"I'm sure," Erik responded quickly while calming himself and preparing for the inevitable. He let out a calming low breath while he concentrated all of his attention on the gun being aimed at him. The figure behind the gun tried to look as steeled as himself, but failed. Erik could quite clearly see that Charles was not wholly comfortable with this situation. It was probably because he was not in control of the situation really. After all, this was Erik's training session, and this is how he had decided to do it. Or at least start it.

"Got it," Charles gave a slight nod, he readjusted his grip on the gun and went to gently place his finger on the trigger. Giving the slightest of fidgets, Erik firmly planted his feet on the pebble gravelled path beneath his feet and then stilled completely. "No! No, I can't! I'm sorry, I can't shoot anybody at point blank...let alone my friend." Charles said heatedly while lowering his arm and sending the gun a quick glare before looking up as Erik let out a brief annoyed sigh and threw his hands in the air, only to then cross his arms and look at him.

"Oh come on!" He eventually managed to find the right words and exclaimed this while uncrossing his arms and leaning forwards. Grasping onto Charles's arm, he lifted it back up and repositioned the gun so it was aimed at him again. "You know I can deflect it!" He said while pressing the cold metal more against his forehead. "You're always telling me I should push myself." Erik reasoned while it didn't go unnoticed that Charles's arm and aim had gone quite lax.

Charles frowned gently and shook his head. "If you know you can deflect it, then you're not challenging yourself." He lowered his arm and looked at the gun one more time before finally relinquishing it and gave it back to its owner. The less time spent holding the gun the better. Erik simply took the weapon, checked the safety and placed it back in his pocket. "Whatever happened to the man who was trying to raise a submarine?" He asked while Erik's gaze flicked from the stonework ledges and vast field to the side to him as he spoke. His question got a sigh, and a rather defeated expression to be cast his way before it was washed away with one of annoyance.

"Well, I can't! Something that big I...I need the situation, the anger." Erik said shortly while remembering full well the cocktail of emotions which were travelling through him at the time. Seeing as how Shaw had abducted Liesel, and then seeing Shaw again; with her in tow, and of course him escaping and thinking he'd taken her with him...anger and rage was all he was feeling at the time and then some.

Charles mused over his words, not looking wholly convinced. "No, the anger is not enough." He figured out at long last.

"Well, it's gotten the job done all this time." Was the ever simple reply which Erik gave while the two exchanged a thoughtful look.

"I hate to state it, but it's not only almost got you killed all this time; but Liesel too." Charles was then subjected to a hardened look from simply mentioning her name. It may have been a bit of a cheap shot to get him to see sense; but the two were a team, and his actions had proven to backlash in her direction, more than once. With a quiet sigh, Charles looked about and seemed to have some sort of revelation. "Come on," he tapped Erik on the arm and darted forwards in a brisk walk down the path they were on. "Let's try something a little more challenging." Erik walked after him in silence, not really sure what he was on about, yet decided not to ask as it seemed Charles was on some sort of train of thought.

Eventually he slowed his pace down, Erik frowned at the rather achieved look which suddenly appeared on his face. He didn't like that look. It was the look of already accomplishing whatever he had schemed up in that mind of his. Yet as such they hadn't achieved anything yet. Erik did duly note that they succeeded in finding out that Charles would perhaps never wield a gun without looking really awkward.

"You see that?" Charles took a step forwards and pointed to the target which had come to his mind moments ago. Erik looked dubiously from him, to the huge satellite dish which was in the next field over. He nodded slowly and frowned when Charles smiled lightly, "Try turning it to face us." He said it so simply that Erik actually found himself having to double take and rethink over what Charles had actually just said.

It was all so forward and to the point that Erik found he couldn't wave off the suggestion, or decline it. Instead he moved forwards, held up his hands and looked at the dish. He could faintly feel the pull of metal, but other than that there was nothing. The dish remained unmoving, and he was becoming quite annoyed with that. Annoyed along with light headed, he hadn't realised he was holding his breath until he lowered his arms and exhaled slowly.

"You know, I believe that true focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity. Would you mind if I...?" Charles said calmly while watching Erik from the background. He held up two fingers hinting at telepathically helping him, if he could. All he received was a look, yet otherwise nothing.

Having a sudden hazy image of a dark hired female come to mind, he couldn't help but let out a breathless sound. His mother, it was a memory he had buried away within himself for years. Her kind face, and happy smile. He missed her, as any other person who'd lost a parent would. But that quickly washed away, from the person he tried to protect; to the one he had vowed to Charles that he'd do anything to keep safe, Liesel. But the child version he had first promised protection to. The little, scruffy, slightly timid at times version who wished nothing more than to look out of the cabin window; which she could never do without his help.

The two women who meant the most to him vanished quickly from his mind as he looked over his shoulder with slightly saddened tear filled eyes. "What did you just do to me?" The emotions right now was far from anger, it was the polar opposite. He had never felt such calm, yet lingering sadness before, or at least that he could recall.

"I accessed the brightest corner of your memory system. They're very beautiful memories, Erik. Thank you." After all, seeing how he interacted with his mother was beautiful. It was so innocent, so carefree and loving. Then the adamant need to aid a barely recognisable girl, who Charles struggled to register as Liesel, to look out of a window to watch silent snow fall was charming, naïve and indeed beautiful in its childlike simplicity.

"I didn't know I still had them." Erik tended to make a point of not dwelling on the past. Or at least, he made a point not to reminisce on it. Memories from the past bought hurt, and why would he freely want to inflict emotional pain on himself?

"There's so much more to you than you know. Not just pain and anger. There's good, I felt it. And when you can access all that, you'll possess a power no one can match. Not even me. So, come on. Try again?"

Looking and turning away, Erik set his sights on the satellite dish again. Taking up his earlier stance, he lifted his arms and concentrated on the large object a little ways in front of him. With agonising slow jolted motions the dish started to turn, gradually it began to move with ease before it finally turned and faced them.

----

"You know, I'm still not happy with this."

"I don't need to move much."

"Even still..."

"Look, no bandages, so all is good, yes?" Liesel smiled and wiggled her fingers in the air and turned her hands over to show off the lack of bandages on her hands. 

Charles still stood looking unconvinced. He had walked into the study only to see Liesel sitting behind the main desk reading. Upon noticing him, as well as Erik, she jumped up and out of the seat. The two were conversing about something which came to a stop when seeing her. She had promptly put the book down before jumping to sit on the edge of the desk with a smile. That was precisely when she showed off her lack of bandages. She had had the pleasure of admitting that she was light of a few dressings now, thanks to Hank. Though he was a little awkward when it came to checking on her ribs...but the rest was fine, and even undressed; unlike her ribs which were bandaged back up.

"I don't know." Charles ran a hand through his hair and looked to Liesel sharply when she rather childishly blew out a breath and made an odd noise along with it.

"You know, I could sit here...point a finger at you, and make you buzz with static? I don't need to move to train." Liesel explained while holding up a finger and pointing it at Charles.

He looked rather uncomfortable and sent a look in Erik's direction when he laughed quietly and shook his head. "She does have a point." After all, he should know more than most what she was capable of. "Just let her have at least one session, Charles. What's the harm in it? If you don't, then you'll just keep getting asked."

"I can be quite annoying when I wish to be."

"She does know all the best ways to not drop a subject."

"Did I mention I can be annoying?"

"I mean, do you really want to keep having Liesel pop up and ask the same question over and over again? She'll find different ways to try and persuade you anyway, so you may as well give in now." Erik said with a shrug while moving more into the room and taking to sitting by her side on the desk.

"You'll get so sick and tired of me you'll wish I was out of action." Liesel smiled and rocked on the desk while swinging her legs. Erik sent her a look at this, he'd never wish for that. That would surely mean she'd be so injured she would be unable to move. She smiled up at him and he rolled his eyes.

"You two are truly unbearable." Charles ran a hand down his face and sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he inhaled slowly and looked to them while lowering his arm. Placing his hand in his pocket he looked to the two. Erik sat simply cross armed and waiting to see what Charles would respond with. And Liesel sat with her hands in her lap smiling at him, waiting patiently. Give them points for quiet patience.

"You like us really." Liesel said, "At least I hope you do...even though I did threaten you. I am sorry about that, by the way. I wouldn't have done anything really."

"Really?" Charles decided to ask, though he felt he may regret it.

Liesel sheepishly smiled at him. "Really."

"I'm going to take your word for it." He turned and nodded his head back to the door. "Come on then."

"Really?" Liesel leaned forwards and looked at him sceptically. That after all, was oddly easy.

"Really," Charles smiled and waved a hand at her. She clapped her hands together and leaped off of the desk and basically ran out of the room. Charles looked rather defeated. She was by far the most energetic and seemingly excited person when it came to these sessions. No one else had reacted like that.

"Good luck," Charles shot a look over at Erik as he smugly seemed to speak this. "You may need it." He furthered on while glancing at the book she had left behind. Dante's Inferno stared up at him. He couldn't help but sigh and frown, give Liesel points for light reading...not. Picking up the book and placing it in his back pocket, he finally moved away from the desk and made his way towards where Charles stood.

"Would you perhaps like to accompany?" Charles seemed so optimistic and pleading.

"Not really." And with those two words, Charles's optimism of possible help to reign in Liesel's changing moods and dispositions was gone. Completely obliterated along with a slightly smug smile and look being sent his way by the taller male.

"Right," Charles said with a slow nod. Rubbing his hands together, he nodded again and held his arms by his sides. Swinging them loosely he exchanged a look with Erik before turning on his heels. "Right," he repeated again in an attempt of sounding sure and confident. It didn't really work because he seemed so apprehensive, it was clear in his body language.

"Hullo!" Liesel chimed from her position sitting on the bottom step. She jumped up and straightened out the loose fitting jogging bottoms everyone else seemed to wear when training. In the short time it took Charles to appear from the study, Liesel had ran up to her room and hastily changed. She decided against wearing the grey hoodie which went with the rest of the outfit. Tugging the black vest top down when it rode up from her jumping upright, she smiled. Her smile slowly slipped though because of the look which was being sent her way. "What? What is it?"

"He's nervous," was Erik's comment while walking past them both and walked up the stairs with full intentions of going to his room to shower and change.

"What?" Liesel repeated with a slight laugh in her voice. "Why? Nothing bad is going to happen."

"You know, I would love to believe that. But after the session with Erik, I'm honestly not sure what you can do to upstage him." Charles confessed with a shaky hand running through his hair. He still really wasn't totally over the suggestion of point blank shooting his friend.

Liesel waved a hand at him. "This isn't a competition, Charles! I don't want to upstage him in anything...though I have to ask, what did he do?" She asked as he gestured a hand to the corridor by their side.

"I'm just going to merely say one word, and I think you'll be able to piece the rest together." Charles said while quickly diverting into Hank's lab, Liesel waved at the younger male who was busy working away. She looked at the box Charles suddenly picked up with a sceptical eye, yet followed after him when he commenced walking down the corridor again. "Gun."

"Where the...forget it, I don't want to know where he got that from." Liesel sighed and hung her head before shaking it loosely and looking up at Charles. "I was never allowed a gun, so don't worry; I'm not going to pull one out and ask to train with it." She smiled seemingly thinking this would fill him with some confidence, it didn't really. He still glanced at her suspiciously before his gaze suddenly snapped to Moira as she suddenly appeared.

"Are you busy?" Charles asked as they neared her.

Moira looked between the two with a frown yet shook her head. "No, why?"

"I need your help." And with that Charles commenced leading the way again. Moira looked at Liesel for some answers, she simply shrugged and smiled and followed Charles, again.

Soon appearing in a bunker, Liesel looked rather tense and uncertain. "I have to train in here?" She asked quietly with an uncertain tone to go with her expression. She glanced at Charles and Moira as they commenced setting something up. It was more Charles telling Moira what to do quietly than anything else. But together they managed to rig up some sort of circuit which involved lightbulbs and wires. Liesel looked at the setup with a frown. That right there really didn't make her feel any better.

"We can't have you accidentally electrocuting someone. Or rather, short circuiting the whole manor. Down here is on its own power grid, so if you do happen to short circuit anything, it won't matter." Charles explained while moving towards her. "You wished to train, so here we are. I do apologise though...as you seem very uncomfortable down here."

"It...it is much like somewhere I'd rather not remember..." Closed off, no windows, one way in, one way out. It was dank, dark, claustrophobic and cold. Very cold, and very isolated. She distinctly remembered, against wishing to, a similar bunker she was placed in when she'd first been placed in Auschwitz. Shuddering she wrapped her arms around herself, "Hm, it is fine." She tried to feign confidence while taking the wires which broke up the circuit from Charles as he held them out to her.

"I am sorry," and he truly sounded it. He didn't wish for training to make her feel like she looked. Edgy, wide eyed and suddenly looking younger than she was. Charles frowned slowly, the small girl he'd seen in Erik's mind still existed in the young woman before him. This moment of uncertain fear, she did look quite afraid for some reason, this just simply proved it. "Right," coughing awkwardly to get back on track, he was content to see Liesel immediately look at him. With something else to concentrate on, she didn't look so uncomfortable. "I have noticed that each time you access your powers, it's always in short sharp bursts. Rather, you don't seem able to keep it on a level frequency." Charles explained while placing his hands in his pockets and smiling at her, she followed what he was saying and was nodding agreeing with him it seemed.

"Hence the lightbulbs." Liesel leaned forwards and winked before nodding at the setup to the side.

"Exactly!" Charles waved a finger at her, "To become stable, or to be able to use your powers without sparking out, pardon the pun, you'll need to practice on something."

"But she easily shorted out the bulbs on the coast guard ship, remember?" Moira spoke up for the first time since coming down here. Honestly she didn't know why she was even here.

Charles looked at her and nodded slowly. "Yes, yes, quite right."

"So?" Liesel asked simply.

"So," Charles turned and gestured a hand to the setup. "Cue high intensity lights! These take quite a bit of power, if you can get them to stay stable; my reasoning is you'll be able to do the same to lower grade ones." He paused to muse over something before looking at her. "You'll also be able to take the power back which is generated in them...when you do this, you'll need to learn to dispel that power safely."

"I won't get that first time."

"Yes, that I know, which is the point of training." Charles smiled and side stepped away from her.

"What if I take out the power down here?" Liesel looked over her shoulder at the pair.

"Then we'll be wandering about in darkness." Charles reasoned while placing a hand on Moira's shoulder and leading her out of the room. He shut the door and looked through the high grade durable glass hatch.

"So, remind me again why I'm here?" Moira really didn't know why she was here, still. She'd help set up that lightbulb test, but other than that she didn't see why she was needed.

Charles rubbed a hand to his chin, he looked at Liesel as she glanced at the wires in her hands. She looked hugely sceptical, and rather reluctant to do anything. She was afraid of using her power, it seemed, or at least that was the vibe Charles was getting. "Because, if something goes wrong...I have a feeling that she'll only hear sense from one person." He glanced slowly to Moira as she thought over this with a frown. "Sorry, love, you'll have to play messenger."

"Can't you just...?" Moira trailed off with a wave of her hand to her head.

Charles frowned at this and shook his head. "I would rather avoid going into Erik's mind as much as possible. Even if it involves getting him for her sake." His mind was a barrage, a rolling ocean of turmoil. It was truly overpowering how one person could feel so much anger, and hatred, yet hide it behind a calm façade. "And I'd rather avoid having to, for the better word, shut her down if she goes overboard." He had after all only just seemingly got back into her good books. He was more than certain that telepathically knocking her out, was a one way ticket back to begin disliked.

----

Edited: 10/June/2019

Reedited: 17/August/2021