When you ship Cherik too hard....
You might be lucky enough to dream vividly about Erik and Charles in his slutty, lilac sweater…!
Which just did. It was so damn vivid that it woke me up at 3am…! I was like: “Noooooo, go back to sleep!” - but nuh-uh, my brain wasn’t having it. I remember the dream clearly though. I saw and felt everything from Erik’s point of view. Weird. Oh, and Charles could walk but he still had his powers - and hair! So this is what I dreamt:
“Behind the Reeds”
The team is out looking for something by a river in the summertime. Everything is green and it’s sunny, birds chirping and the river lightly bubbling. However the atmosphere is tense and oozing with potential danger as Charles and Erik make their way up up a gravel path, a good distance between them and the rest of the team. No one is speaking, but Erik can sense that Charles is contemplative and slightly resignated. Walking out onto a small wooden bridge in between big patches of tall reeds Charles stops and looks at the water, hands placed in his jean’s pockets. Erik quietly follows him and they end up standing shoulder by shoulder on the bridge, overlooking the river. Charles lets out a soft sigh and Erik can’t hold his tongue any longer. Ever since Charles was freed from the grasp of En Sabah Nur he had been strangely quiet and withdrawn whenever he was around Erik. He needed to know why and he needed to let him know how he really felt. Because somehow he thought that Charles might feel the same way. He didn’t know how or why, it was more like an intuitive feeling. Carefully Erik looks at the telepath who has his eyes fixed on the water. Depression is radiating from him.
“Charles….” Erik says and places a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. It almost feels like a shiver runs through him by the touch. Charles turns his head and looks at Erik, an intense sadness on display in his eyes. They both know it. Erik has no doubts about it now. They have longed for each other for so long that it hurts too much. Carefully Erik guides Charles to turn towards him by pulling him softly by the shoulder. Face to face with the telepath who respectfully has stayed out of his head for ages Erik feels his heart flutter. Slowly Erik lifts up his hand and places it on Charles’ cheeks, locking in deep eye contact. The younger man doesn’t flinch or turn away. He doesn’t even look surprised. The air is electric and Erik has a warm, fuzzy feeling in his stomach that he hasn’t felt before. Slowly Erik leans in, the tips of their noses touching. He can feel Charles’ breathing becoming slightly faster.
“I wish we would have done this sooner…” Erik whispers as he leans in closer for the kiss. But he immediately stops when he sees the other man’s bright blue eyes suddenly well up. Cupping Charles’ face he looks at him, worried. Has he done something wrong? Maybe he has misinterpreted the whole situation? A single tear rolls down Charles’ cheek and Erik is just about to let go when Charles leans his forehead against his, cupping his face as well. Trembling Charles caresses the side of Erik’s neck with his thumb.
“We already did…” he whispers in an agonized voice, tears now streaming down his face. Erik frowns, but he doesn’t move. Slowly Charles places his fingers by his temple, looking at Erik for his silent permission. He immediately gets it, and as their foreheads rest against each other Charles unleashes the pent up memories. A little sob escapes him as he lets go.
“I’m sorry…!” He bursts out.
“I’m sorry for stealing your memories… I’m sorry! You weren’t ready…. I wasn’t ready…” he whispers. Erik’s eyes widen as the memories flood his brain. He can suddenly see Charles smiling at him in Cairo, he can feel his arms around him, the kisses they shared. The love. And the pain that followed. Feeling his heart painfully throb in his chest Erik feel his eyes watering up as he reassuringly caresses Charles’ face. For a few seconds he can feel Charles looking at him with fearful uncertainty, unsure of what Erik might be feeling. The telepathic connection has been cut, and Charles knows it’s best that way. Then Erik slowly leans in further, their lips suddenly touching. For a few seconds they just stare at each other, their breathing fast and irregular. Brushing his thumb against the side of Erik’s neck Charles can feel how his pulse picks up speed. And finally they both give in. They embrace each other in a deep kiss on the small bridge. Hugging each other tight they feel the rhythm of their hearts aligning and everything else seems to disappear. Charles’ hand is softly placed on the back of Erik’s neck as their tongues explore each other’s mouths. The painful longing they’ve both carried with them for so long is finally dissolving and they savour the sensation of the kiss they so passionately share. Suddenly the voices from the team seep through the thick reeds by the bridge and quickly their lips part. Clearing his throat Erik turns towards the rest of the team now appearing by the end of the bridge.
“You guys found something?” one of them asks. Erik shakes his head, hiding a smile. Charles is still looking at the water as the team make their way past the bridge, chatting casually. As soon as they disappear out of sight behind the reeds he turns to face Erik. For the first time in ages a genuine smile decorates his lips. Erik reaches out his hand and Charles grabs it gratefully. And they walk back out on the gravel path hand in hand.
