The door started opening with a loud screetching, then it got blocked. Charles pushed a bit harder, his fingers gripped tightly around the scratched, metal doorknob, with no result. Not having another free hand -in his other one he was holding a small suitcase-, he leaned against it and pressed with his whole body.

-It's moving now- said Erik, who was standing right next to him. He too had a piece of luggage with him.

They entered the cheap hostel room and Erik shut the door with a kick after failing to do so with his hand. It was 1 a.m., they had just arrived at Boston to search for a mutant they had heard about in New York.

-I think we may have chosen the worst place in town- he said, as he looked around the tiny apartement.

It was about 5 square metres big. The walls, painted white once, had turned into a yellow-ish, chipping disaster. The green floor-covering was spotted with stains of unknown origin. The only furniture were two miserable-looking beds standing by the walls on the right and left and a small night table between them. Right next to the main entrance there was a door leading to the tiniest bathroom both of them had ever seen.

-If only we hadn't lost the wallet... we'd be sleeping in a four-star hotel right now-

-Yeah... but this place is only four stars less, so it's not that bad- Charles answered and Erik smirked. He stepped towards the bed and picked up a thin, poorly sewn blanket, revealing the grey matress underneath it.

-Covers and pillows must be provided by customers- Charles read from a foiled piece of paper laying on the bedside table. He touched the small heater hanging from the wall behind it and grimaced shortly.

-You want to go and eat something?- he asked Erik.

-Nah, I'm too tired-

-Good, because we have literally no money left- he sat down on his bed.

-Why did you ask me then?-

Charles shrugged as answer and laid down fully clothed. He kicked off his shoes, pulled out the blanket from under his body and covered himself with it. His eyes were closed already and he stopped moving.

-You're not going to get changed or something?- Erik asked. Charles' eyes fluttered open and gazed at him.

-It's about 10 degrees in here...I don't see a point in wearing anything that is less warm than my coat-

Erik nodded, turned off the lights and laid down as well. Soon both of them were breathing rhytmically and calmly.

Around 2 a.m. Erik found himself conscious. He couldn't tell if it was the neon light blinking behind the window or the hard matress, or maybe both, that were giving him a hard time sleeping. He looked over to Charles and his eyes caught a movement. After he got used to the dark, he recognized that his friend was facing him with his back, shivering slightly, curled up into the thin piece of material provided by the hostel.

-Charles...!- he whispered. No reaction. -Hey! Psttt!- he tried again, this time resulting in the one called slowly turning around.

-What?- Charles' voice was blurry.

-You were shivering.-

-Huh? I didn't notice. Why are you awake?-

-Couldn't sleep. How did you not notice that you were shivering?-

-I don't know, Erik. Is there anything else I can do for you?- Charles made clear that he wanted to go back to sleep. Erik stirred around for a moment and freed himself from his blanket, then passed it over to the other bed. -Here, take my blanket.-

-I won't take it. You'll be col-

-Take it!- Erik interrupted and shook his hand holding the cover up and down.

-No- the whole conversation was held in whisper tone. Erik took back his hand with the blanket and then threw it over to Charles.

-Listen, I won't be the one calling an ambulance when you're going to be hypothermic- his voice tolerated no further protest. There was a short silence.

-...thanks- Charles said quietly.

-Good night.- Erik smiled.

-Good night.-