Lab Rats [Cherik]

1 - Cerebro

"What an adorable lab rat you make, Charles." Erik said, his tone playful. "Don't spoil this for me, Erik." Charles responded casually although being called a lab rat made him freeze and feel overwhelmed. His entire life he has felt the emotions of the people around him, been in their heads so he knew how to react properly. But his telepathy made him incapable of reading facial expressions and understanding tone of voice.

Erik wore a satirical expression on his face. "I've been a lab rat, I know one when I see one." He said followed by a slight smirk. Hank looked at Erik and he backed away from Charles. How could he have known to do so when Hank hadn't told him to?  Hank goes on to fixing Cerebro on Charles's head so it fit properly. 

"Are you sure we can't shave your head?" Hank asked. "Don't touch my hair." Charles immediately retorted. He didn't grow out his hair for the past couple of years just for it to be shaved off for the CIA. Hank nodded and clicked a few buttons here and there that activated Cerebro. Everyone in the room was staring at him. He could feel it although his eyes were closed. 

A few minutes go by and Charles could feel an enormous wave of power wash through his head. He felt indestructible. He could hear the thoughts and feel the emotions of every human and mutant in the world alike. He could see the differences between man and mutant. It was glorious to him. Beautiful. He thought. 

Using Cerebro, he can now track down the mutants nearby and recruit them for the team. He steps down from the platform and pats Hank's shoulders.  "Hank, you absolute genius. We couldn't have done it without your help." He said. "It's my job." Hank shrugged with a smile. 

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Charles couldn't sleep.

Cerebro reminded him of a core memory he has been trying to leave behind. The memory resurfaced the moment Erik playfully called him a lab rat, not knowing that it would spark a reaction out of him. The whole night he remained paranoid. He was as awake as an owl. Panicking for something he swore to have left in the past. Calm your mind, Charles. It's been a 6 years, you're safe now. He tried to convince himself that all's well until he couldn't.

He got out of bed and headed straight to the kitchen. Caffeine at five in the morning with not a blink of sleep is not healthy at all. But it's better then the twisted feeling in his chest, gnawing at his head, threatening to take him back to 1946 in the room where he spent his nights in isolation.

Charles shook the thoughts out of his head but only momentarily. He drunk his brewed tea while sitting on the sofa next to a giant window from which you can see the entire city. Tea isn't enough. He thought. He needs alcohol to forget the pain even if it's a temporary solution. Everything hurts less when he's wasted.

Before he could get up, he felt a presence behind him. It's Erik. He read him. "I told you to stay out of my head, Xavier." Erik warned. "I didn't know it was you until I read you." He said matter-of-factly. "Sure you didn't" 

"I don't have eyes at the back of my head, Erik." Charles defended, feeling a bit frustrated. Erik didn't reply, an expression flashed across his face and Charles felt annoyed for not being able to read it, but he was a man of his words. "Why're you still up."  He asked as he sat next to the telepath.

"Can't sleep." Charles responded vaguely. He's not ready to share that part of his life with anyone. Specially not Erik. "I can see that." Erik says. He wanted a more direct answer. Charles glanced at him for a second before looking away, out through the window. The sky was turning red, the sun was coming up.

"Having tea at 5am with no sleep?"

"What if I just woke up?"

"Your eyes say otherwise."

Charles blinked a few times. Your eyes say otherwise. People who don't have telepathy can tell things without getting into someone's head. He never quite understood how they could do it, but they do. It fascinated him in a way.

He looked out the window once again. "The view looks marvelous." He smiled while looking at the sun rising. "Indeed it does." Erik said.

Charles swore he could feel Erik's eyes on him but when he turned to look, his eyes were out the window.