Trick-Or-Treat: Part 3/3

Ice flooded Mystique's veins when she recognized her brother on the dusky Salem street. He wasn't alone, either. Moira MacTaggert - correction, Moira Xavier (both Erik and Mystique had been invited to their wedding two years aog, but they declined to attend) - stood behind Charles, looking at Mystique with an expression just as shocked as hers. Behind Mystique, Azazel took a step forward and put his hand protectively on Kurt's shoulder.

"Raven, it is you!" The happiness in Charles's voice made her stomach churn. No matter what prevailed between the X-Men and the Brotherhood, Charles always managed to turn their meetings into some kind of messed-up family reunion. As Charles wheeled toward Mystique, Moira quickly ushered a small group of children away from the Mystique's direction. It seems like Charles had the same Trick-Or-Treat idea with his younger students as they did. The blue mutant bit her lip. It was clearly too late to pretend she didn't see Charles, and there was no way that Azazel could discretely teleport the family away. She looked down into her brother's periwinkle eyes and forced a smile. She was never going to get used to him being confined to that damn chair.

"Charles, what…what a surprise!" Mystique leaned over and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He caught her hand before she could pull away too far. She forced her smile wider. "It's Mystique now, remember?"

"Oh, yes, of course Rav…er, Mystique. How silly of me. Old habits, huh?" Charles looked past his sister and his smile brightened. Mystique followed his gaze to Kurt. Her small son was standing in front of his father frowning hard, trying to figure out why this strange man was touching his mother and calling her by the wrong name. The last time Charles saw Kurt, the boy had been in diapers.

"Kurt, you remember your Uncle Charles, don't you?" Mystique knew there was no way Kurt could remember Charles, but she felt it was the polite thing to say. Kurt shook his head "no" vigorously, but pulled away from his father's hand and slowly approached the pair. His eyes were glued to the wheelchair his 'uncle" sat in. He had never seen anything like it before.

"Wow, mister! Are you a robot?" Kurt demanded in a burst of childlike wonder. While Charles laughed and Azazel smirked, Mystique was mortified at her son's brashness.

"Kurt!"

"No, no, it's quite alright. He's just curious. Kurt come here," Charles beckoned the boy closer. After inspecting the chair and asking a few questions, Kurt had accepted that Charles was safe. He tousled the boy's hair affectionately, and listened with polite interest while Kurt showed off his cowboy costume. As Charles interacted with Kurt, Azazel appeared behind Mystique and gently placed his hand on her lower back for solidarity. Her gaze was drawn beyond Charles to a small, enclosed park where his youngest students were frolicking, oblivious to the presence of the Brotherhood members. Moira was standing at the gate, glancing from the children to Charles with a slight frown on her face. Next to her stood Alex, dressed-up as a police officer. Mystique's breath caught in her throat – she was terrified for a second that Hank would be present as well – but when she scanned the group, she recognized no other faces. Alex was sneering at her and holding hands with a green-haired girl in a ballerina costume who was busy minding the children. There was something about the green-haired girl that looked oddly familiar, but Mystique couldn't quite put her finger on it. There were about ten children playing in the park, and they did not look much older than Kurt. Truthfully, they didn't look much older than she had been the day Mystique wandered into Charles's life. She frowned at the memory, only to be interrupted by Charles insisting that they join his group for the remainder of the Halloween evening.

"Oh, Charles really we can't…" Mystique stuttered but Charles waved his hand dismissively.

"No, I insist. Kurt can play with the children. I've set-up a telepathic block around this park. It's completely safe for him, and for the others. They can just be kids for a while." As he spoke, it dawned on Mystique that the children had been using their powers as they played. To the average human passing by, Charles had made it appear that no one was in the park at all.

"But…" Mystique glanced over her shoulder at Azazel. The red mutant looked as alarmed as she did. Neither of them knew what to do. They glanced at Kurt, who was staring open-mouthed at the other children. It was the first time he noticed the children were different, just like he was.

"Ororo! Kitty! Scott! Come here and meet a new friend!" With that, several children jogged over to where the adults stood. Alex and the green-haired girl exchanged worried looks, but remained at the gate of the park watching the children. The boy was wearing dark glasses and dressed a crook in striped prison pajamas, and the African girl was dressed as a princess. The last little girl actually walked through the gate as the trio approached the adults.

Kurt stood as stiff as a cat with an arched back as the mutant children approached. He clutched his candy bag to his chest protectively and stood wide-eyed. Mystique felt a pain in her chest as she realized why Kurt was so hesitant. He had never seen another mutant child before. This isn't right.

"Kurt, it's okay. You can go play." Mystique gently pried the candy bag out of Kurt's clutches. He continued to stare at the children like a deer trapped in headlights. Suddenly, a cloud of blue smoke marked where he had once stood, and he peered out from behind his father, looking fearfully at the group.

"Hi, I'm Kitty!" The girl who introduced herself as Kitty was, indeed, dressed as black cat. She smiled warmly at Kurt. His tiny fingers wound into Azazel's pants harder and he hid behind his father's leg. Mystique knelt down to Kitty's level and held out her hand.

"Hello Kitty, it's nice to meet you. My name is Mystique." Mystique shook hands with the little girl and looked at her son. "Kurt, come say hello to Kitty." Kurt mumbled and looked at the girl unsure before burying his face in his father's pant leg again. Two other children had left the park to see what the commotion was. Azazel spoke softly to Kurt, prompting the boy to look up alarmed and answer back quickly in his father's native tongue. Undeterred by her new friend's shyness, Kitty spoke again, this time with a note of amazement in her voice.

"You can disappear completely?" Kurt looked at Kitty and swallowing, nodded in answer.

"Wow! Can you do it again? Please?" Kitty and the other children looked at him expectantly. Kurt took a step forward and hesitated, looking up at Azazel for permission. When his father nodded, Kurt vanished and reappeared behind Kitty. He tapped her on the shoulder with his tail and she shrieked in laughter. Amidst a chorus of "cool!" and "neat!," the others gathered around and started showing Kurt their powers. Moments later, Kurt was running and laughing with the other children, his fear abated.

"You have a fine boy there." Charles nodded curtly to Azazel, who returned the gesture before excusing himself and walking a short distance away to supervise Kurt and give Mystique and her brother privacy. The two men were cordial to one another, but Charles had never completely accepted the fact that his baby sister was sharing her bed with an assassin. After a long while of small talk and inquiring about the health and well being of old friends - namely Erik, Hank, and Sean - Charles asked her about her life. He was particularly interested in hearing about Kurt and his life in the Brotherhood.

"He's such a wonderful child. You must be so proud." Charles smiled warmly as he watched his students play. "How is he managing his powers? What about his education?"

"We're doing the best we can with what we have. It's hard, sometimes, I'm not going to lie." Mystique smiled wistfully as she watched Kurt tag another little boy in their game. The boy made a puddle freeze, but Kurt teleported over it easily. "It'd be nice for him to have more playmates like this."

"Mystique, you know there's always a place for Kurt at the school." Mystique was silent for a long time before answering. It was something she had thought about before, and something she had never openly discussed with Azazel.

"I know Charles."

"Look, if it's a matter of his father, well, I am sure once he sees the school and what it can offer Kurt, then…"

"Let's not talk about this, please?"

"Alright, but you know you can always talk to me if you change your mind." Charles was silent for a few moments before he glanced over at his sister and grinned.

It's good to see you again, Raven. I've missed you. His voice echoed, warm and familiar in her mind.

I miss you too, Charles. She didn't bother correcting him.


A little over an hour later and after parting from Charles's company, the trio walked back to a safe spot to teleport back to headquarters. Exhausted from his evening of trick-or-treating and playing with the other children, Kurt was sound asleep. He was drooling slightly on his father's shoulder, his little arms wrapped around Azazel's neck and his tail swaying gently in time with his father's stride. Mystique walked next to them, holding Kurt's pillowcase full of candy.

"Did he get any of those chocolates? With the peanut butter?" Mystique riffled through the candy bag and pulled out a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. She unwrapped it and held out for Azazel. He leaned over and took it from her with his teeth, as both his hands were carrying his sleeping son.

"Ey luv dees tings." Azazel's voice was muffled by the chocolate, making Mystique chuckle.

"Are we bad parents for stealing our son's Halloween candy?"

"Nyet if we take few pieces only. He will not notice." Azazel swallowed and flashed her a wicked smile. "And, we are Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, so da, I think it is expected we steal candy from baby." Mystique rolled her eyes and smirked, taking a piece of candy for herself. As she chewed, she thought for a long time about how happy Kurt looked tonight playing with the other mutants. It broke her heart that they were taking him home to a house full of adults. Kurt should be around kids his own age, and Charles did offer…Mystique frowned and thought of the letters her brother had sent her in the last year highlighting programs for Kurt at his school. She ignored them, but now…

"Azazel, I've been thinking," Mystique took a deep breath and glanced over at her partner. Azazel had picked-up on the serious tone in her voice. He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.

"Seeing Kurt playing with those children tonight…the mutant children with Charles…" Mystique saw Azazel's posture stiffen. He knew what she was about to say next, and she could tell already that he didn't want to hear it. Taking another deep breath, she continued.

"Kurt should be around other mutant children. It's not fair for him to only have adults as friends." Azazel was quiet for a long time, and they walked in silence, their footfalls the only sound. Finally, he responded in a whisper.

"We tried for other children Lyubia." Mystique felt a lump in her throat and gazed down to her feet. "You know this." The memories of her two miscarriages came flooding back. She had carried one child almost to term. Kurt should have a sister. They even named her – Marie – but she was born too early, and took her last breath two hours after she entered this world. Azazel had to fight several guards to save Kurt when the boy was forcibly taken from a weakened Mystique in a delivery room; the pair could not chance going to a hospital again. After Marie, the two mutants decided it was just too painful to try anymore.

"I know, it's just…I was thinking, maybe Kurt can go to Charles's school for a little while." Azazel stopped dead in his tracks and turned sharply to face Mystique. The look of shock and outrage on his face was frightening.

"You want to send our son away?" Kurt stirred lightly in Azazel's arms. Mystique rubbed his back soothingly to get him to return to sleep. She lowered her voice, hoping Azazel would do the same.

"No, that is not what I said. What I meant is maybe he can visit the school sometimes – like for a summer program or half-day care or something - and he can be around other children his own age."

"I will nyet abandon my child!"

"Azazel, listen to me! We are not abandoning him. We are giving him a chance at a normal childhood." Mystique was losing ground quickly. She tried a different approach. "Do you remember when you were a kid? Remember how you had no one to play with except your mother? Well, I had no one at all until I met Charles. We owe it to Kurt to let him have friends more than just once a year." Azazel looked unconvinced, although less outraged. Mystique sighed.

"Maybe we can just bring Kurt there for a few classes during the week? If anything, it would be easier on us. We wouldn't have to worry about finding a babysitter when we have joint missions, and we can visit Kurt whenever we want. You can teleport, after all. Charles would let us tuck him in and read him stories every night, and bring him back to headquarters on the weekends. When he's old enough to teleport better, he can visit us."

Azazel remained silent, his face unreadable.

"Kurt's not cut out for our life Azazel. You see how upset he gets at the sight of blood and pain. God, the kid cried for an hour yesterday when Janos killed a praying mantis that got into the kitchen. He made us have a funeral for it. What do you think he's going to do if we get hurt, or worse?" At this, Azazel turned his gaze toward his sleeping son. He was quiet for a long time before speaking.

"What if he chooses…their side?"

"And what if we raise him, but he chooses their side anyways?" Mystique threw her hands in the air. "I made a choice, remember? On the beach? Charles was the only family I had, and I still chose to walk away, to go fight for the our side." Mystique held his gaze steady. "There are no guarantees, but you saw Kurt tonight. You saw how happy he was to play with those children. We can give him that."

"Maybe we talk to your brother, maybe go see this school of his." Azazel looked forward, not meeting his partner's gaze. "I promise nothing."

In the dark, she reached out and gently put her hand on Azazel's arm. He was tense, and clutching Kurt tighter to him. His son was his world; she just wanted to make Kurt's world a little bit brighter.


Mystique sat on the loveseat in their sitting room, rubbing her feet. Her halo and wings had been discarded on the floor next to her. With Kurt out view, she had relaxed back into her natural skin. She almost regretted not wearing real shoes with her costume, seeing how much they walked that night. As she reflected on this, Azazel appeared in the doorway, holding with two glasses of wine. He had changed out of his suit into more casual clothing. As he walked over to his partner, he lowered the needle on their record player behind him with his tail. Mystique raised an eyebrow at him and tried to suppress a laugh as he walked over to her, now exaggeratedly sashaying in time with the music.

"God, you're ridiculous, you know that?" She accepted a glass from Azazel. She took a sip and smiled. "Is Kurt tucked in?"

"Da, sleeping like angel." Azazel set down his drink on the end table and sat very close to Mystique. Pushing her hair to the side, he started rubbing her shoulders. After a few moments, she closed her eyes and leaned back. It felt wonderful.

"Did you turn on his nightlight?" Instead of answering her immediately, Azazel leaned forward and started kissing her neck. She giggled at the sensation of his beard against her skin.

"Nyet."

"Nyet?" Mystique echoed back to Azazel, sitting up and looking at him over her shoulder in confusion. "You know he gets nightmares if his light's not on!" Frowning, she started to stand up but Azazel quickly pulled her back down, putting his arms securely around her waist.

"Do not worry." Mystique didn't know what he was playing at, but she was no longer in the mood.

"But he's…"

"He is not here."

"What?" Mystique narrowed her eyes at Azazel. "What do you mean, 'he's not here?'" Azazel smirked. "Where's Kurt? Where is our son?"

"I have surprise for you." He leaned forward and kissed her neck up to her earlobe. "Our son is sleeping at his Aunt Emma's house tonight. Which means…" Azazel moved around to her other side, whispering in her ear. "… we have bedroom to ourselves." He sat back and smiled devilishly at Mystique with one eyebrow quirked. She knew that look. That look resulted in Kurt four years ago.

"Happy Halloween." As he pulled her to him again, she suddenly got an idea.

"Hey, Azazel, wait." He murmured and kept kissing her. "No, really…I have a wicked idea." At this, he paused and regarded her. Mystique smirked mischievously. "But…we're going to need Angel, Janos, and Erik." Azazel titled his head at her suggestion and laughed.

"Sounds…kinky." Mystique giggled and explained her idea. As she spoke, his smile grew wider until she thought his face would split in two. He nodded in agreement, and offering his hand, they vanished to collect the others.


Two hours later the Brotherhood members returned to their headquarters in a fit of rancorous laughter. Amidst the chorus of voices, Janos and Angel were loudly proposing they make tonight's activities a yearly tradition, and even Erik was laughing so hard that he had to wipe tears from his eyes. When they reappeared, Mystique didn't release Azazel's hand, but rather, she held it tight and looked at her partner adoringly. He winked at her, and she knew then that despite the difficult times and decisions they would face, they'd face them together; there was no where he'd rather be that right there by her side. A short while later they were in their bedroom getting reacquainted with the sound their bed makes when Kurt jumps on it. They hadn't had a night this good this since Kurt was an infant. Afterwards, they laughed and pillow talked until sleep could be staved off no longer.

Mystique snuggled into the spoon of Azazel's body. He felt safe and warm, and he was snoring loud enough to wake the dead beside her. God help me, she thought happily, but I have missed nights like these. Carefully aiming her elbow, she whacked him hard in the ribs, making him stir slightly, resettle, and breathe at a reasonable decibel. They were made for each other.

As she drifted off to sleep, Mystique smiled and hoped Charles and his X-Men didn't have too hard a time getting all the toilet paper out of the front yard trees...all 200 of them.

Trick-Or-Treat, indeed.


- The End -