"Charles, what are these?" He whirled around to see Erik with eyebrows raised his metal box of razors hovering above his hand, open, revealing old bloody tissues. Stuttering, he began to trace over his scars self-consciously.

"Nothing, Erik. Don't worry!" Charles said, walking over and claiming the box. He placed it on his desk and smiled at Erik nervously as he sat in his chair.

"Charles…" His boyfriend said, coming to crouch next to the chair and look up at him intently. "Is what I think is happening going on again?

"Darling, please. I'm okay."

"Engel, answer my question. Please!"

"Yes," Charles whispered. "I'm so sorry…"

Erik breathed shakily and threw himself around Charles, hugging his love tightly.

"Oh baby…" He said, fighting back tears. "How long?"

"A few months now. Heavens, I'm so sorry…" Charles sputtered, his voice catching in his throat. He slid onto the floor next to Erik, leaning into his embrace. "Erik, I didn't want to hurt you like this again. I'm sorry."

"C-can I see them?" Erik lifted his head with tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Do you really want to?" Charles asked. "I think they'll upset you…"

"Please," His boyfriend said, laying his hand lightly on Charles' wrists.

"Alright, if that's what you want, love. Can you please lock the door?" Erik quickly turned bolt with his powers and looked back at his paling boyfriend. Sighing, Charles pulled up the sleeves of his sweater. Erik's gaze washed over each and every wound and scar. They were in various stages of healing, some just closed, some others faint lines. After he'd finished looking and nodded, Charles pulled up his shorts to reveal the same rows and rows of scars. These were deeper, the scars angry and red. There were stitches in one of them, crude, as if Charles had done them himself.

"Oh Charles," Erik cried, running his fingers over the scars. He accidently touched a new one, and Charles flinched, wincing in pain. "I'm sorry!"

"Babe, it's okay," He replied gently, stroking his love's hair. "I'm sorry about all of this. I know I shouldn't have taken it up again…"

"Why did you start again? I thought you were better…" Erik looked helpless, and it broke Charles' heart.

"I've been struggling quite a bit with my depression lately. I'm trying to stay alive."

"Do you want to die, Charles?"

"Sometimes," He nodded, rubbing his eyes. "But I can't leave you, you're the only one I've ever truly loved. So I had to keep myself alive for you."

"Oh Gott," Erik started crying again. "No, no, no."

"Darling, I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you; I wanted to hurt myself to save you from the pain. But I've just royally failed."

"No," Erik shook his head fiercely. "I want you to know how much I love you. I need you, Charles, more than anything else in the world. Please, let me help you through this."

"Erik," Charles smiled through his tears. "I love you so much. I need your help."

"I'm here, liebling, always."