He feels Erik before he hears the words, the dark swooping colour inside his skull, the echo of a yearning that Charles himself has been cultivating for what feels like an eternity. The camera cracks and he can't even bring himself to look away from the eye of the storm, can't pull back because Erik has taken his anchor and yanked him along the sea bed.

"I care for you more than I thought was physically possible," he murmurs, a step forward, careful to not break Erik's gaze or startle him away, "More than I ever had and you think I can let you hurt because of me."

He reaches out, hand hovering just above Erik's elbow, "Because I do, you know, I really do."