Thanks everybody for all the wonderful reviews, as well as all of the favorites and follows. I really wasn't expecting such a following from this story, and I'm really happy all of you enjoyed chapter one so much. As promised, due to the overwhelming response, I've written a second chapter. I do hope it's okay and that you enjoy it as much as chapter one.

Thanks again, and happy reading!~

Hypnotic & Magnetic

Chapter 2 – Promises and Secrets

The door ahead of Erik opened without a sound and the light from inside flooded out into the hallway. He released his magnetic hold of the doorknob and peered inside, wondering silently who it was that was up this late aside from himself. His answer came in the form of a voice.

"Good evening, Erik," Charles' warm accent pierced the silence of the library. The corners of Erik's mouth turned up slightly, both relieved to see the familiar face and not. Of course he was glad to see Charles instead of somebody else; Charles was probably be the best option if he had to meet somebody in the library since he seemed to know just how to handle every situation properly. However, he worried that the man might see something in Erik's head that would cause some tension or confusion. And Erik was already confused enough as it was without adding another variable to the equation.

"Charles," Erik nodded at Charles and slowly entered the library, as if expecting to be ambushed by something. Or someone. An entire childhood that revolved around fearing for your life could make you a bit paranoid.

Charles watched the man closely from his spot on the couch. Erik desperately wished he wouldn't; it made him uncomfortable. Having the man's blue eyes directed so intently at him just brought back the feelings he had when they first met and he found out that Charles was probing around in his head. Part of him knew better, but another part of him didn't trust the man to not go back on his word. Erik hated sharing his thoughts with others, let alone his intimate feelings and secrets. He was a wall, and this man in front of him wasn't about to break him down.

"What do you know about me?" Erik had asked in the middle of the night outside the base, which was now a pile of rubble.

"Everything," Charles stated simply as if it were the easiest thing in the world to grasp.

And so the wall began to crack. Erik wouldn't have shared anything in his head of his own accord, but when you're forced to do so it made a world of difference. Maybe it was because he felt blackmailed, or maybe it was because he finally found someone who wasn't afraid of who he was, but he stayed that night. And it was starting to look like one of the few decisions he wouldn't regret.

"I'm glad you stayed, too, Erik," Charles spoke from the couch. Though he was looking down at the forgotten book in his lap, Erik could make out a hint of a smile on his face as he eyed the man suspiciously.

"Stay out of my head," Erik growled in response, "You promised me you wouldn't creep around in my thoughts without my permission. Or was I wrong to think that you were a man of your word?" The barrier went right back up.

To his surprise, Charles only smiled wider. "Well, if you wouldn't think so loudly I wouldn't have to," he stated as if Erik should already know this, "It's like being accused of eavesdropping on a shouting couple."

Erik's face grew a little bit hotter, but the only physical sign that gave away his discomfort about being read so easily was that he looked away from Charles at another spot in the room. What else had the telepath overheard? And how the hell was he supposed to quiet his thinking?

"What're you doing up so late anyway?" Erik said after a few moments, sounding angrier than necessary. He was still peeved at Charles' inability to mind his own business, as he saw it, so he changed the subject.

"I've always had trouble sleeping," he said, tapping his temple with index finger, "An unfortunate side effect of a constantly busy mind." If he noticed the sudden and awkward change of subject matter he certainly didn't express it. "You know, Erik, I'm not going to bite you; you can come and sit down." The telepath moved his legs so Erik could join him on the couch where he had been laying.

Erik did so, though reluctantly. Something about this man was almost too inviting. He was too personable, too accepting, too understanding, too… Erik wished Charles would stop smiling. All of the friendliness was foreign to him and he didn't quite know how to respond to it all. Sure he was grateful for all that the man was offering and doing for him, but he didn't know how to show it. Well, he had chosen to stay with Charles, and that was a step at least.

With as much normalcy as he could muster through all of the confusion and apprehension, Erik joined Charles on the couch.

Charles was glad to see that the other man didn't simply excuse himself from the library when he discovered who it was. It was a good sign on many levels. Erik didn't seem one for polite conversation if it wasn't necessary, so seeing him stay was something Charles hadn't expected (even if he seemed hesitant about it). On another, more personal level, Charles was pleased to have the company, particularly if it was Erik's. Sitting alone in the library with nothing but his books and his thoughts could get lonely during the long nights.

He couldn't help but notice Erik's thoughts, though he told the man he wouldn't read them without consent, because they were buzzing wildly and loudly beyond his control. So much anger, so much apprehension and confusion, so much doubt. Charles wished to ease his discomfort, but Erik simply wouldn't let him in and he knew that. Still, it wouldn't stop him from trying. With every fiber of his being he wished to help this man above anyone else. To see Erik happy would give him such satisfaction even if he didn't know the reason why.

As they talked, Charles smiled. He had always tried to smile a lot, to come off as a friendlier person, but around Erik it just came naturally and he honestly couldn't help it most of the time.

Three times now Erik had chosen to stay with Charles instead of head back into his solitary world in search of revenge, and Charles was eternally grateful for that. As if he had a hard enough time sleeping as it was, wondering where Erik was and what he was up to would put a constant strain on him. He had seen some of the darkest parts of Erik's mind, and he cared for this man because, for the first time since his mother was taken from him, Erik would finally have somebody who understands his pain and his past and is still willing to be there for him. Charles couldn't let him willingly walk away from that, for both of their sakes.

"You know, Erik, I'm not going to bite you; you can come and sit down," Charles said and pulled his legs closer to himself to make room for Erik, who was still looking uncertain about being there at all. All the same, he sat down in front of Charles and situated himself so that the two were facing each other.

Charles took the book from his lap and placed it on the table behind him by the lamp, the only light source on in the room. It illuminated Erik's face in front of him, reveling every crease and tick, giving away all his emotion. Not that Charles needed that to know what Erik was feeling, or his telepathy for that matter; he simply had a way with people and knowing what signs to look for. At the moment, he knew something was bothering Erik more than usual; there was a crease in his brow, less shine in his eyes, a slight tremble of his mouth every now and then that said he wanted to say something but couldn't quite do it for one reason or another.

But Charles decided not to pry.

"I've answered your question, my friend, now tell me what you're doing up so late," Charles asked. He could just as easily read the other man's mind and find out what was inconveniencing him, but he wouldn't. He made a promise to Erik on the night he stopped the man from leaving to keep out of his head.

"Everything," Charles said. He had seen so many dark memories of Erik's that it was easy enough to assume he knew everything. In any case, he might as well know everything.

"Keep prying and you won't like what you find in there, Charles," Erik told him ominously.

"I'm not going anywhere, and neither should you. I'm willing to help, to understand, if you're willing to let me."

"Just stay out of my head, Charles! I don't need your help!" Erik glared at the man, his eyes filled with a strange mixture of anger and pain. The telepath thought he knew everything about him? Well he was in for a rude awakening. There was no way he knew everything; if he did, then the two of them wouldn't be standing here now. "Please…" Erik added after a moment, pleading, "I don't want you in my head. I don't trust you."

Charles eyed him for a minute before nodding. He was smiling. "Okay, Erik. You have no reason to trust me, so why should you? I get it. I won't read your mind unless you allow me to. Maybe you'll come around one of these days."

"Don't hold your breath," Erik scoffed.

He and Raven were the only ones he had made that promise to, and he intended on keeping that promise so long as he needed to. As long as Erik remained his friend (he did consider Erik a friend), he wouldn't intrude on the man's thoughts. After all, Charles would be devastated himself if Erik, or anyone for that matter, found out what he had been thinking about only moments before Erik showed up in the library.

Honestly, I'm not sure at all where I'm going with this story, so if anybody has a direction they'd like to see this go, or anything they'd like included, I'm more than happy to take suggestions. Thanks for reading.