A Morning Jog is Good for Your Health

A Question

They created a sort of tradition of their own. They met at the same place in the part every day and jogged together all morning. Charles even bought himself new clothes that were more 'jogging appropriate'. Erik approved full-heatedly. It was the one time in Charles' day that he was actually looking forward to. The rest was mostly dedicated to hiding from his stepfather Kurt at work and then hiding from stepfather Kurt at home. But with Erik... his day was different with Erik. He was different with Erik. Bolder, more open, braver. He liked it.

"Charles..." Erik began one morning by the end of their usual jogging session. "I was thinking..."

Charles looked up at him. It seemed to have stunned Erik for a moment because he had to gaze into Charles' eyes and then clear his throat and look at his feet for a while before he spoke again.

"I was thinking you and me, we have such good time in this park so I was wondering if we could perhaps some day take it out of the park."

Charles frowned confused. Erik had never been so nervous in all the weeks Charles had known him.

"I mean, we could maybe go out on a date sometime? Would be... interesting. Wouldn't it?"

Charles' eyes went wide. Was Erik really asking him out? Him? It was completely unexpected. They had sort of clicked but Charles never even imagined that Erik ever thought of him in that way. He blushed.

"It's fine if you don't want that. I understand." Erik said hurriedly, his face falling a little.

He was disappointed, Charles realized, because he thought Charles didn't want to go on a date with him. The thought was striking!

"No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no." Charles shook his head.

Erik blinked. "I see. I didn't think you'd be this opposed to the idea..." Erik sighed, his face getting paler.

"No!" Charles gasped again. Damn it, he was so awkward in situations with no clear protocol established in his head. "I meant, go back to asking me! I was not rejecting you. I meant no as in yes, I'd like to go on a date with you."

Yeah, that explanation went well! Charles eternally cursed himself.

"Oh!" Erik's face lit up. "Oh, that's wonderful! I really thought you hated the idea." he chuckled and Charles joined him too. "I was afraid I ruined it all and you won't even want to jog with me anymore."

"Oh, I definitely want to keep you as my jogging partner." Charles winked. And before he knew it, he had made a confession. "Our morning jog is the highlight of my day."

Erik laughed at that, obviously taking it as a joke, as any normal person would! Charles blushed sheepishly and bit his lip. Erik sighed again and looked back at his shoes.

"Well, then, I'll meet you around 7?"

Charles nodded. "Sounds good."

"And should it be today or--?"

"Hmm?"

"What day at 7?"

"Oh, Tuesday?"

"Tuesday?" Erik chuckled. "Who schedules his dates on a Tuesday?"

Charles shrugged. "I like to stand out."

Erik's smile softened, becoming warmer and more affectionate somehow. "You sure do."

Charles felt his heart skipping a beat when Erik looked at him like that and at that moment it was very important that he stared down at his own shoes too. His cheeks were burning, this was ridiculous! Charles never thought he could feel this way.

"Well, then, Tuesday at 7 here in the park? Our place?"

Charles nodded again. "Yes."

"Perfection!"

"Yes..." Charles smiled warmly, the two sharing a sheepish glance at one another as if they were schoolboys. Charles' heart skipped a beat and he bit back his grin.

"I should go now. Or-- or I'll be late." Charles said.

"You never told me what you're always so late about." Erik said amused.

Charles' chest tightened. "Um, yes, well. Maybe sometime I will." he said.

Deep down Charles wished he didn't have to tell Erik such things about his life. It was not an option he wanted to consider right now when things were going so well.