Chapter 5
When the idea of a road trip to find more people like them was first brought up, Charles found himself excited. That excitement only increased when Erik insisted that mutants should be discovered by mutants. Days on the road with just the two of them, sharing hotel rooms, long car rides with Erik. He had to wonder if that was what Erik was thinking about too.
He could have found out, of course, but that didn't feel right. Whatever was starting between the two of them was still new and he didn't want to risk it.
He felt nervous as the two of them set out on their journey, but the feeling didn't last. It never had around Erik, there was something about the man that set him at ease, no matter how much he insisted that he was dangerous and shouldn't be trusted. Charles never felt anything but safe around him.
Laughter flowed easily from Charles and it only lit up the car more when Erik would join in. There was something about his smile that Charles loved and wanted to see more, so wide and carefree, happy.
By the time they reached the hotel they were staying in for the first night, there was only one thing on Charles's mind. It wasn't something they had done before, both had been walking on eggshells around the new relationship that they were starting to develop. But Charles couldn't bring himself to wait another moment.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, he pressed Erik up against it, kissing him deeply. Arms wrapped around Charles's waist and pulled him in closer, holding their bodies together.
Already, Charles couldn't wait for more to come.
---
It wasn't that Erik didn't appreciate the others, the kids, as Charles kept calling them, though Erik would argue they were no longer children. And don't even get him started on Moria.
It was more that he just enjoyed Charles's company more. There was a kinship there, an understanding. Maybe it was related to Charles's mutation, that Charles really did understand, or maybe it was that their ages were closer than they were to the younger ones. Or, maybe, it was something different. Sometimes Erik wondered if Charles had a darker past than he let on, but he hadn't managed to ask yet.
The point was, no one found it surprising when, after dinner, when they were all sitting around chatting and doing their own thing, Erik looked over at Charles, "Chess?"
The smile that stretched over Charles's face was priceless to Erik. "Of course, my friend," He replied, standing up as Erik did the same. They started off down the hall together and, as soon as they were out of the room where the others were, and out of sight, Charles's hand darted out, catching Erik's in his.
Erik looked over at Charles, giving him a secretive smile. When they reached the staircase, Erik leaned over, pressing a kiss to Charles, unable to resist the temptation of those red lips.
---
Fear was mounting in Charles but he couldn't stay away. It had been over a decade since he last had a moment alone with Erik and he wanted the chance to talk to him. And potentially make more bad decisions.
He stood outside the hotel door, wishing he had taken the time to shower, maybe shave and wash his hair before doing this. But then he hated himself because he cared what he looked like.
It was Erik, after all, and no matter how much he wanted to act like he didn't care, he always would. He always had. No matter what Erik has or hasn't done.
With a deep breath, he brought his hand up and knocked on the door. He had told Logan and Hank he wanted to talk to Erik more about JFK and what had happened. That was far from the truth. Sure, he was still angry, and Erik was too, even without his powers, Charles was certain about that. He really wanted to just see Erik, see how he was, and make sure everything was okay with him. A decade in solitary seemed terrifying and Charles had already had one drink too many.
Erik opened the door to his hotel room and the surprise on his face was clear to see. "Charles," He whispered, stepping to the side, and motioning for Charles to come in, which he did.
"How...how are you?" Charles asked, sitting down on the edge of Erik's bed while he closed to door and walked over to sit next to him.
"I'm fine," Erik replied but Charles didn't believe that. How could he? After everything Erik had been through, Charles refused to believe he was anything near fine.
"Erik, it's me," He whispered, "How are you really? Talk to me."
"Are you drunk?" Erik asked back, looking over at him, making a face as though he could smell it on Charles, which he probably could.
"A little. I still want to know," Charles replied, heading back and laying crossways on the bed, looking up at the back of Erik's head.
"I've been better," Erik finally replied as he laid back next to Charles, "But I've been worse too."
Charles didn't have to wonder to know that Erik was referring to the camps and Shaw. Instead of saying anything, he nodded.
Then Erik was leaning in, rolling over so that Charles was caged in by his arms. Then lips were pressed against his and he reached up, pulling Erik down so his weight was resting against the smaller man.
Once again, everything was okay.
---
The mansion was gone and Erik could admit that it was at least a little his fault. But the problem was that he didn't feel bad about it. There was nowhere he had felt more at home than at the school and he found that maybe home was what he needed after everything.
His family was gone, that was one home he had lost and with the school gone, it felt like he had lost everything. But Charles was still there and Erik was making the most of it.
They were all staying in tents while he and Jean worked to rebuild the school with some help from the others. And it just so happened he put his tent up right next to Charles's. So easy and convenient for the two of them to pick up on a tradition they had lost decades ago. Nightly chess games.
Things were going slow between him and Charles recently. Other than an occasional arm touch or shoulder squeeze, Erik thought that might be for the best. He needed slow, for things to be okay for a while. He still wasn't over the loss of his wife and daughter, after all, and, while he wasn't sure he would ever fully be over them, he wasn't ready to move on- or back?- just yet.
Charles seemed to understand that and was content with their stolen moments and quiet chess games, reflecting on a simpler time when they had such different worries.
With the family he had built, Erik couldn't help but feel like everything would be okay for once. But, of course, things that good could never last.
---
A home in Genosha. A place for mutants, a place where Charles could be himself, without the stress and pressure of the school. He couldn't help but look forward to it, even if he was hesitant at first. It was a place he could be with Erik and that was something he could never say no to.
There was something in the man he once knew to be angry and hurt, something softer and more gentle, he seemed to smile more, that bright smile Charles found himself striving for around four decades ago. That desire still hadn't gone away, Charles was still just as determined to see that smile and hear Erik laugh.
It was an added bonus when he first saw Genosha. An offer of a home that Charles expected to be rough terrain, and pieced together shacks. He was half correct, though he had to admit, it was as though everything was built with accessibility in mind and Charles had to bring himself to realize it was.
Erik had been planning this for years and Charles could have cried as he realized he was still wanted by someone. By Erik.
It felt like it had been years of them finding excuses to be together. Even still, it was for the point of Charles having a home, a place to stay. It felt like it no longer mattered, they had been in each other's lives for so long and had loved each other all that time. They no longer needed to come up with a reason. They lived together, they loved each other, there was no one else to think about, no concerns over the future, over mutant kind. They had their own little piece of paradise.
They finally had each other and a home that was built to last.