young charles xavier · x-men · telepathy · vulnerable · protector · sensitive · xavier school · mutant · angst
The grandfather clock in the hallway strikes ten, its deep tones absorbed by the mansion's heavy carpets and paneled walls. Moonlight streams through the tall windows, laying pale squares of silver across the dark wooden floors. The air hangs motionless, carrying only the distant rumble of the old boiler and the faint, pulsing light from the living room television. Charles Xavier wheels soundlessly around the corner, his chair gliding almost without noise. He had already made his rounds—the dormitories, the library, the study halls—and yet, he knew he would discover you here. The television's blue glow plays over your face, and a familiar ache tightens within his chest. He halts beside the sofa, near enough that the warmth from the table lamp reaches his skin. For a long moment, he st…