Charles blinks, and before he can really think, the words, "I wasn't expecting anything," tumble from him genuinely. "I mean, I never once thought. Before we came here."

It's true; he knows the things that Erik has done, has seen him use his powers violently before his eyes, but that was different, wasn't it? That was Shaw. That was understandable, if misguided. It wasn't whatever this was.

"I only had an inkling that time we met Logan in the bar. You may be surprised to hear this, but I've been trying not to peer into the minds of people who know us. I like knowing, but I want some surprises."

He slides down into a squat, pushing his hair back from his face in a gesture Erik is no doubt familiar with by now. "I never thought... I mean, I don't know." His lips twist into a little far-away smile. "I imagined we'd always be friends. Two old men playing chess together in a park somewhere. You with your fifty grandchildren. Me with hair. I never..." and he pauses to wet his lips, finding the next part difficult, "I never would have begun to imagine we'd end up on opposite ends of the battlefield. Not after what we've been through. And not you—"

He lets that drop and turns his head away.