So technically it’s not Afternoon, but while Advent has been going on, I’ve been working on the Cherik AU – Afternoon Fic.
On to the story!
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Part 14 (Might want to re-read to catch up on the story)
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“Charles?” Erik groaned as he struggled to open his eyes. His head felt like it was filled with cotton.
“Take it easy, son.”
The voice was soothing, yet held a command to it. He opened his eyes, cringing at the light, after a few blinks he was able to focus. Standing above him was a middle-aged man with brown hair, with sideburns more grey than brown, and dark eyes that showed nothing but warmth and concern. He was wearing suit pants, a buttoned down shirt, covered with white doctor’s coat.
Erik smirked slightly when he saw the series of pencils in his top pocket instead of pens.
“How many pens did I destroy?” He asked voice sounding rough and unused. He shifted slightly, to realize he was still in his bed, not in a hospital. “How long have I been out?”
“Ten.” George smiled at him. “Pens. Ten pens you’ve destroyed. You would think I would’ve learned after the second, but I’m a creature of habit. You’re still in the big Manor House, in your room, and you’ve been out for five days, pushing into the sixth. You have some very worried friends, and I’m not sure if your Charles is going to try and smother or kiss you when he realizes you’re awake. By the way I’m your doctor, Gregory McMillian.”
Erik stared at him for a few moments. He was human, that he had no doubt, and he was talking to him about his mutation, and the fact Charles was his lover.
“How the hell did Charles find a human doctor in the middle of nowhere, who has no problem with the mutant thing, or the fact he’s my lover?” He frowned, as he raised his hand to block the sun coming through the large windows, noticing his own tattoo. “Let alone Jewish.”
“Well not all of us humans are bad.” He gave Erik a bright smile, who just frowned at him. “And not all of us are good. I’m sure you can say the same of your own kind.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would say Charles planted you purposely to prove his point.” Erik cringed as he felt his lungs convulse as he started coughing. The doctor eased him up, pushing pillows behind him, while taking Erik’s hand and holding it over his chest as he helped him through the coughing fit. “Thank You.”
“From what everyone has told me, coming from you that is high regards.” He settled down on the bed, taking his patients pulse. “Charles did bring me up to speed on mostly everything. I needed to know your medical history to treat you properly.”
“Why are you doing this? Is it the money?”
“I work in an inner city hospital, money isn’t why I do this.” He turned Erik’s arm over, finger traced the tattoo. He seemed to realize what he did and pulled back. “That was rude of me.”
“If not the money…”
“I trained to be a medic in the war, trial by fire on the beaches of Omaha.” He realized what Charles’ meant about Erik being prickly and didn’t easily make friends. “Liberated a few camps. It’s not something you forget.”
“The camps aren’t something anyone forgets. Or they shouldn’t or we will just end up with them again.” Erik studied the older man. “Though next time I doubt it will be Jews.”
“I hate to think you’re right.” He sighed, pulling out his stethoscope from his pocket, to listen to Erik’s breathing. He didn’t like the sound, still too congested and labored, but better than it had been. “The part of me who saw the camps thinks you are, but I’m hoping your Charles’ will prove us both wrong.”
“Only Charles could.” Erik tried to take a deep breath only to cringe in pain. “So how did you get here?”
“You’re friend Azazael stole me from the ER.”
Erik chuckled, only to end up coughing. “Welcome to the world of mutants.”
“It’s an interesting world.” He grabbed one of the pillows and held it up to Erik’s chest. “Hold this while coughing to steady yourself. Also keep your back to the headboard, or if you’re standing up against a wall. It will help you keep from bruising your ribs, and let that sternum you damaged heal.”
They spent a few minutes working through breathing exercises and lectures on how to not push the healing process. The doctor gave Erik a few pointed looks, and even tried to use Charles’ good name into making sure Erik behaved.
“How long was it until he got under your skin?” Erik asked, exhaustion already setting in.
“Not long.” He checked his pulse. “You should probably rest.”
“I’ve been asleep for five days.”
“Your body needed it.” Gregory pointed at him. “Seriously Erik, right now your body needs rest, food and rest. Helen has been working with the Jewish deli in town on recipes and so far I have to say her dishes are quite good.”
“What the hell has been going on while I’ve been out?” He demanded, not quite sure what Charles has been up to. Where there new people working at the Manor? Did he need to check security? Only Charles would let strangers wander around, human or mutant alike.
“Well if someone didn’t rip out the metal from their chest, they wouldn’t be asleep for the past five days!”
“And that would be my cue to find Azazael and have him drop me off at home.” Gregory patted Erik on the arm. “Good luck.”
“I could learn to tolerate you.”
“High regards for sure.” The doctor smiled, standing just in time for Charles to push past him and take his place. He watched silently as the young man fussed over his lover, hands gently running over his chest, and arms, then taking his hands, kissing them gently. “I’ll be by tomorrow to check on the patient.”
“Thank you.” Charles’ glanced back, a smile on his face. It was the first time he had seen that particular one. Gregory nodded and headed for the door, he paused and took a second look to see the two of them with their foreheads touching, whispering softly.
That was why he does what he does.
As he stepped outside, the rest of the ‘kids’ were waiting nearby. “Erik’s awake, grumpy and likely to ignore everything I said.”
“It’s like you know him.” Alex smirked, his relief evident in his relaxed posture.
They decided to leave the reunited couple alone, and head down into the kitchen. Helen had cookies, for the good doctor to take home, while Austin fixed a bunch of roses.
As they said their goodbyes, they were startled by a knock at the door.
“I take visitors aren’t common?” Gregory commented as he moved for the door.
“Usually Azazael just steals people for us.” Hank muttered, getting a look from the group.
The teleporter chuckled slapping the furred shoulder. “Look who dropped some balls.”
“Oh dear.” Helen gave them all a scathing look.
Gregory hushed them all, and opened the door. “Hello?”
“I’m sorry.” The young man stared at Gregory in shock. “I’m looking for Charles…”
Alex pushed past the doctor and stared in shock at the man in front of them. “Armando?”
“Hey! I did find the right place!” He beamed at Alex, reaching out to take his hand only to get pulled into a hug.
“How?” Hank asked shocked, yet happy to see him.
“Adapt to anything.” He smirked. “Just took me a while. The facility was completely empty, and when I discreetly asked around … I … well I figured there was a reason no one knew where you were.”
“Then how did you find us?” Raven asked, moving next to Alex. She had made sure Azazael, Janus and Angel stayed back. She wasn’t sure how Darwin would react to seeing Shaw’s helpers.
“I looked up Xavier, discovered there was a mansion out here in Westchester, and here I am.” He shrugged. “So want to catch me up on what’s going on?”
Hank looked at Alex, who glanced at Raven, who shrugged.
Alex rolled his eyes, stepped forward put his arm around his friends shoulder and moved him into the mansion. “So let’s start off with mom is pissed at dad for getting shot ….”
***
Erik stared at Armando, who was wolfing down the left over sandwich and soup. He had to admit, Helen was a good cook, though it wasn’t quite his mother’s cooking. When Charles let him out of his room, he may seek her out and let her in on some of his mother’s recipes, it would be good to have them enjoyed by others like they should’ve been.
“So did they leave you alone with me, because there’s not much I can do to you?” He asked, smirking slightly. He had been shocked when Charles told him Darwin had re-appeared, and then laughed, until the coughing became too much.
“It would seem.” He gave Erik a bright smile. “Alex caught me up on everything that happened. I’m not sure if I’m pissed for missing it, or at the massive fuck up you all created.”
“Both.” Erik shifted, until he sat straight on the bed, letting his feet hit the floor.
“Dude last time you tried that, it all went to shit.” He stood and moved over to the bed, scales appearing for protection. The last time he startled the man, a lamp came out of nowhere.
“Moira isn’t here.” He held out his hand, and sighed. “Don’t make me ask.”
Darwin held out his hand, helping the older man stand up. “It’s good thing I can’t be killed.”
“Charles will be too busy yelling at me, so you can escape out the back.” Erik shuffled, snarling slightly at his inability to just get up and walk. It took a bit, but they made it out to the balcony. He leaned against the same railing, watching silently as the gardener wandered around. “He’s done a lot in the week he’s been here.”
“Seems nice.” Armando shrugged. “Janus’ has been helping him.”
“And how are you taking that?” He asked casually.
“That has been the harder adjustment.” He admitted easily. It had been a surprise to see the ‘enemy’ sitting for tea. “I get it, and well we all deserve second chances. Maybe even third and fourths.”
“You’ll do fine here.” Erik leaned against the railing, taking in the fresh air.
“Hello, Mr. Erik.” Austin waved up at him. “When you escape, there’s a nice spot in the Rose Garden for you to rest. Good morning sun, I made sure there was a bench.”
Erik waved back.
“We should get you back inside.” Armando held out his arm.
He pushed away from the banister, taking Armando’s hand as they headed back inside, only to find Charles waiting for them. Darwin’s eyes went wide in shock, and without hesitation, he handed Erik’s hand to Charles and ran for it.
“Erik…”
“Don’t Erik me.” He gripped Charles’ arm as they made their way back into the bedroom. “It was a small walk to the balcony, something Dr. Gregory said was good for me.” He settled into one of the chairs, sighing in exhaustion. “I hate this.”
“Well if you …”
“Don’t.” He gave his lover a look. “I’m not going to apologize for that. I needed them gone.”
“Stubborn asshole.” Erik smirked at him. “I had the dishes taken back to the kitchen, so how about a game of chess.”
“That I would like.” He sat up slightly smiling as Charles set up the board. “Maybe tomorrow I can have dinner with everyone.”
“You know you called them our kids.”
“I did not.” He glared at him over the board.
“Oh you did.” Charles smiled, leaning forward. “You’ve adopted them, and will do anything to protect them.”
Erik stared at him for a few moments. “I would do anything to protect them, but I’ll destroy the world to protect you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t my friend.” Charles sighed, but knew the truth when he heard it.
“It was good you dealt with Moira, I would’ve killed her.” He made a move on the game and sat back.
“I almost did.” Charles leaned back in his own chair. The moment reminded him of the last game they played right before they went to Cuba. This time, everything was different. “But I knew if she disappeared, they would come looking for her.”
“True.” He nodded in agreement. “So she proved my point, and your good doctor proved yours.”
“And?”
“Let’s build this school of yours. Give our kids a home.” Erik felt Charles’ content happiness settled over him. “But…” The telepath sighed, yet waved his hand for him to continue. “You can train them to control their powers, I will train them to defend themselves. You will not bitch at me, about security. I promise not to go out and start a revolution, but I damn will finish it if they bring one to our home.”
Charles studied him for a few moments, then stood and slid into his lap. He cupped Erik’s cheeks and kissed him with everything he had.
<<Together.>>
<<Always.>>
***
This is technically the end of the story. I do have at least two Timestamps to add onto this particular story, before moving on to the sequel. Yes there is a sequel. I hope everyone is enjoying the Afternoon Fics, it’s fun working on them, a nice palette cleanser from Sylum – plus it lets me dabble into other fandoms.
