XMFC/Down and Out

[diecastking]

Erik remembers New York vividly. He has been to the city many times, as man and boy, hunter and prey.

He has stayed in the best hotels Manhattan has to offer, but he is most at home on the streets. Among the homeless and destitute, he feels more at ease than he ever has in university libraries or officious banks. These are his people: the disenfranchised and dispossessed.

Erik knows, at heart, he is a soldier, a killer. He has been deluding himself that he was tamed, a housecat, a man fit to be a companion - a father.

No more.

The illusion has shattered and he knows now he is a man who would rather see the love of his life murdered than survive in captivity. He could not suffer to see Charles suffer, so he preferred to snuff out his life.

Even days later the thought makes him sick. Erik pulls his old greasy coat closer around him, the disguise for which he traded his leather jacket. He has some money in his pocket for food, but his bike is stashed where no one can find it and he doesn't know if he can bear to look at it again.

He can't bear to be reminded of what he's thrown away by reverting to nature.

Comments

[guideshapelead]

Charles hangs back in the doorway, not wanting to get in between Erik and Scott and ruin their moment. He is sure that their little boy will be the final bit of evidence that Erik is both loved and needed in the house.

[diecastking]

Scott glances across to his Daddy before looking back at his Papa and flinging himself up and into his arms.

Erik grasps him tightly to him, as the little boy cries into his coat. "Where did you go, Papa?"

"I am back now."

[guideshapelead]

"For good?" The little boy demands, looking up at his Papa with watery eyes.

"Don't go away again."

[diecastking]

"I love you, mausi," Erik says fiercely. "It would take the force of God himself to remove me from you again."

[guideshapelead]

"Sleep, now," Charles suggests, moving closer to the bed.

"Papa will be here in the morning, sweetheart."

[diecastking]

But Scott wilfully shakes his head.

"Not letting go," he says, stubborn as his Papa and Daddy combining.

[guideshapelead]

"Papa needs to have a bath and some sleep," Charles tries to reason.

"But he'll come and get you up in the morning, alright?"

[diecastking]

Scott is about to protest again, before reluctantly nodding his head and squeezing his Papa again for good measure.

"Goodnight, mausi," Erik says before reluctantly pulling away.

[guideshapelead]

"Sleep tight," Charles adds, coming close to give Scott a goodnight kiss, before following Erik from the room.

"What now?" He asks, unsure if Erik will want to go straight to bed or not.

[diecastking]

Erik is suddenly shy around Charles, as if they must learn this whole routine again.

"I fear, Charles, I am not fit for your fine cotton sheets."

[guideshapelead]

"You're the one who brings chocolate sauce to the bedroom," Charles points out, determined to keep the mood light. They are both too tired for the serious conversations that are surely yet to come.

"But if you insist, we do own a rather splendid bath tub."

[diecastking]

The furthest thing from Erik's mind right now is chocolate sauce, but he appreciates Charles' attempts to avoid the enormous elephant in the room.

"You just want an excuse to fill it with bubbles."

[guideshapelead]

"I do like those bubbles," Charles nods.

"But... we don't have to. If you'd rather have a quick shower."

[diecastking]

"Will...will you join me?"

Erik is quiet, hopeful, miles away from his usual confidence.

[guideshapelead]

"In the bath? Of course," Charles gives Erik his very best smile.

"You can shower on your own, though. I take up too much space."

[diecastking]

"You're willing to allow me access to your bath? I feel honoured."

He holds open the door to their bedroom. "After you."

[guideshapelead]

"Our bath," Charles points out.

"Our bathroom, our bath. My bubbles."

[diecastking]

//Our home//

He is warm, for the first time in days, and the ghosts from the drawing room recede from the powerful heat of his love for Charles, with Charles. Their love.

[guideshapelead]

//Yes// Charles agrees, and offers his arms up to Erik, allowing himself to be carried the rest of the way to their bathroom.

//Always that.//

[diecastking]

Erik is tired and weak from his days on the street, but he will not turn down an opportunity to hold Charles close to him, to remind himself that he is alive in his arms.

He carries him through to the bathroom and sets him oh-so-gently on the chair, running the bath hot as his eyes constantly flick back to his lover. To check he is there, he is real.

[guideshapelead]

"Are you going to get in with me?" Charles asks, an amused quirk to his lips.

"Or are you just going to watch? Because I'm not the dirty one."

[diecastking]

"Together," Erik says. "I just...I don't think I can take my eyes off you, Charles."

[guideshapelead]

"Sit me on your lap and you won't have to," Charles points out with a smile, pushing himself through the rising water to make space behind him for his fiancé.

"You can stare at me all you want. I'm flattered by the attention."

[diecastking]

Erik turns off the taps, and quickly throws his dirty clothes into the hamper. He is aware that his ribs are more pronounced than when he left, his musculature lapsed, his skin sallow.

But he does not want Charles to dwell on that. He hurries to slip into the bath behind Charles, drawing him close and running his hands over his damp skin.

[guideshapelead]

Charles rests his own hands over his thighs, pressing them down under the water to keep them from floating inelegantly up to the surface of the bathwater. Leaning back, he lets his head rest on Erik's shoulder, smiling up at his lover.

"Welcome home."