Simone took a deep breath as she stretched her body moving through the different yoga poses she had learned over the years. It was also a great way to clear her mind of all the thoughts of Charles she had been having lately, that man was constantly in her mind.
It was a beautiful day and she had pulled on a long sleeved fitted purple shirt and a pair of loose black pants that reached down to calves. She had found a nice flat area under a tree and was performing the Standing Bow pose when Charles and Hank ran nearby.
""In each of us, two natures are at war."" Charles said to Hank.
"Robert Louis Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde." Hank nodded.
"Top marks." Charles praised. "The story wasn't really about good and evil though, was it? It was about man's animal nature and his struggle to control it, to conform. And it's that struggle which is holding you back."
"No, Jekyll was afraid of what he could be capable of." Hank told him.
"And you are, too." Charles said. "Now, if you want to beat me this time, you have to set the beast free." Charles said as Hank took off his shoes. "On your marks, get set, go!"
Simone nearly fell over when Hank raced by her easily over lapping Charles.
"Congratulations, my friend. Robert Louis Stevenson would have been proud." Charles said when Hank ran up behind him.
"C'était genial." Simone said as she walked over making Hank grin. "I have never seen anyone move so fast."
"Impressive, Hank. With feet like those, all you need is a red nose. Right, Bozo?" Alex said clapping Hank on the shoulder making Hanks face fall as he walked away angrily.
"I'm done here." Hank bit out.
"Thank you, Alex." Charles said sarcastically as he ran after Hank. "Come on, Hank."
"Hey, ow, that hurt." Alex yelped when Simone smacked him upside the head, her hand coated in iron. "What the heck Simone?!"
"You can make your own dinner tonight and from now on for that matter." Simone snapped before turning on her heal and walking away.
"What?! Come one Simone, don't be like that…" Alex pleaded as he followed her having no cooking skills what so ever. Simone stopped so fast that Alex nearly ran into her then she spun around sharply facing him and poked him in the chest hard as she spoke.
"No Alex, you are a bully, c'est dégoûtant." (It is disgusting) Simone snapped. "We are already facing prejudice from the rest of the world, we do not need it from our own kind as well. Until you apologize to Hank sincerely you will eat nothing that you do not make yourself."
Simone left him behind as feelings awkwardness and guilt twisted in his stomach. She made her way back to the mansion shaking her head in annoyance. She headed toward the weight room for the rest of her workout where she found Raven in her natural form laying on the table used for lifting the dumbbells.
"Incroyable." (Amazing) Simone said startling Raven who bolted up with a gasp quickly changing her form back. "So that is what you really look like?"
"Yeah." Raven said on edge as she brought her legs up to her chest.
"It is amazing, I have never seen such a deep shade of blue." Simone commented as she walked over taking a seat next to her. "You should show it off more often."
"Please, I look like a…" Raven trailed off starring angrily down at the ground. "…freak."
"You look de toute beauté." (Beautiful) Simone cut her off. "Do not let anyone tell you any different, it is all in how you own it."
"Own it?" Raven echoed, looking to the older mutant.
"Qui." Simone nodded seriously, then smiled. "You said your codename was Mystique, now what does that name mean to you?"
"I don't know…mysterious I guess." Raven shrugged.
"It also means alluring and tantalizing. You have a fascinating aura of mystery, awe, and power surrounding you. Within you there is power to reduce men to putty in your hands." Simone told her making her smile. "You chose the name, now all you have to do is find the confidence in who you are to live up to it."
"Tantalizing huh?" Raven considered her words with a small smile. "I like that." Raven then grinned to Simone. "So you and Charles?" Simone choked on air at the sudden change in subject, her face going red as she tried to form a coherent sentence. "Oh some on Simone, everyone can tell you two are crushing on each other bad."
"I…he…" Simone took a breath. "Am I that obvious?"
"A little, but so is he." Raven shrugged.
"Do you really think he likes me, I mean like that?" Simone looked to Raven.
"Oh yes, more than sure of it." Raven nodded. "I've never seen him treat a girl the way he treats you."
"What do you mean?" Simone asked.
"Well he treats you more like an equal and not like some princess in an ivory tower." Raven replied. "He actually talks to you and not just at you, he's never done that before."
Simone smiled softly remembering their conversation back at the CIA facility.
"Hey, guys, the president is about to speech in about twenty minutes, we're all going to watch it." Sean said sticking his head into the gym. "You guys coming?"
"We are coming, just let us get cleaned up." Simone nodded and Sean nodded leaving the room.
"Thanks Simone." Raven smiled as they walked out of the gym.
"Any time my fleur bleue. (Blue flower) And thank you as well." Cheshire replied giving the young girl a quick hug.
"Anytime." Raven echoed with a smile before they went their ways.
Simone ran up to her room taking a quick shower then pulling on a pair of black fitted pedal pushers, a white button up blouse with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of green flats, a pair of golden hoop earrings, her ever present bracelet, and a green sash which she tied around her waist before heading back downstairs just in time for the broadcast.
