237. it gets inside and eats you up

[want_to_jog]

GUILT

guilt /gɪlt/
noun
1. the fact or state of having committed an offense, crime, violation, or wrong, especially against moral or penal law; culpability: He admitted his guilt

Comments

[drlehnsherr]

[ Charles has a way with him that he's never been subject to with any other living creature; mutant or human-- the man can move him with nothing more than a touch and a look; the quiet patience that he always receives even after an argument as embittered as the one of several hours ago. He's already feeling penitential, the gnawing anger of earlier at the other man's sheer ability to be so damn naive having melted away, and he's glad for Charles' sense of hope-- it offsets something dour in him, lightens it. But he's afraid, terrified of losing the telepath in the same way that he's gradually been separated from everything he'd held in any esteem over the years since he'd left the camps. Leaning forward, and returning the press to the other's hand, he lands a quick kiss to Charles' temple-- disentangling his hand and pulling away. ] I'll be a minute.

[ He stands and crosses to the adjoining bathroom, shucking off his heavily dampened coat, draping it over the back of the desk chair and glancing back at Charles-- gaze still cautious. Closing the door behind him he sets about stripping off the sodden clothing, stepping under the hot water and exhaling finally-- that first ugly movement towards reconciliation behind him, and the telepath's extraordinary acceptance focused on him. Grabbing a towel he dries off after the shower, pulling on a pair of track pants and an old t-shirt. ]

[butwedonot]

Take your time, [ He murmurs with that gentle nature creeping into his tone-- he had been upset, even angry in his own right-- but one could not remain angry forever. Charles understood, in many ways, why Erik felt the way he did-- but it was simply not something he could agree with. For all his care for the man their ideologies would probably nary cross if things kept up the way they were. Still, it wasn't as if this was the first fight they had, and Charles was able to be mature about the entire thing-- the look that crossed Erik's face telling him more than the anxiously clipped words.

HE waits till Erik has abandoned the bed in favor of a shower so he could strip the now-wet sheets from the mattress. Bundling the damp cloth into a ball he tosses it into the laundry pile and retrieves another set from the linen closet in the hallway. Redressing the bed rather quickly, he tosses the blanket back over the bottom of it just as Erik comes out of the bathroom. Charles shoots a half-smile over his shoulder, flattening the comforter down and fluffing the pillows a bit. ] Come to bed, yes? [ It's less a question, and more a request-- he doesn't know how upset Erik still is, even with the lingering feeling of that kiss on his temple; isn't sure the man will still share a bed with him after the clash of ideals. Still, he turns, pulling back to ease himself up onto the edge of the bed, turning to tuck himself back under the comforter. ]

Dry off first if you do.