#reminds me how Charles whispers to Raven ‘Erik and I came for you. Together’

[nathanbellamy]

They’re in love your honor

Giffing notable moments from the xmen scripts, pt 6

(*, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)

[knives-out20]

Magnetic Push - Erik Lehnsherr x Male!OC - Part 1

Fandom: X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014)

Pairing: Karmel Rosenstein (OC) x Erik Lehnsherr

Warnings: Swearing, Spoilers for Days Of Future Past, Magnetic Pull spoilers,

Notes: Hi! Welcome to the sequel of Magnetic Pull, titled ‘Magnetic Push��, it is advised you DO NOT READ this if you have NOT finished Magnetic Pull. But that is an obvious given. Grimm, as you all may remember, is an OC of mine. Enjoy!

Logan and Hank sat in front of Charles' desk in his office.

Charles bent over sluggishly, looking at Logan under a big desk lamp. "So, you're saying...that they took Raven's power, and, what? They weaponized it?"

"Yep." Logan nodded.

"She is unique" Hank commented.

"Yea, she is, Hank" Charles agreed, standing up properly.

"In the beginning, Sentinels were just targeting mutants. Then they began to identify the genetics in non-mutants, who would eventually have mutant children, and grandchildren" Logan explained, watching Charles walk over to sit on a big couch at the side of the room. "Many of the humans tried to help us, but it was a slaughter. Leaving only the worst of humanity in charge. I've been in a lot of wars...I've never seen anything like this. And it all starts with her."

"Now, let's just say that, for the sake of...the sake, that I- I choose to believe you, that I choose to help you, Raven won't listen to me" Charles sighed, smiling sadly. "Her soul belongs to someone else, now. Hers isn't the only one."

"I know" Logan admitted, standing up. "That's why we're gonna need Magneto, too. And Climber."

Hank looked up, as if he hadn't heard those names in ages. "Erik? A-And Karmel? You do know where they are?"

"Yea."

Charles grinned in disbelief, laughing to himself. "Could you give me that one more time, please?" He rhetorically asked.

"You heard me" Logan replied, promptly standing his ground.

Charles continued to laugh as he stood up. "He's where he belongs. Him and Karmel both" he told, facial expression rapidly changing to one of disdain as he passed by Logan.

"Well, that's it? You're just gonna walk out?"

"Ooh, top marks" Charles raised his eyebrows, sassing Logan. "Like I said, you are perceptive" he pointed at Logan, walking backwards towards the staircase.

"The Professor I know would never turn his back on someone who lost their path" Hank noted, watching Charles walk away. "Especially someone he loved."

Charles stopped at the foot of the stairs. He took a step back, then one more before speaking again. "You know...I think I do remember you now" Charles said, walking back over to Logan. "Yea. Tall, angry fellow with the contentious hair. We came to you a long time ago, Erik, Karmel, and I, seeking your help. And I'm gonna say to you, what you said to us then..." he leaned in, getting right up in Logan's face. "'Go fuck yourself'."

"Listen to me, you little shit" Logan growled, grabbing Charles' shirt. "I've come a long way, and I've watched a lot of people die. Good people. Friends. If you're gonna wallow in self-pity and do nothing, then you're gonna watch the same thing, you understand?"

Charles searched Logan's eyes, confused at the audacity this man had.

Logan let go of Charles.

"We all have to die sometime" Charles walked away, for real this time.

"I told you there was no professor here" Hank reminded.

"What the hell happened to him?" Logan asked, turning around.

"He lost everything. Erik, Karmel, Raven, his legs" Hank sighed. "We built the school, the labs, this whole place, then, just after the first semester, the war in Vietnam got worse. Many of the teachers and older students were drafted. It broke him. He retreated into himself, I...I wanted to help, do something, so I designed a serum to treat his spine, derived from the same formula that helps me control my mutation" he shook his head. "I take just enough to keep myself balanced, but...he takes too much. I tried easing him back, as did Grimm, but he just couldn't bear the pain. The voices. Grimm tried countless times to- to help Charles, to slow him down to the dosage I take, but like I said, Charles, he...couldn't be helped."

"Grimm, uh...blue-haired guy, talks to and controls the dead?" Logan arched a brow.

"Yea. Grimm didn't want to waste away trying to help someone who couldn't be helped, so, he broke it off with Charles, and thus, Charles lost him. The treatment gives Charles his legs, but it's not enough. He's...He's just lost too much" Hank concluded.

Charles lay on his bed, eyes shining on the brink of tears. He looked over at his bedside table, specifically at a framed photo of Raven. Charles' chest went up and down with his restrained breathing, thinking back to the first time Raven and him met, as kids. His vision glided over the photo of Raven, to a tie. Not any tie of his own, or Hank's, but...an old friend's tie. 

Karmel's tie. He had forgotten it at the X-Mansion back when he resided in it, and Charles kept it with the underlying hope of seeing Karmel again and returning it to him.

Charles knew how much Karmel's ties meant to him, and why they meant to much to him; all of Karmel's ties belonged to his father. He groaned softy, thinking back to when he first met Karmel.

"Uh, Karmel" Karmel repeated, outstretching his hand, "Karmel Rosenstein."

"Charles Xavier. Friend of Moira's?"

Karmel shrugged.

"Acquaintances, actually? Mutual friend" Charles corrected.

Karmel furrowed his eyebrows. "Yea...How did you- never mind- you?"

"Very recently acquainted. She brought me here to meet you."

Karmel's eyes went wide. "Uh- w-why? Why'd you need to meet me? What's happening? Moira, I- I don't like boys, but it's fine if you do Charles, but I-"

Moira raised a hand, putting back the book she was holding and cutting Karmel short. "I didn't bring Charles here to set him up with you, I know you like girls. I brought him here because I feel that you both have something in common."

"An obvious interest in girls?" Karmel insisted, hands on his hips.

Charles held back a chuckle. He knew Karmel had been locked up in Erik's heart for the past ten years or so- and vice versa. Charles thought that surely, today, Karmel was more embracing of his sexuality than he had been back then, when he used to live in fear of it.

"Karmel, Karmel-" Charles called, putting a hand on Karmel's shoulder. "It's okay."

Karmel slowly dropped his hands, raising an eyebrow. His vine art of Erik grew purple flowers, which bloomed quickly. Karmel's breath hitched at that.

"It's okay now, remember? I know, you know, we both know here. And I'm a hundred percent okay with what I know. As of our quick trip to Russia, so are you. It's okay, you're safe here. You can be who you truly are."

Karmel took slow, deep breaths, nodding. "Yea, I- I just...I guess I'm gonna forget sometimes, that it's okay. But it's hard to forget that on a scale of one to ten, he's a certified twenty. I'm...I love Erik, man."

"Which is okay" Charles cracked a comforting smile. "I'll be around to remind you. It's a slow process."

Charles could still vividly remember the way Karmel's vines looped around the wall of the mansion to form Erik's face, the pure detail of it all- Karmel had Erik's entire being memorized. He moaned in annoyance, getting out of bed and passing right by the tie and framed photo.

Back downstairs, Hank was organizing the study while Logan tried thinking of what to do next.

"I'll help you get her" Charles stood right outside the study. "Not for any of your future shite, but for her."

"Fair enough" Logan quickly replied.

"But I'll tell you this, you don't know Erik, and you definitely don’t know Karmel. No one knows them like they know each other. Karmel follows in Erik’s footsteps, his pain and anger pushing him to go faster and faster. Erik, that man is a monster, a murderer. You think you can convince Raven to change? To come home? That's splendid. But what makes you think you can change him?" Charles scowled.

"Because you and Erik sent me back here, together."

Charles stared deep into Logan's eyes, determined. "And- And what about Karmel, huh?"

"Listen, Professor. What Karmel does or doesn't do in the future isn't important. What's important is that we can change Erik, and that means him, too. Y'just gotta believe me."

***

"The room they're holding Erik and Karmel in was built during the Second World War, when there was a shortage of steel. So the foundation is pure concrete and sand. No metal. The walls are too thick for Karmel to grow vines out of, and the glass ceiling, he isn't strong enough to break his vines through" Hank described.

"They're being held a hundred floors beneath the most heavily-guarded building on the planet" Charles added, the three men looking over an aerial map of the Pentagon.

"Why are they in there?" Logan inquired.

Charles looked up at Hank, then over at Logan. "What, Erik forgot to mention?" He snickered.

"Uh, JFK" Hank timidly answered.

"...They killed-" Charles cut Logan off.

"What else explains a bullet miraculously curving through the air? At the perfect level from around some trees? Erik's always had a way with guns, and Karmel's always had a way, for the way Erik has a way with guns" Charles chuckled.

"Or just, Karmel's always had a way with Erik" Hank shortened what Charles said, down to its bare minimum.

"Are you sure you want to carry on with this?"

"This is your plan, not mine" Logan reminded.

"We don't have any resources to get us in" Hank complained, Charles chiming in by chirping "or out. It's just me and Hank."

"I knew a guy. Yea, he'd be a young man now. Grew up outside of DC" Logan giggled, shaking his head. "He could get into anywhere, I just don't know how the hell we're gonna find him."

Hank tore his gaze from Logan, to Charles. "Is Cerebro out of the question?" He whispered, Charles silently hanging his head as an answer.

"If only you guys had internet."

Charles looked up at Logan, eyebrows raised in interest.

"What's 'internet'?" Hank furrowed his eyebrows.

Logan sighed, shifting where he stood and turning back down to the map.

"We have a phone book" Hank then suggested.

[captnswilson]

Please could you do “Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn" for Charles/Erik! Thank you!

To be honest, that quote is just an excuse for me to post a fix-it fic that I really wanted to write. It’s longer than my one shots usually are and I’m kinda satisfied with the result. I hope you’ll like it as well!

Summary: Dark Phoenix fix-it. The blood on Jean’s shirt belongs to Charles and that revelation leads to a heated confrontation between Erik and Jean. However, when it turns out Charles is still alive but badly injured, Erik rushes to see him. Will he be able to leave him once again or maybe this time he’ll choose to stay?

You can also read it on AO3.

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There’s Still Hope

“Whose blood is that?”

Erik tried to restrain himself from thinking about the worst possible scenario. Keeping his nerves in check was difficult when he had no control over the situation. The blood on Jean’s shirt made him want to destroy everything that surrounded him. Including her.

“I didn’t want to hurt him.” Jean shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Charles… He shouldn’t have lied to me.”

She raised her head to look at him, and what she saw warned her of the impending danger. The whole tent began to shake. Erik raised his hands; every metal thing rose up. He hurled them towards Jean, but she stood up and stopped them without any effort.

Everything fell to the ground and before Erik could react, a powerful force threw him out of the tent. He lost his breath for a moment, but the pain he felt deep inside was much stronger. She could not hurt him more than she already had.

“I came here because I thought you would help me. Turns out you’re no better than him.”

The other mutants moved to his rescue, but Erik raised his hand, ordering them not to step up. It was personal. He stood up slowly, ready to risk his life in the fight for justice. He had nothing more to lose.

“Did you really expect me to praise you?” Erik spat out words with so much hatred that it was surprising even for him. “You took Charles away from me! You killed him and now I’m going to kill you.”

A metal balk tightened around Jean’s neck. Erik felt incredible satisfaction when he saw her fighting for another breath. However, it lasted only a moment. A sudden headache knocked Erik to his knees. He grabbed his hair, shouted and bent in pain. Then he involuntary levitated in the air, his eyes getting redder by the second. Having dealt with Erik’s attack, Jean stayed on the ground and focused on keeping her opponent as high as possible. Her face was distorted with rage.

“If you don’t want to help me then don’t. Just stay out of my way.” She threw him at a building. Erik hit it with his back and fell hard to the ground. Jean leaned over him and confessed, “I hurt Charles, but I didn’t kill him. You still have a reason to live, Erik. Don’t waste it.”

She looked at him one last time and flew away. Erik rolled over with a hysterical laugh. Tears flowed from his eyes, and blood trickled from his nose, but it barely caught his attention. Not all hope was lost, as Charles would say.

***

Fresh, cold air rushed into the room through the open window. Charles barely felt it. He was lying in his bed and staring blindly at the ceiling. There was nothing better to do. His whole body ached, at least those parts that still worked. He knew that Raven was right outside the door, ready to help him if he wanted to leave the room. At that moment, however, interacting with people was the last thing he wanted.

The physical damage was not so important. His chest wouldn’t hurt too long. The wound under his eye would heal as well. He was more worried about the mental damage. Jean had got into his head and made sure Charles would not find her. In fact, not only did Charles struggle with locating his former student. He couldn’t hear Raven’s thoughts even though she was approximately close. He had problems concentrating, and with every effort, his head ached. Eventually, he stopped trying. He became so emotionally numb that all he seemed capable of feeling was guilt.

And he was guilty without any doubt. Everyone blamed him for what had happened but attempted at not making it that oblivious when he was recovering. He’d been guilty many years ago, lying to Jean. He’d been guilty recently, risking the lives of his team. Now everyone doubted him and he began to doubt himself too. Maybe it would be best if he left. It was not his school anymore if he couldn’t provide his students with a sense of security. If they no longer believed in him.

The door opened abruptly, interrupting Charles’ train of thoughts. Raven peeked at him and hesitated for a fraction of a second before she announced, “There’s someone who would like to see you.”

His first thought was Jean. He pulled himself up on the pillows, wondering about the right words. If she changed her mind, if she decided to come back, he had to be persuasive enough to convince her to stay. But before he could think of anything worth saying, the last person he had expected to see came into the room.

It was as if his presence breathed life into Charles again.

“Erik?”

His old friend looked as if someone had thrown him against the wall several times. Despite this small detail, he had not really changed much in recent years. Charles hadn’t seen him for so long that he was clearly touched by his visit.

Meanwhile, Erik let out a sigh of relief at his sight. After the unpleasant encounter with Jean, he just had to make sure that Charles was truly alright. Slightly battered and exhausted, his friend seemed pretty much alive and that was all that mattered. The way in which he spoke his name made Erik feel as if they had split up just yesterday. Coming back to Charles was simple and difficult at the same time.

He wanted to say something brilliant, but he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he only managed to notice, “Charles. You look like shit.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Raven laughed.

When the door closed behind her, Erik put his hands in his pockets, not knowing what to do with them. Meanwhile, Charles brightened up and forgot about his dark thoughts for a moment.

“You’re as charming as usual, Erik,” he joked. “I suggest you take a sit and enlighten me about the very reason for your astonishing visit.”

“Do I need a reason to visit my old friend?”

“I’m afraid so. I’m also afraid that this has something to do with one of my students. Unfortunately, she has weakened me so much that I cannot read the truth from your mind, but your eyes say enough. She came to you, didn’t she?”

Erik sighed. It was cold in the room, so he closed the window and then sat down in a chair next to Charles’ bed. There was still a shadow of rage in his heart that he had felt when he had found out whose blood had been on Jean’s shirt. He was partly grateful that Charles could not see his memories. Erik would appear too exposed, too vulnerable.

“I thought she had killed you, Charles.” Erik raised his head and looked at the only person who he would not bear to lose. He was sure of that now. “She came to me for help with blood on her shirt…”

“My blood.” Charles guessed in what direction his speech was heading. “So you attacked her. Bloody hell, Erik, she could’ve killed you! You have no idea how strong she has become.”

“I experienced a foretaste of what she is capable of. She speared your life, and then she speared mine, but she won’t do it again. I may not be able to defeat her alone, but with you…”

Charles laughed, yet it was not a happy laugh that reminded Erik of training and playing chess together. Charles’ voice was devoid of joy. He didn’t seem angry or surprised, but rather disappointed.

“And to think that for a split second, I let myself hope that you came here because you were worried about me.” Charles shook his head, and Erik felt as if someone had hit him in the stomach. He’d rather face Jean again than get misunderstood by his best friend. “I won’t help you kill my student, Erik. It may be difficult for you to comprehend, but some of us give a damn about others and, despite everything, see a chance for them to return to the right path.”

Erik got up and went to the window just so that Charles could not see the expression on his face. Though his thoughts were safe, his entire attitude tried to get the truth to the surface. Erik took a deep breath, clenching his hands on the windowsill until his knuckles turned white.

“Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn,” he whispered, closing his eyes. “I don’t want to kill her because she kicked my ass or because she is a threat to us all, which you seem to blindly ignore. I want to kill her because she almost took away the only person I still care about.”

He couldn’t express it in a more obvious way. It left Charles speechless. His lips parted slightly, but they didn’t utter any word. None was appropriate. He stealthily wiped his watery eyes. It turned out there was someone who still cared for him, and it was the person he least expected but valued the most. Erik had a tendency to leave him, but now that Charles needed him like never before, he came.

“If what you say is true, then help me find her and bring her home. It’s my fault, Erik, not hers. Each of us goes astray sometimes. I will never stop believing in Jean, just like I’ve never stopped believing in you. I’m only asking you for a bit of faith. If not in her, then have some faith in me.”

Charles was too indulgent, but, after all, it was his goodness that attracted Erik so much to him. He was the only source of light in his world filled with suffering and tragic memories. Erik turned away from the window, looked at his friend, who was actually much more than that, deciding once and for all that he wouldn’t let them part ways again.

“Let us assume that we will succeed,” he said. “We bring her back, everyone is happy, no one dies. And then what? I have no intention of leaving you.”

This time Charles’s smile was more sincere and even overawed. Once he would have called himself a master in flirting, but now with Erik, things were a bit different. They were walking on thin ice and Charles didn’t want to fall into the icy water.

“Oh, Erik. It only took you almost losing me to realize we should be together. Well, better late than never. So what do you suggest? My guess is that you do not wish to stay here.”

“Not really. I mean, if it was just Raven, that quick kid Peter, Hank, you and me, then maybe I’d handle it, but all those kids?” Erik sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. “I was thinking about something calmer. There is such a place in Genosha. A beautiful, old house, away from the city. A lot of greenery suitable for picnics. Blue sky. No fights with people or mutants. Just the two of us.”

It was so easy to believe him. Charles did not answer. Instead, led by a force that was above him, he gently touched Erik’s temple with his fingers. His power returned as if it had never left. He saw it with his own eyes - a place which awaited him, tempted him with its beauty and the promise of peace.

Maybe he was tired. Maybe this constant struggle was beyond his strength. Maybe the only thing he needed was Erik. Maybe they fought with each other and with their own feelings for so many years just to cut themselves off from everything else and limit their worlds to one another. Was it selfish - to crave for this beautiful, peaceful life?

Charles dropped onto the pillows. Although the power returned, he was still very weak. Erik reached out and ran his hand over Charles’ cheek.

“You need a rest,” he concluded. “I’ll see you later and we’ll try to come up with a plan.”

Unable to resist, Erik leaned over and left a kiss on Charles’ forehead. That brief gesture was so intimate that it seemed more significant than if they kissed on the lips. Erik walked around the bed and headed for the door, but Charles managed to stop him by grabbing his hand.

“What was it?” He asked with a sparkle in his eyes.

“A promise that when you wake up, I’ll be here. Now that there’s hope for us, you won’t get rid of me too easily, Charles.”

Erik gave him a mysterious smile and gently let go of his hand. Charles felt his touch long after the door closed. He fell asleep wrapped in the comforting thought that Erik remained somewhere there, closer than ever before, and their happy ending was just around the corner.

[gerec]

The Master of Charlton Park

Chapter 6 - Part 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

“Congratulations to you and the Captain,” he said, every word like a dull knife slicing into his flesh, “I wish you and Rogers a lifetime of happiness.”

It was impossible to keep the bitterness from colouring his words, and behind him Charles made a wounded sound, before he came closer, and pressed his forehead against Erik’s shoulder. Warm fingers curled into his own, nearly undoing Erik completely, and for a moment he considered falling to his knees and begging Charles to come home.

Instead he took a deep breath and waited, willing his tears not to fall.   

“Raven did not want her happiness to cost me a lifetime of sorrow, and she refused to accept Henry’s proposal and leave me here alone. She said…”

“What did she say?” Erik prompted, when long moments passed and the silence became unbearable. “That I needed to find some happiness for myself,” Charles answered, huffing an affectionate sigh at his loyal, if somewhat demanding sister. “That I shouldn’t waste the rest of my life here at Xavier Manor, lost in my books with no one but Mother and Kurt for company. That…I build a family of my own like I’ve always wanted, or she would refuse Henry’s proposal and stay here with me.”

Erik swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. “Of course. Of course you should be happy, Charles. You deserve a family…children… and someone who can love you as you deserve. I only wish I could have been the one to give it to you.” “Oh darling,” Charles whispered, gentle as he turned an unresisting Erik around to face him, “you’ve given me everything. Your whole heart; a love I never knew was possible, or would ever happen to me. And a daughter I love with everything that I am. Let us forgive ourselves, for the things that we cannot change, and cherish the time we had together with no regrets.” Erik said nothing in reply, for no words could describe the crushing loss that came again in a rush; instead he took Charles by the hand and led him to the sofa, and then reached for the surprise he had hidden in his jacket pocket. “I brought you a gift,” he said, placing the small velvet box gingerly into Charles’ hand. “It’s…well it’s something to remind you of us. Of how much you mean to us, and how we’ll think of you every moment of every day.” He watched Charles avidly, holding his breath as Charles gripped the box and took the cover off with great care. A wondrous smile bloomed across his lover’s face as he saw what was nestled inside; a beautiful pocket watch gilded in gold, etched with a map of the world on it’s cover. But it was nothing compared to the astonished happiness Charles radiated when he popped it open, and found the tiny portrait of Edie that had been placed inside. “Do you like it?” Erik asked, when Charles gasped and stared fixedly at their daughter’s face. He looked positively overwhelmed and seconds from breaking down, and Erik thought that perhaps he’d made the wrong decision, reminding Charles of what he could never have in his life except for a mere image rendered in ink. “I love it,” Charles breathed, and though his eyes were wet they did not spill over, and he only clutched tightly at Erik’s hand. “She’s so beautiful! And she’s gotten so big!” Erik smiled, and sighed in relief. “She is. Though I do believe she is showing signs of the Lehnsherr temper already.” Charles laughed, and clutched the pocket watch to his heart as though it was Edie herself in his arms. “This is perfect, Erik, truly. To have a piece of her to carry with me. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. I will cherish it, always.” Their ensuing conversation became both easier and lighter then, as Erik shared stories about Edie and their day’s activities at Charlton Park. Charles devoured every detail and asked for more, and Erik found himself all too happy to oblige him.   By the time the others returned, much of the earlier tension had dissipated, and he was able to return Emma’s inquiring look with a small, tentative smile. Raven too seemed relieved at the sight of them, sitting calmly together in the study, and sent a reassuring smile to her brother from where she stood by the door. Marko was oblivious and uncaring as ever, though Erik chose this time to ignore his bluster, and let Emma accept the man’s invitation graciously to attend Raven and Hank’s wedding in a month’s time.

[charlesxavirs]

For Cherik prompts: Hogwarts, Christmas and cuddles! xD

read on ao3 !

Christmas was always a less than extraordinary affair for Erik. Sure, the castle became increasingly magical towards the end of December- as if it wasn’t magical enough- with snow blanketing the grounds in an icy expanse of white, and the Christmas tree in the Great Hall could easily qualify as the eighth wonder of the world, what with its colour changing baubles and ice skating snowmen and wee ornamental mice in scarves that sang carol upon carol.

Of course, there was a menorah, dutifully placed in a secluded corner of the Gryffindor common room, set up for him, and a small bag of chocolate coins appeared on his bedside table every morning for the duration of Hanukkah. During his first three years at Hogwarts, he didn’t need it, seeing as he went home to celebrate with his parents. But his parents weren’t there anymore, and with them seemed to go Erik’s want to partake in anything that reminded him of them, and that included lighting the Menorah.

He didn’t, for the first year after they died, but it was Charles who encouraged him to do it, who held his hand as he mumbled his way through the blessings, covering Erik’s trembling hands with his own to hold the Shamash steady, and guiding them when Erik’s vision became too blurred to see what he was doing. Charles held him after that, shushing him and running a hand through his hair as they watched the flames flicker and burn, and he did so until Erik could light all eight candles without tears stopping him, and he still did even then.

But Charles wasn’t here, so Erik didn’t really feel the need. Still, Charles had asked him to carry on without him, so he did. It didn’t feel the same though, without arms there to hold him afterward. But that was a dangerous train of thought, one Erik didn’t want to tread, fuelled by the cold and a Charles shaped hole in his life.

Pull yourself together, Lehnsherr, he thought to himself, burrowing deeper into his armchair with a scowl. You’re eighteen years of bloody age, and he’s only been gone two days. Man the fuck up.

Usually, his moping was completely unwarranted, and it was usually Charles who told him so, but this was Erik’s first Christmas without him, so he allowed himself to feel just a little bit sorry for himself. Or maybe a lot sorry. Either way, he was miserable to say the least.

“Mother wants me back this Christmas.” Charles had sighed to Erik over the chessboard, before moving his knight to E4, watching it swing it’s minute porcelain sword into the arm of Erik’s pawn. “Merlin knows why. And Raven’s spending the holidays with an aunt back in America, so I already know it’ll be a bore.”

Erik ignored the sharp tug of disappointment in his chest. “Well, whatever Sharon wants.”

Charles snorted, firing a heating charm at his mug of tea before taking a hearty gulp. “I don’t suppose there’s any convincing you to tag along then?”

And God, the look in his eyes almost compelled Erik to yell yes, yes anything you want, anything at all, but Erik quickly swallowed it down, burying it down along all the other feelings he had regarding Charles that he didn’t want to think about. “You and I both know I wouldn’t be welcome, Charles.”

Sharon and Kurt Marko’s feelings towards Muggleborns was no secret to either of them.

“Besides,” he continued, trying to soothe Charles’s upset with a smile he hoped didn’t look as forced as it felt. “Who else is going to tell you how pissed Howlett gets on Christmas day?”The mention of their favourite Christmas tradition managed to get a hint of a smile back on Charles’s face, so Erik counted it as a victory. It was only going to be a few days, they would be back by each other’s sides way before New Year’s Day. Yet despite this, Erik felt like the five days they spent apart were going to last forever.

That’s why, after he had shuffled the last of the first years to bed and lit the Menorah, Erik had finally fallen asleep in his usual arm chair, lamenting the eternity between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

That was, until, the dull thud of the common room door opening awoke him from his slumber with a jerk.

Erik grabbed his wand from the arm of the chair, holding it in a white knuckled grip as he watched the darkened figure lug something through the door, and for one delirious moment Erik thought Father Christmas had appeared to leave presents under the common room tree, (and he didn’t find himself above Stupefying Santa into Easter if he had to) until the figure came creeping towards Erik on trembling legs, finally illuminated in the light of the dying fire, until Erik could see his face-

“Charles?” he asked, his suspended disbelief quickly turning to relief before he caught a glimpse of his wet blue eyes, the darkening bruise under one eye, the snow melting in his hair and saturating his favourite cardigan and Ravenclaw scarf-

Erik had just enough time to catch him before he fell to the floor.

“Charles, Charles what happened? Talk to me-”

“Took the train to Hogsmeade and walked the rest of the way.” He whispered, his voice hoarse and thick, and only now could Erik see the drying track of tears staining Charles’s ruddy cheeks in the glow of the fire. “I couldn’t stay there Erik, now with him, not after what he said about you-”

“Charles,” Erik pleaded, trying to ignore the anger filling his veins at the sight of the purpling bruise marring Charles’s pale skin. “Charles you need to tell me what happened. Please, Charles.”

Fingers brushed his temple in a silent invitation. Erik wrapped his hands around Charles’s wrist, keeping his fingers there in a silent agreement and the Occlumens showed him the memory in answer. Erik’s head was suddenly filled with a whirlpool of pain and resigned despondency as Kurt’s words echoed through the recesses of his brain, love him, the Mudblood, good for nothing, the Muggleborn’s whore, this’ll show you, saw Sharon’s blank expression as a punch landed, and then a kick, and then another and-

And then Erik came crashing back to the present as Charles started to cry, and whatever Erik felt then, towards Kurt, towards Sharon, it didn’t matter, because Charles needed him, and Charles- Charles loved him?

“Do you?” Erik asked, his voice small as he kept his grip on Charles, feeling himself like he was going to fall over at any moment. “Do you love me?”

“Erik-”

“Do you love me?” He asked again, ignoring the way his voice broke as he cupped Charles’s face in his hands, gently wiping away the tears that fell with this thumb, gently stroking around the edge of his bruise.

Erik could just about make out the nod under his hands. And then Erik was kissing him.

Charles’s lips were cold and salty under his but it didn’t stop him from kissing him like he was a dying man in need of oxygen. Charles’s hair was damp but it didn’t stop him from winding a hand in it and tugging Charles impossibly closer. Charles was hurt, Charles had trekked all the way from Westchester, Charles was covered in snow and was probably in need of a hot shower, but it didn’t stop him from kissing back with fervour, didn’t stop him from clutching Erik, from shifting closer until he was almost in the Gryffindor’s lap. This is where Charles belonged, this is where Charles was safe. This is where Charles was the most loved.

Erik all but seemed to confirm this as they lay tangled on the sofa, Charles now dry and warm, drowning in Erik’s Quidditch jumper, limbs tangled and fingers wandering, inquisitive and excited at the prospect of having the opportunity to do so as often as they liked.

“Say it again.” Charles said, looking up at Erik, biting his lip to try and dampen his grin.

Erik pressed a peck to where the skin was trapped between Charles’s teeth, pulling away with a smile to match. “I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.” He said almost reverently between kissed to Charles’s nose, eyelids, and chin, just to get the smaller boy to squirm and giggle, the sound warming Erik from the inside.

Charles shifted closer whispering his response into the crook of Erik’s neck, a secret between just the two of them and the glowing embers of the fire.

Somewhere behind them on a beaten sideboard, a gilded carriage clock softly chimed twelve.

Shifting in his hold, Charles looked up through his lashes at his boyfriend (his boyfriend!) and grinned, boyish and gleeful. “Merry Christmas, Erik.”

Erik leant their foreheads together, brushing a kiss against Charles’s nose. “Merry Christmas, Charles.”

From then on, as long as he was with Charles, Christmas finally meant something to Erik, and he found that he really didn’t mind.

[eurusholmmes]

chasing cars (Pt II) || charles xavier

Part One 

Part II - With Charles not remembering you, you do everything in your power to bring back a few of the key memories that sparked the relationship between the two of you. 

Tag List: @xavier-chxrles @katiedreamy @t0ny-st4nk @rivertales 

Okay, don’t kill me. Lyrics come from Evermore - Dan Stevens  because that’s my favorite song right now.. and it’s angsty. 

  “So, you’re telling me that once upon a time I was in love with her?” Charles grumbled, downing another shot of whiskey as Hank scolded him from in front of his desk. “I don’t even remember who she is! How could I have been in love with her?” 

  “You don’t remember who she is on your own accord. You purposefully wiped her memories so she wouldn’t be in pain over losing you! But she remembers you and she remembers being in love with you. You can’t just kick her on the curb because your ego is bigger then your heart, Charles. Give her a chance. Maybe she can break down the memory barriers you put up.” 

You lightly knocked on the door and managed a weak smile. “Hi Hank. I’ve got it from here.” The Beast nodded and fled the room, leaving you alone with the alcoholic. “You keep looking at me like I’m Satan and I will smack you stupid.” Charles leaned forward and pressed his elbows against his desk, leaving indentations in his skin as he stared at you. 

  “Hank was right.. you are beautiful.” 

Deep red spread across your cheeks as you bit on your bottom lip and pulled your hair off your shoulders to hide your blush. “First things first, Mr. Xavier. You have to take a shower.” 

  “Are you going to join me?” 

  “Good Lord no I’m not joining you. If we’re going to work on bringing back our memories with each other, I’m not going to have you smelling like a liquor house. Go take a shower.” 

As you waited for Charles to leave the shower, you rifled through the journal you’d shown to Hank at the bar to see if there were any key memories the two of you had that would possibly break the memory barrier. There were so many romantic memories.. memories where’d he’d made you laugh until you thought your heart would stop. Dates where you were where his attention rest and stupid things the two of you did that would make him smile so widely you weren’t sure what you loved more. Him or the happiness you brought him.

He loves to dance; and he loves to hear you sing. 

  “Is this better?” Your breathing hitched as you lifted your head to find Charles at the end of the hall, towel wrapped around his hips and his damp hair clinging to his browbone. “You can stop staring now, darling. I know I’m nice to look at.” 

You tilted your head and followed him until you stood outside of his door, leaning against the doorpost as he moved to put on boxers and sweatpants. “How did you get your legs back? My memories- in my fragmented memories, you lost them.” It was clear the question made him uncomfortable when the entire half of his upper body tensed, his fingers reflexively curling at his sides. You wanted to touch him. To let him know he was still okay. “I’m sorry-”

  “You-You brought back a memory with the way... the way you spoke. Like you were concerned.” He turned back to face you and tilted his head before allowing his gaze to fall to the bed. “The first time I kissed you was in this room, the day before Cuba. Wasn’t it?” You nodded firmly and took several steps to fill the gap between the two of you. Your fingers weaved through his jaw length hair before an idea sprung to life in your mind. 

  “It was. I’m glad you remember.” You whispered, your eyes flickering up to meet his own before you peeled yourself away from his warm, comforting touch. “Now, what can we do about cutting that hair?” 

The next three days brought on some of the most unforgettable moments with Charles. Nights in the garden, making dinners together, listening to him talk about losing Erik and Raven, going back and forth between the two of you to see if you could break any of the memory barriers or piece together certain ones from your journal.

His cold facade was falling - falling into a man who was desperate to love and be loved in return. He didn’t just love the outer version; the skin and bright eyes and gorgeous smile. Charles Xavier loved all of you, and that included the heart of gold hidden inside your body. 

  “So.. we’re getting somewhere.” You mused, stepping out of your bedroom and into the hallway in your newest attire. You’d run home around eleven the previous night to pick up more clothes, tossing your dirty ones into your laundry room before making your way back to the School. “I have an idea if you’re willing to try it. Says in my journal where I recorded those fragmented dreams that you love dancing, and I’ve got a new song to try. Interested?” 

Charles grin made your heart melt into a pile of lovesick teenager. “Should I put on my tuxedo?” 

  “You can do whatever the heck you want. Just meet me in the old common room when you’re done.” 

I was the one who had it all

I was the master of my fate

You stood in the students former common room with your hair neatly braided behind your back, loose curls falling to frame your face as you placed the record in the record player. (AN: for sake of argument, lets say Evermore came out in the seventies) 

I never needed anybody in my life

I learned the truth too late

Just as the instrumental began to play, you turned back around to find Charles staring back at you in his best dress; an older tuxedo he clearly hadn’t worn in years. Despite the wrinkles lining the old outfit, you couldn’t help the smile that spread across your cheeks as you wrapped your arms around his neck. “You-You look stunning.’’ You commented, grinning as he wiggled his eyebrows. 

  “I could say the same thing about you, darling.” 

I’ll never shake away the pain

I close my eyes and she’s still there

You rested your forehead against Charles shoulder as he pulled you flush against his body, his fingers creeping up your hips to knead at the open flesh since there was a cross cut in the back of your dress. A shiver ran down your spine as you slid your hands up to curl at the nape of his neck. 

I let her steal into my melancholy heart

It’s more then I can bear

  “Charles.. where are your hands going.” You stated, grinning widely as his hands slid back up to their original position. His cerulean blue eyes lit up as you cleared your throat and prepared to sing. “You ready to hear me sing?”

  “Your voice is permanently engraved in my head. I never stop hearing you sing.” 

Well I know he’ll never leave me

Even as he runs away

He will still torment me 

Calm me, hurt me

Move me, come what may

Charles grin faltered as you began leading him in a ballroom waltz - completely oblivious to the fact that his legs were beginning to furiously shake. Your eyes widened as he completely collapsed in the middle of the floor, his hands moving to press against his temples as he completely loss the use of his lower legs. 

  “Charles!” 

Wasting in my lonely tower

Waiting by an open door 

You straddled Charles waist as he began to cry out, alerting Hank who was several doors down with his flaring telepathy to bring him the serum he needed to continue walking. “Y/n.. I can’t make it stop.” He pleaded, gasping for breath as tears threatened to fall from the eyes you loved so deeply. 

I’ll fool myself

She’ll walk right in 

Loved. That was it. 

You leaned downward and cupped his face in your hands, pouring yourself into the kiss you’d been waiting to deliver for the past week you’d been at the School. Charles body immediately fell limp, his fingers tangling in your hair to pull you as close to him as he possibly could. His tongue swept across your bottom lip, coaxing you to open your mouth to him. The moment you did it was almost as if the memory center of your brain burst - because every single memory you’d ever formed with Charles Xavier came rushing back to you at once. 

And apparently it did the same thing for him. 

 And be with me forever more

Charles pulled away first and exhaled slowly, his eyes locked with yours as a wide smile across his cheeks. He remembered all of it. From the first moment he’d laid eyes on you to the night he’d been forced to wipe your memories. Where it had just been the two of you, out underneath a canopy of stars with only the whispered words and stolen kisses to remind you of what used to be.

  “Who knew it took true loves kiss to break a memory barrier?” 

[swandrabbles]

What Might Have Been - Cherik

The curtains were drawn, the window cracked to let in the sting of March air mingled with warm rain. The trees swayed, and a few pink buds barely visible from the bed in the center of the room were unfurling.

Charles’ eyes flitted listlessly. They were the only thing that seemed to move, beyond the unsteady rise and fall of his chest. His hands, once constantly moving, now remained perfectly still. His glassy gaze always seemed to be a million miles away.

“Oh, how times have changed, old friend.” He turned his head towards the chair beside him. It hadn’t moved since he’d been admitted. The IV drip in his arm felt stiff, but had long since stopped stinging and itching. Maybe it still did. He didn’t notice anymore.

 He is something to behold

Elegant and bold

He is electricity

Running to my soul

 “I remember when I first saw you…saw your mind.” Charles breathed the words, the effort making his voice shake. “Do you remember? You were so alone. I’d never met anyone who had been through so much pain. Those long nights at the chess board. You teased me about how innocent my ideas were.

“I remember watching as you fell into stride with life that wasn’t just about you. How you wanted the children to succeed. The first time you offered out a suggestion to Hank and he took it, the moment Darwin opened up to you about his struggles in life, how you understood. You looked so scared.

“Do you remember when we turned the satellite? You were so sure you wouldn’t be able to find the strength…there was so much good in you, so much no one had seen, but I did. I saw so much in you.”

 And I could easily lose my mind

The way you kiss me will work each time

Calling me to come back to bed

Singing ‘Georgia on my mind’

 “Do you remember on the beach, in Cuba? When you nearly lost it all? You nearly fell to the anger in your heart. Do you remember that night when we came home together? Do you remember when we started a family? We opened the school together. You didn’t want to teach, but all the kids came to you because they knew you understood struggle. You were the better man.”

Charles’ fingers twitched on the blankets, the blue veins straining against paper skin. The ring finger lifted just barely.

 And I, And I…

 “Do you remember all those nights, all those fears? When the government started to revolt, and we fought together to show them that we weren’t a threat. Magneto and Professor X. Do you remember when I thought you’d leave? I was so sure you were going to walk out. You said you didn’t want to be around anyone. You wanted to be alone. Away from anything that might hurt you. You didn’t say that, but I knew. You were afraid of being vulnerable. Afraid of who you had become.

“I reached out to you. I held on. You felt so far away. I remember when Raven went to you and you listened to her. You listened to her tell you how much I missed you. You missed me too. You came home. You took my hands and you promised me you’d always be there.”

 Lips, generous and warm

You build me up like steps

Eyes innocent and wild

Remind me what it’s like

 “I knew when we met that you’d shape my life, old friend. I knew I’d love you like no one else. I was so scared you wouldn’t. I was so scared of being alone. You were so strong. You knew how to be just yourself, and how to be fine with that. I didn’t know what you’d do with someone who lived for others, someone who was never alone. I didn’t know if you could love me. I let you into the deepest parts of me. I let you see things no one else has ever touched. You’re my best friend.”

 And I could easily lose my mind

The way you kiss me will work each time

Pulling me back into the flames

And I’m burning up again

I’m burning up

 Charles felt his eyes stinging. A lifetime of memories flooded over him, playing like a documentary. He was there, freshly graduated, newly minted as a professor and so ignorant of what he would be a part of. It had been so simple then. He remembered the day Moira approached him. He had no idea that she would alter the entire course of his life, bring him to the people he would hold most dear. Those had been such different times. Mutant kind was still a myth.

The first time he had stepped up to Cerebro, when Hank had lowered it over his head and Erik had fixed him with a wide-eyed look of fear. The wordless communication between them. Charles didn’t need to read Erik’s mind. He never needed to. He just knew. Erik was just as terrified of knowing who was out there as he was. That day had completely changed the course of their futures.

 And I, I never understood what was at stake

I never thought your love was worth its weight

Well now you’ve come and gone

I’ve finally worked it out

I worked it out

           “You were always home to me,” Charles’ voice cracked as the tears slid down his cheeks, “You were my home. When I looked at you, I knew where I was meant to be. I knew who I was.”

           The world was a shadow. The smell of rain missed his senses. He could hear it, but it felt so far away. Miles away. He tried to turn his head, too look out the window, but it was too heavy.

 I never should have told you

I never should have let you see inside

Don’t want it troubling your mind

Won’t you let it be

 “I miss it,” Charles whispered, “I miss it. Hold my hand. Hold my hand, Erik.”

His breathing was coming in shallow gasps. The room was so big, and he was so tired. He was trembling, staring wide-eyed and fearful into the mouth of ending life.

“Will you be there? Will you stay with me?” His vision was blurring. Somewhere in his expansive mind’s eye, he could feel everything shutting down. He could feel himself closing off. For the first time in his life he was like every other person in the world. Alone in his mind. The quiet was smothering.

 And I could easily lose my mind

The way you kiss me will work each time

Pulling me back into the flames

And I’m burning up again

I’m burning up

 “I will never forget your eyes. I won’t ever forget you. I never could,” He was barely speaking now, his fingers grasping out weakly. “Please don’t forget me—Erik please don’t forget who I am. Who I was. Please-“

His fingers were shaking. He felt everything shutting down. He couldn’t hear the rain. He couldn’t see anything. Nothing but Erik’s fierce gaze. His life-long partner. His best friend. His soulmate. He wanted so much to reverse time, to go back to the start and live it all again. If he could have any wish, it would be to have more time. To go back to when life was so small. When things were so simple.

Each breath grew heavier. He had to remind himself to take in the air.

“I love you.”

The room was fading away.

“I love you…”

 And I, I never understood what was at stake

I never thought your love was worth its weight

Well now you’ve come and gone

I’ve finally worked it out

I worked it out

 Charles’ lifeless hand dangled beside the bed, limp from reaching out for the empty chair. Reaching for the life he’d always wanted, but never had.

Outside, the rain fell light against the window-pane, and the flowers on the trees unfurled.

The room was silent.

I’ve finally worked it out

I worked it out…

    -Georgia -Vance Joy

[knives-out20]

Magnetic Pull - Erik Lehnsherr x Male!OC - Part 19

Fandom: X-Men: First Class (2011)

Pairing: Karmel Rosenstein (OC) x Erik Lehnsherr

Warnings: Spoilers for X-Men: First Class, Swearing, 

Notes: The next part is the finale! Also- if you can pick up the Hannibal (NBC show) references in this part, or any part in the past, fucking hell, I love you.

Karmel followed Charles and Moira, wobbling out and onto the sand. He watched a hole form in the wall in the upper middle level of the ship, and out floated a dead Sebastian Shaw, arms out and head hanging like he was on an invisible cross. Karmel gasped softly when he saw Erik standing on the ledge, wearing a shiny helmet."Erik!" He called, out of pure, raw relief that Erik was alive.

"Today, our fighting stops!" Erik's voice boomed.

The other mutants drew closer to Shaw's floating, lifeless body. They were all wary, and hesitant.

Erik lowered Shaw's body, onto the ground, blood trickling down Sebastian's forehead. He floated off the ledge, levitating above his past torturer's body. Erik spared Karmel a glance, who grew brave enough to wander closer, passed Charles and Moira.

The two helplessly let him.

Erik spoke again once his feet were on the sand."Take off your blinders, everyone. The real enemy is out there" he pointed out at the military ships still at sea, filled with humans."I feel their guns moving in the water, their metal targeting us."

Karmel stopped, Charles and Moira at his sides.

"Americans, Soviets, humans" Erik scowled."United in their fear of the unknown."

Karmel shuddered; he remembered when he had talked to Erik, at the X-Mansion, about how the idea of co-existing with humans was funny- since humans destroy what they don't understand. 

"The neanderthal is running scared, my fellow mutants!" Erik headed for the coastline, Karmel following from a way's behind him."Go ahead, Charles." His head snapped in Charles' direction, gaze gliding over Karmel."Tell me I'm wrong" Erik challenged.

Charles slowly pressed two fingers to his temple.

Karmel gave Erik a worried look, sparing the ships and Charles a couple of mere glances.

Charles lowered his hand. He turned to Moira, and nodded, letting her run back to the jet.

Soon, the canons fired missiles up and into the air, then soaring down towards the island.

"Shit- Erik!" Karmel automatically yelled.

Erik looked at him, then back over at the missiles flying their way. He raised a hand, all of them freezing mid-air immediately. Erik bore a stone-cold look in his deep eyes as he looked up at them, turning his palm inwards.

This made the missiles slowly flip around, facing back the way they came from.

Karmel then realized what Erik was about to do.

"Erik, you said yourself, we're the better men" Charles reminded."This is the time to prove it."

Erik ignored him, the missiles all successfully turned back around.

"There are thousands of men on those ships. Good, honest, innocent men!" Charles exclaimed."They're just following orders."

"Erik's been at the mercy of men just following orders" Karmel coldly reminded Charles.

Erik nodded."Never again."

Karmel watched Erik gesture his hand upwards, the missiles shooting back over towards the soldiers.

"Erik, release them!" Charles ordered."Karmel, tell him to stop, he'll listen to you."

Karmel gave Charles an apologetic look; he didn’t want to do that."Erik..." Was all he could force himself to say.

"No!" Charles charged at Erik, knocking him down.

"Charles!" Karmel called, the missiles exploding, falling into the ocean when Erik's powers got cut off.

Charles grunted once on top of Erik, reaching for his helmet.

"I don't want to hurt you- don't make me" Erik threatened, elbowing Charles off of him.

"Erik!" Karmel called.

Alex, Sean, Hank and Raven approached at the sign of Charles getting hurt, Erik darting his eyes in their direction.

"Stand back!" He growled, waving an arm, sending the team flying away, landing by the treeline.

"Erik-" Karmel repeated, taking a step towards him.

Erik gestured for Karmel to stop where he stood."I hesitated on you that time, but don't let my trust in you throw it away. I let you know me...see me...I gave you a rare gift...but you didn't want it."

"Didn't I?" Karmel's voice trembled as he said this, eyes growing sparkly, the words out of his mouth quicker than a speeding airplane. He grit his teeth to hold back any sobs on the borderline of coming out, but the tears in his eyes told a different story. Karmel glanced at his wrist, knowing full and well the 'gift' Erik meant wasn't the leather bound on his wrist.

The gift Erik gave Karmel was the gift of Erik letting Karmel see who he really is. Erik letting his guard down around Karmel, being vulnerable around the mutant with dirty blond hair and penchant for getting angry easily.

"This is all I ever wanted for you, Karmel...for both of us" Erik knelt down.

"It's beautiful." Karmel croaked truthfully, glancing down."You let me know you, Erik, see you, and it's so beautiful. You're beautiful, you're far from whatever weapon Shaw wanted you to come out to be, you’re more than that. You're far from any of the wrongs you've ever done, Erik. You're perfect-" perfect for me, he wanted to say."You're a good man" Karmel pleaded, looking back up to Erik."It's beautiful, Erik, but please, don't hurt Charles."

"He would deny me my life!"

"No- No. Not your life."

"My freedom, then- our freedom! He would take that from me, maybe even you. He would confine me to a prison cell, away from you."

Karmel's shoulder shook."Do you believe you could change me, the way I've ch-changed you?"

"I already did." Erik glanced down."I'm not blind to things like that, Karmel. But that isn't important...Fate and circumstance have returned us to this moment. I forgive you, Karmel. Will you forgive me?"

Karmel balled his hand into a fist, covering his mouth with it.

"Karmel. Come to me." Erik beckoned, pinning Charles down."Charles, that's enough!" He muttered, raising a hand for the leftover missiles to shoot at the ships once more.

"Erik, stop!" Charles yelled, earning a clean punch across the face from him.

Erik quickly stood back up, side-stepping away from Charles to control the missiles that were left.

A bullet shot right past Karmel, deflecting off of Erik's helmet. He snapped his head in the direction from where it came from."Moira-? Moira, no!" Karmel screamed, jumping up and down like an angry child."Shoot at Erik again, do it, I dare you, see what FUCKING happens!"

Moira continued shooting at Erik, bullets directly missing Karmel.

Until, one fateful bullet. Erik used his hand to deflect it, unaware that it would tear though Charles' lower back.

Charles was on the ground no sooner than he had stood up at. It was like it happened in slow motion- Charles fell to his knees, all eyes on him when he hit the sand.

"Charles- Charles!"

"Charles?"

"Charlie!"

Charles' face scrunched up in pain, a hand over where the bullet hit him.

Erik ran to him, rolling Charles onto his back and using his mutation to pull the bullet out of him. He held the bullet in his hand, Karmel using a vine to grab it and throw it in Moira's direction.

"What the fuck did I just say?" He rhetorically asked.

The missiles that were left exploded, and fell into the abyss of the sea.

Karmel jogged over to Erik and Charles, Moira lagging behind in fear.

"I'm so sorry- I said back off!" Erik angrily yelled at the mutants, all except Karmel."You. You did this" his glare landed on Moira, a hand cradling Charles' neck, his other on Charles' chest. Erik raised his hand, the necklace Moira wore starting to choke her.

"Erik. Please." Charles breathlessly pleaded."She didn't do this, Erik. You did."

"Excuse me? That was Moira's fucking bullet, from her gun, which she shot. Erik deflected Moira's bullet, from Moira's gun, that Moira shot" Karmel reiterated Moira's name throughout, just about ready to set it in stone. He grew helpless to the look that flashed onto Erik's face, one of sorrow. Karmel slowly backed away, fearful of what he'd do to anyone that was physically too close to him.

Erik slowly lowered his hand, releasing Moira from her own choke-hold."Us turning on each other, it's what they want" he gruffly told."I tried to warn you, Charles. Karmel knew better before you, too, he didn't need any warning. I want you by my side, just as I want Karmel by my side" Erik whispered."We're brothers, you and I. All of us, together, protecting each other. We want the same thing."

Karmel gulped, lips trembling."He didn't blind me completely" he spoke up."Charles, he just- gave me a few ideas here and there, that I sculpted into false hope. You saw so, last night. I'd never deceive from my own morals, Erik. No matter who says what."

Erik looked up at Karmel for a moment, with dare I say, a look of love. He hid it from view by trailing his gaze back down to Charles.

Charles' breath shook as he looked up at Erik, hopeless of anything else to say."My friend," he laughed sadly."I'm sorry. But you and I, we do not."

Erik froze, any hope left in Charles disappearing, just like that. 

Charles was on the brink of tears at this point, while Karmel was finally calming down from his held-back sobs from earlier.

Erik looked up at Moira, gesturing for her to come over.

"Charles," Moira whispered, racing over."I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" she repeated, as Erik slowly got up.

Erik stood up, walking a few feet away from Charles. He had his eyes on the line of mutants, and Karmel now lingering to the side of the line."This society won't accept us. We form our own. The humans have played their hand," he pointed at the ships."Now we get ready to play ours. Who's with me?"

Karmel's breath hitched, eyes darting between Charles struggling in the sand, and Erik standing tall. He felt eyes on him; Erik's eyes. Full of pleading, and that soft look they bore on him as of recent. Karmel bit the edge of his lip, Erik outstretching a hand.

"No more hiding" Raven whispered, walking past Karmel, and over to...Charles? She knelt down, Charles grabbing her arm.

"You should go with him. It's what you want” Charles urged.

"You promised me you would never read my mind" Raven reminded.

"I know. I promised you a great many things, I'm afraid. I'm sorry" Charles apologized, quickly kissing Raven's hand.

"Take care of him" Raven told Moira. She kissed Charles forehead, standing up and looping around to Erik's side, closer to Shaw's submarine than the jet.

Angel and Shaw's henchmen joined her.

"And Beast! Never forget. Mutant, and proud" Raven called.

Erik's gaze landed back on Karmel, who took a step forward.

"Charles." Karmel called, one last time."I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it."

"Do it, Karmel. It's what you've always wanted, you and I both know that I- I could never change that. Go with Erik” Charles coerced, hoping Karmel would pity him somehow, and stay. He looked up at Karmel with pleading eyes, hoping something about that alone could get the message across. 

Karmel sniffled, not looking Charles in the eyes; it would only make him more distraught as to whether he should stay or go."But you- will you be fine? Will you be alright, Charlie Chaplin? You got shot, for fuck's sake."

Charles giggled sadly."I'll be better before you know it. Now go, Karmel. Join Erik."

Karmel stopped himself from approaching Erik."'Charlie Chaplin'. Now, I don't- I don't know if this name was ever a joke to you, but I sure hope it wasn't. If you're really so smart, you'd see it's been a compliment, this- this entire time," he paused."You think I'd ever go around comparing you to one of the most influential, intelligent, talented, life-changing people in the world for no reason?" Karmel asked."I respect you, Charlie. I respect you so much, you deserve to only ever know the truth."

"G-Great to know, Karmel-" Charles stuttered, trying to pretend he wasn't going to cry over how much that nickname truly was supposed to mean to him.”With all my knowledge and intrusion, K-Karmel, I never could entirely predict you.”

“One last thing, actually.”

“Mhm?” Charles forcefully hummed. Maybe Karmel decided to stay.”What? You’ll stay?”

“Don’t ever fucking forget, Charles: beware, it goeth before the fall.”

“Of course” Charles nodded, a pained smile on his lips. He hated to see Karmel leave, as the two had grown to be close friends quite quickly. But, this was what Karmel wanted, and Charles knew that more than anything. He just wants his friends to be happy. Besides; maybe sometime in the future, Charles could beckon Karmel back to his side.

Karmel licked his lips, head panning over to Erik, who had an arm slightly outstretched for him. He slowly made his way over, as if drawn in by Erik’s magnetic pull.

Erik could swear, Karmel had that same pull on him. He took off his helmet, holding it in his left hand.

Karmel filled the space between Erik and Charles. Karmel held Erik's hand tightly, and turned to face the mutant at his side. At last, the two succumbed to their emotions, and rightfully gave into the romantic feelings that have been there since the start. Karmel trailed his free hand up Erik's chest, across his neck and over his cheek, stopping when the tips of his fingers could touch Erik's hair. He and Erik pressed their foreheads together, Karmel's fingers grazing the base of Erik's ear as they kept eye contact. 

There was no doubt in Erik's mind that he loved Karmel from the moment he found out that Karmel truly saw all his flaws, yet wanted him to stay. From the moment Karmel told him despite the wrongs he'd done, Erik was a good man. Erik's eyes fell closed in comfort, Karmel doing the same with their foreheads still up against each other.

Neither had to say an "I love you" to the other. Neither had to kiss, either. It was clear as day at this point, how the two mutants felt about each other. So clear, that no words needed to be said, no actions needed to be done. It was an unspoken truth, how they love each other, and just how in love they are.

Azazel glanced over the line of mutants by him, and teleported the group away in a wave of red smoke.