It was the end of the week and Charles had no more classes to teach. But that didn't stop him from doing anything intellectaul. He was reading books. Though he was trying to relax as he did so. He knew the students were busy enjoying the sun.
He knew he should at some point. But he was just enjoying the peace and being buried in books for the time being. Though he was sure that he couldn't do that all day as much as he wanted to . He though was happy for now.
The others never seemed to bother him when they knew he was enjoying it. He knew they would only ever interfer if he was stressed and needed to do something else. Charles was looking around.

It had been a few years since what happened in Cuba. Charles tried to not think about it. He did miss Erik and Raven. But he knew they had made thier choices. He had to trust they would find thier way back down the right path. He would help if he could. But at the moment he was still a bit mad with Erik and was keeping his distance. Though he knew it was hard to change peoples opinions.
He had tried so hard to get Erik to not go down that path, but he just couldn't seem to stop him.
The telepath had hoped Erik would help him run the school. Now Charles felt like he was doing that mostly alone as he didn't really have any other teachers. He knew he should try track down more as that would help lessen his work load.

Charles looked up from his books briefly as he thought he heard somebody. He wasn't sure though. He went back to looking over his book. He was enjoying what he was reading really. Though after awhile. He stopped reading and tried to work out if there was anybody there. At least he was still in his wheelchair and didn't have to get back into it, He had wanted to relax on the couch though. He smiled a bit.
The telepath then went to go and see if anybody was at the door. He was glad for the weekend. But he truely hadnt expected anybody to show up now. Though people sometimes did. He was thinking a bit.

He was here.

That was all Sophie could think about. The Charles Xavier that she had read countless scientific journals about - the rumours that he had a mutation of his own, that he was somehow involved in the Cuban missile crisis, that he had his own school for mutant kids... - she had no idea whether any of it was true, but maybe she was about to find out. She'd done her research - when didn't she? - and after weeks of looking, she had finally tracked down the elusive Professor. Now, she was about to unravel to key to the mystery that had been puzzling her for year; chiefly, how exactly had she escaped that car crash?

She marched down the corridor, glancing up at the sign hung above the large double-doorway. It read 'Library'. That's where the random person knocking around the area had said the professor would be and then laughed, muttering something about how he never left. She shrugged; she couldn't critise him, considering that's exactly what she usually spent half of her time doing.

She pushed open the door and straightened the collar of her jacket. She had to look like she was there on official business, otherwise how did she expect Mr Xavier to take her seriously. The silence was unnerving and her eyes dragged across the numerous stacks of colourful books on every imaginable topic. She found herself scanning and memorising the titles that sounded the most interesting - perhaps they could help supplement her own research. She edged around the bookcase and nearly collided with a young man...in a wheelchair. She blushed and steadied herself on a nearby bookshelf, which wobbled unsteadily under her weight. She quickly retracted her hand and instead held it out to the blue-eyed man to shake.

"I'm so sorry, sir," she scrambled to apologise for her clumsiness and then did a double take, as something occurred to her.

Wait...was this the Charles Xavier she had been after?

The telepath looked up upon hearing her movement and seeing her standing there, "Hello." he smiled at her. He hadn't really expected her to just walk in. But Charles was still polite. It seemed there wasn't many times where he didnt act like a gentlemen and be polite.
"Charles Xavier." He said extending his hand to shake hers. He wondered if she was a mutant. Normally mutants were the main ones who came to find him in his school. He tried to read her to see. He wasn't sure of what to think as he couldn't read her. Either she had some ablities that blocked his access or he just couldn't read her. Charles wasn't sure what to make of that at the moment.

Charles was looking at her "So what brings you here,?" he replied. The telepath didnt push trying to read her. He knew that would probably just lead to it hurting or overdoing it. He was still very curious by her,
He smiled more "Though I assume you were looking for me to come here?"
The mutant wasn't sure if she would have known about anybody else living here. Though he was willing to help her if he could. He just wasn't sure what it was with. As much as he hated it when he couldn't read people, that made him even more interested to get to know her.

Charles was sure that she hadn't expected him to look the way he did , he could tell from the look on his face. Maybe she didn't expect him to be in a wheelchair. Guessing from peoples expressions was way harder then if he could just read her mind.
"I take it you did not expect me to be young?" He asked her. The Mutant was just mainly curious. Charles never let being in a wheelchair too much bother him. At first he had been shocked and a little upset, but he had soon learned to accept it.

The man in the wheelchair took her hand and shook it in his.

"Charles Xavier"

So, indeed; it was him. He looked thoughtful - confused, for a second - until he began to speak.

"So what brings you here? Though I assume you were looking for me to come here?"

She studied how he was sat in a wheelchair - admittedly, she did not expect the professor to be both as young as he was (she, herself, was still in her twenties and he didn't look much older) and both unable to walk. But she supposed scientific papers were less interested in talking about his age and disability and more about his research papers.

"I take it you did not expect me to be young?" he said and she glanced sideways - that's exactly what she thought, but he sounded surprisingly uncertain about his question. Despite this, he, at least, didn't seem embarrassed about her continued silence. She eventually cleared her throat.

"Good day, Sir," she began, trying to sound formal and business like "My name is Sophie Peterson. I work for a company, in biochemical research, but I have heard about your own research - in genetic, is it? I have come to ask - someone told me you would be here - about the development of...abnormal traits in a person. But bear in mind that this conversation is strictly hypothetical."

She added the last sentence on, following an afterthought. She didn't want to reveal she was asking about herself so soon.

"Shall find somewhere to sit and talk, perhaps?"

She gestured towards the assortment of seats a little way away from the host of bookshelves.

"Or is your librarian particularly strict on the 'silent library' rule?"

Charles was looking at her "Well its nice meeting you, " he said. He was thinking for a bit. He smiled more "I hadnt expected anybody else to show up this week really. " he was wondering more about her. He knew that he couldn't be sure if she was a mutant.
"Mutation yes," he started to explain "Suppose you heard I wrote a thesis on it."
He was happy to be speaking to her about it. He smiled more. He was in a good mood.

"Ah no librarian. This is just where I keep my books, I wasnt reading anything too important so I'll gladly speak with you." He was thinking "Its ok to speak here,". He wondered what she wanted to know. He doubted if it was only hypotheticecal. He knew that people didn't really come to him for that. He just nodded. He was sure that this conversation was going to be interesting.
The mutant gestured for her to sit down first "Ladies first." he said politely. He wanted to give some pickup line about mutation. But he wasnt sure what mutation she had if she really had one.

He was sure there was alot she wanted know. He dragged himself onto a chair and kept the wheelchair close by. He relaxed a bit. Long as nobody pushed his chair away he was sure he could get back to it.
"Well go ahead, ask what you like.?" He said.
The mutant was smiling a bit. He didn't want to scare her off and wanted her to be comfortable talking to him.
He knew if he said the wrong thing it could scare her off.

"Suppose you heard I wrote a thesis on it."

"Yes - it was...intriguing," Sophie replied politely, following him as he moved over to the seating area, saying something about this being where he kept his books. These were all his? Sophie tried - and failed - to look unimpressed but she couldn't help but marvel at such a vast collection. Mr Xavier must very wealthy. Of course, that much was evident as soon as she had walked into the compound. He gestured for her to sit, claiming ladies first and she took a seat gracefully, trying not to stare as he manoeuvred himself out of his wheelchair and down onto one of the seats. The whole time he was smiling, looking relaxed and at ease.

"Well go ahead, ask what you like."

She paused for a second, wondering how to phrase what she wanted to know into a question.

"I was wondering if the things you talked about in your many scientific papers actually exist in real life. Is that a possibility? Mutations, I think you called it - these types of people can do virtually anything?"

Then on an afterthought, she spoke again. It was an impulsive question; less based on the business she had come here on, and more on personal curiosity.

"I was just wondering - on a different matter - are the rumours about the Cuban Missile Crisis true? Were you involved?" she blurted out, her eager brown eyes searching his expression for any hints as to his answer.

Charles was looking at her , he smiled "I'm glad you found it intriguing." He could see that she was looking around at his vast collection of books. He knew people who appricated that kind of thing were often amazed. He relaxed in the chair and was thinking.
He did come across as quite a smart person really. He seemed to be still trying to figure her out. He was annoying that he couldn't read her. He knew he wasnt going to know for sure if she was a mutant unless she said anything about having strange ablities.

"They do exist in real life, simple mutations that dont have any effect on peoples ablities drive evolution, But when this leaps forward it can cause the bigger ones that give people ablities. There are many ablities. Not sure about anything, though there are still ablities I don't know of I am sure. But these people are mutants and often not accepted as humans." He went on sounding sad. "And some mutants don't consider themselves as apart the human race either. I just want to live in peace with everybody."
He leaned back and was thinking for a bit.

Hearing the mention of the missle crisis he looked at her "Yes I was, I don't speak about it that much I guess, But that day,, is the day I lost my legs.,,, my friend Erik is the one who put me in this chair, " He trailed off a bit.
The man wondered if she wanted to know more about him really.
Charles figured she was going to have alot of questions. He was glad his day was fairly free today, which meant he didn't feel under pressure about anything really.

"You're a mutant?" the question had tumbled out of her lips before she could stop, when he mentioned that he wanted to live in peace with people. She supposed it seemed feasible - considering how detailed his papers were on the matter - but she hadn't done much research on Charles Xavier, the person, only on Charles Xavier, the scientist. Now, sat pleasantly across from her, Mr Xavier hardly looked threatening or as though he possessed any harmful ability.

And the sadness that had touched his eyes when he had spoke of Erik...Erik Lensherr, she presumed. His name had cropped up briefly when she had been doing her research but she had skated over it, as it hadn't any relevance to her investigation. Now, she was curious.

"Anyway, Mr Xavier - I was wondering whether mutants could possibly...protect someone from a car crash. Is there anyway of tracking them down?"

She sighed, relieving the painful memories of her past.

"I suppose I should tell you why I'm here. I was involved in car crash a year, or so, ago where my brother was killed, " she laughed nervously, to prevent the atmosphere from becoming too serious "And I survived - there wasn't a scratch on me. The medical team declared it impossible and yet, somehow...I'm still alive. So I was wondering whether there could've been someone nearby, someone who had the ability to create shields. Because that's what it felt like. Being encased in some kind of shield..." she trailed off.

"Yes... I'm a telepath." Charles replied. He was looking at her. The mutant hadnt really intended to tell her so soon. But he was still assuming that she was a mutant. He leaned back. He seemed to be thinking. He blinked.
He had thought that maybe she would have guessed that coming here.
"Erik Lehnsherr thinks its impossible to live in peace with humans."

He was looking at her "It is possible yes... there are many different powers, and one like that is certianly possible, So somebody could have you yes, But have you considered that it may have been you? Without you realizing."
He only was making a guess, as he couldn't read her, It was like she was shiedling her mind.
Charles wasn't sure how she would react to hearing that. But he thought he might as well mention what he assumed. He knew that he would be willing to help her. The young man was looking at her.

"There are ways of tracking yes, I can through Cerebro long as I can read the mutants mind. but there would be other ways of tracking." He explained. The mutant was relaxed where he was. He was trying to explain what he could.
He was hoping that what he was saying was going to help. The mutant sighed "Sorry for saying anything that may upset you. I am merely guessing because its like your mind is shielded from me." he replied.

Sophie honestly didn't know why Mr Xavier's admission had come as a surprise to her. It made sense that he would be mutant - but a telepath? Instantly, she began to worry that he was currently delving through her deepest, darkest thoughts and she felt a pang of panic. Not that she was secretly a murderer, or anything, but everybody had things they didn't want people to know.

There was soft wistfulness in his voice when he spoke of Erik, even if his words weren't exactly complimentary of the man. She sensed a history.

"It is possible yes... there are many different powers, and one like that is certainly possible, So somebody could have you yes, But have you considered that it may have been you? Without you realizing."

Sophie frowned. The thought had never even crossed her mind - surely you'd know if you were a mutant, right?

"Sorry for saying anything that may upset you. I am merely guessing because its like your mind is shielded from me."

Despite the unnerving idea that she may be a mutant, it was reassuring that he couldn't read her mind. She felt herself relax again, the paranoia that he was reading her dissipating.

"The thought is intriguing, Mr Xavier," she said "But I'm afraid I'd know, if I were a mutant."

Charles was looking at her "Just a thought, I don't know why else you would have a shielded mind, But I try not to read minds too much without premisson. Its just I usaully lightly read to tell if somebody is a mutant or not, its how I tracl them. I wouldn't go deeply into a persons deepest serects in thier mind without asking."
He still wasn't sure what to think. If she was sure she was human, either she just didn't know about her ablities or was human.

"Mutant or human, you cant tell anybody where this school is, or where I am," Charles looked at her. He hoped she wouldn't risk his safety. "Some people aren't so understanding and would try kill me and my friends,"
He leaned back and was looking at her. "I don't want war though."
The young man was looking at her. He seemed to be trying to think.

"Was there anything else you wanted to know?" He hoped she wouldn't ask too much about his past. Sometimes it was painful to talk abouy it too much.

"Was there anything else you wanted to know?"

Sophie was taken aback. She honestly hadn't expected Mr Xavier to be so responsive and forthcoming in answering her first question. But now it seemed so obvious. She rubbed her forehead tiredly - she hadn't slept properly in months. She had contracted a mild form of insomnia after the car crash, and often struggled to concentrate.

"Why bother?" she found herself blurting out. It wasn't exactly the type of question she had been planning to ask but somehow, in his company, Sophie found herself talking about the first thing that popped into her head.

"You hide your school away from non mutants, knowing would happen if people knew and yet you still believe that you can live in peace? Don't worry, by the way. I will not tell anyone. My interest is purely in the information you possess."

The mutant looked at her. He shrugged "Its not that simple... I have to wait for the right way to do it, I cant just give away my posistion yet," he was also a bit neverous. He wasnt sure how things would go. Charles was relaxed where he was. He seemed rather tired he hoped that she was happy with the infomation that he had given to her.
he stretched his arms a bit.

"You look tired," He replied "To save you having to go back out, you can stay here the night, I'm sure you came a long way." he said gently. Charles wasnt sure if she would take him up on his offer, but he felt like he had to offer.
He was always polite and kind of the time. He could easily see she was tired as well.
The mutant knew he was tired as well.

Though he would stay awake long as she wanted to talk. "Well I hope it was useful infomation." he was relieved at least that she wouldn't give away his posistion. He was not sure if she was truely human. But he knew he would need to know more before he could confirm that.
He still wondered why she wouldn't know that or not.
Charles yawned a bit "Sorry." he said looking a bit embarassed. "I'm kind of tired,"

"Its not that simple... I have to wait for the right way to do it, I cant just give away my position yet"

Sophie merely shrugged. His explanation seemed reasonable enough - but she guessed his friend, Erik, hadn't agreed with him. It occurred to her that Mr Xavier must be quite alone, apart from his students. How unfortunate.

"You look tired. To save you having to go back out, you can stay here the night, I'm sure you came a long way."

Sophie nodded politely, accepting his offer. She hadn't booked a hotel or anything so she was relieved she wouldn't have to start worrying about finding a place to stay for the night. She grinned.

"That's very kind of you, Mr Xavier"

As soon as she said this, though, she heard a large crash outside the library. Her eyes widened considerably, as she jumped nearly out of her skin.

Charles was looking at her "Its no problem, I can show you to one of the spare rooms if you like." He dragged himself back into the wheelchair. He was looking around. He showed her where a bedroom was that she could sleep in.

"Well here is the room. If you want to sleep now you can, otherwise dinner is soon." he replied. He was too tired to stay awake, so he really hoped he could stay awake until he had eaten. He knew that he needed food .
He was rather hungry. Charles was feeling drainned though.
It had been a long busy week for him really.

"I feel so tired." He yawned "Hope I can last till dinner time." He chuckled. He wasn't so sure if he could or not. The mutant was looking at her. He rubbed his eyes a bit. He was stretching a bit. He grinned more.

Sophie allowed Charles to lead the way - or wheel the way, rather - to a spare bedroom. It was nice enough; the furnishings were wooden and reminded Sophie of a boarding school room, with a neat, wooden desk in the corner and plain bedspread. It probably was actually for the gifted students - which Sophie now knew were gifted mutants. How bizarre.

"I feel so tired." He yawned "Hope I can last till dinner time."

She nodded absently, going to sit on the edge of the bed and glancing around. She dug her purse out and proceeding to leaf through some bills.

"So, Mr Xavier; how much do you want for the room? I'll pay for food as well, if that's okay"

Charles was looking at her. He honestly hadnt expected her to pay. He was only merely offering just as a nice thing to do. He blinked when she mentioned money "Oh you don't have to, I was just offering so you didn't have to go back out, I don't expect money for this,"
He seemed a bit embarrassed almost and he blushed.
"I'll go see how far dinner is a way." He smiled.
The man honestly didn't expect payment, he just wanted to be helpful.
Charles seemed to be thinking for a bit, before he went to go and check on who was cooking. He was glad at least that dinner wasn't so far away. He was a bit too tired to cook tonight himself as well, he knew that would go badly.

"I'll go see how far dinner is away."

Sophie merely nodded, suspicious that Charles didn't want payment off her. She wandered around the room and glanced out the window, her gaze sweeping across the deep green manicured lawns and the water feature. The facility was truly beautiful. She found herself smiling as she pushed the window open, so a light breeze could enter.

She wandered out of the room and downstairs, exploring the building which seemed absolutely vast. Though part of her knew she was being nosy, she couldn't stop herself and she found herself in various different rooms - one of which held a whole host of picture frames. Sophie was startled to see one of the girls in picture looked like lizard, with blue skin, red hair and gleaming yellow eyes. Mr Xavier also featured in the picture, his arms over her shoulder, as well as other. She guessed the man frowning with dark brown hair was the Erik Charles had been talking about.

Charles spoke with whoever was cooking for awhile. "Alright thanks," He told them. He was glad to know dinner wasn't far off. He was getting hungry. He went to go and check on a few other things. He wasn't sure how to feel about everything.
He went to go and find her and see's her staring at the photos. "Thats Raven and Erik and a few of my other friends." He replied. "Raven was like a sister to me and had been with me since I was a child, but she decided to leave with Erik."

He looked at Sophie "Dinner is not far away." he confirmed. The mutant was thinking "Would you like to be showed around while we wait?" He was unsure if she had worked out where everything was. He seemed to be being quite friendly.
He had been a bit lonley since Erik and Raven left. He waited to see what she would say.

He appeared whilst she was staring at the various photohraphs and she jumped, feeling guilty to be caught looking at his possessions. However, he didn't scold her or anything. He merely explained who the individuals in the picture were. His voice, again, turned sad when he spoke of both Raven and Erik. It seemed that once these two had been a large part of the man's life.

"Would you like to be showed around while we wait?"

"Um, sure," she said, blinking. She hadn't expected him to be so accommodating. She rubbed her elbow awkwardly as she waited for him to lead the way, feeling a tad intrusive.

"I'm guessing Erik and Raven were mutants too," she said quietly, hoping Charles would respond as she made to follow after him. The smell of dinner was really quite inviting and she was glad that she had agreed to stay now. A home-cooked dinner was just what she needed, after a tour around a beautiful mansion - if it really did prove to have an interior as impressive as the exterior.