Erik raises his brow and taps his temple to give Charles permission to dive into his mind to find the memories he wants to -- of how he had been in that strange loop of time and thought that ending things would be the simplest way, of how he had saved Tracy's life only by offering up his own. Actively, he hadn't wanted to die, but in a passive and quiet way, he'd also thought there had been nothing much to stand and live for without his powers.

"No," he says. "I wasn't. I was weak and powerless and lonely. And you are better," Erik insists. "Not only for your powers, but including them. You're smart and clever and resourceful and wise and kind," he says each word like they are targeted weapons themselves. "And your capacity of power is incredible. You saved me, didn't you?"