Author's Note: Today was kinda great. Glee came back on after far too much time away. Yes, I'm a total Gleek. So, if extra fluff got into this chapter, blame it on Glee. Or rather, thank Glee, since we've got some... okay, a good amount... okay, a lot... of Erik/Miranda moments! :D And I got this chapter done, and I've got plans for what I'm going to do next time. The next chapter will be up tomorrow, possibly, and hopefully we'll get another update Thursday or Friday morning, since I'll be going on a camping trip on Friday that will last until Sunday. However, my best friend's birthday is that Sunday, and I'll be going to her party that night.
There will be an update Monday, however. I swear there will be, because I know I'll be missing this story too much not to anything about it.
So, anyway, I don't own X-Men. Nope. I only own my copy of First Class. Oh, and I'll own a copy of X-Men: Destiny, which comes out in one week. I'm totally excited for it. :) I found out Milo Ventimiglia is voicing Grant Alexander, and a guy from Friday Night Lights is voicing Adrian Luca. I'm playing as them. Am I the only one excited for it?
Anyway, please review. The goal for this chapter was forty-five reviews... you guys broke that last chapter. XD So thanks for that. It was a happy dance moment. Let's see how far you guys can get on your own. :) Remember, send in ideas for scenes that you want, give your favorite moments, and tell me whether or not you like Miranda's girl time with Moira and Raven. There will be more of it. ;)
Turning Tables
Erik glared at her. "You haven't even heard my plan yet." "I don't need to. It involves boats and a sociopathic doctor. It won't end well." With a partner in his vendetta against Shaw, Erik Lensherr thought things would change. He was right. Erik/OC
Chapter 9
Norfolk, Virginia
1962
"We need a turtleneck."
"We're not putting her in a turtleneck."
"Well, we have to do something."
"They're not that noticeable."
"Raven, they're thin, very angry, purple bruises that look like a rope mark. They're noticeable, people will ask questions."
"Like what?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe something that goes along the lines of why do you have marks on your neck that make it look like you were strangled by weirdly smooth rope? What is she supposed to say? That she was almost strangled by a red-skinned mutant?"
"…okay, that makes some sense."
"Yeah."
"But I'm wearing the turtleneck right now! I don't want to give it up…"
"Do I get a say in this?"
"No, Miranda, you don't. Now just stand there and look pretty while we decide what we're going to do about those stupid bruises."
"Thanks, Raven."
"Anytime. Moira, we can't put her in a turtleneck!"
"What do you suggest then?"
Raven scowled as she stood in the middle of the room, scanning over Miranda. The brunette looked faintly shocked about the events of the past hour, and glanced down at the outfit that Raven had showed her last night. Miranda would admit that it was a bit strange to be back in a skirt, but on the other hand, it felt amazing to have girl time after so many years of just Erik for company.
Raven had definitely risen to the occasion. The pretty blond had woken Miranda up over an hour ago, saying they had hair, makeup, and outfit basics to cover before they could head out. She had long since gotten Moira's clothes from her room, bringing along the brunette CIA Agent. Moira seemed to be just as eager as Raven to play doll with the newest arrival.
Miranda had quickly learned it was impossible to resist the combined force that was Moira and Raven. She felt untold pity for any person unfortunate enough to stand in their way, man or woman, human or mutant.
It was just amusing to see how much fun they were having. Moira had been laughing and joking around with Miranda throughout them getting her ready. Moira, who seemed to be so serious from what Miranda had seen of her, had actually been relaxed. Raven had looked beyond excited as she and Moira had discussed the outfit that Miranda was going to be wearing that day.
Miranda had never realized how much she missed girl time.
Of course, that was until Moira and Raven had realized they had one problem in their mission. The teleporter's tail had left a ring of bruises around her neck that had finished forming during the night. It had not deterred Moira and Raven, who had immediately gone into the debate of how they were going to hide the bruises.
Raven suddenly grinned. "Scarf!" she exclaimed, diving to the other side of her bed. Moira and Miranda exchanged amused glances as Raven grabbed a black scarf, held it up with a triumphant grin, and threw it over to the brunettes. "It's a compromise! It looks cute, and it hides the bruises!"
Moira caught it, and smirked. "Good idea." She turned and smiled at her fellow brunette. "Turn around," she told Miranda, taking the scarf in her hands.
Miranda nodded, and stood still as Moira wrapped it around her neck. She winced as the fabric came in contact with the injured skin, but didn't get any other sign that the action had caused her pain. She turned around, and she laughed when she saw the excited and proud grins on Moira and Raven's face.
"So?" Miranda asked, twirling as she took a look at her outfit in a mirror. She froze as she caught site of her reflection. "Whoa."
"What?" Moira asked, frowning slightly at her.
Miranda smiled back calmly, though she still looked a bit blown away. "I almost forgot I was a girl."
All three of the women laughed, and Miranda twirled once again to take a good look at the outfit. She couldn't deny that she was pleased with what Moira and Raven had done. It looked as though her trust in them had not been unfounded. Plus, seeing them so excited was a complete plus, from Moira's amused smirks to Raven's cheerful grins.
Raven smiled mischievously, unseen by Miranda but easily noted by Moira. "Erik's not going to know what hit him," Raven murmured, smirking.
"What?" Miranda asked, distracted as Moira tried to put a necklace around her neck. She frowned over at Raven, and the blonde rolled her eyes, both out of exasperation and even a bit of relief.
"Nothing," Raven replied, catching Moira chuckling to herself. The CIA Agent had clearly heard her words. "Nothing, Miranda." She looked and herself and Moira before frowning. "Okay, Moira, our project for today is done. Now we need to get ready, because I think we're going to be there soon."
Moira shook her head. "No, we're here. We docked a few hours ago." She turned to Miranda. "Do you know your way up to deck?"
Miranda nodded. "I think I remember it." She grinned at the two before glancing at herself in the mirror again. "Thanks, Moira, Raven," she said quietly. She smiled gratefully at them. "I appreciate this so much."
Raven grinned. "You can make it up by letting us do it until we're confident that you can dress yourself to our standards."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Whatever." She looked at Moira. "Do you know if Charles and Erik are up there yet?"
"As far as I know, yes." Moira waved her hand towards the door. "Go, blow them away."
Miranda laughed before giving a two-finger salute. "Yes, Agent MacTaggert," she teased, laughing as she saw Moira roll her eyes. She glanced at Raven. "See you both soon." Miranda walked out of the room, shooting them one last smile.
Raven looked at Moira. "I think we should be very proud," she told the brunette agent.
Moira chuckled. "We should be." She picked up a skirt from the floor and tossed it over to Raven. "Now get changed. We're already late."
Raven gave a two-fingered salute nearly identical to Miranda's. "Yes, Agent MacTaggert!" she said before dissolving into laughter.
Moira just rolled her eyes
"Nightmare?"
Erik didn't look at his partner as she approached from where the deck led down into the lower levels. "How did you guess?" he asked quietly, his blue eyes as emotionless at the water below them.
"You've got that look on your face," Miranda replied softly. She looked up at him, watching her partner carefully for any sign that might give her a hint of what he had dreamed about last night. She stood next to him, leaning on the deck, her sharp green eyes worried and even a bit nervous.
She could find nothing on his face, which only served to make Miranda nervous. Erik had recurring nightmares. So did she. But then again, only a few nights ago she had seen a brand new nightmare, one that was making her question everything about her relationship with her partner. She hated doing that. She hated questioning how she felt about Erik.
Their relationship had worked for years. Why should she complicate it now with feelings that might not even be reciprocated? Miranda didn't know whether or not Erik would ever feel that way, and to find out that he didn't while she did would hurt too much. They were friends.
She sighed before she pushed those thoughts away, and then realization kicked her in the head. Miranda stared up at Erik in a different light, her face pale.
"What was it about, Erik?" Miranda said quietly.
Erik sighed before glancing down at Miranda. "Nothing," he murmured, blinking in surprise as he looked at her outfit. For a moment, something in his eyes almost shone with a smile, but it disappeared before Miranda could realize what it was. "It was nothing, Miranda."
She gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, that sounds familiar," she muttered, shaking her head out of exasperation. She looked out to sea for a moment. She hesitated before saying, "Look, today… it's going to be weird today. We're not used to Charles or Moira or the Agent yet, and you haven't even met Raven yet…"
"Am I correct to assume that she's the reason why you're suddenly in a skirt?" Erik asked, his face suddenly breaking into a rare, real, teasing smile.
Miranda slapped his arm with a laugh. "She is, but that's not the point." She sighed. "Today is going to be weird. We just need to have each other's backs. You know I've got yours, right?"
"I know," Erik replied, nodding. "And I have yours. Until the end."
Miranda smiled softly. "Glad to know," she murmured quietly. Hesitantly, Miranda's hand found Erik's and squeezed it softly. She was surprised when he returned it with a firmer one.
The two smiled at each other for a moment before Miranda pulled her hand away, once again glad for her tendency not to blush no matter self-conscious she might be feeling. And now, next to the man that she might have been in love with, Miranda felt completely self-conscious in the outfit chosen for her.
Erik suddenly laughed again. At Miranda's glare, he explained, "I'm sorry, it's just… surprising… to see you in a skirt." He shook his head, and Miranda's heart raced at seeing one of those beautiful smiles that only seemed to come once in a blue moon. "It's actually kind of amusing."
Miranda slapped his arm before pulling him away. "Shut up, Erik," she retorted, unable to stop her smile. She looked down. "I know, I look weird."
Erik shook his head. "No, you do not look weird," he told her firmly, blue eyes meeting green as he stared down at her. "You're beautiful, Miranda. Never forget that."
This time, Miranda couldn't have stopped it with anything that she had. A light pink blush crossed her cheeks for the first time in years, and she turned her head away. She didn't see the victorious smirk that came over Erik's face, or the light that appeared in her eyes that she had seen so few times before. It was a spark of something that resembled happiness.
"I don't care how many times you claim you're not, you're actually a very good man, Erik," Miranda said, shaking her head. She shook her head before looking out at sea. "We're going to find him."
"I know," Erik replied.
"Maybe not for awhile, but we will."
"Someday."
Miranda nodded, and then took a step back. "Okay, we've been mushy enough for today," she declared, the blush having long since disappeared. "Actually, we've been mushy enough for the year." She glanced down towards the door that led below deck. She gave a relieved smile. "Oh, perfect timing. Morning, Charles."
Erik scowled slightly at the sight of Miranda's smile before turning around to see a cheerful looking Charles. "Good morning," the telepath greeted, smiling at them both. "Miranda, you look lovely today."
Miranda beamed at the compliment. "Thanks, Charles. I have your sister and Moira to blame for this."
Charles laughed, and his eyes gave a twinkle that seemed to send out a wisdom stronger than his real age would suggest possible. "I knew that turning you over to Raven would be an interesting idea."
"Raven said she thought you planned that!"
"I planned it out as soon as I realized that you were going to be here for awhile." Charles frowned as he looked up and down. "Have either of you seen the Agent? I want to try and figure out where we're going next…"
"You don't know?" Erik asked, frowning suspiciously.
"It's the Agent's facility," Charles explained, glancing at Erik calmly. "I haven't learned as much as Moira knows."
"Well, Moira is down in her room getting ready, if you want to find her," Miranda suggested.
Charles nodded briskly. "Good idea," he replied. He looked down towards the docks and then said, "If you're both ready, once Raven and Moira get up here, I think that the Agent can take us wherever we're going." He frowned. "Actually, knowing how long it can take Raven to get ready… I'll be back in a few minutes." He walked away quickly, heading back down the stairs.
Miranda smiled quietly before looking at Erik, who was still scowling. "What?" she asked, frowning.
"Nothing," Erik snapped back.
Miranda frowned. "Someone's in a bad mood."
"I'm not in a bad mood."
"Sure seems like it."
"Shut up, Hanson."
Miranda rolled her eyes out of exasperation, knowing she wasn't going to be getting anymore out of him. "Make me, Lensherr."
CIA Research Base, Virginia
1962
A few hours later, a black car pulled right to the front of a beautiful building that seemed to sprawl across spacious green grounds. Miranda stared at it through the window before exchanging a look with Raven in the back seat. She and Raven, being smaller than Moira, had been set in the back between Erik and Charles respectively.
The car had barely been parked for a second before the doors had opened. Miranda kept her gaze on the building as she edged out of the car, blinking in surprise as she saw that Erik was holding the door open for her. She smiled gratefully at him, and shook her head as he shot her a smirk back. She knew that he was a bit surprised at the level of this operation. Or rather, maybe he was more surprised at the number of guards outside. Erik closed the door as he and Miranda joined the others as they walked up to the front doors.
"Welcome to my facility," the Agent began, looking more than a bit proud of himself. The others paid rapt attention as he continued, "My mission has been to investigate the application of paranormal powers in military defense.
"Or offense," Erik added, shooting a glance at the man in black.
The Agent shot Erik an unreadable look before turning his attention back to the group at large. "This guy, Shaw." He looked at Miranda and Erik in turn before continuing, "Schmidt, whatever you want to call him, he's working with the Russians."
"What a shock," Miranda muttered, ignoring a look shot at her by the Agent, who seemed to be irritated at the interruptions from the two new arrivals.
"We might need your help to stop him," the Agent finished, glancing at each of the mutants in turn. Moira looked a bit troubled as she looked at each herself, her gaze lingering a bit longer on Charles.
"Marvelous," Charles said, nodding once. He turned to the Agent with an expectant look on his face. "So we're to be the CIA's new Mutant Division, right?"
"Something like that," the Agent replied after a few moments.
The hesitation was enough to cause the four mutants and single CIA agent to exchange worried glances.
Not twenty minutes later, the group stood in what seemed to be a research lab. Hanging above them, suspended by cables in the ceiling, was the model of a sleek silver plane-like machine. Miranda couldn't help but admit that it seemed much more advanced than anything she had seen before in her life. She and Erik exchanged glances at a tall, brunette man with glasses made his way over, glancing at the plane with a proud look on his face.
"It's a supersonic," he explained. "The most advanced plane ever built." A small, faraway smile came over his face, and Miranda couldn't help but smile when she realized how proud this man truly was of his creation. "You should see it in real life, It's incredible."
The Agent stepped forward. "Hank, these are the special new recruits I was telling you about." He turned back to the mutants." This is Hank McCoy, one of our most talented young researchers.
Charles stepped forward, a friendly smile on his face. "How wonderful! Another mutant already here!" Erik and Miranda exchanged a look as Hank's face fell. Raven frowned in puzzlement before glancing at Miranda for a second. Charles didn't notice any of the reactions as he turned back to the Agent. "Why didn't you say?" he asked, puzzled.
"Say what?" the Agent asked, frowning in confusion.
Charles sighed as he realized the mistake he had made. "Because you don't know," he murmured, guilt crossing his face at an alarming speed. He turned back to Hank immediately. "I am so, so terribly sorry," he apologized, looking guilty enough to cause Miranda to wince. Hank shook his head before making a gesture, as if to say it wasn't a problem.
The man in black just stared at the young researcher for a few moments before stepping forward. "Hank?" the Agent asked, his voice surprised.
"You didn't ask, so I didn't tell," Hank explained quietly, looking down at the ground.
"So your mutation is what?" Raven asked, stepping forward. "You're super smart?"
Miranda smiled quietly to herself as she caught the look that was exchanged between Raven and Hank. As she glanced at the two, she realized it was actually absolutely adorable. The gorgeous blond girl and the dorky brunette boy. It was almost something out of a high school movie.
But then again, this was anything but high school.
"I'll say," Charles agreed, nodding once as he took another good look at Hank. "Hank here graduated from Harvard at the age of fifteen."
Miranda chuckled quietly as she patted Erik on the arm. He glanced at her as she took a few steps forward. "And here I had trouble passing algebra," she deadpanned, smiling warmly at Hank as she stood next to Raven.
Hank chuckled at Miranda's attempt at a joke, but still seemed to be solemn. "I wish that's all it was," he murmured, glancing down at his feet nervously.
Moira stepped forward as well. Miranda couldn't help but notice that Erik stood back, stilling watching the situation with the careful eye that made him an excellent hunter. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his cautiousness, though she couldn't blame him for acting this way. He hadn't had the best experience with any form of government, after all, so she couldn't blame his cautiousness at all.
"You're among friends now, Hank," Charles assured him quietly, giving him an encouraging smile. "You can show off."
Nodding once before gathering his nerve, Hank took of his brown shoes hesitantly. Miranda noticed that her shoes, with her feet still in them, could easily fit into the large shoes. She and the others watched as he removed a pair of socks, revealing what appeared to be another pair of hands. Miranda blinked in surprise, and then smiled softly as she realized they were Hank's rather large feet, which did resemble hands more than actual feet.
"Splendid," Charles murmured, smiling softly down at the feet.
Hank smiled shyly, and then glanced over at a grinning Raven. He glanced up at the model plane above them, and then grinned. "I'm sorry," he said, gesturing for them to step back. The group immediately complied, and he took a deep breath before jumping up, his feet latching onto the plane and holding him upside down perfectly.
Whoa!" Raven exclaimed, staring at Hank in amazement. The breathless grin was still present on her face, and it seemed as though it wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
Erik took a step forward with a cautious smirk, and Miranda shot an amazed grin towards him.
"Ta-da," Hank said weakly, his attention directly on Raven.
The pretty blond took a few steps forward, glancing up at the brunette researcher. "You're amazing," she murmured, her brilliant smile causing a similar one to appear on Hank's face after only a few seconds.
Upon seeing a suddenly exasperated look on Charles's face, Miranda stepped over to him, who had moved back a little bit to stand by Erik. "Someone has a crush…" Miranda murmured to Charles, grinning teasingly at the telepath.
Charles groaned before replying in a low voice, "God, Miranda, don't even go there."
"I think it's adorable!" Miranda whispered, smiling over at the two. "I think they're adorable!"
"She's my sister!" protested Charles.
"All birds leave the next, Charles."
Charles just stared at Miranda for a few seconds. "Why do I have a feeling you're going to become another bane of my existence?"
"Because you probably read my mind and figured out that Raven taught me all the ways to get on your nerves."
Erik chuckled quietly to himself before taking a step towards the two. He seemed to be much calmer than earlier, and Miranda couldn't help but be glad for that. "She won't stop anytime soon, Charles. She's thrilled to have someone else to annoy other than myself."
Charles rolled his brown eyes, a teasing smirk on his face. "I'm honored."
Miranda smiled innocently, and Erik only rolled his eyes.