guideshapelead | XMFC/Cerebro: Take Two

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XMFC/Cerebro: Take Two

Charles is bored. The last week, he's been almost unbearable with it, pushing everyone to almost impossible lengths in their training to try and find something to work on. He wants to be recruiting, wants to start putting his vision of a school into action.

But he also knows what needs to happen in order for that dream to become reality. And whilst he'll happily go back to Cerebro - he'll take epilepsy over boredom any day - he also knows Erik will be terrified by the idea.

He's on the verge of talking to Hank privately, to ask for another session without Erik's knowledge, when memories of the day he'd been left alone with Scott come back to the forefront of his mind. He'd promised his lover there would be no secrets between them, and he doesn't want to break his promise.

And so here he is, hovering at the edge of the Danger Room where he knows Erik is working with Alex. His intention is to catch his lover when they finish training, to talk to him when he'll most likely be in a good mood.

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Erik and Alex have been training without Alex's suit. The boy was reluctant at first, but Erik insists on pushing all the children to their limits. Alex is still in his cast, but that shouldn't affect his control and Erik won't go easy on him.

Of course, it's ended with Erik singeing his arm but he's laughing as he slings his healthy arm around Alex's shoulders, teasing him about the look on his face when he realised he'd hit Erik.

It's a pleasant surprise to see Charles outside the Danger Room and Erik grins as he sees him. "Evening, liebe."

"Good evening," Charles replies, uncommonly stiff. He knows the conversation they need to have will not be an easy one.

"Could I..." his eyes flick to Alex. "Have a word? In private?"

Erik frowns, taking in Charles' worried expression and the feeling of unease emanating from his lover's mind.

"I'll see you at supper, Alex," Erik says. The boy knows well enough to scarper when the adults need to have a "talk".

"I was going to tell you," Erik says immediately. "I wouldn't keep it from you - I know you'd only worry."

Charles frowns at Erik's words, not accusing his lover of anything. It takes a great deal of willpower not to delve straight into the other man's mind to find out what he's talking about.

"I wasn't accusing you of anything..." he says slowly.

"I know, liebe." Erik rolls up his sleeve and holds out his arm. "See? It won't even leave a scar. You shouldn't worry about me."

Charles is about to say that he wasn't worrying, but stops himself at the last moment, thinking that that would probably sound callous. Also, it's untrue.

"What happened?" He asks instead, honestly concerned despite him best intentions.

Erik waves his hand dismissively. "Alex needs more practice without his suit. Also, the cast is distracting him."

He cups Charles' face with his hand. "I really am fine."

"Sure?" Charles checks, and this time he does gently press forward with his mind. Just to be certain that Erik's in no pain.

Erik welcomes Charles into his mind with a smile - then stops short.

There's a strange detached feeling there, as if Charles is keeping something from him.

//Something wrong?//

"I.... that's why I wanted to see you," Charles answers, closing away his mind again. He doesn't want Erik to see how much he wants this, doesn't want to pressure him in that way.

"I want to talk to you, about... Cerebro."

Erik feels an uncontrollable surge of panic, but he tries to maintain his cool.

"Y-you want to try again?"

"I need to try again, Erik," Charles looks up at his lover, pleading with him to understand. He won't use his ability, but that doesn't mean he can't use his best puppy-dog eyes.

"There's no other option for me."

Logically, he knew this day was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

"I'll be with you the whole time," he tells him, promises him.

"I know you will be," Charles smiles, reaching for Erik's hand while he silently calls for Hank. There's no time like the present, and he knows Hank has made the necessary alterations.

Erik kneels on the front of Charles' chair, steadying it with his power and takes Charles' face in his hands. He rests his forehead against Charles'.

"Will you make me a promise in return?" he says quietly, desperately. "The moment it goes wrong, you tell me. You have to tell me, Charles."

"I did last time, didn't I?" Charles answers. He's sure he started screaming for Hank to make it stop as soon as he felt unable to control the power of Cerebro.

"I promise," he adds anyway.

Erik doesn't want to think about last time, closing his eyes against the too-vivid memory of Charles' first convulsion that seemed to last an eternity.

"You...you are taking your medication?"

"Every day," Charles promises.

"Don't... don't you trust me?" He can't deny he feels more than a little hurt.

Erik immediately feels bad for doubting his lover and closes his eyes against the shame. "Of course I trust you. I just...I know that you didn't want to. I have to be sure you're as...safe as you can be."

//I'm sorry// is what echoes around his head.

//I don't blame you for asking// Charles reassures his lover, keeping his hurt locked away where Erik can't sense it. He knows he deserves the suspicion.

Thankfully, any further conversation is cut off by Hank's arrival, holding the keys to open up the door to Cerebro.

Charles may be a highly skilled telepath, but Erik is so very close to him and he knows when Charles is deliberately keeping something from him. He knows he's hurt Charles with his accusation, however well-intentioned, but he isn't sure how to make it up to him - apart from letting him at Cerebro with the minimum of fuss.

Nodding at Hank, Erik is willing to follow where Charles leads, trying to quiet his hammering heart.

//I'll be okay// Charles tries to reassure Erik as he follows Hank back into the hollow sphere. He has almost no memory of his last adventure here.

He wastes no time in reaching for the headgear, bringing it down over his head. He's more nervous than he's letting on, and he'd rather get this over and done with.

Erik panics at how quickly this is moving and kneels in front of Charles' chair, reaching up to take his lover's hand.

He's ready to catch him if he falls, ready to tear apart the machine if it hurts Charles again.

"Ready?" Hank checks, already over by the console, one flick of a button away from amplifying Charles' power across the country.

Erik is terrified, but wraps his hands around Charles'.

//Are you?//

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