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It was like any other day at the mansion. The children went to their assigned classes, did their work — not without any mischief with their abilities, obviously.
Charles had one assigned class for him today. Afterwards he immediately went to his room, leaving the directing to Hank. He hadn’t been feeling that well for the past few days — Hank understood and told him to take a nap and after he’d take a look, so that’s exactly what he did. Although his thoughts kept taking him to places he rather didn’t visit.
Erik.
Of course he’s thinking about Erik — when did he ever not think about him? He was the one who has been haunting his thoughts lately, leaving him with sleepless nights and, certainly, odd feelings in his stomach. His mind taking him to places — Erik and him — at those places, doing some things he’d rather not say out loud.
What was he lucky nobody could read his mind.
Well there was one other person, but he was certain she had many other things on her own mind, so Charles’ wouldn’t even cross it.
“Charles.”
He just wished he could for one — stop thinking of him and that asshole of a man having sex! for fucks sake.
There was a cold hand laying on his forehead. “Charles, you’re burning up.. Are you with me?”
He recognised that voice — he could recognise that voice anywhere. Erik.
His eyes shot open, and he sprung up, almost hitting Erik in the face if he didn’t have those fast reflexes. “Uh, apologies.”
“It’s okay, Charles, how are you feeling?”
“I— how long’ve you been here?”
“Hank told me to check up on you, so, just now.” He said, which was a lie, but Charles didn’t need to know that.
There was something that seemed to switch on Charles’ face and he flashed a sly smirk. “Even if i’m sick, your thoughts are still way too loud to be able to ignore.”
Erik immediately shot up, but quickly returned his confident look back on his face, because he wouldn’t dare to be seen as even a little vulnerable — even if it’s to someone he trusts with his life.
“Ah, seems like you’re feeling alright. I won’t have to bring you medicine and soup, then.”
He returned back on his feet and was on his way to the end of the room, when—
“Wait.”
He felt a warm hand holding his own. Charles’ arm completely stretched out so he could reach him, his fingers entangling with Erik’s. He could feel his own heartbeat fastening and a hesitant smile crept across his face.
“Always so needy…” He let go of Charles’ hand — already missing the warmth — and stepped toward the door. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
It felt like years he was waiting for Erik. The coldness of his hand tangled with his own warm ones. He had fallen asleep and awoken, again, but still no sign of Erik. He’s mind bringing him back to the inappropriate thoughts of them together, but this time, he let it.
The click of shoes approached the door. The doorknob gave a soft click before it opened.
An earthy aroma of hot tea filled the room, Erik was holding a tray with a bowl of soup along with it, and obviously Erik came with it as well — so he basically got the whole package every guy dreamed of. Well, this guy dreamed of it.
“How are you feeling?” He landed the tray on top of Charles’ nightstand — taking the soup off — and sat on the side of his bed.
“I’m feeling a lot better.” After he realised what he said he immediately corrected his mistake. “I’m still sick, you know, but—“
“I wasn’t going to leave, Charles.” His eyes softening.
“It’s like you read my mind.”
Erik grabbed the spoon from the tray and dipped it into the bowl to get some soup. He indicated his parted lips, silently commanding for Charles to do the same.
Charles had no time to be even a little confused as the spoon full of soup approached his mouth
“Wha—“ and before he could finish — the warm, salty broth instantly soothed his raw throat. “..Are you feeding me?”
“Seems like it.” A faint blush glistening on his face.
Their feeding embrace coming right to an end when Erik was called in to teach Charles’ assigned class.
“Don’t forget to take your meds, Charles.”
“I won’t— see you when I wake up, Erik.”
So he did exactly that — took a sip of the water along with the medicine. And before he can register the door closing with a soft sound — the smell of leftover soup and tea takes over his mind, and falls right into a deep sleep.
He wakes up feeling lots better, as if he never was even slightly sick. It must’ve been a new medication Hank made. Or it was Erik's delicious homemade soup, guess he’ll never find that out.
He removed his blanket and stood up, shuffling his feet into his slippers. The school was long awake — as he could hear children walking and laughing with their friends on the other side of his door. He was about to leave when someone else opened the door for him, immediately stumbling backwards when a large hand reached to support his back.
“Are you okay?”
He could feel the warmth of Erik’s body pressing against his own, their faces close enough to see every detail of their skin.
“Wha—“ He managed to breathe out.
Charles’ eyes were stuck wide open and his mouth slightly parted as they stayed in that position for a while — when Erik finally steadied Charles, and let go.
“L-let’s go get breakfast, together?”
“Are you still sick? I could get you something from the kitchen,”
Charles’ hands shot up and he shook his head. “I’m feeling great actually,” He turned Erik around and pushed him outside of his room. “Let’s go.”
It wasn’t that Charles hated the attention, it’s just that he was enjoying his peaceful morning talk with Erik at breakfast — when he got swamped with children and questions about where he was the day before. Erik had told them yesterday in class, but it seems like they needed to hear it for themselves.
After he just told them he was sick — like Erik told them — and got many ‘get well soon’ s, he finally went to one of the only places he could get some peace and quiet this early in the morning. The garden. Flowers were blooming as he gave them water, taking the fresh floral scent in.
“They’re beautiful.”
A long slender figure came into view. A sweet smile on their face as they stepped towards Charles.
“Yes, they are, indeed.” Charles agreed.
“I wasn’t only talking about the flowers, Charles.”
What was he talking about? A rush of thoughts flooded his mind. “I—“
“I’ve been waiting way too long to tell you this, Charles,”
Tell him what? “..Tell me what?” Is this the moment he has been fantasising about for months? What is happening?
Erik took a couple steps closer, as there’s know only little space for movement left. “You don’t know by now? I have loved since the moment I first met you. And I still do.”
Oh. My. God. Erik has liked him since ages ago, and he didn’t realise a thing! Erik took the last step forward and searched his eyes for approval. Their breath touching each other’s noses. His hands caressing Charles’ warm cheeks. Their lips only inches apart as Charles took the last inch forward.
Their mouths immediately crashing with each other. This is the moment they’ve both been waiting for, so why not immediately go all out? Only when there was no more air left they pulled apart — already missing the sensation.
Charles took a deep breath and looked into his light blue (with a little bit of green) eyes.
“I love you too, Erik.”