[ He doesn't answer her first question in words, but in an exhaled release of some of the tension from his shoulders. A nod. Whatever the reason, the gun in her hand helps quiet his thoughts.
This part was easier with Xavier, in a way. Charles changed something — severed the line of thought that had led from information breach to wiring medbay full of explosives, from seeing the other man to trying to snap his neck. The soldier hasn't tried to kill Charles since then because he can't. He knows that because he's followed that impulse to its natural conclusion, because he's felt it go slack — and he tested that boundary without fear because he knew Charles could stop him. (Because he hadn't felt anything for Charles, when they started.) This is different.
But it's been months since he last lost control. (Months since he was last triggered, too.) What Charles did might hold. He looks at the offered hand, but doesn't take it yet. ]
I don't want to hurt you, [ is both agreement and answer. He is letting it hold him back. ] Not sure it's worth the risk.
[ He's not sure that it isn't, either.
(There was a girl with green ribbons in her hair, and he saw her once in muddled fragments in his mind before this ship twisted her image, but maybe that's all the certainty he gets.) ]
no subject
This part was easier with Xavier, in a way. Charles changed something — severed the line of thought that had led from information breach to wiring medbay full of explosives, from seeing the other man to trying to snap his neck. The soldier hasn't tried to kill Charles since then because he can't. He knows that because he's followed that impulse to its natural conclusion, because he's felt it go slack — and he tested that boundary without fear because he knew Charles could stop him. (Because he hadn't felt anything for Charles, when they started.) This is different.
But it's been months since he last lost control. (Months since he was last triggered, too.) What Charles did might hold. He looks at the offered hand, but doesn't take it yet. ]
I don't want to hurt you, [ is both agreement and answer. He is letting it hold him back. ] Not sure it's worth the risk.
[ He's not sure that it isn't, either.
(There was a girl with green ribbons in her hair, and he saw her once in muddled fragments in his mind before this ship twisted her image, but maybe that's all the certainty he gets.) ]