Air

There wasn't enough air in the room.

From where he sat at the foot of his bed, he stared longing at the window, wishing more than anything to open it. He moved his gaze over to his visitor and snorted.

He should probably be used to the lack of it by now. There wasn't any room with enough air when he shared it with Erik.

It was quite annoying really, the way the man merely had to step within six feet of him and all the available oxygen was swallowed up.

Charles wondered where it all went.

Sometimes he thought it was absorbed into the folds of Erik's clothes. His smooth leather jacket, the weave of his favorite black sweater, the twill of his slacks; each of the items covering his slender body were suspect.

Other times, he imagined that it sank into the depths of his mind; a murky place that no matter how hard he tried, Charles could never quite reach the bottom of.

When he was feeling especially fanciful, Charles imagined that Erik drew all the air, with its small metal content, to him.

Mostly though, he thought that it disappeared into his eyes.

The deep green eyes that lingered in his mind at the end of long hours of training, even as the more fantastical elements of the day, like Alex nearly searing through his step-father's bunker, had faded away.

He was always left with those eyes and the strange feelings that they stirred up in him. Strange, improper, thrilling feelings. Feelings that made him thankful that the universe had not put another telepath in his group of friends…

"Charles. Earth to Charles."

Erik reached out gently with his powers and shook the metal of his friend's watch, trying to get his attention. (Little did he know that he already had it in abundance.)

Feeling his wrist move without his consent, the professor broke his reverie and forced a smile for his companion.

"Sorry, just thinking about all the work we still have to do before the week's out."

The other man nodded his head in perfect understanding. Charles felt a stab of fondness, of course Erik would understand the pressure; Erik understood most everything in a way that no one else did.

If only he knew what type of pressure it was that Charles was actually feeling.

"So, will you help me or not?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Meet you in the morning?"

Erik nodded again and stood up.

"Sounds good, see you then."

With that, he swept out the door, taking Charles' heart with him, and in exchange, returning all of the air to the room.

One of these days, Professor Xavier was going to find out exactly where he hid it.

Hi! Just a small drabble that wanted to write itself. I swear it has nothing to do with Jordin Sparks because I am way too cool to listen to mainstream radio. *strikes hipster pose*

I'd love to know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.