#toomuchmarvel

Charles could think of a million other places he’d rather be than where he was at the moment.

At the library, university, the quaint little coffee shop down the street, hell, he wouldn’t mind visiting Logan up in his log cabin – no matter how much he hated the smell of alcohol and cigar smoke that permeated the space.

Literally anything was better than sitting through the wedding of his step-sister and her douche of a fiancé. Even with his sister looking genuinely happy, he didn’t want to be here to witness her making the biggest mistake of her life.

At least there was a cute guy one row up, four seats down from him that kept glancing over at Charles and looked just as miserable as he felt. Maybe he could at least make it through the reception.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride.”

Thunderous applause erupted – leave it to one of the richest, egoistic man and materialistic woman to have a million dollar wedding with over 100 guests – and the newlywed couple walked down the aisle, looking graceful and perfect as they walked out the doors and into the large room decorated for the reception, their guests following after them.

--

“Guest of the groom or bride?”

Charles set down his cocktail and turned in his chair to face the man who spoke to him. His heart skipped a beat; it was the cute brunet that kept looking at him during the ceremony and he was standing right next to him.

“Brother of the bride, actually,” Charles replied, downing the rest of his cocktail. “What about you, one of Emma’s friends?”

The guy shook his head and took a seat next to Charles, “Sebastian’s a family friend and my boss.” He waved down the bartender and ordered a beer before returning his attention to Charles.

Charles made a face at that, Sebastian was a horrible man.

“Trust me, I know. Being around him for more than ten years is enough to realize how much of an asshole he is,” the man said, chuckling and taking a swig of his beer when the bartender placed it in front of him.

Charles’ cheeks flushed red and he looked down, silently thanking the bartender for putting another cocktail in front of him. He hadn’t realized that he said that out loud.

“My name’s Charles,” he introduced himself, holding his hand out to the other man. He tried not to flush again under the other’s intense gaze.

“Erik Lehnsherr,” he shook Charles’ hand, a spark shooting up Charles’ arm and making him shiver.

“Pleasure to meet you, Erik,” Charles turned on his charm – he was truly interested in this man. It seemed like Erik was interested in him too because after hours of chatting about politics and their lives, Charles was out of the reception and in bed with him, having one of the best nights of his life.

--

“Hey sugar, where’d you go last night?” Emma greeted him as soon as he picked up the phone.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” Charles asked, avoiding the question and keeping his voice down. Erik was still asleep next to him.

“I am, right Sebastian honey?” The sound of Sebastian’s voice saying yes and Emma giggling had Charles rolling his eyes. “Anyways, you didn’t answer my question.”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Because you’re my little brother and I’d feel so much better knowing that you’re not in some dark alley.”

“Emma, I’m fine. I made it home safely, if that’s what you want to hear.” Erik chose that exact moment to wake up, groaning as he stretched, and draped his arms over Charles, leaving kisses on his bare shoulder.

Emma gasped on the other side of the line, “Did you go home with someone last night? Oh sugar, finally! It’s about time you did more than work.”

“Who’s on the phone?” Erik asked, letting go of Charles so he could go to the bathroom.

“Just Emma,” Charles replied, watching as Erik nodded his head and disappeared behind the bathroom door.

“Wait a minute, was that Erik I heard?”

“Erik Lehnsherr?” Charles asked, sitting up in bed, “Yeah, it was. You know him?”

“Shit,” Emma muttered under her breath, hushed whispers and the sound of a door closing following her voice, “Charles, please tell me you didn’t sleep with him.”

Charles felt dread in his stomach, his hand clutching onto the blanket, “I did. Why?”

Another wave of curses flew out of Emma’s mouth. “Charles, he’s engaged.”

--

It’s been two weeks since Charles left Emma’s wedding reception to have sex with Erik Lehnsherr.

It’s been two week since Charles silently walked out of the hotel room while said man was in the shower, no way of contact left behind – just like any other one night stand.

“Charles!” Raven snapped her fingers in front of his face.

He blinked a couple of times, “Sorry love, I spaced out.”

“We could tell. Something bothering you?” Emma asked, genuinely concerned about her step-brother as she took a sip of her coffee.

The three siblings were out together for the first time in months and here Charles was, hung up over a one night stand with an engaged man.

“It’s nothing,” He shook his head and took a large gulp of his tea. Raven opened her mouth to retort, but Charles beat her to it, “How are you and Sebastian?”

“Oh we’re great,” Emma replied with a small smile on her face, “He’s just been a bit annoyed lately. One of his best workers has been distracted lately and doing poorly.”

“He shouldn’t be getting annoyed,” Raven said, scoffing. She wasn’t really fond of Sebastian. “Maybe the poor guy has a lot to deal with right now.”

Emma sighed, glancing over at Charles who was once again not paying attention. “We know. Erik just broke off his engagement with his long term girlfriend. Of course he’d be distracted.”

Charles looked up when he heard Erik’s name, “He’s not engaged anymore?”

“That’s right,” Emma looked at him with a mischievous glint her eyes, “He also asked me for your number earlier this week.”

As if Erik knew they were talking about him, Charles’ phone rang and an unknown number flashed on the screen. His heart began to beat faster.

“Excuse me,” he got up from the table and walked into his apartment, shutting the balcony door behind him while answering the call. “Hello?”

“Charles,” Erik’s voice rang from his cell and Charles could hear Erik sigh in relief, like he had been unsure about Charles picking up or not.

“Erik.”

A silence followed and Charles was almost tempted to shout at the other.

“I’m guessing Emma told you about Magda and that’s why you left without a word.” So that was the name of his fiancée.

“She did, though I wouldn’t have left if I heard it from your mouth.”

“You wouldn’t have stayed with me as long as you did if I had told you.”

“And you’re right about that. I don’t sleep with taken men, Erik.”

“Well, I’m not taken anymore. I broke off my engagement with Magda.”

“That doesn’t make things any better,” Charles could feel the anger rising in his chest. “I swear if I’m the reason you broke off your engagement with your long term girlfriend, then stop talking to me right now.”

Erik made a noise of frustration and Charles could imagine him running his hand through his hair. “You’re not why I broke up with Magda. Well you’re part of the reason, but most of it was because things just weren’t working out. She also didn’t accept my coming out as bisexual, so it was already rough between us.”

The anger began to simmer down and hope welled up in Charles’ chest. He hadn’t been in a relationship since Logan and he really wanted things to work out with Erik. “So, you’re single now. What do you want?” Charles made sure that his amusement was apparent in his tone.

“I was wondering if you’d go on a date with me. There’s a place I think you’d love,” the tension had faded from his voice and now Charles could almost hear the grin on his face. It made him smile like an idiot.

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven tonight?”

“Seven,” Charles confirmed and then gave him his address, “See you later, Erik.”

“See you soon, Charles,”

Erik hung up and if anyone asked, Charles did not proceed to shout in happiness nor did he run out to the balcony and pull Raven and Emma in to help him choose an outfit for his date later.