He couldn't even begin to describe how pathetic this was. He was past thirty and yet here he was purposely turning a chore like laundry into a one-sided date. All because of him. Him, of course, being Professor Charles Xavier, genetics Ph.D., employed at Oxford University where he, Dr. Eric Lehnsherr, specialized in mechanical engineering. He had moved from Germany to England for university and decided to stay once he received his doctorate. Despite his steady salary, Eric stayed in the plain flat he had had since his days as a student. It was decent and affordable so he saw no reason to move. And he had even less of a reason when Charles Xavier moved into the flat across from him.
The two literally bumped into each other when Eric had been exhaustedly dragging himself back after a night spent at the physics laboratory and Charles had been frantically rushing from the flat, late for his first lecture. Eric opened his mouth to snap at whoever ran into him when he felt it suddenly go dry. There in front of him, was the most gorgeous man he had ever seen. Brown hair framing an apologetically grinning face in gentle waves and a voice that was-
"Oh, Eric!"-a honey coated Yorkshire accent. Eric felt his heart thump painfully against his chest as he turned to see Charles in a casual track suit, with his hair disheveled and a basket full of clothes and detergent under his arm.
"Charles." He returned in the calmest voice he could muster.
The grin Charles sent him made him weak in the knees. "Glad to see you finally agreed to use my first name like I asked." He walked over to Eric placing his basket on the machine next to him. Green eyes slid curiously to Eric's own mostly empty basket. "Have you finished?"
Eric's response was embarrassingly delayed. It took Charles nodding to his laundry for the words to register. It was times like these when he wished he was working on some science fiction freeze ray instead of his automaton pet project. Eric desperately needed time to form his sentences around Charles. The other was most likely completely unaware of the fact that he tied Eric's tongue with just a look and that his smile was enough to turn his prized and praised mind to useless mush.
"No, uh, I was actually waiting for you." Dear God, did he just say that out loud? He began to load the washer to detract attention from his slip.
Again with that smile. "Thank you. That's very kind. I might need your services again should this damned machine decide to rob me of my coins." Charles grimaced as he slotted the coins into the machine, one by one. "How were you able to get all of my coins back?" Charles turned to him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. Eric only smiled. "Right, don't tell me. At least I can avoid pulling my hair out in frustration, thanks to you."
"I love your hair."
"What?" Charles asked now raising both eyebrows in question.
Come now, Eric think-
"I, uh, love the-uh, air…" Perfect. He could definitely make use of that freeze ray now; to buy himself enough time to disappear and run far, far away from his own stupidity and Charles' sure to be coming look of disdain and surely he would-
"Would you have dinner with me this evening?"
…Wait…What?
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Ne, it's been quite a while. This is another result of the aforementioned song challenge. I had to giggle at this one…before I went into serious mode considering how to frame this story without it being solely comedic in presentation. I happen to be a sap for Cheric (forgive me for the probable misspelling of the ship), have been since First Class released. (I seriously cannot be the only one who saw Eric and Charles easily segueing into an altogether different activity in front of the fireplace. I refuse to believe it.) More to follow soon. Thank you for reading.