Charles slowly wakes up in the morning. He realizes he's pulled against the straight planes of a man's chest instead of the curves of a woman. The feeling coming from the man who's holding him is a feeling of protection. He's confused for a minute and he's stiff so he can't move very much. As he concentrates on the presence next to him he realizes it's Erik. The headache he's sporting tells him he and Erik were drinking a lot last night.
"Charles, I'm not a telepath and I can tell how loud you're thinking. Go back to sleep. You're safe." Erik murmurs sleepily. "It's very early in the morning. No one else is up yet. It's far too early to be awake."
Charles groans lowly. He turns his face into Erik's chest and squeezes his eyes closed trying to fall back to sleep. His eyes are still heavy with sleep, but his mind is racing.
Erik slowly runs his hand up and down Charles' back trying to soothe him and feeling the satin run across his fingertips. He wants Charles to relax. He feels Charles' breathing even out as he falls back to sleep in his arms.
When Charles wakes up again Erik is still asleep. It's clear that he's much more tired than Charles first thought. He boosts himself up to a sitting position and watches Erik sleep. He softly runs fingers through Erik's salt and pepper hair. The urge to touch him is stronger than his feeling that he doesn't want to wake Erik. Erik turns his face towards Charles' touch. It quickly comes back to Charles how sweet and vulnerable Erik is capable of bring.
"You're projecting, Charles, and I'm not sweet." Erik says as he wakes up.
"Sorry Erik. I hope I didn't wake you up. You look younger when you're asleep, you know." Charles tells Erik.
"So do you. I watched you when you first fell asleep. You looked calm and relaxed. What happened to us, Charles? Why do we both feel the need to try and save the world?" Erik asks seriously.
"I don't know, Erik. If I knew the answer to those questions I wouldn't still be trying to save the world. I don't have to do all the things to save the world. Maybe, sometimes, I need to leave the world to it's own devices. I'm tired of being relied on to save the world just because I'm a telepath." Charles grumbles.
"Charles, you've been working so hard. Now is your opportunity to take some time for yourself and build a life that you want. This is your big chance to do something you've always wanted to do." Erik reminds Charles.
"I've got one of my wishes for one of the things I wanted to happen in my life. You are back in my life and that is perfect. You and I belong together, Erik."
"Well, considering how our relationship has been for the last forty years this is a definite improvement for us. I could hold you all day like this." Erik smiles happily.
"We do have to get up at some point. I promised I would make you breakfast. We can have some private time in the kitchen just the two of us. Most of the students will still be asleep." Charles says sleepily.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm starving." Charles says firmly. To prove his point his stomach rumbles just as he finished his sentence.
"Can I ask you something?" Erik asks quietly.
"Of course you can. I will be completely honest with you."
"Do you know if you can be intimate with your condition? Can we have a complete relationship since you're paralyzed when we decide want to and can be in a relationship?"
"Yes, I can be intimate, Erik. I have been intimate since my accident. I'm sorry if that disappoints you that I've been with someone else."
"I'm not disappointed in you, Charles. We've been apart for forty years. It would be more surprising if you hadn't been with someone else after me. Was it another man or a woman?" Erik asks curiously.
"It was a woman, which is unusual for me, and quite a long time ago. I went out to a bar by myself and I got really drunk. When I woke up the next morning I was naked, in a hotel room, lying next to a rather stunning brunette. I don't remember a lot about that night. I do remember the morning when she seduced me and I let her. That must have been an amazing night, but it wasn't special. You and I were special, Erik. That woman meant nothing to me. There hasn't been another man in my life since you. There's never been anyone as special as you."
Erik looks seriously at Charles. "Mein Gott, I think you've gotten more handsome, Charles. You're more elegant and confident than when you were young." Erik runs the tips of his fingers over Charles' face. Charles has a very handsome face.
"You have such a sexy voice, Erik. You're still very handsome and you still have all your own hair. I can't believe how well you've aged."
"It's your sexy accent I love Charles." Erik leans closer to Charles to kiss him, waiting for Charles to pull away, but he doesn't. In fact, Charles leans into the kiss and relaxes into Erik's arms. Erik gently pulls away from the kiss. "God Charles, your kisses have gotten better since the last time I kissed you."
"Your skills have also improved, Erik. There's no comparison to your past abilities at all really. It's very impressive."
"I'm less in a hurry now. I've learned how to treat people and I take care of the other person. I'm less selfish now. I appreciate the view before me. I've realized how rare opportunities like this are."
"Let's go and have some breakfast before this house turns into chaos." Charles slowly moves and shifts out of bed. "I'll just get changed and we can go down."
Erik is concerned about Charles when he practically collapses into his wheelchair. He seems terribly stiff. "Oh I slept for too long. I'm so stiff. I should know now to do that by now."
Erik smiles and rolls out of bed to get dressed. He digs in his bag for a shirt, a sweater, a pair of pants and a silk scarf. "Charles, will you manage on your own since you said you were so stiff?"
"I think so. I'll call you if I need help. I promise. You don't need to worry so much about me."
"I've always worried about you, Charles. Even when we were apart I worried about you. It almost sounds silly now knowing how powerful you are."
"How powerful I am has varied over the years. No matter how powerful someone is there's always someone who's worried about them. I was always worried about you."
"God Charles, it's too early in the morning to be so philosophical." Erik grumbles as heads back to the spacious bathroom.
Charles chuckles as he watches Erik. He wheels himself into his closet. Erik hates to think too hard early in the morning. Charles picks out a navy blue suit, a white shirt, and a mauve tie. Dressing his upper half has always been easier and so he puts his shirt and tie on first. He sighs heavily before he begins to take his pyjama pants off and then slowly and carefully slides his dress pants on and buttons them. He tucks his shirt into his pants and pulls his suit jacket on. When he goes back into the bedroom Erik is dressed and waiting from him.
"You always look so polished, Charles. It's unfair really."