Chapter 4

You're lucky that I got my wisdom teeth removed and I have nothing better to do than write fics. So, here we go, another fluffy little chapter for my one-shot-series that might or might be not connected to the other chapters...

No serious disclaimers.

Erik woke up because of a soft knock at his door. Trying to adjust to the darkness of his room and to find the switch for the lamp on his bedside table, he yawned, still sleepy. After finding the switch, a quick look at his alarm clock told him that it was right in the middle of the night, shortly after 2 a. m., and he felt just like that.

Another knock. And a soft, familiar voice in his head, although it was not nearly as calm as usual.

Erik, it's me, please open the door. I need to talk to you. Really. Please.

The metalbender rubbed his eyes and let the door swing open. His powers were pretty useful at times, especially when he didn't want to leave the bed.

Charles entered the room and closed the door silently. An audible click followed, and the door was locked again. Erik's eyes traveled along his friends body, noticing not only the fact that he was fully clad, but also shaking.

„Charles! What... What's up, why are you so upset?" he asked, wondering. Charles was never like this, Charles was always the personification of composure.

„You won't believe what I just... saw... uhm. I mean, in my mind," the telepath tipped his fingers against his temple, „I... oh god-"

Erik couldn't watch him stammer any more, so he slipped out of his bed. „First, sit down," he padded Charles' shoulder lightly, pushing him towards the bed. „Second, I'll get you a drink."

He watched as his friend let himself fall down on his bed, the expression on his face completely blank. Erik crossed the room to get two glasses and his very own bottle of very good (and very expensive) scotch. Despite the fact that he was really curious what could have got Charles into such a condition, he tried to stay calm.

Charles' eyes widened briefly when Erik stopped in front of him, handing the glass to him.

„Do you always sleep like this?" he asked, eyes resting on Erik's bare upper body.

„Well, yes. It's comfortable and no one ever complained. Not that there was anyone who could complain," he answered, grinning while sitting down beside Charles, placing his hand on the other one's knee. „So, now, tell me."

„First, this," the professor answered and raised his glass. After clinking their glasses, they both dried them respectively.

„Then... where should I start..."

„Where have you been?" Erik tried to help.

„I was sitting in the study, after you went to bed... so that must have been around midnight?"

The metalbender nodded.

„Well, after I sat there until just a few minutes ago – found a really interesting book, you know, but more of that later – I sensed something... unusual," Charles explained.

„Go on."

„I think I need more whiskey to tell you this," Charles grinned. „Can't help it, that stuff is pretty good."

Erik winked and carried the bottle over to his bed, refilling their glasses. After another sip, Charles continued. „I sensed something rather unusual in the middle of the night. A 'disturbance' in the flow of thoughts, if you will, and it was not only one mind involved. Because I expected nothing good, I took a look into those minds... I shouldn't have."

Another sip of the whiskey. Erik waited.

„It were Alex and Sean."

„So... what did they do?" Erik raised an eyebrow, surprised. He had thought that maybe Charles had found Hank and Raven making out, which would explain the fact that he was upset – his little sister and her first boyfriend... but the boys?

„They had sex."

Erik, who had just taken a gulp from the glass, tried hard to not choke on the good whiskey. After conquering his coughing fit, he began to laugh. „That's all, Charles? Seriously?"

„Yeah, pretty much," Charles smiled as well by now. „I know it's ridiculous to be so upset about it, but it just kind of... bothers me. I hope you understand."

„I try to. But honestly, there's nothing to disapprove about that, is it? Let the boys have their fun," Erik smirked.

His friend looked deeply into his eyes, pondering. „Well, of course. As I said, I have no idea what bugged me about it in the first place."

„Calm down, it's okay," Erik softly padded his shoulder again after putting his empty glass aside. „If you're just looking for someone to talk and find a bit comfort and a glass of whiskey, I'm game."

„I know, that's why I came here," Charles said, his tone more serious than Erik liked, „I mean, I really have no problem with them being homosexual or anything, it's just... the thought that makes me... feel strange. I even don't know if I can look into their eyes at the breakfast table."

„Of course you can. If this is something serious and not just finding out about their preferences, they will tell us sooner or later. And don't worry about their privacy – I can understand that it feels uncomfortable to have seen this, but you couldn't know."

Charles chuckled, looking to the ceiling. „You know, it's really amusing that you are, for once, the voice of reason and not me."

„Am I doing a good job, then?" Erik grinned.

When Charles turned his head towards him and their eyes met, Erik felt a soft, warm shiver run down his spine. „Yes, you do, even though you're running around half naked."

„If you're joking again already, you cannot feel that bad. Oh, and how should I know that you would wake me in the middle of the night? Next time, I'll expect a heads-up beforehand, so I can dress properly."

Charles laughed, finally at ease again.

„And as you seem to be fine again," Erik teased. „Excuse me, Sir, but I'll be back to the land of dreams now, where you woke me from so harshly a few minutes ago."

He slipped under his bedsheets again – because his room was a bit chilly already – and looking back at Charles, he found a big pout on the telepath's lips. Adorable, was the first thing that shot through his mind.

„Aw, come on, don't look at me like that."

„You can't just leave me with this... heavy burden like this now!"

„Fine," Erik rolled his eyes theatrically, grinning at his friend, „You can stay here as long as you like, of course. I suppose you know that already. If you want to stay for the night, I could get you a t-shirt of mine and we can throw a pajama party, just the two of us. What do you think?"

„As much as I appreciate the idea, Erik," Charles smirked, „No, this was actually meant to be serious. But I'll gladly accept the first part of your offer. I don't need any t-shirt, though."

And with that, he got to his feet – and Erik lay on his bed and wordlessly watched as Charles stripped off his chemise and pants, crawling under the duvet next to him being clad merely in his underpants, just like Erik himself.

Charles switched the lights off, and they lay in silence and darkness, and because the bed was small and Charles needed a bit of comfort and reassurance now – at least that was what Erik told himself – he shifted closer to the telepath and wrapped his arm around the other one's waist. Erik softly pulled their bodies together, resting his head at Charles' neck. The latter cupped his hand in his own and squeezed it softly. That had to be a silent agreement, then, Erik thought.

Spooning on Erik's bed like this, the metalbender could feel the warmth of Charles' body, the regular rhythm of his breath, his typical fragrance of that unique aftershave Erik had never smelled before and that certain fragrance of Charles surrounding him. He couldn't deny his utter contentment at this. It just felt... right like this, with Charles in his arms.

„You know," Erik chuckled lightly, „If somebody saw us now, he might think that we just did what Alex and Sean were doing."

Charles giggled. „Maybe," he sighed.

„No problem there?"

„Like I told you before, I neither had a problem with Alex and Sean, I just... couldn't process it properly, if you will."

„Got over it, then?" Erik asked.

„Suppose so." Another sigh.

Erik propped his upper body up on his elbow and ran his hand gently through Charles' hair, soothing him down further. Something was different, though, and after he had let his hand run through the fluffy brown hair strands once again, he knew it.

„You had a haircut!"

„Yes, I had?" Charles startled at Erik's harsh tone.

„Don't let them cut it so short. I prefer it longer."

Erik noticed too late what he had said, and he quickly covered his mouth with his hand, as if that could stop the words that were already spoken.

Much to his surprise, though, Charles didn't mock him. „If that's the case I'll just won't get it cut for a while, what do you think?"

Erik didn't answer. He just ran his hand through Charles' hair once more – the latter sighing contented as he did – and placed a short, chaste kiss onto the back of the professor's head. He just couldn't resist.

Charles' answer was also wordless. He turned around in Erik's arms and snuggled into his chest.

And by god, how should he get to sleep now with that big, stupid grin all over his face?

Erik decided that it was best to not sleep at all and instead look at Charles. The telepath was completely relaxed, eyes closed and cozily wrapped in Erik's arms, with no attempt to leave this place, and he looked simply adorable.

„Good night, Erik," he whispered softly.

„Good night, Charles," Erik answered, and before he knew what he did, he pressed another kiss to Charles' forehead.

Charles just wrapped himself closer around him by trapping his legs under one of his own.

Main reason why Charles feels uncomfortable: He wants exactly that with Erik as well and just can't admit it... ^_^