[ Even if Charles weren't telepathic, the accuracy of that description is written all over Ned's face. He sets the mug down, stares into its contents as if suddenly fascinated by the sight of tea. The day he discovered his powers is closer to the surface of Ned's mind than usual, after the events of the previous day. He thinks of Digby, dead on the road. Of Charles Charles, sprawled on the grass, the hose still running. His mother, on the floor of the kitchen, not breathing. ]
[ Yes, he thinks. If trauma is enough to kick-start a mutant power, then his is most likely a mutant power. Though it's hard to untangle the two: did the trauma cause the power, or the power cause the trauma, or both at once? ]
That sounds about right.
[ Then he remembers, belatedly, that he is sitting across the table from a mind reader. That in all likelihood, Charles might have seen, or heard, or sensed some of what had just flashed through his mind. Now the uneasiness comes; there are really some things he would rather keep private, if it's at all possible.]
Do you... can you see everything I think? [ He does his best to make it not sound like an accusation. If it is something Charles can't control, well, they've all been there. But if it is, Ned thinks he'd rather have the option of putting a few places in his mind off-limits ]
no subject
[ Even if Charles weren't telepathic, the accuracy of that description is written all over Ned's face. He sets the mug down, stares into its contents as if suddenly fascinated by the sight of tea. The day he discovered his powers is closer to the surface of Ned's mind than usual, after the events of the previous day. He thinks of Digby, dead on the road. Of Charles Charles, sprawled on the grass, the hose still running. His mother, on the floor of the kitchen, not breathing. ]
[ Yes, he thinks. If trauma is enough to kick-start a mutant power, then his is most likely a mutant power. Though it's hard to untangle the two: did the trauma cause the power, or the power cause the trauma, or both at once? ]
That sounds about right.
[ Then he remembers, belatedly, that he is sitting across the table from a mind reader. That in all likelihood, Charles might have seen, or heard, or sensed some of what had just flashed through his mind. Now the uneasiness comes; there are really some things he would rather keep private, if it's at all possible.]
Do you... can you see everything I think? [ He does his best to make it not sound like an accusation. If it is something Charles can't control, well, they've all been there. But if it is, Ned thinks he'd rather have the option of putting a few places in his mind off-limits ]