Prompt: ;_; Always on the lookout for stories that depict the moment Erik finds out that Charles felt the coin & *whisper* i want u to write that pls
Erik stalked out of the wreckage, his face glowing. He had done it. After all these years, he had finally done it. The world felt open. He could finally breathe again.
He climbed into the abandoned plane, ducking through wires and metal until he saw Charles' back. "Shaw is dead," he announced.
Charles turned around, his eyes wide and his jaw tight. "I know, he whispered. A trail of blood traced a path down from the red slit on his forehead, running parallel to the tears racing down his cheeks.
"Charles…what happened to you?"
"You put on that helmet, Erik. You blocked me out, you – " His voice caught in his throat. "You killed a man, Erik."
"I got my revenge. What I did was fair – what I did was just." Erik reached his hand toward him, but Charles jerked away.
"You killed a man. And you had that helmet on, Erik. And I had to – I had to know what was happening – and you had that goddamn helmet on – where else could I go – who else could I…"
"Charles, what are you talking about?"
"Can't you see? You killed a man, Erik – you…you sent a coin through a man's brain – through the center of his being – through my brain."
"No. That's not possible – you wouldn't have – you couldn't have felt that."
Charles touched his forehead and moved his hand toward Erik, his fingers stained with blood. "I felt every goddamn moment of your murder."
"No," Erik said again, his voice filled with panic. "It doesn't work like that – I don't understand."
"Why did you put on the helmet, Erik? Why did you block me out?" Charles used his sleeve to wipe away his tears, smearing blood across his face. "Why?"
"I couldn't think – you were inside my head, and when you're there, I can't think about anyone else – about anything else – I needed to focus – I needed to get my revenge!"
"And I needed you to listen," Charles whispered.
They sat in stillness, until Charles looked up at Erik, his eyes glistening. "I've never felt so much pain in my life, Erik. Is that..is that what you wanted?"
"No! I never wanted to hurt you."
Charles turned away. "Well you did."
Erik stretched out a hand and gently turned Charles' head to face him. "I would never do that to you, Charles. I love you." He ran his finger along Charles' jawline and leaned toward him, breathing in his scent for a second before kissing him – softly at first, then more passionately, almost hungrily.
Charles melted under his touch, whimpering softly before he broke away. "But you did, Erik. You did."
Erik backed up slowly. "You have to forgive me. I'll never hurt you again, I swear – "
But Charles, his mind sharper than it had ever been from the pain and the heightened sensitivity it had brought, knew he was wrong. He could already hear the gunshot echoing in his ears, and he already knew there was no way to stop the pain that was to come. "But you did," he whispered. "And you will."