Charles looked over at Erik. He could see the hurt and pain in his eyes. So much suffering, and anger, and rage. He stopped himself from delving in, seeing what was beyond, even though he desperately wanted to, desperately wanted to soothe that pain, let him know there was hope, things could be better in the future.
Erik stood there staring blankly, or so he thought, trying not to give anything away. He couldn't let him in, couldn't let Charles see, all the emotions he felt inside, they were too deep, too much for one man to ask another man to bear. There was something different about Charles though, he willingly sought out the darkest moments of others, to be willing to go into that dark, and be there with someone, have a look around, and begin to find a way to climb out. Part of Erik wanted that more than anything, but he couldn't trust it, couldn't trust that Charles wouldn't just leave him like all the rest. Couldn't trust that Charles wouldn't be taken from him. He nearly had been, by Erik's own doing, and he could not forgive himself for that. Which is why he had to leave. He cared for Charles too much, it was dangerous for Erik to be around him.
Charles went to speak, he could see an internal struggle going on in his friend's mind. "What's troubling you Erik?"
"It's time for me to leave, old friend."
"Again? We've only just reunited, I was hoping you would stay around longer this time. Help me set the school back up. Talk."
"Talk, that's all you ever want to do Charles. I need to take action. We can't let the humans keep getting away with this. There must be consequences, they must know our power, if we are to be safe."
This familiar refrain grated on Charles. As much as he cared for Erik, they disagreed on the key point of how best to work on integrating mutants and humans in society. And it mattered. As much as sometimes he tried to convince himself that it didn't, violence was not the answer, love, compassion, understanding, these were the tools Charles wanted to use to build his better world. "Just stay for a few more days, let's catch up, play some chess, the world can wait a few days."
"I'll still be off soon, whether now, or a few days, it won't change anything."
"Great, then you'll stay." Charles was pleased this conversation had gone this way. He just needed more time. He didn't know if there was a way to get through to Erik, to connect, and part of him didn't understand why he had such a drive to do so. Sure, Erik was a powerful mutant, and would be a great ally, or a powerful foe at times, but there was something so broken about him, that drew Charles in. Something, that if he could just help Erik begin to mend, maybe their future wouldn't need to diverge. Maybe they could find more common ground. Charles already had his x-men, he took Erik's point on the need for power and force at times, to protect oneself, his children and the innocent. Maybe Erik would come to see his point of view as well. He just needed more time.
"Just a few days then. I hope that's not you in my head changing my mind Charles!"
They chuckled as they wandered off together from the patio back towards the house. Erik was glad to be staying, a brief pause in his drive for revenge. There was something calming in being around Charles, something that made him think being at peace was possible. He quickly shrugged those thoughts out of his mind, as the wave of children entered the halls after their lessons.
