Charlotte Xavier - A Thousand Years

Recruiting

"And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cuz I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cuz sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight."

~ "Iris", Goo Goo Dolls

... ...

The next night Charlotte found Erik trying to sneak out of the CIA facility with Shaw's file.

"From what I know about you." Charlotte told Erik. "I'm surprised you managed to stay this long."

Erik stopped and stared at Charlotte tensely. "What d'you know about me?"

Charlotte gave a regretful smile. "Everything."

"Then you know to out of my head." Erik told her.

"I'm sorry, Erik." Charlotte said after him when he began to walk away, "but I've seen what Shaw did to you." Erik stopped, but didn't turn. "I've felt your agony. I can help you."

Erik looked back to Charlotte. "I don't need your help."

"Don't kid yourself." Charlotte told Erik walking forward, hands in her pockets. "You needed me last night; you would have drowned. It's not just me you're walking away from. Here you have a chance to be a part of something much bigger than yourself...I won't stop you from leaving." She told him. 'Though I want to' She thought to herself.

"I could." Charlotte admitted quietly, "but I won't."

Charlotte turned to go back inside. "Shaw's got friends." She said over her shoulder. "You could do with some."

...

The next morning, when they all had breakfast together, Charlotte didn't say a word to Erik, but Charlotte smiled when she saw him.

'I'm glad you stayed, my friend' Charlotte thought but did not share. Her smile probably said it for her.

...

The next day brought the experience of the Cerebro.

After Hank's explanation, Charlotte eagerly put on the helmet with a wide smile, though she had to adjust it lower to properly rest on her head at her height.

"What an adorable lab rat you make, Charlotte," Erik commented with an amused smirk.

"Don't spoil this for me, Erik," Charlotte replied, though she still grinned (which had nothing to do with the compliment).

Erik chuckled. "I've been a lab rat. I know one when I see one."

Hank began checking the circuits on the helmet. "Okay, great." He murmured, then asked her. "Are you sure we can't shave your head?"

"Don't touch my hair." Charlotte replied seriously.

Hank nodded. "Okay." He relented at her stern tone. Joke as Charlotte might, her hair was a small vanity she allowed herself. (Her long dark hair were one of her few attributes Charlotte liked. No one would be touching it, that was sure.)

As Hank went to the monitors and set about beginning the machine, Erik met Charlotte's eyes while he leaned on the rail beside her.

'I will rip that off your head if it malfunctions' Erik thought very loudly to Charlotte, despite his instruction the night before not to touch his mind. 'It's made of metal, after all.'

Charlotte gave Erik a small grin, nodding as if to convey that she believed him. As Charlotte should, too; Erik didn't trust this contraption. He watched vigilantly as Cerebro started; Raven stepped closer beside him, just as cautious.