#starles

9 & 10. Joker: Shipwrecked, Exiled

Pairing(s): Cherik, Starles Warnings: N/A

The sirens start blaring at the first direct hit, the computer warning of severe damage to the auxiliary engines. Erik curses as Azazel makes a mad sprint to the Engine room, while the rest of the crew try to keep their cool under heavy fire. The Genosha is used to having a little heat on its tail, as their dealings are often with the least savoury of the galaxy’s myriad inhabitants, but even they can concede that this is a lot, and that they might not be able fly or finesse their way out of this predicament.

It's not exactly common after all, to have half a planet’s armada after you, or specifically, after the long-lost Crown Prince of said planet hiding away on your ship.

The Westchester fleet hails them again, the automated voice of their flagship blaring through the comms, “Genosha, we have you surrounded. Surrender now. This is your last warning.”

“Erik,” Charles murmurs, looking out of the cockpit window at the dozen fighters keeping them boxed in on their current flight path. “Do as they say.”

“Fuck no,” Moira says, before Erik even has the chance to tell Charles to shut the hell up. “We’re not giving you up. You’re one of us, and we’re not going to let those bastards kill you.”

The rest of the motley crew shout similar sentiments, and Erik has never been prouder of the assortment of miscreants and misfits he’s come to call family. And Charles is more than just a crew member; he’s Erik’s, and Erik is his, and he is not going to let that thug Marko lay a finger on the stepson he exiled ten years ago.

“If they wanted to kill me, we’d be dead already,” Charles counters, which…none of them can really refute, given the sheer firepower aimed in their direction. “Give me up and they might just let the rest of you go.”

Erik rolls his eyes, and even Logan and Emma scoff at his words.

“You’re too trusting,” Logan grunts. “Ain’t no way they let us go once Marko gets his grubby hands on you, Your Highness.”

“He’s right,” Emma adds with a grimace, “I wouldn’t if I were in his place. Better to tie up all the loose ends.”

“You don’t know—”

Whatever Charles was going to say, none of them hear it, the ship suddenly spinning out of control, a precise hit sending them careening down into the barren moon below.

From Goodreads: The Year's Most Anticipated Science Fiction & Fantasy

Here there be monsters to slay and to love, final frontiers to conquer, and diabolical empires to topple. The real world has its charms, but this year's crop of science fiction and fantasy books offers irresistible escapism.

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1. Underwater 2. Artist’s Muse 3. Countryside 4. Dinosaurs

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5. Teachers

Pairing(s): Cherik, Xavierine, Cherigan, Starles Warnings: Past mpreg, total crack

This is a little snippet from an unfinished chapter from my fic Charles Xavier's Baby. You don't really need to have read it to understand this ficlet, though I personally think it would be funnier if you did. Just know that the story is inspired by Bridget Jones's Baby, and Charles got knocked up with twins from two different guys :D ---- They’re already halfway through a very nice roast beef dinner before it happens; the slow, dawning realization by both Erik and Logan of the girls’ intentions, inviting their art teacher over for an in-home visit. Charles pretends not to notice the mental alarm bells coming at him from two different directions, merely smiling at Mr. Rogers as he takes a sip of the man’s contribution to the meal; a very fine - and expensive - vintage Bordeaux. Mr. Rogers, Charles notes, seems to have excellent taste in French reds. “Mr. Rogers, you have such exquisite taste. This wine is absolutely delightful.” The man really is ridiculously handsome, and muscular to boot, sweet and well-mannered but with a delightfully dry wit. He’s exactly Charles’ type – and Charles ‘pre-twins’ would have been all over Steve Rogers like a slutty octopus – which only makes Laura and Lorna’s plan all the funnier to a slightly inebriated Charles. “Please call me Steve,” hot art teacher Steve says, as Erik’s mental nudges escalate to urgent pokes, and Logan looks like he’s minutes away from to sticking his claws into that broad, well-defined chest. “Thank you again for the invitation to dinner. It was an absolute delight having the girls in my art class this year.” He’s not surprised at all to hear that they’re well-behaved for him, since it seems they have very specific ideas for what role they want Mr. Rogers to play in all their lives. In a way that makes perfect sense to seven-year-olds just finishing their second year of school, they’ve decided they want a baby brother or sister, and – because they have different fathers – they obviously need to find another father for the new baby too. “You’re very welcome, Steve,” he says, and maybe, just maybe he bites his lips a little as he reaches over to refill the man’s wine glass. “You’re their favorite teacher by far. It’s always ‘Mr. Rogers is so smart’, or ‘Mr. Rogers is so good at painting’ with these two.” Both Lorna and Laura beam at him and then at Steve, their heads turning in perfect synch. Charles doesn’t have the heart to be too upset at their misguided matchmaking, though he’s not looking forward to the conversation they need to have about how they’re definitely not going to be getting a new sibling. (There is no way Charles is going to have another baby, after the insanity of getting impregnated by his ex and his new boyfriend in one pregnancy.) “Mr. Rogers, did you know Daddy is a teacher like you?” Lorna says, a conspiring Laura whispering in her ear. “He’s a Professor of Genetics at the university. And he’s rich and we have lots of expensive art at the house in Westchester. So you have lots in common.”

Previous prompts here: AU-gust Challenge 2022

9. Coffee Shop

Pairing(s): Starles, past Cherik Warnings: Cherik as exes

This ficlet takes place about a year after my fic An End Comes to All Good Things which is a terribly angsty piece where Cherik starts out together and breaks up by the end. It's probably the only fic I've ever written where that happens (most of the time they're exes who get back together) and surprisingly it's one of my personal faves.

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At the time, leaving New York had been a rash if necessary decision, driven by the desperate need to put a literal ocean between himself and his failed relationship. In the year since that devastation and starting his new tenure at Oxford, Charles has slowly and painstakingly rebuilt his life anew, by making new friends and new routines and cutting ties with his past. Raven is the only one he can’t bear to stop speaking to completely, though their busy schedules have kept contact infrequent at best, with only one in-person visit so far when she flew over for the holidays.

The one thing he hasn’t done – still can’t quite bring himself to do – is to go out on a date, turning down fixups by his well-meaning colleagues or the occasional invitation from a new acquaintance. He’s in no big rush to put his heart on the line again, even if the risk of heartbreak is minor compared to what he’s already gone through with Erik.

(He doesn’t think about his ex quite so much anymore, with the pain and anger smoothing over time to a duller and more manageable ache.)

Still, he hasn’t met anyone he’s liked enough enough to share even a simple coffee with, though Moira is always quick to remind him he’s not being entirely honest with that assertion.

“You like that Steve Rogers that took your Intro to Genetics course,” she says, handing him his usual latte at their favorite coffee shop a few blocks from the university. The place has a great assortment and a lived-in feel that matches the general vibe of the city, and Charles much prefers it to the chain stores with far bigger selections. “He’s sweet, smart and handsome, and most importantly – age appropriate.”

Charles snorts. “He’s there to get a degree, Moira, not date his professor.”

“Well, the term’s over so you’re not his professor anymore,” she says, smirking at him over the rim of her coffee cup as Charles smiles and shakes his head. “You should ask him out!”

“It wouldn’t be right. He’s still a student.”

“He’s older than you!”

Chuckling, Charles takes a sip from his cup and nudges her playfully with his foot. “Yes, that’s an excellent reason to date someone; because he’s older.”

“I also said he’s smart and hot, Charles,” Moira teases, “and he seems like a kind and decent man. I understand he does volunteer work with veterans when he’s not getting a degree and teaching art classes at the local college.”

“Are you being paid to sing the man’s praises?” Charles asks, entirely amused by his friend’s knowledge and seeming interest in setting him up with Steve Rogers. “I had no idea you knew him so well.”

Grinning, Moira says, “We have some mutual friends and he comes highly recommended.”

“Oh my god I’m not buying a car, Moira,” he says, waving back at a few of his students as they drift by their table. “And I’m not ready to date. And even if I was ready to date, I wouldn’t want Steve Rogers to be my rebound when he could be an amazing husband and partner to someone much more deserving.”

It’s not what he meant to say; to reveal the part of him that still feels wounded and raw from what happened with Erik, and that he must have done something to drive him away. That if he’d been a better person and a better partner, maybe it wouldn’t have been so easy for Erik to leave him.

Moira frowns and reaches over to hold his hand. “Don’t do this. You are a wonderful man and an amazing friend and you deserve to have love in your life. And if it’s not Rogers than there’s someone else out there for you, I know there is, and I’m not going to sit here and let you wallow in self-pity.”

Charles laughs and kisses the back of Moira’s hand. “I’m alright, darling. Just got a little maudlin for a moment that’s all.”  

“Good, because ‘speak of the devil and he appears’,” she says, nudging him to look to the front of the shop where Steve is holding the door open for a little old lady. His stomach does a strange, unexpected little flip, which yes, he’ll admit has happened the last few times Charles has seen him on campus.