Charles Xavier sits across from Erik Lensherr playing chess. Erik is the only one who has ever challenged Charles at chess. Charles is the only one who still calls him Erik. They were enemies once, friends before that, and they are now friends again. Their friendship will never be the same as it once was, but they are slowly rebuilding what they had. With each move of a piece on the chess board they are becoming closer again.
"You're becoming predictable, Charles. That's not like you." Erik teases.
"I haven't had a challenge, like the one I get from you, for a long time." Charles admits as he moves another chess piece on the board.
"Challenge me Charles. You've always been able to before." Erik dares Charles. He moves another piece after careful consideration.
Charles steeples his fingers together and looks carefully at the chess board. He's always enjoyed playing chess the most with Erik. He sips his scotch before he moves another piece. The peace of the Westchester mansion is perfect and Erik has finally realized this. Charles and he are at ease and comfortable at the mansion. Charles gasps almost inaudibly when Erik's knee comes in contact with his under the small table.
Erik observes Charles carefully over the rim of his scotch glass. He knows Charles' tendencies, but he doesn't seem to be following them this time. Suddenly he realizes what Charles is doing. "You're devious."
"You said you wanted me to challenge you, Erik, and so I am."
"Your challenges are quite different from anyone else's, Charles." Erik reaches under the table and puts his hand on Charles' knee.
Charles moves away from the table and wheels himself over to the window. He's not sure what Erik wants but they've been apart for so long he's not ready to jump into a relationship with Erik again. "It's too soon Erik" Charles whispers.
Erik walks over to where Charles is looking out the window. He puts his hand on Charles' shoulder. "You're not ruling it out though, are you?"
"No, I'm not ruling it out. Just give it some time. You've only just come back. Give me some time to adjust to all of this. It won't take long, but I do need some time." Charles admits quietly.
"You always were more cautious than me, Charles. I will give you the time you want. Come back and let's finish our chess game." Erik urges Charles. He hears Charles sigh heavily before his wheelchair move back to where the chess board is. Erik walks nest to Charles' wheelchair back to the chess board.
Charles is quiet as the game resumes. The atmosphere in the room now feels much more awkward. Charles quickly downs the rest of his scotch. It's not that Charles is uncomfortable with Erik's suggestion he just didn't think the subject would come up so quickly. Charles wheels over and brings the bottle of scotch over.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Charles." Erik says as he watches Charles pour himself a large glass of scotch.
"It's not that I'm uncomfortable, Erik. I'm just surprised the subject came up as quickly as it did. I thought you hated me, Erik." Charles admits quietly.
"I never hated you, Charles. We had a difference of opinion, but I never hated you. I've love you from the moment we met." Erik looks at Charles intensely.
"That is quite a statement coming from you, Erik, especially considering some of the things you've said to me over the years."
"I only said those things so I had followers. They all expected me to say things like that. Your fate and mine have always been entwined, Charles. Depth of emotion is still depth of emotion no matter which emotions are being expressed. I didn't know how to tell you I loved you when we were young. I hadn't loved anyone except my mother, until I met you, Charles. I hadn't dealt with that emotion, as non-platonic love, ever in my life. I certainly never expected the love of my life to be another man. I was surprised, but we are soulmates, Charles." Erik reaches for Charles' hand and squeezes it tightly.
Charles can feel his eyes watering as Erik speaks. "Yes, we are soulmates, Erik, but you have to give me time to adjust to you being back like this in my life. We haven't been friends for forty years and now, suddenly, you want to be friends and lovers. I find the sudden change rather dissonant." Charles admits.
"Don't use your extensive vocabulary to distance yourself from this, Charles. It won't change anything. I can read your emotions all over your face."
"You broke my heart when you left, Erik. I learned to cover my emotions to protect myself. All of a sudden I can't cover them anymore. You're too strong for me, Erik."
The chess game has long been abandoned. Erik walks around the chess table and squats next to Charles. "I broke my own heart when I left, but I felt as if I had to. You are strong, Charles, and you can be again. I want you to be confident in how I feel about you."
"That may take longer than you would like, Erik."
"I understand that. I'll be happy if you just trust me." Erik looks up into the piercing blue eyes of his friend.
"I do trust you, Erik, surprisingly enough that was one thing that never stopped. I'm glad you stopped wearing the helmet, though."
"The helmet wasn't very attractive and it gave it me a terrible headache and it wouldn't have given you much confidence that I was being genuine."
Charles starts to laugh. Erik always had a dry sense of humour that Charles appreciates very much. "Come and sit on the sofa with me."
"Of course Charles. If that's what you want. Can you do that?" Erik asks gently. He doesn't want to be crass, but Charles is in a wheelchair.
"Yes, I can do that, Erik. My upper body still works. I just can't walk." Charles wheels himself over to the sofa near the fireplace. He's soon out of his wheelchair and sitting on the sofa.
Erik walks over to Charles. "I'm impressed. You haven't let your disability get the best of you."
"I had to be strong just to survive. I let paralysis get me down for a while, but I had a job to do." Charles tells Erik as he sips his scotch.
"When did you lose all your hair?" Erik asks turning to face Charles. He desperately wants to run his hand across Charles' smooth scalp.
"I didn't lost all my hair, but I have such a large bald spot I decided to shave my head." Charles explains.
"It's kind of sexy Charles. Can I touch?" Erik moves closer to Charles.
"Sure," Charles says hesitantly. It seems like an odd request.
Erik runs one of his rough hands across Charles' smooth scalp. Charles leans into Erik's touch. Erik's touch is electric and Charles can instantly feel the connection with him again. Erik runs his hand down the side of Charles' face. Charles turns his head into Erik's hand and kisses Erik's palm. "Oh Charles, don't tempt me." Erik pleads.
"You shouldn't tempt me either, Erik. This is a dangerous situation." Charles warns.
"Of all the dangerous situation we've been in in our lives, Charles, I would say this is one of the least dangerous." Erik looks him directly in the eye.
"We've both been drinking, Erik, and we're both emotionally raw and vulnerable right now. We should both get some sleep and meet up for a private breakfast tomorrow morning." Charles says firmly.