For Shorty McGee, hope it satisfies the cravings.

And for all my other readers and reviewers, there is a wonderful youtube video with Charles/Erik. Just google "youtube rolling in the deep xmen".

Chapter 3- Choices

Friday night

'Well for want of a better word, it was surreal,' Lehnsherr confessed to the ceiling in his cell.

Following the session, he had immediately begun working on all the worksheets that the Professor had instructed him to complete for Monday. He had the weekend to get it all done but he really needed something to busy his mind. The whole encounter with the young man had left him feeling off balance.

Thankfully, the worksheets had captured his complete attention. Charles was right. Even though he possessed the knowledge getting it out of his head and compressing them into short distinct answers for test taking would take some practice. It was mortifying that he couldn't do something that American teenagers did everyday. Disappointed and fretful, he covered his hands with his face. He didn't know how he would be ready for this exam that was only a month away!

Charles had patted his clenched fist sympathetically, reassuring him that he wasn't the only person that felt that way. In return, Erik had pinned him with a glare looking for any lie in the other's blue eyes but he could see none. All he saw was complete confidence and determination for the weeks ahead.

With a sigh the prisoner flopped over on to his stomach.

Erik didn't like situations like this. Being indebted to anyone made him feel tense. He quite liked knowing upfront exactly what the other person wanted from him. As a career criminal one tended to stay alive longer that way. Erik didn't have much experience with relationships that were fueled by purely altruistic motives and Charles seemed to have no greater joy in life than teaching him. What he appreciated the most was the mutual sharing of ideas that Xavier insisted on. Erik knew that the other man was a university professor of some sort but inspite of this superiority in status; he didn't try to force his ideas down his throat. A freedom people took far too much for granted, in Erik's opinion.

Charles was just so ….so damned nice!

Erik hadn't decided as yet if he found this surprisingly refreshing or plain nauseating.

In the meantime, he wished he could do something for the young man, something in kind for the three days a week two hour tutor sessions he had so cheerfully signed up for. The evil part of his personality had suggested that he give the short Englishman some fashion pointers.

As he punched his pillow into a more comfortable shape, his mind once again meandered back towards the young Professor. He must certainly be hard pressed if he was looking for friendship from a convicted felon but he could see the interest there in his eyes and his manner. Maybe in another life…one where monsters like Sebastian Shaw didn't exist, they could be friends. Lehnsherr truly admired the serenity of Charles temper and the quickness of his mind but there was just no place right now for someone like him in Erik's life. No place for someone so innocent and pure in his fantasies of vengeance and blood. Oh for the love of ….why was he still thinking about the man?

Gah!

Xavier was a means to an end!

He forced his eyelids to close, beckoning the fickle god of sleep to come quickly.

In the meantime, on some deserted stretch of road leading from the prison, the man Erik Lehnsherr had been trying to stop analyzing, pulled over to the shoulder and switched off his car's engine.

For awhile Charles sat there in the cool darkness, staring out the glass without seeing and then with a small moan, he collapsed forward on the steering wheel.

'I am such a shit!' he declared passionately.

Without looking up he grabbed his phone and speed dialed his associate at the university.

'Hank? I am such a shit,' Charles confessed once again.

He heard a warm, friendly chuckle on the line.

'How did it go?' Hank McCoy asked with a roll of his eyes at this dramatic proclamation.

Xavier thumped his head on the steering wheel.

'It was an unmitigated DISASTER!' he answered with another groan of despair.

Thump. Thump.

'Huh? What did he do?'

'It wasn't him it was me. He was …'

The Englishman thumped his head again not wanting to complete the sentence.

'He was what?' Hank prodded anxiously. He was starting to get a little worried. Had this Lehnsherr character done something to upset his gentle friend?

'He was just perfect,' Charles whispered back through the phone.

The professor squeezed his eyes shut just imagining the look of disbelief on Hank's face right now.

'So when you mean perfect, you mean…?' the other man fished carefully.

'I was so stunned the only thing I could think to say was by golly you are tall.'

The professor's blue eyes narrowed into angry, thin slits as Hank roared with laughter.

'This is not funny, Hank! It must be fifty shades of illegal for a teacher to have a hard on while conducting a tutorial.'

'Description!' Hank demanded eagerly.

Charles leaned his head back to lay it on the headrest.

'How about you take over all his classes come Monday and you can see for yourself,' he interjected hopefully.

'Oh boy,' his friend replied. 'That wouldn't work. You and I like the same types of guys so if you like him I am going to be attracted to him too.'

Hank looked worriedly at his phone as the silence stretched out.

Shit.

'Charles, are you crying?'

A little sniff on the line confirmed his suspicion.

'Charles, take it easy. You've been working really hard. Try and relax this evening. I'll come by and we can go see a movie or something.'

More silence.

'And it is not illegal! He's not some under aged kid. Didn't you say he was older than you?'

Another pathetic little sniff.

'Its okay to feel attracted to him, you're only human. It's more important what you decide to do with those emotions. You can choose to JUST be his teacher.'

A worried huff of exhaled air whooshed across their connection.

'So is he gay?'

It was the professor's turn to roll his eyes.

'Would you believe old chap…it slipped my mind to ask?' he retorted sarcastically.

'… don't get your pantyhose in a bunch. This Lehnsherr guy really must be something!'

Charles head connected with the steering wheel again with another resounding thump.

Perfectly delicious.