Chapter Text
Charles’ eyes burned. He had been staring at the screen for hours. Another pdf file to download, another essay to read. Moira had told him to print them out, but why waste trees on an exam he knew he would barely pass?
There was no chance that he’d get anything better than a D. Hank had just rolled his eyes when he told him.
“You’re going to fail this like you failed the last exams. With a top score and ahead of all of your colleagues.”
Sometimes Hank was mean. He clearly didn’t understand that this was different from all those other classes. This was truly difficult. He needed more time, more sleep, a better place to study… Usually the low buzz of voices and thoughts at the library helped Charles to concentrate.
They were a wonderful background noise he lacked in the empty town-house his parents had given him as a residence.
But today not even this could calm him down. For what felt like the 700th time he let his gaze trail over the other desks in his study area.
A pair of grey-green-blue eyes were looking straight back at him.
His mind quickly split the facial features of the boy they belonged to into their parts and the responsible genes. Great, he had reached the stage where he couldn’t even look at an attractive face and appreciate its beauty as a whole. On the screen the pdf opened.
Right.
25 minutes later he went to get a water. No progress in sight. His head got fuller and fuller yet he couldn’t see any logic in the things he crammed in. Not yet. He needed more. The man with the problematical eyes was watching him on his way back. Charles stretched his powers a little and they met interest and lookedsoprettyatthefair redlips Gay?
Oh God, so not what Charles needed right now.
The essay finally had revealed itself to him. But this covered only a fragment of the things he had to know. There was so much more. So much more to know and his time was running out.
THAT guy now openly stared and Charles remembered where he had seen him before. At the society fair. He had skulked around Charles’ stall for a while before he’d left without signing up. Charles had been a little disappointed back then. The guy apparently too, because his thoughts were centred around what’shisname? and a wave of blurred, undefined sexual longings.
Urgh. Not now.
Charles’ brain needed all the blood it could get. He shot the guy an angry look and resolutely hit the download button for the next file.
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“Hey.”
Charles nearly dropped the peanuts he had just gotten from the vending machine.
Creepy staring guy apparently was also creepy stalker guy.
“Uhm, I was wondering, you’re the guy from the sci-fi society, right. I’m Erik. Would you, since we’re both taking a break, would you get some coffee with me?”
Charles stared back at him with what he hoped was a stern and slightly annoyed look that indicated his disinterest. In reality he more seemed like a disgruntled owlet that blurted out:
“Do I look like I need more coffee? I mean seriously, why can’t guys react when I’m at a bar, TRYING to flirt? Now, when I don’t have time for this… I’m sorry. No, I won’t have coffee with you. Instead I will be going back and try to save my grade. Thank you.”
Charles stomped away but after about four paces the I’VEFAILED!!! Knewhewasbusy whydoIalwaysfuckuplikethis hit him. Along some images of Erik living the rest of his life as a hermit on a cliff.
Dear God! Someone had a dramatic streak.
Charles turned around half-amused half-guilty.
“This really is not about you. I just don’t have time now. But on Friday I will drown the demise of my academic career at The Gardener. So feel free to ask me again then, okay?”
That was all he could do for now. Apparently it was enough since Erik smiled and said:
“Okay.”
What really assured Charles (and drove colour to his cheeks) though was the pleased and hopeful thought of blowjobtoconsole icanworkcharms he’sgonnaloveit.