ONE MORE CHANCE ~Dadneto Fanfic

Tea, Chess, and Love

[Paris, February 22, 1990]

It was a clear day, the wide sky above his head was blue with no clouds. When Charles looked up at the sky, he thought of Jean again, remembering how horrible energy exploded from within her, blinding all eyes with its light from the dark sky.

After tired of looking up at the sky, and finding nothing but a few birds flying, Charles turned his attention to the newspaper on the cafe table in front of him, he read it while waiting for his tea to be served.

He had traveled to Europe and was now in Paris, but in a few days, he would be off to visit other places until he found a place he might call home.

A few minutes passed, and all the chatter around him drowned out as Charles only focused on the interesting things in his newspaper, then his focus was broken by a cafe waiter who came to bring him tea. Charles thanked her in French, then he folded the newspaper, but just as he was about to take a sip of his hot tea, he heard a voice calling from someone else's mind.

Charles...

Erik...

The telepath sighed, he wondered how Erik had found him. Charles looked around and didn't find the familiar face he was looking for, but then the sound of footsteps was heard, the figure he was looking for walked over and sat on the chair across from him.

Erik smiled, but Charles didn't return the gentle smile, he frowned slightly, still wondering why Erik was here

"How's retirement treating you?" Erik asked, putting down the chess set he had brought.

"What are you doing here, Erik?"

"I came to see an old friend," replied Erik simply, he looked so calm and pleasant.

Hearing his friend's answer, Charles' lips curled into a small smile, but then he crossed his arms in front of his chest, no longer looking directly into Erik's icy blue eyes.

"Fancy a game," Erik offered

Charles glanced at the old worn-out chess set, fond memories of the past flashed through his mind, and Charles subconsciously smiled at the thought of those memories. But now he wasn't thinking about reminiscing, he just didn't feel like he could enjoy the game with a heavy burden on his heart.

"Why don't you leave me alone, Erik?" Charles asked in a weary sigh.

"The question is, why would I leave you alone?" Erik replied, locking his gaze on Charles' beautiful eyes.

Charles tilted his head, at a loss for words, and now he had completely forgotten his tea.

"I'm not giving up on you, Charles," Erik said honestly, he had managed to track Charles through all the spies he had.

"Why, Erik, Why?" Charles asked.

"Because you never gave up on me," said Erik, Charles always gave him the opportunity to fix the mistakes he had been making over the years, and be a better man.

Elbows rested on the table and Erik leaned forward.

"Long time ago, you saved my life, You always give me a chance to be a better man, and you were offered me a home,"

Erik could still remember every detail of what happened at the sea that night, he remembered the first time he heard Charles' mental voice in his head, wrapped his arms around his chest, and pulled him out of the cold sea, offered him a friendship, then gave him and his son a place to stay.

"I'd like to do the same for you," Erik said sincerely, he would never forget all the kindness Charles had for him.

There was a glint of interest in Charles' eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, and the telepath lowered his gaze, he didn't expect Erik to return the favor, he knew Erik's intentions were sincere, but he didn't think that he could accept the offer after all the pain he had caused to the people he loves, including Erik.

"Thank you, Erik, but I don't think that I can accept your offer, I don't deserve this," said Charles.

Erik frowned, he stepped back to lean his back.

"You deserve this, Charles--"

"No, I don't, I've done a lot of mistakes, I hurt everyone, I messed up a lot and now see what the consequences are, the peace between humans and mutants is gone," Charles said.

Mutants had gone through a period of hatred and isolation from society and finally managed to live in peace for the last years, but now that peace had been gone. Charles blamed himself for it all, the humans had killed so many of them, and now that horrors could happen again.

"I'm selfish, Erik, I do things that benefit myself without thinking about others, I have failed Raven," Charles continued in a tone of sadness and self-disappointment.

"Stop trying to be perfect, Charles, everyone makes mistakes, and you deserve a second chance," Erik said, his heart aching when he saw the sadness and doubt evident in Charles' eyes.

"I can't come back, Erik, I'm sorry," Charles sighed.

"I'm not asking you to come back, I'm asking you to come with me, make a fresh start," Erik made It clear.

"Charles, you're not just my friend, you're like a family to me, and you know what family means to me," Erik continued.

Erik loved them, and he loved Charles, he wanted to dispel all doubts from the past and make Charles want to dream again, Erik wanted him to come with him to Genosha, he always wanted Charles to be by his side, and do things that can help their kind.

Charles had told himself not to read Erik's mind because most of it was just whining, but now that he was reading it, whether on purpose or not, it didn't matter. What mattered was that now that Charles knew some of Erik's crazy ideas, he looked into the sly smile and continued to listen to his pleas.

"I'll think about it, Erik," Charles finally responded, he would take some time to think and consider it.

Erik just gave a nod, at least it gave him some hope that Charles would accept his offer. Erik reached into his pocket, took out two chess pieces, but hide them in his hands, offering Charles his closed fists to be choosed

"While you're thinking.... just one game, for old times' sake," Erik said, unable to hide his smile.

Charles pointed to Erik's left hand, and he got a white chess piece.

"I'll go easy on you," Erik said with a smug smile, he took the chess set and started to arrange the chess pieces.

"No, you won't," Charles smiled, he couldn't help the overwhelming feeling welling up in his heart.

Erik laughed, and so did Charles and they started their game of chess.

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