Chapter Text
Erik had known something was special about Charles the night they had crossed paths. More so, he even went so far to think their individual paths led to this moment. To each other. He felt like he needed Charles more than air. Every time Charles pushed his hair back, every time that familiar gleam of sunshine appeared in his eyes, every laugh, every glance, every delicate syllable spoken from his lips only fuelled Erik’s unfamiliar yet not unwelcome feelings. Every day that passed, Erik’s desire to tell Charles his feelings grew, and quiet desperation creeped in through every open gap. Erik wasn’t usually one to hide strong feelings he may or may not have, but this was slightly different. He had never felt this emotional and sentimental about someone, he never wanted someone to be a part of his life more. Erik was usually so closed off. Not around Charles. Not for Charles. The way his eyes always found Charles in a crowded room, the way Charles always occupied a space in his thoughts - his heart, it was all so new to him. He had had lovers before, but never someone he truly felt for. All Erik had tried to do for months was push these feelings down and ignore them, pretend they weren’t there, act like they didn’t matter, but it never lasted. On occasion, he would make a mental note to distance from Charles more and brush him off as he believed the problem was close proximity. It didn’t work. Charles always managed to get under his skin and persuade him. The overwhelming feeling of pure yearning had begun to overtake his senses, his thoughts, his being, in a similar way Charles melted all his defenses with one smile. Erik’s desperation had reached an all time high, to the point where all he wanted was Charles. He couldn’t bear or face the idea that they were just coworkers, working together to stop Shaw, no… their bond was much too complex to be just coworkers. Coworkers eventually separate. Erik wanted Charles by his side. So he had planned a perfect day and perfect time to tell him - since he only felt Charles deserved the best. Erik was well aware of all of his own flaws, his antisocial tendencies, his harshness, his brooding persona, but all he wanted to do was to make up for them in any way possible and save the best of himself for Charles.
At the end of their perfect day full of walks, food, lighthearted conversation, stifled laughter, innocent touches… finally came the evening. This had been the exact scenario Erik had unwillingly (yet stayed faithful to the idea) etched into his brain ever since the very first night. Sitting together in the garden of the glorious mansion, right in the most secluded and intimate area, surrounded by so many florals with the most flamboyant colours harmonising together; the picture as grand and as intricate as a vintage oil painting. For Erik, though, Charles was still his favourite work of art. The chessboard had just been packed up, and now all that was left was the summer's sunset, the two men, and an abundance of unsaid feelings. Erik’s gaze kept flickering over to Charles, the words on the tip of his tongue repeating over and over again in his head like a broken record. After a few not-so-subtle glances, Charles noticed, and silently chuckled to himself. Charles always noticed these little glances, and it flattered him. Despite the repetition of these glances, they always managed to turn Charles’ cheeks a new shade of pink.
“Is something bothering you, Erik?” Charles eventually questioned as he turned his head, and gazed up at Erik with his kind eyes, although paired with a slightly playful smirk.
Charles’ question struck Erik by surprise, and honestly left him a little flustered at the fact Charles noticed his unease. He feigned his typical nonchalance, and replied with a calm smile “No. Not at all Charles.”
Charles kept his soft stare for a moment, returned a smile, nodded, and shifted his gaze back to the cacophony of colour in the sky. He could’ve read Erik’s mind, but he didn’t. Erik took another deep breath, staring at Charles for a moment longer than necessary before averting his own gaze to the same sea of colours. Despite the sky in front of him, his eyes kept wanting to admire Charles. Comfortable silence filled the air for some more time, and with each passing minute Erik was closer to telling Charles the thing pulling on his heartstrings. After a few moments in thought, finally planning out what he was going to say, he took a deep breath, and turned his full body to face Charles.
“Charles, I have to tell you something. Something actually, is on my mind- well, has been on my mind, for some time now… and, and I wanted to tell you sooner, but the moment was never right.” Erik spluttered out, in a tone so unusually tender, that Charles felt like he already knew what he was going to say. He could’ve read his mind, but he didn’t have to. Erik was terribly pathetic at hiding his soft spot for Charles. Everyone knew it, honestly, except for ironically Erik himself.
Charles silently nodded again, that same gentle smile laid across his face. He subconsciously copied Erik’s movement, and also sat fully facing him. Erik just took a moment to himself, to gather his thoughts, to admire Charles, to be certain this is what he wanted. It didn’t take him a second to know. All it took was the kindness, the light, the glimmer of pure sunshine in Charles’ eyes, the way they glistened in the golden hour… The way his auburn hair parted in the middle, each strand intertwining with each other at the ends to create the most effortless curly flick. The details on his face, the spaced out freckles that Erik couldn’t help but want to plant gentle kisses on, the slight tinge of rose on his cheeks, although Erik wasn’t sure if that was because of the situation or the projection from the sky. His sweet smile, his sweet, sweet, smile. The smile that made everything else go away. For once in Erik’s life, he had someone he wanted to stay around. A face he wanted to wake up to everyday.
Erik finally braced himself, and it was only then he noticed how Charles had slightly shuffled closer, how Charles’ hand was an inch away from his on the grass, how Charles’ eyes were locked with his own. Their hearts raced, and unknowingly synced up. The two men’s eyes both kept glancing down to the other man’s lips, the temptation killing them both. As hard as it was to resist the urge, to resist Charles’ face, his scent, him, Erik inhaled, and he finally felt prepared. This was it.
An explosion from the lab was heard all the way out in the gardens, and the two men distanced just slightly, and stared at each other in shock for a moment. Shock and… something else shared. Disappointment. Disappointed lingered in the air, cutting through the romantic tension between the two like a blade. Charles hesitated slightly before jumping up and composing himself, the blush swiftly removing itself from his face before he helped Erik up with a hand. He stumbled a bit on his words, before he began to walk away.
“Come on, Erik, we, we should go see what that was. If anyone is hurt, or… you know, whatever happened.”
Erik just stood silently for a moment, watching Charles as he scurried off. This was not how it was supposed to go.