Chapter Text
Charles was holding his broken telescope in his hands, clenching his fingers tightly around the metal tube. He was still new in town and kind of nervous about meeting new people. A little self-conscious for not knowing the ways of the West, he also felt a little alienated in the Carlton society. Being the new school teacher in the little Western town Charles became a target of criticism by some who believed schooling was redundant for the children in these parts. All kids needed to become adults was hard work and strong arms, according to most of the Carlton people.
Charles did not even need to use his gift of reading the minds - his telepathy - to know what the majority of the people in town thought about him. Little English know-it-all who came to act superior to everyone else just because he had posh education. Their thoughts were loud enough for Charles to hear, even though he constantly tried to shield himself. But even if it wasn't in their minds, it was also in their eyes - he could see the way they all looked at him. All but a few, of course. Miss Moira McTaggart, Mr. Hank McCoy. Those were the people who actually cared about knowledge and those were the people who were establishing - or at least trying to establish - a new school in Carlton.
And, by God, Charles was going to help them as much as he could! He stood firmly by his strong belief that knowledge was light and education was the candle to give us a glimpse of that light. Therefore, going to school was important for the development of every human being and nothing was going to stop him from teaching the children knowledge and values that endured all.
And yet, it was astonishing how little of the parents in town were actually willing to let their children study. It was depressing how empty the classrooms were. But Charles held onto hope. He held onto hope so tightly it hurt. Hope was all he had. Hope that he will find his sister again. Hope that the school will not fail. Hope that one day the world will be a better place.
... But now his telescope was broken and no matter how much he procrastinated meeting a blacksmith who was probably just as shallow about education and knowledge as the rest of the people in town, he had to deal with it now. How hard could it be to talk to the blacksmith anyway!?
Charles knocked on the side of the open door of the blacksmith's workshop and gave a friendly smile at the figure of the man inside the workshop. He was tall, lean, dirty, his hair was messy, his face was twisted in a grimace. He did not seem like someone who was pleased at having company. But then again, Charles wasn't here to keep him company - he was here because of the broken lens. And yet, it was in Charles' nature to be polite and to try to win over every person he meets.
"I hope I'm not interrupting..." he said, his voice, a little too quiet, sounding a bit shaky to his own ears. There was no visible reaction to his words so he continued “Umm, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Charles Xavier.”
The man’s eyes looked at him from under his eyebrows. The expression was stern, hard. “Lehnsherr.” He barked.
Charles smiled a bit awkwardly “Nice to meet you, Mr. Lehnsherr.” He said “That’s an interesting name to come across in these parts.”
Charles was only trying to make conversation but the man did not seem much interested in that. “Interesting name for an uninteresting person.” Was his short reply and after that he went back to work, twisting the metal with his strong arms.
Charles held his breath. "Of course." he nodded quickly, feeling even more ridiculous now. "I myself am not from these parts actually. I came all the way from England, if you can't tell by the accent..." he joked and chuckled sheepishly but when he saw there was little, or let's face it, no interest in what he was saying, he decided to move on straight to the point. “I'm here for this...” he handed the telescope to the blacksmith and started explaining what was wrong with it.
"I can see the problem. It's sort of my job and I'm good at it." Lehnsherr said and Charles swallowed.
"Well, of course you are. Of course." he nodded "So can you repair it?"
Lehnsherr gave a nod. "I just said I was good at it, didn't I?"
"Yes... well, how much will it cost?" Charles inquired and Erik provided the answer in the same distant, uninterested manner that was edging on rudeness.
"When can you--?"
"Now." Erik said and turned his back to Charles.
"Can I stay and wait?" Charles asked
"If you have nothing better to do." Mr. Lehnsherr groaned back as he hid himself behind a screen-like shape made of metal where he started his work on the telescope.
Charles could not see what he was doing but by the sound of it, the repair was going pretty smoothly. Charles paced around a bit, he fidgeted his fingers and finally he decided he needed to chat while waiting after all.
"I’m the school teacher here." Charles spoke again when the silence became too uncomfortable for him.
“School’s closed.” Lehnsherr said from behind the metal screen.
“Oh! Yes, indeed but I’m reopening it.” Charles grinned proudly.
The man's head appeared from behind the screen only to stare at Charles head to toe. It made Charles feel a little self-conscious. These eyes felt as if they were trying to penetrate his very soul.
"You?” Lehnsherr asked and Charles could hear the mockery in his voice, the doubt that someone like Charles could do anything useful. Charles was shielding his telepathy once again - like he always did - but he could feel what Erik thought of him as if he were in his head right now. He could see himself through Erik's eyes, standing small and ridiculous in front of that giant.
“I—I am." he said. "Not alone, of course. Moira McTaggart and Hank McCoy are among the people who’re helping me. Or rather I'm helping them.” as he spoke the passion for the cause was streaming through his his words and into his voice. “It’s a good cause. A good deed. We need knowledge! And we need to educate these kids. We'll give them whatever knowledge we can and open a whole knew endless world for them!”
Lehnsherr chuckled. “Whatever you say, kid.” He said
Charles pursed his lips. I’m not a kid! He wanted to shout but his good manners did not allow him to stoop down to the blacksmith’s level. So he only bit his lip and waited until Lehnsherr was done with his work. The man was obviously a brute with no manners. Charles had nothing more to say to that sort of a rough person.
It didn't take long for the blacksmith to reemerge from behind the screen with Charles' expensive telescope in his hands.
“Is that to your satisfaction?” he asked as he handed Charles the instrument
Charles took the telescope, their hands brushing slightly only for a second as he did so but Charles quickly pulled his away so that they don't actually touch. The blacksmith’s brow flinched a bit and he started cleaning his hands with a cloth as if he suddenly became self-conscious about them. Charles' gaze was on the telescope while the blacksmith threw the cloth back on the rack he took it from and looked back at Charles, waiting for an answer.
"Well?" he asked, arching an eyebrow
“It’s perfect.” Charles announced after a small pause in which he examined the telescope. "It's really remarkable! The last time I asked someone to do this for me, they almost ruined this! And you even fixed what they distroyed! I honestly didn't expect you to be so skilled, Mr. Lehnsherr!"
The man huffed as if not expecting his handiwork to be less than perfect. Charles was a bit perplexed by this smugness but he had to admit the man had a right to take pride in his work. The repairing was excellently done and Charles' telescope was as good as new - even parts that were long broken and Charles had gave up on ever returning the telescope back to its previous quality. Mr. Lehnsherr had not only repaired it, he had improved it! That was truly impressive!
"That is truly impressive!" he voiced his last thought enthusiastically, grateful to this man - hard and rough as he was - for the wonders he did to Charles' precious telescope.
"You're welcome." the man said with a nod. "Come back when there's something else that needs repairing.
Charles smiled and offered his hand. "It was good meeting you, Mr. Lehnsherr." he said and payed the man. "Goodbye." he turned around, walking towards the exit.
"See you around." Mr. Lehnsherr replied and Charles frowned at the strange flutter in his stomach as he heard the man say that.
"Yes..." he muttered "It's a small town."