Chapter 7
Erik couldn't help but be nervous. Never before had he crawled into someone else's bed with the plans of sleeping next to them the entire night. With his nightmares it took him some convincing and Charles had promised to wake him up if he noticed one, helping to alleviate his fears of hurting Charles.
So he laid in bed, Charles’s large bed, in his large fancy room bigger than some houses Erik has seen, feeling more out of place than he could ever remember. While he waited for Charles to come out of the bathroom, his eyes roamed the room. He saw a couple of photos of a little Charles and Raven, some certificates and awards from Charles’s years in school, a framed letter from Oxford. And then the books that seemed to be littering every available surface and a large bookshelf stacked full.
The door opened and Erik looked over to see Charles walk in, a small smile on his face. If Erik thought it was possible, he would guess Charles was full of barely contained excitement. He made his way to the bed, on the other side from where Erik was laying, and slid into bed, right up against Erik.
He almost screamed, jumping slightly. “Why the hell are you so cold?” He asked. The room was a comfortable temperature, it wasn’t like it was a particularly cold night. And yet, Charles’s hands and feet were freezing.
“You’re warm,” Charles commented, smiling, sounding playful and Erik couldn’t help but laugh softly as he wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer. “Warm me, Erik.”
“I’m doing my best, Liebling,” He assured him, rubbing up and down his bare back, tangling their legs together so he could better warm Charles’s feet.
Erik felt a smile against his shoulder where Erik now had his face pressed and then a cold ear pressed against his cheek, a cold nose to his neck, and Erik couldn’t help but yelp.
“We’re getting you blankets. And gloves, and warmer socks. Maybe a ski mask or something,” Erik mumbled, trying to seem grumpy but there was only so much he could do to mask his amusement and happiness. “Was this the reason you wanted to sleep with me?”
“Of course. My own personal heater,” Charles said, trying to burrow in closer and Erik laughed softly. “Not really,” Charles added, voice softer, “This is just an added bonus. I wanted you next to me, to be close to you. I think…if you would let me, I could help with your nightmares as well. With my powers,” He admitted before quickly adding, “If you don’t want me to I won’t, but I think I could.”
“I don’t want you to see those, Liebling,” He whispered, “But I also don’t want to hurt you while we’re asleep.”
“I don’t have to be in enough to see them. Just sort of…share my dream with you so you don’t have one of your own.”
Erik smiled softly, “Sharing dreams sounds awfully fast. We haven’t known each other that long.”
“Darling, I would already share anything with you. I know everything about you, let me do this for you. If you want, I’m happy to.”
“Alright,” Erik whispered softly, “Come on in then.”
***
It had been thirty years since the last time they had done this, Erik realized as he made his way through the shack in Genosha to his bedroom—their bedroom. Charles was waiting on him and he wanted to get there as soon as possible.
He couldn’t help but think about the last, or even the first time. It had only happened a handful of times, after all, and each time was amazing, holding Charles close, the arms wrapped around him, whispering to each other as they drifted off to sleep. Then waking up so warm, tangled with each other, lazy mornings, sleepy Charles, sleepy morning sex.
Drying off his hair with a towel that he tossed into a laundry basket as soon as he entered the bedroom, not bothering with clothes. He pulled back the covers as he smiled at Charles who smiled back.
Erik slid into bed next to the other man and jumped. “Gott, I forgot how cold you always were,” He said and Charles can’t help but laugh, his hands under Erik’s bare back.