Title: Only One
Author: Kat Lee
Fandom: X-Men
Character/Pairing: Charles/Erik
Rating: G/K
Challenge/Prompt: fan_flashworks #145: Metal
Warning(s): None
Word Count: 561
Date Written: 6 February, 2016
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to Marvel Comics and Disney, not the author, and are used without permission.



Charles' eyes pop open in a piercing flash of blue in the night. He knows he is not alone even as he calls out into the still darkness, "Erik?" He knows he is there, though Erik does not make a sound, and he knows, and his heart aches, the very second he retreats. He moves as fast as he can into his hover chair and to his window, which is open now though he did not leave it open.

He yearns to call out to stop his love's retreat, but he knows he can not. He could truly, but it would be pointless. Erik can not stay. They have been down that road before many times, but they are simply two different, their goals in life too separate, to ever be combined for long. They have both tried to put aside their dreams, Erik to work with him for his and he to completely ignore his calling and the young mutants who need him so desperately, so that they can be together, but it never works. Eventually, one of them is always pushed away, either by his students, Erik's followers, or simply life itself and circumstances far beyond their control, and they're both left hurting.

Perhaps, Charles thinks, this pain is for the best. At least it is a constant companion, and he's learned to cope with it well. Erik is always present in his mind, but he can ignore his daily yearning for him usually. Some days are harder than others, of course, just as it is with any pain, but today was one of those especially difficult days. He longs for Erik's arms to wrap around him. He longs to feel his lips on his, to even smell the cologne he wears when out of costume.

Tears brim in Charles' eyes, but he doesn't let them fall. He doesn't let himself fall down that long and twisted road again and call for his on-again, off-again lover more than once. He silences his call; though his mind screams Erik's name, it screams it to himself. But he does leave his window open just in case as he starts to turn away from it again.

The moon slips out from behind a cloud, and just as he's turning away, Charles catches sight of something on his window sill. He turns back, peers closer, and slowly lifts the metal object. A stray moonbeam catches the metal and gleams on it, and Charles' breath sucks in quickly as he realizes what he's holding. It's a metal heart with a small crack right in the center. He turns it, examining it carefully in the moonlight, and reads the words inscribed: To My Valentine Forever. I love you always.

It isn't signed, but it doesn't need to be. There's only one person in all the world who would leave this on his window, only one person who could have snuck into his room and watched him while he slept again without Charles awakening and attacking, only one person who, in turn, will ever be his valentine. Charles' mind reaches across the vast distance, easily covering miles and just as easily finding the one whose mind is always readily open to him when they aren't at work. I love you, too, he whispers mentally, and across the distance, two proud men bow their heads and cry.

The End