"I didn't mean literally," Charles protested, but there was really nothing he could do. And then, in mere moments, he was lowered into the makeshift chair, Erik's eyes boring into him, all that regret and pain and frustration seeping from Erik's mind and making a home under Charles' skin.

And that low buzz of desire was becoming more difficult to ignore.

"Yes, yes it's fine," he said, unsure of how to deal with Erik's concern. His care. His friendship. It was all right there, as if it had never left.