day thirteen - spooning
La la la, did I write words yesterday? I think I did. Anyway, more old retired dudes. I'm slowly shaping this into a story. Marvel at my bizarre creative process.
***
spooning (~450)
***
They're both stubborn men and it's hardly the first time that Charles has gone to bed angry and without him. They've been freezing each other out of the bedroom since long before they took up the costumed mantles of their respective causes. This feels different, though. It's not because Erik is wrong and knows it--Erik is very rarely unaware of his over-reaction and unreasonable ire, reluctant as he may be to admit the weakness, especially to Charles. Maybe, though, it's because the crux of this is being apart from Charles and it seems so hasty, so premature to give into that distance now when he has Charles within reach.
Still, he takes the time doing the washing up and locks the doors manually. He circuits the house slowly, much more slowly than is warranted for a house this size, especially one so familiar to him. He washes up in the bathroom, and when he enters the bedroom, he lingers in the doorway, watching Charles breathe.
Charles is awake, still. Of course he is. That was Erik's intention, but a part of him was still wishing to put this conversation off another night.
He strips with care, slowly crawling into bed, broadcasting his movements, half-wondering (hoping) he'll be spurned. Charles doesn't react, though. He lets Erik lie down, then curl close. He lets Erik spoon up behind him until they're pressed together down the length of their bodies and Erik is letting out a shuddering breath. Charles is warm and smells familiar, smells like home. He belongs here, Charles, not out there in a world that's still so cruel.
Charles would say he's gone soft in his old age, but Erik knows it's not true. He's always been this soft. It's his last remaining secret, the final thing they've never discussed. Erik presents as hard edges, sharp demands, and no sympathy. It's different for Charles--it's always different for Charles. While Erik would turn away any of his followers who gave into weakness, he's always wanted nothing more than to spare Charles that pain altogether. Charles has never flinched under all that society has thrown at him, but, if he could, Erik would hide him away, far out of its range to begin with.
He rather has, now. He can't stand the thought of Charles bursting the protective bubble.
He grips Charles more tightly, presses his lips to Charles' shoulder. It won't do him any good--he can't hold Charles back. He never could. But he allows himself the illusion that if he's strong and firm and determined enough he'll be able to keep Charles right here.
"Oh, my love," Charles says. It's all he says, and he lets Erik hold him until they both drift off to sleep.
*
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
***
spooning (~450)
***
They're both stubborn men and it's hardly the first time that Charles has gone to bed angry and without him. They've been freezing each other out of the bedroom since long before they took up the costumed mantles of their respective causes. This feels different, though. It's not because Erik is wrong and knows it--Erik is very rarely unaware of his over-reaction and unreasonable ire, reluctant as he may be to admit the weakness, especially to Charles. Maybe, though, it's because the crux of this is being apart from Charles and it seems so hasty, so premature to give into that distance now when he has Charles within reach.
Still, he takes the time doing the washing up and locks the doors manually. He circuits the house slowly, much more slowly than is warranted for a house this size, especially one so familiar to him. He washes up in the bathroom, and when he enters the bedroom, he lingers in the doorway, watching Charles breathe.
Charles is awake, still. Of course he is. That was Erik's intention, but a part of him was still wishing to put this conversation off another night.
He strips with care, slowly crawling into bed, broadcasting his movements, half-wondering (hoping) he'll be spurned. Charles doesn't react, though. He lets Erik lie down, then curl close. He lets Erik spoon up behind him until they're pressed together down the length of their bodies and Erik is letting out a shuddering breath. Charles is warm and smells familiar, smells like home. He belongs here, Charles, not out there in a world that's still so cruel.
Charles would say he's gone soft in his old age, but Erik knows it's not true. He's always been this soft. It's his last remaining secret, the final thing they've never discussed. Erik presents as hard edges, sharp demands, and no sympathy. It's different for Charles--it's always different for Charles. While Erik would turn away any of his followers who gave into weakness, he's always wanted nothing more than to spare Charles that pain altogether. Charles has never flinched under all that society has thrown at him, but, if he could, Erik would hide him away, far out of its range to begin with.
He rather has, now. He can't stand the thought of Charles bursting the protective bubble.
He grips Charles more tightly, presses his lips to Charles' shoulder. It won't do him any good--he can't hold Charles back. He never could. But he allows himself the illusion that if he's strong and firm and determined enough he'll be able to keep Charles right here.
"Oh, my love," Charles says. It's all he says, and he lets Erik hold him until they both drift off to sleep.
*
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