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I can see you standing, honey, with his arms around your body. Laughin', but the joke's not funny at all
Charles had ought to be happy, after all he had wanted this for Erik. No matter how much they bickered and fought, all he had ever wanted for Erik was for him to find his happiness and he had; just it was in the arms of another.
He wanted to argue and fight for his love, but in the end, what had fighting ever brought Charles? It brought pain and misery and suffering. He couldn't do that to Erik, not when he watched him smile at the crappy joke his new partner whispered.
And it took you five whole minutes to pack us up and leave me with it. Holdin' all this love out here in the hall.
As much as it hurt to watch, Charles almost found the moment bittersweet. He and Erik may have moved past the disagreements but in doing so, Erik began to push Charles away, putting up the walls the telepath had spent years breaking down.
The love they had both found solace in had slowly shattered before their eyes, but neither of them had enough energy left in them to continue to fight the losing battle of each other
You're not my homeland anymore; so what am I defending now? You were my town, now I'm in exile, seein' you out.
If Charles were to do it all over again, if he could love Erik all over again, he would. He would have fought longer and harder. Loving Erik was slowly killing him; but living without Erik's love left him alone. He had nowhere and no one without. He was exiled without his love.
I can see you starin', honey like he's just your understudy; like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me
It didn't escape Erik's noticed how Charles stared at him and his partner. The slight glare which softened everytime Charles focussed on him. He remembered all the soft looks Charles used to give him, and he longed for that again, even though he knew it was a pipe dream.
Erik had spun Charles the way he spun his new partner the first time they danced. They were drunk in the kitchen, the radio crackling in the background but it was perfect as it was only them in that moment. There isn't anything that Erik wouldn't give to have that once again; to have Charles once again.
Second, third, and hundredth chances. balancin' on breaking branches. Those eyes add insult to injury.
But they couldn't have it again. They had tried time and time again, always forgiving and never forgetting as if it would erase the pain they caused each other. But even as the pain faded, it never truly disappeared and as time went on they became too wounded to heal
I'm not your problem anymore, so who am I offending now? You were my crown, now I'm in exile, seein' you out.
Erik turned away from Charles and focussed on his new partner. They were perfect: they were kind, forgiving and patient. There was no reason for Erik not to love them, but he couldn't, not in the way he loves loved Charles.
He knew he would never get back to the way things were, stuck forevermore as a passive spectator in Charles' life. He was burdened to watch as he moved on, leaving him behind in exile.
All this time I never learned to read your mind
Even after years of knowing him, Charles could never truly know what was running through Erik's mind. He could be thinking one thing and mean something else. But even now, as he searched his thoughts, he found himself confused at the lingering feelings Erik still held for him.
I couldn't turn things around 'cause you never gave a warning sign
Erik still watched Charles as he danced. If it wasn't his own wedding he would've followed Charles out as he left the venue, but he was powerless to watch him leave. Erik had made his choice but he only wished he had been warned that he would lose the one he wanted most.