I do not own X-Men: First Class.
Duh.
In the beginning
Chapter 6: Opportune Moments
As Hank was drawn back into the acceptance of the circle by his beautiful Raven's eloquent verbal guillotining of Alex's manhood, the gregarious Darwin posed his question to a slightly skewered Alex.
"Alex, what is your gift? What can you do?"
Gift? Is that what these mutations are? Maybe for you guys but that's not how I would define mine. It's more like a curse . . .
Hey, I heard that, Science Boy.
I know. You always do.
You know, you've never given me enough credit. Let me show you how awesome we can be toget-
No. Go away.
Amid the internal quarrel in his head, Hank heard Alex respond with uncharacteristic timidity.
"Uh, it's not, um, I can't . . . I just can't do it," he mumbled self-consciously. "I can't do it in here."
He seemed . . . embarrassed? Shy? Ashamed? Afraid?
Ah man, don't make me have compassion for you. Don't show me our common ground . . .
But Darwin was not to be refused.
"Well, can you do it out there?" he pushed.
Yes, I'm fairly certain he can be an anal sphincter anywhere.
Alex hesitated and Darwin started clapping and chanting his name. The others took up the encouragement with glee and gusto.
Hank couldn't help but smile at them. Here he had been cast out of the circle and Raven had drawn him back in. Then Alex had thrown himself out but now they were reeling him back in as well.
Is this what it's like to have friends? Your imperfections laid out to humble you and then accepted and forgiven all in one fell swoop?
It seemed like a concept Hank could get behind, embrace.
Even his lovely Raven seconds before had expressed contempt for the blond man and now she was chanting and clapping along with everyone else, a big grin on her youthful face.
Finally, annoyed, Alex succumbed to the joyful peer pressure, rising grimly from his seat and stalking toward the open window.
"Get down when I tell you."
Why? What are you going to do? Insult the entire planet at lightning speed?
The others practically leapt from their seats and dashed to the window to observe the impending performance. Hank remained seated a moment longer until Sean glanced down at him expectantly.
What? Oh, right, I'm part of a group now. Okay.
So he hopped up too and reflexively placed himself next to his Raven, her face aglow with excitement and curiosity.
They practically hung themselves out the shattered window watching Alex set himself toward the already damaged statue.
"Get back," he intoned at them darkly.
As a cohesive unit, they reversed out of view . . .
Hey, this is kind of fun . . .
. . . for about a second before collectively leaning back out for a clearer shot of the impending action.
Alex adamantly waved them back again.
"Get back!" he insisted.
Ha ha, make us, you scrawny punk.
When they stubbornly didn't move, he reset himself with a glare and a mumble.
Then, against all explainable laws of science and nature, he rotated his arms in sweeping motions with a grimace and a grunt, producing red power rings from his core and flinging them at the statue.
Holy sh-
He hit it (along with leaving scorch marks on half the surrounding walls) and horizontally sliced it clear in half. The torso fell with a metal thud to the grass.
As everyone else burst into gales of excitement and applause, Hank stood frozen in place.
I . . . I . . . I take it all back . . . Can I do experiments on you?
While the voice of the other quipped, Yep, that'd send you to prison alright.
The previously quiet, stuffy rec room was a-rockin'.
When the jukebox changed to a bopper, Raven enthusiastically jumped up onto one of the black leather couches and started dancing.
Hank, swept up by the thrill of discovery and acceptance, was struck with a nearly uncontrollable urge to approach her, dashingly sweep her into his arms in a low dancing dip, and kiss her beautiful lips finally once and for all in front of everybody.
Instead, he released some of his pent-up energy by flinging off his shoes and socks and dangling himself from the main set of light fixtures. The other inside him cheered with approval and together they rocked the party.
". . . shake it to the left, you shake it to the right . . ."
Angel happily flutter-danced in the air to his left, drink in hand. Raven's bright laughter bounced off the walls as she clapped her hands in delight.
Alex and Sean entertained themselves taking turns launching attacks upon Darwin, who lived up to his nickname by instinctively growing defensive armour plates on his body. He shouted encouragements to his attackers, mocking their lack of strength. They laughed and high-fived each other.
Somewhere in the back of Hank's mind, the introverted, frightened young boy who had always been taught to hide and be ashamed, nervously muttered that they shouldn't be behaving this way. It was inappropriate. It was wrong. They were going to get caught.
But Hank, in a fit of wild abandonment, let the whining lad's pleadings be drowned out by the music, by the excitement, by the freedom of the moment.
It felt so good. It was the first time he'd ever been so free with other people. Or himself.
It. Was. Awesome.
"What are you doing?!"
The female voice was irate, furious. It yanked Hank out of his fantastic mutant high and he jerked, startled.
He released his prehensile grip of the light fixture and flipped, landing feet first on the floor, gasping for air.
The CIA agent, Moira, was standing outside the broken window, her hands on her hips, face stormy.
Charles and Erik stood on either side of her, silent and disapproving.
Oh crap.
"Who destroyed the statue?!" she demanded.
All of Hank's exhilaration died in an instant. And the cloying, suffocating choke chain of adult responsibility and forced maturity wrapped around his throat once more, cutting off his air, his joy, his light.
Hank stuffed his hands deep in his pants pockets, instinctively drawing himself tighter, more rigid. He could not wait to get his socks and shoes back on.
"It was Alex," he blurted out in the brutal face of authority.
He vaguely thought his voice sounded different to him. Probably just nerves.
He was only dimly aware of Alex's betrayed gesture thrown toward him and his confession as the guilty group moved closer together for unity.
Raven, however, was not to be denied her deserved fun and genius.
"No," she replied, still grinning. "'Havok'. We have to call him 'Havok' now."
And stepping toward the three grim-faced adults, she pointed at each man in turn. Starting with her angry mutant-brother.
"And we were thinking," she announced with great pride and aplomb, "that you should be 'Professor X'."
Then she turned her attention upon the blank-faced Erik.
"And you should be 'Magneto'."
No, no, no, don't tell them! They're going to think it's stupid!
There was an infinite second of dead silence where in Hank mentally curled up and died of absolute shame.
Then Erik, his face still carefully blank, spoke one word.
"Exceptional."
Hank didn't have time to guess his meaning because Charles launched his proper, sternly disappointed tone at his mutant-sister, causing her to visibly wilt.
"I expect more from you."
And they strode off in a huff, leaving behind six slightly diminished mutants who only moments before had felt as though they held the world in the palms of their hands.
Raven had excused herself to the ladies' room directly thereafter, her downcast blue eyes very bright and watery.
Hank had wanted to go after her, comfort her somehow. Hold her protectively to him, allow her to cry on his plaid-shirted shoulder. Blow her nose on his stuffy (yeah, he knew it) tie perhaps. Cup her soft face in his gentle hands, wiping her tears away with his fingertips, and lovingly kiss her smooth forehead and reddened cheeks as well.
After all, she would have done the same for him had their roles been reversed.
But he didn't really know how to have the courage to do any of those things.
So she left and he stayed. And helped the others clean up the mess.
They were a quiet for a little while, working in silence. Someone even turned off the jukebox.
Raven returned, somewhat subdued, but in control of her emotions.
She helped them finish the cleanup and then they all retired quietly to their rooms for the evening.
Hank wanted to escort her to her room if only to be in her beatific presence a little longer. Despite what she had said, he was still cautious about being too forward, so he casually timed his exit so that they 'naturally' fell in step together.
She glanced up at him and fleetingly gifted him one of her lovely smiles.
"Hi," he managed.
"Hey."
They walked along in silence and Hank realized the fatal flaw in his brilliant plan.
He didn't know how to talk to women.
She was a bit withdrawn at the moment and without her bubbliness to buoy him up, his internal charm and wit were sinking faster than the Titanic.
They arrived at her door all too quickly and Hank found he was still at a loss for words.
On the outside at least.
"Um . . ."
Tell her she's pretty.
Well . . .
Tell her you love her!
I, uh . . .
Tell her you want to have her babies!
Okay, now that's just physiologically impossible.
Come on, tell her something!
"Well, good night, Raven . . ."
Your name tastes like honey on my lips.
There, that! Say that!
". . . I hope you sleep well."
I would hold you all night long if it would make you happy again.
Yes, that! Say that then!
But Hank McCoy had stopped talking and closed his mouth.
She looked at him, a hint of something beautiful in her eyes.
He waited.
Kiss her!
She waited, searching his face.
Hug her!
He gazed upon her beauty.
Take her hand!
He wondered at her inner machinations.
Do something! Anything!
But he did not.
After a long moment, she smiled a sad little smile and spoke gently. He hung on with hopeful anticipation to her words with baited breath.
"Goodnight, Hank."
He nodded and when she slowly opened and closed her door, it was all he could do not to drive his head through it in frustration.
Oh, way to go, Tiger!
Oh shut up.
And then Hank retreated to his room and closed himself within. Though his thoughts and emotions stayed with her.
Okay, okay. Let me clarify. Hank is not schizophrenic. He's just got what some of us may call an 'inner idiot' that argues with him. And if you don't understand this because you don't have one, then good for you. You go right along and have a quiet head.
And if you notice, NH totally said 'It was Alex' in his regular, English accent. Heh, heh. I had to throw that in there 'cause he's usually so good at keeping in character. *blows a kiss* Sorry, sweetie.
After they get caught acting like regular teenagers (oh gasp, not that *rolls eyes), the rest of the chapter is all me. No deleted scene, just me. Hope it's still in character enough for you.
Thanks to brigid1318, ABewilderedBear, and MoonlitShadowsoftheHumanSoul for reviewing. You are very loyal to my Hank. Our Hank. Hank.
Up next, the Fellowship of the Ring falls apart. Wait . . .