Staying Over
Author: Groot_the_tree
Summary:
Erik was putting more and more pressure on Charles to let Erik come to his place. For them to stay the night, sleep next together, and wake up in each other's arms. Charles had to admit, it sounded lovely, something he would love. However, there was only one problem keeping him from agreeing.
"Shit."
-
Charles and Erik have been dating for months but never stay the night together. Charles has secrets, Erik just wants to wake up to his partner, no matter what that may look like.
Source: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48119950
-----
Charles was terrified.
For the first time in his life, he had a solid relationship. Not that it was unusual for him to be in love, date, or sleep around. But it was utterly unheard of for one of those relationships to reach the five-month anniversary—something most people might not count, but Charles was. He'd really been counting since the third month, if he was being honest. That was where the record began.
Not only was that in itself scary to think about, but adding to that was the increasing pressure from his boyfriend for them to sleep over at each other's place.
Up until this point, Charles would go to Erik's place, they'd spend a couple of hours together, have dinner, and play a game of chess. They'd eventually end up in Erik's bed and, after fucking and a brief cuddle, Charles was pulling on his clothes to leave again.
Now though, Erik was putting more and more pressure on Charles to let Erik come to his place. For them to stay the night, sleep next together, and wake up in each other's arms. Charles had to admit, it sounded lovely, something he would love. However, there was only one problem keeping him from agreeing.
"Shit," Charles almost yelled, rolling onto his side from his back, clutching at the covers on his bed, face screwed up in pain.
Almost every morning started out the same. Charles would wake up, and start to get up only to fall back on the bed in pain. The burning shock would start at the base of his back and seem to radiate down his legs.
It was ironic, really. He couldn't feel his legs and somehow they still hurt. The least they could do, he thought, was not feel anything.
As the pain started to ease, again he moved and gasped out, rolling onto his stomach. It didn't help but it did get the weight off his back, even the touch of the bed was too much.
He clutched at the pillow his head was on, biting down on it to keep from screaming out. God knew how many times he had screamed and alerted the neighbors to his flat already.
It wasn't something he could really help, he knew, and yet he couldn't help being ashamed and embarrassed when the pain started. There were times it was almost impossible to stay quiet, to keep still and not move around on the bed or in his chair, anything that could potentially help the radiating pain.
Charles ended up back on his side, his arm hooked under his legs, pulling them up so he was laying in the fetal position. A tear slipped down his cheek as he was finally able to take a breath and not scream or groan in pain. Only then did he slowly push himself up on the edge of the bed and make it into his wheelchair to start his day, already exhausted and drained.
So maybe he had a good reason for not wanting to spend the early morning with Erik. Or maybe he didn't.
It wasn't like he worried the man would judge him but it worried him. They'd already discovered Erik wasn't good with Charles being in pain. He wanted to do everything he could to take the pain away and felt useless if he couldn't. The idea of Erik feeling like that for—Charles checked the time—half an hour every morning before Charles could even get out of bed seemed rough for them both.
But the pain didn't stop there either. He took meds for the pain once he reached the bathroom, they would help in time, but wouldn't stop it. The pain never stopped, even if it did ease at times or became a dull sensation that he could push past. Even admitting that to Erik had been difficult, but that's all he thought it was. A low level of constant pain. He didn't know about the more intense moments and Charles had managed to keep those to himself.
And if he did so with the occasional edible or smoking then that was for him to know. Erik had his vices, and Charles had his.
After spending all day at work, Charles was more than happy to spend the evening with Erik when he called to invite Charles over. He was about to agree when he paused to consider.
"I'm sorry, darling," Charles said softly, "But I have another idea."
"What?" Erik asked and Charles could hear the confusion in his voice. It made him smile to himself.
"Why don't you come over to my place this evening instead?" He asked, knowing this was a step he needed to take. Besides, he loved Erik and Erik seemed to love him. If they were going to last, this was something they needed to experience somehow. It wasn't like they'd get married and still live in separate places, never spending the night together. "And bring a bag with you? Stay the night with me."
"I'll be there in fifteen," Erik stated and the call ended.
Charles would have been concerned about it, but a message came moments later from Erik.
- Love you
- love you too
Charles smiled at his phone, knowing Erik was excited about this. He was too, really, but there was a swirl of emotions in him and they weren't all positive.
The first thing he needed to do was talk to Erik. He wouldn't throw Erik off the deep end in the morning and risk waking him up by screaming, that wouldn't be good for either of them. Charles had already learned that Erik could be...excitable when woke up. Especially woken up by a loud noise. One movie night had taught him that.
No, he would explain the situation first and they would go from there. If Erik still wanted to stay with him that night, then they would. And if not...well, as much as Charles didn't want it to come to that, maybe they would need to consider going their separate ways.
Of course, sleeping in different rooms could still be an option. Same house, different beds. People do that all the time, right? But Erik was secretly rather cuddly and clingy at times and Charles doubted that would be the kind of life—relationship—he would want.
It would be better to just end things if Erik didn't like what Charles had been keeping from him. It was part of his life, a part that wasn't going to go away, just like his wheelchair, just like his love of genetics or ass that Erik loves—despite Charles not understanding it.
Erik would have to accept it or they'd both have to move on.
Charles opened the door to a smiling Erik who looked entirely too happy to finally be getting his way. It almost made Charles regret how long it took him to agree to this. Almost.
"Come on, darling," He said, moving back out of the way to let Erik into his apartment, noticing the bag Erik was carrying. Or rather, bags. Something about that just made it even more real. A nervous excitement ran through him.
"I brought dinner," Erik said, holding up one of the bags, the one that Charles knew too well was insulated to keep the container inside warm. He has learned over the last few months that he has a soft spot for Erik's cooking.
Charles smiled at him, "I can't wait then," He replied, "I honestly didn't have anything in. I was debating ordering us takeaway."
"And that's why I brought dinner," Erik said, "I've learned your ways and I'm not letting you put any more of that garbage in your body than you have to."
"It's not that bad," Charles said, rolling into the kitchen, leading the way for Erik to follow him. "Some of it even includes vegetables."
"And enough calories in one meal to last most people a full day," Erik countered.
Charles rolled his eyes, "You're being hypocritical. I do believe it was you moaning as we ate pizza last time."
Erik sat the bag down and started his hunt for plates, "In the bottom, first to the right from the sink," Charles informed him, stopping the search through the sparsely used upper counters.
Erik turned a light shade of red as he moved to the lower cabinets, seeming to catch onto his mistake. Charles only smiled.
"Anyway," Erik continued, "Pizza is different. I can just eat one slice and keep it reasonable. Get a salad to go along with it. No big deal. Leftovers can last a while as well."
"All foods can be kept in the fridge, Erik," Charles said, watching as Erik bent over and then stood back up with the plates. "You just don't want to admit that I'm right on this."
Erik hummed, "You've caught me. The last thing I want to do is admit you're right on anything. But, if I say that then I'm telling you you're right that I don't want to admit you're right. No matter what I say, I lose."
Charles laughed, looking up at Erik who was contemplating a way to get out of this situation.
"Your ego is big enough, Xavier."
"Pot, kettle, my friend," Charles replied with a smile as Erik plated up their dinner for them and they settled in at the table.
The two of them lapsed into silence as they ate. With the distraction of the conversation gone, Charles was thinking more and more about the conversation he and Erik had to have and should start soon.
Erik, for his part, seemed to notice that something was on Charles's mind and that it wasn't something little. The man was eating in silence but keeping a careful eye on his partner as he did. Charles was thankful he wasn't asking about it.
When he was almost half done with his food, he paused and looked up. There was only one way he was going to get this done, he discovered, and that was to just say what was on his mind. Like ripping off a bandaid.
"There's something I need to talk to you about," He started and then winced at the look of panic and worry that flashed over Erik's face.
Reaching across the table, Charles placed his hand over Erik's. "No, no. Sorry, that might have been the wrong way to start this. It's just...you've been asking to do this for a while. Stay overnight and I've been saying no. There's a reason for it and I think it's best if I told you about it now rather than wait and let you find out on your own in the morning."
Erik nodded slowly, laying his fork down to cover Charles's hand on his other hand. "Liebling, if you're about to tell me something about you not being a morning person, that's really not going to be a problem. The only thing that would be is if you tell me you're a werewolf or creature of the night. Is that it?"
Charles shook his head, of course, it wasn't something like that. He might be able to read minds and Erik might control metal but he's never seen proof of werewolves. Unless, of course, his colleague Hank counted. Or Logan.
"Then it's not going to be a problem. No matter what," Erik assured him, with a voice that didn't leave room for argument and Charles found himself nodding again. "If you want to tell me, feel free. If you're still not ready for this, then tell me that."
"I want to do this. It's something you should know. Especially if we want this relationship to last," Charles said, sighing softly, "You know when we discussed my injury? The pain that comes with it and how sometimes it's worse than others?"
This time it was Erik who nodded. Charles continued, "Well, in the morning it's always at its worst. I suppose it's laying relatively still for hours that does it. I don't know. But it's...I'm just worried about you seeing that. I'm..." He sighed, rubbing his hand that wasn't in Erik's over his face. "Insecure, I guess, vulnerable. Only my sister and some doctors and nurses have seen that. Raven, she didn't take it well, I don't think. I just worried about you seeing that."
Erik shook his head once Charles stopped talking, "Don't worry about that. Just worry about yourself. If you need more time, if you're not comfortable doing this now, let me know and I can leave tonight. But if you are ready, Charles, I assure you I'm not going to run away because of this. I can about you, I love you, and if you don't know that by now then I'll do anything I can to get that through that thick head of yours," He took a deep breath before adding, "And, in the morning, if there's anything I can do to help, let me know. Even if it's just being there with you or stepping out to give you some privacy. I'm not here to make you uncomfortable, Schatz."
Logically, Charles knew that. Some part of him was sure Erik would act this way to his news but it was hard to convince himself. There would always be that small little insecure part that would disagree and insist that he would be left alone once again.
He pulled his hands back from Erik and rolled around the table to hug the other man into his arms.
Erik held on, rubbing Charles's back gently. He didn't even say anything as a couple of tears dropped onto his neck, though he did hold tighter and pressed a kiss against the side of Charles's head.
"If we're finished here, Liebling, do you want to go on to bed? I'll clean up while you get ready?" Erik offered after a few more moments and Charles pulled back, nodding.
"Yeah, sounds good," He replied, clearing his throat. "I'll see you in a few then."
Erik smiled and Charles rolled back to the bathroom to get ready for whatever Erik was planning for the two of them.
That night, Charles felt until he knew for certain that Erik loved him. With the feelings and emotions emanating from him, and the way he treated Charles, there was not a doubt left in his mind, no room for it.
The next morning, Charles was unsurprised when he shifted slightly and gritted his teeth against the pain, gripping onto anything he could find. He tried to extract himself from the cuddle with Erik, but it was a fight against the pain to move and each shift only intensified it. It was taking everything in him to not scream out, trying not to wake Erik up.
Thankfully, the man opened his eyes about that time and carefully slid back away from him. If Charles had a clearer mind, he would worry that he had scared Erik, or that he was about to run and never come back.
But a second later, a hand gently rested against his, then slowly moved up and down his arm. For a brief second, the touch shocked Charles and the pain was forgotten but that didn't last as it came back.
Erik didn't leave though, sitting on the edge of the bed until Charles managed to pull a breath and then turned his head, "Darling," He whispered, trying to catch his breath, his voice rough, "Bathroom counter. Pills, can you get them and water?" The last couple of words were strained as the pain returned and he ended up on his side, trying to do any futile thing to make it stop.
As soon as the request had been made, Erik was up and gone. Returning in record time with the pills and water, holding the pills by Charles's mouth but not forcing him, waiting patiently until Charles recovered enough to take them and then drink some of the water with help from Erik.
"Anything else?" Erik asked, sitting back on the edge of the bed, this time behind Charles, rubbing gently over his upper back.
Charles shook his head, "Not right now, love," He replied, his eyes slipping closed. Only now did he realize how wet his cheeks were. He swore under his breath, thanks to the sudden shock of pain returning and the knowledge that he had been crying.
Erik didn't seem to mind though. He kept up the gentle rubbing until the meds started to kick in and Charles was confident enough to sit up and move over to his chair.
Once he was situated, he looked over at Erik, who looked back. Charles could tell, thankfully, that there was no pity there, concern maybe, but mostly love. He smiled a little and felt relieved when Erik returned it.
"Is there anything else that could help?" Erik asked and Charles wasn't surprised by that. He expected Erik to have some kind of action plan, an idea to fix things.
"The pills are all I know about. Except for the occasional...alternative medicine."
Erik smirked at him, "Charles, I think the entire world knows you smoke weed," He replied, "But would something else help? A massage? Heat? Ice?"
Charles rolled his eyes before admitting, "I haven't really tried, I told you you're the first person outside of medical staff and Raven to see. It's not like there have been people to massage me. And the ice is too far away."
"Next time I'm staying over, if you want, we can try it," Erik offered and Charles couldn't see much of a problem with trying it.
"Next time...tomorrow morning? If I didn't scare you off."
"Charles, it would take a lot more than that to scare me off," Erik replied, leaning down to kiss Charles, gently sliding an arm around his back.
Maybe Charles should have told Erik sooner, but he wasn't going to regret it now that he knew.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz