Chương 14: They're here
"I'm a murderer."
Xavier, inside Ronan's bedroom, widened his eyes as the boy spoke before he had a chance to say anything.
The old man entered with multiple plans on approaching this, however, his thoughts came to a pause as he heard this.
However, he quickly regained his composure.
"Continue."
"It started when a Hydra member tried to kill me. That's where I got this scar." Ronan pointed to his scar.
"I don't know why he chose to come after me, but after he killed my adoptive parents and set his sights on me, my abilities manifested."
Xavier could guess where the next part of the story was going but didn't interrupt.
"I didn't realise it at the time, but I was so angry that my powers went haywire and…I killed him."
'That much is true.'
As the days went by, Ronan was realising more how good of a liar he was.
It simply came naturally to him.
However, he knew Xavier was nothing short of a genius.
Maybe his perfect poker face was enough, but he decided to sprinkle in some truth to insinuate a lie.
But that ended here.
"But before the Hydra member died, he injected me with this poison in my veins. He also told me that it was Tony Stark, the very hero we civilians looked up to, who created it."
Xavier didn't allow himself to reveal his emotions like before as he simply nodded at this.
'It's true that something so advanced can only be created by the greatest technical minds.'
Xavier admitted inwardly.
"With this new power, I decided to act. I wanted to use my powers to not only cure myself but to change the world."
"I didn't know anything about how to start, so I decided to hack into Stark Industries. This way I could potentially find a cure and find a way to put down Tony Stark."
"However, I learned it wasn't him who gave it to Hydra. A sample was stolen."
Xavier knew from the start that Tony would never work with Hydra, let alone provide them with tech.
However, it was plausible that it was stolen.
'Nevertheless, it's completely irresponsible to create such a thing.'
And Xavier couldn't help but think, what exactly was Tony planning to use for it?
"It's there where I learned I was most likely a mutant. It's also where I learned Tony and SHIELD keep tabs on Hydra moles in hopes they'd lead them to bigger fish."
Xavier nodded. He was aware of these ongoing operations.
"After learning a Hydra member was delivering some tech from Stark to SHIELD, I decided to take action."
This was the main reason why Ronan had decided on that Helicarrier specifically.
From the start, he always needed a "Reason" for the acts he committed.
He couldn't just look like a mindless or greedy psycho.
"Yes, I follow the news. The incident regarding the Hudson River."
Ronan stared.
"I didn't mean for it to turn out the way it did. I figured I could channel my emotions to make my abilities stronger, but before I knew it, I started to spiral out of control until…"
Ronan lowered his head as Xavier was smart enough to fill in the blanks.
"What happened after?"
"I turned myself in. I realised I was doing more harm than good…and that my powers may have been a curse rather than a gift."
Xavier hummed receptively.
Ronan found it hard to read the old man, but he didn't need to be a Telepath to know what effect his words were having.
"I figured it was best to hand myself over to SHIELD since it was their agents I killed."
"But…Nick Fury tried to remedy the situation. He told me as punishment, they'd use my curse for their cause."
Ronan knew Xavier would have no trouble believing this.
One didn't need to be of a higher stature to know these are the tricks SHIELD frequently pulled to stay on top.
"I'd learned from hacking Stark what frequently happens to Mutants. The experiments. With that thought in my mind and knowing I'd most likely have to continue performing acts like the Hudson River...it happened again…I snapped."
"I ran, I tried to escape with my powers and maintain a level head. But they shot me in the shoulder with an arrow, and that girl, she shot me with a sniper."
"I promise…I didn't mean to do what I did."
"And so, I sought refuge here. The last place I could think of that could control me accordingly."
This was it.
From when his plan started, Ronan had constantly thought about this conversation he'd soon have.
He thought of where his story might have holes, where one might suspect he was lying as he made sure to prevent them before they happened.
His story was mostly true, only the narrative was slightly contorted.
This all started when he learned about Professor Charles Xavier while hacking Stark.
He learned this was a righteous man with firm ideologies of peace between Humans and the Mutant-kind.
With the hope of proving the humans wrong about their thoughts on Mutants, he trained teenagers in this school and created the X-Men.
'Curse rather than a gift', 'Uncontrollable emotions', 'I snapped'.
Ronan purposefully said these things knowing they either contradicted Xavier's beliefs or were what he spent his lifetime trying to solve and prevent.
He did all this while making sure he painted himself as an empathetic individual rather than the selfish one he was.
'This story is perfect. But it's only perfect for Xavier. Had it been anyone else, like Ororo, I wouldn't have liked my chances as much.'
All Ronan had worked for would matter at this moment.
He didn't need or expect Xavier to believe him 100%, after all this was one of the smartest people on earth he was talking to, rivalling Tony Stark.
But if he was rejected, Xavier would forever have to live with being a hypocrite. And that would not be something he'd allow.
He simply needed to install a seed.
And hopefully…
"I see…"
'That seed will sprout.'
"Ronan…I'm so glad."
Xavier gave a genuine warm smile, his previous calculative and almost cold demeanour completely disappearing.
And at that moment, Ronan witnessed half his quest already complete.
'Charles Xavier doesn't know it, but he is slowly leading Mutant-Kind to extinction. All because of me.'
This thought amused Ronan.
But it wasn't over yet.
"You're glad?"
Ronan, his expression never changing despite his thoughts, asked confusedly.
"Yes. You aren't the only one who lets their emotions get the better of them. I came in here with many thoughts after what I'd just learned, but I forgot the most simple fact."
"You're just a child. Same like everyone else in this school."
A hint of sorrow appeared in Xavier's tone.
"Like everyone in this school, you've gone through the hardships of being a Mutant. And for my first act to have been interrogating you rather than finding a way to help is something I will never forgive myself for."
"I sometimes wonder if I am fit to call myself the Principal of this school. But I must continue to do so. So please, Ronan."
Xavier reached out his hand, looking the boy in the eye.
"You were right to think you have a place here. We will help you and train you to control your abilities so that they don't control you. Please, let us do so."
Ronan looked to the hand, then to the wrinkly bald man it belonged to.
After a second, he slowly reached out his hand and clasped the other.
"Thank you."
Xavier smiled, pausing for a second before speaking once again.
"Ororo."
Xavier called out as the door to the room opened a few seconds later.
"Yes, Professor?"
"May I speak with you for a moment?"
***
"He killed Clint and Natasha?"
Ororo, standing alone in the hallway with Xavier, muttered as she widened her eyes as the latter informed her of everything.
"Yes. I found out while on my occasional check-up with Cerebro." Xavier confirmed, causing Ororo to fall deep in thought.
"What are we going to do?" Ororo asked.
She knew what the consequences of the boy's actions were. The Avengers, SHIELD and Tony wouldn't let this slide.
"Nothing. We'll continue to do what we do with every troubled teen. We will help him."
Before Ororo could say anything, Xavier continued.
"And I want you to be in charge of his therapy and counselling. I'll only permit him into the school and interact with the children once you give me the clear."
Ororo paused, taken aback.
"Why me?"
"It's for the same reason you're the only person I'm telling all this to."
"Scott is too hasty, Hank's logical mind can sometimes cloud his heart and Logan is away."
"You still haven't told me why you chose to share this information."
Ororo repeated, not a hint of disrespect in her tone but a sense of curiosity.
Xavier paused a second before answering.
"His story…I felt it in my heart. Children like him are the exact reason I opened this school. And I almost didn't give him the help he needed."
"Just as Hank unknowingly trusts his mind, I feel I am too trusting with my heart in this case. Therefore, I need someone to anchor me so that I stay focused."
Xavier looked into Ororo's eyes as he continued.
"Ororo, I trust you more than anyone else to be my anchor."
Xavier turned in his wheelchair as he wheeled away.
"They'll be coming soon," Ororo called out to him before he left.
"Let me worry about that. I'll try to resolve this peacefully in the time being."
"And if you can't?"
Ororo asked, prompting Xavier to pause for a second.
"Then I pray for those who come to my school looking for trouble."
Xavier continued, leaving the hallway as he spoke one last time.
"The Friday night bonfire is still ongoing, isn't it? Take this chance to give the boy a tour of the mansion and familiarise himself with the school."
***
'Shit.'
Ronan, currently in a wheelchair while heavily bandaged and in a hospital gown, cursed himself inwardly.
He was being given a tour of the mansion while most of the students were outside, his wheelchair being pushed by Ororo.
However, he chose to ignore the magnificent architecture and expansive space around him as he was lost deep in thought.
'I never thought my story could have been a little too perfect.'
Ronan thought, remembering the conversation between Ororo and Xavier he'd overheard.
He'd put so much effort into perfecting his innocent character that it turned out that maybe it wasn't Xavier he should be looking out for.
This thought was further solidified as he could almost feel the piercing gaze from Ororo on his back as she lectured him on the surroundings.
"Finally, we have the balcony."
Ororo mentioned after they'd just passed a large, warm and decorative living room.
The balcony was one adjacent to the said living room and was fit to be so as it could comfortably fit a few dozen individuals.
Not to mention the very stone balcony, its architecture making Ronan feel as though he were in a Greek palace.
"We hold a Friday night gathering every week and tonight's main event is a Talent show."
Though Ororo's words remained welcoming and kind, she'd lost that warm undertone that Ronan couldn't help but admire.
It was good for what it was supposed to be.
Whether she meant to do so or not was still unclear to Ronan.
Ororo pointed down below where a large bonfire lit up the surroundings, surrounded by countless teenagers, while a few adults could be seen here and there.
Ronan tried his best to identify each noteworthy individual and…
'Wait a minute…'
Ronan paused, his eyes narrowed as they stayed glued on a distant yet familiar figure.
However, as the realisation dawned on him, he sat up, his eyes widening in disbelief.
'What the fuck…'
'What's he looking at?'
Ororo asked herself, making sure to watch his eyes and body language throughout the tour.
She could see he was looking at the crowd, but couldn't pinpoint specifically.
Ronan currently stared at a female with long black hair and bright blue eyes, talking and laughing as she stood among a small group she seemed close to.
But her appearance wasn't what had him so disgruntled.
'I know that girl. I've seen her on TV.'
The day Alexander had attacked him.
The day the new generation of Inheritors had awakened.
'They're here…the Inheritors.'
Not only that, but he specifically recognized that girl.
Who wouldn't? She was famous in the world of Inheritors.
After all, she was a Vanheart.
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