day seven - shopping
So, when I saw this photoset this morning, at first I only saw the top images and though, "Grumpy old retired dudes!" And thought of this story, which is the first fic I kept telling people I was going to write once Secret Mutant and the big bang were done. Well, with those behind me, I've started a little of it. Works in progress are totally acceptable for this meme I've made up. The gist of it is that, about a year after the start of Everything About It Is a Love Song, Charles gets invited to a big political event in DC and Erik can't accompany him for obvious reasons and has angst about being alone for the first time in a year.
***
Before Charles, Erik never put much effort into pretending he was fine. Not to himself and certainly not to his followers. He's unpracticed in it now, and all of his actions feel insincere and stiff. He doesn't know why he bothers--he lives with a telepath who can pluck his discomfort out of his mind--except for his bitter, frustrated belief that things should be fine, that none of any of this is his concern, that he's independent and his own person and other people's business matters little to him.
Even Charles' business. Especially Charles' business. Even after--all this.
Still, something about the weight of the years and the weight of Charles' opinion keeps Erik's mouth shut, even though the stilted, forced indifference makes his skin itch.
It's almost a relief to lose control. Though he wishes he could have held onto it at least until they left the grocery store.
"We're not getting them if they're just going to waste again!" he's snapping at Charles. His voice is slightly louder than he would like, drawing a bit more attention than he's comfortable with.
"You're overreacting," Charles insists. "It was one bloody pepper that we threw out and we're not on the run, Erik, we can afford to toss produce when it turns. This isn't about peppers and you know it!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Erik lies. He feels queasy even as he says it.
"I don't care if you want me to go to Washington or you don't, just talk to me about it!" Charles shouts. He actually shouts. He has a commanding voice. Erik attributes it to all the years of teaching.
Everyone is staring, now. The produce department is silent, save for Charles' voice and the quiet 90s pop hit being piped in through the speakers.
None of the words in Erik's head sound right. Everything is clumsy and inelegant and, above all else, private. He remains silent, his heart racing with a peculiar mixture of anger and anxiety.
"Fine," Charles says. "Fine. I'm going to the bookstore. Do your own damn shopping."
He'd stomp off if he could, Erik knows, turn abruptly and stride away every bit the disgustingly wealthy, disgustingly arrogant young man of their youth. As it is, he manages to convey all of that in the tilt of his head, even as he makes a less hasty retreat in the chair, leaving Erik alone amid the produce, squeezing a pepper in his fist and swallowing against something hot and desperate welling up in his chest.
*
the rest of the days:
1. Holding hands
2. Cuddling somewhere
3. Gaming/watching a movie
4. On a date
5. Kissing
6. Wearing each others’ clothes
7. Shopping
8. Hanging out with friends
9. Making out
10. Eating icecream
11. In a different clothing style
12. During their morning ritual(s)
13. Spooning
14. Doing something together
15. In formal wear
16. Dancing
17. Cooking/baking
18. In battle, side-by-side
19. Arguing
20. Making up afterwards
21. Getting married
22. On one of their birthdays
23. Doing something ridiculous
24. Doing something sweet
25. Doing something hot
***
Before Charles, Erik never put much effort into pretending he was fine. Not to himself and certainly not to his followers. He's unpracticed in it now, and all of his actions feel insincere and stiff. He doesn't know why he bothers--he lives with a telepath who can pluck his discomfort out of his mind--except for his bitter, frustrated belief that things should be fine, that none of any of this is his concern, that he's independent and his own person and other people's business matters little to him.
Even Charles' business. Especially Charles' business. Even after--all this.
Still, something about the weight of the years and the weight of Charles' opinion keeps Erik's mouth shut, even though the stilted, forced indifference makes his skin itch.
It's almost a relief to lose control. Though he wishes he could have held onto it at least until they left the grocery store.
"We're not getting them if they're just going to waste again!" he's snapping at Charles. His voice is slightly louder than he would like, drawing a bit more attention than he's comfortable with.
"You're overreacting," Charles insists. "It was one bloody pepper that we threw out and we're not on the run, Erik, we can afford to toss produce when it turns. This isn't about peppers and you know it!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Erik lies. He feels queasy even as he says it.
"I don't care if you want me to go to Washington or you don't, just talk to me about it!" Charles shouts. He actually shouts. He has a commanding voice. Erik attributes it to all the years of teaching.
Everyone is staring, now. The produce department is silent, save for Charles' voice and the quiet 90s pop hit being piped in through the speakers.
None of the words in Erik's head sound right. Everything is clumsy and inelegant and, above all else, private. He remains silent, his heart racing with a peculiar mixture of anger and anxiety.
"Fine," Charles says. "Fine. I'm going to the bookstore. Do your own damn shopping."
He'd stomp off if he could, Erik knows, turn abruptly and stride away every bit the disgustingly wealthy, disgustingly arrogant young man of their youth. As it is, he manages to convey all of that in the tilt of his head, even as he makes a less hasty retreat in the chair, leaving Erik alone amid the produce, squeezing a pepper in his fist and swallowing against something hot and desperate welling up in his chest.
*
the rest of the days:
1. Holding hands
2. Cuddling somewhere
3. Gaming/watching a movie
4. On a date
5. Kissing
6. Wearing each others’ clothes
7. Shopping
8. Hanging out with friends
9. Making out
10. Eating icecream
11. In a different clothing style
12. During their morning ritual(s)
13. Spooning
14. Doing something together
15. In formal wear
16. Dancing
17. Cooking/baking
18. In battle, side-by-side
19. Arguing
20. Making up afterwards
21. Getting married
22. On one of their birthdays
23. Doing something ridiculous
24. Doing something sweet
25. Doing something hot