diecastking | XMFC/Running partner

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verse: king in check

XMFC/Running partner

Two weeks into term and the school has settled into its routine. Erik has planned his lessons a couple of weeks ahead of time and he's now free to pursue his usual exercise.

Thankfully, James also has an interest in running and Erik plans to go with him every day. His alarm goes off early and Erik hits it cheerfully, prising his sleeping lover from his chest.

"Mm...Charles? You'll have to move, liebe."

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"Like we used to?" Charles is wide awake now, sitting up alongside Erik.

Erik frowns.

"Charles, it's not..." He shakes his head. "James offered to run with me. It's just an opportunity for exercise."

He gets out of bed, hunting for his grey tracksuit.

"Of course," There's a coolness to Charles' tone that's unmistakable.

"Have fun." With that he lies back down, turning his back on Erik.

Erik doesn't have to be a telepath to realise that Charles is upset with him. He knows that Charles misses his legs, but Erik doesn't feel that should limit what Erik does with his.

He bends down to kiss Charles' cheek. "Will you be in bed when I get back? We can lie together before breakfast."

"Maybe. I don't know." Charles' brushes Erik off, shuffling away from the lips at his cheek.

Erik sighs at Charles' childishness. "Very well. You must do as you please.

With that, he leaves their bedroom and heads down to the lobby, where James is waiting for him. He nods to him before they head outside - Erik is ready for a tough run, to push Charles' behaviour from his mind.

Charles remains in bed for a good while, feeling sorry for himself, before forcing himself to get up. He doesn't want to still be in bed when Erik returns; he's meant to be making a point.

Rolling over to the window, he looks out on the grounds below, stomach twisting unpleasantly as he spots Erik and James jogging together. How long was it going to be before James replaced him in more ways than just the morning exercise routine?

Erik enjoys the jog. James is able to keep pace with him easily while providing a running commentary on the grounds, the soil around the mansion, his lessons and students in his classes.

Erik listens in silence, letting the prattle soothe him and feeling more positive about life by the end.

As their run is coming to an end, James stumbles and Erik catches his arm. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

James shakes his head. "Cramp. It'll be fine. Really."

"Let me see." Erik leads him inside, darting into the drawing room to examine the offending limb.

Turning away from the window after a moment's self-torture, Charles forces himself to get washed and dressed for the day. He doesn't want to still be here when Erik appears, still hurting from the feeling of betrayal.

Heading downstairs when he's ready, he just catches sight of the drawing room door swinging shut. Frowning, struggling to imagine any of the boys, or Raven, being up and about at this time, he follows to see what's going on.

James lies on the couch as Erik examines his calf.

"You're right," he says, carefully feeling the line of the muscle. "It seems to be just cramp."

James laughs. "Good news! I wouldn't want to miss our run tomorrow. Not for anything."

Charles rolls into the room just in time to catch James' words about not wanting to miss his runs with Erik for anything. That, coupled with the way Erik's hands are currently splayed over James' thigh, sends a horrible sickness deep into his gut.

"I... I appear to be interrupting. Apologies." His words are ice cold, and he turns to leave.

Erik frowns but quickly releases James without a word, heading out after Charles.

"Charles? Wait."

The way Charles severs their mental connection is immediate and complete, throwing Erik from his head in his anger.

"What for?"

Erik physically stumbles at the way Charles is ripped from his mind.

"What is wrong with you?" he says angrily, feeling empty and alone.

"With me?" Charles spins his chair, glaring at Erik.

"I'm not the one with my hands all over another man."

Their shouts are starting to raise attention, faces of children appearing at the top of the staircase, but Erik has no time to think of them. He's reeling from Charles' accusations.

"You're being absurd! He hurt himself running, Charles. I was examining him. You'd know that if you'd stopped to listen for two minutes before casting me as the villain."

"It's time for school," Charles mutters, also aware of the audience they're getting. He's not going to cause a scene, he's meant to be the boss here.

"I'll talk to you later."

"I'm going out," Erik says sharply, marching towards the door and out into the grounds.

He doesn't know where he's going to go but he has to get away.

"Fine," Charles shoots back, not making any move to follow, too angry to care much.

They can talk later. He knows Erik will be back.

After talking a few moments to calm down, Erik knows he's been foolish. Fighting with Charles over something so stupid, and in front of the children.

"Are you all right?" Erik turns to see James watching him with a concerned frown.

"It's nothing," Erik says dismissively, wanting to be alone.

"We should get to our lessons," James says earnestly and Erik nods, the mantle of responsibility sliding back onto his shoulders. He's not a free agent anymore. He can't run from his life now.

Charles is uncharacteristically brash throughout his morning lessons, tired from an earlier than normal start to the day, and the emotional rollercoaster he'd experienced before he'd even had a chance to have breakfast. By the time break comes around, he feels like he could easily go back to bed and sleep through the rest of the day.

Taking himself to the staff room, he makes himself the strongest cup of coffee he can possibly manage.

Erik leaves his class promptly, hurrying through the school to the staff room.

Thankfully, Charles is the only one there.

"I'm sorry," he says immediately, "for upsetting you."

Apart from a sigh, Charles is silent for a long while.

"What did I walk in on?" He finally asks, still not looking at Erik.

Erik shakes his head.

"I already told you, Charles. James strained his muscle and I was looking at it for him."

Erik clenches his fist, before slowly uncurling it. "How could you think anything else?"

Charles shrugs, bows his head.

"I remember when we used to run together."

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