Continuing on.

[helpmeguideit]

Continued from.

[ Charles arrived shortly after Erik. He had his driver drop him off at the other side of the park so that he could approach Erik on his own. He approached the bench and saw Erik. He nodded towards him. ]

My friend.

Comments

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

Others will worry for you, Charles, because they care for you. Even I still worry for you.

[helpmeguideit]

[ Charles pauses, and considers those words. ]

They usually worry because they think of me as an invalid.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

And before?

[helpmeguideit]

It was different. It felt different.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

They're not wrong to worry, Charles. It isn't an evil.

[helpmeguideit]

They don't do as well in what I teach them when they worry.

[ He knows Erik is right. It isn't bad - just bothersome. He wasn't used to be surrounded by people when his demands for attention hadn't caused it. ]

I just want things to be as they were.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

[Erik lowered his head in shame. He knew Charles wasn't accusing him of anything, but he couldn't help but feel the sting of guilt at his words.]

I would give anything to change what happened, Charles.

[helpmeguideit]

We can't change it, Erik.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

I know that. Reality, however, doesn't change my feelings on the matter.

[helpmeguideit]

Coming to terms with it will help.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

Have you come to terms with it, Charles?

[Erik looked over to him from under the brim of his hat, his eyes full of regret and bitterness. His expression was pinched and weary around the edges, though it could just as easily been attributed to the early hour as the topic at hand.]

Have you come to terms with what I've done to you? With what I've made you?

[helpmeguideit]

What have you made me, Erik?

[ Those words maybe came out with more edge and sharpness to them than Charles had intended. He may also be dodging the question. ]

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

[Erik canted his head, wincing slightly. It was more of a shudder internally, a cold feeling that rippled through his body from head to toe. Putting words to such things as this made the more real. gave them permanency. He bowed his head in shame, grateful for the hat hiding his remorse.]

I've crippled you.

[helpmeguideit]

Yes, you have.

[ Charles makes an attempt to look Erik in the eyes. ]

And it was unintentional. I would still like for you to come back with me.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

I didn't think, Charles. I wasn't thinking about who was standing there... about who could've been hurt.

[helpmeguideit]

...Erik. That -- it happened. That's my point.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

[Erik took pause, considering Charles carefully. It was tempting, Charles' offer. But there was the reality of it to consider.]

And you still want me to come back? What do the kids think?

[helpmeguideit]

I did not ask them.

[ It wasn't that he didn't care, but he knew their answers. They were betrayed, but they didn't hate Erik. ]

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

And have you given any thought to the chance that I would agree and return with you right now? How they might react to that?

[helpmeguideit]

I have given it plenty of thought. And they have thought about it, too.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

You don't think it's a poor idea?

[helpmeguideit]

I'm asking, aren't I?

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

I don't think it's the best idea, Charles.

[helpmeguideit]

I've had better ideas...

I'm fond of this one, though.

[e4e5nf3nc6nc3nf6]

And Raven? I couldn't leave her behind with... them. [It was clear from the disgust oozing from the single word that Erik didn't hold his new colleagues in very high regard. Most of this stems form their previous and eager association with the bane of Erik's existence.]