We Are The X-Men

Middleverse

WARNING: Mentions of claustrophobia, alcoholism, child abuse, and death/fatal accidents. Trauma and self-loathing, manipulation, and minor violence (fight scene stuff).

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A/N: Since this is a Reader-Insert fanfic, I'll be using a few abbreviations. Here's a key:

Y/N = Your Name

Y/L/N = Your Last Name

Avatar = Your codename

Other Notes: Reader is she/her and I pretty much write out Kurt's accent, replacing w's with v's and th's with z's. If it turns out it's too hard for people to read that way, I'll change it.

Also! Here's some translations for German words Kurt uses:

Was? = What?

Mutti and Vati = Mom and Dad

Wunderbar = Wonderful

Enjoy! :)

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"It happens when I'm in small, dark spaces." You explain quietly, trying not to fidget in your chair too much. "I can't breathe, and I can feel my heart in my chest, and I need to get out."

The Professor hums thoughtfully, nodding. "Do you ever feel these things when you are not in a confined space?"

"Um.." You take a breath, "Sometimes I have... um, nightmares about it. Then I wake up and I don't know where I am. I keep a small light on so I remember..." Your cheeks redden as you divulge this. You know the Professor, and you know he won't judge you for doing something so childish, but it's still embarrassing. What teenager needs a nightlight?

Maybe noticing this, the Professor leans forward and smiles. "I have nightmares on occasion. Sometimes I wake up and go down to the kitchen for a cup of tea before I sleep again."

You perk up a little. "Sometimes I get a glass of water.. but I'm always afraid I'm gonna run into someone in the dark."

"The only one you should worried to see that early is Logan. He's dreadful when he's sleep-deprived." The Professor chuckles. "And if you run into me, we'll go down to the kitchen together and I'll make us some hot cocoa."

"Sounds nice." You reply, a shy smile on your face. Maybe these therapy sessions with the Professor won't be that bad.

"You know, about 12% of people have some level of claustrophobia." Xavier explains, "For the more severe cases, there is usually an inciting incident. Is there anything that you believe to have caused this fear?"

You swallow, nerves coming back. You want to be honest with him, but there's certain things you promised you'd never tell anybody. If you did... If they knew everything about you, the X-men would never want to see you again.

"I don't know." You avert your eyes, afraid he'll catch you in a lie. After a brief pause, the Professor speaks again. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, Y/N. It's all up to you."

You hesitate, but upon feeling how sincere that statement is, your defenses come down a little. "I think... I think it started when I was 11. I... um... I got stuck in a closet one day."

"For how long?"

"Not sure." You reply truthfully. It could have been weeks, but you can't the Professor that. Not now, anyways.

He writes something down and looks at you again. "That must have been very scary. I'm sorry you went through that."

You nod, not really sure what to say.