Chapter Text
It was seven a clock in a saturday morning and Charles couldn't decide if he want cheddar or manchego so he took both.
“Good morning , Mrs. Gómez” he said as he set alll his stuff in the counter.
“Good morning , Charles” She replied with a bright smile. Unlike Charles , she was a morning person she was the first to get up of the building and open the small grocerie store "An early start?"
"Yes, I could not sleep. I was just hanging around in bed so I decided to get up at once”
“ Better that way . You know “El que madruga..”
“encuentra todo cerrado” Charles replied with a horrible accent “ Except your store of course”
She laughed “ Oh! You have been listening to my husband. How many times do i have to tell you not to . That man is insane”
“He’s been trying to teach me Spanish . But im a terrible student my accent is atrocious“
“Nonsense , I’m sure you’re a marvelous student . You just need to practice and stop listening to my husband . I’ll give you proper lessons one you finished your dissertation”
“You are too kind”Charles smiled
“How is it going by the way”
“Almost done”
“I’m glad . Do you get everything you need?”
Charles took a look at his purchases. Bread, butter, cheese, ham, orange juice and coffee for Logan, his unexpected new roomate.
Logan is his friend since high school . He arrived yesterday at dawn looking for refuge because he had a huge fight with his girlfriend Jean and she trow him out , again. Charles is sure that Logan is to blame but the least he can do is give him a place where he can stay , temporarily of course.
"Don't forget the milk" - said a grumpy Logan.
“I forgot the milk!”
He opened the fridge door when he felt him. He was stunned as if someone had suddenly froze him. Charles knows that mind like the back of his hand.
Erik
Of course he would run into Erik, Just when Charles decided it was a good idea to come to the store with pillow hair and the blue striped pajamas that according to Erik make him look like a grandpa. Erik besides Mrs. Gomez one of the few to wake up to an unholy hour every day to go for his morning run. An habit which annoyed Charles to death because it keept him from having Erik's warm body to curled up in the mornings .
The doorbell was what I shook from his trance.
"Buenos días, Señora Gomez," Erik says without any trace of accent, which is to be expected from a language teacher.
He even tried to teach Charles but they never seem to finished a lesson due to the fact that Charles found extremely sexy hearing him speak in Spanish , German , French or any other language at all.
“Erik!” Charles can feel how glad she’s to see Erik “ ya te he dicho que me llames Ana” she has never tell Charles to call her Ana . He suspect long ago that Mrs. Gomez had a crush on Erik , she always seem awfully flirty with him.
As they talk Charles tries to think of a way not to be seen by Erik. Only with being in the same place as him he feels overwhelmed.
They have been neighbors for 3 years when Charles decided to move to be closer to the university. Charles fell in love with the place, although it is a little small and modest is in a good neighborhood and the building is Mutant friendly which was one of the deciding factors that made him move and that his new neighbor would be a tall attractive language master that when he was not busy discussing mutant policies (something Charles discovered was very endearing) he spent his time teaching children at the community center for mutants in the neighborhood.
So naturally Charles was immediately attracted.
And before Erik and his antisocial behavior could stop them, they were friends, after all, they lived in front of each other. Charles had never felt a connection so fast or so strong with anyone he had ever met.
There was only one small detail.
Erik had a boyfriend. Sebastian Shaw a cocky lawyer with political ideas so erratic and radical that Charles could not bear to be close to his mind.
It was beyond Charles how come someone so awesome like Erik could possibly be with someone like Shaw.
So for 3 long years, Charles spend pining and waiting for Shaw to get hit by a truck or for Erik to wake up from the spell that Shaw put on him.
Finally 6 months ago Shaw was not run over(Unfortunately) but Erik woke up. The idiot was cheating on him with Emma Frost (Shaw’s coworker) and Erik discovered it in the worst way. Shaw's birthday was approaching and Erik decided that a romantic dinner in Sebastian's apartment would be a good idea so he was there a day before Shaw came back from a trip to his apartment to get everything ready and Erik found them.
It turns out that he had been dating Emma at the same time and she didn't know either, (something she blames herself for even to this day . If a telepath does not realize that they are cheating, nobody can) so the two broke up with him.
Charles would have been thrilled that they finally broke up if Erik wouldn’t have been so upset. After some reclusive weeks and months of awful mood Erik move on and oddly enough he became good friends with Emma .
Emma persuaded them to go out, and when Charles had time, he joined them. It became a routine, sometimes they just got drunk or went looking for someone to spend the night with. The first time Erik went home with someone, Charles became so grumpy that Emma spent the night turned into diamond to block the anguish he was projecting. When she confronted him , Charles lied that he had a headache and she pretended to believe him. It was not that Charles didn't have his one night stands every now and then , but they didn't mean anything to him. Instead Erik used to say that for him sex was something that was not something to be taken lightly. ( Emma and Charles teased him for days )
And now Erik said that he was sick of relationships and that he did not want compromises took away all hope from Charles and that make him hate Shaw a little more for ruin Erik.
The next time they gone out, Emma was the first to leave with someone. Erik and Charles were left alone.
“I don’t know how you guys do it “ Erik had sighed that last time they go out.
“You seem to figure it out pretty good last time with that brunnette “ Charles replied trying not to sound bitter.
“Believe me when i said it’s not something i’m going to repeat”
“Was she that bad” Charles laughed
“No” Erik was playing with his drink not meeting Charles eyes “It was good . But.. shallow, i don’t know . It didn’t mean anything” those words made Charles chest feel very warm.
“You just need practice” he said
“i don’t think that’s going to help”
“With someone you like …” suddenly Charles was not avaible to stop himself from talking “someone you know” he said that last part very quietly like a whisper and he bite his lip to prevent himsefl from saying anything else
He felt Erik’s hesitation he was still lookin down at his drink and Charles brace himself for rejection .
But when Erik looked up, Charles could see those beautiful gray eyes tracing down his face to focus on his lips.
Charles can still shudder from remembering that night. Erik asked for the bill and Charles was so stunned by the wave of desire he felt form Erik that he couldn't remember the trip from the bar to Charles apartment. What he can remember was the sensation of Erik's lips glued to his own and Erik's body pinning him in bed.
That night Charles Francis Xavier at 24 years old had the best sex in his life.
They spend that whole weekend naked in Charles bed just getting up to fetch something to eat ( Mainly grilled cheese sándwich caused Charles loves them).
Nothing really change after that between them , for weeks they keep doing the same things together , playing chess after dinner , going together to the mutant center, arguing about politics the only difference was they always end up their disscusions with sex and Charles had never been happier in his life.
The only problem was that they never really discuse was going on between them. Whenever Charles tried to mention it Erik always changed the topic . It all went wrong from there , Charles started feeling uncertain.
What if Erik didn’t feel the same about him and it got worse when the last time they had sex and their minds were joined Charles found a wall. In all the years he’s known Erik he never hide anything from Charles , he was the most maybe too honest person he known never afraid to said was he was thinking. But the wall was there , it make Charles wanna throw it down it would have been so easy, Erik wouldn’t even notice.
Charles was afraid of what he might found , he was afraid that he was the only one in love so he did what he always do whenever somene got to close to him , he ended it by saying he need time to focuse in his dissertation (That was partly true . Erik was very distracting) and didn’t have time for something else. Erik couldn’t hide his dissapointment ( the sex was that good it seems) but accept Charles reason without a fight.
Since then they only see each other in the corridors and greet each other cordially enough , they talk about frivolities but nothing more.Which makes Charles miserable to no end.
So seeing Erik while Charles is in his pajamas is far from ideal.
It comes to his mind that could freeze their minds and sneak without them realizing , breakfast be damned but although it is a good idea Charles could never use his powers that way just because he didn't want to see Erik.
He sees his reflection in the refrigerator door and sighs. His pajama is all wrinkled for having used it for almost a week and he's wearing that ridiculous rabbit slippers that Raven bought him. His hair is all tousled, he has bags under his eyes and a pathetic three-day beard. He tries to settle down his hair as much as he can and brave himself for the unavoidable.
I’m a mess . Of course Erik will never fall for me- he thought to himself.
A wave of yearning it’s what makes him turns around but just as fast he felt it was gone.
“Charles” Erik says his name like he hasn’t said it in years
“Erik” Charles tried to smile.
“Morning shopping?” Erik asked with a raise eyebrow because he knows how much Charles hates to get up before ten a clock . “isn’t a bit early for you?”
And because saying i got up because I had dream about you and i couldn’t stand been in my bed without you sounds a little deseperate he says “ Couldn’t sleep” he took one look at Erik and felt suddenly annoyed with him for no other reason than looking great in those track shorts that Charles loves so much “So you better not mention my clothes” he added in a angry toned.
Erik seem a little taken aback with Charles “I wasn’t going to. I’ll just get my milk and get out your way ” he moved pass Charles making sure their shoulder didn’t even brushed.
“I’m sorry” Charles rushed to said “ That was awfuly rude of me. It’s just…. It’s too early for me indeed”.
Erik just give him a little smile that seems nostalgic but didn’t say anything else. He looks great as always , even after running for two hours he looks perfect .
“How was your run?” Charles asked trying to lighthing the mood and it worked he felt Erik relaxed.
“Great. I’ve even make Azazael to stop cheating”
“How did you manage that” Azazael was a teleport even though he accept joining his friend for his morning run he just skip himself to the finished lined to annoyed Erik .
“Metal watch” Erik smirked very proud of himself “ I kept him grounded“
“Erik . That’s marvelous” Erik’s powers never stop to amazed Charles . They used to spend hours talking about all the possibilities and reach of Erik’s powers . In these moments Charles could see that Erik despite been a very proud mutant deep down felt a little selfconscious so he never explain to people the extent of his powers fearing they will be afraid of him a feeling Charles knew better than anyone .
“it’s nothing…” Erik said “How your dissertation coming?”
“Good. I’m done my presentation it’s next week actually”
“I’m very glad to hear that”
“Well . I’m a sack of nerves ”
“Please. You’re gonna be great”
“Thank you Erik”
“Charles”
“Yes?”
“Well . Now that you no longer are going to be occupied with your dissertation i was wondering … after your presentation of course , if if you ..” Erik was suddenly hesitant. Charles could feel again that tiny warm feeling (Charles couldn’t quite name it ) that Erik always tried to hide.
“Yes?” Charles said a little breathless. Feeling hope again that perhaps Erik realize he was in love all along with him.
“ like to . I mean we can..” and then Erik stop talking like he was waiting for Charles to do something.
“Charles”
“Yes “ Charles said again a little annoyed because Erik still does not ask him to marry him.
“Your phone it’s ringing”Erik point out.
“Oh” Charles sighed a little disappointed “Bummer!” he looked at the screen . It was Logan “Sorry. I got to get this”.
Erik entertain himself looking at the cookies infront of him while Charles talks on the phone.
“Sorry about that. You were saying?”
But before Erik could replied “ Tortolos! van a comprar algo o se la van a pasar todo el día coqueteando haya atrás?” Mrs. Gomez shouted.
“ya vamos !” Erik replied
“What did she say?” Charles asked.
“Nothing”Erik said but Charles notice the light blush in his cheeks.
“Did you guys find everything you need?” Mrs. Gomez asked giving a suggestive look at Erik.
“Yes . Thank you” answered Erik not meeting her eyes.
“Bread , cheese , butter .Someone is making a grilled cheese sandiwch?
"Oh ,yes .I have an unsual craving." Charles said
“Coffee?” asked Ms. Lopez knowing that Charles hates Coffe , he’s more of tea person.
“Oh . That’s for... a friend” Charles said.
Charles felt how Erik gloom out of nowhere and put his shields up like he always did when he didn’t want Charles to know he was upset. But Erik didn’t say anything he just looked miserably while Ms . Lopez put Charles things in a bag. Charles said goodbye to Ms.Lopez and went outside wanting to have some air , he was suffocating with Erik’s grim mode no matter how many shields Erik tried to pull up something always leak out. He waited for Erik until he got out.
He didn’t take long and as soon a he was out Charles said “ is something wrong?”
Erik seem surprised like he didn’t expect Charles to wait for him .
“No” he looked at Charles for a moment like he was trying to figure out something but gave up “Not at all. Everything is all right”
“Erik”
“It’s nothing “
“Erik” Charles pleaded
“Good luck in your presentation” and with that Erik left without even glacing back. Leaving Charles feeling quite cold.