#erikcharles

Loving Erik was like standing on a cliff ledge.

A very precarious, crumbly cliff.

It was a heavy-handed analogy, but the most apt one Charles could think of.

The cliff is high, above crashing waves and sharp rocks and every so often pieces fall off, and Charles see's them go tumbling down, larger pieces hitting the rocks and he can see just how grim his fate will be if he was to be standing on the next unfortunate piece that comes away.

Sometimes there is a terrible storm. Sometimes entire masses come away, enough to support a house, far too close for comfort.

The wind is sharp, the rain is cold and painful and the sea is almost black as it hurls itself against the cliff wall below. Charles wonders if it is worth standing there in those moments. If it would be better to simply walk away, to go inland. It's safe, secure. It's warm, and the treacherous weather becomes so much less dangerous.

You can't get hurt if you go inland.

Then, on some wonderful rare occasion, it is peaceful.The sun breaks through the clouds, the wind is a light breeze in Charles's hair, and if he strains his eyes, he can see across the sea, see the vague outline of a land he's only been to once. A land that was full of hope, promise and forgiveness.

The sea between is blue and bright and beautiful.

Drew myself some Cherik to get a bit of downtime from all the retail artwork I’ve been doing. Posting fanart to my main again, because fuck it

New blog, purely for Fandom.

Throwback Thursday  (◡‿◡✿)

How had it come to this?

Erik gathered Charles closer to him, inciting the smallest of moans from the other man. He wrapped his cloak tighter around them as best he could, trying to keep Charles legs bent up and out of the snow as much as he was able but it was difficult. He had lost the feeling in his own legs and behind from sitting on the ice long ago. He supposed it was a good thing Charles already couldn’t feel it.

He hated himself for that thought the moment it passed through his mind and hoped Charles still lacked the presence to have detected it, Erik having removed his helmet long ago before the metal became so cold it stuck to his skin.

Charles have the barest of shuffles and Erik clutched him closer, chest to chest to try and keep them both warmer.

“Erik…” Charles voice was barely a whisper “If they don’t find us…”

Erik didn’t want to entertain that thought, didn’t want to hear what Charles was trying to say.

“They will find the beacon.” He said resolutely, lips hurting as he tried to speak for the first time in hours. It as ridiculous that they were surrounded by ice and water, but he was so dehydrated it hurt. “They will find us.”

Charles moved his hand over Erik’s, shaky and slow. His fingers were slightly blue and Erik knew it wasn’t going to be long before frost bite set in. His breath was coming fast and hypothermia had almost certainly set in.

He probably wasn’t far off himself.

“I am glad you are here, my friend.” Charles’ words were nearly snatched away by the wind, but Erik heard them and he leant down, pressing his chapped split lips to Charles damp hair.

“They will find us.” He said again. Charles hummed, leaning back into Erik and closing his eyes. It wasn’t the best idea, Erik knew that, but five minutes couldn’t hurt, and they were both so very tired. He let his head test against Charles, closing his eyes and not looking to the sky when his face began to feel wet.

Charles was livid.

“Oi!” He yelled at the apparent dog owner, who had let his Alsatian run rampant, scaring away all the squirrels that Charles fed every day at lunch. It had taken months before they’d trusted him enough to get close and now it was ruined, all because of one lazy dog owner. “You need to control your animal better!”

He marched up to the man, whose dog had now returned to his side and was beginning to turn towards Charles.

Charles prepared to let loose again, bringing up some choice names in his head for this man who couldn’t even be bothered to turn around fully when called.

And then he stopped, because the man had turned around and he was gorgeous.

“Anything else to add?” The man in front of him smiled, dangerously all teeth green eyes crinkling at the edges and Charles faltered, stumbling over his words.

“Well, um, it’s quite rude and the squirrels are scared and don’t do it again?”

The man produced a lead from a coat pocket, leashing his dog and holding a hand out to Charles, who stared at it dumbly.

“Duly noted.” He took Charles hand when the other man made no attempt to move “My name is Erik. Perhaps you can educate me further on park etiquette later, over dinner? I’ll pick you up here at 8”

He was still there. 

Charles could feel him, that residual part of the entity (not a man, he was beyond a man) that had been Apocalypse clinging to his brain, like a leech. Harmless for now, but if left to it’s own devices...

It was far too much to hope they had destroyed that much power in one go, even with whatever force it was that Jean had called forth from her, and soon Charles was going to have to face that there was something inside of him. Something evil.

Erik had stayed a while after the mansion was built, to the surprise of everyone, including Charles, but it could not last. He wished that it could, it was easier with Erik around. His mind was strong, steady, a rock among the stormy hormone ridden minds of the children and teenagers that lived in the school. They had slid back into an easy rhythm, and each others beds, as they were prone to, and Charles suspected they always would be. 

The world was quieter when Erik’s mind was close. 

But it could not last. It never lasts, they’re as different as they are alike, and Erik has his own causes to fight for. He was never meant for teaching, and as much as Charles might suggest it, he is well aware that the other man is never going to be taking a position at his school. 

Erik’s last evening is quiet, the tension hovering in the room as they play chess, neither of them focusing enough for it to be a stimulating game. Erik has not said that he will be leaving the next day, and Charles has not asked (or looked), but they both know this is their last night together, might be for some time.

“You have been distracted a lot lately, my friend.” Erik says quietly into the silence of the room, and it is a testimony to Charles distraction that it nearly makes him jump, the chess board all but abandoned. He raises his head, eyes meeting Eriks.

“Talk to me, Charles.” 

Charles considers it. Considers telling Erik of this shadow on his mind that has nothing to do with anxious thoughts or worries, his absolute certainty that a part of Apocalypse lives in inside him, in his mind, biding its time, waiting until it is strong enough to take over. Take revenge. He considers telling Erik that he is scared.

He meets Erik’s eyes, takes a breath and closes his mouth again. He moves his piece, allowing Erik to checkmate him easily with his next move. The game was lost anyway.

“I will miss you, Erik.” he says eventually, and it’s true, but it’s not what he needs to say. He needs to ask him to stay, he needs his help, Charles is scared and he wants Erik here with him.

It does not surprise him when Erik chooses not to reply, standing and placing a warm hand on Charles shoulder.

“Let’s go to bed, it is late.” 

Erik leads the way, and Charles knows any moment to ask has long passed, directing his chair after Erik. 

He would never ask that of him anyway. Erik has suffered enough. He will be here when Erik finally returns. He will find this, he will fight this by himself this time.

GOOD TO SEE U TOO

Surely they weren’t regulation. They couldn’t possibly be. 

Erik looked up from his cubicle over the partition as the post guy (Charles, his name is Charles and you damn well know it) from downstairs did his hourly round, collecting from each wired shelving unit, approaching Erik’s team area with that damnable smile on his face, blue eyes sparkling with a life nobody that works in a corporate post room should have left in them after six months of being here. 

That wasn’t Erik’s primary concern though.

It was those damn shorts.

The minute the weather had began to turn, Charles had suddenly taken to wearing regulation postal shorts. Or so he claimed. Nothing that short and tight could be regulation in any office space. It wasn’t too bad as Charles made his way up the office, his trolley in front of him, smiling and saying hello to everyone. (And how did he know everyone after six months? Erik had been here four years and barely knew his own team) He turned that smile on Erik, eyes crinkling at the corners as he greeted him.

“Good morning, Erik!” Charles practically chirped, and Erik tried to tell himself it grated on him as the man passed him, Erik barely nodding his head in acknowledgement.

And then he was past, and Erik couldn’t help himself, turning to watch as he stopped at the post shelves for Erik’s team, the tight blue shorts cupping an ass that was far too round and perky for it’s own good. Erik imagined what it would be like to cup his hands around that firm ass, squeezing and groping, pressing himself up against the other man, sliding between those enticing cheeks...

And then Charles dropped the post. He bent down to pick it him, the shorts stretched almost impossibly tighter. There was absolutely no way that man was wearing underwear and Erik made a strangled noise in his throat before turning back to his computer, lest him embarrass himself greatly in front of the entire office.

Only to look up and find Charles leaning over his partition, floppy hair in his eyes and stupidly adorable for a grown man. He was holding out an envelope at Erik, the sticky note on it clearly stating it wasn’t to be posted for another two days.

“Good thing I dropped the mail or I might have never noticed this.” Charles grinned disarmingly “Do you mind finding it’s owner, Erik? I need to be getting on.” 

Erik practically snatched the mail from the other man’s hand, feeling his cheeks warm. If it turned into an actual blush, everyone in the vicinity had to die, there was no other thing for it.

“Sure.” He huffed, turning back to his computer. Charles seemed unphased, turning back to his post trolley.

“Thank you, Erik!” He raised a hand that Erik could see out of the corner of his eye “See you in an hour!”

With that Charles was gone, out of the door and back down to the mail sorting room. Erik breathed a sigh of relief, enticing a confused look from Hank at the desk next to him, which was quickly put down with a glare.