Chapter 21- You must understand part1

A few days later

Quietly Erik pushed the now cold, cup of tea in Charles' direction, hoping for a response but to no avail. The professor's features were set like granite; arms and legs twisted so tightly around his body that it was doubtful if he would ever unravel them again.

'Come Charles,' the older man begged. 'You have to speak to me. I don't know what's wrong.'

Shit.

This was the worse possible moment for the Englishman to work himself into a snit.

'Nothing's wrong,' the young man lied, his voice high pitched and strained as he studied the blank kitchen wall as if his life depended on memorizing the pattern of brick work. 'I just don't feel like talking right now'

Yeah right, nice try.

'I sent you a few text messages this afternoon,' the larger man sitting at his side tried again. 'You didn't write me back.'

The small man shifted uncomfortably in his chair. 'I was busy.'

'This isn't about how I picked out your clothes this morning is it?' Erik inquired in dismay. 'I was just trying to help. You seem short on time this morning with your swimming and all.'

The professor unbent long enough to place a comforting hand on his companion's knee, which Erik immediately clasped in his much larger one, bending over and around Charles' chair so he could see his face better. Unfortunately, the small man turned his head away still not willing to articulate whatever was bothering him.

The Englishman wanted to tell him that no, it wasn't that he picked out his clothes, prepared a travel mug of his favourite tea and laid out his briefcase and papers in neat piles so that he could grab them on his way out the door.

Who would get upset about something like that?

True, he wouldn't have picked out the strong wine coloured shirt that the larger man had selected but judging from the backward glances he had been getting all day at the university, he would have to start allowing Erik to choose more of his outfits or perhaps teach him how to match colours the way he did. He was so hopeless at the task; he might as well be colourblind.

He would get Erik to do it tomorrow and take mental notes.

Charles knew that the other man was secretly pleased that he was allowed to help him in the mornings because the way he scrambled across their apartment like a headless chicken, drove the older man to distraction. On Tuesday, much to his amusement, the taller man had even attacked his head with a comb and some water, lamenting about the fact that his hair wouldn't obey any style besides untidy. Charles wished they could rewind time so they could go back to the happiness of that day.

'Friends talk to each other,' Erik insisted in a low, passionate voice.

As the silence continued, the larger man exhaled heavily and pushed back his hair in frustration with his free hand.

He wasn't really surprised that he wasn't making any headway because he didn't have a clue WHAT he was doing!

Erik didn't have much practice in apologizing or trying to discover why someone was upset. He usually let people come to him when they wanted to talk or better yet ignored the situation completely. From observing others he had discovered that pressing too hard always resulted in some huge emotional cry fest which he wasn't too particular in favor of encouraging.

However, the older man hadn't really thought his wardrobe choices were the source of the trouble but was just making a desperate stab in the dark about what could be wrong and at least he had obtained some sort of response. If Charles had really been upset about that, he would have let him know when he texted earlier in the morning, trying to solicit his opinion on what do with his student who had once again handed up her genetics worksheet, with all her letter i's dotted with fat, chubby hearts.

'Fine! Fine!' Erik choked out, trying to keep calm, as he hastily checked the clock on wall. 'Whatever it is, I am sorry that you are upset but right now I NEED you. My parole officer is coming down to talk to us and I don't want him to think I have done something to you…so… so…try to smile or something!'

Charles eyes flashed in annoyance, 'NOW you need me? WHY? Tell me why all of a sudden!'

The older man felt he should know what the Englishman was referring to but he didn't. For the first time that evening, his eyes fully connected with the blue ones that were filled with hurt and anger.

And before he could make a further comment, voices could be heard outside the door.

They were out of time.

'Mr. Lehnsherr!' his officer greeted him cheerfully, obviously pleased to see his parolee out of bed and standing on his own two feet.

To Erik's relief, his previously mute companion also rose to greet the new comer.

'Alright there, Professor Xavier?' Gerard inquired kindly observing the man's drawn and pale features.

As they shook hands, the small man insisted that he refer to him as Charles from now on. 'Yes thank you, just a bit of a headache.'

Politely he gestured to the older man to take a chair, while Logan awkwardly manhandled a well stocked tea tray unto the table. However, the parole officer refused to take the indicated seat or remove his long coat.

'Well Erik and I have a lot to discuss, so perhaps if you can show us a room…' he interjected respectfully but firmly as he gripped the back of a chair. 'We can be out of your way.'

'I would rather they stay, Mr. Gerard,' the ex-prisoner interrupted quietly, refusing to removed from his seat. 'Please.'

'Charles, come take this chair beside me,' the handyman pointed and waved. He could see that he had taken his employer by surprise but he issued silent thanks that the small man trusted his judgment and walked over to his corner almost immediately. He knew that Erik and Charles had gotten so use to it that they probably didn't even notice anymore but the outdoorsman was certain that Mr. Gerard might be a bit perplexed at they way the two men sat almost in each other's arms when they were together. It was probably too early in the game for the officer to understand this 'no we are not a relationship but yet we are' dance that the two men were currently engaged in muddling their way through.

With the new seating arrangements apparently settled, Gerard shrugged in defeat and proceeded to make himself comfortable, spreading his folders out on the table before him.

'Firstly, how have you been feeling, Erik?' he wanted to know. 'The doctor has submitted this report to me, giving you a clean bill of health, but I would rather hear it from you.'

The other man only nodded and confirmed the diagnosis.

That settled the officer closed one folder and set it to one side. The man's precision appealed to Erik and he felt himself calming down even further in his presence. Charles could take a lesson from his officer on organization but as he glanced over at the professor he was pained to see that the man wasn't even looking in his direction. Didn't he even care?

Erik redirected his attention quickly to the man at his side as he opened another folder.

'You will be glad to know that Officer Pratt is out of the hospital and has chosen not to press charges against you,' the older man informed him. 'However he has been suspended and is under investigation based on the professor's testimony.'

Testimony? When did that happen?

'I'm glad,' the parolee added as calmly as if he was remarking on the weather.

'Perhaps you would like to add something to the report?' the officer pressed encouragingly but he wasn't surprised that Erik shook his head in refusal. He had to agree that Lehnsherr had quite enough to deal with in the coming months. He closed the folder and placed it neatly on top the first.

The easy part was done and the man folded his arms and leaned back in his chair to observe his charge. According to his file, Erik was a first time offender; a social introvert who showed an off the scale IQ with no history of drug abuse, or alcoholic addiction. In short, there was much wasted promise in the person before him.

Gerard selected another folder from the pile.

'Erik,' he began, repeating the same speech that he had perfected over the years. He could only hope that the man infront him was one of the lucky few that listened and understood. 'The number one common mistake parolees make is that they think parole means freedom. They could not be more wrong.'

From the dead silence that now echoed through the kitchen, he knew he had the undivided attention of all persons in the room.

'Parole is your ONE second chance,' he explained further. 'Understand this, if you break the conditions that are set out in this document, you will be placed under arrest and returned to prison to carry out the remainder of your sentence, without appeal or trail.

Gerard jumped as the professor unexpectedly snatched the folder from his hand, before snapping it open to feverishly read its contents.

Erik covered his mouth with his hand to hide his smile. He did care.

Anote: I was looking for a J. McAvoy movie to watch and I realize James has been in a lot of tragedies; Becoming Jane, Xmen, Atonement. Hasn't he had any happy film?