.. okay but consider that "why do you stick around? what is it you think you see in me?" is like a very cherik thing. right there.
So aggressively them it hurts
“Why do you stay? What is it you think you see in me?”
Erik rolled over in the bed to the sound of Charles’ voice. It was dark in Charles’ bedroom, not even the blue light from the moon provided visibility, “What?”
There was a few beats of silence, ticking from the grandfather clock and the sound of pipes settling that only Erik was aware of.
“I know we carry differing opinions on humanity and the danger they are to our kind,” Charles paused and Erik gave him a moment, blinking up at the dark ceiling, “and to say ‘differing’ is a gross minimization of our stances. But, you know where I stand and I you. So why stay?”
Erik frowned at the words, considering, “Where is this coming from?” He tried to sift through the previous day, was there something he said that brought these anxieties up? It had been years since Shaw, since Erik’s own tunnel vision caused him to hurt Charles, and they both made efforts to meet in the middle. Erik would always be too radical, and Charles would always be too peaceful.
Charles shifted in the bed, away from Erik, “I worry constantly that this will come to an abrupt end, everyday I make a list of reasons why that won’t happen. But today, I couldn’t move past the thoughts.”
“Do you want this,” Erik motioned between them, “whatever we are, to end?” They did not have an official word for what they were, and Erik didn’t think there needed to be one. He was not one to get caught in titles, he knew what they were and was confident enough in their relationship to never doubt that Charles also knew. Together they taught, raised, dozens of mutant children to be one with their abilities and exist in community with one another. They dealt with one another in fits of anger and annoyance. They did simple, mundane things that warmed Erik’s heart, from morning walks to evening sips of whiskey in front of the fire. Erik did not want this to end, but he also did not want Charles going through the pain of always waiting for an ending.
“No,” Charles said it with urgency, rolling his body slightly to grab at Erik’s hand, “no, that’s the last thing I want. I just want to understand why you stay. Day in and out, through wonderful and horrible times, you stay. Why?”
Erik pushed himself up with one arm, bringing Charles hand up to his mouth to press a gentle kiss to the knuckles, “For you, I stay for you. Are differences are present, yes, but they cannot push me out. They will not make me leave. Charles, you are telepathic, should these anxieties come up again just look. See that I am not going to leave at a moments notice.”
Erik couldn’t see Charles’ face in the darkness of the bedroom, but he could feel the grip of his hand tighten, just as he could feel the familiar poke of Charles’ mind coming into his.
“Oh,” Charles said, the single syllable almost a hiccup, “alright.”
“Alright?” Erik settled himself back into the mattress, bringing his other arm around Charles’ waist to pull him closer.
“Quite,” Charles let his weight relax against Erik, pausing before saying, “thank you.”
Erik knew he didn’t need to reply, instead just pressed his lips to Charles’ forehead, knowing that this conversation may come up again in the future and should it, he will smoothen out Charles’ anxieties once again.
