[x-men: first class] fic - gen - forget all your worries
enthroned prompted me with bicycle. This happened. Also at AO3.
Title: Forget All Your Worries
Characters: Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr
Word Count: ~1100
Rating: G
Summary: Erik, age 8, teaches Charles, age 7, how to ride a bicycle.
Note: Part of an AU where Charles and Erik are childhood BFF, and eventually more. Modern time frame (meaning it takes place in the past twenty or so years). Title from the Queen song "Bicycle Races", though that song has nothing to do with this story, really.
The first time Erik tries to teach Charles how to ride a bicycle, it lasts about five minutes before Charles has scraped hands and knees and they stop. Not at Charles' request, but rather because Erik panics a little when he sees the blood, even though the same thing happened to him the first time. He makes Charles sit down while he runs inside to get his mother, but as soon as he knows she's coming he's back at Charles' side. Charles is biting his lip, but he isn't crying; Erik doesn't like seeing him hurt at all, though, especially when it's partially his fault.
Erik's mother comes with bandages and antiseptic. She assures them it's going to be okay, and while she cleans up the scrapes, Erik squeezes Charles' shoulder in apology and solidarity, because he knows it stings. Charles winces, but doesn't say anything until Erik's mother has finished bandaging him up. He thanks her, then smiles up at Erik, and it's only then that a tight knot of worry in Erik's chest seems to ease.
They go inside after that, and Erik even lets Charles pick out what movie they watch (The Brave Little Toaster) without complaint.
-
Erik is worried that Charles' parents are going to be mad that he's sending Charles back to them damaged. He knows he would be mad if anyone sent a damaged Charles to him, and he'd have to go beat up whoever was responsible for that. Nothing comes of it, though, and a few days later Charles is insisting that Erik continue to teach him. He's a little reluctant, but ultimately agrees when Charles begins to look sad about his denial.
The subsequent times go marginally better, in terms of progress. Erik's mother also dug out Erik's old knee pads and wrist guards for Charles to use, so there's that as well. There's still a lot of falling, but none of it results in injury, so even though Charles becomes obviously frustrated that he isn't mastering this bicycle thing right away, Erik is more at ease. Nevertheless, Charles doesn't give up, and each time he faces it now his eyebrows knit closer together in that solemn, determined expression he gets when he encounters something problematic.
They practice every day Charles can make it over. By the end of the week he is doing markedly better, and can at least make it down to the end of the sidewalk and back. He's grinning wide, and Erik is too, but mostly because he's amused at how proud Charles seems to be at the accomplishment.
“The next thing I'll teach you is how to climb trees,” Erik promises, since there seem to be so many basic things that Charles doesn't know.
-
Charles' parents won't buy him a bicycle since they don't see a point to it when they have a driver to take him wherever he needs to go. Charles and Erik share when they go to the park on weekends with Erik's mother, taking turns, though Erik usually lets Charles ride more often, at least in the beginning, because of how pleased Charles seems to be with himself about the new skill. Eventually Charles feels guilty, and insists that they take turns equally, despite the fact that Erik really doesn't mind.
Erik does chores for his mother and for their neighbors to earn money. He doesn't really spend it that often, so he has some saved up. It takes him a few more weeks to have what he hopes is enough, but after he's counted what he has he finally goes to his mother.
“I'm going to buy Charles a bicycle,” he announces.
His mother gives him an amused smile and a ride to a shop to help him pick one out, and contributes a little so Erik can get Charles his own helmet, too. It's a little nicer than Erik's own, but not as nice as the things Charles can have for himself, from what Erik has seen. Erik knows that Charles won't sneak around behind his parents to get one for himself, though, so there's not much alternative.
Erik is so excited, he calls Charles at his house. He hates using the phone most of the time, especially since there's usually a lot of waiting involved before Charles can pick up the line.
“Erik?” Charles asks hopefully.
Erik has idly been trying to flatten out the spiraling phone cord - he can't quite keep from fidgeting - but he stops when he hears Charles. “Yeah. Can you come over for dinner? Or are your parents going to make you eat with them?”
“I think it's okay. When do you want me to come over?”
“Soon as you can.”
“I'll call you back if I can't make it.”
“Okay,” Erik says, and hangs up, belatedly thinking maybe he should have said goodbye.
Erik tries to not look out the window every five seconds to see if Charles has shown up yet, so his mother gives him the task of getting washed up and setting the table. He's in the middle of rearranging the spoons and the forks for the fifth time for no real reason when he hears a knock and hurries over to open the door.
“I have something for you,” Erik says, before Charles can even come inside. “It's in the garage.”
He remembers to close the door behind him as he drags Charles along with him. Charles is following quite willingly, but Erik is impatient and Charles has a tendency to ask questions when given the chance, and it's easier to just show him. He lifts the garage door and removes the blue tarp which he had used to cover the bicycle.
“I got you this.”
Erik looks over at Charles and hopes it's all right. For a moment Charles looks a little dazed, but then his face lights up and he throws his arms around Erik in a tight hug. For once, Erik doesn't mind. No one is allowed to hug Erik except for his mother, and he guesses now Charles, too. Charles has Erik's arms pinned against his sides, so it at least saves him from having to awkwardly return it.
“Thank you, Erik.”
Erik means to say “you're welcome”, but what he actually says is, “Now we don't have to share all the time.”
Charles looks at him, a little guiltily. “You didn't have to, or I could -”
Erik frowns, since he thinks Charles might suggest something stupid such as paying him back for it, like he does whenever Erik buys him ice cream. “It's a gift,” he says simply.
“But it isn't holiday yet, or my birthday.”
Erik shrugs. “There doesn't have to be a reason.”
Charles is back to beaming, so it's easy for Erik to stop frowning. “Really - really - thank you,” Charles says.
“You're welcome,” Erik manages this time, grinning. There's no need to ask Charles if he likes his present, since he so very obviously does.
Title: Forget All Your Worries
Characters: Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr
Word Count: ~1100
Rating: G
Summary: Erik, age 8, teaches Charles, age 7, how to ride a bicycle.
Note: Part of an AU where Charles and Erik are childhood BFF, and eventually more. Modern time frame (meaning it takes place in the past twenty or so years). Title from the Queen song "Bicycle Races", though that song has nothing to do with this story, really.
The first time Erik tries to teach Charles how to ride a bicycle, it lasts about five minutes before Charles has scraped hands and knees and they stop. Not at Charles' request, but rather because Erik panics a little when he sees the blood, even though the same thing happened to him the first time. He makes Charles sit down while he runs inside to get his mother, but as soon as he knows she's coming he's back at Charles' side. Charles is biting his lip, but he isn't crying; Erik doesn't like seeing him hurt at all, though, especially when it's partially his fault.
Erik's mother comes with bandages and antiseptic. She assures them it's going to be okay, and while she cleans up the scrapes, Erik squeezes Charles' shoulder in apology and solidarity, because he knows it stings. Charles winces, but doesn't say anything until Erik's mother has finished bandaging him up. He thanks her, then smiles up at Erik, and it's only then that a tight knot of worry in Erik's chest seems to ease.
They go inside after that, and Erik even lets Charles pick out what movie they watch (The Brave Little Toaster) without complaint.
-
Erik is worried that Charles' parents are going to be mad that he's sending Charles back to them damaged. He knows he would be mad if anyone sent a damaged Charles to him, and he'd have to go beat up whoever was responsible for that. Nothing comes of it, though, and a few days later Charles is insisting that Erik continue to teach him. He's a little reluctant, but ultimately agrees when Charles begins to look sad about his denial.
The subsequent times go marginally better, in terms of progress. Erik's mother also dug out Erik's old knee pads and wrist guards for Charles to use, so there's that as well. There's still a lot of falling, but none of it results in injury, so even though Charles becomes obviously frustrated that he isn't mastering this bicycle thing right away, Erik is more at ease. Nevertheless, Charles doesn't give up, and each time he faces it now his eyebrows knit closer together in that solemn, determined expression he gets when he encounters something problematic.
They practice every day Charles can make it over. By the end of the week he is doing markedly better, and can at least make it down to the end of the sidewalk and back. He's grinning wide, and Erik is too, but mostly because he's amused at how proud Charles seems to be at the accomplishment.
“The next thing I'll teach you is how to climb trees,” Erik promises, since there seem to be so many basic things that Charles doesn't know.
-
Charles' parents won't buy him a bicycle since they don't see a point to it when they have a driver to take him wherever he needs to go. Charles and Erik share when they go to the park on weekends with Erik's mother, taking turns, though Erik usually lets Charles ride more often, at least in the beginning, because of how pleased Charles seems to be with himself about the new skill. Eventually Charles feels guilty, and insists that they take turns equally, despite the fact that Erik really doesn't mind.
Erik does chores for his mother and for their neighbors to earn money. He doesn't really spend it that often, so he has some saved up. It takes him a few more weeks to have what he hopes is enough, but after he's counted what he has he finally goes to his mother.
“I'm going to buy Charles a bicycle,” he announces.
His mother gives him an amused smile and a ride to a shop to help him pick one out, and contributes a little so Erik can get Charles his own helmet, too. It's a little nicer than Erik's own, but not as nice as the things Charles can have for himself, from what Erik has seen. Erik knows that Charles won't sneak around behind his parents to get one for himself, though, so there's not much alternative.
Erik is so excited, he calls Charles at his house. He hates using the phone most of the time, especially since there's usually a lot of waiting involved before Charles can pick up the line.
“Erik?” Charles asks hopefully.
Erik has idly been trying to flatten out the spiraling phone cord - he can't quite keep from fidgeting - but he stops when he hears Charles. “Yeah. Can you come over for dinner? Or are your parents going to make you eat with them?”
“I think it's okay. When do you want me to come over?”
“Soon as you can.”
“I'll call you back if I can't make it.”
“Okay,” Erik says, and hangs up, belatedly thinking maybe he should have said goodbye.
Erik tries to not look out the window every five seconds to see if Charles has shown up yet, so his mother gives him the task of getting washed up and setting the table. He's in the middle of rearranging the spoons and the forks for the fifth time for no real reason when he hears a knock and hurries over to open the door.
“I have something for you,” Erik says, before Charles can even come inside. “It's in the garage.”
He remembers to close the door behind him as he drags Charles along with him. Charles is following quite willingly, but Erik is impatient and Charles has a tendency to ask questions when given the chance, and it's easier to just show him. He lifts the garage door and removes the blue tarp which he had used to cover the bicycle.
“I got you this.”
Erik looks over at Charles and hopes it's all right. For a moment Charles looks a little dazed, but then his face lights up and he throws his arms around Erik in a tight hug. For once, Erik doesn't mind. No one is allowed to hug Erik except for his mother, and he guesses now Charles, too. Charles has Erik's arms pinned against his sides, so it at least saves him from having to awkwardly return it.
“Thank you, Erik.”
Erik means to say “you're welcome”, but what he actually says is, “Now we don't have to share all the time.”
Charles looks at him, a little guiltily. “You didn't have to, or I could -”
Erik frowns, since he thinks Charles might suggest something stupid such as paying him back for it, like he does whenever Erik buys him ice cream. “It's a gift,” he says simply.
“But it isn't holiday yet, or my birthday.”
Erik shrugs. “There doesn't have to be a reason.”
Charles is back to beaming, so it's easy for Erik to stop frowning. “Really - really - thank you,” Charles says.
“You're welcome,” Erik manages this time, grinning. There's no need to ask Charles if he likes his present, since he so very obviously does.