Welcome,
Intothevoid, thank you so much for leaving such a kind review. Good to know people are still enjoying this story.
Now, chapter 25. Could this be the one a lot of you have been waiting for? Will Charles get his moment?
No spoilers...ENJOY!
Chapter 25 - Cherries and champagne
Morning had come, but Ann had not gotten much sleep. Half of the night she'd spent thinking about what had happened, what she'd done, and the other half she practically forced herself to stay awake in case her mind decided to wander on its own into the minds of other. The latter had never happened before but ever since her stay with Charles and the others, her powers were showing sides of themselves she'd never known about.
She might have gotten through the night, but the rest of the day was right around the corner and she was quite late compared to everybody else. She'd heard the doors around her open already and most likely she was the last one left in the corridor. Ann had to find Moira and talk to her before Charles could say anything. Because she was almost a hundred percent certain that he knew she had been there, spying on them like some sort of disgusting peeping Tom.
Ann groaned loudly and plopped back down on her bed. How was she going to face either of them?
No, she could do this. It had been an honest mistake, and yes, she might have lingered longer than had been necessary. But it hadn't been her intention to do so. She had to tell them honestly or else it would gnaw at her forever. Only Charles was never going to let this go, was he? He would torment her for God knows how long with it. She'd always told him how she found her gift invasive and now she'd proven her point.
With one final sigh she got off the bed and walked towards the door. She pressed her ear against the wood to listen if anybody was out there. When it sounded quiet enough, she reached for the knob and turned it. An empty hallway. Good. Just as she'd hoped. Time to get some food in her stomach and cross her fingers that Charles would be nowhere near Moira.
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So far so good. Ann had managed to finish her breakfast in silence. Not another soul had been in the kitchen when she entered, pour herself a cup of coffee along with some jam on toast. A simple small meal but she didn't feel like eating anyway. Her stomach kept fluttering from shame and tension of having to tell Moira what she'd done.
Ann left the room after cleaning up and walked passed the training room where her and Raven had been sparring the other day. She stopped and peeked through the slightly ajar door. Raven was there once again, in her fitness outfit, punching the life out of the bag of sand dangling in front of her. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she then proceeded to the weightlifting bench. Ann couldn't help but sense something was a little off. Raven looked a bit dishevelled.
Part of her wanted to pretend she didn't see the blonde haired girl sitting down on the bench, slumping her shoulders and lowering her head. But Ann already had enough sense of guilt hanging over her head. With a sigh she raised her hand and knocked on the door causing Raven to look up with widened eyes.
"Oh, it's you, Ann." She said and she quickly reached for the towel on the floor near her, dabbing away some of the drops of sweat on her neck. "You here to train?"
Clearly she wasn't, wearing a dark brown skirt which reached the middle of her thighs, Ann was definitely not dressed for sparring today.
"Not really." Ann replied as she crossed the room towards Raven. "I was looking for Moira when I walked by and noticed you in here. Are you alright? You seem a little,- out of sorts."
She'd hit the nail right on the head from the look of it. Raven let out a shuddering breath and clenched the towel between her hands.
"It's Erik." The girl answered and Ann's heart skipped a beat.
"What about Erik?"
"He came here this morning while I was lifting weights. Acting like Erik. High and mighty. Mr. Know-it-all." Raven pressed her lips in a tight line and hurdled the towel across the room.
Ann tried to compose herself as Raven's words repeated themselves in her mind. Erik had a tendency to act like that. With everyone. But whatever he'd said obviously left an impression on Raven and not in a good way.
"What happened?"
"He walked right in without announcing himself. Pulled the barbell right out of my hands and raised it up into the air. Scared the life out of me." She scoffed. "He laughed at me. Or snickered. It's hard to tell. I was so distracted by his sudden appearance that I didn't even have time to comprehend why he was even there other than to mock me."
Typical Erik. He took pleasure in stirring fear or shock in others. Surprise them, make them feel vulnerable. He'd done it to her from the moment they'd met. Only she wasn't afraid of him as they were so alike and now they were past all that. But Ann couldn't reveal the reason behind that to Raven.
"He said something he shouldn't have?" Ann tried.
"He did. Well, maybe,- I'm not so sure now." She relaxed her shoulders a little and turned her head to look at Ann. "He said, if you're using half your concentration to look normal, than you're only half paying attention to whatever else you're doing. Just pointing out something that could save your life. Then he dropped the stupid barbell right on top of me, luckily I'm quick and managed to catch it in time."
Inwardly Ann cursed Erik. Mostly because of the dropping a heavy object right on top of Raven which could have done some serious damage had she no caught it. What the heck was he thinking?
"Why would he even say such a thing?"
Raven shrugged. "Pointing out that I waste too much time trying to be this,- instead of this."
She changed right before Ann. Her light pink skin now a vibrant and scaly blue. Yellow eyes instead of the colour of the sky. And hair as red as fire.
"He wants you to be who you truly are." Ann deduced and Raven nodded.
"That's exactly what he said. You want society to accept you. But you can't even accept yourself." Raven puffed her cheeks. "Ann,- what if he's right?"
Her eyes searched Ann's and the other woman blinked in return. Raven was asking for advice. Oh, she was not the right person to be asking advice. She usually said the wrong things, albeit not as harsh as Erik would or inconsiderate like Charles.
"It's ridiculous, right?" Raven continued before Ann could give an answer. "I'm sure he meant well with what he said and it's probably true. It does take concentration to look like my other self all the time. But it's easier compared to years ago. It comes naturally now. Like breathing. Only when someone catches me off-guard, like he did, I lose that focus."
"Erik has a way with words." Ann confirmed as she sat down on the floor. "And no tact. But I suppose in his own crazy way, he was trying to give you well meant advice."
Raven arched an eyebrow. "So I shouldn't be this upset with him?"
"Oh you should." Ann shifted and placed her right arm on the bench next to Raven to lean on it. "Erik is an expert in sharing his opinion when nobody asks for it. A trait he shares with your brother. He shouldn't have scared you like this."
"But do you agree with him?" Raven tried again to get some sort of confirmation from Ann. "That I shouldn't hide myself? My true and blue self?"
In all the years, Charles had never told her flat out to be herself. Her real self. Of course he hadn't. How could he have? She knew very well what would have happened to her if she'd walked around the streets of London while being 'herself'. But Charles had never made any other comments either. After all, they'd known each other for years now. Two decades. He hardly cared whichever physical form of Raven he saw, as long as it wasn't blue Raven when they were out in the open.
Raven wasn't sure why she was feeling upset with her brother all of a sudden. He hadn't done anything wrong. Just because Erik had come into the room while she was working out, pulling on her heartstrings with his well thought out words, didn't mean Charles didn't care about her struggles or emotions. He had other things on his mind. She let out a deep sigh and turned back into her pink skin. Would she really be stronger if didn't she look like this all the time? More alert? Maybe. But one thing she wouldn't be, that was accepted by society. How could she accept herself when they would probably lock her up on sight?
"I want you to be happy with who and what you are. I agree with Erik on that part. If you want to look like the real Raven all the time, you have my undying love and support. But Erik should have remembered that compared to you, he has it easy. The world will never know what he is just by looking at him. They'll accept him for how he looks without batting an eye."
"I don't know about that, he does draw attention with his looks." Raven replied as she slid off the bench to sit next to Ann on the floor. "Tall and a fit physique. Even with that scowl he wears on that chiselled face."
Ann fell silent. She hadn't expected Raven to say anything like that and she quickly cleared her throat. "Yes, well. Some people will find him attractive, I agree."
"You think he's handsome too?"
"I thought we were talking about how he should have given his opinion in a kinder way than by dropping a barbell on your head?" Ann retorted, trying to divert the conversation from Erik's looks.
"Didn't you say he gets like that with everyone?" Raven countered. "Although I highly doubt he'd do that to you."
"We've had our fair share of arguments." Ann assured her.
"You have?" The other girl frowned. "I find that hard to believe."
Ann shook her head. "Trust me. We definitely had them."
"I don't think I've ever seen you and Erik butt heads."
"Plenty of times, perhaps they just happen to occur when we are alone or when there aren't too many people around to witness them."
"Does that happen a lot?"
"Does what happen a lot?"
A mischievous grin appeared on Raven's face. "You know,-" She wiggled her eyebrows. "You and Erik alone."
Cheeky girl. This conversation was done. There was no way Raven could know that something had happened between her and Erik, she doubted Charles had mentioned anything and she knew Erik hadn't. Ann had to get away before she'd accidentally reveal anything herself as she could already feel her cheeks heating up.
"I don't know what it is you're thinking, but it's not like that." Ann told her firmly as she gently smacked the girl's leg.
"I have no idea what you mean." Raven let out a short laugh. "I'm only asking an innocent question."
"Okay, I think it's about time I get back to what I was doing." And before Raven could react, she hurriedly stood up.
"Unless,-" Raven continued as she got up as well. "There is something going on between you two and you're trying to keep it a secret?"
"Oh for heaven's sake, Raven. When would there even be time for that? Erik and I are,- we get along fine. We're all in the same boat here. Shaw is our main focus. There's not time for tomfoolery."
"Not even a little?" Raven followed Ann who was making her way to the door. "I mean, take me and Hank for example. He's cute. Incredibly smart and sweet. I like spending time with him. You don't have any sort of feeling like that when you're with Erik? We just concluded he is handsome even if he can be incredibly,-"
Ann sighed and turned around. How on Earth this conversation had gone from Raven feeling hurt by Erik, to figuring out whether or not Ann liked him, was beyond her. If she had known this was going to happen, she never would have entered the room when she caught Raven's gloomy expression.
"Raven, I,- I don't know what you want me to say. Yes, he is good-looking. I'm not blind. And we have a similar history that connects us in a way we can't with anybody else. But other than that,- it's the last thing on my mind. Truly."
Raven cocked her head and stared, trying to figure out if Ann was being truthful or deceiving her. "Good. I mean,- it would annoy the hell out of Charles if you were interested in Erik in any other way aside from friendship."
Ann's hand froze right in front of the door. She swallowed a lump which was beginning to form in her throat. "Why would you say that?"
"Really, Ann?" Raven placed her hands in her sides. "I know my brother. I can tell when he likes someone. And I mean really likes someone."
"I know you're not talking about me? Surely you're joking." Ann added as Raven nodded her head affirmatively. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh come on! You must have noticed it? It's so obvious!"
"I've noticed him flirting with Moira. On more than one occasion. I mean they even,-" She paused as she almost said something she shouldn't say. "They spent most of their time together."
"Please,- not to disrespect, Moira. I'm sure he likes her. It's obvious she does too. A whole lot. But it's not the same when it comes to you."
This was one of those rare few moments where somebody managed to render Ann speechless. What on Earth could she say to Raven? Sorry, but no. You are out of your mind. I actually sort of kissed your brother through Moira's mouth last night. She had to get away. Ignore how the memory of the green house flashed across her mind where Charles stood so close with his hand on her face.
"I really have to go now, Raven. I'll see you later." Though the last words faded as she was already running into the hallway and back up the stairs into the direction of her room.
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The house had never seem bigger than it did right now. Raven had no idea what she was talking about. There was no solid foundation to build a relationship on when it came to her and Charles. Every interaction they've had since the very beginning was proof of that. And any trust she'd ever felt for him was gone. Even if it was sort of on the mend, it would never be fully restored to what it once was. And that was besides the point. Charles Xavier was the last man on her Earth she'd feel anything for. He knew this. She knew this...
Suddenly she halted as a figure rounded the corner. The devil himself. She did not want to see him, least of all now. Finding Moira was her main priority, but something told her Charles was not going to let her leave once he spotted her. As quick as Ann could she stumbled into the nearest room and shut the door behind her. Her chest heaved up and down and she pressed her hand against her it to steady her beating heart. There was no way he hadn't heard the door slam like that. And sure enough it took a couple of seconds before that familiar voice sounded from the other side.
"Ann, open up."
How in the name of all that was holy did this man manage to cross her path when she'd been this close to reaching her room where she could have hidden herself till nightfall. She did not want to see him today, not after what Raven told her in the training room. But this was clearly part of his gift, wasn't it? To show up when he was not wanted. How he always caught her off guard was beyond her.
"Ann!" He said again only this time he banged on the door with his fist.
She couldn't allow him to enter. "You'll have to come back later, Charles. I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to be sick." She lied.
A rattling sound came from below and she lowered her eyes to see the doorknob turning, then a click, followed by a creaking noise as Charles pushed the door open. Shit.
"Guess I'll just let myself in." He muttered under his breath.
Ann's jaw dropped and she stepped back while Charles walked inside. "You can't do,-"
"It's my house, Ann. I can bloody hell do whatever I want and frankly right now, I don't really care whether or not you want me in here." The door shut again with a loud thud.
"You've got some nerve, Charles Xavier." Ann placed her hands on her hips.
"Nerve? I do believe this is my study which you entered without permission."
His study? Ann turned around to look at the room which she'd picked as her hiding place. It was the very same room where Moira and Charles had kissed each other last night. Of all the choices she was making today, this had to be the cherry on the cake. And that was a very poor choice of words.
"I'm sorry, I thought an open door was an open invitation." She snapped while fidgeting her hands nervously. "Allow me to get out of your way then."
Without looking at him she tried the walk past him, but Charles kept his stance and thus blocked her chances of reaching the door.
"Oh, please, stay. We did promise to meet up today, did we not? To discuss your powers and what else you might be capable of?"
As of this moment, she was not capable of anything except feeling completely out of it. Forget talking to Moira today about last night. She wasn't going to talk to anybody for the rest of the day and that especially included Charles Xavier.
"Did we? I have no idea what you're talking about, must have slipped my mind." She pretended.
But Charles watched her with his bright blue eyes, his mouth twitching slightly like he was trying to stop himself from grinning. He then shrugged and took a step towards her, all the while keeping his hands behind his back.
"Perhaps a glass of champagne and some cherries might refresh your memory?" He arched an eyebrow as he stared intensely at her causing Ann to feel incredibly warm all of a sudden. All the heat rising to her neck and face.
He knew what she'd done. Part of her already feared it, but now she knew it with certainty. Charles was aware she'd eavesdropped on him and his private moment with Moira. Only instead of saying it, he was making a game out of it. How typical!
"I'd rather not. That sounds positively disgusting." Ann countered but it was too late. Charles had her right where he wanted her, the way he smirked told her as much.
"I admit, it was a weird combination. I'm not even sure which one I like more. Two very distinct tastes. One sweet with a kick and the other makes you feel all sorts of things after a while."
Charles was flirting with her. In a very cryptic way, but he definitely was. This was not happening. Ann bit her bottom lip as her stomach twisted into several knots. She glanced over her shoulder at the sofa and the coffee table. An almost empty bowl of cherries still stood on its surface as well as an entirely finished bottle of champagne. There were a number of different comebacks dancing on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't seem to utter a single one of them.
"Neither seem very appealing to me. Perhaps you should go for something else entirely?"
"Any suggestions?" Charles arched an eyebrow, but his grin was ever present.
"I'm sure there are more important things to deal with than talking to me about fruit and beverages." Suddenly she stopped as the back of her legs hit the couch. She hadn't even noticed herself moving.
Slipping his hands in his pockets, Charles rocked on the back of his heels. "You're right. Let's talk about your wonderful gift."
Oh no. He was cornering her and worst of all anybody could see she was acting suspicious.
"When was the last time you used it again?"
And there it was. Well, two could play at that game, Professor.
"You know when. Yesterday, when you were accusing Erik of using me."
"Really?" Charles stepped forward until he too stood in front of her. "Is that the last time you looked through someone's eyes?"
He settled both his hands on either side of her on the armrest of the couch, literally cornering her this time. There was no where for Ann to turn to. He had her trapped, both physically and mentally. The only way out was just coming clean, despite Charles already knowing the truth.
"Alright, fine. I admit it." She confessed. "I tried to do something with my powers last night but fell right into the middle of your gettogether with Moira."
There was nothing more she wanted to do right now but crawl under a rug and hide. She'd never felt this embarrassed by her own power. Probably because she'd used it on a friend and stayed for far longer than was necessary.
"I am going to tell her all about it and that I'm sorry it happened. It shouldn't have."
Charles frowned, not moving an inch from where he was standing. "I'm sorry, are you apologizing to both Moira and I or only Moira?"
"I,- both." Ann blinked.
"Okay, I'm listening." He replied. "Let's hear it."
This had to be the twilight zone. Never once did Ann think she would be standing on the this side with Charles. Was it not him who got into situation which always resulted in him having to apologize? But the roles were reversed this time and she didn't like it one bit even if he also deserved an apology.
"I'm sorry." She said.
"For?"
His stare was so intense a lump started to form in her throat. She swallowed. "For eavesdropping on a private moment."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Eavesdropping." Charles repeated her. "That's all you did?"
It wasn't all she did. Though technically she hadn't been the one doing it, but she had very much felt it. The thought alone caused her stomach to involuntarily tingle. Eaveskissing was a word she never thought existed but there really was no other accurate description of what she'd experienced.
"And I'm sorry for staying longer than was necessary." Averting her gaze, this time she couldn't hide the crimson shade she knew was colouring her neck and cheeks.
Charles stayed quiet and after a few seconds Ann dared to look at him again. He didn't look upset or angry at all. It was a look she hadn't actually seen on him before. Did he have to linger this close in her proximity?
"Why did you?" He asked, his voice soft. "You have the ability to sense what the other person is going through, don't you?"
"You know I do." Ann answered.
"And yet you stayed. Willingly."
Her heart was pounding incredibly fast. Faster than it had ever been and Charles was the reason behind it. This was all because of last night. She was somehow still feeling the aftermath of how kissing Charles had made Moira feel.
"How did you find out?" She suddenly asked her voice sounding slightly hitched.
"That you were there?" Charles tilted his head sideways and his eyes roamed across her face stopping at her lips for a swift second. "I sensed you, I guess. Another presence, a distant voice. The second kiss gave it away. It was,- different."
The second kiss? He'd kissed Moira again after she'd left her friend's mind. Understandable, but what did he just say? It had been different from the first one. That's how he knew his hunch had been right about her being there. Hanging around in the background like some dirty old,-
"But Moira was the one who,-" Ann stopped mid sentence, not even sure what she wanted to say.
She had not initiated anything. She couldn't have. She couldn't control other people's actions and even if she could, kissing Charles would not even cross her mind. It had been Moira's desire to do it, now Ann might have urged her friend on in her head to just 'give in' but that had not been the reason it had actually happened. Had it? If Moira hadn't done it, Charles would have. Of that she was certain.
"But I felt you." Charles said and he shifted closer.
"You didn't." Ann gasped.
"Why can't you let me in, Ann"? Charles whispered, a mere breath away from her mouth. "Do you hate me that much?"
She didn't. Hell, she actually didn't. She turned her head away slightly for a short moment, only to move back to him again at the last second. She brushed against his lips and Charles didn't waste another minute. He slipped his arms around her and pulled Ann close as his mouth captured hers. They groaned simultaneously and neither of them backed away.
This was not happening. She was not kissing Charles Xavier in his office. After everything that had happened between them. The endless banter and bickering. Hurt and pain. Yet he was always there in case she needed him, even if she didn't ask it for it.
Abruptly she stopped. Her breathing shallow and she opened her eyes to look at him.
"Why did you do that?"
"Pretty sure it was you, love." He grinned against her lips and he kissed her again.
Cherries and champagne.
It happened! Keeping my fingers crossed that you all loved this moment between Charles and Ann.
Really hope it didn't disappoint.
Would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a message :)
Until next time!