Anote: I am so happy you are enjoying the story sjl. You should sign up for an account so that you can receive updates on new chapters and you can bookmark all your favourite stories. Tonight, I also have my readers on the US coast in mind. When I first started writing this story arc, Tropical Storm Sandy had sent some rain to my island. Never did I imagine where that storm would be today. Keep safe everyone!
Chapter 41-Let it rain down part2
The small man's blue eyes looked impossibly large in his now too pale face. For a moment, Erik was tempted to make the most of this circumstance but the new and improved Erik, shied away from such deceptive behaviour. In the meantime, the old Erik sneered at such a nauseating display of ethics.
'It's nothing,' he reassured the other man, ripping off the ubiquitous thick strip of tape and cotton ball from off his arm, 'I went in to a free clinic for a blood test.'
He grabbed his seat and pushed it even closer to the professor's as the young man watched him with a petrified expression, 'please don't worry. I am not worried.'
He sighed as it was clear that his words had not penetrated into the Englishman's mind. He hadn't meant for Charles to know about this.
'What is this test for?' the professor finally managed to garble out.
Once again Erik averted his eyes trying to quickly find a way out of this messy, emotional conversation. 'It's nothing. I just thought I better get myself checked out. That is if your little offer on the napkin still holds from this morning.'
He gave Charles a supportive squeeze around his back as he felt a slight tremor run through his slight frame. It was moving to know that the small man cared so much.
'Dearest, do you think you have something?'
He might. He hadn't been particular careful all these years.
'I don't know. I just don't want to take the risk where you are concerned.'
The way Charles was staring at him gave him a momentary pause and abruptly he removed his arm that previously was draped around the man's shoulders. Promptly, the professor reached out and replaced the limb around himself, 'I'll go with you for the results. And yes, my offer still stands.'
'That is not necessary,' Erik whispered softly against his hair, 'but would be appreciated.'
He didn't really need any company but he thought it best to give way. Judging from the way that Charles was slumped awkwardly against his chest, it was clear that the other man was upset. The only thing he cared about was not giving any disease to Charles, not if he had any lethal microbes running around inside him. He felt fine. Good enough to take Shaw out at the end of his parole in any case. After that…well, to be truthful he hadn't given it much thought.
'You know what I think?' Erik inquired rhetorically, trying to steer the conversation into less troubled waters, 'I think neither one of us should ride Logan's bike tonight.'
Silently, Charles watched as the older man fished the keys out of his jacket pocket and tossed it towards the barkeep. It really helped that Erik was keeping so calm about this blood test. The professor had to keep reminding himself that it was just a precaution. Nothing to worry about!
'Two cabs,' Erik ordered, raising his fingers in a like manner to reinforce the request for separate taxis.
He quickly shushed a murmur of protest, 'Go home and get some rest. You look like you are ready to collapse. I don't know how long I will be at the meeting. I suppose Gerard will need some time to tear a strip off my hide.'
As Charles pressed a kiss to his lips Erik stiffened in surprise, a bit astonished at such a public display of affection from the normally reserved scholar.
'I want to go with you,' the professor pleaded.
'Of course you can come but are you sure you aren't too tired?'
'I am not tired. We can put Emma in one cab and you and I could take the other.'
'Emma? Christ…I had forgotten about her.'
Charles felt his insides do a mad victory dance at these words. Take that…beautiful babe with the weird sparkly smile! You lose! Muwhahahaha! The professor rolled his eyes at the badly behaved voices in his head. He was spending way too much time with Erik it would seem.
As the doorman signaled the arrival of their cabs, Erik guided him back over to the bar and gestured for him to sit. 'Stay here and don't interfere.'
Unbeknownst to Charles, the barkeep and Erik had exchanged looks which now lead to the former hovering protectively near the small man.
With growing curiosity, the professor watched as Erik beckoned for Emma to approach him so they could talk. He couldn't make out what was being said as the older man relentlessly nudged her towards the waiting taxis but he shot out his seat as Erik grabbed her arm and pushed her forcefully out the door. He would have run forward if the bartender hadn't stepped into his way.
'Your man said to stay here,' he rumbled as he moved to the left and right inorder to block the professor's approach.
'But he's hurting her!'
'I wouldn't worry. She can handle herself.'
The bartender shook his head apparently amused at Charles' green attitude, 'Not all women need rescuing and trust me that one doesn't. But it's decent of you two to get her home on such a rainy night. Most men would have just left her sitting there.'
Not mollified by this complimentary remark, the professor frowned darkly up at him and then at Erik who now approached Emma-free.
However, the older man didn't even notice his disapproving glance or if he did he was ignoring it. Quickly scooping up Charles' helmet in one hand and threading his other arm around the young man's waist, he hustled them out the door much to the disappointment of the crowd who had greatly enjoyed the change in scenery with these two colorful individuals.
'Move those little legs Charles,' Erik bit out as the rain promptly soaked them in the few feet from the doorway to the waiting cab.
In relief the two men tumbled into the dry, warmth of the interior. Quickly Erik provided directions as Charles tried to dry his face with his already damp handkerchief.
'Alright there, are you?' Erik inquired as he tugged on his arm to bring him closer to his side.
'Of course, I am alright. I am here with you.'
In the dim light of the taxi's interior, the professor could just make out the tension that came over Erik's face like a shroud.
'You wish I wouldn't say things like that, don't you?'
'Yes and no,' Erik eventually replied in a soft murmur, 'especially when I can't say the words back to you.'
'I don't need you to say the words. I already know.'
How could he not? The way Erik selflessly worried about his health and happiness was as plain as the nose on his face. His ACTIONS told the professor all that he needed to know about what dwelt in his heart.
Erik looked a bit confused but for Charles it was like a truth that he had always known but perhaps not always had confidence in. The assiduous care that Erik always showed for him was one of the very first things that caught his interest (well that and Erik's brooding movie star looks). It was a welcome change from always having to exhaustively look out for his family, friends and at times even his students. Charles felt his heart flutter a bit in panic as he squarely faced how attracted he was to Erik. Was he starting to fall in love with him? Maybe he was but that shouldn't feel like if you are about to have a heart attack, should it?
The taxi driver cleared his throat with a pointed cough, 'you boys want me to take the scenic route or direct?'
Charles smiled as the man peeked at them in his mirror, good humouredly waggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. 'Please take us via the most direct route as quickly as you can. The gentleman will pay extra.'
Erik raised an eyebrow as the professor pointed in his direction but he was actually quite pleased. This was his mess to clean up and as much as he had become accustom to Charles' fussing there were times that he found it a bit insulting and overbearing.
Pulling his boyfriend half way across his lap, Erik slid down a bit into the seat to be more comfortable. The night was dreary indeed, with the rain pounding away at the top of the cab's roof and running down the windows in a clear waterfall.
'How did things with McCoy go?' he murmured into his ear.
The professor released a frustrated sigh, 'Erik, there is a high probability that Hank is going to pick a fight with you, sometime in the near future.'
The older man restrained himself from laughing with great difficulty.
'That's fine,' he replied. 'But the two of you are talking, right?'
'More or less. This is so very …unfortunate. I think Henry is a bit confused about what he is feeling. I am suddenly spending so much time with you and none with him and he misses me. I am fairly certain he doesn't love me. Maybe I should spend a little more time with him.'
He squawked out loud as Erik suddenly crushed him to his side, 'Ow! I think you cracked my rib, dearest.'
'Forgive me,' the older man automatically replied as he released him. 'But I don't think that is a good idea at all!'
As Erik gazed down at him with a hard, blazing look Charles leaned forward in amusement to kiss the man on the tip of his nose. There was nothing like a little jealously from the man you were crazy about to make you feel special. 'How about we both spend time with him then?'
The older man's faced creased into an expression of acutest misery before he finally nodded. It was better than the alternative.
With a sigh of gloom, Erik leaned his head back on the seat edge and listened with a martyred expression as the professor rattled on and on about the activities that the three of them could take part in. Xavier was crazy if he really thought that he would want to go volunteer in the undergraduate science fair! All of a sudden, he noticed that Charles' voice started to get all weird and he struggled to raise his head to investigate. It was distorted, as if being squeezed down a narrow tube and between that one thought and the next, he fell asleep.
The professor was so surprised that all he could do was stare.
In their entire acquaintance with each other he had never seen Erik sleeping. As was his habit, he usually dropped off long before Erik ever thought of coming to bed.
He felt his heart melt into a small puddle as he gently pushed the older man's thick hair from off his forehead. In repose, the little worry lines that constantly bracketed Erik's eyes had smoothed out giving him a peaceful look.
The driver, also noting this change, obliging switched off his radio.
'Sorry sir,' he whispered, 'There is a lot of traffic tonight with this weather. I am afraid we are in for a long drive.'
Charles didn't mind. It was actually the best news he had heard since he learnt of Erik's dismissal from his job. Slowly he removed his jacket and draped it over the two of them as best as he could, encasing them in their own little cocoon. But for once he didn't fall asleep as he rested his head on Erik's strong shoulder.
Instead he stared out the window unseeingly; forcing himself to concentrate on Erik's breathing so as not to think of all the things which despite his wealth and influence, he had no power to control.