Dr Doom, Who are you? (Marvel X DC)

"I'm ready for our Training Session."

Ronan stepped into Charles Xavier's office, a fairly sized room that one would almost mistake for a library.

The high shelves on the walls were made of dark oak wood, the ground and desk were made of the same material, and frequent furniture like small brown leather couches and a carpet made the area feel cosy.

"Yes, of course. Please, have a seat, Ronan."

Ronan obliged as he walked toward the seat on the other side of the table to Xavier.

The old man fashioned the same smile he usually would as Ronan waited for him to start.

"Before we begin, Ronan, you should know that one must have a level of mastery and understanding over their own mind before they can hope to meddle with others."

Ronan nodded.

"I frequently ignore pain and enter hyper-focused states so I think my control over my mind is above average." 

To this, Xavier chuckled.

"I can't imagine the backlash of that is pleasant at all." 

Somehow, in a single sentence, the old man managed to perfectly explain the sensation Ronan would feel after he'd pushed himself.

Ronan shook his head as he replied with a simple, "No."

However, in the next second, Xavier leaned in.

"And your understanding of it?"

Ronan hadn't realised he'd left out that part from his sentence. Or maybe he did.

Because since arriving at the X-Mansion and the thoughts he had when he did…well, understanding his mind or himself even wasn't something he was privy to these days.

Despite this, he gave the answer Xavier was looking for.

"Yes. That too."

"Perfect. Then let's not waste any more time and get started." Xavier circled the table, so that he arrived beside Ronan, to which the latter turned to face him too.

"I'll now establish a mind link between us to familiarise you with the sensation of Telepathy." 

Ronan nods, practically shaking with preparedness as Xavier leans in, staring straight into his eyes.

-WHOOSH

At that moment, despite there not being any open windows in the room, Ronan felt a piercing sensation on the centre of his forehead.

But it didn't hurt.

His Psionics were at a high enough level that he could sense something was obstructing his mind.

His mind naturally resisted this unfamiliar entity as the needle-like sensation continued until…

-VUAM

Ronan shot open his eyes as he looked around, finding himself in a white space, its size impossible to distinguish with the naked eye.

"Stay calm."

Ronan turned to face that voice that spoke, only to find a familiar old man. 

However, he couldn't help but stare at Xavier, finding the old man standing rather on his wheelchair.

"Surprised?" Xavier asked as he was playing a light joke.

"A little. But I guess it makes sense. This is the mind, Physicality shouldn't matter here."

This point was all the more evident as Ronan realised his body was no longer battered and bruised, the sling on his arm no more.

Xavier nodded.

"Exactly. Furthermore, not only is this the psyche, it's yours."

To this, Ronan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

'This is my mind? I thought it would be…more.'

Ronan couldn't help but be underwhelmed by this. 

"Don't look so disappointed. This is only the surface of your mind. Usually, this is where you'd find brief passing thoughts, emotions and an image one is picturing, etc." Xavier revealed, pausing as he looked around the white space.

"It's uncommon to find a blank space like this. You seem to be an extremely focused lad." Xavier chuckled lightly.

Whether Ronan was focused on the current exercise or the Scenario as a whole, he didn't know.

'But more importantly, this only confirms my thoughts on Telepathy. I'm safe from mind reading, but if Xavier wants to turn me into a vegetable, he can.'

This thought made Ronan uncomfortable, especially when remembering Ronan's mind could do nothing to reject Xavier's invasion.

Which begged the question of how long Ronan would need to train to defend against it, much less combat it.

"Now, tell me what you understood." Xavier snapped Ronan out of his trance, making the boy focus and answer accordingly.

"You conjured a connection, a string-like tether, that forced its way into my mind like a needle."

Xavier smiled in satisfaction.

"Good. Not bad for a…:"

"But there was more. It didn't end when you passed the natural defences of my mind. You did more to…navigate through. That was the most I could comprehend."

Xavier stared, his smile unknowingly fading.

'Fascinating. He was able to figure that much out even after I entered his mind?'

"Am I wrong?" Ronan asked curiously as he stared at the quiet professor.

"No no, quite the contrary," Xavier replied, regaining his composure.

"You see, the mind is a complex thing. To put it into terms you'd understand, with Technopathy, you'd have a sixth sense of sorts."

"A connection to all technology that you'd simply embrace to establish control. However, with the mind, you must create the said connection from nothing."

"An unnatural connection that shouldn't exist between two minds. Like you put it, a string. This string then must be powerful enough to puncture a mind and enter."

"However, it only gets harder from there. Your understanding of the mind must be high enough so that you may navigate the mind and how your string should act from there."

"Otherwise, your string will knot, soon becoming uncontrollable and pop into nothingness, affecting both minds."

Ronan listened to this all while nodding occasionally. He couldn't help but admire Xavier's teaching. 

He was skilled enough to explain the concept with an analogy Ronan completely understood and smart enough to have a basic level of understanding of Technopathy despite not being able to use it.

'I guess the title of Professor isn't just for show.'

"Now that we've established that, do what I just did to me."

Ronan paused, taken aback.

"I'm inexperienced. What happens if my string knots and…"

However, despite asking this, Ronan cut himself off as he remembered who he was talking to.

But Xavier answered anyway.

"Don't worry. I, myself, am a skilled Telepath."

Ronan felt like facepalming himself for asking a stupid question, but instead stepped closer as he repeated Xavier's previous actions.

Staring into the old man's eyes, he focused.

He didn't search for the connections, or strings, that would naturally seek him out like with Technopathy. 

He instead remembered the needle-like sensation from when Xavier entered his mind.

His mind focused on conjuring the same needle.

However, though Ronan didn't realise it, seconds were passing for Xavier, then minutes.

Xavier was patient, he let the boy concentrate, however, as it neared an hour, Xavier's smile widened.

"It's alright. Even I wasn't fully able to grasp it the first time. But we have all the time in the world to perfect…"

'What…'

Xavier's eyes widened as a piercing sensation struck his forehead.

The sensation was less refined than his. Where his felt like a needle, this felt like a kitchen knife being plunged into his skull.

He could still see Ronan's face, focused with wide eyes staring straight into his eyes as though he could see his soul, like a lion about to pounce on a gazelle.

Xavier's defences on his mind were already lowered to give Ronan a fair chance, so because of this…

-VUAM

-BANG

Ronan stepped back, his arms moving too late to brace him for the wall he seemingly rushed into.

Blinking, he looked around. Though it seemed like they were in the same white space, Ronan understood.

He understood he was no longer in his mind, and he understood that this wall before him was near impenetrable.

It was like he was standing before a diamond fortress that towered over him.

'This guy…just how powerful is his mind?'

Ronan once spoke about how Psionics would be overpowered if mastered. 

This was similar to the madness he'd imagined only greater. 

Considering Xavier's offensive capabilities were just as awe-striking, Ronan believed he might not have been exaggerating that day.

"You…"

Ronan turned to the sound of muttering, only to find Xavier staring with disbelief.

'Not only did he use Telepathy on his first attempt, but he's reached so far into my consciousness.'

Xavier thought, seeing Ronan was only stopped by the shields that protected his inner mind.

'If he even knew a little about what he was doing, he might have been able to read my surface thoughts and know what I'm feeling.'

But little did Xavier know that Ronan did indeed know what he was doing. 

And it was all because of a single screen that appeared before him.

[You have learned the sub-perk Telepathy (Mastery: 1%)]

'This system…how exactly does it work and who created it.'

Despite only being given a simple and basic tutorial to Telepathy, after gaining the Sub-perk, Ronan found that he now had knowledge and experience of 1% of all Telepathy.

He knew more and was slightly more skilled as if unlocking a distant memory.

He knew he could read Xavier's surface thoughts but chose not to. It wasn't worth the old man's suspicion.

It was the same with Psionics.

[Psionics Mastery: 5.1%]

Ronan now possessed a better understanding of the Psionics perk. 

It seemed to better his connection and learning experience with all these Psionics as it increased while doing the basics like strengthening his mind and giving him better control over it.

Though, he now had Telepathy so he could do that more precisely.

'It's amazing. Is this the same for all Inheritors? If so, things after this Scenario won't be easy.'

Not only after the scenario but potentially during it as well, as they were currently living under the same roof as him.

The reason he asked this seemingly obvious question is because his Status left him wondering more about his position as an Inheritor.

Not to mention, his Legend, Victor Von Doom was labelled as a Renewal and he still didn't know why.

'Good thing I have telepathy now. I need to know more.'

But as if to act as the good angel on his opposite ear, Xavier spoke.

"Ronan, you're unlike any student I've ever trained. However, you must remember one thing."

Xavier regained his composure, pressing his hand on Ronan's shoulder.

"With this power comes immense responsibility. You must always respect others' privacy. Otherwise, you will blur the line between good and bad. And that is not something you can afford right now."

Xavier spoke, referring to the fact that Ronan was now at the top of SHIELD's most-wanted list.

'Like you did with Cerebro?'

Ronan thought to say but didn't.

Though, he could see Xavier was serious about this and wouldn't commit such acts himself.

Ronan guessed he was most likely searching for the former's experience as a Mutant rather than prying into his mind.

"Professor Xavier…"

Ronan started, looking into the old man's eyes.

"I completely understand."

Xavier stared, soon smiling.

'It's important that you do. I need to make these things clear from the start. After all, I might be witnessing the rise of an Omega Level.'

"Good. Then why don't we continue onto our next lesson, Mental Shields."