(no subject)

[balancingminds]

Somehow after the discussion with Erik, Charles managed to sleep though his dreams were complicated and vivid as he thought of Erik's touch.

He woke early and went to make himself a strong cup of coffee in the kitchen, his hair wet from the shower and his shirt not fully buttoned.

The past few days have been so full, he wonders what's to come next.

Comments

[markedformore]

"Then we'll try that." It seems the simplest solution on the table. "You stay near and you put me to sleep, keep me from waking up. That is, if you really do mean what you say about intending for me to have a night of good rest."

[balancingminds]

"I do mean it and that would work best. You're no good to yourself or anyone else if you haven't slept well,"

If that will help Erik decide to stay then Charles will happily do it. It's also something he can do for Erik and a chance to know him better and be with him.

[markedformore]

Erik takes a deep breath and nods, thinking that there's no time like the present. He's still caught staring at Charles' state of mild undress, wondering if he might be able to touch, but he locks those thoughts away. "What did happen with Raven and Hank after I interrupted them?" he asks. "Do you know?"

[balancingminds]

"Not in great detail, no, only that they both seemed quite happy as we were leaving. I don't know anything else other than that,"

He hasn't had a chance to ask Raven what happened but he does hope she'll tell him. Erik's question plus the way he's looking has Charles drinking his tea rather quickly.

They could go through to Milliways and experiment, try and find more ways to understand each other. It would just be a matter of finding a door.

[markedformore]

Erik maintains a steady expression, but perhaps Charles can sense the thrum of anticipation and hope mingled with worry and fear, the usual things combining as they often do when he is in the presence of Charles. He cannot begin to understand the things that Charles does to him and is not sure he wants to put it into words. "Well, I interrupted something. I refuse to feel bad, however."

[balancingminds]

He can sense some of it, he's not reading Erik's mind but emotions are close to the surface. The mixture of them is familiar, almost a complement to the way Erik gets him off balance,

"I wouldn't. If she wants you to feel bad then she'll find a way. Shall we see about finding a door? I haven't seen one since England but its just a matter of finding it."

[markedformore]

Erik had seen one after Argentina, but then Charles had blasted his way into his life and he hasn't had time to think of the place again. "I'm not wearing a hat," he says, knowing it may be out of place, but it is the first thing that comes to mind. He feels silly for saying it, but there it is. "Usually, when I go there, I have a new hat, decent clothes."

[balancingminds]

Charles almost laughs into his tea before giving Erik a long look over,

"Then Milliways will have to be disappointed that you're in clothes you've worn before. You always look elegant so I wouldn't worry."

There's one last swallow in his tea and he gulps it down before looking around the kitchen, there aren't that many doors.

[markedformore]

"Elegant?" Erik echoes, following Charles perhaps an inch (or three) too closely as he awaits his direction, craning his head to one side as he regards him. Idly, he reaches out and finds that he must button up that perilous part of his clothing that has been taunting him. "Can't have them thinking you've been debauched, now can we?"

[balancingminds]

When Erik buttons his shirt, Charles smiles though its not quite as certain as he likes it be.

Erik's hand doesn't touch skin but it almost does and he closes his eyes to find a moment of balance. Then he tries to focus on the doors as he wouldn't mind what anyone thought about him and Erik,

"Yes, um elegant. It looks like our options are the main door and the pantry."

[markedformore]

"If the others find us standing in the pantry expecting a bar," Erik points out dryly, "I will put all the blame on you," he forewarns, exhaustion taking most of the bite out of his words as he gestures, a given offer for Charles to lead the way.

[balancingminds]

"Fair enough. Our stable door was in the linen closet of our flat, a pantry makes just as much sense,"

He rests his hand on the knob thinking of Sallie and the feel of Bar, a comforting presence in his mind before it opens to the bustle of Milliways.

[markedformore]

At first, Erik is taken aback by the sudden noise and assault of bodies. He takes in deep breaths, but it threatens to undo him, yet. He shoots Charles a look (desperate, tired) that wants to ask why he thought this a good idea.

[balancingminds]

Charles turns to take Erik's hand, projecting his own calm for Erik to rely on,

"Meet me on the stairs. I'll get us a room key."

[markedformore]

Deeper and deeper into the mouth of the whale, Erik finds himself venturing. He regards the bar warily, but does precisely as Charles says, making his way to the stairs, whereupon he stands as straight and tall as possible and waits, realising that he does not have a change of clothing.

[balancingminds]

At the counter, Charles has a brief discussion with Bar before getting a room key.

He can feel Erik's tension and presses the key into his hand, using the touch for reassurance, "Erik, stay with me."

[markedformore]

Erik comes back to attention when Charles says his name, shaking the notion that he ought to be working during his time here. It's been the habit, thus far, and he isn't sure whether he can shake it. "Well? Are you going to take me upstairs and ravish me with the confines of sleep, Charles?"

[balancingminds]

Charles shakes his head with a small laugh, Erik keeps surprising him,

"Yes, something like that. Shall we?"

[markedformore]

Erik gives a noncommittal hum as response, following after Charles as he tries to put everything together and understand precisely what is happening, though his tired mind is already running ahead of itself. "How much do they charge for the hour?" he asks.

[balancingminds]

"The hour? I've never asked when I've used rooms before. I think its more for the night," It's also something that he's never thought about and he opens the door to a warm room.

The walls are wood, there's a bookshelf taking over one section, a chess board with metal pieces of a small table, two comfortable chairs and a large bed.

"This should do."

[markedformore]

His instant desire for the bed overwhelms any appreciation for the room that he might have. He walks towards it, long strides taking him directly to it and he shoots Charles an apologetic look, but he truly is exhausted and if Milliways is truly time, stopped, then this is even more necessary. "Sing me to sleep, dear," he mumbles, exhaustedly, as he pulls off his shirt, leaving only the white beater-tank and a loosened set of trousers.

[balancingminds]

At the apologetic look, Charles smile, they came here so he can sleep.

Once Erik's settled on the bed, Charles comes over and sits down,

"I will, lay back, open your mind to me and try to clear it as well as you can. If anything feels wrong, tell me and I'll stop."

[markedformore]

Never one to happily follow instructions, Erik still does as he is told and lies back, shooting Charles a look that implies that there will always be something that feels wrong and he will truly lack the ability to change that. Still, he folds his hands over his chest and waits.

[balancingminds]

Charles returns Erik's look with a sigh before laying his hand on Erik's face and starting by projecting a sense of calm around them.

Then he closes his eyes and commands Erik to sleep, keeping the connection open so that he can keep watch on Erik's dreams.

[markedformore]

Erik finds that the command is difficult (nigh impossible) to resist and his troubles tumble away, leaving him instead to the great depths of waiting sleep and, as usual, the nightmares that come. First, they are typical. Shaw, Schmidt, the coin, his mother. But now, they mutate and there is someone else in the room at the other end of the gun.

There is Charles, threatened.