Haven’t the time to write it but Edwin truly, fully losing his temper at Charles, and going after him, stabbing at all his weak points like he does at Crystal but so much worse because he has spent 35 years learning exactly what Charles’s weakest points are, and he never really fully meant to hurt Crystal anyway, he was just scared and jealous, but god does he mean to hurt now.
And Charles just… absolutely refuses to rise to it. Won’t snap back, won’t use any of the verbal weapons Edwin knows he could call on if he wanted to. Edwin can tell he’s upset, Charles’s teeth are gritted and fists are rapidly clenching and loosening, there’s tension in every muscle, but he’s refusing to raise his voice no matter what Edwin does, refusing to hurt Edwin back.
As Edwin keeps going he realizes he can see past Charles’s suppressed anger to the suppressed hurt, which isn’t a surprise, of course, because Edwin knows he’s hurting him, he’s trying to hurt him. He wants to, doesn’t he?
So why won’t Charles hurt him back, damn it?
And Edwin’s voice gets more and more hysterical and more and more incoherent, his razor-sharp pinpoint-targeted stabs turning wild and messy, until somehow he’s on the floor in front of Charles, sobbing, and he realizes all he’s saying now is sorry sorry sorry I didn’t mean to sorry.
And Charles smiles down at him, and kneels down at his side, and wraps him in his arms. Edwin tries to yank away because he doesn’t deserve this, he hurt Charles on purpose, but Charles’s arms are stronger than iron, and they hold Edwin tight, and Charles’s voice is as gentle as it’s been this whole time. It’s alright. I know you didn’t mean to. You’re okay. We’re okay. Shhh. I love you.
