Chapter One

Georgetown University, 1955

Charles Xavier closed his eyes, allowing his head to fill with the thoughts of everyone around him. He had always found a strange comfort in letting others' thoughts echo through his eager mind. Their fears, their pleasures, their stories filled his body, allowing himself to momentarily forget that he was Charles Xavier- the poor little rich boy who had found his father far out in the many acres of lush fields the Xaviers owned with a bullet in his head. For a moment, he could forget that his foster sister hated him, and that he hadn't spoken to his mother in over six months, despite the desperate letters and many thank yous for paying his tuition he had sent to her. Charles sat idly on the bench, enveloping himself in the strife and joys of others, silently wishing he was anyone but himself. Soon though, reality started seeping through the many barriers he had set up out of desperation in his head, forcing him to remember the truth. He was Charles Xavier, the pitiable rich boy who had found his father dead and had a foster sister who despised his mere existence, and a mother who thought her only obligation to her son was no more than sending Georgetown a check. Charles opened his eyes, allowing their vibrantly blue, yet tragically vacant stare to grace the world. Inhaling deeply, his nostrils were filled with the pleasant floral scent of spring. On the surface, Charles was fine- completely held together by skin that had been blessed with touching every item a privileged English boy deserved; his blue eyes faking a pulsating glow, and could find a way to conjure up a flash of specious cheerfulness. And though his smile seemed effortless and genuine, if someone was to not just see Charles, but look at him; really look at him, they would see fragile strength no more stable than a time bomb and crippled agony that lied not far beneath the forged glow of bliss.

Charles sighed, and got up from his slumped position on the bench. It was always the most depressing time for the young Xavier when final exams were ever so quickly approaching and his practiced brain need not study long. The situation allowed for Charles to wander the 110-acre campus until he had memorized all nooks and crannies, with the only escape from reality being invading another's mind, letting their emotions become his. Shrugging his feelings of self pity away as quickly as possible, he began to walk briskly down the cement walkway. He stared in numb interest at the small little beings that scurried about the ground seeming to always be late for something. As his mind pondered on the idea of where the little creatures were off to, he felt his body collide with another. Seeing papers sway with the wind down to his feet, he instantly dropped down to a kneel to pick them up.

"I am so sorry," Charles heard a voice say franticly, he raised his eyes to meet what looked to be an angel. The sun hung right above her head, creating a sort of halo around her wavy blond hair, her green eyes glistening brightly. Papers stacked safely in his grasp, Charles rose slowly, trying not to stare too obviously.

"Here are your papers," he told her, handing them back to her, hoping to god the tremble he had in his hand wasn't painfully apparent. Charles saw a delicate smile start to dance its way onto her perfectly pale skin, the only way he could think to describe it was a peaches and cream. Taking the papers from him, their hands touched and Charles felt a shock of something. He had heard the many cliché stories of the chemicals reacting in just the right way when two hands touch that are bound to be lovers, but he had thought the stories to be rubbish. In this moment though, Charles Xavier questioned his stance; the last time he did this was when he was ten, and he had met Raven- his now hateful foster sister. As Charles watched the girl in front of him, he saw her feet begin to inch dangerously away from him as if she was about to walk away.

Before she could step past him though, Charles reached out a hand accompanied with a "Charles Xavier, how do you do?" A smile then began to find its way on his lips, and it was only after it had fully developed into a grin that he realized he didn't have to fake it.

"Aila Schoenlien," her honey sweet voice seemed to sing as she shook his hand, "and fine thank you, and yourself?" Her eyes flashed with a small hint of joking. Charles, who had always been a superb people watcher, realized she was mildly taunting his very formal introduction.

"A wonderful day out, quite hard to be anything but fine," he smiled in return, crossing his arms leisurely.

"Too true," Aila smiled, tucking a stand of hair behind her ear, "and sorry for running into you." She provided Charles with a small shrug of apology.

"Nothing to be sorry for," he said waving away her apology, "if I had been paying attention, I wouldn't have hit you." Silence fell between the two, and Charles racked his brain for something to say to make her stay. "Well, with all those papers, you must have some difficult classes." He dropped his gaze to the stack of papers now tucked under Aila's arm. She gave a small smile.

"I'm a psychology major; not hard, just a ton of work," she gestured, slightly lifting the wad of papers. Charles gave a nod in return, liking this girl even more with each second that passed.

"Psychology is certainly an interesting topic. I am studying genetics; focusing mainly on its mutations." Charles felt that the major fit him well. His mind had always been quick to learn science, and who better to learn about genetic mutations than a mutant?

"Oh, how interesting!" Aila's smile grew, and Charles realized that her excitement was genuine. Never had he met someone so interested in what he did- not even his professors. Aila Schoenlien seemed too good to be true, but as he looked at her, she never vanished back into the locked dungeon of Charles's imagination.

"Interesting," he echoed dreamily, "I've never heard that response before. Most people do the polite nod, the awkward five seconds of holding the gaze of fake enthusiasm, and then returning to fidgeting with some article of clothing. You though, gave a response that actually possessed words, and have held my gaze now for much more than five seconds. And would you look at that, your clothes are perfectly intact; not a wrinkle in sight." Charles gave a bright smile, his eyes dancing with long since felt pure joy.

"Would you look at that," Aila chuckled in return, looking down momentarily at her navy dress. When her eyes rose back up to meet Charles's, he couldn't help but wonder what she thought of him. A short peek into her thoughts wouldn't be too intrusive, he figured, and he began to try to slip inside Aila's supposedly locked mind. Just when he could almost feel her thoughts trickling into him, he was stopped.

"Sneaking into a fellow telepath's thoughts is a very tricky feat, I'd venture to guess? Charles saw the small amused smirk work its way onto her face and he chuckled both in his thoughts and aloud.

"Yes, I'd say it is quite difficult. I must say that a telepath studying psychology certainly is a walk in the park."

"Debatable, though. But a mutant studying mutation is very fitting though. So, where do we go from here, Charles Xavier?" Aila raised an eyebrow, staring at Charles with an even more inviting tint in her emerald eyes.

"Well, for one thing, may I suggest physically speaking to each other? Staring 'silently' isn't the most usual of things to do in the middle of a walkway." Charles raised an eyebrow in return at Aila matching her gaze as he did.

"As you wish," she replied. "This certainly is the most unusual back and forth flirtation I have ever been a part of," Aila chuckled.

"Whoever said I was flirting?" Charles challenged. Aila gave a subtle roll of the eyes and laughed.

"Even if I couldn't tell what you were thinking, it is really obvious by looking in your eyes. I must say though, that I am flattered to have such a beautiful pair of blue eyes staring at me like you are." Aila looked down at her watch and gave a solemn sigh. "My next class starts in ten minutes, so I have to go." Charles tried his best to not let his disappointment show, but knew well that he was failing. "But… 'call' me later and we can meet for coffee. You can tell me all about your studies of genetic mutations, and I'll try my best not to fidget with my clothes." Aila gave a tender smile and stepped closer to Charles. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Charles felt the fireworks go off where her soft lips had touched his never fully loved skin, and he closed his eyes. "I know you wanted me to," Aila whispered quietly to him, then walked past him bound for her next class. Charles touched his cheek gently afraid if he felt it too harshly the electricity would fade. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears, and Charles couldn't help but love the feeling.

He began to walk dazed once more, but found himself without the constant desire to be someone else other than Charles Xavier. Finding his way to his dorm he sifted through his pocket for his key. As he approached, he saw Raven leaning against the entrance to the dorm. Charles's chest began to constrict and the vacant gaze found it's all too known home in his blue eyes.

"Raven," he greeted numbly, "what are you doing here." No smile appeared on his face and no flash of glee danced in his eye; not even the forced one.

Raven sighed, her blond hair falling in her face. "I'm in trouble Charles," she mumbled crossing her arms.

"What possessed you to think coming to me would be of any help?" Charles raised a disappointed eyebrow. Ever since he had gotten into Georgetown, Raven had been a bitter mess of incoherent feelings, letting the wrath of her fiery emotions to fall completely on Charles.

"Because you're my brother," she replied quietly, meeting his gaze.

"No, no, do not do this, Raven. Do not put that guilt on my shoulders. You're the one who walked away." How could she do this to him? Raven wanted nothing to do with him for almost four years, and how here she was begging Charles for money.

"Only because you were going to leave me!" Her voice rose to an angry thunder just short of a scream. "I thought it was going to be you and me against the world, Charles. But then you decided college was more important than me. I had no choice but to leave; the only way I could was to force myself to hate you." Raven's voice lowered again, her words striking Charles right in the heart.

"Raven," he said softly, "you know I would do anything for you. But I have no money to offer you."

"Just let me live with you. You're graduating soon anyway, and I won't be that much of a bother. I'll just roam around all day like a student; no one will care. You have less than a month left here, Charles, please." He saw the desperation in her stare, and he felt his armor crumble away from him rapidly.

"Alright, Raven. But no more of this hatred, yes? It's a crippling feeling to possess for too long." He gave his foster sister a weak smile.

"Promise," she whispered, and wrapped Charles in a tight hug. For now, the world of Charles Xavier was put to a comfortable rest, and he squeezed Raven tighter.

Alright, so another new story. Yes, I know, I have so many started; but I had to write this. Since I saw the X-Men movie, I became obsessed and had this idea floating around in my head for a very long time. Since I've never written any of these characters before please tell me if they're too OOC. Plus most of this story will be centered on Charles, but Aila and Raven and Erik Lensherr will have very big role as well- just for your information. Hopefully a new chapter will be up soon.

Remember, reviews are love, people!