Loosing your path (Charles Xavier x Reader)

It was a warm day. You were on your way to visit an old friend, but you were expecting something... different.

The gates leading to his house were always opened, warmly welcoming everyone coming to his place. Now, they're closed and locked, and there was even a shield hanging there, saying “Private Property, Keep out”. This wasn't normal. you climbed over the gates, not caring about the sign, and went to the front door.

The garden of Charles Xavier's Institute and School for gifted youngsters previously was always full of color, perfect for the kids to play and relax, but it wasn't like that anymore. The garden seemed abandoned, lonely since no kids were there anymore, and it's lost its color. You felt tears wanting to well up in your eyes, but you managed to hold them back. This time, you went straight to the front door and knocked.

“Charles?”

You knocked again, louder.

“Charles!”

The door finally opened, even if it was just a little, and someone came into your field of vision, but it wasn't Charles.

“Hank?”

“(Y/n)?” He was just as confused as you were.

Moments of silence passed, just you looking into each others eyes, confused but happy at the same time. It was Hank who opened the door properly and embraced you with a tight hug.

“I missed you.”

You hugged back, feeling comfort in his words. Everything that happened to this place, whatever it was, it took the beauty away as it left.

As Hank let you go, you finally raised your voice.

“Can you explain what happened?”

“Yes, of course. Come in.”

He made you a cup of tea before you sat down in the living area, right under a giant chandelier, and he began to recount the events.

“It's about Charles.”

“What is?”

“He lost everything. Eric, Raven, his legs. We built the school, the labs, this whole place. Then just after the first semester, the war in Vietnam got worse. Many of the teachers and all of the students were drafted. It really broke him. He retreated into himself. I wanted to help do something, so I designed a serum to treat his spine. Derived from the same formula that helps you control my mutation. I take just enough to keep myself balanced but... he takes too much. I tried easing him back, but he just couldn't bear the pain, the voices. The treatment gives him his legs, but it's not enough. He's... He's just lost too much.”

“Dear lord...”

“It's just that...” His voice started to break.

“What is it?”

“When you left us, after fighting in Cuba, it started. Even though you didn't leave with Erik, it broke him. Being the stubborn Charles we know, he wouldn't let it show.”

“No. This can't be, can it? The Charles I know never told me I was that important to him. The Charles I know didn't even try to prevent me from leaving, finding my own path. He didn't even try, Hank.”

“I know. This is what I told him every time he whined about missing you, how he shouldn't have let you go. He just wouldn't listen. You know him.”

All of a sudden, a third voice joined the conversation.

“Hank? Who are you talking to?”

It was Charles, coming down the stairs. He was about to say something, then looked at you. His eyes widened. He didn't bring out a word, just stared at you with wide eyes, which were starting to tear up. He covered his mouth with his right hand, a sob escaped him. You ran up to him and wrapped your arms around him, hugging him tightly. He hugged back, almost immediately, and cried into your shoulder. His form was shuddering. He looked so different now, he looked broken, not caring about anything, but now he was there, in your arms, crying because you came back. It was everything that mattered in that moment.

“Calm, Charles. I'm here. I'm here.” you whispered calming words and sweet nothings in his ear. His breathing slowed, beginning to get normal, and after a moment, he pulled away to look you in the eyes.

His eyes were puffy and red from crying, his face wasn't shaved and his hair was longer than usually. Him looking at you like this broke your heart, and the dam behind your eyes, because the tears you tried to hold back so hard finally welled up in your eyes, but you held in your sobs.

“I can't... ca-can't believe you're here.” His voice still broke when he spoke, tears welling up in his eyes again.

“I'm so sorry for leaving you, Charles. If you only told me how bad you missed me, I would've come earlier. I should have been by your side.”

“You're here. At least one thing I lost came back. One person I-” He suddenly broke down, crying out in pain.

“Hank? Hank, what is going on?!”

you were in panic, your breathing became rapid and tears started streaming freely down your cheeks.

“Hank!”

Hank and you helped Charles in a sitting position.

“They're coming back.”

You frowned at Charles. “Who is coming back?”

“The voices. All those voices. All this pain. It's all coming back!”

He tried to cover his ears, being obviously in pain, while Hank ran upstairs to get him something. He came back with an injection, about to give it to Charles, but you stopped it.

“What is this?”

You looked at Charles, but he couldn't answer me, he was completely devastated. You turned around to face Hank.

“What is this?!”

“It's the treatment for his spine! It allows him to walk, but he looses his power through it!”

“WHAT?!”

You threw the injection across the room, took the telepath's hands in yours, and tried to sooth him.

“Listen, Charles. You need to focus on my voice. Only on my voice.”

He took his time with it, but you gave him all the time he needed. He looked into your teary eyes and focused. His breathing calmed, it seemed to work.

“Good, now listen, very carefully my friend. Before I went to search my own path, you were a teacher. You gave people a home when they were lost, you taught them when they were helpless, you calmed them when they were in panic. You showed people that there is a different path, a better path. Some of them found it, me being one of them. Right now, in this very moment, you are lost. When Erik left, Raven left, your legs left, and the pain started, you lost your path. What you need is someone to help you find the right way again.”

Without any further hesitation, you kissed Charles. It was short, but it was sweet, and as you broke apart, you realized he wasn't in pain anymore.

“I need to return a favor, Charles. I'm going to help you find yourself again.”

“I love you, (Y/n).”

“I love you too, Charles.”

Hank and you helped the telepath into his wheelchair. It was already evening, and Hank left to get some good nights sleep.

“Why did you come here exactly today?” The brown haired man wheeled himself into the kitchen, where you were preparing a dinner.

“I was on my way loosing my path, and actually came here for advice. I wasn't expecting this.”

“Yeah, I guess it was a surprise.”

A few moments of silence passed, but you raised your voice.

“You know, I love the new look and everything, but the first thing we will do tomorrow morning is to shave your face and get you a haircut.”

He chuckled at that, and you realized how much you missed his laughter.

“Me too.”

“What?”

“I can read your mind again, love. I missed my laughter too. It was the first time in ages I laughed properly.”

After dinner, you washed the dishes and prepared for bed. You heard Charles behind you again.

“How long are you actually staying, (Y/n)?”

You turned and knelled down in front of his wheelchair, whispering; “As long as you'll need me.”