The Dynamo in Winter

Title: The Dynamo in Winter
Author: tawabids
Pairing: Erik/Charles
Rating: R

For the prompt (go to story for full prompt): "After a huge disaster all power stations in the country stop working. And there's no way of making them work any time soon. Lots of people's lives (especially those who are in hospitals, on life support) are in danger so Erik agrees to become - for some time - some kind of living power station, someone who's able to produce at least some of needed energy."

This is... to me, it's a very interesting take on the character that is Erik. Mainly because he's actually volunteering to help the survival of humans - I know, it's also for the survival of mutants, but you can't deny that humans are helped as well - but he's the one the government and humankind is depending on, and the thing is, Charles keeps telling him, almost asking him, to walk away, and he doesn't, he decides to stay and keep the power going, he doesn't leave. He obviously feels some responsibility because Shaw is responsible and he didn't stop Shaw - but I just find this part of Erik fascinating. The entire fic is threaded with a bleak desperation, and the ending made me go "... wait what? I mean, oww..?" Poor Charles and Erik :(