Disclaimer: I do not own the franchise of X-Men including its characters, I do own the original character Laura Wilkes and any other original character that is in this work of fiction.
Mutant and Proud
Chapter 2: The Mutant Line
Oxford, England, 1962
Charles' P.O.V
I was at the local student pub which was packed with celebrating students congratulating themselves and each other on another successful year at the university. Some were even celebrating finally finishing their degrees, a year or so back that had been Laura and I along with Raven celebrating surviving or successful time at Oxford. Now Raven was working in a local restaurant as a waitress, I was conducting research with the University and Laura…well Laura was finding out exactly what she wanted to do with her life. I approached the bar where a very attractive blonde was stood, no harm in using my advantages to get a girl. A quick read of her mind told me enough to help out in my endeavour interestingly enough she was a brandy drinker.
"Heterochromia." I said gaining her attention straight away. She had the most amazing different coloured eyes I had seen. It's a small genetic mutation not exactly on the same level as mine, but still a mutation.
"A gentleman would at least offer to buy me a drink first." she said smiling I returned her smile before I turned to the barman to order drinks. This could actually turn out to be a good evening.
"Norman? A pint of bitter for me and a brandy for the lady, please." I ordered he nodded before he set about getting the drinks. As I turned back to face the lovely lady she seemed rather surprised and a little bit impressed.
"How did you know that?" she asked shocked as Norman handed her, her drink. It is always a bonus when you are trying to pick up a girl to know the bartender of the bar you are in and I'm always at an advantage when I can quickly find out exactly what someone is thinking.
"A lucky guess. Name's Xavier. Charles Xavier. How do you do?" I introduced myself; her smile replaced the look of shock and confusion as she shook my offered hand.
"Amy." she said as she sipped some of her brandy, as I began to drink my pint.
"Heterochromia is in reference to your eyes, which I have to say are stunning. One green, one blue. It's a mutation. It's a very groovy mutation. I've got news for you, Amy. You are a mutant." I explained though Amy didn't seem impressed at all, she seemed quite offended, but amused at the same time.
"First you proposition a girl and then you call her deformed. How is that seduction technique working for you?" she said, as she took a sip of her brandy once more and looked as though she was about to leave.
"I'll tell you in the morning." I chuckled she smiled and became more interested in me. Might not be the strongest come on line I'd used, but it seemed to be working. "No, seriously. You mustn't knock it. Mutation took us from single cells organisms to being the dominant form of reproductive life on this planet. Infinite forms of variation with each generation, all through mutation."
"Then, let's reclaim that word. Mutant and proud." she said, raising her glass before taking a drink I did the same. After a couple more minutes of chatting, I looked around the bar and noticed a very peeved of Raven walking over to the bar along with Laura, who just seemed rather amused. This may not end as well as I was hoping it would do.
"Everything alright" Amy asked looking in the same direction I had been and more than likely seeing the two women rapidly approaching the bar. I nodded before downing the rest of my pint. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, want another?" I answered getting the attention of the bartender. I silently prayed that neither of them would do something that could destroy all my hard work with Amy.
"A glass of red please." Laura had reached the bar now and was casually leaning against it. I turned my attention to her hoping she'd at least get the message that this wasn't funny. "Charles"
"What are you doing?" I hissed, my eyes darting to Raven who was stood next to her. Laura smiled innocently as she took her glass from Norman and paying him.
"Oh you know we just really wanted a nice drink. Who is this lovely woman you're with?" she replied addressing Amy and offering out her hand for Amy to shake.
"Oh thank you, I'm Amy. Charles here was telling me that I'm like one of the first sea creatures that grew legs." Amy explained responded smiling warmly at both Raven and Laura who both laughed lightly at her explanation.
"Tiny bit sexier." I added which made our little group start laughing. I drank some of my pint nervously, you could never be too careful when Raven and Laura team up. "I'm sorry this is my sister, Raven." I said introducing her to Amy to be interrupted by a cough from Laura. "And this is a friend, Laura."
"Hi." Raven said smiling, Amy smiled at her.
"Are you both students here? What are you studying?" she asked and now this conversation was going to go awkward.
"Waitressing." Raven replied Amy looked a bit point out; I looked intently at Laura hoping she'd at least remedy the situation we were in. No one liked to be in such an awkward situation.
"Don't mind Raven, she's a great at what she does. I studied politics, graduated the other year." Laura answered relieving the sort of awkward situation by moving on the conversation quickly.
"Oh wow, that must have been so interesting." Amy responded clearly as relieved as I was that Laura had managed to make the conversation less awkward.
"Well it was at some points, most of the time it dragged a lot." Laura responded sipping her wine, I was nearly through my new pint of beer and I was already hoping for a lot more alcohol to enter my system.
"So how did you and Charles meet?" she questioned and unintentionally the conversation was being steered back into awkwardness.
"Laura, please don't bring up the fact that we used to date."
"Don't worry Charles, I've got you."
"On campus, we both started our degrees at the same time." she answered Amy nodded her head maybe she wasn't that interested in how we actually met and was simply making small talk until Laura and Raven would leave us to get back to where we had been before they had entered the bar.
"She was out in the courtyard, reading a book I was really passionate about." I elaborated on her explanation; you never know this could make me a better person in Amy's eyes. Thinking back to the first time I met Laura I couldn't help but smile:
I was walking towards one of the many buildings on campus; it was a beautiful summer's day when I spotted her. She sat on one of the benches in the courtyard reading 'To kill a Mockingbird' her dark black hair billowed around her in the light breeze. I walked over towards her before taking the seat next to her.
"Any good?" I asked she looked up from the book before placing a book mark in the page and closing it.
"Yes, have you read it?" she replied smiling at me. She was beautiful.
"No, any chance discussing it over some dinner?" I asked she laughed a bit making her hair fall forward, before she cutely tucked the stray strands behind her ear.
"Are you always this forward when you meet a girl?" she questioned I smirked, that didn't sound like she was uninterested.
"Generally, if they're as pretty as you are." I answered she giggled before she lightly hit me with the book in her hand.
"Is that a no?"
"No, it's not a no. I guess I can educate you over dinner." She answered I tried to stop my grin from taking over my face, that had been rather easy why hadn't I been this forward before?
"Great, how about now? It seems were both free." I asked hoping the answer would be yes.
"I've got one more lecture and I can't skip it, but afterwards definitely." She replied I was somewhat disappointed we couldn't go straight away, however she at least could go within an hour.
"So what do you study?"
"Politics, you?"
"Genetics."
I was brought back to reality when Laura nudged me in the ribs; I looked at her as she pointed towards Raven bringing me back to the situation at hand. I was a bit confused at first until I was brought back into the conversation.
"Oh, look! You have Heterochromia too." Amy exclaimed and now it all made sense as to why Laura had elbowed me to bring me back into the conversation. Amy was looking intently and with absolute joy at Raven's eyes, which should have been the same colour.
"Sorry, what?" I asked hoping that this wasn't happening but then Amy pointed at Raven's eyes.
"Well, look at her eyes." she replied I looked over at Raven who was smirking. She had changed the colour of her eyes, one was her actual colour of yellow and the other was blue. That was it she'd done that on purpose, was she so outraged that I was trying to impress Amy?
"Right. Raven get your coat, please." I said grabbing Raven by the arm and swiftly exiting the pub Laura followed us. Amy was left at the bar clearly confused at what had just occurred, but there was no way I was going to continue this with Raven acting up "Don't talk to me. You did that on purpose!"
"Don't you think that's a bit harsh Charles?" Laura reasoned but in my mind this wasn't harsh this is what was needed. If I let Raven continue to do this sort of thing she would never learn that she shouldn't be doing this.
"I did not!" Raven countered Laura sighed wishing we didn't argue like siblings did sometimes.
"Yes you did!" I retaliated she rolled her eyes, sure it was a kid's response to something, but it was all I could think of in the heat of the moment.
"Why would I do it on purpose? You know I can't control it sometimes. If I'm stressed or I'm tired." she reasoned I shook my head. It was done on purpose, she was jealous of the attention I had put on Amy.
"You seem to be doing a perfectly good job of it right now." I argued we glared at each other for a couple of minutes. Which made Laura take control of the situation; otherwise there would be a rather petulant argument in the middle of the street.
"Stop it, the pair of you!" Laura interjected "You're acting like small children!"
"Mutant and proud! Or is that only the pretty mutations or invisible ones, like yours? But if you're a freak, better hide!" she argued I could see she was close to tears. As we grew up Raven became self conscious of her true self, with good reason. If she walked round as herself she would be completely rejected by society, she'd be held in some institution and experimented on.
"Raven." Laura whispered trying to calm her down now, I didn't mean she should hide herself, her mutation was a marvellous thing I was just making sure she was safe.
"You're being ridiculous. Look...look, I don't mean to sound like an old fart." I started before Raven cut me off.
"Which you are." she snorted I glared at her which made her look away. I softened my gaze.
"Sometimes. But we talked about this, Raven. Small slip up is one thing; a big one does not bear thinking about." I reasoned with her, Laura nodded in agreement she knew all too well what sort of experiments people who feared mutants did.
"What he's trying to say, is that a lot of people fear mutation. Sometimes we need to hide our gifts from the world." she said bringing Raven in to a hug. "But they are nothing to be ashamed of. Especially yours, I wish I had the ability to shape shift!"
Raven smiled a bit at what Laura had said and we began walking down the cobbled street. Laura caught the heel of her shoe on one of the cobbles, causing her to fall. I caught her just before she hit the ground.
"Why do you insist on wearing those darn high heels?" I asked, she laughed. She loved wearing those things, which for the death of me I couldn't work it out.
"You never complained when we dated." she stated giggling slightly as she righted herself as I let her go.
"Mutant and Proud? If only!" I heard Raven whisper to herself, Laura must have heard too because she also sighed.
'She's been a bit self-conscious as of late hasn't she?'
'Yes, she has hasn't she? Why all of a sudden?'
We continued walking down the street. It was getting cold, and I could see that it was getting to Laura, so like the gentleman I am I offered her my coat.
"Thanks." she murmured as she pulled it on, I looked behind and noticed that Raven had stopped; Laura was also looking towards her.
"Would you date me?" she asked as she caught up to us, I looked at Laura she shrugged. I turned back to Raven who looked extremely serious.
"Of course I would. Any young man would be lucky to have you. You are stunning." I replied, motioning for us to carry on home, but she didn't move from where she was stood.
"Looking like this?" she said I stopped walking away and turned back to look at her, she had reverted back to her true form. Laura was checking around the street to make sure the general public hadn't stumbled across us.
"I...you...what?" I questioned not entirely sure how I could answer her this "Blue? You're my oldest friend."
"I'm your only friend." she joked in a slightly serious tone as if she sort of meant it.
"What about me?" Laura asked in a joking tone but even she looked a bit hurt at Raven's statement, Raven looked towards her.
"Excluding Exes." she added her joking manner had nearly all but gone out of the window now, she was serious now. And she really wanted an answer to this.
"Thank you, for that." I said turning once again to walk back home. But Raven still wouldn't walk from where she was.
"Well?" she asked once again, I sighed and looked over at Laura for moral support, but she shrugged.
'I don't know what to say.'
"I'm incapable of thinking of you in that way. I feel responsible for you. Anything else would just feel wrong." I replied honestly, she shook her head. Obviously not the answer she wanted to hear.
"But what if you didn't know me?" she asked I couldn't give her the answer she would want, not the answer that would seem so sincere that she would let go of all these insecure thoughts.
"Unfortunately I do know you. God! I don't know what's gotten into you lately. You're awfully concerned with your looks." I sighed as I began walking again.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'd date you in all your blue glory." Laura reassured Raven as she brought her into a one armed hug as we walked down the streets. Thank God she was here to at least calm her down before we got home; well I thought that until I heard.
'You owe me one.'
"What would I do without the two of you?" I mused pulling the pair of them into a close hug.
Switzerland, 1962
Erik's P.O.V
I sat on the small bed in my hotel room, glaring holes into the makeshift link map that was on the wall. Schmidt's face in the centre, I knew I was close to finally killing that monster. The coin he had forced me to move revolved round fingers, only a few more hours and I would have some answers.
I made my way towards the 'bank', briefcase in hand, a previous link had told me that Schmidt used this 'bank' once, so they must know where he is. I entered one of the offices of the bank, putting the briefcase on the table and sitting down. I opened the case and turned it round to the banker.
"Possession of this gold is illegal. Do you want me to call the police?" he threatened he looked between me and the bars of Nazi gold.
"Let's not play this game." I said the manger looked towards me and then he glanced at the gold once more.
"So where did you get if from?" he questioned examining the gold closer, clearly interested in it even if it was considered illegal.
"From my friends. They recommended I come to your bank." I explained the man nodded in an understanding way, I now had him.
"Understood. You know our terms, sir?" he asked shifting in his chair slightly. I nodded my head.
"Yes. And you should know mine." I answered, the man's eyebrows raised in a silent questioning stare. "This gold is all that is left of my people. It was their property. Taken out of their teeth. This is blood money. And you can help me find the bastards responsible for it."
His hand shifted towards to the alarm button that could be found in every bank in the world. But his hand never touched the button; he was wearing a watch, a metallic watch. I pulled his arm away from the underside of the desk.
"Do not touch the alarm. I need a Schmidt. Klaus Schmidt. Where is he?" I questioned as I rose from my seat and walked round the other side of the desk.
"Our clients leave no addresses. We do not…" he stuttered fear clearly present in his eyes, as I kept his hand restrained to make sure he didn't quickly push that button and then my plans would all be up in smoke.
"Not a bank?" I asked sarcastically. He had metal fillings which I proceed to use my power on to open his mouth.
"Metal fillings, huh? Not gold. Worried that someone might steal them?" I sneered as I began pulling them out towards me, he groaned in pain.
"Argentina! Schmidt, in Argentina! Villa Gesell! I beg you!" he shouted I focused more on the filling pulling it out and placing it down on the desk. The man looked at quite clearly very shocked and very scared.
"Thank you." I said closing the briefcase and walking out towards the door. "I would love to kill you. So remember, if you warn him about me, I will find you."
Oxford, England, 1962
Laura's P.O.V
"Nervous yet Charles?" I asked as we entered the University grounds. Today was probably one of the biggest days of his life: his dissertation on Mutation and Genes and the day he would become a professor. He'd have to speak in front of a huge audience of well respected professors and scientists.
"No. Maybe a little." he replied I clapped him on the shoulder as we entered the building.
"I'm sure everything will go alright." I reassured him as he nervously rifled through his notes. Raven nodded in agreement. "You could always picture everyone in their underwear."
"Just don't picture me in mine please." Raven added Charles chuckled as he turned to walk towards the stage.
"Well I guess this is it." he said as he readied himself to go out and face the music. "Why didn't I just do politics like you?"
"Because politics doesn't suit you, it's overly complex and it is quite a bore." I answered smiling as Raven and I walked off towards our seats. "Oh and Charles, just to let you know I've got my special underwear on today."
I giggled at his cute shocked face, before a smirk plastered itself on his face.
"I'll keep that mind."
A couple of hours later
We walked out of the campus and towards Charles' favourite pub, the one we had been in days before when he had tried to pull the lovely Amy and was blocked by Raven's small shape shifting incident. Charles was visibly chuffed with himself and so he should be, it had gone smashingly well.
"I didn't have to picture anyone in their underwear." he laughed referencing our earlier joke.
"Well that's good." I said though something told me he wasn't telling me something.
"But I just couldn't get that image of you out of my head." he chuckled my mouth gaped; trust him to think of that while talking about genes. I swatted him on the arm.
"So, how does it feel to be a professor?" Raven asked steering the conversation out of the gutter and into a much less awkward one for her. Charles frowned jokingly.
"Oh, don't call me that! You don't get to be called a professor unless you actually have a teaching position." he replied Raven and I began to laugh. We would get hours of fun torturing him by continuously calling him professor as he got more and more annoyed as he explained that over and over again.
"I know. But it suits you." she joked I nodded in agreement.
"She's right it definitely suits you Professor Xavier." I said laughing as he shook his head.
"Oh, don't say that! Instead lets have another drink." he responded as he put one arm around me and the other around Raven and took us back over to the bar.
"Sounds like a good plan." Raven and I said in unison as the three of us started to laugh.
"Wonderful."
Author's Notes:
Hope you have enjoyed the second chapter, thank you for the support on this series. If you have any ideas or things you would like to see in the next chapters, my inbox is open. Hopefully the schedule is working and the content is being updated frequently. Again I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and I hope you enjoy the future chapters.
