Guess I can't have Lab rat Charles without Shark Erik right? I think I get props or something for being creative with the type of… You know I'm just gonna let you all read it. And I literally face palmed when I wrote the thing about go-fish
WWIII is kicking my ass.

Chapter VI: The moon and Red leafs

Erik's house wasn't really something one might have expected, it was simply decorated but also had a 'womanly tough' to it as if Erik had a girlfriend that helped him decorate. This place didn't have 'bachelor pad' written anywhere, it was practically perfect like those houses in magazines, everything clean and nearly sparkling. Charles expected to see pictures of Erik with a girlfriend or a female roommate's pictures or something to tell him if Erik really was single or not, but there were none; there weren't any pictures at all.

Charles held his breath as he sat on the couch while he waited for Erik. Why was he even wondering if Erik was single or not? It didn't matter. But if he had a girlfriend then why did he invite him out tonight? Erik was extremely attractive it wouldn't be surprising if he had a girlfriend or something. As Charles tried to push the thoughts of Erik not being single from his head he couldn't ignore the tightening feeling he had inside his chest.

His phone vibrated, telling he got a text and he pushed all thoughts and feelings aside as he quickly pulled it out. It was from Logan. He swallowed thickly as he flipped open his phone to read the message.

Party at the bar. Where are you?

Charles frowned as he thought of a response. He could lie and tell Logan he was at the library or talking to a professor which wasn't a total lie. He closed his eyes, since when had he been so willing to lie to his boyfriend? He shut his phone and opened his eyes. He just wouldn't answer.

Hearing footsteps he pocketed his phone and turned to see Erik walking down the stairs. He wore a white button up with black bands around his elbows and a black tie with a red vest that had black buttons. For bottoms he just wore dress pants and shiny black shoes while on his head he wore a green visor. Charles tilted his head not really understanding what Erik was trying to be.

"What are you?"

Erik looked down at his outfit then to Charles sitting on the edge of the couch with his head tilted adorably to the side, almost like a real rat might. He grinned widely and straightened his vest before pulling out a deck of cards, "A card shark." When Charles laughed he guessed he still didn't quite get it. "You should have been a real shark; you have the grin for it."

The professor was about to object but when he saw the smile on Charles's lips and that sparkle in his eyes he was lost for words. This young man was something else, something almost other worldly. He was almost angelic with his white skin and gorgeous blue eyes. Erik nearly let it slip that Charles should have been an angel because that would have better suited him but he decided to keep that to himself.

"Shall we go?"

Charles smiled and hopped up from his seat, "Yes, of course." The small part of his brain that was fixated on the décor kept wanting to ask about it which fed the larger part of his brain that was begging to know if Erik was single. "I love what you did with the place." He commented as he exited the front door ahead of Erik who grabbed his keys and locked it.

When he didn't get a response he looked over at Erik. His chest tightened seeing the faraway look in the other man's eyes as if he was remembering something heartbreaking. Finally after a long silence, Erik shook his head and smiled, "It wasn't my doing. Let's go to the party."

Charles smiled just seeing Erik's smile and nodded as he made a mental note not to bring up the interior again. "Okay."

The night air was cold but not unpleasant. Laughing and screaming and other ghostly noises filled the dark streets. Children in costumes ran passed the two men as they made their way down the street. Charles watched the kids pass them and smiled.

They walked in silence but it wasn't awkward, strangely every time the conversation died down between the two and silence took hold it was comforting. Whenever silence passed between Charles and Logan the former always felt tense and awkward like he should keep the latter entertained every second. It was impossible for Charles to just be with Logan, well impossible in this way.

It wasn't long before they came to a house that was the most lavishly decorated on the street in nightmarish creatures, fog and lights and to top it off it looked like a real haunted house. Charles could hear music coming from inside and he figured this was where the party was before Erik even had time to say, "This is the place." Erik smiled as he led Charles up the driveway to the path that led to the front door.

Suddenly someone dressed in black jumped out of the shadows, screaming and made as if to grab Charles. Caught off guard Charles grabbed a hold of Erik's arm like a frightened child might. The person in black's hands stopped inches from touching Charles before withdrawing them and unmasking herself. "Oh Erik, you're no fun to scare." The blonde girl laughed, "Seems I got your friend though."

A blush of embarrassment spread over Charles' cheeks as he quickly let go of Erik and took a step back from the two. Erik hadn't even flinched and he freaked out. Someone jumped out from the bushes behind him and screamed in his ear. Charles yelped and grabbed a hold of Erik's arm again. He felt like an idiot enough but when the blonde girl and Erik started laughing he wanted to hide away.

"Looks like you brought an actual mouse dressed up as a human, Lehnsherr." This time it was a man with a heavy Russian accent that spoke. Charles looked over at him and nearly shrieked again. This one was dressed as the Devil, red skin and all. "Raven and Azazel this is Charles." Erik introduced looking down at the young man still clinging to his arm.

"I'm Raven, He's husband, Azazel." The blonde girl smiled as she held her hand out to Charles. "Erik didn't say he was bringing someone." She glanced at Erik as her and Charles shook hands. "It was a last minute thing I guess." Erik shrugged as he wrapped an arm around Charles' waist. "Last minute huh? Well it's nice to meet you Charles."

"Likewise." He smiled warmly even though he still felt a little rattled and confused. A blush was practically permanently painted on his cheeks feeling Erik's arm around him. There was something about Erik's hand resting on his waist that just seemed so strangely right that it made Charles a little weak in the knees to think about.

"Let's go inside." Raven smiled leading the way.

"Don't you have other people to scare?" Erik questioned.

"No. That was special, just for you."

"I feel honored."

"Good, you should."

Charles listened to the friendly banter until they got inside when it stopped. Music and warmth enveloped them as soon as the door opened. It was a chill atmosphere until people crowded over to greet Erik, seemingly surprised that he actually came. Charles pulled away and ducked through the crowd to get to a more open space. He looked back at the crowd around Erik and smiled, he was popular for a professor.

"Mr. Xavier."

Charles froze. He knew that voice, why did he know that voice? Slowly he turned around to face whoever had recognized him. His eyes widened a fraction seeing who it was. "Professor Toa-Toynbee!" He exclaimed, nearly slipping up and calling the professor by his student-appointed nickname 'Toad.' Charles hated him as much as every other student that took his class, the man was vile, mean and just a pervert but Charles forced a smile and a cheery tone.

"What are you doing here, Xavier?"

"I was invited."

"This is a grown up party. Children aren't allowed. Unless…"

Charles would have told him off for calling him a child if it wasn't for the fact the professor was terrible enough already and he was getting uncomfortably close. Charles stepped back from the man only to bump into someone behind him. When he looked up he smiled seeing it was Erik. "Mortimer." Charles' smile fell when he heard Erik's cold tone as he regarded the other.

What if Erik went off like Logan sometimes did? Charles hoped it wouldn't come down to that, after all the man hadn't done anything to deserve something like that.

"Erik, it's nice to see you out and about for once."

"Have you met Charles? He's here with me."

"I have. I have the pleasure of having this cute little mouse in my class." Something about the way Professor Toad said the word 'pleasure' and 'cute little mouse' made Charles' skin start to crawl. It only got worse when he felt the man's eyes raking all over his body. He closed his eyes and wished Erik would make the man leave. As if he read his mind Erik's arm snaked around his waist again.

"Well if you'll excuse us, I'm sure you two can catch up in class." Erik didn't wait for a response to know if they really were excused or not as he led Charles quickly away. Charles looked up at him once they found a place to sit that wasn't crowded with other people talking or swaying to the music. "Thanks for that."

"No problem, want something to drink?"

"Ah-I'm just going to have a beer." Erik nodded and walked off once he was sure that no one that would bother Charles was aroud. "Be back."

Charles looked around at all the people and their costumes as he waited for Erik to return with his drink. He had to admit he was now on edge, looking for his other professors now to makes sure he avoided them. When he saw no one he recognized he relaxed a little but he really hoped Erik would just bring him a beer and not a scotch or some other drink that would surely get him drunk way too fast like Logan always did. He'd rather not make an ass out of himself just in case another professor showed up. He smiled though, remembering this was Erik and not Logan and Erik didn't seem like the type of guy to do that.

He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket and he jumped. He hated that feeling, why did he continue to keep his phone in his back pocket? Looking at the screen he saw it was another message from Logan. His stomach tied in knots as he opened it.

Get here. Now.

Charles grimaced at the thought of Logan getting angry; maybe he should go to the bar but when Charles saw Erik making his way through the crowd he smiled. He put his phone away and looked back at the man heading toward him. His smile vanished when he saw Erik was carrying a rather large glass of scotch or other amber liquid that wasn't beer. He didn't bother to even look in Erik's other hand as he got off his seat and made his way through the crowd, away from Erik. Maybe his hopes were too high. He should leave and go to the bar.

Erik frowned seeing Charles walking away from him. Was something wrong? The younger man had had his phone out, so did he get bad news or something to cause him to need to leave? Erik took a quick drink of scotch so it wouldn't spill as he walked faster to catch up with the lab rat. Tucking the beer bottle under his arm he grabbed the other's arm to stop him. "Charles is something wrong?" The other just shook his head, gaze fixed on the floor. "Do you need to leave?" Another head shake, but this time with a shrug added to it. "Well, I got you a beer."

When Charles finally looked at him confusion was written on his face. "Wasn't that what you ordered?" Erik asked letting go of Charles' arm so he could hand him his beer. "It's a twist off cap."

Charles smiled when Erik handed him the bottle. He was an idiot. Erik wasn't the type of guy that would ignore his request and he didn't know what got Charles drunk in the first place so why was he so worried about it? He shoved the thought that it was because he didn't want Erik to be like Logan out of his head as soon as it entered.

The party ran late, people showing up and leaving until only a handful of people were left, Charles and Erik were two of them. Charles was drunk; he had ended up trying a variety of drinks made by an attractive Hispanic fellow throughout the night. Erik, on the other hand, had only had a few drinks and only had a pleasant alcohol buzz. The two sat in the same spot they had been in all night talking and laughing and playing go-fish, Charles' idea, with the cards Erik had brought as part of his costume.

"No, no Go fish." Charles grinned looking at his cards, "Oh and Erik, don't eat the 'fish' either, they're just cards." Erik sighed but couldn't help smiling a little at the comment, that was the nth time Charles had tried and failed to make a shark joke about his grin.

"Hey Erik," Raven smiled as she walked over with a big black trash bag, "I think the party's pretty much over." Erik glanced at his watch, "When did it get to be 3.30?" Raven smiled at him, "time flies when you're actually having fun." He didn't miss the glance she shot Charles' way when she said the word fun. It had been a long time since he had been out and actually had fun and if Charles hadn't come both he and Raven knew he probably would have left hours ago. "Need me to help clean up?" He offered as he gathered the cards up.

"No, we got this, you should take him home." She winked, clearly suggesting he take Charles to his home and not Charles'. He shook his head and looked down at the lab rat. "Ready to go?" Charles nodded and stood up, clearly too fast since he swayed and Erik had to grab him to keep him from falling back down. Charles leaned heavily on him as they walked toward the exit but he didn't mind, it was nice having the young man this close.

He thanked Azazel on the way out and he, like Raven, suggested he should take Charles home and 'put him to bed.' Now these suggestions on what he should do with Charles all sounded like what he should actually do but since they came from those two he knew they meant for him to take advantage of the drunken Charles. He was above stooping that low.

"Erik?"

"Hm?"

"If I had used those pickup lines on you from the library in a real setting, would they have worked?"

Erik stopped walking down the street and looked down at Charles, who was staring at him with those gorgeous, alcohol clouded, blue eyes. No, those lines wouldn't have worked on him but those eyes and that voice would have. "Yes." That seemed to be what Charles was hoping to hear because a huge grin spread over his ruby lips.

They started walking again, slowly making their way down the street. Erik's gaze was fixed on the leaf covered sidewalk as he tried to clear his head of the thoughts that his two friends had implanted in his mind it didn't help that Charles was nuzzling his shoulder as he clung to his arm. Erik stopped at the end of the street where the road forked and frowned slightly, "Charles, where do you live?"

"Let's just go to your place."

Erik was not blushing at the thoughts that passed through his mind of Charles stretched out on his bed. His cheeks were just warm was all; it wasn't a blush spreading over his face. "Where do you live?" He tried again, hoping this time to get an actual answer. Instead of answering the question Charles just stared him in the eye with an intense, blue gaze and when he spoke it had nothing to do with the question. "You're eyes are so gorgeous… They're the color of the moon right now…"

A heavy, tense silence passed between them as neither broke eye contact. Charles bit his bottom lip as Erik's fingers brushed against his cheek. The world seemed to slow down around them just like it did in movies when the leads were about to kiss for the first time. Was Erik going to kiss him? His heart hammered in his chest with excitement at the possibility of having the professor's lips against his.

Charles' eyes slowly slipped half way shut as Erik leaned a little closer. It was the perfect set up for a kiss until a car alarm when off, shattering the moment. Charles could have cried at the disappointment that spread through his mind. Erik backed off again and shook his head. "So where do you live?" Charles sighed a little sadly, "Just a little ways away from the university."

They walked together in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Charles used the time to sober up more as he led the way to his apartment. Hopefully Logan would be passed out in bed. Scott had a way of getting the man to drink afterall. His mind raced with ways to say bye to Erik so he wouldn't come up to the apartment, just in case Logan was still awake.

"Freeze."

Charles did as he was told, stopping mid-step as he looked at Erik who bent down and picked up a leaf. Charles wrinkled his nose in confusion as Erik held the red leaf in front of his face. "It's the same color as those red lips of yours." Charles blushed and cracked a smile at Erik's silly attempt at being romantic. "I hardly think so…"

"Shut up Charles." Erik grinned before claiming the younger man's lips with his own. Charles' eyes widened at first from the suddenness of the kiss but he quickly shut them as he returned it. The kiss was amazing, one of the most perfect he had ever experienced. Charles easily got lost in the movement of their lips and the feeling of Erik's hands in his hair and on his lower back drawing him closer. He moaned softly into the kiss, willingly allowing Erik's tongue to explore his mouth.

Slowly they pulled back when they both needed to catch their breath. Their gazes locked, neither able to look away until their lips met again and their eyes slipped shut. Charles was the one to pull away the second time whispering a soft, "Goodnight…" as he slipped out of Erik's arms and ran up the steps to his apartment building. "Gute nacht." Erik called, at the door Charles looked back with one of his brilliant smiles before disappearing inside.

He smiled to himself, touching his kiss swollen lips, as he made his way to the apartment. He checked his pockets for his keys before his eyes widened and he realized he left his real clothes at Erik's house. He cursed himself as he grabbed the spare key from the fire extinguisher case beside the door. Unlocking it he stepped inside being as quiet as he could so not to wake Logan.

When the overhead lights flipped on Charles spun around to see his boyfriend standing in the doorway to their bedroom.

"Where the hell have you been Charles?"