Chapter 3

Now I know that this is not a very new idea... I just wanted to write it for its sheer fluffiness – my style. And don't ask me if these stories actually are connected to each other, they kind of are, yet not... Anyway, have fun!

It was dark as Charles put his hand on the door handle and pushed it down. Another bolt of lightning lit the room behind said door shortly, and the rolling thunder followed immediately. Rain pounded heavy against the windows.

The curtains had been pulled down, but the lightnings nonetheless managed to enlighten the room.

The telepath had woken up when the first thunder had rolled. He didn't mind much, though – he had to admit that he liked thunderstorms, somehow. The steady rhythm of the rain made him feel cozy as he lay in his warm bed, watching the eerily beautiful storm outside the window. Charles was a scientist, so he was genuinely fascinated by the natural spectacle.

But there was another mental presence lingering around, wide awake in the middle of the night as well, and it was disturbed and uneasy. It hadn't taken Charles long to figure out who it was. The fantasies that haunted said person were driven by flashbacks of dark, small chambers with way too many people in it, a small window that showed off the force of the thunderbolts as they pierced through the thick, black clouds like spears, the following thunder making the kid squirm in fear every single time. He had been scared back then, as he was now.

So Charles had come to this room to provide a little comfort for the unfortunate man. He took a look into the room and found the person he was searching for curled into a ball on the bed, with his arms wrapped around his legs. His head was buried into the pillows, and he was shaking. As a telepath, Charles was naturally sympathetic when it came to events like this, but the picture he witnessed right now made his heart clench in pain.

He sat down slowly onto the bed, knowing very well that the other man had noticed his presence the moment Charles had entered the room.

He didn't protest, and here was also no need to ask for permission to come in. There was no need for any words whatsoever. Words would only make the situation worse.

Because it was Erik's room, and it was Erik who lay on the bed, terrified and lost in his memories. And Erik was a way too proud man to admit to his flaws and weaknesses, yet even to allow someone else to see him in his current state. Erik was a strong person after all, and he he had problems with not being in control of something.

And this was a situation where he wasn't in control, and he wasn't able to do anything about it – so somebody else needed to help him.

As Erik's eyes opened slowly, they immediately locked with Charles'. The professor didn't need to look into the fellow mutant's mind to see the pain and the angst he was going through.

He reached out slowly for Erik's head. His thumb softly caressed the older one's cheek, which Erik obviously enjoyed – judged by the assuaged little sigh as he closed his eyes. Charles continued by running his hand through Erik's short, curly hair softly, again and again, soothing him down.

Bit by bit, the shivering disappeared and the other man's breathing calmed down. His eyes were closed as he lay there, giving into the caring touch.

Charles dared to tentatively reach for his mind, grasping for his current feelings. What he saw made him shudder as if a sudden frosty breeze had hit him. It was the dark, small room he had seen before. It was smelly and uncomfortable for little Erik sitting on the hard, cold floor, in the middle of way too many people he did not know. It was merely weeks after his mother's death at Schmidt's hand, and no one was there to protect or support him. Day by day, the guards would pull him out of the small room and into Schmidt's laboratory. A daily nightmare. And he couldn't do anything about it.

Thunderstorms happened regularly in that frightening few months he spent at the concentration camp. Always in the evening, for whatever reason. And every time, ever since back then, he associated thunderstorms with the concentration camp, and it was scaring the living hell out of him.

Charles' chest clenched at the horrible pictures. He interfered in his way – letting Erik stay in his flashback, but filling it with the feeling that he wasn't alone in that small prison cell. That someone was at his side, wrapping his arms protectively around his shoulders, stroking his back, giving his body the warmth it craved for. Taking the fear out of the memory.

Another sigh of relief emerged from Erik's lips. Charles could feel how the chaos in his mind shifted, how the tension loosened. And two little words, spoken internally for the telepath to see them.

Thank you.

All he did was squeeze Erik a little in their mental hug.

After a short while, where he watched his friend calm down at the work of his hand and mind, Charles asked: Feeling better?

Very much so.

Then I'll take my leave. I think you'll be able to sleep now, so – Good night, Erik.

And he cut the telepathic connection and got to his feet, fastening the belt that held his bathrobe in place. With one last glance at Erik snuggled quietly into his pillow, he turned around to leave the room-

When suddenly, he felt a soft tug on the sleeve of his robe.

Another lightning lit the room as the next thunder rolled.

Erik was looking up to him, the expression on his face worried and frightened. „Please, Charles... stay," he whispered. It cost him quite an effort to beg for this.

Charles smiled lovingly down to the man with the stormy green eyes. „If you want me to, then of course I will," the telepath answered quietly. He wanted to sit down again on his spot from before, but Erik quickly lifted the blanket, inviting him to slip underneath it.

Well, Erik's room was in fact pretty chilly. And sitting on the edge of the bed wasn't too comfortable for too long.

At least, that was what Charles told himself as he gratefully accepted the offer.

As he resumed stroking the other one's hair softly, Erik shifted closer to him, pillowing his head at Charles' chest.

Well, there was nothing to it and he could go on with his ministrations more easily that way.

At least, that was what Charles told himself as he gently placed his spare arm around Erik's shoulders, holding him close. In the darkness of the bedroom, it all seemed alright.

They lay that way on the bed for countless minutes, both wide awake. However they didn't notice when the distance between lightning and thunder became longer and longer.

It didn't matter.

Charles almost prayed for the storm to never stop. He was lost in the gentle touch of Erik's body next to his own, of the fragrance of his aftershave, in the coziness of the bed.

In a very strange way that Charles couldn't – or didn't want to – define precisely, he felt very, very comfortable like this. The warmth radiating from Erik's body made the telepath feel comfy and... protected, somehow. The fact that they shared a blanket just made it more...

Romantic?

Although Charles knew that this was the word he had been looking for, it didn't approve here. Rain and Storms were just something very romantic to him - in general. With any hot, sweet girl in his bed, a night like this had always ended very satisfactory.

But this time, it was Erik, his best friend, who needed just some help and comfort – which Charles provided gladly. The latter pushed the romantic thought aside quickly. It didn't help at all in the situation they were in right now.

Searching once again for Erik's feelings, he found the other man very contented and calm and enjoying the closeness to someone else. Suddenly, Charles became aware of a very strong thought.

You know, in situations like this I really miss someone to share my life with.

Well, I'm here and I won't go away unless you want me to.

I know you do. Still, it's not the same, Erik replied, although Charles could feel how grateful he was for his presence.

Of course it's not the same. Charles absent-mindedly caressed the hair on the back of Erik's head.

But a relationship is impossible to lead if your day includes traveling around and possibly killing people. You suddenly have the responsibility for another person as well, you can't just care for yourself - which is already hard enough. Bitterness spread from Erik's words.

It's a high price you pay, but what you get from a relationship with the right person is more than one can imagine. That's the real secret, to find the person who is worth this price.

You're right. Erik sighed.

Charles squirmed lightly when Erik's arm was softly placed across his stomach, curling around his waist loosely.

Sorry, I can remove my arm if-

No, no, totally okay. You simply tickled me, my friend.

A light chuckle was heard from Erik. Charles smiled to himself. Erik wasn't able to see his face anyway.

After a little while, the telepath restarted their conversation.

Now that I think about it, I haven't heard any thunder for quite some time. And the bolts of lightning seem very distant.

Yeah... maybe. A yawn followed.

You're sleepy, Charles replied amused, and you should really get some rest, now that the storm is over.

Probably. Will you... stay here?

Charles didn't answer. He simply pulled Erik close and ran his hand through the stubby dark hair for a last time that night, took one look at Erik's now calm and peaceful face and closed his eyes to sleep – with Erik still snuggling into his chest.

He really had to admit that he had missed body contact with someone else as well.

Charles blinked.

It was dark. And something heavy lay on his chest.

That something was a person. A person with broad shoulders, his chest raising and falling slowly with every breath. Curly dark hair covered the part of the person's head that Charles could actually see.

Erik, the telepath thought lovingly, remembering last night.

A look outside the window told him that the storm had left the world very clear, with just a few remaining clouds in the sky as the sun slowly rose above the edge of the horizon.

A look at the alarm clock standing on the bedside table told him that it was 5.44 a. m. It would ring in 16 minutes.

Sighing, Charles decided that he'd wake Erik. Gently, not as harsh as the alarm clock would. He prepped himself up on his elbows and softly traced the other mutant's forehead with his index finger, following the line of his eyebrow. A little mental nudge was all Erik needed to finally open his eyes.

„Good morning," Charles whispered, smiling.

„Morning," Erik mumbled. He raised his hand to rub his eyes, still sleepy.

Nonetheless, he remained in his spot on Charles' chest. The telepath noticed a quiet metallic click, followed by a window that opened to let some fresh morning air into the room.

Charles lay back into the pillows, one hand still on Erik's shoulder. The professor's fingers toyed around once more with the short hair in Erik's neck, which the latter commented with a chuckle.

This moment could go on forever, Charles thought to himself.

But time was not on their side. Another look at the alarm clock told him that it was 5.49 a. m.

Erik followed his gaze and sighed. „Why did you wake me that early?" he asked, not annoyed, just tired.

„I don't know... I just thought we could take our time to wake up."

„Mh," Erik mumbled lazily.

Ten minutes later, they both stared at the clock again, just waiting for the minute hand to reach the 6 o'clock mark and ring.

But it didn't. It was 6 o'clock and the alarm didn't ring.

Erik sat up and took it in his hand, checking the settings. „Why doesn't it work? It always works."

And then, scales fell from Charles' eyes. He covered his eyes with his left hand and let himself fall back into the pillows.

„What's up?" the metalbender asked confused.

„It's sunday."

Erik laughed.

„I'm so sorry," Charles added, smiling at his friend.

„So we can sleep on?"

Charles grinned and opened his arms invitingly. Erik smiled back before he lay down again into Charles' embrace. The telepath smiled to himself and down on his very own Teddy Bear.

And just like that, they drifted back off into sleep, both knowing that they would not speak about this tomorrow – today, Charles corrected himself silently.

Pretty slashy, I know, I hope you liked it anyway :) Leave me a review if you like, and be sure to check out my other Cherik-fics.