Charles had always been slightly different. His Nanny, for his mother had not cared for his childish ways nor his company, had called him 'empathetic'; she said that he was good at guessing what people were feeling. He'd agreed, and said that he could feel what they were feeling, but Nanny simply smiled in return, fondness colouring her face and thoughts.
It was when Charles started kindergarten that he realised something was amiss. He empathised beyond empathy, solving simple disputes and making friends. But it quickly got out of hand, and by his second day the other children were avoiding him, not liking his 'extreme empathy', as the teacher called it.
He learnt quickly that if he spoke his mind - or, rather, others' minds - he was punished and scrutinised and frowned at, so he stopped voicing his empathy. His mother paid for the very best child psychologists in the region, but by then Charles had learnt to keep quiet. Mrs. Xavier was informed that her child, while unusually bright and understanding of others, had no psychological problems whatsoever.
He used it subtly, to his advantage. Learning came naturally to him. When he saw the thoughts of someone who understood the concept perfectly he couldn't help but understand it as they did.
Raven was proof that he was not alone. Raven was his one friend. Friends were hard to come by as a telepath, particularly as a child. He could not control it, not fully, and so was always aware of the thoughts of those around him on at least some level. Nasty thoughts drifted his way quite often, even from his closer friends. It took time, but he eventually learned that all people thought occasional nasty thoughts, most of which they did not mean and were merely using to relieve pressure or stress.
It was many years later that he would come to understand what it was to be a mutant. He thought he had understood, and perhaps he had. But his understanding was based on the principle that all people, even the darkest of men and women, had good inside that could and would triumph. He'd felt it, the love and the friendship and the hope in so many minds, even the darker, depressed ones. There was always something, always a spark.
What he misinterpreted was what people would do with that spark.
Charles did not have to hide. He could fit into society as easily as a fish could live in water. He would experience hiccups, yes, but he did not have the same isolation as the others. After many years and many mutants' minds, he finally began to really know isolation. Every passing day he was surrounded by more people, yet he felt more and more time alone, preferring to spend his time plugged into Cerebro rather than interacting with his pupils.
And so as Charles' story comes to a close, he feels connected like he hasn't for years; so many mutants, who had chosen one path or another, but had come to terms with themselves and found peace within their own minds. And with the knowledge that he caused that peace, Charles Xavier closes his eyes.
So wow I'm not quite sure sure what happened to this. It wasn't going to be that, but I just wrote and this came out... so yeah.
My knowledge of X-Men is that of the movies, so excuse my inaccuracy and probable OOC-ness. I just had to write this - after seeing X-Men: First Class I just completely fell in love with Charles.
