One by one

A few things are a given for this story, and I'll explain it briefly. This will be a multi-chapter-fic; I don't know how many chapters it'll be in the end, because this is one of the stories I don't have a clear idea about. I'll just start writing and see where the characters I borrow from this wonderful movie take me.

Of course, it'll be a CharlesXErik-fic (are there others? :X) and it's set during First Class. Basically everything happens at Charles' mansion, so the „training week" is not a week, but a few months. Story is rated T for now, may go up to M in the future.

Also, I tried to write a not-so-serious story, there are enough angsty Cherik-stories out there.

That being said, here go the usual disclaimers: MaleXMale-pairing, some fluffy, slashy stuff and mild sexual content. Don't like, don't read. I own nothing except the idea for this story. Enjoy!

Raven suppressed the urge to shake her head and roll her eyes theatrically. Instead, she went with a short, inconspicuous sigh.

How could Charles be any more obvious and still not come to terms?

She surely wasn't blind and neither were the boys. Erik apparently was, though.

Raven even knew that there was a bet going on between Sean and Alex – on how long it took for Charles or Erik to confess. And, if that was possible to get to know – who of the two made the first step. She took a glance at the boys, noticing that they just shared a meaningful look before focusing back on Erik and Charles.

The two oldest mutants sat side by side at the dining table and argued about tomorrow's training program.

„If we'll take them out at 6 o'clock, you know how demotivated and lazy they're gonna be. You can't work with them that early," Charles was just saying, sounding as worried and concerned as any mother would have been about her kids.

„Oh, come on, they're not kids any more. Early bird catches the worm and it wouldn't be amiss for them," Erik opposed before finishing the last bit of his fried potatoes, shooting Charles a glare from the corner of his eyes.

Charles rolled his eyes and turned at Sean and Alex, who immediately avoided his gaze by looking down on their plates. Raven tried hard to suppress a chuckle at the all-too-guilty looking boys.

„Fine, 6 o'clock it is, then," the telepath stated. After earning a collective 'meeh' from the younger mutants, he just turned to Erik to give him another sideways glare.

„Come on, you heard what daddy said," Raven interrupted them, grinning at Sean and Alex mischievously.

„Excuse me?" Charles asked her, confused but also very amused.

The shapeshifter gave him a gleaming smile. „If you two don't sound like an old married couple, well..." She left the sentence unfinished and got to her feet, intending to place her empty plate in the sink.

All she heard on her way was Erik's laughter, which he tried to dub with a cough, and Charles' mumbled, incoherent explanations. He eventually gave up. Raven still smirked to herself and silently hoped that Charles was really not poking around in her head. But Charles was a man who kept his word, and he had never broken that one before.

But maybe, just maybe, it would be better for him to break it, she pondered, her smile fading away.

Filling the sink with hot water and washing-up liquid while the other ones placed their plates beside it – she was on schedule to do the dishes today – Raven took a short look at her brother and Erik from the corner of her eyes. Suppressing another sigh, she remembered the day Charles had introduced Erik to her.

No matter how much she had hoped to that point that Charles would ever see more in her than just his sister, in the very moment she saw his eyes flicker to Erik for the first time – in that very moment, she knew she had lost whatever game she told herself she was playing. Raven had never seen Charles that excited, that flustered, had never seen his eyes sparkling so much in the presence of anyone else like that before. The tension between them couldn't be any clearer. Charles downright radiated with every little look Erik gave him.

And it hadn't changed a bit since then.

Raven knew Charles, she even dared to say she knew him best of all the people in the mansion, and if anything had happened between him and Erik, she would've noticed. But she was pretty sure that there hadn't. It was sad in her opinion, because Charles deserved being happy - so much. Of course there had been girlfriends before, but it never was anything serious. She had also never seen a chemistry like the one between him and Erik before.

And then there was Erik. Erik, who was for once cautious and strong and would never admit to any weakness of his whatsoever. But if Raven had learned anything about him in the brief time they knew each other, then it was that he had a weakness for Charles. He could be harsh, and he had been harsh to Charles as well before, but there was always something different about the way he talked to the telepath. And not only because they were friends.

Raven couldn't blame Charles, anyway. She couldn't deny that Erik was in fact a very handsome man, and if there wasn't someone else, she really would've thought about-

A hand was placed at her waist, softly running along her back, just a brief touch, but enough to make her smile. Hank took the dishtowel from her hands to help her dry the plates.

„Thanks," she smiled gratefully at the scientist. If the others hadn't still been in the room, the shapeshifter would've given him a short kiss, but they both still were pretty shy about openly affectionate behavior like this. Alex and Sean, although she liked both of them by now, could be pretty mean. They didn't need to feed the trolls.

The small touch of Hank's hand on her back hadn't been unnoticed, though, and luckily – for them – Raven only heard the boys leave the room, giggling. Anyway, there was no way she would let herself get these moments ruined by two pubescent and probably jealous boys. She felt far too happy for that.

Which brought her thoughts back to Charles. If he just for once broke his promise – which he wouldn't – he would clearly see what she thought about him and Erik. He would clearly see in Erik's mind how the metalbender thought about him. Not that Erik had ever told her, but it didn't even need much female intuition to see what was up with them.

And if Charles just gave that a chance, he could experience what it meant to be in love, and have those feelings reciprocated. He could be happy.

Not that he didn't look happy with the way things were now – Raven took a look over her shoulder to find Charles and Erik stand in front of the wine rack, discussing about today's alcoholic beverage, both with a wide smile on their faces – but she knew that he sometimes needed a good old kick up the bum to see the potential he was wasting.

Finishing their work with the dishes, Raven placed a short peck on Hank's lips before turning around to her brother.

„Charles, I'd like to take a short evening walk. Would you mind to join me?"

The telepath seemed a bit confused at first, but eventually nodded. Looking back at Erik, he excused himself. „Will you wait for me in the library?"

„Won't take long," Raven added, grinning at Erik. He seemed just equally confused.

„Sure, take your time," the tall man answered, more to Charles than to Raven. She hadn't expected otherwise.

As they had left for the gardens, the shapeshifter quietly explained to Charles: „I wanted to talk to you."

Sooo... what do you think so far? Raven's trying her luck as a matchmaker. Hell, I would do so if I was her. Let's see what she achieves ;) Next chapter will be mostly dialogue, as you would've guessed, but I think I won't get it finished and online until... well, in a week or so. I'm off for the biggest Metal-Festival in Europe, the Wacken Open Air, and I'm hyped as hell! :D But don't worry, Charles and Erik won't leave my mind anytime soon.

In the meantime, feel free to check out my other Cherik-stories :)