The Story of Us
Summary: Before he ran a school to help young mutants, before she became a Magneto's right hand woman, before lines were drawn. They were Charles and Raven, brother and sister.
"Sometimes the slightest things change the direction of our lives, the merest breathe of a circumstance, a random movement that connects, like a meteorite striking the earth. Lives have swiveled and changed direction on the strength of a chance remark" The Power of One
She walked quietly down the hallway trying not to make a sound. She could easily move through places with no one knowing she was there she had been doing that ever since she left the orphanage but this old house had creaks and squeaks that she wasn't used too. She stops and looks at the big oak door looming in front of her, takes a breath then knocks.
"Come in" a voice says from behind the door. She knew he would still be up, reading or studying. She didn't think he ever got much sleep. He peers at her over the book and smiles. "Raven, what's wrong?"
"Nothing" she says quietly. "…I just…" she says looking down at her blue feet. She had only been here a week but to her it felt like much longer. Charles was the first person that hadn't run screaming from the sight of her. He welcomed her into his home and for the first time in her life she stopped running. She didn't know how much longer it would last, his parents would be home tomorrow and she didn't think that they would be as accepting of her as he was. She looks down at her blue skin and rubs the scales on her arms.
"It's ok, come here" He says patting the bed. The little girl smiles and runs over and climbs on the bed as he pulls the blanket over her. "Can you read to me?" she asks.
"Of course" Charles replies and slides off the bed to go get a book for her. "I think you will quite enjoy this one" he tells her getting back in the bed. She looked at the cover it was blue like her with gold trimmings there was an illustration in a circle in the middle of a girl. Raven moves closer and settles in the crook of his arm as he begins to read.
Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, "And what is the use of a book,'" thought Alice "Without pictures or conversation?"
Charles looks as the young girls bright yellow eyes fill with wonder as he continues the story. It was a magical sight to see as she looked over the illustrations of a young girl finding herself in a whole new world meeting all kinds of strange and wondrous creatures. He knew now that he needed her. He wasn't going to be alone any more.
The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. "Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I-I hardly know, sir, just at present- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then." "What do you mean by that?" said the Caterpillar sternly. "Explain yourself!" "I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because I'm not myself, you see."
Raven giggled at Charles' attempt to use different voices for the characters. He was right she did like this book, in fact she loved it. The girl Alice had changed sizes like she could. No one had ever read to her before, nor let her lean against them while they did. Everyone else recoiled at the sight of her. She was told she was found on the door stoup of the orphanage and they locked her in the basement because they know no one would ever adopt a blue skinned baby with scales. One worker took pity on her and taught her to talk and walk and later how to read and write, but he would always be on the other side of the room. So when Charles came into the room he was letting her stay in that first day and offered to read to her she expected the same treatment but he surprised her and pulled up a chair right next to her bed so she could see the pictures.
"Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about her other little children, and make THEIR eyes bright and eager with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days."
Charles closes the book and looks to see that Raven had indeed fallen asleep but what surprised him was that her skin was no longer blue but a creamy white and her orange hair had become blonde that fell in waves down her shoulders. She had turned herself into Alice at some point while he was reading. He himself had gotten engrossed in the book that he didn't notice her change. He smiled and gently places the book on the night table and lays his head against his pillow. His parents would be there for appearances sakes as they are now, but he would be responsible for this young girl, he would take care of her and keep her safe.
Tbc…