3) Goodnight, my friend

Plot: XMFC AU drabble, Erik dies after they bring each other peace. (WARNING: Depressing, obviously)

Charles still could not process what just happened. One minute he was lying in the sand after pathetically attempting to stop his headstrong friend. The next he was pushed back by aforementioned friend, right underneath gunshots.

Moira was shooting at them.

No, Charles thought. Not us. Him. After killing Shaw despite Charles's wishes for peace, Erik froze the missiles of the humans that were aimed at all the mutants on the island. He was unintentionally trying to substitute Shaw and finish his dirty work of global destruction by killing those humans. Nevertheless, Charles knew Erik was only trying to do the right thing, even if his ways were misguided. If only Erik would just take off that damn helmet...

Charles weakly managed to stand up. Erik was still standing in front of him, deflecting bullets with flicks of his wrist. Moira was still shooting relentlessly. Charles did not need to be a mind reader to know she was downright afraid of Erik and probably for good reasons.

Erik boldly forced one of the bullets to head straight for Moira and bury into her shoulder. The brunette clutched her bleeding shoulder and cried out in pain, but Erik's gaze held no sympathy for her.

Then, it happened. As Moira fell down, Erik turned to Charles with a bitter and ire countenance.

"Charles!" The metal bender yelled. "Stay down! This isn't your fight anymore, so stay out of this!"

"No, Erik!" The professor shouted back. "She doesn't deserve to die."

"I won't kill her," Erik sneered. "But I will give this meddling human a taste of what she's dealing with, Charles!" Charles could see the raw anger in his eyes from where he stood. "You may be smart, Charles Xavier, but you're too naive even now to realize that we're the better man. They - "

Everyone heard the shot, loud and cacophonous, electrifying even. Everyone felt the sound. Everyone felt the pain and anger. Raven's hands flew to her mouth. Alex and Sean were simply speechless. Hank gaped in shock. Angel stiffened. Riptide shivered. Even Azazel winced sympathetically during the metal bender's descent.

First, there was the shot. Moira had weakly raised her gun for one last impressive shot in the back. Then, Erik visibly paled, his countenance blank. His eyes laid on Charles, who watched him wordlessly as he fell into the coarse sand.

A dreadful silence ensued. Then, Erik whimpered and rolled, revealing the oozing blood.

That woke Charles up.

"ERRRRIIIIIIIK!"

He rushed and knelt to his friend's side. His impulsive mind worked before his sensibility as he froze everyone else's minds. He sent the humans home with blissfully ignorant minds. It was just them. The world seemed at peace. Only it was not.

Erik grunted as Charles examined his wounds. "Okay, okay, Erik, don't, don't move. Just...relax. We'll get you to a hospital. I'll get Azazel -"

"No, Charles. Just leave."

The telepath stared at him for a minute before shaking his head. "You're delusional, my friend, obviously, if you think I'm just going to leave you here -"

Erik rolled back on his back and grabbed Charles's hands. "I've done what I've wanted to do my whole life, Charles. I'm at peace now."

"Did what?" Charles scoffed. "Erik, we're wasting time. We have to -"

"I killed Shaw." He lightly squeezed Charles's hands. "And I met you."

"Erik, I'm getting Azazel -"

"No, damn it!" Erik sighed heavily. "This is my life, Charles. My life. I decide what happens." He fixed his eyes cooly on Charles. "Okay? You can't save everyone, Charles. I proved that."

"Yes, well, because you're too stubborn to listen to anyone else."

The metal bender allowed himself to smile softly at the teary-eyed telepath. "Don't cry for me, my friend. Don't blame yourself for what has happened. Don't try to save me. Because...because you already did." Erik closed his eyes. The pain was so overwhelming...

Charles did not even bother to hide his tears at that point. They streamed down his face and reddened his eyes as he lightly slapped Erik's cheeks. "No. No, Erik. No! You - You can't! Stay with me, Erik! Please! You're going to be fine. Just - "

"Charles." Erik opened his eyes. "Please. Leave."

"You think I can just do that?! Erik, I love you!"

"I know," Erik admitted. "I've known for a while, Charles. And as much as it kills me to admit it, the feeling must be mutual, considering how much you unwillingly get in my head... not in a telepathic sense."

Charles forced out a little laugh and he held Erik close. The metal bender just relaxed in his arms, and they watched the waves crash on the beach. The peace was short-lived, however.

"Erik, I can't just -"

"If you love me, you will." He slowly reached out to hold Charles's cheek. "Please, Charles. Do this for me." The telepath bit his lip and sobbed. "Please, Charles."

"Do you expect me to just act like nothing ever happened?!" Charles snapped hoarsely. "Because I can't forget you, Erik! Even if I wanted to!"

Erik stroked his cheek before lightly tapping his temple. "Yes, Charles. Yes, you can."

Charles scooted a little away from Erik. "No, no, Erik -"

"Please." Erik grabbed his hands again. "Please. Just let me die with my dignity, knowing my mother can rest in peace, knowing I can't hurt you anymore. A gun shot... The way a metal bender fell."

Charles just shook his head. "Erik, you're insane." He gently pressed his forehead against Erik's. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Read my mind. See for yourself."

Charles nodded and delved into Erik's mind. As the truth spilled out, so did many memories and emotions.

"I thought I was alone."

"You're not alone. Erik, you're not alone."

"What do you know about me?"

"Everything."

"There's so much more to you than you know."

"You ready for this?"

"Let's find out."

Charles gulped as raw emotions overwhelmed his senses, and he forced himself to replay those memories for Erik's sake.

"Thank you, my friend. Now I can sleep..." Erik shut his eyes. "In peace..."

"Good night, my friend."

Erik nodded slightly, and Charles felt his heartbeat go away, slowly and peacefully. He did not release Erik, but he released the frozen minds.

And, for Erik, once they returned to the manor, Charles released his own.