「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(219) Clever One

Lynn's POV

"C'mon, just take it that we're having dinner over a movie," Charles instigated and meticulously retrieved the tray of cloches, balancing them onto his lap.

"You think the kids are out there putting up a show?" I challenged in amusement.

"Stryker sure is," Charles countered scornfully as he steered himself towards me.

"I know you trust Scott, just as much as I do. But that isn't enough to take your mind off them. And I can't either," he admitted, staring his troubled gaze into my eyes as he ran his fingers through my mane and around the back of my head.

"Come with me, Lynn. Please," Charles begged shakily and his nearly watering eyes coupled with his pleading voice were basically irresistible.

I nodded without a second thought and Charles smiled, his tormented eyes suddenly springing to life essentially like my compliance had somehow emboldened them, as he took my hand.

Gliding smoothly alongside each other, we soon made it into the magnificent round chamber and with our food still sitting casually on his thighs, Charles nonchalantly adjusted the knobs and buttons on the dashboard.

"Could you remove those bells for me, love?" Charles requested politely as he readied the supercomputer to deliver our minds to the UN summit.

"You're sure we should be eating in Cerebro?" I confronted, still moderately amazed by his proposition as I stared curiously at him.

"Well, even if we make a mess, Hank's not here to nag at us," Charles retorted jokingly.

Stretching his hand upwards, Charles yanked on the exotic chrome cap and I chuckled, nodding as I obediently levitated away the metallic domes covering our dinners.

"Are you ready?" Charles probed, looking at me kindly.

"I'm always ready with you," I replied, grinning widely as I interlocked our arms and snuggled up to him.

"Good," Charles murmured, leaning in intimately.

Pressing his lips lovingly onto mine, Charles provided the best distraction possible to the inevitable initial surge of psychic feedback and the curved walls around us were already scintillated with glowing red specks the moment I opened my eyes from that delightful experience.

"I think you should do that every time we come here," I suggested playfully as our mental vision zoomed in onto the international event.

"Gladly," Charles agreed unhesitatingly, pecking me lightly on the cheek.

"Now, I believe you haven't had anything today," Charles remarked confidently as he swiftly popped a small chunk of white meat into my mouth.

It was mostly involuntary that my eyes glued to his mesmerizing frame as he diligently sliced up the tasty fish glazed with a mild yet delectable miso sauce and it was just a matter of time before he caught me guilty in the act, again.

"I am charming but I asked you here to watch the kids, not me, love," Charles commented in a cocky yet humorous manner.

"And you said you'd stop if I got up and told you myself," he added, smirking at me with a haughty expression and my jaw dropped in astonishment.

"Well done, my love," Charles teased, conveniently placing another delicious treat into my mouth and I giggled, bashfully looking away as I smacked him gently.

"Stop rolling your eyes. Scott's landing any minute now," Charles whispered seriously, yet slightly flirtatiously, into my ear.

Refocusing my attention to the dark skies overcasting Liberty Island, their X-Jet touched down abruptly onto the calm waters, instantly creating choppy ripples as the aircraft floating atop the sea surface approached the wooden docks of the tourist attraction.