NEW FIC: X-Men: Morning on Genosha
title Morning on Genosha
author citizenjess
rating PG
summary Like the title says, morning on Genosha
notes Prequel to You Can't Take the Sky From Me. Written for citizenjess because sehe was sick today and needed some Charles/Erik goodness.
-----
Even overcast mornings on Genosha have a kind of beauty that can't be found on the mainland. Up early, as has been his custom since before he can remember, Erik Lehnsherr stands on the balcony, hands clapsed behind his back looking out over his kingdom, wrapped in a gauzey grey fog.
He has yet to change into the regalia that marks him the ruler of Genosha, the king of the mutants, and for a moment he feels... normal, like a morning at the mansion before everything changed. He doesn't allow himself to think of that time very often; Charles would say they are so far removed from what they once were, but Erik knows better. Neither of them have changed, but the world has changed around them.
Though, perhaps, just the reality of his life now proves that things do change, because the soft nuzzling in his mind should not be there, not if things didn't change. Charles is waking, reaching out with his gift to say good morning, their own private ritual before the cape and helmet go on.
It had taken years to finally convince Charles to reconsider his resistance to a mutant paradise, to give up his misguided dream of peaceful co-existance. And one day he woke up, and everything changed and it had just always been like that. Charles says things certainly have not always been this way, but Erik does not care.
Good morning. He forms the words clearly in his head, though Charles is more than capable of parsing meaning from feelings and images.
When are you coming back inside? comes Charles' voice inside his skull. When he'd first experienced it, the other man's voice in his head was disconcerting and disturbing, but now it is comforting, familiar. Not, of course, that Erik will ever tell Charles this. It would make the professor entirely too smug, after all.
In a moment, he reponds, taking one more look out over his kingdom, his paradise - and Charles'. He turns, strides back into the palace; all metal, every bit of it, all tuned and ready to obey his whims. The floor is cold on his bare feet, but he welcomes it - he finds himself relishing the scant moments he is not fully-attired, when he is Erik, not Magneto. He never thought he'd feel like that, but Charles has changed everything. Not, Erik thinks, slipping back into their bedroom, for the first time, either.
"Happy anniversary," Charles says from the bed, propped on one elbow, smiling.
Erik offers a smile in return, though he is surprised Charles has remembered. Not *their* anniversary, because that was years ago and he doubts either of them remember the exact date they came into one anothers' lives, but the anniversary of this, of Genosha, of the change that brought them together. A year of beauty and order, and Erik has never been more grateful for whatever twist of fate (or will of his daughter, if Charles is to be believed) has brought them there.
He slides back into bed, pressing his cold toes against the warmth of Charles' calves. Charles hisses scoldingly and pulls his legs away. Erik knows, somewhere in the back of his mind, that Charles has not always been able to do that, but no matter. He can now. Neither of them talk about that part of the change, partially because Erik is still resistant to the idea that a change has occurred, and partially because Charles seems reticent to discuss it. Erik doesn't mind and is simply glad to have Charles at all.
"It's almost time," Erik says. They have been talking about this day for what seems like ages - not the anniversary, but of what will happen in the coming hours. Charles is every bit a part of Genosha as Erik, and it is time for him to take up the mantle as leader. There will be a speech, a press conference, and Charles will take his rightful place at Magneto's side, a symbol to all mutanthood of what can be accomplished, and a symbol to humankind that the kingdom of Genosha and the House of Magnus is not to be underestimated.
"I know," Charles replies, softly. Erik draws the other man into his arms and lights a gentle kiss on Charles' temple. He has become sentimental in his old age, it seems.
"Are you ready?" In the end, it doesn't matter.
Charles nods, though he is sending some strong anxiety Erik's way. Erik repeats the kiss, and slips back out of bed, holding out a hand for Charles to follow. "Breakfast first," Erik offers.
Charles stands, takes Erik's proferred hand. "Breakfast," he echoes, "and then..."
"Eternity," Erik replies. They walk together out of the room.
author citizenjess
rating PG
summary Like the title says, morning on Genosha
notes Prequel to You Can't Take the Sky From Me. Written for citizenjess because sehe was sick today and needed some Charles/Erik goodness.
-----
Even overcast mornings on Genosha have a kind of beauty that can't be found on the mainland. Up early, as has been his custom since before he can remember, Erik Lehnsherr stands on the balcony, hands clapsed behind his back looking out over his kingdom, wrapped in a gauzey grey fog.
He has yet to change into the regalia that marks him the ruler of Genosha, the king of the mutants, and for a moment he feels... normal, like a morning at the mansion before everything changed. He doesn't allow himself to think of that time very often; Charles would say they are so far removed from what they once were, but Erik knows better. Neither of them have changed, but the world has changed around them.
Though, perhaps, just the reality of his life now proves that things do change, because the soft nuzzling in his mind should not be there, not if things didn't change. Charles is waking, reaching out with his gift to say good morning, their own private ritual before the cape and helmet go on.
It had taken years to finally convince Charles to reconsider his resistance to a mutant paradise, to give up his misguided dream of peaceful co-existance. And one day he woke up, and everything changed and it had just always been like that. Charles says things certainly have not always been this way, but Erik does not care.
Good morning. He forms the words clearly in his head, though Charles is more than capable of parsing meaning from feelings and images.
When are you coming back inside? comes Charles' voice inside his skull. When he'd first experienced it, the other man's voice in his head was disconcerting and disturbing, but now it is comforting, familiar. Not, of course, that Erik will ever tell Charles this. It would make the professor entirely too smug, after all.
In a moment, he reponds, taking one more look out over his kingdom, his paradise - and Charles'. He turns, strides back into the palace; all metal, every bit of it, all tuned and ready to obey his whims. The floor is cold on his bare feet, but he welcomes it - he finds himself relishing the scant moments he is not fully-attired, when he is Erik, not Magneto. He never thought he'd feel like that, but Charles has changed everything. Not, Erik thinks, slipping back into their bedroom, for the first time, either.
"Happy anniversary," Charles says from the bed, propped on one elbow, smiling.
Erik offers a smile in return, though he is surprised Charles has remembered. Not *their* anniversary, because that was years ago and he doubts either of them remember the exact date they came into one anothers' lives, but the anniversary of this, of Genosha, of the change that brought them together. A year of beauty and order, and Erik has never been more grateful for whatever twist of fate (or will of his daughter, if Charles is to be believed) has brought them there.
He slides back into bed, pressing his cold toes against the warmth of Charles' calves. Charles hisses scoldingly and pulls his legs away. Erik knows, somewhere in the back of his mind, that Charles has not always been able to do that, but no matter. He can now. Neither of them talk about that part of the change, partially because Erik is still resistant to the idea that a change has occurred, and partially because Charles seems reticent to discuss it. Erik doesn't mind and is simply glad to have Charles at all.
"It's almost time," Erik says. They have been talking about this day for what seems like ages - not the anniversary, but of what will happen in the coming hours. Charles is every bit a part of Genosha as Erik, and it is time for him to take up the mantle as leader. There will be a speech, a press conference, and Charles will take his rightful place at Magneto's side, a symbol to all mutanthood of what can be accomplished, and a symbol to humankind that the kingdom of Genosha and the House of Magnus is not to be underestimated.
"I know," Charles replies, softly. Erik draws the other man into his arms and lights a gentle kiss on Charles' temple. He has become sentimental in his old age, it seems.
"Are you ready?" In the end, it doesn't matter.
Charles nods, though he is sending some strong anxiety Erik's way. Erik repeats the kiss, and slips back out of bed, holding out a hand for Charles to follow. "Breakfast first," Erik offers.
Charles stands, takes Erik's proferred hand. "Breakfast," he echoes, "and then..."
"Eternity," Erik replies. They walk together out of the room.