"You know, the strangest thing happened to me yesterday evening." That smooth voice had the most elegant hint of accusation dressed within its fine layers.
"G-ah!" Charles, who had been leaning against the open door of the fridge -as he was accustomed to be caught doing with frequent midnight escapades- shot bolt upright, utter shock on his features. Though he immediately cleared his throat, feigning calm as he saw the one person he absolutely did NOT want to see leaning casually against the opening of the kitchen area. Taking out the half eaten cake from the fridge, he closed the door and headed towards the island, it's wooden top gleaming invitingly, "Oh? And what strange occurrence was this?"
He cast blue eyes back up when he shouldn't have. Just as Erik had found him marvelously adorable in his startled state, Charles couldn't help but be struck speechless at just how well black turtlenecks gripped Erik's form, fitting the man like a second skin. The fact that he was currently leaning against the doorway, muscled arms crossed over his burly chest, merely enhanced his strength of form. Making Charles' mouth drier than the Sahara, and just glad he had spoken his turn, giving him reprieve to wet his tongue while Erik filled the space.
Erik Lansherr glided through the kitchen, as a panther would through the forest, finding it quite becoming that Charles seemed entirely too fascinated on the half eaten chocolate cake, not having met his eyes for longer than that half second when Lansherr had startled him.
"Well, Charles, for one I awoke in one of your boring book rooms. On the floor."
"Ah, that *is* odd. God forbid you sleep anywhere besides a bed. And in a room full of books, of all things. Dare say I am quite surprised to see you alive." If nothing else, Charles had a knack for letting his mouth run on, especially when nervous.
Erik was not curbed so easily, he paced in front of Charles' current residence at the table as he mentioned, "Precisely, Charles. And I had the largest headache you could possibly dream of."
"Imagine that." Charles tucked busily into the cake, waving the fork at the other standing on the other side of the table, "You must have been dozing, my friend. Perhaps attempting to read one of those books and put yourself into an anti-reading coma. You should really go back to bed Erik. All that exertion must have really done a number on you."
"Hmph." Erik grunted noncommittally, pacing slowing as he stroked his chin, "Funny thing is, I lost my helmet."
Charles barely saved himself from choking, covering it with a large gulp of milk as he stated, "I was not aware you had a bike, Erik."
Erik leveled him with a dry stare, 'You know which helmet.'
"You kept that ratty thing made by the Russians?" Charles frowned, dabbing the edge of his mouth with a napkin, "What ever for?"
"Well, you see Charles, another funny thing, I don't recall being alone in that room, much less falling asleep."
"Oh really?" Charles cleared his throat again, leaning slightly forward as he cradled his chin mainly by his thumb and forefinger, the rest left to curl anxiously around his tense jaw, "Pray tell."
"You see, Charles," Erik leaned over the table, taking Xavier's fork as he speared a piece of cake, watching Charles ever-so-closely as he did so, "I very much recall someone being with me in that very room."
"And who would be lucky enough to share your anti-enthusiasm for books in-" Charles started to joke, trying very much not to watch that mouth take the chocolate morsel whole, fork sliding clean and polished from between those lips.
Erik was watching him like a hawk, as he pointed with the fork, "Excellent question. Why, I believe it was *you* Charles."
Charles laughed, perhaps a little too loudly, as he cast his gaze away from those inquisitive eyes, those murky browns much too intense, "I think I would remember being cooped in a room full of books with you, what with the nonstop complaining. I'm sure you must have been dreaming of the whole incident-"
"Really? Was the most realistic wet dream I've ever had. And we didn't even go all the way yet."
This time Charles really did choke on his milk, spluttering even as Erik watched on in amusement. After a short coughing fit, and a swipe of a now milk covered sleeve, Charles demanded, "I beg your pardon? I-I'm sorry, Erik, wet dream? *ME*? A-and *yet*?"
"Has your extensive vocabulary boiled down to a few words and short phrases?" Lansherr poked fun, leaning lower on the table, chin now propped on the palm of his hand.
Waving it off, Charles demanded, "Just how far were you trying to go? I-in this dream if yours?"
"Depends. Why do you wanna know?" There was that charming grin, teeth gleaming white and deadly. Erik was deriving far too much pleasure from this. Charles was sorely tempted to peek into his mind to see if Erik really knew it wasn't a dream and was just playing with Xavier.
But Erik was too close. Too familiar with the telepath. Could feel even the merest brush of Charles in his head. Could even tell when the Professor was tempted to, if that smug, cocked brow had anything to say about it. Lansherr tapped his temple, "Curious? It's all in here."
"I am most certainly NOT." Charles stated most adamantly, his eyes doing that blinking thing it would he was extremely flustered but fighting not to show it, "Honestly, I don't know what has gotten INto you, Erik."
"C'mon Charles, lighten up. Didn't realize you were such a prude."
"I AM *not* a prude." Charles, taking offense, spluttered.
Lansherr boomed in laughter at that, leaning back from the table to control his fit of joviality. He even had to clutch his side. The look on Charles' face had been priceless.
While Xavier did worry about his friend, he couldn't help cracking a grin at the metal manipulator's freer nature. Never before they had met, had Lansherr laughed so hard. So twisted were his goals in killing Shaw, the sadistic mutant.
Then suddenly Erik hissed, fingers to his temple in pain. Charles was up and at his side in a heartbeat, "Are you all right? What's wrong?"
"Headache, nothing more." Erik grimaced, brow creased as he turned to look down at his comrade.
Fearing he may have done slight damage the other night, Charles' brow furrowed, "Do you mind if I...?"
His fingers wiggled tentatively.
Erik grunted his assent, "Of course. Who needs aspirin when you have a telepath as your nursemaid?"
"I am not." Charles huffed. Shaking his head with a sigh, he closed his eyes, fingers to his temple as he slipped into Erik's mind.
He missed that warm grin that spread across Lansherr's face at the welcome intrusion, but he felt it all the same.
As Charles poked around, careful to tread away from the spots of spiked arousal in the other's mind, Charles inquired briefly, 'You don't happen to feel like skipping around and singing do you...?'
'Like a little girl? No. Why do you ask?' Lansherr sounded suspicious.
'Nevermind.' Charles amended quickly, sorting out the pained nerve connections in the metal bender's mind and carefully repairing them. He really did a number on the man when he freaked out. He felt guilt tugging at him that Lansherr must have been in agony when he awoke from his forced slumber.
He felt Erik studying him, from so close, and regretted he had come right up to the man in his concern. He could have just as easily delved into Erik's mind from his refuge across the table.
'Charles...?' Erik's mental voice sounded concerned and apprehensive.
'Yes...?' Charles, busy fixing the last of the broken nerve endings, asked absentmindedly.
'Did you leave the Manor at all the past few nights?' The tone should have set off warning bells in Xavier's mind.
Too preoccupied, he simply scoffed, 'Of course not. You know I've been far too busy-'
'Then why do you have love marks on your neck?' Erik demanded with a knowing growl.
Finished repairing the damage, it all came to Charles just what grave error he had made in answering, and jumped back into his body with a gasp. Erik was staring at him. Xavier tried to take a step back, but Lansherr grabbed him swiftly by the collar. A strong, yet gentle grasp. He inspected the evidence that had been covered by Charles' high collar.
Erik was anything but a stupid man. He could put two and two together.
Leveling the telepath with a hardened glance, Erik growled, "It was most certainly NOT a dream."
"N-now Erik, don't go jumping to hasty conclusions-" Charles tried to step away, but Erik's grip was unrelenting.
"Charles... did you use your powers on me?" Erik trailed, voice dangerously low.
Charles opened his mouth, tongue ready with a quick lie. But that died in response to Lansherr's fierce glare. His eyes spoke: don't you dare lie to me.
Charles closed his mouth, almost comically, before opening it once more to say, "N-not... exactly." At Erik's demanding look, he reiterated, "Okay, not on purpose, I should say."
That dark smile was the last thing Charles expected, "Bravo Charles. I am impressed. Are you telling me I had THE Charles Xavier so out of sorts he couldn't even control his own powers?"
"Now I-I wouldn't say out of *sorts*." Charles tried to clarify past his nervous stumbling, "More like confused-"
"Turned on?" Erik interjected hopefully.
"-no- and surprised-"
"Pleasantly?"
"No." Charles denied again.
"Lying really isn't your strong suit Charles." Erik admonished. He paused to take in the man before him, pulling closer to ask, "Charles, tell me what is *really* bothering you..."
All joking aside, Xavier considered the man seriously for a moment. Before he could lose his nerve, he swallowed before revealing quietly, "I'm afraid, Erik..."
Lansherr looked flabbergasted. This was the last response he would have considered. Charles did not admit his fears lightly. Or ever, for that instance. He asked dumbly, "Of what, being with a man?"
"No no, I've been with men before." Charles replied, chuckling when he looked up to see a fierce scowl on Lansherr's features.
"No you haven't. Not *YET*." Erik growled, eyes scorching.
"Erik..." Charles pulled back when the other drew closer.
Frustrated, Lansherr demanded softly, "What are you so afraid of, Charles?"
Charles lowered his gaze, eyes staring absently at Erik's turtleneck, teeth worrying his lip in a way that made Erik just want to nip it himself. But this was important. He needed to know, needed to hear just WHAT it was that was keeping the other at such a distance.
With a defeated sigh, Charles raised his gaze slowly, blue meeting slate grey. His voice so soft Lansherr almost couldn't hear him, "I... Erik, I can't lose you..."