When Charles woke up, the distinct buzz of a mind was sat near his bed. It wasn't odd to find this, after all it seemed as if everyone in the building had decided they would come and go to look after him while sick, which while comforting was a little disconcerting considering they didn't seem to understand what knocking meant. Or an invitation for that matter. The actual brain, though, was not one that Chares had thought to feel.
"Erik?" Charles went to pull his shields around him but Erik held up his hand.
"Raven told me what you said."
"I don't mind." Charles quickly said. "People don't usually like telepaths because we can pick around their heads but I do try not to." Erik chuckled softly.
"I know that and I admit that that is a worry for me but Charles, I didn't mean what I said." Erik was floundering a little so Charles stayed silent as the other man thought about what he was going to say. "What I mean is no one should have to stop using their powers because of other people and I didn't mean you to take it that way."
Charles was silent for a minute, wondering what to say next. "So you don't mind me…."
"Hearing my thoughts I don't mind because I know you can't control that but if you started picking through my brain."
"I promise I would never do that unless you wanted me to." Charles quickly interrupted because he would never do that to his friend. In fact, he wouldn't do that to anyone no matter who they were.
"I know that and I am sorry." Charles shrugged. He was feeling a lot better now after getting sleep and now he didn't need to block as much the headaches were going. Of course, Charles was still a little hesitant with Erik sitting there, the other mans; words still going around his head, but all in all he was a lot better. "Is there anything I can do?" Erik asked, looking around awkwardly.
"Could you pass my chair, I really need to get out of bed."
"Are you sure your well enough for that."
"I feel a lot better now I've slept properly." Charles assured Erik. After a quick look over Charles, Erik finally consented to bring the wheelchair over. He did insist in helping Charles into it, something Charles felt a little embarrassed at though he didn't argue.
"Do you want tea or food?"
"Tea would be fine." Charles couldn't help but laugh at Erik, who he had never seen so out of his comfort zone before. Soon enough the two men were sitting around Charles' kitchen table with their coffee and tea.
They were silent for a while before Erik suddenly pulled out a brown envelope from his jacket. "Those 2 suits came to the café looking for you again." His voice was grave, causing Charles to frown.
"I'm sorry if they caused you any trouble."
"They didn't." And Charles was willing to believe that. Erik was more than capable of looking after himself.
"What did they want?" Charles as trying to keep the nervousness from his voice but Erik could see it and for a moment Charles thought he might be projecting when he realised Erik just knew him far too well. It was a nice thought though.
"They wanted you to have this." Erik passed the brown envelope towards Charles and the telepath stared at it for a moment before opening the letter.
Erik sat silently as Charles read the document over, his frown increasing as he did so. When he was finally finished an anger was growing in the pit of his stomach but he pushed it away. "What is it?"
"A court order." Charles pushed the papers towards Erik with more force than necessary. "My Step-father wants me to sign the family estate over to him." The estate, while having a number of terrible memories for Charles, wasn't something he was willing to give up. That was his home after all, he'd grown up there and the money had belonged to his Father and he would not give it to his Step-father. "He wants to meet with me."
"You can't." Erik immediately said. Charles nodded his agreement, his hands going unbid to his neck.
"I don't think I have a choice." Charles replied. "The papers say if I don't, legally, he can take it all." Erik growled, standing up in anger.
"That isn't right." Charles didn't reply. "What gives him the right?"
The telepath hesitated for a minute before answering Erik's question. "When my Mother died and my step-father put me in the hospital, I lost control of all of my estate. Incompetent they said." His voice was bitter when he said it.
"How can they think that?" Erik sounded incredulous.
"Because they thought I killed my Mother and because I'm a mutant."
"Can you get out of signing it?" Charles could see that Erik was trying to be reasonable but the other mans' anger was radiating into Charles, fuelling his own.
"If I prove to be competent then yes. If not, then no. Legally, my step-father can actually put me back in the hospital." Charles flinched away from the slash of anger coming from Erik.
"That is not going to happen."
"Calm, my friend." He waited for a minute as Erik calmed himself down. "I just need to convince my step-father I'm doing better. Though, there is the problem with the…" This is where Charles trailed off.
"The collar." Erik replied, his voice deadpanned. "Will that effect the decision?"
"The lawyers could decide I'm unfit." Charles replied, fear appearing as he thought about what could happen. "But the same thing could happen if I refuse to turn up."
Erik considered this for a moment before finally saying, "Bring them to the café. They won't try anything there and if they do you'll have friends to back you up." Charles looked at Erik, seeing from both the older mans' face and mind that he was deadly serious.
"Thank you my friend but I can't ask that of you."
"You didn't ask, I offered." Erik replied, reflecting his intentions into Charles' head. From them Charles could see that Erik wouldn't leave Charles to deal with this alone.
"I am sorry for bringing this trouble to you."
"You have nothing to apologise for." But I do, Erik's voice filtered into Charles head, causing the telepath to laugh.
"We do tend to do that a lot." Charles laughed, which caused Erik to laugh also. It felt as if the tension leaked out of them for a minute then but Charles knew it wouldn't last. Not with his track record at least.