Author's note: UGH I am sorry if I submitted late,this challenge is a toughie and I struggled this like crazy. In addition it does not help that I am busy with preparations of grad show and stuff. I looked around my bestie's tumblr cinnamon-lady24 and she have that quote
"Sometimes I think the spaces between the stars are filled with your silence."
and my new doomed OTP Charles/Erik from X-Men First Class meshed me up to this weird AU drabble..Basically Erik is like a bodyguard who cannot have relationships and Charles is a human. You can think it as Wallie Simpson and Prince Edward VI..
BTW the way that line “What beautiful things I see!”. are the exact dying words from St Dominic Savio,the patron saint of young delinquents and thought it fits the story. So feedback would be awesome...
Young Charles is looking outside at his balcony. there is silence. All the guests left the building. He seen the stars above. Constellations forming humans who died by glory.
He recalled an ancient Chinese folklore-of The Weaver and the Cowherd. Ah that myth It was always his favourite story as a child. About how a peasant was smitten by a young fairy. They got married and lived a happy family,till the mother goddess separate them by a little pin. For every seventh month,this couple can be reunited by a bridge of magpies. However if it rained,they faced eternal separation and wait til another year.
He fingered the mask. He will never forget that face. He could hear the weeping notes of Bach and Lizet. . Amindst the laughter and merry making by the partygoers. Charles was dressed as the famed Sun King of France. Gasps and awes filled the air,after all he is the son of someone famous..Charles recall a lonely face,gulping the champagne. He pours tons of it and stuffed his face with canapés. He have the most interesting glow,it shimmered. His costumes is spectacular,it looked like the milky way,beads of sliver on his blouse which contrasted with his knee-high boots.
A chiseled figure stared at him with confusion. He broke the champagne glass on the floor.
“Oh I am sorry I do not intend to do that”
That young man blushed. He feels awkward. There is someone who approached him. Charles breathed calmly and command his servants to clean up the mess. Charles brought that young man outside to the balcony. Finally that young man have some peace at last.
"hello there,are you new?”
“Kinda off"
“Your name?”
“People called me Erik…I don;t usually come to parties like that” -Erik laughed embarrassingly . He took his gloved hand and give him a firm handshake.
“Nice to meet you Erik,I am Charles…"
The two talked all night,they discussed on the complexity of the Bard,the build-ups of history..Erik realised that he can connect with Charles. He is very different from the other humans. He possessed an intelligence and yet kindness. Yes kindness. He is usually treated badly.
Charles asked him
“Where do you come from by the way?”
Erik become mute. I would be in trouble,mother would take away my earthy privileges. He cannot reveal his origins,as he is a celestial being,never to have relationships with humans. Anyway he is allowed to come to Earth to have fun with his good-looking sisters. However he wanted that friendship from that human. He does not want to be alone,sitting at the clouds being that babysitter.
“Erm…I came from somewhere special…”
“Huh?”
Should I risk it?
He loved the topics Charles talked about,not the meaningless gossip his sisters talk about day and night.However as the night lulled,as Charles talked about the riches of India. He want to fight that urge but he cannot.
“Well,I am from that place above”
Erik pointed out to the sky. Charles’ eyes were widened with awe,it was something amazing.
“Up there,as you humans find it fascinating…"
As he is about to continue his location. Erik curled up to the ball,the sisters ran into their little brother in horror. They tried to huddle him. He is sweating. Charles screamed out loudly. Charles touched his forehead,heat is building up from his body.Erik feel his body sizzling. It was an uncomfortable feeling. His body is about to burn up. He can hear voices of vengeance from the Holy Mother.
“We need a doctor!”
The servants scrambled everywhere to find the doctor.The fellow men in the costumes grabbed the feverish man and scamped up the grand staircase. Shock filled the air. Charles have a fear gripped with him.
Did i say something forbidden.
Erik tried his hardest to breathe. He was coughing out blood that stained his midnight-blue shirt. Charles followed the men into his bedroom. An old man tried to feed him with a thick liquid,which he constantly spitted out. The servants wring out cloths from the basin of water to dab on Erik’s face. It was pure chaos. Erik stared at the moon
Shit I am out of time. I broke with Mother’s law. Am I going to survive.
He could see Charles sobbing and doing the gesture of pressing his forehead and collarbone with peculiar sign Mummers of prayers to St Jude and St Helena from his lips. It comfort him from the pain despite its alien nature. He lay his hand over to Charles and gave him a small smile as Charles to St Catherine of Alexandria.
“You do not need to do that..dear Charles”
Erik wiped the tear out of Charles’ eyes. Charles squeezed his hand in source of comfort.
“A life short enough is better than a ten thousand years in isolation.”
Erik slowly unravelled Charles’ hand. Charles gestured his hand for the servants for a glass of water. The servant gave Charles a glass of water. He gave to Erik who gulped it the same way,expect there are drops of bloog on the floor.
“What beautiful things I see!”.
Erik gave the most gentle laugh and tears flowed from his eyes. The candle from his bedside blew out. Charles wept profusely on the guilt of asking him the question. His friend’s hand grew cold. Charles opened the door outside, the sisters started to disappear gently. He looked around,the only persons outside are the worried guests.
Charles stared at the sky at that balcony and he notice one bright star. It was unusually different from the other stars. Charles pondered for a while with the mask in hand. He wondered why is Erik die rapidly..Why he laughed at his conversations. Why did he say this line “What beautiful things I see?”. This brief encounter is crazy and perhaps unexplainable.
“I hate parties.” Lilith said sulking a bit to the girl next to her.
The girl looked at her and said, “Well at least you are here and being the responsible one.” She then pointed to a girl who was dancing with another coworker.
“Jesus shoot me.” Lilith moaned and shook her head in disgust.
I rolled my eyes and said, “Lana that is disgusting. Besides I know most of the people here so I would still know who they are regardless of the masks or not.”
“Really then who is that?” Lana questioned and pointed to a person.
Lilith looked over to where she was pointing. “That’s Husky.”
She snorted and said, “Not him the one standing to his left.”
Lilith adjusted her sight and looked down and said, “It looks like… Joe.”
Lana smiled as she pointed further out to the dance floor and said, “Joes over there with the rest of the hounds.”
“Huh…ok I was wrong.” Lilith said shrugging.
“It bothers you doesn’t it.” Lana taunted.
“No, it doesn’t.” Lilith said
“It does you are normally so good at knowing who people are and now that you can’t figure it out and it’s making you paranoid. I bet you ten dollars that you can’t be able to find out who he is by the stroke of midnight.” Lana said.
“Fine you’re on but when I find out who he is and I know I will you will have to rent a bus for all of the fatal five.” Lilith countered.
Lana’s face became serious and she held out her hand and said, “Deal Lil Germany.”
Lilith took her hand and said, “You’re going down Mother Russia.” Then she walked down the stairs to find the mystery guest.
As she was walking Lana looked down to see the guy looking up at her. She gave him a grin and slight wave and tilted her head to the stairs.
“Who the heck does she think she is challenging me like that?” Lilith muttered on the way down
“Oh I’m going to find out who this person is and when I do I’m gonna…” she stopped mid rant when she bumped into something solid.
She looked up and saw the person who she was looking for. She looked up at him which wasn’t anything new for her cause everyone was taller than her.
“I’m Lilith Brooks and you are.” She asked
The person looked down at her and gave a smile and said, “I’m not going to tell you that easily sweet heart.”
Lilith narrowed her eyes at him she hated having to try to work this hard for a name. Then she remembered the last person he was talking to. She flashed a wicked at him and said, “That’s ok. I could just ask Husky I bet he would be willing to tell me.” She then walked past him to find her next target.
As she was walking she could feel eyes watching her. She looked up to the stair balcony and saw Lana standing there talking to Steven.
She looked behind her and saw that the guy was still watching her standing off to the side alone.
“Not the friendliest person are you.” She thought.
She went over to the bar and saw Husky sitting there next to his two team mates looking stoned. She shivered a bit it seemed like he could no longer separate himself from his character so she knew she had to tread carefully. When she was a good few feet away the other two men looked at her and nodded. She nodded back and said, “Hey Husky. What you drinking.”
She heard him snort and pat the empty seat beside him.
Lilith shivered but walked up to the chair and reached out to move it when one of the men moved the chair out for her and helped her up into the seat.
“Thanks.” She muttered.
“So what you want to know.” He asked casually.
“First drink and then I’ll tell you.” Lilith said.
He looked at her and said, “You are so miserable is it really worth whatever it is you bet on.” He then waved the bar tender over.
“I’ll have a hinakin and…” he looked over at Lilith “Kalua.” She said.
The bar tender nodded and went to make their order.
“I know his name but you’re not going to like what I have to say.” He sighed.
“It can’t be any worse.” She said and took the drink that the bar tender put in front of her.
“He’s my brother and also I can’t tell you cause Lana sent out a mass text that says not to tell you anything.” He said.
“What?” Lilith said and then reached into the cup of her corset and pulled out her black berry and saw that there was a message from Lana
“That… UGHHHH.” She shouted.
“Seriously just talk to him he honestly isn’t that bad.” Husky said as he took a sip of beer.
“Fine.” She sighed in defeat and picked up her drink and somehow managed to stand up straight. “Thanks husssky.” She drawled.
She saw the guy still standing by the wall but talking to Nat. She felt anger rise up in her chest for some odd reason. She knew that she shouldn’t be jealous because she was married and had a great husband who always seemed to be absent from parties like these even though he was part of the company. She shook her head and pooped her jaw and walked forward.
When she was only a few feet away she saw that the guy noticed her and was smiling a bit. The girl saw the smile and then turned to see where he was looking at.
The girl waved at Lilith who gave a sharp nod and made her way over.
She smiled at the girl even though she wanted to kick her face in and said, “So who’s your new friend.”
The girl’s eyes brightened and was about to say something when he quickly interrupted, “That’s not the point of the party.” He flashed another smile and the thought of kicking him in the face sounded better.
“Aww your no fun.” She said and gave a small smile of her own and walked up closer to him till her chest was on his lower chest.
He looked down at her and said, “You can wait one more hour. But for now you can call me rotundo.
She tilted her head confused and said, “Round.”
He shrugged and said, “You are thinking in Spanish aren’t you.”
She nodded and said, “So how are you enjoying the party.”
He rolled his eyes and said, “It’s kind of boring. I know everyone her cause I have talked to them at least once outside of work.”
“Really?” she questioned.
“Yeah, I even tried to talk to you. He said lowly.
“When?” she questioned as she tried to remember but she couldn’t place it.
He sighed heavily and shook his head, “It’s ok if you don’t remember. We aren’t going to be having any story lines soon anyway.” He then walked away from her.
“That was really cold.” A voice said.
Lilith’s head turned to see the girl still standing there. “Your right Nat it kinda was.”
“No you were the cold one.” She said to her
“Me what did I do.” Lilith questioned.
“You only bother with people when you have to work with them other than that you don’t go near them. Half of the roster is even surprised that you showed up. In fact people were making bets that you wouldn’t come. Those that said you would come here wouldn’t stay for the whole thing.” Nat stated.
Lilith felt her face fall and she bit her lip she could feel tears in her eyes. She knew she shouldn’t have come. The only people who stayed with her was her team mates nobody else came around when she was there they had waited till she was gone.
Nat looked at her and said, “Are you feeling ok you look pale. She then reached out to Lilith but Lilith pushed her back and shouted, “No you don’t touch me. In fact stay the hell away from me.” She then ran away from her.
She didn’t know where she was going nor did she care she knew she had to get out of there. She threw open the front door and started to walk down the drive way she didn’t get very far when she felt a hand on her wrist.
She spun around defensively and came face to face with Rotundo.
“Are you alright?” he questioned
Lilith narrowed her eyes and said, “No I’m not alright I was just informed that people freaking hate me.”
He shook his head and said, “So what else is new.”
Lilith’s mouth dropped open and she shouted, “Who the hell do you are that you can say that? They were making freaking bets to see if I would even show up. This is why I hate them…” she had to pause because she was hyperventilating.
Rotundo reached out in concern but Lilith backed up from him still struggling to breath and held a hand up and shook her head. He backed up and just watched.
When she gained her breath she coughed one last time and saw that there was some blood mixed in. Apparently Rotundo saw it and tried to come close to her again.
“I’m fine I just have to get home.” She said then laughed and said, “Unfortunately Lana is my ride and I’m sure she wants to stay.”
“I’ll take you home.” He offered.
She smiled and said, “Even though I have been nothing but a nascence since you met me.”
He nodded and said, “I think I’m attracted to crazy.”
She laughed and said, “Too bad Amy Lee is going to marry my brother.”
He shrugged and said, “Lucky her.” He walked up to her and took her hand and led her up to his car and opened the door for her.
He started up the car and Lilith looked at the dashboard time and said, “Hey its almost midnight.”
She heard him sigh heavily “and…” he said.
She smiled and took off her mask and said, “I don’t have to hide who I am now.” Then she reached over and raised his mask up a bit just enough so that it his eyes and part of his nose were still covered. She leaned over and kissed him.
“That’s all.” She said and shrugged.
Rotundo laughed and looked at her and said, “You honestly think that’s all.”
She tilted her head and challenged, “Is there more.”
He nodded and took off his mask.
Lilith’s mouth dropped a bit and she started to say, “Your…”
But his name was lost on her lips as he kissed her. When he pulled back he asked, “Do you really want to go back to your place.”
“Not really.” She said softly.
“Good.” He replied as he started the car and they drove away.
