[ Speaking with the future Charles, he did get a sense of the man he became, and it was someone he was proud of, but he felt he still needed time to get there. He had lost a great deal of what made him that hopeful and powerful man. He knew from both Logan and Charles what an extraordinary place the school became, and witnessed through them the many mutants who made it their home. It was a beautiful idea, a dream made into reality through perseverence and time.

It feels like a heavy wave of emotions crashes over his head with every word that Scott speaks, and there is a very real part of him that wants to argue. He wants to deny that he, this him at least, should be revered. Not with his mistakes, with the regrets he's carried with him for years. Scott may be glad to meet a hero in his youth but perhaps didn't expect to see Charles struggle with words in response to that, and to see tears well up in his eyes.

It's slightly embarrassing but it's honest, and he takes a deep breath in and lets it out before responding. ]

I apologize, it's ... been a difficult few years. I'm afraid I haven't truly become the man you know yet. I gave up on the school, on the whole dream, for a time.

[ Without Erik and Raven, and then with the personal losses of his students and teachers, Charles just spiraled out and he became a shut in, seeing only the darkness in front of him. He doesn't want Scott to think that he is the same as the man he admires. ]

I can only aspire to that now, and I do. So thank you.