[ Characters include:
Charles, Erik, Banshee & Havok
Takes place a few months after X-Men First Class, at the Xavier Mansion ]

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It had seemed like yesterday, but his heart felt like it seemed so long ago.
Since Erik had seen Charles' face.

Now he stood, at the edge of the Xavier territory, watching as dusk slowly set in & the lights around the mansion soon lit up.
Erik had personally asked for Azazel to drop him off for the night, he needed to see Charles, or at least know that his friend was okay.

But Erik knew better than that, in no way was Charles alright. Erik had left him paralysed in the sand, on a beach in Cuba, with America & Soviets raging war upon them.

Erik had abandoned him.

But Raven had also, Erik didn't dare tell her of his plan to speak with Charles, she had left him too.

With a sigh, Erik slowly trekked towards the mansion from where he stood against the tree line, he wore his brown trench coat & long pants, along with his turtle neck black shirt. But he decided it would seem unfair for Charles to be blocked by his helmet.

So that's why Erik looked like a complete stranger in the distance. He had wanted Charles to know he was here before anyone else, & if Charles wanted- send him mental Hell.

While Erik walked closer toward the mansion, less regret in his step than the one before, there had been no warnings or threats placed in his mind.

Erik went to go knock on the door when he blinked in pain & stumbled back slightly, Charles was in his mind.

Erik? Come around the back, please. So no one sees you...

Erik winced in pain but opened the voice with a small smile, Charles knew he was here but what he had in store he wasn't willing to find out. Instead, Erik followed Charles' order & found himself staring at the back end of the mansion only in a matter of minutes.

It took a few more before he heard the click of the doors being opened, the sight that greeted him made Erik feel sick to the core. He frowned so miserably that Charles winced himself when he saw it.

Charles was neatly tucked into his purple bed sweater, a pair of soft-baggy pants on. Charles had been confined to a wheel chair, but not just any- a metallic X-marked wheelchair.
Charles tried to lift a smile in greeting to Erik as he wheeled himself out & over toward the man who had done this to him.

Charles stopped a foot away from Erik, clenched his hands together & smiled up at Erik.

"What are you doing here?"
His voice wasn't hostile, rather soft & curious, full of love & care, but Erik could only stare down at the wheel chair, trying desperately to hold back his stupid tears.

"Why do you ask questions in which you already know the answer to?"
Erik simply stated as he sniffed.

"Erik, I don't go around peeking inside people's heads for the sake of it, I thought I'd give you some privacy..."
Charles chuckled up at him, for a man who sat paralysed before what could only be described as a monster, Charles seemed unaffected, as if he already knew why Erik was here but wanted to hear it first hand.

Erik swallowed, never lifting his gaze from the wheelchair.
"After what I've done to you? You still think there's a chance? That I'm what you think I am?"

"No," Charles answered. "No, Erik. I believe you came back because there's a chance you want to be what I want you to be."

Erik finally looked at Charles, those big blue eyes not the only thing searching his soul.
"What's that?"
Erik asked, he hadn't noticed a year that slid its way down his cheek, he sniffed the rest of them back.

Charles chuckled as he beckoned for Erik to crouch down.
"I want you by my side."
Charles repeated what Erik had said to him the day they had separated.

Charles jumped forward awkwardly & pulled Erik into a hug, Erik shut his eyes in relaxation as he felt Charles' warm body breathe against his. This is why he had wanted to come back, not for the adventure, not for the familiar faces, but for the family he had left behind.

Erik smirked as he saw Alex & Sean stare in shock at them from one of the mansion's windows, Sean excitedly ran off as Alex's expression changed to a silent confusion.

Before Erik could do anything, Charles twisted his head to kiss Erik on the lips. Alex's eyes widened as he put a hand over his mouth.
Erik smiled wider as he returned Charles' love by kissing him back, only with more passion & a little deeper.

Alex was gone, probably somewhere throwing up in disgust or kissing Hank to see if he was gay himself- yep, that'd be a sight to see.

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Hope you enjoyed! 👍
~Sol