Ficlet: Routine (X-Men)

[sophia_sol]

Um so this stupid little idea came into my head and wouldn't go away until I wrote it but I don't want to put the effort into turning into a whole fic because writing X-Men is INTIMIDATING because there's all that HISTORY and the only canon I know is the most recent movie. So I would inevitably get something terribly, horribly wrong.

So here, have a few random words about Erik.

Routine

Erik cannot wear the helmet all the time, much as he would like to. He wears it to bed, even, but he does have to shower on a regular basis, and he can't do that in the helmet. It worries him, every morning, when he steps into the washroom and places his helmet on the sink counter. He takes the most efficient showers he can.

Even though it is clear that Charles does not, cannot, will not understand, even though they are now enemies, Erik can't help missing Charles. Each morning in the shower he allows himself to think about it, a small indulgence. He wonders what Charles would think, if he chanced to overhear.

Five minutes, every day, when he is unprotected. He wonders how long it will take Charles to catch on; he fears it. He anticipates it.

Comments

[aria]

*FLAIL* I LOVE THIS A WHOLE LOT.

Also, not only does it not contradict other movie canon, but -- in later movie canon Erik spends decent amounts of time helmetless (even around Charles, in their first scene together!) and I love the notion that it starts with a small temptation: just five minutes ...

[sophia_sol]

THANK YOUUUUU!

in later movie canon Erik spends decent amounts of time helmetless (even around Charles, in their first scene together!)

OH MY GOODNESS REALLY? THAT -- IS SO AMAZING.

[aria]

Well, they are out in public at a US Senate hearing! Erik does wear a very dapper hat.

[sophia_sol]

Dapper hats are always a good thing. :D Oh man I need to see these movies.

[elistaire]

*hearts*

Of course he can't wear the helmet all the time.

This is so perfect.

[sophia_sol]

♥ Thank you! Yeah, I was reading some other fic that mentioned him not taking his helmet off to sleep, and all I could think when I read that line was, WHAT ABOUT WHEN HE SHOWERS.

[elistaire]

Unless he just goes stinky? Perhaps that's his other mutant power!

Or...maybe that's why Charles doesn't want to get too close after a while. ;)

[sophia_sol]

AHAHAHA :D

[feverbeats]

OH OH TOO PERFECT. ♥

[sophia_sol]

:D THANK YOU I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT!

[calvinahobbes]

That is really hot. I like the idea so much. It's a tiny fic, yes, but the implications are sort of sprawling and amazing. There's some great characterization here, and the ending is delicious.

[sophia_sol]

EEEEEEE THANK YOU SO MUCH! ♥

the implications are sort of sprawling and amazing.

Yeah, exactly, it REALLY WANTS to be a huge fic. But that's not gonna happen with me at the helm. So the implications will have to exist in potentia, in people's imaginations.

[calvinahobbes]

♥

I like fics that have huge, sprawling implications but don't follow through on all of them. I think your ficlet is very self-contained -- it is its own neat little entity that really speaks volumes about Erik, but it ties into a huge background (past and future) for them. Not all fics with a large scope have to be billion word epics! This one really packs a punch.

(I am going to watch the movie in about 2 hours now!)

[sophia_sol]

Awww, thank you for your kind words about my ficlet! I still kind of feel like it was the lazy person's way out of it, but I'm glad to hear it was effective nonetheless.

(ooh! I will look forward to seeing what you think about it!)