November 6th, 1962

The next day found Erik in the park, grey fedora tipped over his eyes and a newspaper up, several benches away from where their chessboard had been set up the day before.

Charles scanned the park as Alex rolled his chair over to the normal spot. He thanked the boy and sent him back. He'd been getting better at ignoring protests. Once the teen had left, Charles rolled away from the table, turning his chair enough to face Erik, Am I joining you there or are you coming over here?

Grinning, Erik folded the newspaper down and rose, striding over. "Good day, Charles."

Charles offered him a gentle smile, "Good day, Erik. It's good to see you."

"And you," Erik replied, folding gracefully into the chair. He couldn't help but pause at that, unsure of where to go.

Charles rested his hand on the bag he carried, "A game, old friend?"

"Certainly," Erik replied. "How are you today then?"

"Doing well," he answered as he began setting up the chessboard, "have a few tests to run this evening. How are you?"

"As I always have been," he replied, taking some of his pieces and setting them up. "What sort of tests?"

"Am I ever going to get a straight answer out of you when I ask that question?"

No "Perhaps."

Charles arched an eyebrow, sitting back after finishing setting his pieces, "Fair enough."

"I don't want to bring that up here," he said softly.

"Do you have some place to bring it up?" Charles returned quietly.

"Do I need to?"

"It will only eat you up inside if you don't, Erik. You know this."

"There is nothing to eat me up, Charles," he replied. "I made a decision and I am hardly backing down from it, even if there are unfortunate side effects."

"Then why avoid my questions?"

Erik stopped to stare at him for a moment. "Because one of those unfortunate side effects is how much I miss you," he replied softly.

The telepath blinked for a moment at that before looking down, "I see."

Glancing at him, Erik moved the first piece out.

Charles turned his attention to the game, moving one of his pieces as he considered if there was anything he felt like talking about at the moment. Answering Erik's question was not high on that list.

"Since we don't seem to have the same type of permanent base set up," Erik said after another move. "Communication is going to be hard. I still know where to find you and contact you but... somehow I don't believe that would be terribly reassuring to you."

Charles considered, "If you're within the radius of my gift I should be able to reach you. As long as you're not wearing that helmet..."

"It's not like I can sleep in it," Erik replied, in what was meant to be a joke. He paused again. "But that still puts the limits of communication in my hands."

"It does, but I can't see a way around that," he moved another piece.

"Can you, are you alright with that?" Erik asked, moving a piece.

"I..." Charles wasn't entirely sure about that, he wasn't certain he trusted Erik not to cut him off again, but he nodded. "Yes. I am."

For a long moment Erik just looked at him. "I don't intend to cut you out again," he said softly.

The telepath looked at him for a long moment before smiling and shaking his head, "And here I thought I was supposed to be the mind reader." He moved another piece.

"I'm not," Erik replied. "But I know you well."

"The answer is still yes, Erik. Whether I'm worried about being cut off or not."

"Well," Erik looked over the board again. "You said you were running some tests?"

"Hm? Oh, yes I did, didn't I?"

"What on? Or is that a matter of security now?"

"Security? How do you mean, Erik?"

"Well, I suppose there are things we aren't supposed to tell each other now," Erik replied, a piece moving across the board. "Is this one of them or are you avoiding it for another reason?"

Charles considered that for a long moment, "I can't think of much that I could tell you that you don't already know."

"So you're avoiding it for another reason then."

He dropped his gaze to the board, considering his next move and making it before finally answering the original question, "Hank and I are seeing if there's any possibility of there still being feeling in my legs."

The German didn't respond for a long moment. "So, there is none now?"

"Well, the doctor's couldn't find any, but they also don't have some of the machines Hank's been working on." Charles kept his tone even, borderlining forcibly light.

"You didn't tell me it was that bad," Erik said, voice low.

"I didn't see that it really mattered. I intend to regain feeling and I intend to walk again. The one leads to the other."

"You intend to. Charles, the world doesn't actually conform to you."

The young professor's expression darkened, "That has been made abundantly clear to me, Erik, but I reserve the right to be optimistic when it comes to certain things."

The German paused, his hand over a piece. His own guilt over the matter felt like it was going to strangle him, and he'd been insensitive, again, too caught up in his own feelings. "Yes. Of course."

Charles closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, and sighed, "I'm sorry, my friend."

"You don't have much to be sorry for," Erik replied.

"Which implies that I do have something to be sorry for," he opened his eyes again, offering Erik a faint smile.

"Perhaps. But not enough to actually apologize for."

"There's a quota to reach now?"

The taller chuckled and shook his head. "No. Perhaps not. But I would still prefer you not apologize to me."

Charles thought about that for a long moment and then shook his head very slightly, "I don't know if I can do that, Erik."

"Oh?" he asked, arching a brow.

"It's something that comes naturally to me, apologizing I mean. I will try, but I cannot guarantee that I won't now and again."

Erik smiled at that. "Well, if you slip up now and then, I suppose that is forgivable."

Charles returned the smile and rested his chin on his hand, "Good to know."

Erik moved again, glancing over at the other. "Do you think the tests will work?"

"I honestly don't know. I hope so."

"Charles, if there's ever anything you need that I can find for you, or get for you..."

The telepath moved a knight, "I know, thank you, my friend."

Erik countered with a Bishop. "Is there anything you need?"

"Not that I can think of at the moment, if I do think of anything I will let you know."

"Please do so," Erik replied. "I..." Feel more than guilty and would like to help.

Charles moved another piece, sighing, You needn't.

Erik glanced up again. "I'm not going to get used to that," he murmured. "And maybe I needed, but I would like to."

"Very well. I..." He fell silent, nodding.

"You?" Erik prompted fondly. "Remember, I can't read your mind."

"I...I do have one favor to ask of you."

"Yes, Charles?" He'd almost wanted to say 'anything' but knew he couldn't promise that.

"Watch out for Raven for me? I can't be there for her anymore, but...well, she's still my sister."

"Of course, Charles. I'll look after her. I never planned to do anything else."

"Thank you, Erik."

"What else did you expect me to do?" Erik asked.

He shrugged, "I don't know, I just figured I'd ask. You have other things to concern yourself with besides Raven, after all."

"Perhaps. But she chose to come with me, and I'd like to be able to honor that choice rather than make her regret it."

Charles managed not to frown, settling for nodding instead, "Very well."

"She does miss you. Did I tell you that yesterday? But she is a competent woman who I think can succeed at anything she wishes."

"I don't believe you did mention that," he smiled softly, "I'm glad to hear you think so as well."

"She will be amazing someday. She already is, she just... needs more time. I am glad at least to have her, though I regret she came with me under those circumstances." Now that he was away from the pain and the hurt of the moment that was.

"Glad to have her? Not getting on with the others then?"

Erik's eyes narrowed and finally he nodded. "No, not quite as much as one might have hoped."

"Well, it's to be expected, Erik."

Erik looked away. "Well, I killed their leader and ran away... There is some tension."

"On the other hand they did voluntarily go with you."

"Which is why I believe there are no knives in my bed."

"Not that they'd be able to get something like that past you."

"No," he replied with a grin. "It would be rather difficult. But the sentiment... people are amazingly inventive when they wish to do someone harm."

Charles looked at him for a long moment, sighing again, "Erik..."

The taller paused at that, tapping a finger against the piece he was going to move. "Yes, Charles?"

"Never mind…" he looked down, brushing lint off of his slacks.

"If I don't want to?"

He considered for another moment, "I wish you weren't so blasé about it."

"About their violent tendencies or mine?"

Charles drew back at that, "I was thinking theirs."

"It's the choice I made, Charles. To put myself there, to lead a war you don't want to fight. It is the world I live in."

"Then answer me this, Erik: how do you fight a war with the intention of winning, when you can't trust your allies?"

"The optimal response would be to find new ones but... we work with what we have."

"I don't like it."

Erik arched a brow at that. "Concerned for my safety, old friend?"

"Concerned for your sanity, Erik."

For a long moment, Erik considered him before smiling. "Well, I have you to make sure my mind remains in check, don't I?"

Charles sighed, biting back the first comment that came to mind and settling for smiling in return and shrugging, "I suppose you do at that."

"We never are going to agree on methods, Charles, but that doesn't change what we are."

"And what are we, Erik?"

"Friends, at least."

Charles managed to keep his smile in place as he nodded, "Very true." He sighed, "Though I would like to correct you, it's not your methods I disagree with this time-though I do disagree with them."

"My allies then. It almost amounts to the same thing."

"Your methods might get you killed, your allies probably will. You're working with Shaw's people, including, unless I'm very much mistaken, his telepath."

Erik gave him a long look. "Yes. But that's what I have the helmet for after all."

"So you wear it all the time now? That must get rather uncomfortable."

Erik's eyes strayed to Charles' wheelchair. "It's amazing the things we adjust to."

Charles tensed at that, "Right, I suppose that's true. It's astonishing what our bodies can withstand."

"Or our minds, or our hearts," Erik replied. "But we are creatures of adaptation."

"Mhm. Very true, constantly adapting, becoming better suited to our environment."

Erik nodded, moving another piece. "Check, Charles."

Charles returned his attention to the board, capturing the offending piece.

"You seem more focused today," Erik remarked.

"Was I unfocused yesterday?"

"Enough," Erik replied.

"Well, I admit I was rather surprised to see you."

"You tried to say you weren't," Erik said, moving his queen.

"I was expecting you at some point, but it wasn't really yesterday," he considered the board before moving a rook, "Check."

Erik knocked the rook out of the game. "Then why did you come?"

"Because I hoped you would."

"You can't live off hope," Erik said. "Though, perhaps this once I'm glad you did."

"I've been doing pretty well living off of it so far."

Erik's eyes darted for the wheelchair for a moment and he looked away again. "Perhaps so."

Charles caught the glance, but moved another piece before speaking again, "Sometimes hope is all one has."

Erik looked over at him again, reaching a single hand forward to cover one of Charles', though the other hand moved a countering piece.

The young professor startled very slightly at the touch, but offered Erik a faint smile, turning his hand over so their palms were touching. He moved another piece, his gaze returning to Erik.

Erik glanced around and tightened his grip slightly. "I'm sorry."

"Wh-what? Erik, we've been over this. I forgive you."

"Still," he said, shaking his head.

Charles concentrated on any minds in the vicinity before taking Erik's hand in both of his, tracing the knuckles, "I'm alright, Erik."

Erik glanced around and back at Charles, arching a brow slightly. "You know, we might as well consider meeting somewhere private at some point. It would strain you less."

"Until I had to explain why I was meeting someone somewhere else to whoever was driving me."

"Not inclined to tell the truth then Charles? It's not like I don't know where you are."

"It's not you I'm worried about, Erik. Alex still isn't exceptionally pleased with anyone in your group, and he tends to be the one who does the driving."

"Alex is remarkably bitter," Erik replied. "And perhaps I..." He'd meant it wouldn't be hard to return to the mansion, but he didn't actually want to bring it up first.

Charles considered that for a long moment, meeting Erik's eyes, "Are you sure that would be a good idea?"

"No, not entirely."

"It is a possibility though. It would be easier to block the three of them if need be than an entire park."

Erik glanced down at where their hands were still touching, gently stroking Charles' palm. "I won't come unless invited, Charles."

He drew a deep breath, "Then do come, please."

"Alright," he said. "I'll come when you call."

Charles offered him a gentle smile, "Thank you, Erik."

Erik glanced back at the board, moving a piece but not his hand. "Of course, old friend."

Charles considered the board, moving another piece, "Check."

Erik removed the offending piece.

Charles moved again, glancing up at the sound of a clock chiming.

Erik followed his gaze, moving another piece. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, just trying to recall what time I told Alex to return."

"Hm, do you recall?"

He shook his head, "It wasn't soon though, I don't think." He moved another piece.

"Check," Erik remarked, moving his piece in retaliation.

Charles moved his king out of danger.

Erik smiled at that, playing his next move in silence, just enjoying the sunlight of the park and the feel of Charles' hand in his.

Charles moved another piece, "I believe that's mate, my friend."

"So it is," Erik replied, good naturedly.

Charles raised Erik's hand, kissing the knuckle, "Thank you for coming today."

"Of course, old friend," he replied, smiling.

Charles lowered their joined hands so he could trace the lines in Erik's again. He looked up, briefly startled.

Erik arched a brow at that. "Charles?"

"Alex," he replied, drawing back.

The teen approached from slightly behind Erik, "Hello, Professor, sorry I'm late. I-" he broke off at the sight of Erik, his entire being tensing.

"Oh," Erik said, looking up at the teen.

"What's he doing here?"

Charles wet his lips, "Alex..."

"Don't," he cut the telepath off. "Just, don't."

"You asked him what I was doing here, you might as well let him give an answer," Erik replied mildly.

Alex narrowed his eyes, "I didn't ask you."

"We were playing a game of chess, Alex. That's all."

"Chess? With him?"

"I'm not an infectious disease," Erik said, just as mildly. "You don't have to make it sound like I am."

"...Right. You ready to go, Professor?"

"Give me time to pack up the chess set. I will meet you at the car."

Erik looked between the pair.

Alex shook his head, not saying anything aloud, but Charles gave him a sharp look, "Alexander, go wait in the car."

"I just don't get it. I don't get why you'd do this."

Erik's eyes narrowed slightly but he didn't actually say anything, figuring Alex already had more than enough fuel against him.

"Alex..." Charles started returning the chessmen to their case.

"No, I mean it. He left. Walked out with the people who'd been trying to kill us not what, 10, maybe fifteen minutes before and he damn well put you in that chair!"

Alexander Summers, that is enough! Charles' voice echoed mentally in both Alex and Erik's heads, his focus for speaking to only one mind disabled by his emotions, his blue eyes cold. "Return to the car. Don't make me force you to."

Alex scowled at him, but retreated.

Erik turned his gaze back to him. "Are you alright, Charles?"

Charles watched Alex go, his jaw tense, but he nodded, "I'm fine."

"Are you?" Erik asked, darting a gaze after Alex and back to Charles. "Because I heard that too, when you yelled at him."

"I will be. I just need time to calm my mind."

Erik reached out to touch his hand again. "If you're sure."

Charles offered him a faint smile, "I am. Are you up for seeing me to the car?"

"If Alex won't attempt to attack me on sight, I believe I shall be able to manage," he replied.

"He won't." Charles slid the chess case into the bag he carried, "Shall we?"

Erik rose, thought it strange that Charles' couldn't do the same and nodded.

Charles rolled the chair back from the table a bit, "Thank you, Erik."

Erik looked at him for a moment before stepping behind the wheelchair and pushing it forward, feeling infinitely odd.

The telepath tilted his head back enough to look up at Erik, I'll let you know when it's cooled down enough for you to come, hm? "If you're still alright with that of course..."

"I am," Erik replied.

"I am sorry about Alex."

"He's protective. You seem to arouse that in people."

"He's also bitter, and angry, and violent, and can't always control his gift. I'm not certain it's a good mix."

Erik looked down at him. "No, it most certainly is not. But he'll learn. He still has that chance."

"Are you saying some don't?"

"Maybe," he replied. "Maybe not. At any rate, here you are."

Charles sighed, offering Erik a faint smile, "Thank you. Take care, Erik."

"You too," he murmured, glancing up at Alex and stepping back.

Alex leaned against the car, waiting for Erik to leave before he helped Charles into the car and headed back to the mansion.


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