Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr

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Pairing
Pairing: Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr
Alternative name(s): Cherik, Professor X/Magneto, Xavier/Magneto, XavierMagneto
Gender category: Slash
Fandom: X-Men, X-Men Movieverse, X-Men: First Class
Canonical?: No (citation needed)
Prevalence: was a small niche fandom that became huge after the release of First Class; enjoyed ample popularity throughout it's sequels' duration (2011 - 2019), and is currently a much quieter but still consistently active fandom
Archives: several late 1990s - early 2000s fics archived at Chuck Amuck! (wayback)
Other:
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Charles/Erik is a slash pairing in X-Men fandom. Sometimes name smushed into 'Cherik'.

Canon

Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a powerful telepath and the founder of the superhero group the X-Men. He first appeared in the X-Men comics and has subsequently appeared in the various adaptations and spin-offs: X-Men: The Animated Series, the first three X-Men movies, the Ultimate X-Men comics, the cartoons X-Men: Evolution and Wolverine and the X-Men, and more recently the alternate timeline/prequel films, most prominently X-Men: First Class.

Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, also known as Magneto, has powers related to metal and magnetism. He was once Xavier's close friend but has generally been his archenemy in canon. Generally. Off and on. Mostly on.

Fandom Overview

A fairly minor pairing in the comics and movieverse fandom (include Logan films), though with some passionate advocates, it exploded after the release of X-Men First Class.

Comics

The characters have been around for decades and alternately matched wits and shacked up together through numerous iterations and reincarnations. Though responsible for a smaller portion of fannish output, there is a wealth of slashy material in the backlog of comics.

Movieverse

Due to the strong friendship for years between actors Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen there has been a slight amount of fanworks based on the movieverse, but nothing as extensive as after the launch of the alternative line with Michael Fassbender (Erik/Magneto) and James McAvoy (Charles/Professor X). Fans commonly shorten the movie names of the alternative timeline as such:

  • X-men: First Class: XMFC
  • X-men: Days of Future Past: DOFP
  • X-men: Apocalypse: XMA
  • X-men: Dark Phoenix: XMDP or DP

Wolverine and the X-Men

They barely interact in this canon, what with Xavier being in a coma in the future for the whole thing. There's little to no fannish activity for them in this fandom (afaik).

X-Men: First Class

General consensus (even outside the fandom) is that the film is really nothing more or less than a romantic tragedy. Meta and primers have been written regarding the two characters' textual and subtextual relationship, as well as more fanfiction than you could read in a lifetime. Tumblr has also been busy.

Common Tropes & Themes

Notable Tropes and Unique Tags in Fanworks

While most of these are present in Cherik, or are unique to Cherik, some are also used in fics outside the ship. They have had their origins with Cherik or particular/frequent use with the pairing, however.

  • Gay Mutant Road Trip: For fanworks related to the recruitment trip Charles and Erik had during X-Men: First Class. It's usually implied that they got together or at least hooked up during the trip. The scene with Angel, where they both are in the same bed - plus the deleted scene, where Charles is the one demonstrating their powers by having Erik appear in a short dress - were strong influences for this tag.
  • Erik/Charles is a sweetheart: Sometimes used simply as a meme, without any meaning. Can relate to Erik or Charles being sweet towards the other. Variations include Charles Xavier is a Darling.[1]
  • X Erik Lehnherr/X Charles Xavier: With X denoting some characteristic of the character. It can be used purely as a meme or it can be related to the fanwork itself. Variations: Oblivious Charles Xavier[2], Awkward Erik Lehnsherr[3]...
  • Beach Divorce: Fan given name to the end of X-Men: First Class, when Erik leaves Charles in Cuba. Sometimes used as "No beach divorce" to mean the fanwork is an AU where the event did not happen.
  • Charles Xavier has a Ph.D in Adorable: Related to young James McAvoy's looks. Possibly created due to the fact Xavier has multiple doctorates. Also used as a meme.
  • Erik has Feelings: Usually used in fanworks that have Erik Lehnsherr process his emotions in a strong way. Typically related to his relationship with Charles or his children.
  • Erik Lehnsherr loves Charles Xavier: Based on canon dialogue from the animated series. Used as a meme. Tag used to express Erik's feelings for Charles.
  • Charles Xavier in a Wheelchair: Used even when Disabled Canon Character or Character with Disabilities isn't. In some stories (pre XMFC's end, Charles' junkie period in DOFP, Comicverse, AUs) Charles can walk. The tag is used for stories where he uses a wheelchair, though the severity of his paralysis varies from complete impairment in motor or sensory function of the lower extremities to him being able to walk with aids. The event of Charles' spinal damage is tied to Erik in the XMFC continuity, due to Erik deflecting Moira's bullet into Charles' back.
  • Human!Charles: Bittersweet AUs, where Charles was either born without powers or loses them, aiming to explore Erik's reaction to Charles, due to his pro-mutant, anti-human stance. Usually this tag isn't used with Alternate Universe - No Powers, where there are no mutants, as the aim of the stories is usually related to conflicts related to Erik's morals in regards to his feelings for Charles.
  • Enemies to Lovers with a Twist: In most stories Charles and Erik aren't truly enemies, nor do they hate each other. When applicable, the trope is usually either Friends to Rivals to Lovers, or simply Friends to Lovers, with Rivals usually meaning that Charles favours living amongst humans while Erik favours raising Mutants to be dominant in relation to their non-mutant counterparts.
  • Gay and Mutant in the 1960s: Also Gay and Mutant in sixties or gay and mutant in the 60s. The X-Men are an allegory for minorities, including queer people. The tag focuses on the dangers, experiences and events related to being both mutant and gay in the 1960s, throughout periods of time where being so was either illegal or dangerous. Common themes involve homophobia, hate crimes, closeted living (for both invisible mutations and queerness) and the AIDS crisis for example.
  • Mutant Politics: Both Erik and Charles are political leaders of two different mutant groups. Erik is a mutant supremacist while Charles is in favour of integration. Stories featuring the tag are usually about their advancements in politics but also related to how human made politics affect mutant kind.
  • Telepathic Sex: Common enough due to Charles' mutation, but also used often depending on the extent of the damage to Charles' spine, either in place of regular sex or as a complement.
  • Charles you will be drunk: Mostly based on Charles' lush behaviour during XMFC's Oxford scenes and his blender era during DOFP. Charles can be depicted as anything from someone who simply enjoys going to pubs and partying to an alcoholic (usually during DOFP). Erik's dislike of the serum leans itself to fans speculating he would also feel strongly about Charles and any sort of substance abuse.
  • Protective Erik: Based on canon behaviour, mainly because while Erik is usually Charles' antagonist, he has strong feelings for Charles, even stating that he loves him. Many times this results in Erik defending Charles from other villains, even if he himself was the one originally going against Charles. Also used in stories where Erik steps up, or ends up supporting Charles through bad times, such as adapting to life as a paraplegic, helping with his substance abuse or less canon whump events, such as getting kidnapped by the government or a villain of the week.

2024 Cherik Renaissance

Also known as Cherik Revival, this is the name given to the resurgence of Cherik fanworks during the year 2024, in part tied to the release of Deadpool and Wolverine and its credits montage.

As part of the renaissance, yuri cherik (Erik and Charlotte) or fem!cherik also had a boom in popularity. The trope was popularised by Twitter (X) user poselenets' art.

Notable Fanworks

Fics

X-Men Movieverse/X-Men: First Class:

Fan Art

Illustrations

Doujinshi

Fanvids

Meta

Rec Lists

Archives and Communities

Resources

References

  1. ^ Charles Xavier is a Darling Tag on AO3
  2. ^ Oblivious Charles Xavier Tag on AO3
  3. ^ Awkard Erik Lehnsherr Tag on AO3
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