Cosmic Kiss

Charles was eager for his tour with the Admiral to begin. He’d gotten chewed out by Moira and her superiors’ in turn, but he’d been granted his requests immediately. So in the end it was all worth it.

 In all honesty, his distaste for red tape and bureaucracy of the government hadn’t faded with time and had only grown because of his dealings with the university system. He found ways to bypass it whenever he could.

He’d been inspired by the exploits of one of his personal heroes, Alan Turing, when it came to enacting his plan. Everyone had a higher up and he had the ear of the highest of them all. He’d try not to abuse this power. He didn’t want to be accused of turning against his own kind to find favor in the eyes of the invaders.

He knew he was walking a dangerous line between two enemies who saw no way to coexist. If he played this wrong he’d strand himself in a no man’s land with no friends or allies to call his own. But if he played this right, they could learn to coexist without humanity surrendering their cultures and religions and whatever else the Federation would demand of them that would strip them of all that made them human. He had to make Erik understand. He had to show him what it meant to be human and why that was a wonderful thing. He could only hope he was as persuasive as Moira seemed to think he was.

~~

Erik arrived for his meeting with his ambassador with an unusual degree of excitement. Hank had certainly noticed, but had declined to comment. Erik was grateful for that and had agreed to see about getting Hank the many mineral and botanical samples he was salivating over from this lush planet.

Apparently it was teeming with life down to the cellular level; his science department was clearly anticipating some great finds. In his research into Dr. Xavier he’d found evidence of a similar sort of curiosity and wondered how he and Hank would get along.

Hank had certainly been keen on Earths biodiversity since they’d arrived in orbit and his appetite for knowledge had only been whetted by Dr. Xavier’s brief talk at the North American surrender.

Erik frowned at the memory of his lead science officer rhapsodizing over the young doctors’ intelligence. He resolved to keep them apart for the time being. No reason to distract the good doctor from his duties as ambassador when he was new to the role.

“Ready captain?” his bridge commander asked firmly.

He nodded his assent and felt the odd bubbling sensation that signaled teleportation fill his body.  Within a matter of seconds the feeling dissipated and he opened his eyes in the room he and Charles had met in the day before.

He’d arrived without his usual escort of armed guards, they were just for show anyway and he hoped his lone arrival would put Dr. Xavier at ease. He liked the flickers of personality that came through the other mans fear when they fell into conversation. He hoped to see more of that in the days to come.

“Admiral,” Dr. Xavier stepped into the room with a light knock. “Right on time. I thought you might be,” he gave a nervous chuckle.

Erik gave a small smile without showing his teeth. He’d practiced it the night before and hoped for a better result than his previous smiles had obtained. Charles smiled back, full lips lightly parted to reveal small, white teeth.

“No pouting today?” Erik asked with a slight tilt to his head.

Ruby lips turned down in a slight frown as his brow crinkled in confusion, “I’m sorry, what?”

“I looked it up last night; you all move your faces a great deal when speaking. We tend not to. Most of our communication is verbal. My behavioral experts tell me that’s not the case with your kind,” Erik said, moving slowly across the room to stand just in front of the smaller man.

His face flushed red and he glanced away from Erik’s penetrating gaze. Erik hoped that was a good sign, he was taking Azazel’s advice to share some details about his own people to make Charles more comfortable with his mannerisms and hopefully draw him in with tid-bits of knowledge that would make him eager for more.

Normally he ignored Azazel’s personal advice, but in this area, the man certainly had more experience and Erik conceded that he’d need all the help he could get. This was his first personal protectorate, one that he hoped to make into a successful colony.

For that he’d need to be on friendly terms with his new subjects. Dr. Xavier’s plans would be invaluable to his cause in a variety of ways.

Charles licked his lips nervously and glanced up at the Admiral from beneath his eyelashes. “Well, feel free to ask any questions you have about…any of that.” He hoped his voice sounded steady, but it was difficult with the admiral standing just in front of him, tall and imposing, so handsome in an otherworldly way. His heart was racing, his palms damp with nerves as the Admiral tilted his head in what Charles took to be agreement.

He quirked those thin, almost nonexistent lips in another of those tiny, awkward smiles he seemed to be favoring this morning. Charles felt his cheeks heat again at the sight. Logically he knew the other man as simply unpracticed in facial expressions, but there was a certain vulnerability revealed in those smiles and in the close way he watched Charles as he spoke. Like a man learning a new language conversing with a native speaker for the first time. It was- dare he say sweet? That he’d consulted with his behavioral experts for their outing. That he’d looked up the facial expression Charles had made that had so confused him.

Charles wondered when he had pouted the day before, and what the Admiral had thought of it at the time and later once he’d found out what it was. He’d resolved himself to asking, if only to break the extended silence that had fallen between them. It was surprisingly comfortable, like they’d known each other for years instead of a few closely monitored moments over the course of a few days. Perhaps it was the stress getting to him, creating a sort of brothers in arms feel between them. Charles resolved to look into Stockholm Syndrome at his earliest convenience. He wasn’t sympathizing with the Admiral or his goals, but something had to explain the soft feelings he had for the other man. Not man. Alien. He reminded himself harshly.

A soft knock came on the door, breaking the silence with a jolt.

Charles broke their eye contact and stepped over to open the door and let in Moira, Armando, and three humans Erik didn’t recognize. He schooled his face into its usual blank expression. As they settled into the room with a variety of items he recognized from various reels. He had no idea what their purpose was, but he decided to reserve judgment until Dr. Xavier explained himself.

Charles turned to the admiral with a nervous gleam in his eyes, “Did your research tell you anything about makeovers?”

~~

Moira pulled Charles to the side to speak with him as Erik gazed about the room with a flat glare, allowing the tailors to take his measurements and begin choosing some pre selected garments based on his assumed sizes.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Moira asked, sotto voce.

“No. But I have to try.”

“I still think one of us should go with you,” she insisted.

“I know you do, but it wouldn’t do any good and might do some harm. Just give us some breathing room. I know you don’t like him, but I think I have a real shot at convincing him to see us as equals.”

Moira gave him an unimpressed look, “I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

They glanced over at the Admiral who was stepping behind a Chinese screen one of the assistants had set up. His face was entirely impassive and his body language was borderline threatening.

Charles scoffed halfheartedly, “He looks at everyone that way.”

Moira was shaking her head by the time he was finished speaking, “No, he doesn’t, he watches you, Charles. Be careful,” she ordered a note of pleading in her voice.

He could only nod, throat dry with nerves as she stepped away to speak to Armando about the logistics of their day. If it went well he hoped they could arrange more outings. He watched as the taller man stepped from behind the screen dressed in a sleek gray suit. He was breathtakingly handsome in profile. Easily the most attractive man Charles had ever seen.

He swallowed hard at the sight. Alien. He reminded himself again. As in not human. The Admiral turned those nearly translucent eyes to him suddenly as though he’d heard the thought and disapproved. Charles swallowed thickly, trying to ignore the pull of attraction he felt to the other man. He cleared his throat and adjusted his collar- he’d forgone a tie today and was grateful for the reprieve; he’d worn one more in the past week than he had in the entire year prior.

“Admiral, you look great. Are you ready to go?” Charles asked shakily. Trying not to focus on the fact that his plan was coming to fruition. That his plan entailed him being alone with this unbelievably handsome being from another world for extended periods of time. He watched as the other man slipped a pair of designer sunglasses on to hide his pale irises. He looked like a cover model for GQ. Charles conceded that perhaps this wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had.

~~

“Admiral?” Dr. Xavier stepped in close and waved away one of the makeup artists who was still fidgeting with his hair. She seemed keen on keeping physical contact with him which Erik could easily recognize as possessive behavior that possibly indicated sexual interest. He considered the benefits of asking Dr. Xavier for clarification or waiting to get back to his flagship and asking his behavioral specialists their opinion. He decided on the former, but wanted to wait until she was out of ear shot before he did. He had no desire to inadvertently encourage her behavior.

“Yes, ambassador?” he asked smoothly. He liked the feel of the fabric of his trousers. The entire ensemble was lightweight, breathable, and very comfortable. He glanced back at his discarded uniform which one of the servants had carefully hung on a clothes rack. He wore it or an identical one every day and had for more years than he cared to think about. The change was nice. He decided he was keeping the suit, and anything else Charles deemed necessary. He didn’t know whether to consider them gifts or spoils of war.

His eyes adjusted to the dark lenses of his glasses without a hitch. He could see just as clearly with or without them, but decided against letting anyone know that.

“Admiral,” Charles glanced at the humans hovering nearby and placed a light hand on his elbow. Erik allowed himself to be steered away from the buzzing clusters of men and women watching them with ill concealed interest while trying not to attract his attention. “For our outings I think it would be best if we appear to be colleagues or even friends. I’d like for you to refer to me by my given name.”

“Charles?”

“Yes,”

“Alright, Charles.” He smirked at the light blush his pronunciation of the name produced.

“And is there any name you’re comfortable being called? Or do your kind only go by titles? Perhaps we can come up with a name for you similar enough to your title like Adan, Adam, or Adriel,” Charles babbled nervously, not having considered that the Admiral might not have a given name the way humans did.

“You may refer to me as Erik,” he cut in after a long, considering pause.

“Erik?” Charles blinked in surprise.

“It is the name my mother gave me, only you have leave to use it,” he said flatly.

“I-thank you. You …have a mother?” Charles stammered in surprise.

“The being who bore me forth, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Of course I have a mother,” Erik was amused by the smaller mans embarrassment. He wondered at the odd question. The Federation hadn’t come across a species yet that didn’t require a mother for procreation in some form or another.

“Oh, good.” Charles said, nervously, clearly wishing he could take back his words.

“Charles?”

“Yes?”

“Feel free to ask your questions, if I don’t wish to answer I won’t.”

“I don’t want to step on any toes,” he admitted shyly.

Erik had no idea what that had to do with their current conversation. “I’m sure you’ll be careful,” he hedged.

Charles frowned at him. Apparently that was the wrong answer.

“Dr. Xavier, Admiral.” they turned to face Moira who had cut in softly. “Your car is ready.”

Charles gave her his brightest smile, “Thank you dear.”

She pursed her lips and turned to the taller man. “Admiral, Dr. Xavier is against the idea of you being accompanied by a security detail. I think it would be for the best, and might help prevent any… unpleasant incidents that may arise.”

Charles was exasperated, “Thank you, Agent MacTaggert, but as I said, that’s really not necessary. We want to be incognito.”

She shook her head in barely concealed irritation; “We have plainclothes agents that can-” she stopped short as a brief tremor shook the room.

“That won’t be necessary, Agent.” Erik said, raising a hand to stop the tremors, and then readjusting the misplaced items in the room with a flick of his fingers.

The agents all instinctively reached for their now absent hip holsters, though some still wore them, complete with their useless firearms. He supposed they served some sort of comfort for them.

Moira paled and raised a hand to stop them from drawing on him.

“Were you doing that?” Charles asked in a hushed tone.

“Yes. I have the ability to see myself and Dr. Xavier anywhere on this planet safely.” He said to Moira. “We don’t require a security detail and if Dr. Xavier doesn’t want one, we won’t have one.”

She licked her lips anxiously, “Alright. As you say, Admiral.” She shot Charles an indecipherable look that had him pressing his lips into a thin line and shaking his head.

Erik was frustrated by the silent conversations these people always seemed to be having. He also liked the looks cars and apparently he and Charles would be taking one.

“Are we ready?” he asked, tone flat so he wouldn’t give away his excitement.

Charles looked up at him with eyes the color of Earth’s sky, bright with a spark of curiosity that overrode his customary fear. “Ready when you are.”

Judging from the reactions of the other people in the room, Charles was a singular human being to be less frightened after seeing what Erik could do. He’d clearly made the right call when he’d made Charles his ambassador.

He’d have to thank Azazel for his advice. So far it hadn’t led him astray.

~~

Charles slid behind the wheel of the nondescript black sedan that had been waiting for them, with a full tank, ready to go.

Erik slipped into the passenger seat, pushing it back to accommodate his long legs. He kept his head tilted to the sun as he had since they’d stepped outside. He hadn’t spoken since the scene in the study.

“Do you like the warmth?”

“Yes, it’s cold in space. We have heat sources of course, but there is nothing like the organic warmth of a star.”

“You speak so beautifully, Admir-Erik.” Charles corrected himself mid word with a blush.

“Thank you, Charles. I could say the same of you.” He took in the pleased expression his words produced in the young man. These tinted glasses were good for something. “May I ask where you are taking me? Or do I need to wait and see?”

“Today we’re just going to lunch and a walk downtown. If you like it, we can see about other, longer outings. I hope you enjoy yourself today.”

“I’m sure I will,” Erik assured him. He’d already enjoyed today far more than he’d thought he would.

“Oh, I didn’t even think! Can you eat? Do you? I’m sure you do, or can, what with those teeth. Not that you have-”

“I eat and I can eat human foods, at least according to my biologists, they’re never wrong.” Erik said, amused at Charles’ nervous rambling. He put his small smile to use once again, happy to see that it had the desired effect as Charles relaxed back into driving with a smile, “Great.”

~~

Charles hoped that the Admiral- Erik- hadn’t looked into human dating rituals. He couldn’t help but see this as the perfect set up for a first date. He hadn’t intended it to be that way, but Sean had brought the matter to his attention during their scant hours to prepare the day before.

“So are you trying to win this guy over the old fashioned way?” he’d asked with a knowing grin.

Charles had exchanged blank looks with Armando before they turned back to the young man with confused expressions.

“Oh come on! Taking him to a French bakery for lunch then going sight seeing? That’s a date.” He said definitively, looking to Armando for support.

Charles rolled his eyes at the younger mans foolishness only to see concern stamped over Armando’s face.  “Is that why you don’t want a security detail? That’s not why Moira brought you on, Charles. There’s no need for you to-”

“No! It’s not a date. I’m just showing him around like I would any visiting foreigner,” he cut him off before the situation could escalate further.

They had turned back to their plans with a slightly subdued air and clearly one or both of them had gone to Moira with their concerns if her words from this morning were any indication.

As a result he couldn’t help but see their outing in an uncomfortable light. Moira’s words from barely an hour before kept running through his mind.

Was the admiral really watching him? Looking at him differently than he did other people? And if so, why? And why did the idea of that fill his belly with butterflies rather than anxiety?

They pulled up outside the small café and Charles quickly found a place to park. Erik hadn’t spoken since he’d started fiddling with the radio. He’d settled on NPR which was still doing constant reports on the invasion. They were currently listening to a call in show.

The subject matter made him a bit uncomfortable, but Erik hadn’t flinched at the occasionally outlandish comments the callers made about his kind. Charles supposed he’d heard it all before if conquering planets was his full time job.

“They feel helpless,” Erik said, switching off the radio and turning his head to watch Charles Parallel Park.

“Well, yes. No civilians have ever seen any of you. They’re imagining monster movie villains,” he said with an expansive gesture.

Erik knew that films were a popular form of entertainment on Earth, but there were millions of them, and he hadn’t watched any during their time in orbit. “Monster movies?”

Charles gave him a shy look, remembering wishing that the admiral looked more like one of those monsters so Charles wouldn’t notice his physical appeal. “We can watch some together if you like. Movies are one of our newest yet most popular art forms.”

Erik nodded and gave a slightly wider smile; Charles took that as a good sign. They hopped out of the car, Charles careful to wait until no cars were coming before he got out. There was no telling what Erik could do if he thought Charles was in danger. He didn’t understand the source of those tremors or what the extent of the admiral’s powers might be. He hoped the other man would be willing to answer questions about it.

They headed inside and were met with a light crowd-most nongovernmental agencies had only just begun offering their services again. The world spun on and people were slowly resuming their normal, daily lives. Charles was happy to see it and hoped they could continue on as they were instead of vassals or serfs of however the Federation saw them.

There was a small chalkboard instructing them to seat themselves. Charles grabbed two menus and led Erik to sit on the nearly empty patio. It was an unseasonably warm late autumn day and the street was bright with traffic and light birdsong. The trees were a riot of reds, golds, and every color in between.

Erik tilted his head back and took a deep breath. Happy to simply sit and watch the people go by as Charles wanted him to. Humans were endlessly fascinating and a large number of them appeared to be children of various sizes. He wondered at the fecundity of their species and made a note to ask Charles about it. He watched small clusters of humans and pairs of them drift by. Lost in their own worlds, lost in each other. 

Their preoccupation was good to see, clearly they were social creatures and he saw more than one pair of same sex humans displaying obvious mating behaviors without negative repercussions. He knew that wasn't the case in all countries societies on this planet, but he wasn't clear why. Charles hadn't commented either way, but he wondered what the other man thought of such things. He wondered what Charles thought about everything.

“Do you have any preferences or is it alright if I order for you?” Charles asked after watching Erik for a long moment without speaking.

“Please go ahead. I’m eager to try your human cuisine, it smells…enticing,” he said honestly.

Charles laughed, “butter usually does. And its French cuisine to be precise.”

“Is it the best?” Erik turned to him, curious about why Charles had chosen this particular place out of all the restaurants they’d passed on the way.

“That depends on who you ask. I’ve always been partial to French desserts, but I hope to introduce you to lots of different foods from around the world.” He chuckled, “I may turn you into something of a foodie.”

Erik didn’t know what to make of that word so he said nothing.

A slender young man with black hair and dark green eyes dressed all in black approached the table with a bright smile. “How can I help you gentlemen today?”

His presence put Erik on edge. He didn’t like the way the human male chattered to Charles at length, taking his attention and focus all for himself. He shifted in his seat, waiting for the man to be gone so Charles would focus on him again.

He’d just settled in again when the man returned with two tall glasses of chilled beverages for each of them. Both were full of ice and had a slice of lemon perched on the edge of the glass. One was clear-likely water, Erik determined. And the other was a light brown and he couldn’t make a guess as to what it was.

He watched Charles took a sip from his glass of water and squeezed the lemon into the brown beverage. He followed suit and slowly stirred his drink.

“I know I said its French cuisine, but they have taken on some southern traditions. I do love sweet iced tea and I haven’t had it in too long,” Charles confided conspiratorially.

Erik took a cautious sip and found it bracing and sweet with an edge of bitterness.

Charles leaned forward, excited beyond all reason, “Well?”

“It’s good,” Erik admitted with more than a bit of surprise. It was very good.

Charles beamed and ran his fingers through that distracting hair, “Really?”

“Really,” he agreed. Pleased to see that his approval meant so much to his little ambassador. That had to be a good sign.

“Good, then. Good.” Charles laughed to himself, relieved that this mad plan might actually work. Erik sat back and thought the same.