Cosmic Kiss

Charles woke to a soft chiming echoing through the empty bedroom. The events of the night before came rushing back to him as soon as he opened his eyes.

He groaned and sat up gingerly running his fingers through his hair to smooth his no doubt wild bed head. He felt…fine. Better than fine, he felt great. Physically speaking. Emotionally speaking he felt like hell but that was to be expected.

He paled at the word. Was he expecting even now? The thought made him want to get smashed again. He fell back onto the bed with groan.

The chiming stopped, he supposed the tablet had registered that he was awake. He turned his head look at the closed door. He just knew Erik was lurking on the other side.

The thought made his stomach churn. Just a few days before he’d felt like he was dying from lack of exposure to the Admiral and now he had no desire to see him. Not now and maybe not ever again.

He felt a slight pull on the skin of his neck as he moved around. He rose from the bed to stand in front of the massive nearly wall sized mirror Erik had installed in his? their? bedroom.

There was a slightly shiny 2x4 inch rectangle of…something on the side of his neck. When he raised a hesitant hand to touch it was tacky. Like the adhesive on a band aid. He frowned. Had he been injured? What happened after he fell asleep?

Also, why didn’t he feel ill? Mystique had warned him about the wine making him sick but he felt like a million bucks. He didn’t even need a coffee. Something was up and as much as he wanted to spend the rest of forever avoiding Erik he needed some serious answers.

The tablet chimed again, he picked it up with an irritated huff, closing his eyes in exasperation when he saw the reminder of Earth’s induction ceremony.

Of course.

It was starting in just a few hours and he was to be a guest of honor. Possibly The Guest of Honor. The alert didn’t say.

He squared his shoulders and looked his reflection in the eye. It was past time for him to do his job as Ambassador of Earth. He had taken the job so he could advocate for Earth’s people and customs but he hadn’t done anything of the sort. He was ashamed to remember how he had constantly put the Admiral and his needs ahead of the needs of humanity. He could only hope that Moira and Sean could forgive him for ignoring their warnings. All he could do was try to make it up to them as best he could.

~~

Erik was reclining on an elevated sleeping mat that he’d conjured after tucking Charles into bed. He’d have been happy to hold him all night even though Erik would have been awake for most of it. But he knew Charles was upset with him and he didn’t want to inadvertently cross any more boundaries with him if at all possible.

If he hadn’t already ruined things-and he was pretty sure he had- he didn’t want to risk making it worse.

He was reliving every moment of his time with Charles, trying to figure out where he went wrong. It was so complicated. Dealing with a species that hadn’t been inducted into the Federation always was.

He really should have waited a few generations before seeking  a mate from Earth, but humans lived such short lives and he’d felt a connection to the young doctor as soon as he began to speak at the surrender. Even the memory of his passion and verve lured Erik like a warm flame.

The door to the bedroom slid open and Charles stepped into the room wearing a look that Erik would recognize on any species after his years in the military. His ambassador was ready to do battle.

~~

Charles walked into the room every inch a gentleman. His breeding and training had never been more useful than now. He cast an aura of confidence around himself and took in the Admiral, lying reclined on some sort of chaise. Erik looked like he wanted to sit up but Albert was sleeping on his chest and he clearly didn’t know how to move him.

Charles decided to take advantage of the situation while Erik couldn’t distract him with warm hands and gentle touches, “Admiral, we need to talk,” he began firmly.

“Yes, we do,” Erik agreed flatly.

Charles grit his teeth and tried to stay level headed, “I’m angry with you. You lied to me and took advantage of me.” He held up one hand to stop Erik’s protests before they could begin. “I understand that we both made mistakes and assumptions about each other and that we both contributed to the situation we find ourselves in. That said I’m still angry with you for lying to me!

It will take some time for me to…come to terms with all that’s happened in the weeks since you all arrived. And unfortunately we don’t have time for that. We have the induction ceremony in just hours and apparently I’m a guest of honor.” He was pacing now and making broad gestures, not caring that his body language threw Erik off. He needed to get this off his mind or he was like to explode in frustration.

He stopped to glance at Erik who was now sitting with Albert cradled in his lap. They were watching Charles with twin, unnerving, unblinking stares. He pursed his lips in irritation and glanced away from the charming sight. “Admiral. I have questions and I demand answers.”

“You’ll have your answers, Charles. There are no more secrets now. As my bonded mate you are a Genoshian Citizen and full member of the Federation. You have access to all of our files, records, and information. You may use them as you see fit according to the laws of the Intergalactic Federation,” he said earnestly.

Charles paused and took a moment to let that sink in, “Is that why you were so evasive about…everything? I wasn’t your mate so you didn’t trust me?” he asked, surprised to find he was hurt by the revelation.

Erik tilted his head to one side, his eyes shifted to a crisp evergreen, “There are laws in place for the protection of all Genoshians. We do not share certain aspects of our culture with any non Genoshians. I’m sorry that I had to keep so much from you. I hope you will come to understand in time.”

Charles pursed his lips and turned to look out the window for a while, “You said there is no way to break the bond?” he reiterated softly. He wasn’t so desperate to break the bond now that he’d remembered his duty to mankind. Having the ear of one of their highest ranked overlords could only help to ensure Earth’s safety.

“No. There isn’t. I’m sorry. It’s our highest law and one of the few things we consider sacred. The bond we share with our mates is the stuff of legend,” Erik tried to be as open as possible though it went against his fundamental nature.

He remembered his mother and her insight words of wisdom concerning bonds. He tried to channel some of that into what he was saying to the rigid line of Charles’ shoulders. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I apologize for all I had to keep from you. I can only guarantee that I won’t do it again and that I will spend my life doing my best to make you happy and keep you safe. You are my bonded mate, Charles. For me there will never be another. In all the galaxies and across the stars you are the only one to have caught my eye. Perhaps that seems like a bad thing to you. Though I hope that given time I to be able to change your mind about that. You ask ‘why you?’ I answer ‘who else?’”

Charles was silent for so long that Erik became concerned. He didn’t turn and face him but when he did speak his voice was reedy and cracked. “I always did say you have a way with words.”

Erik looked up from focusing on Albert who was intently tonguing the pads of his fingers. He hadn’t wanted to interrupt Charles’ thought process. This might be the most important conversation of their lives and he feared messing it up.

His father had only ever once given him bonding advice and even then it had been a weary, self loathing word. “Begin as you mean to go on. If a bond starts bad it’s hard to make it good.”

He so desperately wanted their bond to be good. He would do anything not to live the misery his parents shared.

“Admiral,” Charles turned to face him cheeks flushed and eyes wet with tears. “I-” he gave a humorless chuckle. “I wish I could hate you and leave and be done with this, but this is all far more complicated than just the two of us.” Also, in spite of everything, you don’t hate him. His internal monologue reminded him.

He pushed the voice aside and soldiered on, “I’m perfectly willing and able to work with you as your ambassador. I have a duty to my people and my planet that I take very seriously.” Evidence to the contrary his inner self snarked. He pushed it aside once more.

“That said, I enjoyed our time together on Earth and I have no desire to live in an unhappy marria-bond.” He grimaced, thinking back to Kurt and how awful a husband he had been to his once vivacious mother.

“Once this is all settled and my people are satisfied we can revisit the...more personal nature of our relationship. Until that time I’d willing to consider us partners.” He said firmly. He hoped he’d explained himself clearly.

Erik’s lovely words were still ringing in his ears, warming him down to his bones but he couldn’t give in so easily again. Look where trust and pretty words had gotten him.

Erik stood, letting Albert drop to the floor and make his way over to Charles. Erik followed at a more sedate pace until he was standing just in front of Charles, looking down at him with those inscrutable eyes.

Albert wound his way around their ankles like a maze until Charles stooped to pick him up and hold him close as a buffer against Erik’s unwavering attention.

“I admire your dedication to your people and your home. I accept your offer with the clause that we will need to be in regular, close, physical contact until our bond stabilizes and we complete changing to suit one another. We don’t need to have intercourse,” he said quickly-correctly interpreting Charles’ incensed reaction to his words.

The smaller looked taken aback and deflated some. “Oh, well if it’s just touching then fine. We can do that as needed,” he conceded stiffly. The only way this partnership could work was through honesty and compromise and unfortunately that had to go both ways.

Albert mewled loudly just as Charles’ stomach rumbled embarrassingly loud in the quiet of the room.

Erik gave him a tiny smile and tilted his head, “My Earthlings need sustenance. Then we should prepare for our day. As you are Earth’s Ambassador I would like to show you the flagship and give you preview of what we have to offer your planet as a welcome to the Federation.”

Charles blushed in embarrassment and couldn’t hide his interest in seeing the rest of the ship and what the induction ceremony would contain. “That sounds like a good start.”

The Admiral gently grasped him by the chin and tilted his head to one side to peer at the side of his neck where the shiny patch had been. Charles reached for itself consciously and felt nothing. He frowned even as Erik took on a pleased look.

Charles pulled away, “I meant to ask about that. Was I hurt last night? What was that on my neck?”

Erik tried not to show his displeasure at his mate rejecting his touch once more. “A wine chaser, it’s like your clear adhesive tape but far thinner. Once it vanishes it’s been fully absorbed by your blood.

Charles’ mouth dropped open in shock. “Is that why I don’t feel sick at all?”

Erik was confused “Yes, with the way you were drinking I though Mystique would have mentioned it to you.”

“I think she tried to,” he said absently, mind whirring with possibilities. “I hope those are a part of your gifts to Earth.”

“They weren’t, but they will be now.” Erik said immediately.

Charles blinked up at him in surprise and suddenly he remembered Erik’s words to him all those weeks ago in the back of the SUV just before they left on their world tour ‘You’ll always have your way’

He wondered how far Erik would go to keep his word.

~~

Erik was reviewing his report logs from each of his ships in turn while he waited for Hank to be done with his tour of the ships main science lab.

He’d been right to be concerned about how well the two of them would hit it off. Their animated chatter carried over in soft murmurs that Erik couldn’t understand from his place by the door. He could have joined them on their tour, but he wanted to give Charles some space.

This was the last stop on their tour of his ship and while Charles had clearly enjoyed himself and asked many of his customary questions, he’d been withdrawn and far quieter than usual. Erik hated to see him unhappy and he was glad to finally see the animated man who’d caught his attention come back full bloom once they stepped inside the lab.

His tablet chimed. They needed to head down to Earth soon; he’d been informed that the humans had set up quite a spectacle. The main event would occur in the capital of the United States. There had been some sort of issue over choosing between Washington DC and London since his ambassador had dual citizenship.

Apparently they wanted to pander to the human that had his ear. He liked that. Charles had been less than pleased but Erik was sure he would get used to it. Charles was born to rule at his side.

~Admiral Shaw requesting top docking priority~ the ship’s AI said smoothly. Erik was pulled out of his thoughts and slammed back into reality. He pulled up the alert on his screen. No, he hadn’t heard wrong.

What the hell was Shaw doing here? Today of all days? He was the last person Erik wanted to deal with. “Permission denied. Permission granted for General Docking Procedure.” He said as calmly as possible.

He could only hope that Shaw would be so offended by the slight that he would turn around and head back to his post.

~Accepted~ the ship relayed.

Erik frowned; it had been a long shot anyway.

He put the bridge on notice that they had guests and called Hank and Charles to his side. It was nearly time for them to go and he wanted a few minutes with his mate before the ceremony began.

~~

By the time they made their way to the bridge, Erik had pushed the question of Shaw and his intentions out of his mind. He had more important things to think of than that petulant fool.

Azazel was manning the helm during this time of transition. Various human factions had come together and decided that today was their chance to save Earth from being inducted into the Federation.

Their plans were not seen as a major concern, but Erik was unwilling to risk the safety of the Ambassador of any of their new subjects. The fleet was on high alert and would remain so until he gave the all clear.

“Report.”

“All clear, Admiral. You’re set to go for the ceremony, the officers-excepting McCoy-” he nodded to the blue furred genius standing at Erik’s side-“have all headed down with their presentations. The humans are running a few minutes behind schedule, but nothing too concerning.”

“Excellent. Has Admiral Shaw come aboard?” he asked, trying to keep the irritation out of his tone.

“Yes, his ship checked in and docked a few moments ago,” Azazel said with a smirk that told Erik he’d failed. “Any idea why your brother would turn up with no warning?”

Charles sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide. Erik suddenly regretted setting the spoken language on the Flagship to English until Charles received his aural implants.

He grasped the smaller man’s arm and pulled him off the bridge into a small conference room so they could have some privacy. The humans were already running late, they could wait a few minutes more for him to clear this mess up. “Charles-”

He pulled away from Erik’s’ light grip with a glare. “You said you were an only child. You said your mother could only safely bear one, you said Genoshians take one mate in their lives. How can all those things be true?” he demanded hotly. “No more lies, Erik. You swore.”

Erik tried to hide his pleasure in Charles using his given name freely. He hadn’t since their earlier negotiations. Unfortunately, under the current circumstances he couldn’t be sure that it was a good sign and now was certainly not the time to ask. “It’s complicated,” he began.

“Then simplify it for me,” Charles snapped.

~Admiral Shaw to see you~ the ship’s AI said softly.

Erik wondered if the throbbing in his head was what Charles called a 'headache'. If so, his had just arrived on deck.