beyond what they see with their own two eyes

one.

“Can we still keep hanging out tonight?” was what Kurt asked after having established that there will be a movie date two days later, but he was enjoying the company of one delightful light-bender mutant. On the one hand, it seemed appropriate to establish the plans, time and place, and then bid goodbye and not risk overstaying his welcome (and go to his room to positively freak out); but on the other hand, you seemed adamant on extending the hangout on the windowsill in the kitchen, everyone else already sleeping.

“Of course we can still hang out now,” you chuckled lightly, looking him up and down to appreciate the sense of disbelief still evident on his face. “You don’t have to teleport three rooms away and pretend I do not exist until Friday evening.”

“Well, I am trying to be polite and respectful,” he answered carefully, not sure where to draw boundaries yet, “not be in your personal space too much, or push you.”

“Oh Kurt,” you sighed, “I want you in my personal space, very much, I just don’t know when that will finally get through your head.” You poked at his temple lightly, making him flinch more in surprise than discomfort. 

In all honesty, he was sort of new to the whole ‘someone lovingly touching him without seeming horrified’ thing; you seemed so unfazed. Even more than just unfazed, you seemed to gravitate towards him constantly, and he wasn’t completely sure whether the whole thing was just another unattainable illusion.

A short bout of your laughter at his reaction brought him back from his thoughts and he absentmindedly smiled at you.

“You won’t be saying that when I am talking during the movie,” he teased, and he could see your eyes almost glint with amusement at the potential challenge.

“I just know you’d be the person who throws in random comments or questions while watching something,” you retorted, satisfied – which he found almost odd in the context of someone willingly subjecting themselves to his enthusiastic rambling  – “I don’t think I’ll mind, though. I like listening to you talk about just anything, really.”

If Kurt could visibly blush, he would have, especially as your eyes met his bright ones, but not before you stole a glance downwards at his lips and then back up – or maybe he was just imagining things; it really was getting pretty late and it had been an eventful evening. 

“I like talking to you about just anything.”

“Even when I interrupt you without meaning to?” you gently nudged him, an impish smile playing on your lips as you relished the opportunity to be so physically close and comfortable.

“Even then.”

“I don’t think many people in the world would say the same,” you muttered with a hint of a self-deprecating tone, “but you’re not ‘many people’, Wagner.”

“Ja, I think I am just one,” he chuckled, sharp teeth visible against the backdrop of the night. Your heart did a somersault in your chest as you couldn’t help but beam in return. 

Yes, we can keep hanging out tonight – hopefully not only tonight.

two.

“I swear I was going to get you flowers, Schatz, but they would wither away during the movie,” his accent intensified when he was being apologetic, as if to emphasize the sincerity of the statement. “And then you would be sad.”

“I’m just messing with you, Blue,” you grinned in response, lightly shoving him with your shoulder as you two walked towards the cinema in the night. “I know you’re a gentleman like that, but it really wouldn’t make sense to bring them here now.” 

Kurt quietly sighed in relief before you continued.

“Besides, the ‘just-because’ sunflower you got me a few days ago is still alive and well,” you spoke gleefully, “I change the water every day so it better last me a while.”

“Promise you will tell me when it dries?” He gave you a playfully pointed look. “You need your desk flowers to keep up your spirits while you work.”

“As far as keeping up spirits goes, you’re doing a marvelous job at it, with or without flowers,” you blinked at him, a bright expression not leaving your face, “but I would never refuse an extra flower, especially from you.” 

“They really make you so happy?” Kurt wondered aloud, treasuring the fact that this wonderful being next to him – while deserving all the lovely things in the world – appreciated its simplest joys to that extent. A fellow mutant after his own heart.

“Truly,” you grinned, “in fact, when I go to sleep, I put them on my bedside table so that I see them as soon as I wake up.”

The part that you omitted was ‘and then I remember they’re from you and I immediately smile and my day starts better and I can’t believe there had ever been a time when I didn’t know you’, but that would surely be said another day. As much as you had cared for him and enjoyed your time together since day one, you had to force yourself to slam on the brakes just a little bit, because his poor heart would have just given out from the sheer amount of affection you were harboring. A famished man attending a feast must be at least a little careful with how much he indulges.

“I did not know that,” he offered a small smile, looking down as warmth blossomed in his chest. 

“That’s why we’re here tonight, I guess,” you mused with a slight shrug of her shoulders, “to get to know each other even better,” you drawled out in a teasing tone, making Kurt’s heart skip a beat.

“And to talk during the movie,” he chuckled, questioningly, recalling the conversation from just 40-something hours ago. 

“Oh, certainly – I’m looking forward to hearing all your opinions.”

It was a very frosty night and, indeed, Kurt could’ve just teleported both of you to the movie theater, but ultimately he’d decided against it (as long as you didn’t seem to mind the chill too much). 

Firstly, he wanted to savor every minute you were spending together, especially while things were going smoothly and nicely, it seemed unfair to steal that time away by the convenience of teleportation (which, admittedly, would’ve given him the perfect excuse to hold you deliciously close). 

But if you had ever walked shoulder to shoulder with someone who held your heart in their hands, under the sky which seemed to be suggesting a snowfall rather soon, everything was twinkling with Christmas lights and festive decorations… you know rather well that you wouldn’t want to miss a second of it. 

And secondly, bluntly, the cool air was helping him keep his nerves under control somehow. In case he didn’t know what to say, he could also just point out a string of lights in a window or a wreath on a door and elicit an enthusiastic reaction from his lovely companion. 

And then, thirdly, those were simply the perfect circumstances to offer you his jacket if you ever got too cold. Because Kurt Wagner was nothing if not a gentleman.

three.

The movie had barely even begun, the lights going all the way down, when Kurt half-consciously scooted closer to the person of his dreams and prayers. If you asked him whether he did it on purpose, he would neither confirm nor deny, but one thing was already clear as day – only minutes into the date, in the depths of his soul he was already displeased with not being as close to you as humanly possible, for as long as possible. 

You smiled at the proximity, shoulder to shoulder in the dark, stupid personal space be damned. Who needed personal space on a freezing Friday night, when you could have a personal Nightcrawler, who was right there. You brushed off the excited shiver that passed through your body at the fact that you two almost instantaneously established some point of physical contact. Luckily for you, poor well-intentioned Kurt misinterpreted that slight movement as you being cold, and he wasted no time in draping his coat considerately over your shoulders. Did you have a jacket of your own? Yes. Were you cold? Not in the slightest, at least not in that moment. But absolutely nobody needed to know that, especially not the blue mutant beside you.

If you dared to look at him in response to his caring gesture, you thought you might have completely melted on the spot, and you really weren’t willing to risk it so early in the night – there had to be more in store. 

four.

“Do you think he will get the job?” Kurt murmured, gesturing vaguely with his head towards the screen.

“Either way, I will cry,” you replied, biting your pinky nail nervously, “but if he inherits the old guy’s position, then something will happen to the old guy. And he’s just so sweet.” 

“Maybe we should have picked, uh, something… happier?” he wondered aloud, nerves almost getting the best of him.

“No no, this is still really cozy,” you quickly faced him with a reassuring smile, hopefully visible enough, “I love emotional movies, I’m just not sure how appropriate it is to cry on a first date,” you joked, and Kurt observed your facial expression with a subtle smirk.

“If you cry, I can give you a hug,” he answered with a little head tilt, hoping that it sounded very matter-of-factly, and not as if he would go into cardiac arrest if that ended up happening.

“Then I hope I’ll cry,” you concluded happily, making yourself comfortable in the seat once again. 

It really was comfy – warm, dark, one of those old movies that reminded you of chilly Christmas Eves for some reason, of not having a care in the world and being in your own little cocoon of safety while something comforting droned on in the background. 

For a couple moments, your thoughts drifted away into wondering whether Kurt had ever experienced the atmosphere that you were thinking of and whether he knew the feeling you were reminiscing about. Unbeknownst to you, he did, exactly then and there.

five.

And then Kurt did one of the bravest things he’d ever dared to do – moved his hand just a bit closer to yours across the fraying orange seats. And then you did something you didn’t even require bravery for, but were just waiting for a signal that it was acceptable, wanted – you securely placed a warm hand on top of his own. 

Something glitched deep within his chest and he tried to cover up his surprise with a small cough, as you tried not to giggle. 

For a few moments you two stayed just like that, the movie half-forgotten anyway, as he tried to gather the courage to do another brave thing right after, which was to slightly turn his face towards yours and try to read your expression in the dimly lit room. The second you felt his golden eyes on your face, your warmly content smile got even wider and a wave of heat spread all throughout your face, and you didn’t even bother to cover it up.

You were hoping he would see each and every effect he’d had on you ever since you met for the first time, and you felt like you had barely stopped smiling since that day. Even when there was a gigantic workload at the school or when Logan was being unnecessarily grumpy.

Although originally Kurt had been relatively interested in the movie, all the drama on the screen faded away now that you were so close to him, so warm, relaxed, lively. 

He thought how, for the rest of his life, he would never again in his prayers ask to be given something – how could anything possibly surpass what was hand in hand with him right now – but he would only be grateful for this one particular evening, for the rest of time. 

Even if it stayed only a perfect moment, in the back row in an old cinema, on a windy winter evening, it was like a glimpse of Heaven on Earth.

Fortunately for him, it started growing into more than just a singular moment; when you leaned back in your seat more and stretched out your legs right over his lap, with a yawn that he couldn’t estimate whether it was genuine or faked, not that he particularly cared. You were so proud of the move you’d made and, honestly, were feeling pretty cozy and coy as soon as you realized that the boy’s mind was beyond blown by the fact that you were almost cuddling.

Kurt’s only plans for the night were just to not to make an absolute fool of himself and ensure that you were having a decently nice time; he didn’t dare to dream that anything additionally wonderful could even happen for him, with a magical person like you. Yet there he was, doing his best to not have a heart attack over the fact that you were being so free with him, like you weren’t even scared or uncomfortable or there with him just out of politeness or pity. 

You wanted to be close to him.

six.

Once again Kurt thought how he wouldn’t dare to pray for anything else besides to keep that closeness in his memories forever, no matter what happened after the movie and after that night.

“Do you think he will get there before it’s too late?” you leaned in slightly to whisper a comment over the amplified sounds, your breath brushing over his pointed ear. “Or will she die before he sees her?”

“Uhm, well-” he began, as if startled from a dream; in all honesty, he had no clue what was happening on the screen anymore – reality was just better. “What do you think?”

You smiled at his flustered expression, your heart skipping a beat in your chest. “I think you’re the cutest person I have ever met,” you concluded, leaning back into the seat again. 

Kurt swore his cheeks were burning as he scrambled around his brain trying to string together something coherent to say.

“It would be nice if he-” he managed to mutter before the two of you were shushed by someone from the front rows, and before you both covered their mouths to avoid laughing and being even more of a disturbance. You kept looking over at him with an amused glint in your eyes, but you were relishing in how his hands now rested on your outstretched legs, as if he had always been an integral part of your personal space. 

This closeness flustered you more than you’d anticipated, but you wouldn’t have dared to move either your legs or your hand which was still entwined with his. Yes, it was the first official date, but you have been spending a considerable amount of time together ever since the beginning; so you could at least justify the fact that you were falling for the blue teleporter faster and harder than you had ever before, for anyone in the world. 

You were beginning to grow expectant of the movie ending, not because you wanted the night to be over, but because you were burning to see what would happen next. It had to be good.

The seconds that the credits started rolling, you turned your head to not-at-all subtly observe Kurt’s face, despite being certain that you looked like a lovesick fool.

But did it matter?

seven.

Just inches away, he had been anticipating the end of the movie too so he could do exactly the same thing; but imagine his delight when he turned to look at you and you were already wide-eyed, watching him as if he was some celestial being, a proper angel. Your noses almost bumped when he turned to face you, causing you to quietly laugh, and you just couldn’t resist it anymore – you brought one hand up to his face to run a careful finger down his cheek, over every scar and intricate line. Kurt didn’t even dare to breathe from fear of shattering the delicate moment, but he was almost sure you could hear his heart beating hard against the fading background clamor. 

You were slow with your featherlight movements as if you were tracing a work of art while he looked at your through half-lidded eyes, all but convinced he was in a dream, until he could no longer only look.

He whispered your name like it was a love poem.

“Kurt,” you smiled at him expectantly, pausing your movements. Your pupils were wide and you looked every bit as dream-like as he was feeling. He noted that the way you said his name sounded like a delicate prayer.

“I- I wanted to say something beautiful but now I do not remember,” he confessed sheepishly, internally chastising himself for ruining the moment for nothing. But on the contrary, you were absolutely charmed with the sincerity of the moment, and you noted that his accent did indeed get sweetly stronger when he was nervous.

“Can I say something beautiful then?” you inquired, once again bringing your fingers to his jawline. 

“Bitte,” he gave you a short nod, eager to see what happens next.

“When you look at me like that, I forget lots of things too,” you smiled so earnestly as your eyes met in the low light, “and I really mean it.”

Kurt grinned so widely and brightly that, for a split second, you thought the lights in the cinema were back on.

If this was his reality on Earth, then what was Heaven?

eight.

“Sooo, how would you rate it?” you questioned as you began your way back home. It had started to snow lightly, and the world was slowly going quiet, except for the two of you whose night was teeming with endless possibilities and joyful laughter. “From one to ten?”

“The movie or the company?” Kurt teased, glancing over at the light-bender whose head was tilted upwards to better appreciate the falling snow, but you met his eyes immediately.

“Both, if you want to be very brave and very honest,” you grinned in expectation. 

You thought he looked so magical against the bright wintery scenery, you wished you’d had your camera with you to savor the moment. 

“Well, then… the movie - seven,” he hummed thoughtfully, your gaze on him steadfast and curious. God, you wanted to just launch yourself at him and give him a proper kiss after having to stop yourself so many times throughout the night. It was snowing, for goodness’ sake, he was cute, it was perfect! But you let him talk, steadfastly keeping your promise that you would listen to him no matter the topic.

“And the company,” he gave you a pointed look and you shivered, maybe because of the cold or maybe not because of the cold at all, “a solid three,” he spoke through a sharp grin.

“Hey-” you burst into laughter and playfully swatted him wherever you could reach until you were both laughing in tandem.

“Three thousand, Schatz,” the teleporter corrected himself, lightly rubbing his side as if trying to memorize the exact spot where your hand had landed, “you did not let me finish!”

“As if that was what you were going to say,” you huffed in mock offense, the remnants of laughter still visible on your face. 

He had the urge to reach out his hand and envelop yours once again, but he didn’t want to push his luck. What if the magic was gone, now that you were no longer in the dark, nearly alone, what if you had changed your mind now that you were seeing him again under streetlights in the snow? What if you were once again reminded of how he actually looked against the backdrop of everyday normalcy, and were just making conversation to be polite?

As a matter of fact, you were reminded. And you wanted nothing more than to kiss him all over his stupid face and hold hands and make snow angels and then get wrapped up in a warm hug as snowflakes littered your hair.

“Can you prove that I wasn’t?” he taunted, raising an eyebrow. 

Before you could make a counterpoint, you sharply turned towards him to try and be dramatic while making your statement, but tripped over something that was snowed under. In the blink of an eye, Kurt’s tail was wrapped snugly around your waist to stop you from falling, as well as his arms around your shoulders. Even though the air was chilly and sharp, you had never felt warmer.

“Can we also prove this never happened?” you winced with a small, awkward grin. But if you hadn’t tripped, you wouldn’t be in a very comfortable, spontaneous embrace right about now, so it was still sort of a win in your books.

“The only thing that happened was you being cute,” he reassured you, softly squeezing your shoulders. He found it lovely how they were almost perfectly eye to eye standing like that. But his brain was absolutely clambering about what to do next. He couldn’t… kiss you, just like that? No, he couldn't – it was too brash, untactful, entirely too random of a moment. 

You lived for random moments. 

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a charmer, Wagner?” you tactfully tried to steer the moment towards where you’d been wanting it to go, as you cautiously hugged him back, as if afraid to shatter this frail wink of time, swelling with possibilities.

“Only for you,” he grinned, contented with himself, in that uniquely humble way that only he could. 

Slowly, cautiously, you lifted her hands towards his cheek again – you couldn’t help it – out of everyone you had ever touched, his face was most compelling by far – but it wasn’t just that. It was more.

It was the way that every magnetic force in the world seemed to be pulling you closer to him, to the glow of his eyes and the curve of his nose and the hint of dimples when he smiled, and – the way he looked at you as if you were mythical, worthy of every bit of his reverence, wondrous.

Was he aware that you had been looking at him just the same?

You moved, subconsciously, just a fragment of an inch closer.

Kurt was hoping you couldn’t actually hear his heartbeat.

He cleared his throat.

“Pehraps it is best that I teleport us home, ja? We don't want you accidentally hurting yourself,” he offered shyly, but his hold on you was unwavering. 

“Yeah,” you released a long-held breath. “Go ahead,” you smiled, lowering your arms to wrap them around the teleporter’s waist before getting whisked away in a blur of smoke.

nine.

“Next time, we’re seeing a comedy,” you pointed a finger at Kurt as you were unlocking your respective rooms back at the mansion.

“Next time?” he blinked in amazement, looking at you incredulously.

“You don’t like comedies?” you almost gasped, placing a hand over your chest for added dramatic effect. “I was so sure you-”

“Ach, I do – ja, I like them,” he quickly corrected himself, a master of misinterpretation; exhaling in relief and giving you a reassuring smile – what he hoped was reassuring and not a mixture of nervous and baffled. “Or we can see something scary?”

“You like scary?” your mouth fell open again, causing Kurt to chuckle lovingly at your earnest reactions.

“Nein. But I do like holding you, if you get scared,” he proposed so sweetly that it made you immediately consider watching something horrific just for the sensation of being in his embrace another time.

“Or you would just hide behind me the whole time,” you teased with a cute head tilt, “with your eyes glowing in the dark and all.”

Before he had a chance to protest, you lovingly petted his hair in a moment of playful affection, but retracted quickly with a “Good night, Blue,” slipping from your lips as you closed the door behind you. The quiet “Gute Nacht” you heard from the other side all but disappeared into thin air as your eyes took in the unexpected scenery waiting for you in your quarters.

A heap of the world’s brightest yellow marigolds tied with a light blue ribbon was laying on your desk.

A gentleman he was.

ten.

Barely a second had passed between your excited gasp at the surprise waiting for you, and the burst of dark blue smoke crackling into the empty space right at the door. So the night wasn’t over just yet.

“I was hoping you would do that,” you admitted, the tantalizing truth out in the open, as you turned around to face your favorite pair of bright eyes. 

“Do you like them?” Kurt inquired, gesturing towards the vibrant bouquet with a coy little smile playing on his face. You approached him mindlessly, like a magnet pulled into his field.

“You are just unbelievable,” you shook your head in happy disbelief, your hands instinctively finding their way to his shoulders, an edge of laughter plain as day in your voice. “I’ve never- thank you, Kurt, really. You are entirely too good to me.”

“I couldn’t be, Liebchen. You have already given me more than I could ever deserve.” He looked down before meeting your eyes with all the courage he could gather, and this time it was his hand that found your face first, tilting it only slightly so you were eye to eye. You were convinced that this was finally the moment your heart would burst out of your chest for good.

“But?” You probed, leaning in just a hair’s breadth until the tips of your noses brushed against one another.

“Could I kiss you? Please?” He wondered, almost breathlessly, and when you smiled against him it was as though someone had knocked all the air out of him.

“Only if I can tell you a secret afterwards,” you quipped tauntingly, glancing down at his parted lips and then back into his wide eyes for half a second; he nodded in a daze and, chivalrously, at last, closed the tantalizing distance between you.

And oh, he was so careful as if you were a sacred apparition that had somehow – by a stroke of crazy luck or destiny – materialized in his arms and against his lips, that might disappear in a blur at any given moment if he pushed just a bit too far – but you didn’t. 

You were there.

You were real.

You were an answered prayer repeated quietly into the dark over countless lonely nights.

And you weren’t pulling away, weren't scared off, weren’t appalled or weirded out – you were enjoying yourself. Most of all, to Kurt’s absolute bewilderment, you seemed to be enjoying him, indigo skin, sharp teeth and all.

He was really hoping it wasn’t just because of the flowers.

Pulling away was nearly an impossible feat, but there was still something you needed to share with him – it was only fair. Your hands comfortably landed on his heaving chest over a thundering heartbeat, steadily sliding higher to clasp behind his neck, like they had belonged there since the beginning of time.

“This…” you trailed off dreamily, twirling one of his curls around your finger, “is the only thing I’ve been thinking about all day.” You smiled at him in surrender, and Kurt was incredibly pleased to note the light blush on your cheeks.

“I hope it was as good as you wished, Liebling,” he replied sincerely, doing his best not to accidentally teleport elsewhere in a burst of adrenaline, but he wouldn’t –  you were still very much in his face, his senses brimming with you; he was in paradise.

“Better, angel” you whispered, lips just barely brushing against his before you fully leaned in and took all his breath away, yet another time, and he would let you, time and time again. 

Small gleams of light were dancing across your fingertips as your hand wound up in his dark curls.

That night, when Kurt prayed before sleep as usual (and just barely managed to fall asleep at all afterwards), after everything he devoutly thanked God for, he decided to be a bit bold – and ask for a thousand more nights like these.

one of the best things that can happen to a nerd is meeting a cute librarian at the university, and an even better thing is finding out that the librarian in question is a fellow mutant with an interesting set of abilities: sound manipulation – being able to quiet something down or mute it, amplify it, even to the point of pain, or to hear somebody’s thoughts if they were intense or close to you. and of course Charles Francis Xavier got a crush on you in record-breaking time.

he started cutely pestering you right away, asked you out, and you ended up together really quickly, since – for obvious reasons – you had a very easy time understanding each other deeply, and it came so naturally like you had known each other forever. Charles just barely made it to the second date before kissing you for the first time, and he’d had to rein himself in multiple times because he wanted to be polite and gentlemanly and ask for consent, but his thoughts about it were so freaking loud (on purpose or accidentally? we will never know!), and his glances down towards your lips were anything but subtle, that it started bugging you and you just gave him the go-ahead before he’d even had the chance to ask. barely had you finished saying it when you felt the first brush of his lips on yours, and the rest is history. (he’s already planning the wedding and wondering which genes your kids will inherit)

in those early joyful days, you go out for drinks often – you get tipsy together, eavesdrop on random people for fun, make stupid jokes, he pulls you up for a spontaneous dance, he flirts shamelessly, sometimes pretends you’ve just met. even if he needs to make a fool of himself, it’s absolutely worth it just for a glimpse of your smile and the way your eyes sparkle in the smoky air. little does he know (he does, though) that his smile makes your heart do a cartwheel in your chest every single time, just as well.

another one of notable dates was the two of you playing (or attempting to play) tennis; there was a court on the premises of the mansion, and the two of you do love a challenge. it was more laughing and throwing each other funny comments than actually playing, but that’s what made it fun

did he try getting in your head to make you mess up your serve? maybe! and you laughed it off and threatened to not give him a single kiss for the rest of the day (he actually pouted at that, he took the threat very seriously), and then he got himself together… although he was still yelling “OUT!” when the ball was very much in the court just to mess with you for fun, but then he would give you a sweaty kiss over the net and any annoyance would be forgotten

since you have a nicely compatible set of abilities, your connection deepens straight away, and you’re able to help each other out in ways you didn’t think possible before. Charles is beyond elated at the discovery that someone could understand him without him having to elaborate, and it’s a nice change of pace that someone can soothe your thoughts and a constant stream of amplified sounds in your head. naturally, it takes lots of practice on both sides, and a huge amount of trust and vulnerability, but it’s also comfortable and relieving. over time you gain the ability to literally quiet down his thoughts when they become too much (only when he asks you to), and you learn how to hear him thinking over greater physical distances.

the first time you end up falling asleep and waking up together, he becomes absolutely appalled at the thought of ever waking up alone again, sorry but he just can’t have that. how did he ever sleep in that large bed all on his own?

doesn’t cook, can’t cook, but if you know how to make anything, he is amazed and he will praise it even if it’s questionable at best. you can very much see it on his face that it’s not that good, but one thing about this man is that he will hype every single thing you ever do – even if it means he has to swallow something that he’s not sure if it’s supposed to be salty or sweet… however! he will gladly make you a nice cup of tea or coffee, and it’s like a small love language of his. if you are good at cooking, he will feel very special when you make something for the two of you, and you will definitely get a cheeky “compliments to the chef” in that charming accent.

birthday/anniversary/christmas gifts from him? EXQUISITE. yes you do let him roam your thoughts a bit so that he can gather a wishlist, but he also knows you, so you get a mix of surprises and things you were sort of expecting. he keeps you on your toes because sometimes he gets you one big-deal sort of thing, like a necklace or a weekend trip with lots of pampering, but sometimes he will treat your mental wishlist as a shopping list and just go crazy, and then there’s a pile of gifts half as tall as the christmas tree. can’t help it, he loves your reactions and he looooves watching you try on the things that he picked just for you.

you have fresh flowers most of the time, in multiple rooms, from the living room to your shared study, but you also never know where and when they’re going to appear – he likes to be a little cheeky like that. sometimes you will go days without receiving a single flower, but sometimes you will get two whole bouquets within two days; he will just leave them somewhere he knows you’ll find them and then smile to himself when he hears your joyful surprised noises when you finally do come across them

he lets you have complete control over decorating for the holidays if that brings you joy, and he will be reading or researching something while you’re flying around hanging bows and whatnot on the windows, and it just makes him feel so content and complete. and do you steal his cardigans when you’re chilly? – a rhetorical question!

you like to have music playing quietly most of the time (it is certainly preferable to hearing random, unwanted noises from the outside world for you), and I bet there’s a huge collection of records in that big ass house, so yeah, something pleasant can be playing all the time

while being a relatively matter-of-fact person, when you get sick Charles will be very fussy; although he’s like ‘drink this for fever, this for ache’ etc etc, he doesn’t like leaving you, and he will continue to be affectionate against his better judgement. aww no, too bad if he gets sick from you – then you get to be the caretaker (good luck keeping him from working tho…)

his favorite parts of the day are either waking up with you or falling asleep with you – the world is just a bit quieter, and those moments just have a certain vulnerability to them, and sometimes he will almost wonder whether he’s imagining it all or you’re just really there, comfortably sprawled out across the large bed, his skin against yours, wearing his sleep shirt or something cute (whichever it is, it drives him mad just the same)

with you he has absolutely no sense of personal space – what would be the point of it anyway? he’s already in your mind half the time, and you in his, the physical is just an extension of it. touchy touchy touchy touchy, he wants to connect with you in every way that matters, in private. of course if you’re in a social setting, he will be keeping an arm around you, or holding your hand, or an occasional chaste kiss, unless you’re tipsy or dancing or both (probably both.) furthermore, he likes to make it known your heart is already spoken for.

but behind the walls of the mansion, he will be borderline suffering if he’s not all but underneath your actual skin. also god forbid you move away in your sleep and not have any point of contact, someone’s elbow, a strand of hair, anything, something has to be touching, it’s the law.

It absolutely puts you to sleep when he reads something scientific out loud to you, even if you do find it interesting. he takes zero offense, he knows you will be curious about the things that matter when you’re more awake, and the two of you nerds will absolutely have debates and tangents about just anything. so much talking in that house!!! whether it’s actually out loud, or inside of your heads.

reading together, exchanging books, commenting on books, underlining paragraphs either of you thinks the other one will like, reading aloud to each other, all of that, any of that pls!

this man will try to charm the pants off of you on the daily, as if you’ve just met that day and he’s trying his hardest to impress you; multiple compliments, innuendos, teasing touches, his honeymoon phase lasts forever because he is so grateful to have someone who not only understands him on an impossibly deep and thorough level, but also loves him for all that he is and makes sure he never forgets it. logically the LEAST he can do is return it tenfold!! yes, he still tries to charm you by sharing whichever scientific fact he finds interesting at the moment; and yes, it still works on you, you are still charmed, every single time.

besides the aforementioned physical touch, words of affirmation are like drugs to this man. even though he objectively knows what you’re thinking a lot of the time, it can’t beat hearing it from your pretty lips, in your comforting voice, like actually hearing it. if you pair a nice compliment or a lovey dovey confession with like, holding his face and looking into his eyes, he 1) can hardly believe his luck and, 2) is absolutely gonna FOLD. (he was never un-folded for you to begin with but you get me!)

whatever you love to do either professionally or as a passion, he will 300% be so unbelievably enthusiastic about it and your absolute biggest supporter!

you used to think Charles would want the two of you to have separate offices for your respective work, but you were WRONG. rather you have one large study, with two desks, lots of bookshelves, lamps, plants, and he really likes to work by your side! at the beginning it was way too exciting and you were way too tempting for him to remain focused for too long, but over time you both learned how to remain properly productive while still exchanging small affections throughout, or as a reward. but yeah, if he’s not breathing the same air as you, he doesn’t wanna be breathing any air at all smh. what is the point?

ooooh if you know how to tie his tie!! GOD he is all but purring, even though your hands had touched way more than just his neck, many times before, there is just something about the little act of service and the way you look at him like he was carved just for you. he likes to believe he was.

obsessed with kissing you; all sorts of kisses – quick, deep, slow and languid, playful, wet, unimaginably soft, biting your lip, anything. also likes to kiss your hand and forehead. or anything, really, but mostly lips.

his hands are very nice and soft with occasional ink stains or paper cuts. he likes to touch your face or hold it in his hands like you’re made of glass when he’s talking to you, it’s just the sweetest.

even across the room or in a crowd, his eyes will always end up finding you and lingering on you so warmly that it makes your heart triple in size; your favorite shade of glimmering blue.

if you’re out together somewhere and you whisper something suggestive or flirty into his ear, he will blush DEEPLY. honestly, you could also speak the thought into his mind secretly, but where’s the fun in that? the way his hold on your waist tightens afterwards makes you wanna go home very soon. but you don’t overuse this, it’s a bit more fun to keep it sparse and surprising.

he could and would listen to you ramble about anything: after a long day you two will end up in front of the fireplace, his head in your lap, as he will prompt you to tell him about your day with every single errand you’d run. your voice just magically quiets his brain.

on that note, run your fingers through his hair and he will melt into a puddle, or float away to another plane of existence. if you tug on it occasionally, that is also a bonus.

those eyes?? BROTHER put those blue eyes away you will kill someone!! telepathy who, Charles Francis Xavier could get you to almost anything just by blinking up at you a couple times, he knows this, he uses this to his advantage for sure! and you know what? you let him get away with it a lot, really, it’s a weakness, but he has a lot on his plate as it is so he is allowed to be spoiled by you occasionally!

bickering but not in an argument way, more in a verbal sparring way. intellectual debates are a common occurrence and both of you enjoy a nice exchange of opinions, so yeah, one-up him, make him think; also more than once it turned into something steamy and more than just verbal

however, serious relationship arguments are very rare, and reasonably so – you share a lot of common values, you understand each other on the deepest level imaginable; but on theodd occasion you get into a proper quarrel, it gets pretty tense and dramatic, oftentimes ending up with you barely speaking for the whole day. but let’s face it, he would barely even last that long without popping into your thoughts and offering an apology, comfort, understanding. nothing is worth losing you. nothing will ever be.

he tries soooo hard to not to be jealous or possessive, he knows damn well you can and will stand your ground, and that you are faithful to the core, but occasionally very subtle signs, micro-expressions, body language will betray him, and you absolutely will tease him about it – as if anyone could ever take you away. so yeah, he won’t act on those unpleasant feelings 99% of the time, except if he can sense that you are getting extremely uncomfortable with someone pushy.

when you have a bad dream, he can sense it before you’re even awake, but he’s actually the one with worse dreams; so many times both of you will be up in the middle of the night, and you will sigh that you “wish you could do more” the way that he does for you, but his reply is always along the lines of “you just being here is already everything.” so you try not to argue. every now and then, when either of you have had a nightmare, the other one will run them a relaxing bath and just sit there with lights dimmed, and hang out for a bit in order to calm down and get sleepy again.

in the bedroom, he’s just heavenly. i think initially he would pretend to have had more experience than he actually did, but luckily for him, he can read you and switch things up elegantly in the blink of an eye anyway. he’s simultaneously the perfect gentleman, caring, sensual, attentive, but also properly nasty. he’s down for trying pretty much anything you are interested in, which also prompts him to suggest things from his own curious fantasies. sometimes he will touch you like a starved man, sometimes he will tease you to the point of tears gathering in your eyes, or both. yes to both. he will gently bite, especially your neck and hips. he will lace his fingers with yours when he goes down on you. he would never ever hurt you in any capacity though, pain is a hard no! he’s breathy and vocal – a weakness of yours – and absolutely convinced there’s no way he will ever get enough of you. and yes, he will absolutely tease you when you’re doing something important, by projecting the filthiest possible thoughts into your brain, and later he will taunt you for getting flustered – good luck!

let’s be very real – Charles has to know how to slow dance properly, and you enjoy it immensely. usually it’s in the privacy of your home, late at night when the world is quieter and a vinyl is spinning on a record player, he will hold you close and confidently lead you through a little dance, his gaze on you unwavering, enchanted, his hands on you warm and firm. when he’s feeling extra romantic, he will pull out all the stops: dips, twirls, anything, and with every movement you fall deeper in love. naturally, this dancing is very often interrupted by soft, warm and deep kisses that take your breath away. of course there is silly dancing as well, or just a little spin as he passes you by in the hallway because he knows it will bring you such joy.

his plan to propose to you will have about a hundred aspects that need to be just perfect (the ring, for starters, is an absolute dream), yet somehow he will manage to fumble something – you had a hunch all along anyway, sometimes his thoughts are LOUD – and like, mid-speech he will accidentally get down on both knees instead of just one. it’s not his fault you’re just so ethereal and you looked so lovely in your outfit and the fairy lights in the garden were giving you a little halo above your head!!

and yeah, neither of you are ready for everything that will happen after. but at least you have each other, despite despite despite.

bonus - you would have really nice photos together like these:

if you actually made it here or maybe even liked it, I'd love to know 🤭 and feel free to pester me abt any of the HCs xoxo

༘⋆ FRODO

he’s always been considered the Weird Boy of the village, so it’s really not a surprise to anyone that he ended up falling in love with a whole ass HUMAN, it was almost sort of expected that he’d end up in an odd relationship and carry on the family reputation of being crazy

he likes to think he won you over with his intelligence and interesting, imaginative conversations, and his whimsy <3 since he was already somewhat educated about other races outside the Shire before you two met

but his first emotion wasn’t a crush, rather a bit of curiosity and the desire to get to know you in any capacity and just talk to you and spend time together

over time, his feelings develop when he realizes how much he enjoys talking to you about everything and how much you two are compatible in that regard; also he likes that you treat him as an equal, despite the obvious differences, and not like a curiosity 

the second he starts getting closer with you, sleeping close to each other, practicing some swordfighting, staying close while walking, etc. – the teasing from his friends begins 😛 all in good fun of course

Frodo really values your opinions and advice, and when he finds someone trustworthy that means a lot to him – his affections grow

also he wishes he could be more useful when it comes to stepping in to protect you, but at least he can observe you with amazement – how skilled you are, and how easy on the eyes too!

your hugs are like heaven to him and he feels so safe and loved like that ❤

when he looks up at you with those big eyes, you would give him anything let’s be so for real!

if he is feeling playful he will use this to his advantage occasionally 😇

doesn’t take kindly if anyone throws you an offhand comment or looks at you weirdly – in those situations you let him take over and be the protective one

you get lots of compliments on the daily, and certainly some poems written about you – he looks at you like you’re a character from one of the fairy stories he used to read

ok but he loves when you give him a kiss on top of his head aww yay

༘⋆ SAM

is only slightly wary of you at the start, but he uses those mildly negative feelings in order to bury the fact that he does feel rather flustered around you

the way he blushes when you look at him for more than 2 seconds is fairly obvious right away, God forbid if you smile at him or say something nice – his whole face, neck and ears are burning

one day he decides to be extremely brave and inquire whether you might help him brush up on his sword skills a little bit (if anyone asks, it’s because Strider was busy, mind you), and after he gets 1-on-1 time with you, he becomes aware of the massive crush he’s got on you

luckily, it’s quite easy to pick up on the way his eyes soften when he observes you or how he lets his hand linger just a little bit when he hands you something or brushes past you

but oh. could he even dare to dream that someone majestic such as you would return his affections in any capacity? 💔

you can probably guess that is his mindset, so you make it a point to tell him nice things and point out what is lovable about him – how he made such a lovely stew for dinner when you set up camp, or how his sparring skills are getting better; he all but stammers at your compliments but he’s afraid he is misreading your intentions still

unfortunately you have to take it upon yourself to get it through his stubborn head, no matter how many times his lil friends might have given him a pep talk and tried to push him to finally confess

when you manage to catch a moment alone, you surprise him with a kiss on the cheek and he firstly short-circuits but then rest assured – you get a barrage of kisses in return when he gets over the initial shock

really likes holding your hand a lot, also does his very best to assume the position of the big spoon while cuddling or sleeping

when you turn up in the Shire with him absolute chaos ensues because he’s a Good Boy who apparently got himself into an oh-so-scandalous relationship

but trust he will literally throw hands if needed if anyone makes you feel unwelcome

he looks at you with stars in his eyes for real!!

༘⋆ MERRY

naturally curious person who likes a fun challenge BUT oh dear when the challenge is also attractive and tall???? boy is living his best life and nobody can tell him shit

medium obvious about his crush from the start, but he does like building up a bit of friendship first; and he’s talkative, fun and caring anyway, so it’s overall a nice time

but he has to fight the urge to grin like a fool whenever he catches your eyes lingering on him

he makes it his secret mission to get more of your attention than anyone else but without being overbearing

he will sweet-talk you and compliment you loads tho. if you do it back, he will think he’s playing it cool, but actually gets flustered 

“you’re soooo tall and strong” 😛 he loves it but also wishes he could protect you better from danger

when he tells you stories from back home, definitely exaggerates his bravery or intelligence, of which you are aware and it makes you laugh; however, when you laugh it’s even better, actually. the way your eyes gleam makes him daydream of forever, but then he wonders whether he could ever be adequate for you.

but you fluster him on purpose, listen to his rambling and ramble right back, spar with him and always always overtake him (to his absolute delight – he’s competitive but having you peering down at him beats any other feeling) and he is down bad – so what’s a little height difference? he’ll be damned if he doesn’t at least give it a try

so he starts testing the waters by giving you affectionate nicknames and “accidentally” brushing hands; when you do it back without missing a beat, he hopes it’s not just a game to you because it stopped being a game to him long ago

he will literally try to lift you up and act all strong

the confession or a kiss happens as a part of some game or a dare as you sit around the fire at night – it gives you an easy way out if needed, too, but you don’t back away, and he promises himself he will do anything to be man enough for you

when you get together, he most definitely likes to show you off a bit and he’s very proud, almost honored that you chose him

༘⋆ PIPPIN

although he was dead convinced he had no chance with you in the romantic sense, that wasn’t going to stop him from being his chatty, affectionate, sweet self towards you all the time

he thought he made peace with the fact you will never fall in actual love with him, but there was just a bit of sadness in his heart because he found you so very amazing

he climbs things to be closer to your height, and definitely trips or falls a couple times – if it makes you laugh, it’s worth the minor trouble! but you assure him that he really doesn’t need to do that, he’s just fine the way he is

if you pay him a compliment, he will in all seriousness stop functioning for a few moments (how fun it is to shut up a chatty person by making them blush!!)

steals your cloak even though it’s literally dragging behind him as he walks, and it’s collecting leaves along the hem — but but but it smells like you (he will not outwardly say that) and it’s so warm!

when you are on night watch, he will sometimes go so far to sacrifice sleep just to have the chance of hogging all of your attention

he asks lots of questions, about humans as well, and he revels in how you answer every single one, without brushing him off

and now you got him thinking he’s important to you too – the other three will literally have to convince him that you do like him back and that he’s not just imagining it with an idealistic view

he loves that he feels so very safe and protected around you, like you have the power to block out all the bad in the world

as you walk, he will pick up a nice leaf or rock or flower and hand it to you as a small token of affection; if you show him appreciation through a hug or petting his hair or even a small kiss, his heart triples in size

the confession happens after you all just barely defeat a pack of orcs and he realizes that there is a million things scarier than revealing his feelings and that he can’t have something happening to you without you knowing that he cares about you, even if it’s not reciprocated

but his whole world shifts when it IS!

༘⋆ BILBO

another outrageous hobbit at whom nobody even blinked an eye when he marched back home with a lover almost twice his height; if nothing, it gives all the neighbors extra fuel for sensational rumors as they have their afternoon tea

initially he was only slightly suspicious, but there was just something about you that drew him in and piqued his curiosity

you complain to each other during the quest and it bonds you in a way 😂

you treat him as an equal even though he’s well aware that he isn’t, in the physical sense, but it’s lovely regardless

will climb up on a rock or some tree roots to get closer to your height; naturally, you poke a bit of fun at him for it, he will roll his eyes with an undeniable smile

when he has to take a shift for night watch, you offer to keep him company sometimes which he really appreciates and it’s your steadfastness and stability that wins his heart – something about you feels like home away from home

he’s not actively trying to win your heart all the time, but he also kind of is, depending on whether he allows himself to be way over in his head, on a given day, about if you might actually want something real and longlasting

he tells you stories about his home and he cautiously peppers in comments such as “i will have to show you…” and when you, of course, enthusiastically agree, everything seems suddenly possible

once you fell asleep subconsciously curled against him and his entire heart went: !!!!!!

it was a huge victory for him, that you – tall, strong, impressive, felt safe enough with lil old him to just relax completely. his confidence grows

from thereon, he will have no problem stepping in to protect you in a battle, as scared as he might be

his confession is, to his absolute mortification, a little unskillful, quite accidental, but incredibly sweet just as well! it comes out unplanned during a random conversation after a long day of travelling, but you are charmed by the honesty nevertheless, and very much reciprocate it!