A Family To Protect And Love

14.Ready for it

Author's pov

Erik woke early as he always did. Suddenly and all once, muscles locking down as bleary eyes quickly took in his surroundings. The unfamiliarity of a space was often disorienting, especially as he gazed up at an ornate chandelier attached to a sprawling white ceiling. For a split-second Erik's heart stopped only for the thrill of panicked adrenalin to disappear as a warm body grumbled and pressed tightly to his side.

That was familiar.

Erik glanced down to find Charles resting on his shoulder, hair messy from sleep, a little pucker between his brow, his pale face. Slowly, Erik relaxed his mind and muscles, sinking into the truly luxurious mattress and watching as Charles's expression smoothed out.

He blew a quiet sigh of relief, not wanting to bother Charles, who was still weak and sick. They had arrived at the mansion yesterday.

Erik can't believe that he was with Charles right now. Even after getting hurt multiple times by him, Charles still remained by his side. Showered him with more love. Why Charles has to be so forgiving. Why he forgive him for his wrongdoing so easily. Why remain with him. With a monster, a person who is not capable of protecting his face.  A person who always endangers his family.  Erik knew he didn't deserve Charles's love or a family.  But this time he is gonna try till his last breath to keep his family safe.

'Erik?'

The speed with which he blocked his thoughts left him dizzy and Charles disgruntled if the projection was accurate.

Charles groaned and nuzzled into his neck and Erik decidedly did not feel his heart melt at the action,

"you know mornings are hard and I wasn't trying to read your mind, but you could really work on how loud you think." Charles said sleepily

Erik sighed, pressed another kiss to Charles hair and didn't think about what he might have overheard,

"how did you sleep?" Erik asked.

"Brilliantly," Charles murmured,

" Ready to get up?" Erik asked. Charles shook his head in refusal.

"Alright, I think I'll go for a run and when I get back, we can go for a walk that you mentioned last night."Erik said kissing Charles on his forehead.

There was a long pause in which Charles didn't move, the hand resting on Erik's chest gripping his shirt tightly. There was the impression of a question coming from Charles and Erik really wanted him to wake up and eat something.

"Can you stay?" Charles murmured. "Just for a bit?"

This time a image was projected into his mind was deliberate and locked into place smoothly. Shadows and fear and a too empty room, echoes of pain. Erik's jaw clenched, turning so he could gather Charles properly into his arms.

"Yeah, you try to sleep some more." Erik said brushing Charles over grown brown locks.

"Thank you," the gratitude was enough to make Erik lay there all day if he had to.

Timeskip to 8 months.

Charles and Erik was in their Paris apartment.  They were on their long vacation. It has been almost 6 months. They were going back to westchester next week. Erik was not in the apartment right now. He went to buy some groceries. And as for Charles, well....let just say our normally calm and collective professor was doing something that most of the people knew him wouldn't even imagine him doing .