogue, I don't want to be rude, but I don't think that was what you saw. It's impossible.” Storm said.
“Nah, she's right, you know.” Wolverine shrugged.
“WHAT?!” Asked the whole room as one person.
“I was walking there, looking for something-” Wolverine started, but Gambit interrupted.
“Your teddy bear?” He smirked.
“Shut up Gambit!” Wolverine looked at him with flaming eyes. “Anyways. I was walking there, and I entered the room. And you'll never guess what I saw…”
“Your teddy bear!” Gambit tried and failed again.
“Shut up, or I'll skewer you.” Wolverine warned. “I saw the Professor and Magneto sucking face.” He said nonchalantly.
“That's not funny, Wolverine!” Cyclops said.
“Wasn't trying to be.”
“Then why didn't you tell us?” Rogue asked.
“Because I don't give a shit.” Wolverine shrugged. Then he left the room, leaving the others to argue about it. He still needed to find… not the teddy bear. Nope. Not that.
—
Magneto was sneaking around the corridors. Every step hurt, but he was very determined. It was late, the others had already gone to sleep. Or so he thought.
“Where do you think you're going, Magneto?” He flinched and turned around. Rogue was standing behind him, ready to jump at anything suspicious he does. He could easily defeat her of course, but he had to take his injuries into account. He sighed with frustration.
“Nowhere that is of your business or concern, young lady.” He said with a cold voice.
“That's mighty suspicious if you ask me.” Rogue put her hand on her hip.
“Alright, listen to me. Charles and I agreed on a truce while I am here, recovering. I won't hurt anybody.” Magneto explained. “Not that I could, in my current state.”
“Charles, huh?” Rogue raised an eyebrow. “I didn't know you're in first name basis with the Professor.”
“I’m an old friend of his, didn't he tell you?” Magneto crossed his arms.
“Close friend, I presume.” Rogue smirked.
“What do you mean by that?” Magneto started to get a little nervous.
“Oh, nothing, nothing.” Rogue shrugged.
Magneto decided he had enough of this. He rolled his eyes and turned around.
“Hey, wait!” Rogue shouted after him.
“What is it?” Magneto asked with growing anger.
“The Professor’s room is the other way around.” She said with a cheeky grin and a wink. Magneto felt an urge to crash a metal plate into her face, but he just sighed angrily, and started walking into the direction she pointed.
“I hate this place. And these people.” He gritted through his teeth.
—
Xavier was sitting in the bed and reading a book. He was thinking about what happened that day. He couldn't focus on reading, regularly having to reread whole sentences. He was angry at Magneto, of course he was. How could he not be? But at the same time he was happy that he was there, that they got to talk. That the old feelings are the same. He was lost in these thoughts when somebody entered his room. He closed the book and looked up. It was Magneto. Of course he was.
“Can I come in?” He asked, a little unsure of himself. Xavier nodded. Magneto closed the door behind him and walked to the bed. He sat down, rather slowly.
“Hurts, doesn't it?” Xavier asked. “I told you to not strain yourself.”
“I know, I know.” Magneto rolled his eyes. “At least try to act a little happy that I am here.”
“I am.” Xavier smiled. He put the book on the nightstand. “And since going back would just cause you further pain, you might as well stay the night.”
“I was hoping you would say that.”
“Of course you did.” Xavier smirked. “I know you, dear. A little too well perhaps.”
“Only because you're looking through my mind all day.” Magneto teased.
“Now that is just slander!” Xavier gasped dramatically. “I don't need to use my powers to see right into you.”
“Oh darling, now that shouts for a challenge!” Magneto smirked. “Tell me what I think about now, and I might believe you.”
“I think you want to kiss me.” Xavier smiled.
“Now that's not fair, is it?” Magneto made a dramatic gesture with his hand.
“Do I win then?” Xavier asked.
“I admit defeat.” Magneto smiled.
“Then give me that kiss. Consider it my prize.”
Magneto laughed to himself a bit. Some things never change. He sat a little closer and gave the prize to Xavier. “One day I'll wipe that smug smile off your face.” He warned before.
“Oh quit whining, I would consider this a win for you too.” Xavier said flirtatiously.
“Shut up, Charles.” Magneto whispered as he leaned in for another kiss.
“Oh, by the way, you can find a pair of pajamas in the wardrobe, second shelf from the bottom.” Xavier said after they finished. Magneto nodded with a smile and got up to change. “Should I turn around?” Xavier asked.
“What for?” Magneto shrugged, while undressing. “You have seen me before.”
“Yes, but that was… Before.”
“It’s the same body.”
“Hardly.” Shook his head Xavier. “You really should put on some weight.”
“What, suddenly I'm not good enough for you?”
“Erik, that is not what I have said.” Xavier sighed. “I just asked you to eat a little more.”
“I have been through some… unpleasant times.” Magneto admitted.
“I know. But please try to take care of yourself. If not for your sake, then at least do it for me.” Xavier said with a worried tone.
“Alright. I’ll try.” Magneto sighed.
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Thank you.” Xavier looked over Magneto, now wearing his pajamas. A cheeky smile appeared on his face.
“Don’t you dare laugh.” Magneto warned. “It’s your fault, why do you wear these ridiculous striped pajamas?”
“I happen to like them.” Xavier shrugged.
“You always had terrible taste, Charles.” Magneto rolled his eyes.
“I know. I dated you for… How many years now?”
“Oh haha, very funny.” Magneto scoffed. “Twelve years, for the record.” He added.
“Twelve years…” Xavier mused. “That's longer than some people's marriages.”
“I think we qualify as divorced.”
“I think we qualify as complicated.” Xavier shrugged. “Now, come to bed, will you?”
Magneto crawled into the bed and snuggled next to Xavier.
“You have quite the huge bed for yourself, Charles.” He remarked.
“I like to have space for myself.” Xavier shrugged.
“You're seeing other men, don't you?” Magneto said with an accusatory tone, looking at Xavier.
“I can't believe this, Erik. Are you jealous?” Xavier laughed.
“No?! Absolutely not!” Magneto blushed angrily. “But do you?”
“No, Erik. I don't. Do you?”
“How dare- ” Magneto gasped. “Even the accusation is preposterous!”
“You started it, dear.” Xavier winked.
“So what if I'm a little jealous?” Magneto grumbled. “We have been together for twelve years, I'm not gonna let some moron take you away from me.” Xavier laughed heartily at that. “Oh shut up, Charles.” He said, angrily snuggling to him. They sat like that for a couple of minutes.
“I guess we both like to make things complicated.” Magneto repeated the phrase they so often used that day.
“Would you believe if I said, I could make it even more so?” Xavier asked.
“Hardly.”
“At least give me a chance, will you?”
“Alright.” Magneto nodded. Xavier gently lifted up his chin with his hand to face him. Magneto gulped with flushed cheeks.
“I love you, Erik.” He whispered.
“I love you too.” Magneto whispered back, with a slightly trembling voice. “Always had, always will. But you know that, don't you.”
“Only because you let me know it, Erik. Two can play this game.” Xavier smiled.
“You caught me, Charles.” Magneto smirked. “Look into me now, and tell me what I am thinking about.” He said, almost pleading.
“As you wish, dear…” Xavier stroked his face. Then he laughed. “Oh, you're nasty, Erik.”
“As if you don't want it.” Magneto teased.
“As I said before, two can play this game.” Xavier said, running his thumb over Magneto’s lips. Magneto had a feeling they won't sleep too much that night.
—
Xavier woke up entangled in Magneto’s limbs. Even in his sleep, he was clinging to him. Xavier smiled. Nothing new, then. He gently pushed a lock of hair behind Magneto’s ear. He realised just how much power those white locks hold over him. He smiled at that thought. At that moment, everything felt so slow and peaceful. Then the door opened.
“Professor, the news-!” Cyclops yelled. Xavier sat up, sighing. So much for the lazy morning then.
“What is it, Cyclops?” He asked.
“We were watching the news and-” Cyclops started, but the sentence froze into his throat.
“What is all this ruckus about…?” Mumbled a very sleepy Magneto, as he sat up too.
“I… I’ll explain it later, Professor.” Cyclops apologised with an awkward gesture, then swiftly left the room.
“Ugh, I cannot believe this…!” Magneto threw himself back to bed dramatically. “Does nobody in this goddamned building know how to knock ?!”
“In their defense, I normally have nothing to hide.” Xavier said.
“Brilliant, now none of your little X-Men will ever take me seriously.” Magneto scoffed. Xavier snorted. “Don’t you dare laugh!”
“I’m terribly sorry, dear.” Xavier said, trying to not start snickering. “We should dress up and start the day.”
“I have lost all my credibility. I am done for. ” Magneto mumbled.
“Oh, quit being so dramatic and push my wheelchair a little closer.” Xavier rolled his eyes.
“I will get you for this.” Magneto warned, but he obliged.
“Sure you will Erik, sure you will.” Xavier smirked. “Do you need help dressing up?”
“Go to hell, Charles.” Magneto scoffed, trying to scoop his clothes up from the floor. His wounds still hurt a lot. “Yes. Please.” He grumbled.
—
“What’s the matter, Wolverine, didn’t sleep well?” Gambit asked with a grin.
“No.” Wolverine grumbled, as he was attempting to make waffles for himself.
“Is it because you lost your teddy bear?” Gambit mocked. Wolverine turned to him, igniting his claws.
“Say that again and I’ll tear you to shreds.” He warned.
“So you’re saying this little fella is not yours?” Gambit asked, showing the soggy little teddy bear he previously hid behind his back. Wolverine froze.
“Where did you find it?!”
“It was inside the washing machine, you forgot it there.”
“Give him back.” Wolverine took a step closer. “Give Killer Vengeance back.”
“I’m sorry, wHO?!” Gambit wheezed. Wolverine jumped on him, attempting to free Killer Vengeance from the clutches of Gambit. Jubilee entered the common room at that moment. She took a deep breath.
“Guys, the kids are fighting!” She shouted. Everybody ran into the scene, some to attempt to stop the fight, some to sit back with a bag of popcorn. Before things could further escalate however, Cyclops entered the room. He didn’t say a word, just collapsed down to the nearest chair. Everybody stopped what they were doing, even Wolverine and Gambit.
“What’s the matter, mon ami, you look like you've seen a ghost.” Gambit said, standing up. Wolverine used the opportunity to grab the teddy bear.
“Yeah, what happened? You didn’t even say anything about us making a scene.” He added.
“I…” Cyclops started. “I don’t even know how to say this.”
“Try words.” Wolverine said, while he cradled the teddy bear.
“I… I wanted to tell the Professor about the news earlier, and when I entered he was still in bed.” He stopped and took a deep breath. “With Magneto.”
“Fork found in kitchen, get over yourself.” Wolverine rolled his eyes. Everybody looked at him. “What? I told you I saw them yesterday.” He shrugged and disappeared in the kitchen, continuing his efforts to make at least one edible waffle.
“What did I miss?” Rogue asked, who just entered the room.
“Cyclops apparently saw the Prof and Magneto in one bed.” Gambit summarized the situation.
“Obviously?” Rogue put her hands on her hips. “I was the one who told him where the Prof’s room is.”
“You did WHAT?!” Cyclops gasped. “And if he tried to kill the Professor?!”
“He obviously didn’t.” She rolled her eyes. “He just wanted to get some of that old-”
“Rogue! Not in front of the kid.” Storm looked at her.
“Ugh, alright.” She groaned. “Now move, I’m starving.”
—
“I don’t like this. At all.” Magneto grumbled.
“Somehow I gathered, by the fact that this is the fifth time in two minutes you tell me that.” Xavier rolled his eyes. “Look, I understand, but I don’t think we can deny it at this point, so might as well be-”
“If you say straight I will throw this hairbrush at you.”
“-upfront about it. I wanted to say upfront.”
“Like hell you did.” Magneto grumbled, as he continued to brush his hair.
“Oh come on Erik, don’t be so grumpy. We both knew this was bound to happen at some point.”
“You don’t get it, do you, Charles? This is so humiliating.”
“What I get is you have been brushing your hair for ten minutes now.”
“Elegance requires effort, Charles, or do you think I wake up every day with perfect locks? Not that you would understand…” He rolled his eyes.
“Oh, thorny today, are we?” Xavier teased. “We understood each other so well last night…”
“Yeah, well, it’s today morning now.”
“You’re such a diva.” Xavier laughed.
“That is pure slander .” Magneto gasped. Xavier raised an eyebrow. Magneto scoffed. “Oh, go to hell.” He put the hairbrush down.
“Are you finished?” Magneto nodded with a grumpy face. “Ah, I get it. Now you won’t talk to me.” Magneto turned back to the mirror, crossing his arms. “I see how it is.” Xavier maneuvered his wheelchair behind him. “Giving me the old silent treatment.” He wrapped his arms around Magneto’s chest. “Oh, she’s mad at me, what shall I do?”
“Maybe apologise to her for calling her a diva.” Magneto scoffed, but the smile was already growing on his face.
“Will she finally get up and talk with my students?” Xavier teased.
“She will consider it.”
“Oh, you’re unbelievable .” Xavier laughed. He kissed Magneto’s cheek. “Get up then, the sooner we get this over with, the better.”
“That’s not what you said last night.” Magneto winked.
“Glad your sense of humor is still the same.”
“Oh, she wounds me.” He gasped theatrically. “Alright. But just so you know, I am not happy about this.”
“I know, believe it or not.”
They left Xavier’s room and made their way into the common room. All the others have been sitting there already. When they entered nobody said a word, but they were all waiting and staring.
“Alright, I feel like we owe you an explanation.” Xavier broke the silence. Magneto sighed with frustration.
“This is incredibly foolish, and you know it.”
“Patience.”
“As you already know, Erik and I were friends…” Xavier continued, unsure of how to phrase it best.
“We were also a couple.” Magneto said bluntly. Xavier looked at him. “What, you said be straight about it.”
“I said upfront. ”
“Told you!” Rogue and Wolverine shouted at the same time.
“See, they already know.” Magneto rolled his eyes. “I’m going back to bed, my chest hurts like hell.” He said, then stormed out of the room.
“Sometimes I can’t believe him…” Xavier sighed.
“Professor, I don’t understand… Didn’t he try to kill you? A lot?” Jubilee asked with a confused face.
“Sometimes relationships are complicated.” Xavier said.
“So what, will he join us now?” Rogue asked.
“Obviously not. He will heal, leave, try to kill us again, then go to the theatre with me to watch some dumb play neither of us care about, go home with me, stay the night, then leave in the morning, rinse and repeat.”
“And you’re just… okay with that?” Rogue looked at him confused. “If some guy did this to me, I would surely give him a piece of my mind.”
“If you’re insinuating that I deserve better, I have to disappoint you. I really don’t. Besides, I love him. And he loves me too, he would never deny that.” Xavier sighed. “Now, if you excuse me, I need to tell him to stop sulking.” He added, and left the room.
“I will never understand him.” Rogue crossed her arms in front of her chest.
—
“Considering everything, I would say it went well.” Xavier said, as he closed the door behind himself. Magneto was sitting on his bed with a grumpy face.
“Now they will never take me seriously.” He grumbled. “Or you, for that matter.”
“Oh?”
“Come on, you are dating your arch nemesis, who does that?”
“I didn’t know we are dating again.” Xavier said, raising an eyebrow.
“Well…” Magneto blushed.
“Shall I take this as you asking me out?” Xavier smiled. He maneuvered to the bed and lifted himself up on it.
“Go to hell, Charles.” Magneto mumbled.
“I presume this is a yes.”
“I hate you so much. Now give me a kiss.”
Xavier laughed and happily obliged. Neither of them knew how this would work. But they will try, again and again and again. That part they were sure about.