Chapter Text
It was a novel little building the vintage gold lettering style of the name plaque elegantly contrasting the dark blue of the background, this was not however the end of the vintage theme as the entire interior was themed around the world wars and was decorated with poster and magazines reminiscent of the time. The yellow wallpaper interspersed with delicately drawn roses made Charles fondly reminisce about the weekends he used to spend in his grandmothers library, curled up with heavy, well thumbed copies of classic literature and a far too big for the small skinny boy he was. But what really drew him in was the music that gently drifted from the open door, inviting and comforting it fit his tastes perfectly and he quietly sat down at a small round table in by the large shop window.
Only a few precious hours were spent delving into the pages of a battered copy of Jekyll and Hyde, completely enveloped in the world so delicately crafted to tell the tale, unfortunately this peace was abruptly disrupted by an awful racket emanating from the canal at the end of the road. hurriedly casting his enthralling book upon the table he ,against his better judgement, sprinted down the uneven cobbled street.
Diving into the canal, the cold water was biting and sent violent chill through a body that wasn't his. He wasn't sure but he felt them none the less, he felt agony screaming from someone in the canal it flooded his senses making it impossible to figure out where it was coming from. He aimlessly groped through the water until , much to his relief, he connected with the palm of a rough, calloused palm. Gripping it tightly he pulled feeling the dimming warmth as he hugged the body to his chest, violently kicking as they surfaced. tightly gripping the strangers belt he felt something firmly yank at them. A blinding flash of rage that wasn't his ran through Charles' mind as they struggled
" Erik! Erik you have to let go!" he howled his voice rough in his own throat.
Erik's eyes suddenly flitted open in a befuddled daze "h-how did-" he choked out water spewing over his , now that Charles had noticed, very pink lips.
"You have your tricks i have mine" Charles responded cutting him off before he swallowed anymore water "please let go" he could still feel the hot flashes of range, desperation, and- and something smaller, that pooled warmly in his stomach, however given their current situation it was inconsequential. For a moment , only a short moment Charles' pleading eyes met with the hate filled eyes of the man he was desperately trying haul from the freezing canal. A loud crack rang from beneath them and the tension that gripped them was released. with a new ease they swam to the edge of the canal a weary laughter ripping itself from tired from their throats as they collapsed on the old brick banks.
Shakily, Charles pulled himself up onto his knees, extending a cold, shivering hand he said " Charles Xavier, I'm a student at oxford university here, what brings you to oxford Erik?"
" how do you know my name?" he asked hoarsely, hoping that Charles didn't notice his avoidance of the question.
"I'm a telepath, sorry for the invasion" a guilty look settled into his eyes. It made Erik sick to his stomach.
"A fellow mutant!" Erik beamed, causing a wave of relief to evidently wash over Charles at the acceptance. a warmth bloomed through his chest at the sight of Erik's shark like, almost predatory grin
A balding but muscled man bustled around the two tired and soaked teens as they took a remarkably rough ambulance ride, "y-you saved me, w-why?" Erik chuckled hoarsely unsure as to weather his voice was trembling from the cold or something else entirely.
"oh anyone would've chap" Charles responded giving Erik a good natured smile and patting his back. Erik raised his his head, his dark chestnut hair clinging to his forehead,
"but you did" he breathed. The gentle pink flush of his cheeks made a similar warm feeling pooled in Charles' stomach as he gazed enraptured at Erik's , now that he considered it, stunning eyes. Uncharacteristically for him Charles began to stumble over his words, trying to respond. in a panic he blurted out
"stunning-" shit! why did he say that!? the warm pool in his stomach became a raging blaze like heat that singed his cheek
"pardon?" he muttered in a confused tone
"st-stunning view from the riverside, don't you think?" Charles quickly recovered
"um- yes i suppose, i haven't really had a chance to look" he took a forlorn look out of the small window in the ambulance door "perhaps you'll have to show me sometime" he said looking down at Charles, who was red, from the cold of course.
"yes i think that would be quite lovely" Charles responded with a blushing grin
Several hours later, Erik was glad to be out of the sickly air of the a & e, his head span as he contemplated the events of the day and mostly, what was he going to do now. he hadn't got anywhere to go, except. . . well , it didn't bear thinking about. As he contemplated the next few days of his life he slumped down into the unyielding plastic of uncomfortable bus seats. Closing his eyes to absorb the fresh, well as fresh as he'd had in a while, air.
"Erik!" the newly familiar voice called over the loud rumble of traffic " do you have any plans for the evening?" Charles said crumpling down next to him and glancing hopefully into Erik's eyes.
"just going home" he replied clinging to the hope that the lie didn't sound as flimsy as it felt. "Nothing important at all, what were you thinking?" Charles seemed to study his face, if only briefly, and a light buzz began to brush across his mind. It delicately worked its way into the deep recesses of his psyche. A pulsing vein of rage ebbed its way to the forefront of his mind, curling itself around his throat and heart. A barely audible rattling began to grow in strength as the shiny metal screws unwound themselves from their positions.
"if its no inconvenience, would you like to join me for some tea?" his voice quivering ever so slightly. Delighted at the prospect of spending a few more hours in the comfort of Charles' company, Erik hastily agreed, choking back the burning rage that'd been so abruptly forced upon him. Charles grinned excitedly up at him, like a puppy. The rattling quieted to silence.
As if on cue, a large bus came trundling into the stop, wordlessly Charles paid for both of their fares and they collapsed into a nervous closeness. Erik gently pressed his forehead to the shaky glass, a similarly shaky feeling settling into his stomach as he considered the buzzing that had elicited such a visceral response from him. It almost felt like. . . like if someone had seen into his head. The idea made bile rise in his throat, the mortifying notion of being so entirely known. He was torn from the terrifying notion when a far too tall speedbump caused Charles to jostle into him.
"Sorry!" Charles yelped, his bony elbows digging into Erik's chest painfully. Almost instantaneously a thin metal wire whipped around Charles' wrist, snatching it violently away from Erik. He hissed as the metal dug into his flesh. Erik's dark blue eyes widened in abject horror at his own actions.
"i- I'm so sorry" he stuttered as he released the wire. Shit, shit, shit! his heart was racing " I'm sorry Charles, i didn't mean to-"
"its alright, my friend" Charles responded, a bright grin spread across his face. Erik's heat skipped a beat, even in the face of his unthinking violence Charles was a perfect gentlemen. He gently tugged the ratty jumper he'd been given from the lost and found over the forming rash.