Misunderstandings

Charles stood there in the kitchen blinking, trying to figure out what exactly had gotten into Raven. Since when did not supporting a sudden inclination to take up nudism mean he has a problem with her blue skin? It was difficult balancing between not encouraging her isolation-induced crush on him and propping up her self-esteem. He lost his balance when she threw things like this at him. And in the middle of night of all times!

He headed back towards his bedroom.

"Hello Eric," Charles said to Eric in the hall, distracted.

"Still awake, Charles? Anything wrong?" Eric asked. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"Oh, Raven being utterly bizarre. Walking around with not a stitch of clothing and when I protest exclaims that I have a problem with her true self!"

"Don't you?" Eric replied neutrally.

"What! That's absurd," Charles exclaimed, getting angry that the two people he is closest to think that of him.

"Charles, it's obvious that you prefer the blond peach-toned version of Raven to her real self. You talk of harmony between humans and mutants but it seems like you mean for mutants to placate their soon to be oppressors."

"That's not true. Raven should be able to be as blue as she wants anywhere she wants except that, one, clothing really is necessary and two, I would really have liked a clue that she was finally changing her mind about her looks!" The last was said rather loud, because after all this time, to be accused like this, like he thought her a monster was just too much, especially when he was this tired and had a headache like he did.

"She shouldn't have to hide, even in human clothing and as her brother you should be encouraging her to embrace her true self not needing a clue!" Eric heatedly responded back.

Rubbing his eyes, Charles tried to push back the throbbing in his head, hoping it wouldn't turn into a migraine. Seems like Raven and Eric both wouldn't be helping with that tonight. He kept his mind as far from Eric's as possible to keep his strong emotions from worsening his headache.

"I encouraged her for years Eric and all I ever managed was to convince her she wasn't a monster. I hope. She's my sister and I love her but,"

"There shouldn't be a 'but' Charles. Love shouldn't be conditional and you shouldn't only find her gorgeous when she looks normal."

"My love bloody well isn't conditional!" Charles practically hissed. Eric took a step back eyes widening. "My sister is blue and beautiful and I love her. But I am not attracted to my sister. I don't want to date my sister. She's gorgeous as a blond like she's gorgeous in a beautiful dress. She wears both marvelously, but it's just an outfit, just covering." He ran out of steam. "I can't give her more, be more then best friend and brother. That isn't enough, but she'll have to get more than that from others. I doubt I even count as a friend much less brother if that's really what she thinks about me, that I want to hold her back.

"I can't believe that she thinks it wasn't about protecting her, but about pretending she was normal. She's not normal, she's special and should be proud of it. Raven's learned so much recently, grown up. She can protect herself now; I get it. As her brother I'll always want to protect her, but, I just, I don't know how it got to this point," He finished, run down. Damn it, there was that migraine.

With a final look at Erik he turned around and left, not waiting for a response. He missed when 'Eric' shifted back into Raven. The shocked look didn't leave her face for a long time.