Fill: Forgiven (2/2) [Warning: depression]echo_fangirlMarch 7 2012, 11:32:35 UTC
"Hi." He said, out loud this time, but soft. Hank wouldn't have suggested that Alex should stay if Charles wasn't a long way from sleep, but even so Alex had no desire to startle him.
Charles lifted his head with an unnatural slowness, blinking heavily.
"Alex," he said, an observation rather than a question. Charles' skin had grown pale since Cuba. It made the blue in his eyes shine out unnaturally. He didn't bother trying to feign a smile. "I'm sorry, I'm keeping Hank from you."
Alex leaned over and pressed his lips feather-light to Charles' cheek. The gesture still felt unfamiliar to the younger man, but it was uniquely effective at soothing Charles' anxiety.
"That's all right Professor," Alex replied with as much gentle affection as he could muster at four in the morning, "you're not keeping him from me, we're both right here? It's not a problem."
Charles' eyes drifted vaguely. "I'm still sorry."
The statement carried weight far beyond this night and this bedroom. Dismissing it would do no good, but then acknowledging it might actually do harm. Alex reached out to squeeze Charles' shoulder.
"I understand. And it's fine."
After a few seconds of silence, during which Charles only managed to look more unhappy, Hank said, "We talked about this, don't you remember? You're forgiven. Whatever bad things you think you need to apologize for, you're forgiven. For all of it."
Charles nodded, placing one of his own hands over Alex's to keep it in place. He curled himself back into Hank's embrace, hiding his face once more in his silky fur.
Yes, Alex mused. It was going to be a very long night.
Charles lifted his head with an unnatural slowness, blinking heavily.
"Alex," he said, an observation rather than a question. Charles' skin had grown pale since Cuba. It made the blue in his eyes shine out unnaturally. He didn't bother trying to feign a smile. "I'm sorry, I'm keeping Hank from you."
Alex leaned over and pressed his lips feather-light to Charles' cheek. The gesture still felt unfamiliar to the younger man, but it was uniquely effective at soothing Charles' anxiety.
"That's all right Professor," Alex replied with as much gentle affection as he could muster at four in the morning, "you're not keeping him from me, we're both right here? It's not a problem."
Charles' eyes drifted vaguely. "I'm still sorry."
The statement carried weight far beyond this night and this bedroom. Dismissing it would do no good, but then acknowledging it might actually do harm. Alex reached out to squeeze Charles' shoulder.
"I understand. And it's fine."
After a few seconds of silence, during which Charles only managed to look more unhappy, Hank said, "We talked about this, don't you remember? You're forgiven. Whatever bad things you think you need to apologize for, you're forgiven. For all of it."
Charles nodded, placing one of his own hands over Alex's to keep it in place. He curled himself back into Hank's embrace, hiding his face once more in his silky fur.
Yes, Alex mused. It was going to be a very long night.
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