Snazzy
October 1963 (1)
"I have a question for you," Charles says when they're almost back to the house.
"What?" Erik says, giving Charles an expectant look, like he hopes the question will be "Do you want to get a room?" (on further contemplation, Charles realizes that's exactly what heﾒs hoping for; a realization helped along by Erik's mind singing it out so very loudly).
"Your, ah, cape," Charles manages, cheeks going hot as it takes him a minute to remember just what he was going to ask.
"What about it," Erik says.
"Why is it necessary, again? Really, Erik, it's gotten closed in the door every time youﾒve gotten in or out of the car. And you've stepped on it several times as well, and you almost got twisted up in it when you did that dramatic flair thing as we were leaving the hospital. It seems to be a great deal of trouble for no gain that I can see."
"When I want your opinion about my wardrobe, I'll ask for it," Erik says; but though his jaw is clenched, his thoughts are crestfallen, deflated.
Ridiculous as the cape is (and it's very nearly as awful as the paint job on the helmet), Charles still feels bad; and so he says, in what he hopes is an encouraging manner, "I really prefer the turtleneck look, myself. You canﾒt go wrong in a turtleneck."
Erik brightens, a little.
More telling is that the next year when he comes, neither helmet nor cape is anywhere to be seen; and in all the years to follow, he always comes to kidnap Charles wearing a turtleneck.