Memories

Chapter Nineteen

After dropping off Angel, Charles rolled himself towards the twins' room, but stopped midway, turning to the two mutants who both desperately craved his approval and acceptance but had betrayed him when he was the most vulnerable.

"Why are you two following me? You know where your rooms are," Charles sighed, tired and resigned. He still needed to put the twins to bed, and he was emotionally drained from the day's events. He didn't have enough energy to deal with either of them.

Charles studied the two, trying to get a read on both of them without digging in to their minds. Raven looked unsure and insecure- she most likely wasn't sure she was truly welcomed home after the boys' behavior. She had even more doubts than Angel- Angel left early, not allowing for the budding family to become deeply invested in each other. Raven had been there through everything until things got especially bad. She'd left with Erik, abandoning Charles on the beach, leaving him to bleed on the ground.

Not that it was her fault- she felt rejected because of Charles's mistakes and behavior, and Charles told her to go with Erik. Charles knew she really wanted to go with Erik, and Erik needed someone to look after him since Charles wouldn't be there. Who could Charles better trust than his own sister?

Erik was stone-faced and cold, no emotion in his steely blue-grey eyes. He was the storm Charles could never see coming. Charles once could predict Erik's behavior, but now Erik was a book in a different language. He was a language that Charles had long forgotten but longed to remember.

"Charles, I-" Raven began, only for her telepathic brother to cut her off. "Raven, what's done is done. Despite the boys' behavior, no matter what you've done, you will always be welcome here. This is your home as much as it is mine. Now, go to bed, dear sister," Charles reassured her, knowing her doubts without even reading her mind.

"I told you to stay out of my head," Raven said, no real malice in her voice. "I am out of your head," Charles replied, rolling away from his adopted sister. She'd never trusted Charles with staying out of her head, and Charles didn't blame her. She couldn't help how she felt; Charles hadn't given her much reason to trust him.

Charles heard the footsteps following him, and he knew it to be Erik's. The offensive metal object still sat atop his head, and it was really annoying Charles. Charles continued on his way to the twins' room silently, knowing he couldn't make the deadly Magneto go away if he didn't want to.

Charles rolled into the massive room with two twin sized beds, rolling up to the navy blue bed. Erik stepped up now, lifting up Pietro. Charles started up at Erik, who was staring down at his small son with awe. Erik gently placed Pietro in his bed, then took Wanda from Charles's lap.

Erik quickly crossed the room, stood next to the little pink bed for a moment, staring down at his little girl, then gently put her into her bed. Charles tucked Pietro in as Erik did the same to Wanda, and the two men quietly left the room.

Charles then began rolling himself to his own room, Erik still following silently. Charles was a bit unnerved at Erik's close proximity. The telepath's heart was racing, his throat constricting as his breathing quickened slightly. His palms were sweaty, Charles's body flushing at the thoughts racing through his own mind; Erik was a temptation that Charles could hardly resist.

Once Charles had reached his own room and gone in, Erik was still following. Charles opened up his drawer for pajamas, but Erik grabbed the pair off the top, pushing it closed. Charles stared at Erik with confusion, and Erik slowly leaned down into Charles's space, reaching for the hemline of Charles's shirt.

The telepath made a sound of alarm, shoving Erik's hands away with panic. "Shhh, it's okay, I'm just helping you change," Erik soothed, calming Charles's panicking mind.

Slowly, Erik stripped Charles of his shirt, reminding Charles of the few nights they had together when they'd taken it slowly, just enjoying the feel of each other. Other nights, they had rushed, eager for skin-to-skin contact, craving each other's touch. Erik sat the pajama pants down, going to put the shirt on Charles.

Charles's breath caught in his throat; he couldn't breathe, knowing if he breathed in Erik's intoxicating scent, his willpower would crumble, and he'd throw himself at Erik like he always did. Erik was a drug that Charles had just gotten off of after being hooked on him for what felt like centuries but had only been a few months.

Erik was that addictive.

When Erik went to unbutton Charles's pants, Charles's hands stilled his again. Charles was shamefully turned on by Erik's nimble fingers just brushing Charles's body, and he didn't want Erik to know. At a raised eyebrow, Charles sighed in defeat and moved his hands away.

Erik didn't say a word as he swiftly took Charles's pants off and slipped the pajama pants on. Charles felt disappointment creeping into his heart, but he pushed the feeling away. He needed to stay clear of Erik. Erik was the kind of love that could ruin a person; he'd already ruined Charles. He'd wrapped Charles's mind, body, and soul around his little finger and then left him with a hole in his heart.

Charles rolled himself over to his bed, and before he could crawl into bed, Charles was lifted out of his wheelchair by a pair of strong arms that were achingly familiar. Charles squeaked, startled, and clutched at Erik for support.

Erik gently placed Charles in his bed, moving the wheelchair out of the way with his powers. Charles let his arms fall away from Erik's neck, feeling surprisingly more secure in Erik's arms than in his own bed.

Erik turned to leave, and it took all of Charles's willpower not to stop him from leaving.

Both sister and ex-lover discovered their gifts in their rooms that night and were shocked and touched at the thoughtful gifts.