First X-men First class fic, answer to a prompt at 1stclass_kink comm on LJ. This will probably go into Erik/Charles territory later on. I'm a bit nervous 'cause it's been a while since I last wrote something but I loved the movie and the characters so I thought, why not give it a try. Anyways, here's the first part, hope you enjoy! Reviews make me happy :)


Blood flows freely into his crystal glass as Erik watches with detachment at the two women slowly circling each other, fangs out and shoulders tensed, both ready to pounce. The show tonight, like every other night, holds no surprises and Erik is already bored. A quick scanning of the area –always be aware of your surroundings, even familiar ones like this- leaves him uninterested and quietly brooding in his corner.

A small movement to his right catches his attention and a fragrance of burned flowers invading his nostrils is all the warning he gets as a petite dark-skinned woman sits at the bar stool next to him, leaning close to whisper in his ear.

"Looking quite dashing this evening, Mr. Lehnsherr." a smirk accompanies the words and Erik inclines his head slowly towards her direction, eyes cold and lips set into a thin line.

Angela Salvadore –please, Mr. Lehnsherr, Angel for the friends – was his first acquaintance since he had moved in to the city capitol three months ago. She had run into him one cold night while he was hiding in a dark alley, finishing his last cigarette –dreadful human habit, even after all those years still haven't find the strength to cut it- and he never quite managed to lose her after that. She always found him, even when he was projecting "stay-away-from-me" vibes; especially when he was projecting said vibes, which was, incidentally, all the time. Like now, for instance.

"Very…18th century, if you ask me." Angel continues with a rueful grin, sending a glance over his hat lying on the bar table. She takes a small sip of her rosy-red drink and turns around to look at him fully.

Erik picks up his glass and places it under his nose, taking his time to enjoy the smell of the dark blood inside as he slowly brings it to his lips. The taste is divine, warmness filling his mouth, and Erik wants to savor every moment of it. Unfortunately, Angel has other ideas.

"You know, I think I might interest you with a new piece of information I have acquired recently." She raises an eyebrow at him and finishes her drink with a swift gulp. Some of the liquid runs over her lips and she looks slightly manic, blood making a thin line towards the delicate cut of her chin.

There's a sudden loud noise coming from the stage, the women who were fighting from before deciding to settle their 'differences' by breaking one of the tables closer to the stage as they both go crashing on it, while the audience jeers and claps enthusiastically, faces pale and white fanged teeth gleaming in the artificial neon light.

"Let's get out of here." Angel steps off the stool, her silver-white heels clicking on the floor. "I know a place." She doesn't quite smirk but it's a close.

I am sure you do, Erik thinks and stands up elegantly, hand already holding his hat and glass, empty and forgotten now, on the bar. His cape flows behind him like a shadow following his every step and the black polished cane makes soft clinking noises as he makes his way outside the establishment, careful not to touch anyone while walking through the animated crowd.

x0x0x0x0x0x

Angel removes her heels and pads quickly on the wet wood, slinging the metal door with one hand as she stands aside to let Erik in. It's a dark room, more like a studio, smelling of naphthalene and burned circuits, ripped old sailing rags hanging from the ceiling. Erik is decidedly not impressed.

"Sorry it's not up to your standard but this really cannot wait, Mr. Lehnsherr." Angel's voice sounds unnaturally loud in the space, and Erik turns around to look at her as she presses a switch on, filling the room with a sickly green light.

"And what, exactly, it is that you have discovered?" Erik inquires, slight accent barely audible as he stares down at her with impossibly dark eyes.

"Well," Angel cocks her head and moves her hands to her hips in a slightly coyish gesture, "I think I deserve something in return for providing you with this information, don't you think?"

Let it be said that Erik Lehnsherr was not a patient man while he was still breathing and he definitely didn't start being so after his Change. This vampire standing in front of him thinks she can play silly games and make bargains with him. It would be laughable but Erik hasn't laughed for over 100 years and he certainly won't start now.

"I wonder how much you had to bent over to learn whatever it is that you learned" Erik comments dryly, quirking a mocking eyebrow at her. She scowls at his words, fangs barely visible as she bites her lip and raises her chin at him.

"You are not being very nice. I'm only trying to help."

"Are you, now?" he looks around slowly, eyes moving over the room before settling back into her. "How do I know that your offer to … 'help' me, as you say, isn't just your way of double-crossing me?" he hasn't taken a step, but Angel feels, all of a sudden, threatened.

"What?" she frowns, looking confused, her fingers twitching as she grows more agitated by the second.

"Tell me what you can possibly gain from this…" Erik pauses and moves his hand between them, gesturing to her and himself with two fingers, "…exchange."

Angel narrows her eyes, feeling her fangs growing, ready to tear something apart. "Why should I tell you anything about that, Mr. Lehnsherr? I don't know you that well, after all." She's getting angry now, her beautiful face flushing while her fists clench by her side.

"Exactly my point, Angel. You don't know me, I don't know you. This doesn't strike me as a beneficiary partnership." Erik slowly twirls his cane between his fingers, the pointy end of it scratching on the ground.

"You want to get to know me?" Angel can't help but blurt, anger and fear still bubbling inside of her.

"I want to know what you know." Erik is done playing now. The cane suddenly stops moving, standing on its own in front of him while the green light filling the room flickers above them.

Angel doesn't get any more warning than a blur flashing into the corner of her eye, the room descending into darkness as the lights give out.