"You are very beautiful," Erik's statement hung in the air unfinished. Raven knew more had to come, but for some reason Erik decided not to finish his claim. She could have sworn he'd reject her outright like he had done back at the mansion. He had made her feel as though her naturally blue form could be admired, even coveted. He had also remarked that he would not sleep with her. Not then at least, but perhaps in a few years. Well even though only a few months had passed, they had been through a lot together, fighting together for mutants and against humans. Their fights had lost them a few fellow mutants, first Azazel then Angel and more after. They had vanished, but Erik was always consistent, trustworthy and Raven was always at his side.

"But…?" Raven prompted, tired of waiting for Erik to finish his thought. She looked up to him, laying on her side on Erik's bed, the sheets wrinkled under her naked form. The other mutant shook his head, glancing away from her, his face unreadable, blue eyes focused far off. She could tell something was eating at him but she couldn't place it. "I thought you had said you might want to be with me one day… have you changed your mind? Erik talk to me," Raven got up and guided Erik back to face her, his head in her hands. Her thumb stroked the side of his cheek and she smiled up to him, trying to break away at the wall he always had up between himself and the world. Raven had managed to get past it a few times and she knew she was the only one aside from Charles that had managed that much. "Why do you seem so sad? Did I do something wrong?"

"No," Erik took hold of her wrists, keeping her close. He pressed a kiss to the inside of one of her palms, making her smile brilliantly up at him again, "It's not that you have done something wrong. And I do truly think you are beautiful… I just can't."

"Okay," her smile faded, thinking. After a moment an idea struck her, "Is there someone else? I could change to look like them, anyone, just tell me." That made sense, she thought. Perhaps he wanted someone that he thought he could not have and Raven provided the unique opportunity to be with someone without actually being with them. She didn't mind the idea, in all honestly. She wanted to do whatever she could to please Erik - if that meant taking on another mutant's form, she didn't mind. At least that's what she told herself.

"I don't think that wise," Erik slowly lowered Raven's hands. She could tell by the look in his eye that she had hit her mark. He was interested in another but clearly feared the implications of his feelings.

"So there is someone else, honestly I don't mind! Tell me who it is. Come on Erik…" She kissed along his jaw, trying to coax the answer out of him. She had become a bit too curious about this mystery person Erik had been lusting after secretly.

"I couldn't ask you to do that. You deserve better, Raven."

"You realize it's still me when I shift, right? I don't care if the wrapping is different, if it helps make you feel better. I want to be with you… so just tell me, okay? I won't judge, whoever it is," She drew his hands up and kissed along his knuckles, "tell me, come on. You know you want to,"

"It's Charles." Erik blurted, instantly regretting it. He pulled his hands back from her lips and retreated a ways, turning his back to the other mutant and pressing his hands to the surface of his desk, "Dammit, Raven! You shouldn't have pestered me about this," his said, voice a bit choked.

She stared at his back, surprised. She hadn't expected that. She thought he'd say Emma or Angel, not Charles. No wonder he had been struggling with it, refusing to tell her whenever she had prompted him in the past as to what his type was. Suddenly a lot of things clicked into place for her then. The depression that had sunk in after they left Charles and the others in Cuba. Erik hadn't been all sunshines and rainbows before, but still, he seemed off after that. Not only had he hurt, betrayed and paralyzed his best friend, but he had been in love with the telepath as well. Or at least he was attracted to him.

Raven smiled sadly at Erik's back and changed form, growing to Charles' height, hair darkening to brunette locks, yellow eyes giving way to brilliant blue pools. "Erik," her voice had already taken on his deeper tone and English accent. "Come along," He slid his hand in place over Erik's, standing at the other mutant's side.

Erik shook his head, tears in his eyes, "Don't do this, Raven."

"Play along, at least for now. See how it goes." Charles took up Erik's hand and guided him back to his bed. "You should have told me, old friend. I would not have thought any less of you," He pulled Erik down to lay and held him to his chest, stroking his shorter, brunette locks.

Erik wrapped his arms around him slowly, listening to him speak. He knew it was Raven, he kept telling himself it was her, but he broke down none the less. He cried against Charles' chest, a messy jumble of apologies coming out between sobs. Charles hummed softly to him, holding his head to the crook of his neck and continuing to stroke his fingers through his hair to soothe him, letting him babble on until he drifted off to sleep.

Raven knew that Erik had taken a great leap of faith entrusting this knowledge to her about himself. She knew his trust didn't come easy, and knew not to push him about it much after that. She never asked him about Charles in front of others, and even in private she hardly ever mentioned him. Erik had, with time, learned to ask for what he wanted and Raven would agree without question. She didn't really know how else to show her support for him, at least not in a way that the closed off mutant would appreciate. He wasn't ever a very emotional man, so speaking of the times Erik would cry into her chest as she took on Charles' form was out of the question. When he was able to be in Charles' presence without breaking down, Raven, as Charles, asked what Erik would like. And so began their more intimate relationship.

Raven would take on Charles' form and Erik would have free reign to be with the man he loved, free of judgement or denial and without exposing himself to the real Charles.

x x x

"I have a request."

Raven looked up to Erik, moments from shifting into Charles. "Oh?"

Erik nodded, taking a deep breath and turning to face her, "I want him as he would be now…"

"Paralyzed," She said quietly, knowing Erik was still sometimes triggered, lost in his memory of having caused the accident.

"Yes," he said slowly, trying to read Raven's reaction.

"Okay. He had an L2 injury, so he isn't able to walk and little to no feeling in his lower extremities." She shifted on the bed and within seconds she was Charles, legs settled and slightly thinned with lack of use. He looked up to Erik, reaching an arm to him, "Join me?"

Erik smiled faintly and climbed on to the bed. He kissed along Charles' wrist and up his arm. "Charles," He hummed, wrapping an arm around his waist and drawing him closer. "I've never been with someone who…" He trailed off, not knowing how to finish his sentence.

Charles smiled up to Erik, his bright blue eyes searching the other mutant, "We can learn together." He assured him, drawing a hand through Erik's hair. "I'll feel through your pleasure." Raven figured that if Charles were to have sex with another, he could sync his mind with his partner and feel through them what he could no longer. Just because she couldn't actually read Erik's mind didn't mean she couldn't play along, attempt to be as realistic a Charles as she could be.

Erik gave the other mutant an incredulous look before laying Charles down and kissing along his chest, catching one of his nipples between his lips. He traced over the slightly perked bud with his tongue, playing with it experimentally.

"Oh!" Charles arched his back off the bed some, the sensation overwhelming. He licked his lips and tilted his head back, his hands stroking over Erik's back and shoulders, encouraging him to continue. "Erik, please," he knew how Erik loved to hear his voice.

"Good?" Erik hummed, holding Charles' hip and kissing down slowly. He smiled against Charles' skin whenever his muscles flexed under the contact. When he neared it, Erik dipped his tongue into Charles' navel. His eyes never left the telepath's face, wanting to see every expression the other mutant could make as he explored his body.

"Erik! Oh," He met the other's eyes, his chest rising and falling more rapidly, unable to steady his breathing. "You would tease me with that tongue."

Erik smiled, "You say that as if you don't like it,"

"Oh I never said that," he chuckled, "don't stop." He gave a curt nod and continued down along the slighter man's body, kissing the slightly protruding bones of his hips,

"Can you feel that?"

"Yes,"

Erik guided Charles' legs apart slowly, the pads of his fingertips caressing the telepath's inner thighs. "This?"

"No," Charles pushed himself up onto his elbows, watching Erik with unconcealed interest, "But don't stop."

The other nodded and traced his lips slowly along the path his fingers hand taken, smiling against his skin when he moved down past his knees, his face tickled by Charles' fine leg hair. "You know one of my favorite imperfections of yours?" He asked against Charles' leg.

"Hm?" Charles responded, pleased all the same to watch Erik admire his body.

"The freckles that form over your cheeks, just under your brilliant, blue eyes, when you've had more than a little sun." Erik sat up and brought Charles' legs with him, kissing the heels of his feet before drawing them apart again and slotting himself between his pale thighs.

"Erik," Charles smiled up to the other brunette, biting his bottom lip to hide his smile some as the other moved against him, not yet pushing in. "The jar," he reached toward the bedside table where a glass jar sat. Without so much as a flick of his wrist the jar floated over to Erik, the metal lid allowing him to manipulate it easily. He scooped out some of the cold jelly onto his fingers and replaced the jar on the table before working half of the jelly over his erection and the other half into Charles.

Erik had been careful throughout the whole process, trying to keep in mind that Charles couldn't tell him if he had hurt him. He placed Charles' legs on either side of him, drawing him up into his lap as he slowly worked the telepath open for him.

"You know you're beautiful to watch work," Charles smiled up to Erik, "You make the sweetest expressions."

"Analyzing me while I prepare you?" Erik raised a brow.

"Of course. I analyze everything." He reached a hand up and stroked his thumb over Erik's cheek, "Don't mind me talking."

"Hnn." Erik wrapped his free hand around Charles' cock, attempting to make him erect.

"Don't," Charles let out a short huff, "don't obsess over getting me off. I - wait," Charles watched Erik's hand pump along his length, the slightest of sensations tingling through him. He groaned, wishing he could feel more than a ghost of a touch from it.

"You can't feel this? At all?"

"It's a slight sensation, it's different. I'm not going to get off on it, it's not enough. Just give me your orgasm, Erik."

He sighed but nodded, giving in to the will of the other mutant. He lined himself up with Charles, and moved in slowly so the other's body could adjust. He wrapped one arm up under Charles' back and hooked his hand over his shoulder, holding him in place as he pressed into him, the other supporting him so his weight wasn't crushing the telepath.

"Erik," Charles breathed, "you're beautiful, kiss me." He wrapped an arm around Erik's shoulders, drawing himself up and crushing their lips together.

The larger male stayed seated inside of Charles a long moment, pressed flush up against the telepath, "I'm going to move now, alright?" He asked after breaking the kiss.

"Of course," Charles smiled. Erik pressed his forehead to the other mutant's, wanting any and all forms of contact he could have with him. He pulled out slowly before thrusting back in. The telepath's free hand wandered down, stroking Erik's side as he moved, feeling his muscles flex and coil under his hand. He gripped Erik's hip, his eyes slipping closed as Erik worked himself in and out of the smaller male, working up to his own orgasm.

He was thankful Erik had a firm hold on him, keeping him from moving up the bed with the power of the thrusts jarring him some once the other mutant got going. A moment of want, to wrap his legs around Erik's waist as he pounded into him, brought a small groan of frustration from Charles' lips.

Erik paused, looking down to Charles, "What is it?" He asked, genuine worry creasing his brow,

"I'm alright, keep going. Come on," He pressed a sloppy kiss to Erik's lips to assure him and without another moment of hesitation Erik slipped right back into his rhythm.

Erik groaned gently and dipped his head, pressing his face into Charles' neck as he continued on. Charles was able to, with the unobstructed view, watch Erik move on top of him. He watched, mesmerized as the muscles of Erik's back caught the light, how, when his hips pressed forward, the muscles of his ass clenched and created little dimples in the round globes. He reached his hand from Erik's hip to his bum, following it's movement forward and back. He focused on the sound of skin hitting skin and the soft pants escaping the other mutant.

Erik lost himself in the feel of the other mutant. His way having been eased by the jelly was still tight and despite the fact he knew Charles couldn't control his body's reactions, the walls around his length clenched now and then. He kept a firm hold on the Charles, listening to any and every sound that left his lips. He nudged his nose against Charles' neck and pressed his lips firmly to the sweaty skin there, licking and sucking on to the spot to leave his mark. He managed to put a good deal of his weight on the arm under the telepath and moved his free hand to his nipples, teasing them in an attempt to supply the other with as much pleasure as he could while he worked up to his orgasm. He was rewarded with a few desperate moans that only egged him on further. He was already a few thrusts away from slipping into ecstasy, nestled inside of his mate.

Charles loved listening to Erik when he neared his climax, the short little gasps that passed his lips and the more erratic thrusts. Charles let out a surprised moan when he felt Erik snap his hips forward, taking Erik's head in his hands and watching the other's expression. His eyes rolled back some with his orgasm, not unlike when he was manipulating a great deal of metal at once. The expression brought a smile to Charles' lips and he pressed up to kiss him, feeling the other tremble with the aftershocks of his release.

He kissed back for a moment, pressing down against the smaller male, seated inside of him still. He rolled them onto their sides and pulled back, smiling faintly to Charles, "Thank you…"

"Oh please," Charles blushed faintly, "thank me for what? You were beautiful to watch. I could watch you all day." He ran a hand up Erik's side, pausing at the front of his chest. "Now I know what you're thinking,"

"Oh you do? What am I thinking then?"

"You're obsessing over having not making me come as well. It's fine, honestly Erik. You wanted to be with me as I truly am, I won't always come. I can't feel the same way I used to. It's alright, truly."

"But it's no fairt-"

"I know It's not entirely fair, but I'm satiated, alright? Drop it."

Erik sighed in defeat before giving a short nod, "Only if you allow me to continue trying. Not tonight. But in general."

"Of course." Charles pressed another kiss to Erik's lips. "We should clean up."

"Why in such a hurry?"

"We have plans, remember?"

"Doesn't mean we can't enjoy the afterglow a bit. We have time."

"President isn't going to save himself from that shooter, you know. We have one month to set up. I'd like to meet our checkpoint."

"Alright, yes, you're right."

"Always am." Erik let out a small chuckle before cleaning Charles out. Once clear he shifted back into Raven and she got up out of bed, "Shower with me?"

"Of course."

x x

Erik and Raven had found out in advance that there was a plan to assassinate the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. It had been suspected that the President supported mutants and was going to have a speech asking his fellow Americans to accept the newly evolved individuals. The idea of it all sparked rage in mutant fearing citizens, including Lee Harvey Oswald. So as not to tip off the resistance to their knowledge of the situation, they had planned to have Raven go undercover as Oswald and attempt to kill the President. Erik would, of course, be there to stop any shots that would kill Kennedy, raising awareness of mutants and support for them at the same time if he was seen stopping the bullets. The true Oswald would then be arrested and tried.

Things had worked out perfectly the following weeks. Raven had successfully taken over Oswald's place and was living alongside his wife two weeks before Kennedy was due in Texas. When the time came, she prepared her shot and fired at JFK. Chaos erupted at the first shot, easily deflected by Erik. The second shot, producing the famous Bent Bullet, however wasn't likewise redirected as they had planned. Raven saw Kennedy and the man in front of him jerk when shot and instantly dropped the gun, realizing something must have gone wrong for Erik to have allowed the bullet to touch either of them. Erik had, at the time of the second shot, been singled out and a police officer tackled him, creating the less than realistic trajectory of the second bullet.

A back up for the resistance against mutants had shot the final bullet that killed Kennedy, something neither Raven nor Erik had planned for. The shape shifter left the gun behind, careful to leave a print from Oswald on it and hurried to meet with Erik and leave. The brunette had managed to break away from the officer, but not before a girl got a good look of him.

"What the hell just happened, Erik!" Raven cried, pulling the other mutant into a building.

"I was tackled by an officer," he looked out the window cautiously, "Kennedy's dead now. There was another working alongside Oswald. Couldn't stop that shot either."

"I did my job, left the gun… oh god, Erik they saw you,"

"You have to be someone else when they come for me, Raven. They'll arrest and imprison me. As far as they care I killed the President."

"Erik we could run,"

"No. We can make an example of him,"

"He was on our side! How can we make an example of killing our allies?"

"Wasn't just that, he was one of us, Raven."

"Oh god, Erik…" She threw her hands up, covering her mouth to keep from crying out in the otherwise quiet building. "What are you going to do, Erik?"

"Let me think on it, alright! Just go, Raven, and don't you dare try and worm your way in, I don't want you getting caught as an accomplice,"

"Erik I-" she bit back a sob and pressed a kiss to his lips. He allowed the moment, holding her close before gently pushing her away,

"Now, Raven. I need you on the outside. Perhaps one day there will be an opportunity for you to get me out. Maybe not. Either way. I'm proud of you," He kissed her forehead. She knew that was the closest to a sentimental goodbye she was going to get so she quickly shifted into a police officer and hurried out of the building.

x

Raven managed to get a seat in Erik's secret trial four months later. She sat, watching the back of his head as he was put on trial, willing him to look her way and recognise her, despite her disguise. She was donning the appearance of a high ranking officer, the only way she could make it in to see him one last time. Her heart was racing, fearful for the sentence he would receive - it was too hefty of a crime to be locked in an ordinary prison. Then of course he had to go and display his powers when given the opportunity. He bent the offered crowbar into a knot with ease and the room erupted into chaos.

Raven chuckled softly, unable to be entirely stoic at a moment like that, always amused by Erik and his little attempts at showing off his power to humans. She watched as he turned around slowly, looking into the crowd. That, she told herself, was her opportunity to show she was still with him. She shifted amongst the chaos, unnoticed as she took on the form she used to take around Charles, the one she had met Erik in.

His eyes fell on her and she could see the momentary surprise, then the slow, sad smile that lifted the corners of his lips. He shook his head slightly and lowered his eyes to the ground before turning back to face forward. Raven shifted back then, biting the inside of her cheek. She wanted so badly to go and break him free, to disappear into the crowd and save Erik. She guessed that was what Erik had expected her to think and supplied her with an answer before she even made the move.

'No, Raven.'

She clenched her hands into fists as the crowd was brought back under control. Half way through the trial it was brought up that Erik was seen with a woman shortly after the shooting,

"She had no hand in any of this," he claimed.

"We'd like to determine that ourselves," the judge replied.

"You'll never find her. She has a way of hiding in plain sight."

Raven couldn't decide if she should smile or cry, knowing that with his words, Erik was also telling her to keep away. Half a day later Erik was sentenced, found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiring to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. He was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in a facility that would be made, metal free, specifically for him.

And so began Erik's nine year imprisonment.

AN: Hey all! Hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter, more to come, I assure you.

Couple of notes:

* I do not know what sex is like for individuals who are paralyzed like Charles is, however I found it to be too crucial to the plot and to central to the canon in the movies that I could not justify taking it out. Plus I feel like it's a dynamic not seen often enough, so here it is, Charles in this fic is paralyzed from the waist down. If someone knows more about sex with a paraplegic individual, from either perspective, please feel free to tell me more/correct what I may have done wrong.

* I got information for timelines by googling "X-Men Movies Timeline" first link that is the wiki

* Information about Erik's trial and the Bent Bullet by googling "The Bent Bullet" Really cool interactive X-men website is the first link. (Damn FFN for not allowing links!)

* Days Spoiler! The mutant romantic in me really loved the idea that Erik tried to save JFK and so I worked it in with the information from the second link. I hope I did an alright job blending the two. I know Raven was supposed to outright kill Kennedy, but an error in canon says her first kill was Trask and I wanted to keep it that way/ I don't like her killing the President so I got rid of that bit, oh well :D

* This fic will have more Days Of Future Past Spoilers in it so if you have not yet seen it and do not want anything ruined for you, see the movie first! I won't be going through every detail of the movie, but there are major events that I cannot ignore *cough* Charles *cough* drugs *cough*.

* Leave me comments! They motivate me to press on, keep writing and updating.

* Next chapter will include Charles! No, not Raven shape shifted into him for fun times with Erik, but actual Charles!