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Professor X was advanced in years, with some wrinkles on his face. His smile was gentle and benevolent, possessing a peculiar charm; he could always calm people's minds from tension and unease.
Tony, at least, felt this way. In Professor X's smile, his entire being relaxed, and the anxiety he'd felt moments before vanished. He thought it might be Professor X's Psychic Power, but he felt it was more likely Professor X's personal charisma.
"Child, welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I am Charles Xavier," Charles said, looking at this fellow mutant with joy in his eyes.
Charles certainly had reason to be joyful about Tony's arrival. He had been following this fellow mutant, who had achieved Level Four upon his Awakening, and although he had never truly met Tony, he knew a great deal about him.
Professor X possessed formidable Psychic Power, which granted him powerful Sensory Ability and the ability to Read Minds. Even without delving deep into someone's brain, he could use his Psychic Power to perceive superficial things, such as determining a person's character.
Logically, he should have brought Tony over long ago, but he always held back, waiting patiently.
What Tony displayed upon his Awakening was not anger, nor hysteria, but a complete blankness, like a stagnant pool, devoid of life. In that moment, Charles felt a chill. This fellow mutant's talent was astonishingly high, but it also made him worried; that deathly quiet was startling even for Professor X, who had witnessed countless upheavals.
He secretly looked after Tony, shielding him from many hardships. He did not reveal himself; after sending an invitation, he quietly observed Tony's choice, making an effort not to directly interfere with the young man who was in a state of thought and adaptation, leaving him ample room for choice. He had even painfully prepared for the worst in his heart.
But when he clearly sensed Tony coming to find him, he was truly overjoyed. A Level Four fellow mutant daring to stand before him already indicated that this fellow mutant had at least stepped out of his initial shadows, proving that his earlier series of non-interference actions were correct. This young man had not disappointed his expectations.
Charles dedicated his entire life to advocating for the Mutant race. He cherished every member of his kind and had seen countless people. With his wise gaze, he saw through everything. But when Tony stood before him, back straight, his eyes welled up slightly.
"Professor X? Tony is still looking at you," Jean gently reminded him. She had followed Charles since childhood and knew exactly what kind of person he was: a wise elder, yet sometimes more like a sensitive child.
He had been too weary these past years.
"Professor X, I also want to thank you for your care during this time." Although Tony didn't know why Charles was so sentimental, he still expressed his gratitude. He had wanted to thank Professor X for a long time, but only today did he fulfill that wish.
Professor X was the first to discover Tony's Awakening, and it was he who asked S.H.I.E.L.D. to look after Tony, sparing him a lot of trouble. Even so, Tony had never sought out Professor X, as if nothing had happened and he knew nothing.
Even so, when he found himself at his wit's end and came seeking help, this respected elder still opened his doors and welcomed him with open arms.
Tony knew that, invisibly, he already owed this old man far too much.
If he were to name one person who had shown him the greatest kindness after his Awakening, it would undoubtedly be the unsung Professor X. This benevolent old man had quietly done many things for him.
Although he didn't quite agree with, and even disliked, this old man's methods and ideology, he couldn't deny the efforts the other party made for Mutants—even if the direction and approach of those efforts were flawed.
Tony held a heartfelt respect for Charles, even though he also feared his Psychic Abilities to some extent.
"Child, when you stand before me, I believe you have already stepped out of the darkness." Charles smiled, freely expressing his appreciation for Tony and his joy at Tony coming to see him.
Tony smiled, "I can only say I've come out of it partially... there's still a knot in my heart that I can't untie."
"Because of Hulk? You believe he caused your parents' death, that he destroyed your ordinary yet happy family, and that everything beautiful you once had was drastically changed because of Hulk." Charles softly spoke Tony's innermost thoughts.
Tony's face darkened, and he remained silent. He knew Hulk wasn't the direct culprit, but his parents had indeed died indirectly because of Hulk, and he still couldn't untie this knot in his heart.
What would he do in the future? What would he do when he faced Hulk? Kill him directly? At the very least, a handshake and reconciliation would be impossible.
"If possible, I think I might kill him, at least if I had to choose right now. If I ever truly possessed that strength." Tony revealed his thoughts. Professor X didn't probe his mind; this was an honorable old man, and Tony was willing to voluntarily reveal his inner darkness.
This knot had weighed on his heart for too long; he could never untie it.
He had already killed Abomination, and Ross was still imprisoned in a heavily guarded jail, so he had no opportunity to act for now. As for Hulk, he was currently nowhere to be found.
Tony truly didn't know how to choose.
To some extent, Hulk was indeed a menace. From the moment this monster was born, every rampage and berserk fit led to the deaths of countless innocent civilians and the destruction of countless happy families. Innumerable people in this world hated him to the bone, wishing they could eat his flesh and sleep on his hide.
Tony understood that reconciliation with Hulk was fundamentally impossible because he simply couldn't let it go.
"Follow your heart, child. Time will answer everything, and time will guide you to the right choice. I also believe you can find your answer within your own heart," Charles consoled him. He didn't try to stop Tony, but merely guided him like a mentor.
He knew Tony was an adult with his own opinions; though young, he was growing rapidly. The old man believed Tony would make a choice that, at the very least, wouldn't go against his heart. Time would allow this somewhat confused child to grow, and it would help him find his own guiding light of the soul amidst the fog.
This was already immensely precious.
Charles asked Tony to sit down, and Jean quietly left, giving the old man and the young man space to converse.
That day, Charles and Tony talked about many things. They spoke of mischievous childhood experiences, the frustrations of growing up, and future dreams and wishes. Amidst bursts of laughter, time flew by, and the sense of unfamiliarity between them diminished endlessly.
Tony felt as though he had known Professor X for many years; otherwise, how could they have chatted so happily? It was as if he and Professor X had been close friends years ago, though Tony knew it was an illusion.
As dusk fell, Jean once again pushed the door open, scolding them for losing track of time and even forgetting dinner.
Charles laughed heartily. It had been many, many years since he had laughed so unrestrainedly. He immediately invited Tony to join him for dinner.
"My students are very curious about you; they've wanted to meet you for a long time," Charles said with a smile.
(end of chapter)
Tony, at least, felt this way. In Professor X's smile, his entire being relaxed, and the anxiety he'd felt moments before vanished. He thought it might be Professor X's Psychic Power, but he felt it was more likely Professor X's personal charisma.
"Child, welcome to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I am Charles Xavier," Charles said, looking at this fellow mutant with joy in his eyes.
Charles certainly had reason to be joyful about Tony's arrival. He had been following this fellow mutant, who had achieved Level Four upon his Awakening, and although he had never truly met Tony, he knew a great deal about him.
Professor X possessed formidable Psychic Power, which granted him powerful Sensory Ability and the ability to Read Minds. Even without delving deep into someone's brain, he could use his Psychic Power to perceive superficial things, such as determining a person's character.
Logically, he should have brought Tony over long ago, but he always held back, waiting patiently.
What Tony displayed upon his Awakening was not anger, nor hysteria, but a complete blankness, like a stagnant pool, devoid of life. In that moment, Charles felt a chill. This fellow mutant's talent was astonishingly high, but it also made him worried; that deathly quiet was startling even for Professor X, who had witnessed countless upheavals.
He secretly looked after Tony, shielding him from many hardships. He did not reveal himself; after sending an invitation, he quietly observed Tony's choice, making an effort not to directly interfere with the young man who was in a state of thought and adaptation, leaving him ample room for choice. He had even painfully prepared for the worst in his heart.
But when he clearly sensed Tony coming to find him, he was truly overjoyed. A Level Four fellow mutant daring to stand before him already indicated that this fellow mutant had at least stepped out of his initial shadows, proving that his earlier series of non-interference actions were correct. This young man had not disappointed his expectations.
Charles dedicated his entire life to advocating for the Mutant race. He cherished every member of his kind and had seen countless people. With his wise gaze, he saw through everything. But when Tony stood before him, back straight, his eyes welled up slightly.
"Professor X? Tony is still looking at you," Jean gently reminded him. She had followed Charles since childhood and knew exactly what kind of person he was: a wise elder, yet sometimes more like a sensitive child.
He had been too weary these past years.
"Professor X, I also want to thank you for your care during this time." Although Tony didn't know why Charles was so sentimental, he still expressed his gratitude. He had wanted to thank Professor X for a long time, but only today did he fulfill that wish.
Professor X was the first to discover Tony's Awakening, and it was he who asked S.H.I.E.L.D. to look after Tony, sparing him a lot of trouble. Even so, Tony had never sought out Professor X, as if nothing had happened and he knew nothing.
Even so, when he found himself at his wit's end and came seeking help, this respected elder still opened his doors and welcomed him with open arms.
Tony knew that, invisibly, he already owed this old man far too much.
If he were to name one person who had shown him the greatest kindness after his Awakening, it would undoubtedly be the unsung Professor X. This benevolent old man had quietly done many things for him.
Although he didn't quite agree with, and even disliked, this old man's methods and ideology, he couldn't deny the efforts the other party made for Mutants—even if the direction and approach of those efforts were flawed.
Tony held a heartfelt respect for Charles, even though he also feared his Psychic Abilities to some extent.
"Child, when you stand before me, I believe you have already stepped out of the darkness." Charles smiled, freely expressing his appreciation for Tony and his joy at Tony coming to see him.
Tony smiled, "I can only say I've come out of it partially... there's still a knot in my heart that I can't untie."
"Because of Hulk? You believe he caused your parents' death, that he destroyed your ordinary yet happy family, and that everything beautiful you once had was drastically changed because of Hulk." Charles softly spoke Tony's innermost thoughts.
Tony's face darkened, and he remained silent. He knew Hulk wasn't the direct culprit, but his parents had indeed died indirectly because of Hulk, and he still couldn't untie this knot in his heart.
What would he do in the future? What would he do when he faced Hulk? Kill him directly? At the very least, a handshake and reconciliation would be impossible.
"If possible, I think I might kill him, at least if I had to choose right now. If I ever truly possessed that strength." Tony revealed his thoughts. Professor X didn't probe his mind; this was an honorable old man, and Tony was willing to voluntarily reveal his inner darkness.
This knot had weighed on his heart for too long; he could never untie it.
He had already killed Abomination, and Ross was still imprisoned in a heavily guarded jail, so he had no opportunity to act for now. As for Hulk, he was currently nowhere to be found.
Tony truly didn't know how to choose.
To some extent, Hulk was indeed a menace. From the moment this monster was born, every rampage and berserk fit led to the deaths of countless innocent civilians and the destruction of countless happy families. Innumerable people in this world hated him to the bone, wishing they could eat his flesh and sleep on his hide.
Tony understood that reconciliation with Hulk was fundamentally impossible because he simply couldn't let it go.
"Follow your heart, child. Time will answer everything, and time will guide you to the right choice. I also believe you can find your answer within your own heart," Charles consoled him. He didn't try to stop Tony, but merely guided him like a mentor.
He knew Tony was an adult with his own opinions; though young, he was growing rapidly. The old man believed Tony would make a choice that, at the very least, wouldn't go against his heart. Time would allow this somewhat confused child to grow, and it would help him find his own guiding light of the soul amidst the fog.
This was already immensely precious.
Charles asked Tony to sit down, and Jean quietly left, giving the old man and the young man space to converse.
That day, Charles and Tony talked about many things. They spoke of mischievous childhood experiences, the frustrations of growing up, and future dreams and wishes. Amidst bursts of laughter, time flew by, and the sense of unfamiliarity between them diminished endlessly.
Tony felt as though he had known Professor X for many years; otherwise, how could they have chatted so happily? It was as if he and Professor X had been close friends years ago, though Tony knew it was an illusion.
As dusk fell, Jean once again pushed the door open, scolding them for losing track of time and even forgetting dinner.
Charles laughed heartily. It had been many, many years since he had laughed so unrestrainedly. He immediately invited Tony to join him for dinner.
"My students are very curious about you; they've wanted to meet you for a long time," Charles said with a smile.
(end of chapter)
