Charles
The last two weeks had been an up and down for Charles and now he felt confused at where was the top and where was the bottom. He was drained and felt upside down, confused, happy, sad, angry, disappointed - all of it together.
It had started with David's first doctor's appointment on Monday of the first week. Charles went there with his son and waited one hour - despite their appointment - just to be told that David would have to go to a specialist. He walked out of the room, angry and frustrated. Charles wanted nothing more than to know if something was wrong with his son.
He got another appointment two days later, so they went there again - this time accompanied by Moira and Hannah. The doctor ran several tests on David and when he finally came to a conclusion, it was the first time after seeing Erik that Charles had been happy.
"There is nothing wrong with David. Everything is perfectly fine and he is just a very active child. Maybe try and assign him in a sport team", the doctor had said and both parents let out a sigh in relief.
That happiness was soon washed out of Charles body, when two days later Moira had tried to convince him having another child was a good idea once again. They fought terribly, almost shouting at each other, until David walked into their bedroom with his little bunny on one hand. He had rubbed his eyes and looked at his parents with sadness and fear in them.
"Why are you fighting?", his tiny voice cut through the thick air, making Charles breath hitch.
"We are not. Go back to sleep, Monkey", Charles had quickly answer and picked him to carry him into his room. He didn't return to bed that night and his good mood was gone for days.
Adding to all those reasons for his terrible mood, was that Erik was never at school when Charles dropped his kids off or picking them up. He wondered if the other man was avoiding him, but abandoned that thought quickly. It still didn't help him feeling disappointed whenever he didn't see Erik at school.
The confusion came today though and it blended perfectly well with all his other emotions. It was, when the bell of his shop rang and he automatically turned to the customer, that his jaw literally hung open at who was there, surrounded by beautiful flowers but somehow being able to make them look boring.
"Erik? To what do I own the pleasure?", Charles asked surprised but mainly happy - and confused as mentioned.
"I - uh.. I need flowers for my wife", Erik answered, looking around the shop awkwardly.
Charles' heart sank at that. Of course, he needed flowers. For his wife. Why else would he come by?
Charles put on a professional mask and smiled at him.
"Sure. What is it this time? Another apology or ..?"
Erik
"Er… it's more like an excuse", Erik said cursing inwards for not having thought that through before entering the shop.
He had been restless the last week, and when the universe didn't help them meet again, - what a surprise - he had run into the shop without thinking too much into it.
"An excuse?", Charles asked frowning, because Erik's answer didn't make any sense at all.
"Yeah, uh… something like that", he said biting his tongue. When had he become so bad with words? Granted he didn't have many people on his life, but he had always been good with talking and putting the words out there. Never had he stuttered or worried so much as when he was around that man.
"I can't do much with that", Charles said and Erik stopped looking around the store to finally lock eyes with him.
God, Erik's memory didn't fail him at all at how gorgeous it made Charles look. He was standing there with that long hair of his, a blue sweater that brought out his eyes, and that beard that made Erik shiver whenever he thought of it.
While Erik himself was simply on his jeans and a black turtleneck. He had also let his beard grow a little, and he knew he looked close to a bum whenever he did that. Why didn't he put more effort in his looks before going there?
"I'll just take anything", Erik said. He thought that going with the truth was the best way to grow a friendships, so he might as well just say it already. "I er… wanted to know if you'd like to grab a coffee sometime?",fuck , why was he making it sound like a date?
"I mean… Or just hang out. The flowers were just an excuse to come by", he said looking awkwardly around the store once again, while Charles was still standing behind the counter, his frown barely changing.
Charles
The confusion rose in Charles as he walked around the counter to be closer to Erik. Did the other man come back just for him? Did he want Charles' … friendship?
He came to a halt just in front of Erik and smiled up to him. Somehow he had walked closer than he intended to, but he couldn't back away now.
"I'd very much like that. Now, what can I get you?", he asked, clapping his hands together and walking around his shop. If he would have stood close to Erik for one more moment, he would have given in and kissed him breathless.
Having all those problems with Moira certainly didn't help on the little crush he had on Erik, so he wanted to avoid being close to him at all cost.
"Hmmh, I really don't know. Something fresh?", Erik said, sounding undecided.
Charles nodded and looked around his shop. He walked over to faintly yellow lilies with thick, green leaves of them.
"The same price class or?" - "Yeah." Charles grabbed two and walked over to some white flowers, mixing different shapes of them together. Then he grabbed lots of green leaves and walked to the counter to arrange them.
"Is uh- everything alright?", Erik asked, sounding unsure. Charles looked up from his work and met the other man's insecure eyes.
"Sure. Why are you asking?", Charles asked back, frowning in confusion once again. Erik was acting weird today.
"It's just … you're so silent. Is it because of what Magda said? I-", Erik started apologising again, but Charles cut him off.
"Erik. Everything's fine. I'm sorry, I was quiet. It was a rough week for me", Charles answered and gave him a weary smile. Erik nodded at that and didn't meet his eyes afterwards.
He probably still thought it had another reason, but Charles mood had started to rise since Erik stepped into his shop.
He finished the flowers and held them out for Erik to examine. "They are beautiful", Erik answered in a firm voice, before he got his purse out and paid for them.
Charles handed Erik the flowers and grabbed his cardigan, purse and keys. He walked with Erik towards the door, until Erik slowed down and looked confused at him.
"I can take a break now. Are you still up for that coffee? I'd love to chat with you", Charles explained with a cheeky grin.
Erik
"Yes", Erik breathed out, not believing Charles was actually going out with him right now. That cheeky grin on the other man's face looked positively sinful, and Erik wondered how the flowers would look like after he threw Charles on the flat surface and snogged him on top of them.
He was thankful that his day off allowed him to have this moment with the other man now, and suddenly all the tiredness he always felt, all the soreness in his muscles, was gone.
"There's a nice coffee shop right around the corner", Charles told him, as he turned around a little plaque that would tell any possible clients that the shop was closed, and held the door open for Erik to go out.
They walked in silence until they reached the coffee place, and sat across from each other, holding a menu and thinking about what they wanted.
When the waiter came, Erik ordered black coffee while Charles asked for tea.
Erik sat there looking at Charles, his eyes examining every little detail, every little wrinkle and hair out of place. And even if Charles looked a little uncomfortable being studied like that, he didn't complain. In fact, he did the same to Erik.
The flower bouquet sat on top of the table, as a reminder to Erik to why he couldn't just lean forward, put on a dashing smile and tell Charles he looked beautiful before catching his lips on a breathtaking kiss that would leave them panting for more.
Of course, there were other things that stopped him besides the flower. If he did that, it could easily end up with Charles punching his face all the way to next week since there was no sign he could be remotely interested in men. He hadn't reacted badly when Erik told him about his sexuality though, so at least there was that.
"So er… Would you like to tell me about your rough week?", Erik asked after a few moments, his voice sounding a little raspy because of all the feelings and thoughts he was having.
"I wouldn't want to bore you with it", Charles answered with a smile and Erik promptly said "I wouldn't be bothered", which made Charles' smile widen.
"Well, if you say so. We had this scare two weeks ago, where Mrs Hudson told us David might have a problem. He's a very active kid so she thought he could need medical attention and all", he said and Erik's brows shot up.
"Does he?", he asked a little solemnly and Charles shook his head, making relief wash through Erik.
"He doesn't. But it still got me worried" - "I would have been too", he said honestly, and they stopped talking while the waiter came back with their orders.
"And now", Charles continued after "Moira and I are having some problems. So yeah. I'm just a little worn out from fighting and being worried" - "I see. Magda and I didn't improve so much".
Erik wanted to know more about Charles' marriage even if it was a little selfish. He thought it would be easier for the other man to tell him something, if Erik wasn't too closed off.
"Been fighting a lot?" Charles asked, before Erik could say anything else. "No, just for the first week. I was a little mad at her because of what she said. But now we're just distant" he answered sipping on his coffee and raised an eyebrow at Charles, as if inviting him to reveal something as well.
"I think I'd rather distance at this point", Charles said nursing his tea and throwing an insane amount of sugar in it. "Moira is convinced we should have another child", the other man completed, and Erik almost choked, but successfully kept his cool.
"And do you want to?" - "Not really, no. What about you? Any kids in the future?", the other man asked and Erik snorted.
"I think that would require sex", he answered looking at his coffee, and when he realised what he had just said he quickly looked up at blue eyes and blushed hard.
Charles
Charles smiled slightly at Erik and threw him and understanding look. They barely knew each other, but talking to Erik, Charles wanted to reveal his whole life to the other man. He was glad that it was equally sided.
"Tell me something more about you. I barely know anything", Charles changed the topic and got a thankful glance from Erik.
"There is hardly anything to know about me", Erik muttered, looking at his coffee again.
"I don't believe that. What are you working?" - "Metal factory." - "How old are you?" - "37."
Charles sighed at the single words and took a sip from his tea. Erik apparently didn't like to talk about himself.
"I'm 35 and work in that flower shop you already know. I studied genetics at the university, but then I got to know Moira and moved here to be with her. That's why I never finished my studies. My mother is dead and I so is my father, I am not in contact with my stepfather - the german one - nor my stepbrother."
These were the basic facts about him, without revealing too personal information too fast, possibly scaring Erik away. Charles looked at Erik with a raised eyebrow.
"Where did you study?", Erik asked, "before you met your wife." - "London. About 5 years, give or take."
Erik seemed impressed. "And then you moved half across the globe for some girl?"
"Well, Moira is hardly just some girl, is she?", Charles asked back, causing Erik to blush bashful.
"I didn't mean it like that", the other man corrected and drank from his coffee.
Charles' face loosened and he gave Erik a warm smile. "I know. I'm sorry. So, tell me something more about you. Christ, I don't even know your name", Charles tried again, leaning over the table and looking at Erik.
"I'm boring", Erik mumbled. "I doubt that. Everybody has a story of their life to tell. Let's start with, hmm- ... Were you born in Germany?", Charles asked and out a hand on Erik's arm.
Erik
'Yes', Erik answered nodding. Opening up wasn't easy to him, even when it came to trivial facts about his life. But this was Charles. And the other man had revealed some things about him, so he might as well do the same.
'But my parents and I moved from there when I was just a boy. My father past away when I was a teenager, and my mother wasn't the same since then. I graduated in engineering, which kind of helps with my work' - 'Do you like it? Your work?', Charles asked sipping on his tea.
'I guess. It's tiring, I always end up sore. It's a lot of handy work', he answered and saw Charles' eyes trail down Erik's arms, as if trying to take in his muscles through the turtleneck he was wearing.
'Do you like your flower shop?' - 'I do. It makes me happy… Although I think I would have loved getting my degree' - 'What would you have done?', Charles shrugged before answering 'I don't know. Maybe become a professor'.
Erik chuckled at that 'I can see it', he gave Charles a wide smile 'With all the cardigans and sweaters. I can see it'.
Charles smiled at him, the kind of smile that looked secretive and private, making Erik feel like it was just the two of them there, like they were inside this private bubble. And he felt like talking.
'I met Magda at college. She was getting a degree in architecture and we clicked. My last name is Lehnsherr. I like motorcycles. Don't have many friends… None actually… ' he trailed off and Charles kept that beautiful smile on his face.
'Lehnsherr is a rather nice name', his name sounded sinful coming out from Charles' mouth with that accent, and Erik felt himself shiver.
'Mine is Francis Xavier… And I can't believe that. How come you don't have friends?', he frowned a little after asking his question, and it sounded like he genuinely couldn't understand why.
'Well I'm hardly good company. Too moody and grumpy. Not good at talking and opening up. But I rather enjoyed all our conversations so far, so I hoped maybe you did too. Which is why I came today', he answered.
Charles
A gentle but genuine smile appeared on Charles' face and he nodded in agreement. He had enjoyed their conversations as well and was secretly longing to see Erik again.
"Now you've got one friend", Charles said, smirking and watched Erik's face lit up. There was a small twinkle in Erik's eyes and his thin lips slowly start to spread into a joyful smile.
"I'm really glad about that", the other man said and Charles agreed with a small hum.
They continued talking a bit about their lives, but soon Charles finished his tea and cleared his throat.
"I have to go back to work now. It was really nice talking to you, Erik", Charles smiled and then pointed at the flowers which lay forgotten on the table.
"Don't forget these." - "Thanks. Magda will like them", Erik smiled and they both got up.
"I'll pay, don't worry about it. You go back to that shop of yours", Erik offered, but Charles shook his head and gave him the money .
"Goodbye, Erik", Charles then said, putting his hand on the other man's strong arms and lingering there for a moment.
Then he let go and gave Erik one last smile before turning around and leaving the small coffee shop.
"Goodbye, Charles", he heard him saying as he stepped outside.
Charles walked back, keep on thinking about Erik and what information he had revealed about himself.
He now knew that Erik was probably sexually frustrated and Charles didn't know what to do with that information. He had been close to answer Erik with 'Haven't had it in a long time, huh? I could change that' or a similar phrase.
Magda
"Oh darling! Flowers", Magda beamed at the bouquet in front of her and pulled her husband close for a long kiss.
"I love you", she whispered and kissed him again, happy about Erik's surprise.
Erik
"I love you too", Erik answered her more like a mechanic reaction. He managed to smile at her and almost succeeded in not thinking what it would feel like if those were Charles' lips on his.
"Did you get it from Charles again?", she asked innocently. Her expression was normal, but Erik could feel that his answer mattered too much.
"Yes, I did", he said honestly. "That's nice. Did you guys hm… catch up?". Erik had pondered all the way home if it was a wise choice to be honest with his wife, and when she asked him the question, he still didn't know what to say.
He decided a heartbeat later that the truth wouldn't do. If Magda got too nervous about this friendship, he would probably have to stop seeing Charles at some point, and that was the last thing he wanted. So he lied.
"No. He just helped me picking up the flowers". He was a good liar, and Magda knew that. Which is why she stared long and hard at his eyes, trying to read him the best she could.
Usually she could tell the truth from looking at him like that, but Erik was not going to let her win this time because this was important.
"Okay", she nodded after an hesitating minute and got on the tip of her toes to kiss Erik again. Charles would also have to stand on the tip of his toes if he ever kissed Erik, he thought.
And as he thought, he pictured a flat chest pressing against his, instead of breasts. He thought about something hard and hot poking his lower body. He thought about a beard burning his mouth, and he was hit by a sudden flash of arousal, so powerful he almost felt like could come only from thinking.
He grabbed Magda's waist and pulled her tight against his body, kissing her mouth in a way he knew she didn't appreciate, but somehow he felt like Charles would like it. To have his mouth ravished like that, almost like Erik was fucking it with his tongue and taking control of everything. With rough, harsh bites and teeth clashing against each other.
"Erik", Magda whispered and he was brought back down to reality. She didn't sound put out by his sudden roughness, but also didn't sound as aroused as he had been just a second ago.
He pulled away and said "I'm glad you liked the flowers", before going to the bathroom and taking a long cold shower.
Moira
"You're in a good mood today", Moira said with a smile on her face.
She and Charles had been fighting too much this last week, and it had been a while since she saw Charles looking so light and at ease around the house.
"I guess so", he answered and Moira didn't know what to do with that.
"Something good happened today?", she attempted to keep the conversation going. Maybe if Charles was in a specially good mood, they could talk once again about having a baby. Maybe even try to that same night.
Charles
His good mood had lowered when Charles came home, but it was still better than his usual mood. He looked at his wife who came closer to and put a hand on his chest. "Nothing special. Why don't we watch a movie with the kids?", Charles asked, not wanting his mood to be ruined by any attempts from Moira. He settled for lying about Erik, even though Moira had nothing against him. Somehow, Charles wanted to keep Erik for himself for now, his own friend. Charles only had friends that also knew Moira and he wanted to have someone to talk to, without the possibility of Moira finding out about it.
"Sure. I'd like that. After dinner then?", she asked and Charles nodded as an answer.
They ate dinner together and chatted about their day, mostly listening to their children talking. David looked happier that his parents didn't fight anymore and babbled on about everything.
After dinner they settled in the living room on the couch to watch a disney movie - toy story. Moira sat down next to Charles and he should have known, she would try to talk to him about unpleasant topics with their kids in the room.
"We have a lot of money to spare", Moira started and he knew where this was going. "No, we don't."
"Yes, we do. Another child wouldn't harm. Please, Charles. It's my wish", she begged and he gave her an angry glare.
"And what about my wishes? You know that I want to move into the suburbs into a house. That's why we don't have money to spare", he hissed, glancing at his children.
"But we could move later, Charles", she begged and Charles almost lost his temper. There went his happy mood.
"We already said that with Hannah. Moira, no." His voice was cold and ended the conversation for once and at all.