Disclaimer: I do not own x-men first class. If i did...well, there would be a LOT more slash. Just sayin'.
A/N: This chapter was fun to write. A lot happened and a lot of things have now been set up. This is dedicated to those who wait.
The sunlight had never felt so warm.
It flittered in like a spy through the blinds, seeking out the warmth that was as similar to its as possible.
The presence of another had never been as welcomed.
Erik realized that as he stared down at Charles' face downed in the heavy remaindants of sleep, the telepath pressed lightly against his chest, arm draped tightly around his waist, as though he was scared Erik would leave as he slept. His cheeks were still a little flushed, his breathing calm and rhythmic. Erik couldn't help but smile at the sweet innocent beauty of this man. He reached up and gingerly caressed Charles' cheek, relishing in the soft baby smooth skin that lay just under his nails.
"I won't loose you, Charles." Erik whispered to the sleeping man beside him. As he spoke those words out loud, he felt like it was possible, just for a fleeting moment. Erik retracted his hand but let it drape around Charles' shoulders, pulling the younger man in closer. He was warm, and had a sweet subtle smell, but it made Erik's heart pound and his nerves grow warm. This feeling was strange. It made him feel so happy, so at peace. He couldn't help but smile.
Charles let his eyes drip open, taking in the broad chest before him before he scooted in closer, pressing his cheek to that chest and listening to the even beating of Erik's heart.
"I had a strange dream," Charles heard himself saying, lips moving in butterfly kisses across the metal bender's flesh. "I was in a field. The grass was long and tall, and there was no path. I was walking but I wasn't moving." He paused, planting a playful kiss on Erik's collarbone.
"I called out to you, and even though I knew you heard me you couldn't call back." Erik's grip tightened protectively, on pure instinct, and Charles reached himself up to plant another open-mouthed kiss on Erik's jaw. "The field was burning the next time I blinked. My head still hurts from it." Erik was silent for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say, so he tucked down his head and let his lips find Charles'. He would never grow tired of the feeling.
"You never have to worry, about me not being able to hear you, Charles." Erik muttered against the telepath's lips. "I'm always there." Charles smiled, a warm fleeting grin before he inhaled deeply and fought back the tears that meant to flow.
"I know you are, Erik. Just a silly dream." And when a tear did escape, did manage to fall past closed eyes and trickle down embarrassed cheeks, there were red rough lips ready to capture it in its wake.
"My head hurts Erik."
"I know."
"It's pounding."
"Just breathe."
"She's always here."
"Block her out."
"…Do you hear it?"
"Hear what?"
"My heart. It's crying."
"Charles…"
"She's here but I'm happy, Erik." The sound of sirens were unwelcome and loud, and Charles just nestled in closer to Erik, let himself be pulled in tighter.
"Breathe, Charles. Don't worry. We'll fight the whole world."
Raven didn't expect to wake so early. Nor did she expect to be woken up by police sirens. But it was just the way it was and she sprung up, tripping over sheets as she darted over to Hank, shaking the already waking man roughly.
"The hell is it this time?" Alex snarled, rising from the bed and darting over to peer out the window. Blue and red flashed harshly across the motel room, the sun just rising up in the distant sky. Hank fumbled to stand, reaching for his glasses in Raven's outstretched hands. He managed to mumble a hurried thanks.
"I'm not in the mood to fight." Alex stated as Sean rose up to stand beside him. The redhead's eyes grew slightly. Then he smiled.
"I'm tired." Raven murmured, taking Hank by the hand and pulling him up to the door. "And my hairs a mess."
"Where are Charles and Erik?" Hank questioned, the police cars screeching to a halt in the empty lot. Raven's eyes widened and she looked around frantically, pushing Alex to the side to peel up the blinds.
"Whoa! What are you doing? Now they know where we are!" Alex snapped, hand snatching hold of Raven's sleep wrinkled shirt.
"They would've found us anyway, I'm just speeding up the inevitable!"
"We could've fought back-!"
"We still can!" The door came crashing down as soon as an official's boots crashed upon it.
Charles slipped his shirt on quickly, tossing Erik's his as he made his way over to the motel's cheap wooden doors.
"I'm not in the mood for this, Erik." He sighed, and he relaxed slightly as he felt Erik's arms embrace him from behind.
"This is our last few minutes of peace, Charles. Enjoy it while you can." Charles chuckled, leaning his head up to meet Erik's lonely lips with his. The kiss was passionate and wanting, burning and sweet, and Erik's lips answered every question Charles' asked. They pulled away at the obtrusive banging on the door.
"Police officials of Labs 228 and 223! Open up!" Charles' smile faded, his eyes growing cold, and his index finger and thumb reached out to clip themselves on the hem of Erik's sleeve. The action left an aching in Erik's chest. He remembered the time he did it before, the time they were going into the labs. Yet another time their lives were at stake. He raised his hand, the metal of the framework and shower curtain rattling as they moved through the air, toward the door and out the window. Glass shattered in dizzying spirals, the shards slashing through the air and landing sticky into the beige carpeting.
"Police! Op-!" The sound of fabric shearing was heard, along with the splash of bodily fluid as the policeman fell. Erik swished his wrist and the door opened with a moaning groan. Another flick of his hand and the officer's bleeding body was thrown away, the shower rail sticking grotesquely from his snapped throat.
"Ladies first." Charles stopped mid-step and turned tauntingly dangerous toward Erik.
"So I'm the lady here?" Erik just smiled as Charles gave a weary grin before he turned and raced from the room. Sean's scream was enough to make anyone run. It echoed loud and hoarse throughout the parking lot, blowing away filled cop cars into the air and letting them smash down again with the shrieking of horns and crunch slapping of metal. Erik didn't have to do much. Just raise a hand the officials were soon disabled, guns cocked and spinning in the air to face their owners. To Erik, it was the most beautiful irony. Their jobs would have killed them in the end anyway. Charles found Raven crouched by her bed in their room, she was trembling, but her mind read steady, just a little shaken up. Residents at the motel peeked out of dust coated windows, expressions of horror and fascination etched permanently on their unshaven faces. A young boy tried to go outside, but his mother's thin arms enfolded him, and through the fit of brown curls and baggy shirt Charles could make out the little boy's argument: "The superhero's, mommy! I wanna see the superhero's!" The woman's mouth opened as she took in the blood around them, the police with their own weapons cocked and aimed to splatter their heads across the pavement. She tugged the boy closer yet, hand slapping over his yapping mouth, fire red nails stark against the child's pale flesh.
"No baby." She choked, eyes meeting Erik's and holding its green grey gaze. She shook her head, the blonde tangled mess of hair matting against her cheeks. "No, baby, no. These aren't superhero's, they're the bad guys." And the door to their room slammed shut, and Erik let his gaze fall. They were the bad guys? They weren't the ones trying to wipe out a complete and evolved race. No… Erik raised his hand, the officer's shifting on the cracking asphalt under their boots. Sweat poured down their faces in the form of tears, something these men would never show. Erik could feel Charles' tugging at the recesses of his mind, pulling him away from it all but he bit his lip until he tasted the acrid tang of his blood and he let his fist close. The official's screams echoed like the wails of dying kids, and the after effects of the gunshots reverberated through Hank's head. He felt sick as he watched the bodies crumble, felt as though his stomach were raging up out of his throat as he saw their brains and fragments of skull clatter and splat against the black concrete. Raven gripped Charles' arm tightly as they made their way past Alex and Sean to stand outside beside Erik. All had gone eerily still.
"Erik," Charles whispered, gaze shocked and horrified as he looked around the slaughtered men. "You killed them." It was an obvious statement, and Charles hated himself for saying it, but he had no other words to say. He didn't know if he should feel relieved or disgusted. But Alex was grinning, and Raven was smiling broadly, staring up at Erik with inhibited wonder and sadness, and Sean was leaning on Alex in relief while Hank looked pale and demoralized.
"Are we the bad guys now, Erik?" Charles broke out, and everyone turned to stare at him, their expressions molded into the sight of when they first saw the blood fly. Erik didn't move, but his eyes told everything, the guilt and rage and mocking embarrassment foretelling all. Charles wanted desperately to reach out to him, to take him in his arms and whisper words of sweet nothings in his ear, but instead he let his eyes fall. Just…just fall. And his body seemed to be mimicking his eyes because before he knew it his knees had scraped against the concrete and Erik's arms had wrapped around his waist and shoulders, pulling him up to his unsteady feet again.
"Charles!" Raven quipped, arms grasping his in their fumbling hold, and Erik just pulled him up closer. Charles felt so light headed, his entire body nauseated and dizzy, and his legs felt like melted rubber. Sean's head poked worried over Alex's shoulder and Charles felt himself heave, coughing in the most violent shuddering manner he'd ever experienced. The metallic taste of blood stung and batted at his tongue, and he felt his hands come up to cup the falling red liquid. Everyone grew still as they stared at the substance in Charles' hands, and Erik's grip slackened in surprise.
You are messy, sugar. It's been fun, this game of hide and seek. But we've grown weary of it. We found you, so you're "it".
There was a snapping sound, and a cloud of red smoky vapors surrounded the three figures that appeared from the mist, standing in the center of the dead crumbled cops. The group looked up, Charles' eyes wide as he turned to stare at the tall man in the center. He had brushed back brown hair, whites suit and leather boots, and a woman and red man stood on either side of him. The realization hit Charles instantly. He gripped Erik's arm, nails digging into the man's skin, and Erik turned to stare down, eyes worried hard.
"That's him, Erik." Charles gushed, hand tightening its hold. "That's Shaw." The man in the center just smiled, catching Charles' gaze he spread his arms wide.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, my little telepath!"
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