.
.
.
Erik saw Charles' profile through the half open doors as he approached the library, determined to discuss their next step in the anti-Shaw operation. But just the sight of Charles, simply standing there with the sleeves of his grey sweater rolled up, his head tilted slightly to the side, rebellious strands of chestnut hair in adorable mess — and now Erik knew how soft and pleasant it was to the touch — just one glance and the memories of the previous night came rushing back: kissing, which turned into passionate devouring, his eager hands threading through Charles' hair, the delighted gasps Charles was making when Erik was pressing his lips along his jaw line, his delicious neck, marvelling at the taste of him, so human, so addictive and sweet. Gods, that was incredible and they've been simply making out and… Erik was doomed.
"Two guys from my science class have seen her," Raven made a vague motion in the air, comfortably sitting cross-legged on the sofa, "They're total nerds, I guess, they won't recognize their own reflections in the mirror without those enormous glasses, but they are also super smart, not prone to making up some weird… Erik! Just the one hunter I need!"
Charles greeted him with a smile, which was a common occurrence in itself, despite this time his bright eyes lit up with tender affection and he fidgeted with the collar of his sweater a bit — oh, smugly thought Erik, the marks are still there.
Who is the vampire in this relationship — mockingly drawled inner voice catching Erik off guard.
Sod off, scolded Erik and Charles' smile dimmed, guarded expression has flashed in the blue gaze and reminded Erik of that time he flinched when he first touched Charles' hand, inadvertent reaction giving way to awkward unease.
Shit, Erik tried to school his features into neutral mask that instant, making mental note to watch himself from now on or, which will work out even better — to reassure Charles that…
"Erik, Jesus, what's up with your face? Are you going to be sick?" curiously inquired Raven and dutifully finished, "If you've eaten any pancakes don't blame me. Sean has been on cooking duty this week!"
"Lehnsherr, this is a private conversation," said Alex from an armchair he was perched on, looking like he owned the place.
Erik shamefully admitted that he was too busy staring at Charles to notice any moody teenagers lurking in the shadows. Raven questioningly looked at Charles, when he didn't hasten to reprimand Alex, and then looked at Erik, and then frowned.
"Look, Charles, what's going on around here these last two weeks?" Alex exchanged brief nods with Raven and went on, "If for some reason you can't tell us, we understand. No, Raven, we do," he motioned to Raven who, from the looks of it, was ready to voice her disagreement, "but if we can be useful, just say something."
The kid sounds like a man, Erik will give him that.
"What has happened to the team?" bluntly asked Raven, "Why are we suddenly banned from hunting? This is our home, I happen to like this pitiable town, I even decided that I'll probably miss the hell which is called school. As I see it, we want and moreover we can protect it all… We've dealt with that white witch and her running dog if you forgot!"
"Fine," Erik measured her with a look, "You want to go on patrolling while Shaw is out there. Do. But don't blame anyone when we find your bloodless corpse ditched in the sewers."
"Wait a minute! You've been outside with Charles yesterday! You think I'm stupid, you think I won't notice how you two are conspiring…"
"Raven, please," mildly said Charles, "I'll talk to you later. Alex, I think the phenomenon you've described is the vengeful spirit, check the anthology of undead on my desk. Now, if you excuse me."
He turned on his heels and quickly walked through the door, unreadable expression on his face.
"Lehnsherr," hissed Alex jumping to his feet, "I've warned you!"
"Hey, Erik," Raven's form shimmered as she gave in to the emotions in her voice, "What's up between you and my brother?" the way she said my brother made Erik cringe, "And besides, you own us an explanation."
"The hell I do," smirked Erik, "Charles is officially in charge of you; this is his decision and if you think you can fool him or me and disobey, you'll regret it, this I can gladly promise."
.
.
This is only afternoon and his day, which started so good, turned into a nightmare.
Scowling, he strolled to Charles' bedroom door and has readied himself to knock as long as it will take Charles to let him in. Fortunately, he was granted permission in two seconds after his hand touched the wooden surface of the door.
"Charles," cautiously called out Erik when the darkness of the room swallowed him whole.
"Ah, dreadfully sorry, Erik. One moment, please."
Bedside lamp has flickered to life and Erik saw Charles, his figure partly bathed in the shadows and partly illuminated with warm light, not bright enough to let Erik discern his expression. He strolled to Charles and took his hand, the motion prompting the vampire to turn and face him, the set of his stiff shoulders screaming at Erik to leave him alone. So he shall, Erik braced himself for whatever the outcome of this conversation will be, but for now they'll talk.
"Erik, why are you doing this?" Charles' face was uncharacteristically blank, he swallowed as if it physically hurt him to talk to Erik, "I'm sorry, I made the assumptions after yesterday night. I assure you, it won't happen again, I…"
You're an idiot wanted to say Erik, but he was not giving in to momentary impulses. He felt certain, that he absolutely can't fuck this up.
"Do you imply, that I didn't really want to kiss you, but, perhaps, these two times were something of accidental nature, total eclipse of the mind or what?" Charles averted his eyes to the side, "You do. Maybe, you even developed a theory why did it happen, let me guess — adrenalin rush, desperate need for emotional and physical release and shit. Aha," he carefully lifted Charles' chin up, thumb caressing the corner of the lush mouth almost unthinkingly, "so I've thought… And maybe, this is just a crazy assumption of mine, remember that, you've decided that I enjoyed it not because I enjoyed doing it with you, but because I wanted to mess with you and aside from this I truly find you…"
"Revolting," supplied Charles and finally met his eyes, "you've told me quite a few times yourself from the very start," Erik's face has heat up when he remembered how many times he actually behaved like an asshole, "so this is completely my fault for imagining that things between the hunter and someone like me can ever be different."
"Please, let me kiss you now," it seemed that Charles' harsh words have rendered Erik with no options, but pitiful begging.
Charles' eyes were abruptly blazing with ferocious fire as he tilted his head to the side and asked, bitter and somewhat resigned.
"Even now?" he subtly shook his head and his face transformed — yellow inhuman eyes, long sharp teeth bared in a snarl, this close the previously white, unblemished skin looked withered and wasted and Erik swallowed hard as something constricted painfully in his chest, leaving him stunned and speechless.
Erik was not sure what the logistics of kissing a snarling vampire was, but he acted on a whim. Sink or swim is his favourite motto, mused Erik, when he carefully licked at the corner of Charles' mouth and then traced sharp fangs with his tongue; curiosity has made him bold, so he pushed his tongue into waiting mouth, prompting Charles to gasp and suddenly go limp in his arms. His knees buckled and he had to sit on the bed with Charles, a dead weight in his arms, awkwardly perched on his lap.
"Charles, are you alright?" gingerly tried he, not sure what to do anymore after his carefully constructed speech went to pieces.
Charles nestled his head on Erik's shoulder, rebellious hair tickling the neck in the process as his other hand went to circle Erik's waist.
"From here, I can enjoy listening to your heartbeat, so strong and steady, and steal a bit of warmth if you don't terribly mind. You're an exceptional hunter, Erik, and a great man," Erik's breath hitched when Charles stifled, "Hm, that's fascinating… And I've previously thought, I couldn't cry anymore. You have literally turned my world upside-down, my friend," Erik's hand rose as if on its own volition, he cupped Charles' head, tilting it up until his lips pressed to the vampires' forehead, not a kiss this time, but a promise of many good things to come.
"I do love you, Erik," smiled Charles, dark-blue eyes bright with still unshed tears as he tilted his head up more, sealing the words with a kiss.
.
.
After a while, they were lying on the plush, brown duvet, covering Charles' bed, face to face, trading slow, languid kisses. Erik's quiet excitement soon quickly transformed into arousal, which was difficult to hide with Charles plastered so close, that he could distinctly feel the outlines of his body, separated only by the clothes they were both wearing right now. The clothes that suddenly became too hot and stifling for Erik. He sadly reflected that he didn't want to ruin the mood, but at this stage he couldn't will it to go away.
"Erik?" Charles' hand tentatively travelled from his waist to his stomach, Erik exhaled in anticipation and then has caught a stray thought that made him stop Charles' hand in its seductive tracks.
"What about you?" he stared into Charles' eyes trying to decipher the longing he saw there correctly. It's possible that… Okay, he'd better ask to avoid further awkwardness, "Charles, may I ask you something?" Charles has bitten on the lower lip, clearly uncomfortable, so Erik kissed him one more time and levelly asked, "Have you ever been with a man?"
"Once," he felt the need to add, "Not quite a love-making I imagined. We've been so young and stupid at the time…"
Love-making, yeah, Erik must keep that in mind. Originally, Charles is from a different era and though Erik forgets this from time to time, he needs to tread the emotional field with utmost care.
"And after you've been turned…" he knew the answer before he got one.
"No, I, I felt it would be hypocritical of me to crave for things living beings so desperately desire," he smiled, sad, "I had other worries on my mind. You don't even have an idea how challenging is the survival for a young, inexperienced vampire in the city which is housing the headquarters of the Brotherhood."
"I am sorry, Charles," Erik tugged him closer, "For all it's worth, I am truly sorry."
"That's fine," hummed Charles into his chest, "but the issue of my lack of expertise is still on the table," he chuckled, the sound sending vibrations through Erik's body, "I fell in love with you the moment I laid my eyes on you. For me, it felt like waking up, and I want you, believe me, I want to have everything with you… Thanks to you, I know what love is, and thanks to the blood you've shared with me I remember what desire is. It's been a while, but… Erik," he moaned, startled, "what are you…"
"I like a good challenge," whispered Erik into his ear, and grinned, rewarded by another delightful sound, "Sorry, if this is too fast for you, Charles, but I feel obliged to prove you wrong. I'll make you come, without taking off a single piece of clothing. Let's spare your nineteenth century morals."
"Erik, I…" gasped Charles when Erik squeezed the firm flesh of his buttocks and moved his thigh between Charles', feeling the tell-tale bulge of growing erection, "Ah, I mean, Lord, mhh, I'm at least quite, oh Erik, knowledgeable. Theoretically…"
"Somehow, I don't doubt this," panted Erik in his mouth, amused, "you're quite scholarly… You… So precious to me."
That was as close to the confession as he's ever got in his whole life. That made Charles' eyes sparkle with unrestrained emotion and in the aftermath when they were both spent and Erik was absently tracing circles on Charles' fluffy sweater, feeling ridiculously inadequate joy, he realized that Charles never asked him to return the sentiment, was satisfied with things Erik was ready to offer and wasn't demanding more, has simply trusted Erik with everything and, oh gods, he blinked to chase wetness from his eyes, that was it, wasn't it?
...
.
.
.
Raven took one look at them and wrinkled her nose in distaste as Charles' black coat has become grey with dust due to the spontaneous making out session in the utility room.
"Charles, you've got a cobweb here," she affectionately brushed his hair and sneezed, "My god, have you swept all the shelves with you coat while you were searching for a ghost? Or is that room always this dirty?"
Alex joined them in the hall, grim disappointment emanating from him in waves.
"Alex, what do you have?" asked Charles just for the protocol.
"Nothing. Sorry, that we've made you two come with us tonight, but I was one hundred percent sure that I've seen somebody, right this morning," he shook his head, "a black boy, my age, he wanted to say something as he dissipated… Man, I felt magical presence when we entered the building an hour ago, I swear!"
"Maybe you did," interrupted Erik, "but why do different people see different ghosts?"
"Those two from my class saw a woman," tiredly added Raven, "even though I doubt it now."
"That may mean that the phenomenon is larger than the appearance of one ghost and thus more serious," Charles tapped his shoulder and gestured to the stand in the centre of the hall, "No wonder, the school is often a centre of supernatural activity. The building was designed with the clear purpose to guard what is inside from coming out and vice a versa."
Erik looked closely at the plan, probably displayed here to boast the doubtful historical value of the damned place. Right, now he recognized the basic pattern, the whole building was a seal. Charles was really remarkable at this.
"Okay, okay," waved at them Raven from the front door, "we'll discuss it later. I'm seriously missing my wonderful four poster bed at the moment."
"What the hell!" she shrieked as her hand went through the door handle.
Erik stepped up to the stand and tried to touch it with the same result, his hand meeting no resistance of solid matter.
Well, fuck.
.
.