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Life hadn’t always been easy for Erik and yet, he couldn’t complain. That ability had been taken from him after the first time he had tried.
He’d only been eight when he made the attempt to tell an adult the horrors he was being put through at his foster parents home. Learning what Erik had done, said foster dad—Sebastian Shaw—had ensured that such an action could never be repeated again.
That night, when Erik had gotten home from school, it was to the information that the teacher he had confessed to—in complete confidentiality—had informed Shaw of what Erik had said. It was an understatement to see he wasn’t happy with Erik.
Since then, Erik hadn’t spoken a word about what he went through as a boy. Partly because he was afraid to do so, but mostly because he couldn’t. Along with his trust in others, his tongue was taken from him that night.
It was something Erik didn’t tend to let people know about. After all, how would something like that even come up? Or why would he tell? It wasn’t like anyone could help him now, decades after. He could communicate well enough, having taught himself sign language as soon as he was able to—as soon as he was out of Shaw’s care, no longer under his watchful eye.
But now, sitting across from what he thought could’ve been the most beautiful man in the universe, Erik had to wonder just how poorly things could possibly go.
It had all been Raven’s idea. Of everyone he knew, she knew the most about him and what he’d gone through. Mostly because she had told him about her childhood—abandoned by her parents and living with a boy who adopted her as a sister, abusive stepfather, stepbrother, and all. With her trusting him, he had let slip some of his life story, not including the reason that he couldn’t speak beyond saying it was his foster father’s fault.
She had insisted that he needed to put himself out there more though. That he needed more friends, and to try dating—something she decided when Erik admitted to never having dated anyone before.
That was what led to her deciding he needed to be set up for a date with her brother who apparently was bad at relationships and dated someone knew every week. She said they would be perfect together and now, Erik was just hoping she was right while feeling entirely inadequate.
“So,” The man with eyes like Erik could’ve never imagined and a smile brighter than the sun said, “I’m Charles Xavier.” He held out his hand which Erik took.
He had to wait until he had his hand back to sign back to Charles, the entire time hoping that Charles didn’t think anything bad of him not replying immediately. “I’m Erik Lehnsherr, nice to meet you.” Then he just hoped that Raven didn’t set him up with someone who didn’t know sign language.
The look on Charles’s face seemed to brighten even more, if that was possible. “Lovely to meet you too, Erik,” He replied and Erik felt himself relax a little more.
The two talk, pausing only when the waitress comes to collect their menu—with Charles having to translate for Erik, not that he minded too much, it was a rare day when someone understood him without him having to write his order down for them to read.
The conversation was going well, something that Erik hadn’t expected. He and Charles didn’t have a lot in common but they had just enough to keep things interesting. Their shared love of chess, for example, and their love of a good debate. Which was where their being on opposite ends of a topic came into play.
“Raven tells me you’re a mutant too,” Charles said, after their food came and they started to eat. “What can you do?”
Erik said nothing but raised his hand, the spoon next to his plate lifting, delivering a spoonful of his soup to his mouth and then reshaping it into a ball before changing it back into a spoon. A display of the different things he could do, even if it was on a small scale compared to all he was capable of.
“Brilliant,” Charles said with a smile, “Is it telepathy? But that wouldn’t explain the shaping. Metal?”
Erik smiled and nodded, signing, “It is only metal I can do it with. Metallokinesis, I control magnetic waves.”
“Amazing, I’ve never seen someone with powers like yours, my friend,” Charles said, looking at Erik in a way that he’d never had someone look at him before. As though he was actually impressed. A proud, happy look that Erik didn’t think he would ever be able to inspire in anyone.
“What about you, then? Raven said you’re a mutant too,” Erik replied. It had, after all, been one of his requirements when Raven brought up the idea. The first question he’d asked, ready to say no if Charles hadn’t been a mutant.
Charles seemed to hesitate a little before he answered, “Most people hate my powers. I’m a telepath, but don’t worry, I’m not like going through your mind or anything. I have ethics and morals when it comes to using my-“
Erik was shaking his head as he reached across the table to lightly touch Charles’s hand with his own, stopping him without having to say a word. “I don’t mind. You’re not asking me not to use my powers, I’m not going to ask you not to use yours. Besides, I have an…interest in telepaths. One of my best friends is a telepath, in fact. Perhaps you know Emma?”
Charles gave a small laugh, “Of course, you’re friends with Emma. Yes, I know her. I pride myself in not using my powers the way she uses hers. But if you’re sure you don’t mind me using mine…?” Charles may have tried to frame the words like a statement but it was clear they were anything but. He looked hesitant, almost afraid that Erik would tell him no after just assuring him he could.
“I’m sure, Charles. You don’t seem the type to do anything bad with your powers. I trust you not to rearrange my mind or anything,” Erik assured him with a small smile. He was amused by the other man, after all.
“I must admit,” Charles said, projecting the thought with his powers, “I have been using my powers a little, just to make sure I’m understanding your signing. I know enough to get by but I’m not entirely fluent yet but with my powers, I can understand any language without problems.”
Erik smiled a little at that and nodded, “Anything that works. I’m honestly surprised you know any at all. Most people don’t seem to bother with sign language. I know Emma only understands me because of her powers.”
“It’s a perk of being a telepath that I rather enjoy,” Charles said with a smile and Erik wondered if the feeling he was experiencing was falling in love.
Once their meal was over, the two of them traveled back to Erik’s place together. He could admit to being nervous but excited too. Of course, he didn’t know what was going to happen or what to expect. It was, after all, a completely new experience for him.
He closed the door behind Charles once he had rolled in and they made their way on into the apartment. Looking around the room, Erik’s attention latched onto one thing that he thought might help settle his nerves.
“Care for a game of chess?” He asked, trying out projecting his thoughts as opposed to signing. With Emma, it was something he’d done frequently but he was just trying it out with Charles for the first time.
“Sounds like a lovely idea to me, darling,” Charles replied with a smile, moving over to the table and Erik, with his powers, moved one of the chairs out of the way so he could settle in. Erik sat across from him and let Charles have the first move.
There was a steady conversation going on between them as they played. Charles had learned that Erik was a separatist and the debate had started. Erik was all too eager to defend his opinions and make Charles explain his own beliefs, even if neither of them would be able to convince the other of anything.
The debate came to a head when Charles moved around the table and grabbed Erik, kissing him. It was enough to make Erik freeze, shocked and not expecting it. That, in turn, made Charles pull back, eyes wide.
“Oh, my friend, I’m terribly sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, it’s just that, I thought-“ Charles started to ramble but Erik cut him off by leaning forward and placing a small, gentle kiss against his lips, nothing more than a small peck.
“There’s nothing to apologize for, you just shocked me,” Erik admitted, “I wasn’t expecting it. But there is something we should maybe talk about? Because I don’t know much about this but I think it would be a shock to find out by kissing me and I don’t want to do that to you. So I want to get it out of the way before that happens.”
Charles smiled at her, “Darling, you’re rambling on. What is it?” He asked in a calm way that helped Erik relax a little as well. If Charles could hear him rambling and not get scared then maybe it would be okay.
“The reason I can’t talk,” Erik projected, thinking it would be easier that way than signing it all. “When I was younger my foster father…he…I don’t have most of my tongue. He cut out half of it at least. He didn’t like me talking, and telling people what he was doing to me, and wanted to avoid it happening again. I have enough to eat, he didn’t want to kill me, just shut me up.”
A small sigh left Charles as he nodded, “And you were worried I’d find out when I kissed you,” He said, “I would like to know where this man is now just to have a word with him.” The way Charles said it made Erik think that the word Charles wanted to have may end in a dead body but—
“ He’s dead now. Has been for a few years and as far as the police know, I had nothing to do with it,” Erik assured him and a dark look accompanied by a smile crossed Charles’s face.
“I’m not typically one to wish death on anyone but, in this case, I’m glad he’s dead,” Charles said and Erik couldn’t help but smile a little at that. “But, honestly, love, you’re not going to scare me off. I mean you didn’t run when you saw me and I’m not going to run now that I know this about you. Yes, I wish you hadn’t had to go through that, but it’s not going to change that I’m very much interested in you.”
Erik couldn’t help the small, almost shy smile that crossed his face at hearing that. It was truly something he never thought he’d get to have but now, here was Charles, possibly the man of his dreams, who seemed to be just as interested in him as he was Charles. With that in mind, Erik leaned forward to kiss Charles one more time. Now that he knew what it felt like, he wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough and it wasn’t exactly like Charles was complaining. He seemed all too eager to return each and every kiss Erik decided to give him.
Erik hoped he was right in assuming this was going to be the start of something wonderful that he’d barely let himself think about at any point in his life for fear that he would never have it.
There couldn’t be anyone out there more perfect for him than Charles.