Erik doesn't think Charles noticed, but he'd taken the collar with him back to his room. The collar now sat on his mantelpiece, almost mockingly and if not for Charles' insistence that it stayed on the metal manipulator probably would have crushed it into little pieces by now. Thinking of the telepath, Erik felt a number of mixed feelings come up.

The collar seemed to have aggravated the skin around Charles' neck and while it probably wasn't overly painful, Erik resolved to make Hank have a look at it tomorrow. Charles himself had seemed different when the initial shock of getting his powers disappeared. The younger mutant had touched his mind, though, making Erik physically cringed. He had his own demons, which he needed to keep hidden from everyone else. The telepath could so easily find them, however and Erik felt himself almost unwillingly reaching for the helmet he had taken from Shaw.

Strange that of all the things from his past tormentor he had chosen to keep this. It wasn't even that he wanted to wear or even use it but still here it was. At first Erik had told himself it was because of Emma Frost, who was still very much unaccounted for but when the diamond woman didn't reappear Erik realised it was something else entirely. Erik had never expected to meet another telepath, foolishly thinking the only one there was Emma or if there was another then said telepath wouldn't be half as strong.

Then he'd met Charles, who told him he was a telepath but Erik still didn't grasp the full extent of Charles' power even after hearing the story of his past. But when Charles' mind touched his Erik had felt the power there and he'd been afraid. Irrationally, he kept telling himself, this was Charles after all but Erik couldn't shake the thought of someone in his head. Someone, who might be able to control him. It was far, far too tempting for Erik to place Shaw's helmet on so he could avoid Charles glimpsing into his past but he stopped himself from sheer will power.

That night, Erik could feel the edges of Charles' mind hovering near his own and because of this, it took him longer than usual to sleep but eventually he did, his dreams filled of those of Shaw and the experiments the scientists had done to him.

…..

Charles woke with a half whispered shout on his lips. Disorientated, Charles felt dizzy as the minds of the waking household and city ran across him. He'd been dreaming of himself as a small child with a stranger stranding over him, saying things about trying to help him reach his full potential. Except they weren't Charles' dreams because Charles' nightmares weren't full of strangers but those he knew.

Considering his sudden return of his powers, Charles considered the possibility of the nightmare being cause by one of the other inhabitants of the building and gently pushed his mind to that of his friends.

Alex, Sean and Angel were still fast asleep while Darwin was getting ready for work. He could feel the awe in Raven's mind as Hank told her about the previous night and the scientists own jumbled thoughts, running through hundreds of new ideas. Logan's mind wasn't anywhere in the vicinity so Charles guessed he'd gone out. Erik, though. His mind was in turmoil due to the nightmare Erik had obviously been having.

Charles winced in sympathy as a particularly strong memory passed Erik's surface thoughts and for a second the young telepath wanted to offer comfort to Erik. Except he knew the thought would not be welcomed and quickly banished it, pulling his shields around himself so as to avoid hearing the minds of those in the apartment. It was difficult, there surface thoughts touching Charles, especially when a strong feeling or loud thought crossed them but otherwise Charles was successful.

He ate his breakfast with a small smile playing on his lips as Charles felt the edges of his friends mind. It was a strange comfort but Charles found the reassuring weight of someone else's' thoughts calming in a way nothing else could be. The thoughts never lied and even blocking the minds from himself, Charles could feel that his friends were safe.

It was barley 9 in the morning so Charles decided he'd go out for a while. It was pleasant outside, the sun shining and Charles could feel the good mood of those around him rubbing off of himself. Occasionally, he touched a mind that was thinking things that Charles didn't want to hear. There was the group of adults, watching him in the wheelchair and feeling sympathy. Then there were the group of kids, talking about the new mutant in their children and thinking thoughts that Charles thought might take bullying a tad too far. But there were also the thoughts of people who were running late for work or running through a presentation they needed to do. Normal thoughts.

By lunch time, Charles had started to get a headache from the constant blocking of the different minds in the city and the surface thoughts that kept hitting him no matter how much he tried to block them out. He debated on just going home but Raven had texted for him to come to the café at lunch and Charles had already agreed. Anyway, he wanted to properly thank Hank and Erik for helping with the collar, which he was ashamed to say he didn't do fully last night.

The café was as busy as always with three of Erik's human servers working today. Raven waved over to him from where she was sat with hank, Alex, Sean, Darwin and Angel. Hello Raven. The squeal that came from Raven made Charles jump a little, especially as she threw her arms around him.

Hello Charles. "Was that alright?" She asked out loud, gaining confused looks from everyone but Hank, who had seen the display yesterday.

"You've lost the collar." Alex suddenly interrupted, noting that the metal collar was nowhere in sight on Charles' neck. "You knew didn't you, Raven? Is that why you made us leave yesterday?"

"We couldn't have you idiots overwhelming Charles now could we?" Raven replied, a little mischievously.

"So what you can hear our thoughts now?" Angel asked, leaning in further towards Charles.

Yes Angel. Angel flinched a little at the thought in his voice and Charles quickly apologised.

"Its fine, it just felt a little…"

"Strange?" Charles replied, getting a nod from Angel.

Professor, can you hear this? Sean practically shouted it through his mind and Charles groaned a little.

Try not so loud.

Is this better? Charles nodded, gaining a sheepish grin from Sean.

It didn't take long before his friends were all talking amongst themselves, a happy thrum coming from their minds. Charles felt himself drift a little, looking over to Erik who was watching them like a hawk. What's wrong? Charles projected the question towards Erik, who stiffened where he stood.

Nothing. How did they take it? No one else seemed to notice the private conversation he and Erik were having.

Better than I thought. Charles replied. He'd been a little nervous at going into their minds, knowing from experience that most people didn't like telepaths but the others seemed to not mind, seeing it as more fascinating than intrusive.

Good. Erik was silent for a minute but Charles could hear he had something else to say.

Say whatever you need to Erik, I'm listening right now aren't I? A grin appeared at Erik's lips but it was quickly replaced with a scowl as a customer came over.

Erik didn't answer until the customer had gone. Your telepathy, have you got control of it? Charles frowned wondering where this was going, when he asked as much Erik continued. I don't like people in my minds. The answer was abrupt and it took a moment for Charles to register what Erik had said. The older mutant had implied he didn't want Charles in his head, particularly told him to get out of his head. Without a second thought, Charles pulled his shields up, feeling the loss of contact with Erik's mind. As if it was an echo, Charles could hear Erik calling his name in Erik's mind but he ignored it.

"Is something wrong?" Hank leaned over towards Charles, a frown etched across his brow.

"Fine, I just have a bit of a headache." Charles replied, which wasn't exactly a lie but he knew that wasn't what was wrong. No what was wrong was Erik telling him to keep out of his mind as if Charles had a choice. Erik was the one to persuade Charles to get his powers back and here Erik was, telling the young telepath to keep out of his head as if Charles had a choice in the matter.

"Are we thinking to loud for you, do you want us to quieter down?" Alex asked, having heard Charles' reply.

"No, it's fine. I'm just not used to so many voices in my head all the time." Charles explained.

"What's it like being a telepath?" Sean's voice was full of curiosity and Charles couldn't supress the laugh when Raven punched the younger in the arm.

"It's hard to explain." Charles said, his eyes drifting over to Erik who's eyes where full of hurt. How could he feel hurt when he'd been the one to tell Charles to keep out of his head? "I think I might just go home and lie down for a bit."

"Is the headache that bad?"

"No, but I'm a little tired I didn't get much sleep last night." Which was true, due to the nightmares surrounding Erik last night. "I'll see you later." He said, wheeling his chair away from the table and the hurt filled eyes of Erik.

Because I can't resist upset Charles in fics :)

As always please review and hope you enjoyed.