So you stayed
It had been three more days of radio silence on Peter’s part.
Erik had found himself going into the basement to more or less stare at the vegetable of a mutant on his off hours. When there was nothing else to do or clean, and no one was around to comment, Erik busied himself with Peter’s affairs.
Peter could do nothing more than sleep, and stare in the company of his father.
Still, it seemed they both enjoyed each other’s rather equally dull prenceces.
Finally, on the fourth day, when Erik had meandered down to the med-bay, Peter was properly awake.
Erik has stepped into the medical room to find that it had several other people inside.
Everyone perked up, and immediately stiffened at the sight of Magneto.
“W-what…what is it?” Managed a barely intelligible voice from the back. Erik knew in an instant that the weak voice was Peter’s.
“It’s… It’s Erik. Why don’t me and Ororo give you two some space?” Jubilee said, taking the other girl’s hand.
The two girls were glass that Erik wasn’t close enough to see the bewilderment, and near fear that struck Peter in that instant. But it was gone as soon as it had arrived, and when Erik drew close, he was met with the same blank porcelain face.
“Heyyy, man.” Peter managed, drawing out the y despite the strain it took. Erik frowned, “You really shouldn’t make noises like that.” He chided. Peter closed his mouth, saying nothing.
“What’s up? Why are you down here?” He asked, trying to shift in the bed. Instead of moving to get a better look at his father, Peter slumped further down, and winced in pain from the movement. Erik made a face at this too.
“Stop squirming, you’re going to hurt yourself.” Erik added. Peter’s brows furrow, “What are you, my dad?” He teased without thought.
Immediate regret bit Peter in the ass, and he slumped as far back into cot as he could. He wished now that the pain meds would take him again, and he could go back to dreaming… or anything to escape his stupid mistake.
Erik just rolled his eyes and stepped closer. “How are you?” he asked instead. Peter liked the topic change. “I feel like ass, man.” Peter joked honestly. This answer didn’t seem to please Erik much, but Peter couldn’t take it back now.
“Where’s Hank?” Erik asked. Peter rolled his head over to the side, “Dunno. I think he went to go look at some of my lab work.” Peter supplied weakly, voice horse and sounding bored.
After a long pause, Peter rolled his head back over to stare at Erik. The face of his father loomed over him, and Peter couldn’t manage to look away.
“Why… why are you down here, man?” Peter asked, trying very hard not to slur his words. Thankfully, it didn’t seem like Erik noticed the extra effort. “Everyone was telling me to visit you for days.” Erik replied.
Something about that felt sour to Peter. Had Erik, his own damn father, really only come here due to peer pressure? Not because he actually wanted to see him?
“Of course, when I came down here you were barely awake.” Erik continued. “I don’t even know if you remember my visits.” he added. Peter paused. Wait… visits… as in, more than one?
“In truth, Ororo told me you’d be waking up fully soon. But, I guess I wasn’t expecting you to be up today.” Erik concluded. Peter took a moment to process everything he’d been told.
“So you came down to see me even though I was like… drugged out?” Peter asked. Erik smiled briefly and nodded.
“Guess you like me better when I can’t blabber, huh?” Peter asked. Erik might have written it off as one of Peter’s many witty jabs at himself, but the way Peter avoided eye contact made it gain more weight.
“Not at all.” Erik said so incredibly simply Peter felt he might break. “I just thought I should see you. At least till you were better.” Erik concluded.
Peter blinked a few times, stuned and too tired to properly compose himself.
“Thank you.” Peter said finally.
Erik’s face morphed with confusion. “For what?” He asked. Peter managed a smile, “For visiting.”
“For staying.”