Disclaimer: I do not own x-men first class. If i did...well, there would be a LOT more slash. Just sayin'.

A/N: Sorry if this is shortish. ):O I'm busy packing for my LONG trip! UGH! Please don't give up on this story, i'll update as soon as I get back, PROMISE!

{{{{Just a REALLY important detail…after Tuesday I won't be uploading anything knew for at least 12 days, considering I'm (unwillingly) abandoning my computer and going out to Utah.

Her nails drummed irritated on the black metal of the wire designed table in the small café, and Charles had to hold himself back from yelling at her to knock it off. The tapping metal echoed in his mind, and as Raven's hard gaze turned up to his she seemed to understand and stopped. The sky was littered with darkening clouds, the streets turning into a more overlay feel of off coloration, and Charles messaged his temples every now and then. Erik sat beside him, leaning back heavily in his seat, his eyebrows furrowed together in unstated anger and wavering control.

Charles' eyes flickered toward him, the atmosphere feeling off somewhat, and as Raven began to babble, began to open her mouth and curse at the unjust of Shaw's act, Charles' fingers brushed Erik's jean covered leg. It was a light touch, meaning to calm down the seething man beside him, but it came once more with the fierce jolting electric buzz. Erik's eyes narrowed at the other man's touch, but his shoulder's relaxed along with his posture and the air around them seemed to still.

I know you are frustrated, Erik. Raven and I as well, but please, at least while in public, try to control the aura you present.

Erik scoffed and said nothing, and Charles slowly retracted his fingers, a pleasant buzz tingling on the skin that touched jean.

"How are we even going to find him?" Erik looked up and away from Charles to Raven, whose arms were crossed and gaze heavy like burnt cinnamon.

"I know where a lab is, just off the junction of an alley close by here." Raven and Charles perked at that, Charles leaning in closer and Raven shifted to move here chair nearer. "It was under an illusion hidden behind an imaginary wall. There was a coded box, laid out against the wall and when I entered the numbers on my arm into the system the wall disappeared and a lab was in its place." Charles eyes narrowed.

"You entered in your numbers?"

"Yes."

"They know your still alive then, Erik. It will be harder to hide." Erik turned his gaze toward his friend. He studied the way his cheeks were flushed, his eyes wide bright and blue, and how his full apple ripe lips parted slightly in aggravation. He couldn't help a dark grin.

"I don't want to hide."

The day was spent in a blur. Raven voted for relaxing (the blue tint was coming across her skin), leading Charles and Erik around to shops and stores that occupied the big city. Both men followed around willingly, and even though Erik was reluctant to admit it (think it really) he was having a good time. That thought made Charles smile, smile at how happy these two people were, and for just a second he thought how wonderful it would be to live like this everyday. To be free from all the torturous memories and watching eyes of the public and just live. But the thought disappeared as soon as it came, and Charles wiped the idea from his mind and shoved the very mention of that thought into the darkest recesses of his mind. It was a too ignorant idea, and Charles wasn't one for wishful thinking.

Charles led Raven back upstairs to their room around twelve or twelve thirty, the precise time he was unsure of. She staggered inside, tired and spent, and fell onto the mattress of her bed, hands flopping and dangling off the sides.

"I had fun today." She whispered, and Charles froze at the sound of her voice. Slowly, he turned to face where she lay, and he smiled a sad smile. That would be the first and last time he would hear that, the feeling weighed strong.

"Good." She peaked up at him over her chest, blonde waves falling around her shoulders.

"Did you?"

"I did." She smiled at that, her dimples poking through and her eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Let's do this again sometime." Charles felt his heart sink, weighed down into the depths of his stomach by the light flow and happiness in her words. He said nothing, but nodded slowly as she breathed out a sigh of release and let her head fall against the pillow.

"I guess he's okay." Charles blinked. Raven shifted her weight on the bed, sighing and leaning up against the headboard to form the appropriate lax sitting position.

"Do you mean Erik?" She nodded, her gaze wandering until it focused upon Charles again.

"He seems lonely."

The night air was all Erik really hoped for now. Police stilled patrolled the streets, more so because of the murders that had taken place when Erik had saved Charles, but not too many to be considered "odd". He focused on the hum of cars and dull melodious honking of horns, but other than that the large city was still, quietly peaceful exuberance.

Erik?

Or was quiet. That pleasant throbbing returned in his head, and he stilled his walk as it whispered in that calm rich voice to him again.

What is it Charles?

Where did you find the lab? Show me.

Erik closed his eyes, remembering back to the alley, the candy shop, the busy streets and oblivious shoppers. The memory faded away and drifted back, and Charles was silent for some time.

Would you like to grab a drink?

Erik was taken aback by the question, and he pondered the reasons of its birth.

I suppose I would.

He felt Charles' smile in his mind, bright and relieved.

Good! Now at this corner you'll take a left…

The scotch burned as it slithered like hot smoke down Erik's throat and he relished in the feel of it. The ice clanked against the glass as he set it down on the mahogany wood bar counter, and he watched Charles from the corner of his eyes. Charles had opted for the same drink, seemingly uninterested in what he would be drinking as long as it was something with alcohol and a decent kick. Erik realized from observing Charles that he drank to drown out his thoughts, his posture relaxing and eyes calming, not from the haze of a buzz but from the relaxation of the thoughts around him slowing down.

"Why the sudden desire to see me, Charles?" The blue-eyed man shrugged, grinning slightly as he leaned casually against the back of his stool.

"Felt like getting out, not particularly alone either." He added at Erik's heavy gaze, green eyes ablaze.

"Raven can't hold her liquor?" Charles laughed, shaking his head slightly as he leaned forward on his arms to stare at his friend.

"Not to well, no." His smile faded some, and he licked his lips in apparition. His eyes flickered to his drink and he drowned the rest of the scalding liquid in one gulp.

"Reading my thoughts again, Charles?"

"No, not yours. His." Erik followed Charles' gaze to the man seated across from them at the bar. His hair was shaved roughly; some small strands still left standing on a cocoa colored head. He wore a hoodie, slightly mused, with a tattoo of an 'x' on his neck, just under his jaw. He looked agitated, eyes scanning around frantically and every now and then landed upon the two men staring at him from over the counter. Erik's gaze flickered back to Charles.

"And?" Charles' eyes narrowed, and his fingers slowly came up, resting gingerly on the sides of his head. Erik waited patiently, eyes hardening as Charles flinched.

"Erik, we should go." His eyebrows crinkled together in confusion.

"Charles?" The telepath's eyes snapped to meet his, blue shining bright with alarm. He felt Charles grip his wrist pulling him from the bar's stool and through the string of new customer's filing in.

"Charles, what's going on?" Charles wasn't exactly leading them anymore as they pushed through the door, it creaking and drowning out the music from inside as it closed. Charles' grip on Erik tightened and he tugged him hurriedly through the semi-empty streets.

"Erik, do you know why Shaw wanted me dead that night?" Erik couldn't see Charles face, but he did pick up the sound of calm calculating footsteps behind him and his teeth grinded together in frustration.

"Charles-" He growled out, the footsteps growing clearer, and his impatience grew with it.

"I knew too much, Erik. I know too much." He corrected in a hurried haze, grip tightening even still on Erik's wrist.

"I won't let him hurt you, Charles. Let me go and I can-" They both stilled, bodies freezing and shutting quiet, and Charles felt Erik's surprise. He blinked, unsure of what was happening, but slowly, without his consent his touch left Erik's skin. Footsteps sounded behind him and as he tried to look back over his shoulder to see who was approaching his head snapped forward again, chin jerking up and he heard Erik snarl under his breath. Another mutant. Charles stilled as he felt someone's hand curl against his cheek, the nails jagged and unkempt, and he knew instantly that it wasn't Erik.

There you are, Charles Xavier! Ready or not…here we are.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.