Erik placed a large gray suitcase on the bed unzipping it quickly with his powers opening it up. Anything with metal floated into the air flying around the room find a home for each accessory or clothing. Charles watched amazed by Erik’s control over his mutation, it fascinated him to no end. Erik took the closet while Charles got the wardrobe mainly because of the metal hangers. All of the metal in the room trembled lightly as Erik maneuvered it around making it a more comfortable space. According to Charles there were a few mutants in this area so their original one day trip turned into a full week.
Charles unpacked sluggishly too focused on what Erik did to actually preform himself. He could hear a few of his lovers stray thoughts, one that were not masked. Charles did his best to not listen in on peoples thought but Erik’s mind was breathtakingly loud. Whether it was due to trauma or he just thinks a lot Charles always picked up a few unfiltered thoughts which always made him smile. He could hear Erik wondering about what’s for lunch and what type of mutants they would run into. Erik’s eyes met Charles breaking the staring causing Charles to flush red. He looked down at his suitcase removing clothing as if he had always been working.
“Do you always stare so much?” Erik asked gruffly. He didn’t mean for it to sound that way.
“Only at you.” Charles responded with a small smile. Erik chuckled to himself and shook his head.
Charles’ watch began to buz impatiently. Erik felt the watches tremors in his bones a light hum of vibrations. Charles looked down turning the alarm off then grabbed his toiletries walking to the bathroom. Erik took note of this it was werid this happened every day at the same time and conveniently Charles was always at their base with that toiletrie bag. Erik knew better not to pry as he rarely shared his own life but the shorter man was just so riveting. He made an attempt to distract himself by turning on the tv sitting on their bed but the metal coming from whatever Charles was doing was distracting. Erik typically drowned out his metal detecting but with someone who constantly used a metal object at the same time every day was suspicious.
Charles returned without a word putting his shoes on ready to leave for the day. Erik tugged on Charles’ watch to get his attention and pull him to the bed.
“Not now Erik,” Charles looked at his boyfriend. “We have to go out and find more mutants.” He said raising his eye brow.
“Liebling, let’s stay in the room then go out to lunch. The mission could wait.” Erik tugged a little harder on the watch.
Charles wanted to protest but he kept his mouth shut and shimmied his shoes off. Crawling onto the bed he sat next to Erik where the latter promptly put his arm around the telepath.
“Charles could I ask you a question?” Erik’s face was unreadable and his mind seemed quiet, far too quiet.
“Of course love.” Charles hummed leaning his head against Erik’s chest.
“What did you do in the bathroom?” Erik asked softly. Charles stiffened and Erik felt it. He realized he must of hit a sore spot but continued anyways.
Charles was silent thinking of what to say. If he told Erik who he really was then Erik might as well leave and mission over. He’d love nothing more to invade his mind erasing his thoughts on the matter but he would never do that without permission. Charles’s heart skipped a beat as Erik kissed his forhead trying to be comforting.
“I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it.” Charles’ voice trailed on and he relaxed.
“Alright” Erik was disappointed Charles could sense it. He felt guilty for not letting his lover know about his secret.
After being together for these few weeks almost a month traveling the world to find mutants together. Growing closer everyday yet Charles couldn’t find the words to tell his own boyfriend that he was not what Erik thought of him. He knew Erik knew something was suspicious when he would go take his testosterone or when his gender dysphoria was so bad he was grumpy towards Erik. He’d seen the man shirtless too many time and envied his appearance though he was quite charming himself. Charles never wanted to tell Erik he didn’t owe it to him. He felt as if maybe he did it would bring them closer together or separate them completely.
Erik noticed Charles silence after. He was disappointed he didn’t get to know but it was something that he might eventually would know or it wasn’t his place to he understood. He wrapped his arms around Charles waist holding him tightly. Erik loved him even when he had a difficult time expressing it, he would accept him no matter what Charles was hiding. If he secretly killed a dozen of people Erik could do with that. Charles moved slightly into a better position still held by Erik. Erik looked into Charles eyes that electric blue that made him fall in love.
“I will tell you I suppose.” Charles murmured. “”This is a privilege for you though I wouldn’t be surprised if you hated me after.”
“Charles I could never hate you, how could you say that.” Erik sternly said. No response.
How his eyebrows were set and lips somewhat pouting, Erik was giving a slight scowl. Charles sucked in a deep breath having nothing (everything) to lose.
“Erik I’m transgender.” Charles said trying to pull away after which Erik did not let him go.
Silence filled the room making Charles panic.
“I don’t know what that means but thank you for telling me.” Erik’s scowl was replaced by a small smile.
“You accept me blindly? Who has replaced the real Erik.” Charles said finally pulling away. “The Erik I know would never say something like that.” When Charles was scared he got angry, a low simmer in his stomach.
“Liebling just know that I accept you.”
“So you accept a man born with a female body?” Charles snapped. Erik took a long time to respond and Charles didn’t need to read his mind to know it was a bad idea.
“Charles I accept you no matter what you are.” Erik’s voice raised. Since being so used to rejection and disappointed this was hurtful until he realized it’s not his place to be hurt by this.
“Charles I love you and I’m so happy that you could share that with me.” Erik pulled him back with his watch so they were close again.
“I do not know much about this but I want to learn.” Erik said.
‘God he’s so stupid’ Charles thought. It felt unreal that Erik supported him so openly. This couldn’t be Erik, the Erik he knew was always so weary about new people or things he didn’t understand. Erik was Charles thinking too much so he placed his hands on his face snd kissed him.
‘Share it with me. I’ve shared my pain with you it okay if you share yours.’ He projected to Charles.
‘Okay’ Charles responded hesitantly.
Erik was transported into Charles memories starting when we was a small child. How he would run around in his huge mansion all alone pretending to be a superhero and talking to imaginary friends. Then a few maids took Charles into his room and dressed him up in feminine clothing. Erik studied the room noticing the pastel pink walls and tons of dolls on the floor. There were stacks of books taller than Charles about animals and science. That’s when he noticed Charles was being addressed to as Charlotte and called a girl. The memory changed.
Charles was now 12 years old meeting Raven. Providing a home to his new sister. His hair was very long unkept from sleeping and he wore blue pajamas. After Charles saw Raven’s mutation that made him think. Erik faintly heard Charles’ kid thoughts. ‘I’m a boy. If Raven can change because of her mutation I can be a boy without needing it’ Erik understood finally that Charles was born female and was forced to wear feminine things but deep down he didn’t feel as if he was a girl. A part of him longed to have a flat chest, deeper voice, masculine frame. Erik couldn’t pity him as it wasn’t his place too but he kept this in mind.
Charles was now a little older having just cut his hair in the bathroom with Raven’s help. That’s when Cain his step brother found them. Erik witnessed as Cain mercilessly beat on his brother saying slurs. This made Erik’s blood boil as he witness this. Raven tried to step in but she couldn’t help. After the beating Cain brought Charles to his father where Kurt praised his son and took care of Charles afterwards with more beatings. This continued on until Charles moved off the college. His mother did nothing but eventually both his mother and step father died. Erik didn’t get to see what happened to the brother but if he got his hands on him he would crush him.
It cut to Charles in college living as he wants too. A few people would spit or yell at him but Charles was determined to get his degrees and figure out how to live comfortably. Thats when he found testosterone was being tested and he applied for it. He struggled to get his hands on it but when he did he took it. Erik realized that was the metal he felt from the toiletrie bag, syringes filled with the hormone. He watched as Charles recorded the bodily changes and it finally felt comfortable. Erik could never grasp Charles full situation with his identity but with what he knew now he is so happy he got to know.
“Thank you for sharing.” Erik kissed Charles face. “I love you unconditionally.”
Charles had tears fall down his face but he smiled as they exchanged sweet nothings and kisses. Charles loved Erik and Erik loved Charles.