The Long Road Ahead | @Erik
He needed someone to be strong, in a time where he felt all strength had left him. Hank indulged his destructive behaviour, too concerned at offending Charles or mothering him to truly do anything to stop him. His body was beginning to feel tired once more, he realised as he felt the grime slip off of his skin under the spray, the heat of the water doing little to lift the coldness he still felt in his very core. It seemed that nothing could warm him recently. “Thank you, Erik…” He replied, flushing softly as he spoke. The kind words the other had spoken were an assurance he hadn’t received from the other in a long time. Washing his body as quickly as he was able, trying to avoid Erik’s gaze as it roamed his body. It had been a long time since anyone had seen him this vulnerable, and it was more than a little embarrassing that it was Erik to see him like this. Still, he finished cleaning himself as fast as possible and reached out his arms, sliding them around Erik. “I’m sorry.” He apologised, watching as the wetness spread from his skin to the fabric of Erik’s shirt. Stepping out of the bath, he blushed softly as he lost balance, slipping and tumbling into Erik, grasping at strong shoulders and avoiding his companion’s injured torso. “Sorry.” He mumbled again, making no move to pull away from him. He savoured the smell of Erik’s soap, not knowing when he would get the chance to experience it again.
Erik did his best not to stare too much at Charles. It was hard to pull his gaze away from the painful jut of bone under skin that looked like it was made of wax. He wondered what Charles’ body had looked like before all this had happened to him. Before Erik had happened to him. Because that was what it came down to in the end. All the flaws in Charles’ body were because of Erik. There was that old familiar guilt again, he wasn’t certain it had ever really left.
When the telepath apologized to him Erik had to bite down the urge to lecture Charles. An apology was far from needed. He knew that his lecture would do no good. His heart leapt into his throat for a moment as Charles stumbled briefly on his way out of the tub. He moved instinctively to catch him at the same time that Charles reached out for him. His arms wrapped securely around Charles as the smaller man’s hands held on to his shoulders for support. There was a brief few second where Erik was happy that Charles weighed so little, because it would probably hurt to have someone of a healthy weight fall against him.
Then the gratefulness was gone just as quickly as it had arrived. It was easily banished by the feel of Charles bones and the depressing ease with which he could wrap his arms completely around the man. Part of him wanted to enjoy this moment at least a little, having Charles pressed against him was something he had wanted for a long time. A far larger part of him pointed out that the experience was only possible with the fact that Charles was withering away.
He allowed himself one indulgence, pressing a feather-light kiss into Charles’ hair, and then he was pulling away. He kept a steadying hand on Charles, helping him balance so he could dress, and then he softly murmured, “We need to get you some food. Whether you want to eat or not.”
The kiss was unexpected, and the briefest of touches. Erik no doubt meant the gesture as one of comfort, and comfort it did. His skin burned under Erik's touch, and he felt far too glad to be covered from the other.
Maybe once he was better, he would ask Erik what that small gesture truly meant, why it had felt much more than a simple friendly comfort. But for now, it was too soon, too difficult a path ahead of them, one that Charles was still uncertain even held a light at the end.
Whilst Erik briefly looked away, Charles ghosted a hand over his stomach, allowing worry to seep into him for that small moment. Would his body truly fight back from this? It may already be too late, he felt, thinking on all he knew of the body's capabilities. He may not be able to fight, and he had gotten to a point in the past days that he wasn't entirely certain he knew why he even was, any longer.
But then, Erik had come. He had come for Charles, and abandoned his cause, if only temporarily. The thought was thrilling, to say the least. It made Charles realise he had the strength to at least try to pull through this, if not for himself then for the man in front of him; the leader of the Brotherhood, the strongest man he knew.
He would do this, for Erik. "I'll eat, Erik..." He spoke, voice soft and hesitant despite his resolve. "Let's just make sure it's not something too big."
He grasped Erik's hand in his, leading him gently out of the bathroom, feeling a little less weary with each passing step.
