"Raven would have managed." Not to contradict him, of course. There's no contention in Erik's reply; he answers quietly. "She took it well. Coming here." He does not mention the twins aloud, no, but remembers Brock's laughing face from the network, and feels once more the impulse to go running off right now. To find him. And.
And this is too grim a train of thought to follow in the face of an idea that throws sparks as it lands. He didn't always have the tendency to catch fire in the wrong places...

He kicks that same pebble once they reach it—over to Charles's side of the walk, this time, well ahead.

"It's too bad you didn't bring your house along instead of that chess board."

...Erik. Really.