"I don't mean that I feel guilty," Erik explained, which was true. That wasn't exactly what he felt, guilt was too simple. Although it did have something in common with how he'd fallen paralyzed to the floor in front of Charles, it wasn't as passive as guilt. Passivity implied that nothing could be done. "I also sincerely doubt that any other--"
Versions? Iterations? What was the terminology for multiple universes. "If he's anything like me he doesn't feel guilty either," he said eventually, and it was bitterly self-mocking in its straightforwardness. He knew himself. He would do what he thought he had to, in any place and time. It was a self who thought atrocity was a Had To that--well. Maybe that was it. Maybe it frightened him. Fear could paralyze as effectively as guilt, after all. "But I can't exactly tackle the most direct issue from here, limited as we are to a singular reality. I'm--" he coughed, and didn't use his plate as a reason not to speak, although would have been easier.
"I'm glad you don't see me differently. God knows if you wanted to you could find enough faults right in front of you without needing to look to--otherwordly Eriks."
That was a joke, all of it; although its tang was like a mouthful of blood Erik meant it. "If the situation is ever reversed, though--don't expect me to lie to you. I'm not that kind."