Erik was a fool. No, he was the biggest damned fool who ever lived. Charles' presence was something of an intoxicant, it had to be, because he could not think straight around the omega. He inspired such longing inside Erik. He could only compare it to his teenage days sneaking around with Magda, counting down the minutes until they could steal a moment alone. This was different. There was a demanding undercurrent that he had never experienced before, like there was a tether between himself and Charles that would not let him stay away.
After the wedding and the kiss, he tried to keep some distance between them, an idea Emma was entirely in favor of. He went into the village the next day to visit her. She looked up from her perch by the desk, a weathered novel in her hands and a look of nonchalance on her face.
"You know, as your knight, it is my duty to protect you. It is infinitely harder to do so when you are inviting new dangers into your life and not seeing fit to share such information with someone whose job it is to secure the safety of both yourself and your children."
"Charles isn't a danger. If he was, do you think I would allow him near my children?"
"As I said, you may not have a choice. He is a powerful telepath, more so than me. The only one I've met to come close would be Jean."
Erik was a little surprised by that information. Charles didn't bring his powers up in conversation much. Sometimes he would project things to Erik, but that was the extent of it. He had much more exposure to David's powers. Regardless, he was certain Emma was wrong.
"Charles would not do something like that."
"How would you know? You've known him, what? A month?"
"I just know, alright?"
Emma stared at him with a carefully blank expression on her face, so much like her father's, but her eyes were shrewd.
"I was wondering what you were doing to occupy your time away. I suppose I don't have to wonder anymore. He's an attractive omega, isn't he?" She commented, going back to her reading.
"It isn't like that," he protested.
"Isn't it?"
Erik suddenly thought of the kiss that they had shared. It had felt like his body was set aflame in no way he'd ever felt before. It was disconcerting and frightening at once. He had had to run away from Charles before he did something he'd regret.
Emma sighed across from him and gave him a searching look.
"We'll be here a while yet until we secure the numbers necessary for this battle. If you're keyed up, anxious, and looking to get that energy out of your system—"
"I told you, it's not like that."
"I smelt him a little while back when he first came into town. Not many people with biological divorces around here, and he reeked of it. No surprise every door was closed in his face. Well, besides the brothel, of course. Then you two flounce into town together. People talk. They think it's like that. And he gives you a certain look. If it's not truly that way, you ought to tell him. Besides, don't you have a possible fiancé out there right now."
"It was not a binding promise with Sokovia."
"Of course not," she replied with a mocking smile.
"In all seriousness, are you sure your secrets are safe with him?"
"Charles won't look without permission, unlike some."
Emma shrugged, indifferent.
"Since you say you have no plans to lay claim on the omega, you wouldn't mind if I press my luck then, would you? I do so enjoy the company of other telepaths. Such delicious bedroom applications."
A warning growl left Erik before he could keep it in. Emma's lips quirked into a knowing smirk.
"Looks like you need to counsel yourself on the nature of your relationship with Charles as well. We only have so much more time before we're set to leave, my prince. Don't do anything you can't take back. Besides, my father would not be very pleased to hear about this little affair of yours. You know how conservative he is. As head of Genosha's Council of Twelve, he will feel that any future dalliances you have, whether they be marriages or not, should go through him, especially since he couldn't do anything about you and Magda. If this is just some sexual attraction, resolve it and move on. Anything more and you're asking for trouble. I would know."
Emma got a slightly far off look on her face. Erik was distinctly reminded of Lord Winston Frost's thunderous rage when he learned of Emma's short-lived affair with Scott Summers and how he had proceeded to facilitate a match between Scott and Lady Jean to put a stop to it. Emma had been as heartbroken as Erik imagined she could be. Scott moved on happily with Jean. The former lovers worked together on the Brotherhood with no issues, but Erik knew Emma still held a torch for the younger Summers. That was just the tip of the iceberg of what her father was capable of. He had tried to separate Erik and Magda by trying to foist them off to other suitors, tempt Magda away with promises of material things, threaten Erik's political influence, and guilt him using his mother. It hardly mattered though. Charles was unlikely to ever encounter Emma's father. Their relationship, whatever it was, had an expiration date. It always had.
Still, Erik took Emma's words more to heart than he would admit to her. He did not want to string Charles along, but that kiss had awakened something profound inside of him that pushed him towards Charles. After two days, he could no longer maintain the distance and went to the younger man, practically begging for a game of chess. Charles allowed him back, took Erik's defeat as an apology, and did not push for a conversation about what had happened.
Charles had been in something of a state of euphoria that day. The wine mixed with the psionic effect of the brides' happiness had made him giddy, almost as if he were high on life. His face glowed and his eyes shined with it, drawing Erik in, trapping him in the other man's orbit. He was projecting happiness to the entire wedding banquet. Erik didn't think Charles even noticed it, the way he was amplifying the good cheer and joy of the villagers. Erik only saw it because he had become accustomed to the feeling of telepathic influence over the years from his acquaintance with Emma, Elizabeth, and Jean. Erik was convinced Charles kissing him that day had more to do with his heightened emotional state than anything else. Erik felt guilty for taking advantage of it and had only managed to pull himself together once Charles uttered his false name.
He figured Charles would absolve him if he brought it up, so he didn't. Instead, they carried on as they normally did, taking their regular excursions away from the inn and into the surrounding areas. They now sat in a meadow near Logan's inn. Charles had the good fortune of arriving in Genosha just as spring was settling in. The flowers that were blooming were at their most fantastic and the meadow showcased that. Charles dragged everyone out of the inn along with a picnic basket and led the charge to the pasture. Erik, who had lived in Genosha his whole life, found the sights beautiful in a way that was more prideful of his homeland than it was appreciative of what nature could yield. The look on Charles' face when they stepped into the sea of yellow, purple, red, pink, and orange flourishing and swaying gently in the breeze was not one Erik remembered having, even in youth. Charles was not just awed or impressed by the splendor before him, but respectful, damn near deferential. He had had a similar look on his face at the wedding after he used his telepathy to read the couple. It was as if he had just found the pinnacle of the sublime. Erik could no more help the pang of longing in his chest and stomach at the sight of Charles' wonderment than he could help all the many barriers between them. Charles touched the flower petals reverently with the tip of his fingers, picked a few that had fully bloomed and gave one to each of the children and Erik before placing another in the picnic basket. Erik accepted the flower with a smirk but tucked it behind Charles' ear, winking at the shorter man when he blushed before reminding himself that that was a foolish thing to do.
They settled under a large magnolia tree, spread out on the blanket, making idle chatter and eating the fruits and cheese they brought. Erik probably stared too openly at Charles as he bit into a strawberry and a droplet of the juice escaped the corner of his lip, making a track down his chin, until Charles licked it away. Thankfully, the telepath didn't seem to notice. After they ate, the children were allowed to play in the sun a few feet away. Erik watched the twins and David running away from Anya during their game of touch and go. He quirked a smile as he saw her deliberately slowing down to allow David to catch up with the taller twins before turning back to the magnolia tree. He had brought his bow and arrow along with him, intending to get as much practice as possible. He had fashioned the fully metal arrow himself from adamantium sent to the capital from Alkali City. He always brought them into battle with him. He preferred it even to his guns or sword. Even if he lost his bow, he would be able to summon his arrow, but the feeling of pulling the string back, the flex of the muscles in his back and his arms, were familiar and comforting.
He nocked his arrow and aimed for the misshapen doily that served as his target. Charles had been trying to get back into embroidery and stitchwork he said, but this offering hadn't been the best showing so he gave it to Erik to do with as he pleased. He let the arrow fly just as Charles spoke, deftly correcting the course midair so it slammed into the center of the decorative mat.
"Did you know that Genosha's Blue Ridge mountains have the distinction of being the only known habitat of the burgundy nine-tailed fox, which isn't truly burgundy or nine-tailed for that matter," Charles commented, his nose pressed in a book.
Erik had taken to going into town and borrowing books from the small library for Charles. He was sure his appetite for knowledge rivaled a starving man's for food.
"What's the point of the name then?" Erik asked, glancing behind him to where Charles was spread out on the blanket.
"There is evidence that this fox may have had nine tails once, mainly from the skeletal structure. When examined, one can see what looks like the beginnings of separate tails branching off from the primary tail. As for the burgundy, I suppose some poor sap had an issue regarding their perception of color. The fox is a deep red color but hardly burgundy."
Erik nodded along, not expressly interested, but he liked hearing Charles speak. He got so worked up and enthusiastic when he found new information. Erik turned back to the tree and summoned his arrow to himself. It flew into his hand and he nocked it once more. He drew back, took aim and let the arrow fly again, this time not correcting the course and letting gravity and his own skill drive the bolt into the center.
He turned around with amusement as Charles gave him a small clap.
"You are a wonderful marksman, my friend."
"Would you like to try?"
"Me?" Charles asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why not? Unless your ribs will prevent you."
"No, no. They are still sore at times but hardly a hindrance."
"Good, then it won't stop you from trying your hand."
"I haven't shot a bow and arrow since I was much younger. I'll probably be rubbish."
"You won't know unless you try, will you? I'll help you."
Charles held his gaze as if to gauge his seriousness. He glanced back at the children, but they were still where they were a few moments ago. Finally, he sighed and stood up.
"I'm going to regret this."
"Hardly. Come here."
Charles approached him and Erik handed the wooden longbow over, summoning the metal arrow once more.
"Now, this bow is suited to me, given my skill, size, and power, so it'll take a bit more effort from you, but I'll help. You remember the basics on how to nock and draw, yes?"
Charles demonstrated it easily enough, nocking the arrow and drawing back. He could see the discomfort in his face as he did so, the tension from the string exercising muscles probably long disused. Erik stepped behind him and placed his hands over Charles', helping him pull back the arrow completely.
"Do you feel it in the muscles between your shoulder blades?" Erik asked, his lips brushing against strands of brunette hair.
"Yes," he answered back, his voice strained, probably from the physical exertion.
Erik adjusted Charles' stance, moving his elbow up to his cheek and tilting his chin so he could keep the target in sight. He could feel Charles' muscles trembling beneath his fingertips. He returned his hands to Charles' and guided him in releasing the arrow. The metal flew through the air and slammed into the doily, a few inches away from the center.
Charles looked up at him with a smile playing across his face. Erik glanced down and only now just realized how close they were to one another. He was pressed up against Charles' back, his arms still around him and they both held onto the bow, their fingers intertwined. Charles' smile slowly waned and Erik could see him searching his face for something. He wanted to lean down and press his lips to Charles' once more, dive into his neck and try to figure out what that sweeter tone in his scent was, luxuriate in the smell of him. He gathered what strength and self-control he had and forced himself back. Charles watched him go, something like disappointment in his face before he handed the longbow back to him, their fingers brushing.
"Thank you. I may have to take some time to start practicing again. It could be useful. There are a lot of books on hunting and fur-trapping here in Genosha. Perhaps I'll make my living that way. I could set up shop next to your smithy, who knows?" Charles joked, stepping away from him and back towards the blanket.
Erik took a deep breath, pushing away the close encounter as he joined the other man on the blanket.
"You know, you've spent days learning just about everything there is to know about Genosha. You may know more than me at this point. Not an easy feat, believe me. It makes me wonder if you truly are taking my daughter's words to heart and choosing to stay," Erik remarked casually.
"I haven't talked over any plans with Logan yet if that's what you mean. All these books and your stories give Genosha an undeniable appeal. I do, however, feel secure in saying that one might need a certain amount of commerce to explore even the tamest parts of the country. I've still not found a job in town. It might be that I will have to expand my search to towns outside of this one."
"Is Logan so determined to run you off?" He asked, feeling some anger rise up.
Charles was quick to dispel the thought.
"No, no. It's nothing of the sort. He'd let me stay forever, I suspect. It's me. Call it pride, but I'm not comfortable living off my godfather's goodwill for very much longer."
"What was it you were planning to do?"
"Anything I can really, but teaching is a passion of mine. I did it for a short while back in Westchester before I married…" Charles trailed off, averting his gaze.
He always got this way when he revealed something of his past to Erik, like Erik was going to do something to him, but he couldn't fathom what.
"I know firsthand that you are an excellent teacher. I've yet to see Pietro respond to anyone as readily as he has done with you. I would hire you as a tutor if you'd let me."
Charles waved a dismissive hand.
"I could hardly ask you for money, Max. You're my friend. I wouldn't feel right. I don't teach Anya and the twins for money, I do it because they are perfectly lovely and I'm happy to do so. You and the children, you're planning to leave very soon, aren't you? I imagine your village must be missing their blacksmith."
Charles chuckled weakly, almost nervously, at the statement, but Erik couldn't say why. He shrugged in reply. Azazel had not returned yet and nothing could be done without the Sokovian soldiers. When they did come through though, nothing would stop Erik from pursuing Lord Shaw, not even… well, not even Charles. Erik couldn't allow that. However, he also didn't know how he was going to moderate his anger. He had to rely on his knights for this fight, but he knew himself. He could always self-regulate, but there was something about the Shaws that let his alpha spirit loose. He could do little to leash it once more, not until the challenge was complete and his enemy eliminated, no matter the cost to himself and those around him. He hated to think of that inside of himself. It fueled him, gave him the motivation he needed to keep going, but that part of him, that dark part, was meant to be just for himself to see and no one else. His father wasn't meant to know, Anya certainly wasn't, but they had. He didn't want Charles to know that side of him. That meant leaving sooner rather than later, but still…
"We're not leaving yet, but the plan is to go without too much delay," Erik answered carefully.
"Of course," Charles replied quickly, fiddling with his fingers.
Erik watched him, unsure if he should say anything more. Just as he made to speak, a voice interrupted them.
"You can come with us."
The two men looked up to see Anya watching them, looking between the two with unreadable eyes. Charles looked at Anya curiously.
"It's like Father said, Pietro and Wanda will need a tutor when we return home. Who better than you, Charles? They adore you and you know more about a wider variety of subjects than any other tutor I've met."
Erik shot her a glare for eavesdropping and for pushing this delicate issue. She knew full well that it wasn't that simple. Charles didn't know about them, he couldn't. There was no way he could fit into their world and he was better off if he didn't, if his whole existence wasn't laid bare to the wolves so they could pick him apart for daring to associate with the royal family. That was if they even won this coming battle and regained the throne. Anya tilted her head up defiantly in response to his chastising regard.
"Charles has already refused," Erik told her, his voice holding a warning.
"You didn't even tell him anything about home to entice him."
"I don't want to be an imposition, darling," Charles said, trying to mediate before they started arguing.
"You won't be an imposition at all, Charles. You would be most welcomed by all of us," she replied, punctuating her words with a meaningful glance at her father. Erik glared at her harder, but she continued to ignore him.
"Anything I do must accommodate David as well. I don't even know where home is for you both and I would have to take that into consideration with him. Nothing needs to be decided just yet," Charles replied, still trying to keep the peace.
"Father, you didn't even tell him anything about our home? He must think we live in a hovel. I'm sure if you tell Charles all about Krakoa, it will help his decision along," Anya commented, her voice falsely naïve.
By now, Erik was inwardly fuming. Charles looked between them hesitantly. He placed a soothing hand on Erik's shoulder. The touch caused his skin to tingle beneath Charles' grip, but his anger won out.
"Max—"
"Excuse us for a moment."
Erik stood up, but Charles captured his hand. He looked back at him.
Charles gave him a slightly imploring look before he felt a push against his mind.
"Be gentle, please," he heard requested in his head.
Erik paused and took a deep breath. He turned to Anya and tugged on her bracelet with his powers rather than physically drag her behind him. They trudged away from the magnolia tree and the playing children towards the edge of the clearing. He stepped just within a copse of trees, their companions still in view but out of earshot, before addressing his daughter.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?"
"I—"
"You are being reckless is what you're doing. What was that back there? Do you think any of this is a game?"
"No, I—"
"We are here because our home was taken from us. We must be careful, and there you are, flaunting about childishly in the face of danger. I expect better from you."
"Charles isn't a danger, he's a friend. He is the one in danger without us. We can protect him and David."
"We must focus on protecting ourselves at the moment."
"Nothing is going to happen to us," Anya replied dismissively.
"Is that what you believe? You think our lives are no longer forfeit? Has this humble village lulled you into a false sense of security? Then let me disabuse you of that notion. We are never going to be safe until Sebastian Shaw is no longer a threat. He will always be a threat as long as we stand upon the same earth as him. Charles is… a fine man and a worthy friend, a person I am glad to have met, but he is, ultimately, superfluous to our goals. You must know that," Erik said, keeping his emotions in check.
He didn't like the taste of the words as they left his lips, but he could not doubt their veracity. Shaw was a man he'd been pursuing for over a year now. He could not turn away from it for a man he'd known for weeks, no matter how appealing a prospect he was, no matter how much his children liked him.
"Charles is not superfluous to me. He fits with us. He belongs with us. I know it, I can feel it."
"Perhaps for the moment, but we can't just think of the moment, we must think of the future. We have a greater responsibility than just to ourselves and our desires."
Anya scoffed in return, mumbling under her breath as she looked away from him. Erik rose a reproachful eyebrow at her.
"Speak up if there is something you wish to say to me," he bit out, admonishing and implicitly warning her to caution herself.
"I said it must be convenient for you to think of our responsibilities only when you think I'm the one endangering our family," Anya retorted bitterly.
"Excuse me?"
Anya gave him a quietly accusing glare, refusing to moderate her words.
"I am your father. Do not forget yourself or your place with me."
"My place? We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you. Now, Wanda is afraid of everything and Grandfather is probably dead—"
"Anya, you can't possibly understand—"
"Don't tell me what I understand! You don't understand!"
Erik drew back in shock at his daughter raising her voice to him.
"You don't know what it was like to see you after Aunt Ruth. You were so angry all the time, I didn't even recognize you. You didn't care about me or the twins or Grandfather, all you cared about was the Shaws. It was all you talked about. You didn't even notice how hurt any of us were. Then you went and did that stupid duel and you almost died. You were all bloody and bruised and you won, but I thought you were going to die anyway. I thought you were going to leave us, just like Mama and Aunt Ruth. Now there is going to be a battle to get the capital back and you're going to fight. You're strong, but if you fight Lord Sebastian, is it going to be like that duel where you get so angry that you don't care if you leave me and the twins, where all you care about is winning? Do you even care what happens after you beat Lord Shaw? Have you thought of anything past that?"
"Anya…" Erik trailed off, not sure what to say.
He already knew she was disappointed in him, he saw it in her eyes the moment he gained consciousness after the duel but she pushed it all away, held it down in a place where he wouldn't see, where no one could see. He didn't want her to see that duel, but she never listened to him. She witnessed him at his worst, but she'd also seen him at his best. A part of this was being an alpha, being a ruler, and she would make hard decisions when she ascended to the throne. She wouldn't always be right or righteous, or sometimes she would but her actions in response wouldn't always yield the best results. For the moment though, she was his eight-year-old child, who was bossy, clever, rational, and mature beyond her years, but still a child who was meant to look up at her father and see an infallible giant. Instead, she had him and all his rage-filled, anguished ruin. He hadn't protected her from seeing that side of him. He didn't know how to reconcile that for her. He stepped towards her, but she stepped back. He felt a flare of hurt as a tear ran down her cheek.
"I don't know if you plan to come back or not from this fight. I don't know if we're going to ever go back home or who is waiting for us there, but I do know Charles. I don't know everything, but I know enough. I trust him. The twins keep asking if Charles and David are going to come home with us. They don't want to leave them behind. I want Charles to stay with us. I think you do too. I've seen how you look at him. I've seen how he looks at you. I saw it from the very beginning. There is a bond between you, a true bond, like in the stories."
Erik scoffed.
"It's the stuff of fairytales, Anya. True bonds aren't real."
"Gabrielle and Suzanne are real."
"They could've easily paid the rabbi to say such drivel. Rabbis have been paid off to do worse."
"Even so, I believe it. If Charles is your true mate, then he is a part of this family, whether you claim him or not. I trust Charles not to leave if you give him a reason to stay. I trust him to stay if you leave us."
Erik stood there, struck dumb as Anya strut away from him. He watched her wipe her face and trudge back over to where Charles sat nervously. They exchanged some words before Charles pulled her into a comforting hug, looking over her head at Erik quizzically. He shook his head wordlessly in reply. He had no answers.