So, whilst being in another country, with no internet connection, for a month, I decided to write a series of First Class drabbles. This was ostensibly because writing a complete story in only 100 words is a good discipline. It's actually because I'm too lazy to bother with things like plot and sustaining a tone over multiple chapters. All of these stories are inspired by a word chosen at random from my German dictionary (why? Because German is an amazing language), and most of them revolve around Charles and Erik and their crazy relationship. There's a bit of slash, although mostly of the blink-and-you'll-miss-it sort.

This first installment involves Erik thinking he's a monster, and Charles disagreeing. Also, knives.

koennen (to be able to)

Conditional form: koennte (I could)

When they first met, Erik told Charles not to trust him, that he was dangerous, a Frankenstein's monster. Their shared aims made them allies, not friends.

He didn't take the point, so Erik made it again later, with a knife hovering unsupported at Charles' throat.

"I could," he said steadily, metal just touching flesh.

"So could I," said Charles, finger at his temple. "But I won't. And you've never killed a man who didn't, so to speak, deserve it. That's what sets you apart from Shaw."

I didn't say anything about Shaw, thought Erik, but he let the knife fall.