I can't believe we are on Chapter Ten already!: A Deal

The evening continued as if nothing had happened between them. Charles watched Erik pull the metal off the wall, twisting it into a ball in his hands. He'd been left with less cutlery, but had gained in its place a unique sculpture. As Erik warped the metal, Charles had made the couch up into a bed, the action wordlessly signalling that they definitely wouldn't be sharing a bed together tonight. Nothing more was said, and Erik watched TV whilst Charles took a seat at the kitchen table and worked on a few things for his next lecture.

Erik tried not to be caught staring at Charles, but watching him making notes and frown in concentration as he read through his books, was far more interesting than anything the TV could provide. He knew that he would have to be the one to start off the next awkward conversation, and the longer it was left, the worse it would be. But Erik didn't even know where to begin. There was still so much that needed brining out into the open. It was during the advertisement break that Erik turned to look at Charles, and waited for him to realise he was being watched. Charles looked up midway through writing, blushing slightly.

"Raven's been seeing someone," Erik said, he watched Charles very carefully for a reaction. But he didn't seem too bothered by this revelation, other than to say.

"Why didn't she tell me?"

"She came round the flat after you'd skipped out on me," Erik explained. "Maybe she would have told you if you ever answered your phone."

Charles bit his bottom lip, and then returned to his books.

"I hope she's not as big a flirt as you are Charles, because if she is, God help the guy," Erik continued with a grin. He saw Charles blush once more, and it amused him to see Charles so uncomfortable. Especially since he was usually so effortlessly at ease with himself.

"Raven isn't anything like me. You can believe what she says…" Charles replied, not meeting Erik's eye.

Erik didn't know what to say to that, it didn't seem to make any sense. But Charles didn't seem to be in the mood to explain any further, as he started typing on his laptop. But the further the silence stretched, the more annoyed Erik started to feel. He was getting fed up of Charles being so cryptic all the time. Either he was being intentionally elusive, or he was just rubbish at explaining himself. Erik thought it was probably the latter. Charles didn't seem to know what he really wanted, and his life was full of contractions. Although he appeared cool and seemed to glide through his life with ease, underneath, it was becoming more apparent that he was paddling frantically against the tide.

Erik considered what he knew for a fact, and what he was still guessing about. Charles was a frequent party chaser, he liked attention, but how far he chose to take his casual relationships, Erik wasn't sure. He might have been the world's biggest slut for all Erik knew, but for some strange reason this wasn't as threatening as it might have been. Maybe because he didn't really believe that was true. Charles hadn't wanted to be pinned down by Shaw, and had been caught in his own web, by picking someone who was unable to let him go.

"What exactly does that mean Charles?" Erik asked, unable to keep an edge of anger from his voice.

Charles looked up, the blue of his eyes was bright again, and he snapped closed one of his books with more force than was necessary. His mouth was set in a hard line, and after a moment, his eyes narrowed slightly as he thought about his reply.

"Why are you even here Erik? How can you trust me, after everything I have told you?" his tone was wary, as if he expected to have to defend himself at any moment.

Erik wondered if Charles had been waiting for another argument, and whether his constant demand for answers was only giving Charles more ammo for when it came to his belief in avoiding getting close to someone. At least, for longer than one night.

"Alright so you're a cock-tease! At least you're honest about it," Erik said. He'd met many people who weren't.

"No, I'm not … I mean, yes I am, most Saturday nights, but that isn't what I wanted to happen right now, with us… That's not what I wanted at all."

"Charles, you don't know what you want. I know Shaw is a scary bastard, but you've no doubt led him on. I think you've been leading people on for so long, that you don't know any other way of handling yourself. Take in there for example," Erik said pointing back at the bedroom. "Tell me another guy who would have stopped just because you got scared. Did Shaw smack you around?"

"No," Charles replied. "No, he never…"

"Then what is it?"

"Erik I have just spent a whole week showing you just how much of an unreliable person I am, or have been. Tonight wasn't right. Tomorrow you would only be wondering if I have been using you too, and that isn't what I wanted. Not with us. You're the only one that…"

Charles paused, and looked back down at his books. His mouth had run away from him, and he hadn't meant to say so much. He didn't want to scare Erik off, but if he ever hoped to keep his friendship, then he had had to lay everything out and hold nothing about himself back. The fact that Erik had lied to him too, hiding the fact that he was a mutant also, not sharing his secret with Charles, hardly seemed like a fair trade. Not for all the mess Charles had dragged him in to. The fact that he'd shared his secret at all with someone so unstable only surprised Charles more.

"That?" Erik prompted.

Charles looked at him with pleading eyes, as if begging him not to have to continue and lay his soul bare for yet another night.

"The only man I like spending time with. You would never have trusted me."

Erik suddenly found himself on the back foot. Once again he'd misjudged Charles. Charles hadn't been distrustful of him, but instead he'd been worried that Erik wouldn't trust his actions to be sincere. Erik had to admit that Charles might have had a point. Besides Charles was probably right too about the timing, especially considering he was still trying to get rid of his ex, and the last thing he needed was getting involved with someone else.

"Actually Charles, I think you might be the most honest person I have ever met," Erik admitted, feeling deflated. It was very bigheaded of him to even attempt to judge Charles.

Alright, so Charles enjoyed going out on the town, but it wasn't like he was hurting anyone but himself. Anyone who thought they were going to find a lasting relationship with someone they met out randomly in a club one night and bought a few drinks for, were clearly very deluded anyway. At least now, Erik knew Charles was serious about not messing him about. Erik knew the situation. He knew the problems being involved with Charles would give him.

"Don't make fun of me Erik."

"I'm not. I've told you nothing about me, and yet you seem to think you're the worst one out of the pair of us! I'm hardly a saint Charles, I've had plenty of one night stands myself, so what? At least the people you've met probably enjoyed your company all night, even if they didn't get their leg over like you appear to offer."

Charles raised his eyebrow.

"So… you're still interested…?"

Erik shook his head in exasperation.

"Unbelievable. Charles why don't you let me take you out tomorrow? Or rather, this is your town, you take me out."

"Like a date?" Charles asked.

"Like a date."

Charles stared at him.

"Alright. Yes, that would be nice."

When Erik woke the following day, he found it was almost midday. On the kitchen table was a note from Charles and an Oxford Uni ID card with Guest written on it. Underneath was a map of the campus and a copy of Charles' schedule. Erik realised he'd already missed Charles' morning break, and it appeared like he had a late lunch before a final lecture at four in the afternoon. Since the only place he was guaranteed to find Charles was in the lecture theatre, Erik decided to lazily get ready before going out in search of something to eat.

The cafeteria was full, and Erik glanced around hoping on the off chance to find Charles. With a coffee and a sandwich in hand, Erik walked through looking for a table, and found some students he recognised, along with many he didn't. As he looked, Sean met his eye and nudged the blond boy Alex.

"Hey! Well look who it is!" Alex called over the heads of his peers. A few turned and stared at Erik. "Wanna sit down?"

Erik thought that was a good an offer as any for a chair, and joined the students. He wondered how out of place he must look surrounded by all these young faces.

"Where's Hank?" Erik asked as he set his lunch down on the table before him.

Sean shrugged uninterested.

"Probably tailing Professor X around somewhere. You ought to watch out, or you'll be losing your boyfriend," Alex replied with the most evil looking grin Erik thought he'd ever seen.

"Is he your boyfriend?" a dark haired girl asked with great interest. From the way she was hanging off of Alex's arm, Erik guessed they were involved, or that she would very much like them to be. Either that or she was just very friendly. You could never tell these days. "My name is Angel by the way."

She held an ink-stained hand out towards him over the table.

"Erik," Erik replied shaking her hand. He guessed she was an art student from the state of her hand. "And no he isn't my boyfriend … yet."

Sean and Alex looked at each other as if all their Christmases had come at once.

"Oh ho!" Sean exclaimed. "That is the best gossip I have heard for ages. Poor Hank. So, you not getting anywhere then?"

Erik saw Angel scowl.

"That isn't very nice Sean, you're always picking on Hank," Angel scolded. "And you should mind your own business."

"Thank you Angel," Erik said appreciatively, not that he'd been offended by their curiosity. Only, again, he didn't want Charles to be made uncomfortable by his students. No matter how tongue in cheek the teasing might be.

"There is a band playing tonight," Alex said, randomly changing the subject. "In the student's bar. You should make Professor X come along, that would be funny!"

Angel rolled her eyes before she stood with her tray.

"You ought to ask Hank to join you, he doesn't get out much," she said before walking away.

"Angel's right, you should," Erik added. "In fact I'll make you a deal, if you bring Hank, I'll bring Charles."

Sean raised an eyebrow. But it seemed as if the students were sold on the idea, as Alex was grinning again.

A/N: Thank you reviewers! Party in Oxford anyone?