Disclaimer: The X-Men characters in this fiction were not my creation. This is merely a fan fiction.

- Chapter Two -

A Place for My Head

It was another day for research.

His eyelids still drooping lazily. His mind may be well prepared for the task but his body was showing the opposite. His shoulder muscle ached which may be caused by the position his body had been while sleeping. He finally sat up and massaged his back for a while before leaving his bed for the bathroom. He stared at his reflection on the mirror for a moment. His facial hair started to bloom downwards, in front of his ears to his jaw. His appearance was weary. Maybe a shower and a trim on his facial hair would be sufficed.

When he was done, he picked his shirts and pants randomly. He combed his hair to the back. He grabbed a black coat and headed to the main door. As he walked passed the stairs, he greeted his neighbours who were getting ready to leave their houses. He unlocked his bicycle lock and pedalled his way to the university.

It was considered his day off. He had no lectures for that day, thus he could fully commit to his work. Students who saw him cycling around either greeted him or waved at him. He returned with a smile which sent arrows hovering straight to their hearts. He parked his bicycle accordingly in front of the building and walked straight to the entrance. He showed the guards his credentials and continued to proceed to the elevator.

"Professor Xavier!" A man called.

He turned his head over his shoulder and recognised the man as Dr. Richard Claymon, who was one of the professors in Oxford University. There were a few threads of grey hair screening under the dirty blonde. He was also doing researches in the same laboratory with Charles. He greeted with a beam. "Morning, Dr Claymon."

"You look drained, young man." Claymon stretched his arms to pat Charles's shoulder lightly. "It's nice to have young bloods working hard but young men need to rest, too, you know."

Charles smiled uneasily. He couldn't help but noticing a girl following Claymon. Claymon was aware of it. He continued to speak apologetically. "Oh, this is Katerina Willocq. She is one of the junior engineers who are involved in the project I'm following."

Her hair was tied in a high pony tail, leaving a few long strands of middle-parted fringe dangling. Her skin was fair, but it appeared even paler when she wore her hair black. Her dark eyes were vibrant and well-defined, her nose was profound, her lips slightly larger and thicker as compared to the overall of her face. She was around 5"5. She was thin. Her white coat loose and was not made for her size.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Willocq." Charles stretched his arms out naturally.

Charles clenched on her black leather gloves as she stretched her arms slowly. "Nice to meet you too, Professor Xavier."

"Just call me Charles." He winked. Though inside his mind, he was confused. Of all the voices of the people presented there wandered around his mind, hers was absent. He focussed to search deeper. None. He frowned a little.

"Would you mind to join us for breakfast?" Claymon invited with a grin. Charles couldn't reject with any excuses. So, he agreed.

He ordered the normal breakfast set he would have whenever he was in the canteen. A French toast with honey and a cup of coffee. This was enough to brighten his day. Willocq was surely showing no interest to him. No women had repelled him before. He felt both defied and excited. He looked intently at the stranger. Was she the same as he was?

Claymon had finished his meal and was leaving. "I'll go to the lab first to get the results."

"Sir," she called but was cut off by Claymon.

"Accompany Charles, he's not done with his meal yet." Claymon nudged her lightly. "Be polite."

She looked troubled. Her gaze never left her superior until his shade disappeared. Even so, she never looked Charles in the eyes.

"So, Katerina-"

"Just Katherine will do." She spoke bluntly and coldly. There was this dark icy aura shoving out of her.

"Katherine," he rectified, "how long have you been in the university?"

"A month," she replied. Each word filled with frost. He was certain she abhorred him, without any reasons. Without mind-reading. Women.

Trying to think of topics, Charles had a bit of difficulty when it comes to social without first reading people's minds. It was always easy to make conversations when he knew what people like or dislike before talking to them. He stammered. "Uhh…"

"Don't speak, Xavier." She stood up with her hands pressing the table, her face was grim, her tone was solid. "I know your kind of people. Mutants. And you feel proud of yourself because you are different and have special abilities. But now I'm here telling you that this is nothing to be proud of. You are just a mutated DNA, a disfigured DNA. And don't you try using your mind tricks to get into my head!"

She stomped her way out of the canteen. Charles was dumbfounded. What did he do to get such ticking-off? Why was she so revolted by mutants? How did she know if he could mind-read? The only way she would know was because she was a mutant. Nevertheless, if she was a mutant, she would not be odious towards mutants, or else she'd be despising herself. It didn't make sense. Charles shook off his thoughts. His brain was crammed, and when people's thoughts swam into his minds, he got uncontrolled and went to somewhere peaceable, serene. He needed to remove everyone from his mind. The only place would be laboratory, the place where he could be tranquilised.