A/N: Thank you for all the encouraging reviews. They always make my day. :)

In this chapter we meet Raven. And Charles is embarrassed.

Chapter Four - Nosy Shapeshifting Sisters
[Charles]

After his work day was finally over - and he had managed another special lesson about mutation control without strangling a variety of students - Charles thoughts turned back to the subject of the note and how to fix the mess that had ensued.

Considering, he stopped in front of a street vendor selling flowers. Maybe a nice bouquet as an "I'm sorry" gift?

Before he could follow that train of thought, someone tapped his shoulder to get his attention.

He turned around, just to have a complete stranger in a boiler suit kiss him on the cheek.

Feeling his face heat up, Charles was just about to tell the man that this had to be some kind of misunderstanding, when the man's skin rippled and turned blue.

He nearly dropped his bag.

"Raven! I nearly had a heart attack. I told you not to do that."

His sister's blue face split into a grin.

"But you're adorable when you're flustered."

Charles sputtered, cheeks reddening further.

"I am not adorable. I'm an adult! And a professor."

Raven just reached over and pinched his cheek.

"Adorable."

The telepath hmpf-ed and batted her hand away.

"Sooo…" Uh-oh. "Getting flowers for someone?"

"Um." Damn all nosy shapeshifting sisters. What was he supposed to say to that? 'I thought I'd get some flowers for my neighbour that I've somehow managed to insult before we ever met who most likely things I'm an insensitive idiot?' Certainly not.

"Oooh, my brother got himself a girlfriend!" Raven's whole face lit up. She looked like Christmas had come early.

Wait, what?

"No!"

Her expression turned dangerously sly.

"So it's a boyfriend then?"

Charles gaped at her.

"No! I'm not even…Why would you think…I've never even…Erik's not my anything!"

"Erik, hm? Already found out your crush's first name then, good job."

All right, so his sister was totally misinterpreting the situation. Great.

Before he could say anything to correct her though, Raven started chattering away happily.

"So what's he like? I bet he's hot. Well, of course he is, you always crush on the hot people. Got an accent hasn't he? I know you told me you didn't like Stella just because of her accent but you totally did, I could tell. Tall and lean I guess, you always go for the tall people. At least taller than you. But okay, everybody is, you're short…"

"Raven."

"Do I know him? Oh, wait, is it that new waiter at the café you always go to? Really, you should have told me, I could totally get you his number. I think he's straight though, I saw him flirting with a girl…"

"Raven!"

"Okay, maybe not the waiter, he looks like, I don't know, fifteen, that would be gross. A mutant maybe? I bet he's got a very groovy mutation, right? Though if you used…"

"RAVEN!"

"Huh, what?"

Charles heaved a sigh. His sister would never let this go.

"Raven, I'm not crushing on Erik. I don't even know him. I saw him for maybe five seconds. And I only call him Erik because I don't know his last name. He's my neighbour, he rented the flat under mine. And yes, he's a mutant. He also thinks I'm an idiot."

Raven looked disappointed, then her expression turned thoughtful.

"Well that's too bad. If he thinks you're an idiot it will be harder to set you up with him. Also…how can he think you're an idiot if you met for five seconds? I mean that's a record even for you."

Charles decided to ignore the insult and focus on her more worrying statement.

"Raven, why do you want to set me up with him? Also…Erik's a man."

"I know he's a man, you twit. That's why I want to set you up with him."

She rolled her eyes at his blank look.

"Look little brother, I tried to set you up with twelve women. It didn't work. So maybe I need to try with a man."

Oh.

That would explain why all those girls his sister had introduced as new friends of hers had completely ignored her to flirt with him. And that also meant…

"You think my type is shallow, busty and blonde?!"

"Well in my defence, I also thought you were straight. I'm also pretty sure at least two of them were redheads."

What sins did I commit to deserve my sister?

"Raven dear, I love you very much, but please stop trying to play matchmaker."

"Well but you need to get laid."

That sent Charles spluttering again, his face turning scarlet.

"Raven! We're in the middle of the street."

"That doesn't negate the facts."

~As much as I probably don't want to know, please tell me why you're so invested in my sex life.~

This was really not something he wanted to discuss in the street surrounded by people, but he was also morbidly curious. Telepathic communication afforded at least some privacy.

~I'm invested in your sex life because you have none. You're a red-blooded male in your prime, Charles, and you're wearing tweed. Tweed! For goodness sake…tweeeeed, Charles. Not even corduroys, tweed. If that's not a warning sign I don't know one.~

"This is about my clothes?!"

"It's about your clothes and the fact that you've not dated someone in forever. Seriously, little brother, you're a nun."

Charles sometimes wondered how he got involved into this kind of conversation.

"If anything I'd be a monk. I'm also older than you."

"Well you behave like a blushing schoolboy."

"You're one to talk! I wasn't the one who threw a tantrum when I told you that you were to old for a doll."

"Don't you dare bring Sally into this!"

Sensing dangerous territory, Charles cast about for a different topic.

"Don't you want to know why my neighbour thinks I'm an idiot?"

Raven shot him an 'I'll only let you get away with this because I'm curious'-look and folded her arms.

"All right, why does he think you're an idiot?"

It dawned on him a little too late that maybe loosing control over one's powers was a somewhat personal subject. He decided to go with an abridged version of events.

"I might have…overreacted to something in form of a rather rude note."

"Okay…and what did he do?"

"He wrote a reply and shoved it in my face. That was when we met for five seconds."

"Uh-huh."

Raven clearly thinks that that's not the whole story, but has apparently decided not to pry. Charles thanks his lucky stars.

"So you were an idiot and now you want to get him flowers."

"Maybe. I'm not sure. Do you think I should get him flowers?"

"Sure, if you want to raise the awkward level to the moon."

"So you think it's a bad idea."

"Yes, idiot. I mean seriously, you don't get someone you've met for five seconds flowers. Especially not a guy."

"So what do you suggest I do?"

"Knock on his door, apologise, take him to a nice little restaurant, spend an amazing night together, get engaged and then I can finally wear that dress I bought for your wedding."

Charles just stared.

"On second thought, flowers could be productive."

Before her brother had a chance to say anything, Raven started waving to someone, looking over his shoulder.

"Hey Carrie! Hello, over here. Carrie!" She turned to Charles. "Sorry little brother, got to run, that's Carrie and I really need to give a book back to her, I've had it borrowed for ages. See you later!"

Then she dashed off, leaving the telepath to stare at the spot she had vacated.

Charles shook his head.

Well, that was singularly unhelpful.

…

But then, maybe not.

Maybe his sister was right. Not on the 'take him to a nice little restaurant et cetera' part, obviously, but her suggestion to just apologise wasn't so bad.

Yes, maybe just apologising would be the best way to fix the situation.

Plan formulated, Charles started walking home.

A/N: Filler chapter, because of plot bunnies and an acute need to sort out my various ideas for the actual plot. I hope you enjoyed this anyway. More Raven, anyone?