500 Miles Hellfire 2
By Princess Alexandria
Months later Raven stood on the deck and stared out at a beach. Australia in the winter was a wonderful idea. Raven hated the cold and Irene managed to save her from having to deal with snow and ice. It was summer in the middle of winter here. Her neighbors weren't so close she could hear their music. Irene really tried this time and Raven felt some guilt as she noticed every little thing Irene had done in creating this life to make Christmas disappear. Raven watched the sun setting over the water and sighed.
"Raven, there's a lady at the door." Terrance came out to her looking as cautious as she'd taught him to be. He had filled out a bit and Raven thought he really was becoming a man. "She told me she knew you." And that would have caused alarms in either of their minds. "Says she's Raven." He spoke softly, clearly not believing that.
"It's okay." She told him and walked inside the house. Raven smiled at the woman teasing Terrance like that. Mystique stood just outside the front door waiting politely for permission to come in when Raven walked up to her, Terrance trailing behind her. Mystique's disguise was familiar; it was her normal human persona.
Mystique smiled at her. "Hair looks good." Raven blushed and shoved some of her red hair behind her ear. It had grown to her shoulders and sometimes got in her eyes. "I knew red would look sexy on you." Mystique leaned to the side and stared at Terrance with a knowing smile. "Boy sure is growing up."
Raven turned to look at him and his confusion. "Mystique just come in." She could see Terrance's understanding overcome his expression. He'd met Mystique once before, last year around this time, but the woman was in her true form at the time.
"Kid go play video games or something, I need to talk with your mom." Mystique teasingly said mom and Raven just closed the door and nodded to let Terrance know they did need privacy.
"Can I go to the movies?" Terrance asked.
"Sure, take the car." He'd just gotten his license and Raven felt his freedom personally because she had more alone time now while he did more away from home.
Once he was gone Raven lead Mystique into the kitchen of the very nice beach house. "It's been a while." She spoke without any accusations. The fact that it hadn't been a year was more than she'd ever expected, and Mystique had called a time or two. Raven had the feeling Mystique felt some responsibility for her, since Irene had practically adopted Raven.
"Well, its December." Mystique was watching her carefully and Raven tried to hide the tension this month caused her. It hadn't been as bad here, since the weather was so not Christmas. "I didn't want to risk another breakdown since Irene isn't… here to…" Mystique's words trailed off a bit, clearly showing some pain. "She isn't around to warn me if you crash again." Raven leaned back on the kitchen cabinet, unsure what to say to that show of some concern. "I'm sticking around until New Years."
Raven glanced at the fridge. "Would you like something to drink?" She felt cared for, knowing that the spy had to have other things she could be doing. From what she'd seen of Mystique the woman wasn't as opened with her feelings, but just coming here showed she had some. Raven hoped it wasn't all because Mystique felt an obligation to keep Raven alive for Irene.
"I'd love a beer if you have one."
Raven gave Mystique a small smile. "I don't." She shook her head slightly. "No wine or anything else either."
"Good to know." Mystique moved to sit at the kitchen table. "Irene would have been relieved." They shared a glance and Raven held Mystique's eyes. This wasn't all about watching out for Raven. Mystique had brought Irene up a few times already and it hadn't been five minutes. Maybe Mystique needed somewhere to be for the holidays herself.
"I'm glad you came." Raven moved to pull a glass out of the cupboard. "I feel like an ogre not letting Terrance decorate. I finally had to just tell him I had some really bad memories and I couldn't handle Christmas." He'd been surprised, but he'd backed off. Last year she'd just yelled and been rather scary, but then she was drunk or laid up for most of last December. It wasn't really fair that the boy had to skip Christmas, but Raven still got ill hearing the music and seeing the decorations at the stores.
The beach house was only a two bedroom. Raven thought about that while they talked about small things, wondering where she'd put Mystique. The couch wasn't that comfortable and the woman was the only person Raven had in her life that really knew who she was anymore, even more than Terrance. She deserved more than a lumpy couch. Mystique was the only adult that stayed in her life. Raven found that made Mystique more precious to her, that and the fact that Irene had loved this woman. Raven found her eyes traveling over Mystique, looking for evidence that the woman was not doing well. Of course if she found it, it would only be because Mystique wanted her to find it.
"I saw Rogue on TV." Mystique told her and Raven just nodded. She'd seen the Xmen on TV as well, it was months ago though. Somehow they did live. It would have been nice if Irene had known that before she died. "And the Hellfire club had a shake up." Raven swallowed hard and looked away. She'd seen that as well. The New York Times was easy to get and she read it all the time. It was hard to not think of that place as home, and it was sometimes comforting to see articles and figure out the story of what really happened, knowing it was her friends that made the news so often. But seeing the news about the Hellfire club was a mixed blessing. Of course there was no mention of Selene or Sebastian dying. That would have been too perfect. No, it was just random bastards, and children.
Raven didn't like that part of her was relieved the kids were dead, because then she wouldn't have to continue to debate about sending that letter. She'd failed as a hero, but at least the test was over. It made her sick to know that she was becoming so jaded that thoughts like that could even exist. In Christy she could understand it, but Raven didn't like it in herself.
They were getting into bed later that night and Raven did her best to not appear to be fazed by Mystique's long legs, which were hardly covered in the tshirt the shapeshifter put on for bed.
"When was the last time you had a woman this hot in your bed?" Mystique teased her as she slipped into the other side of the bed. Raven had decided that it would be better to share her bed than have either of them sleep on the couch.
She wasn't sure where the bout of honesty came from, because it wasn't really any of Mystique's business, "Almost a year and a half." She hadn't been with anyone since Drahke. It just didn't seem fair to anyone to get involved without telling them it was temporary, and she couldn't trust just anyone with the fact she was on the run. Raven had turned down quite a few women, and she was more and more tempted as time went by, but she couldn't do it. It also didn't help that she'd have to explain why she had trouble with some things. Drahke had just understood, she'd known enough to understand.
"What?" Mystique stared at her in a bit of shock. "That's just criminal." Mystique's eyes traveled over Raven's body as Raven got into the bed. Her head shook. "Criminal." Mystique spoke softly and Raven blushed as she picked up the meaning.
"Well I don't really live a life conducive to relationships." Christy slid into bed.
"Who's talking about relationships? I'm talking about sex."
"I need a little bit more than just sex." Raven sighed and rolled onto her side, facing away from Mystique and facing the door. "I need to trust a lover a little bit more than that."
"Just a little bit? So you aren't holding out for Ms. Right?"
"I just can't settle for Ms. Right Now." She'd wasted years waiting for her Ms. Right and got dumped. Drahke wasn't Ms. Right, she hadn't been long term undying love, but she'd been more than just sex. Their relationship had been just what they'd needed at the time, filled with enough love to overcome the temporary nature of it all. "I wish…" Raven's words trailed off, not wanting to admit to wishing she didn't always have to leave everyone behind. That there was someone she could see more than just for a month or two. It was too much hassle to try and explain herself for just a month or two worth of a relationship. With a heavy sigh Raven told her guest goodnight and turned off the light.
Raven woke up late and noticed Mystique had already left the bed. She barely had time to think about that because she should have woken up a half hour earlier and she tossed her blankets off of her quickly, deciding that she didn't even have time for a shower before work.
Her closet opened to her small collection of clothes and she picked out what Terrance teasingly called her gimme gimme clothes, because he claimed she was dressing up to get bigger tips. Raven always just smiled when he said that, because it was true. She found wearing some clothes, ones that barely were allowed by the dress code, doubled her tips.
Raven grabbed the car keys and left after jotting down her hours on a note in case Mystique came back before Terrance got out of school. She grabbed a cd to play so she wouldn't have to listen to the radio and drove to the hotel.
Raven took a deep breath as she locked up her car in the employee parking lot and moved to the back door. Just in time she slipped into the spa and nodded to her boss.
"You have four lined up today. I put you in room three." Darby told Raven and Raven nodded before going to the office to check in and grab a cd to play. She preferred to work to soft music, but one of the other masseuses kept putting sounds of nature in the player. Rather than suffer a session to crickets Raven always got her cd first thing. The music also helped to keep her on schedule. She knew at what point she was supposed to move through the massage and how long to stay on a task. Since she wasn't actually trained as a masseuse she really relied on her routine and the fact that vacationers weren't likely to notice she was faking it.
Irene's version of training her for this job had been to send Raven to a weekend spa to be pampered, which took some getting used to, but was one of the best birthday presents she'd ever gotten. Sadly it also underlined how lonely she was getting. Terrance was great, but he wasn't a lover and Raven found herself missing a lover's touch. Something she had rarely had in her life, but she ached from its absence now, even as she was nervous about allowing anyone that close. Of course the one thing that had started to really bother her now was the one thing Mystique picked up on the first night she visited. It had been far too long for Raven, far too long.
Raven's mood was slightly improved when she saw the attractive first client. She smiled reassuringly at the young woman. Raven moved the woman's brunette hair off to the side so she could see the smooth skin of the back she would be working on. When they were done, Raven left so her client could dress, but found the woman in the halls afterwards to take her to the cashier. The woman handed over a tip personally, instead of giving it to the cashier to give to Raven later. Raven always felt a little awkward about tips, but she smiled and pocketed the generous tip.
"You don't sound like a local." The woman, an American was Raven's guess, spoke with a soft smile.
Raven thickened her hint of an Australian accent, "You don't think so?" She winked at the woman who was looking at the gimme gimme clothes a bit more closely than most women did. That explained the tip. "I'm not."
"Been here long?"
"Couple months." Raven glanced around to find the cashier missing and the bathroom door closed. It didn't take a superspy to figure out where the woman went. Raven returned her eyes to her client. "It should just be a minute."
"That's fine." The smile was flirtatious. "I was wondering if you'd be interested in showing a girl around town."
Raven heard the water of the bathroom sink turn on and felt some relief that this wasn't going to be drawn out. "I'm sorry. I don't make dates with my clients."
"But you would have been interested?" The brunette asked her while continuing to trail eyes over her. "I can promise to never come back here if you'd like. I wouldn't be a client anymore then."
Raven could tell this was going to be a problem if she didn't stop this here. Her eyes captured the other woman's. "I don't do vacation flings with women I don't know. I'm not a tourist attraction."
"If you were," The brunette spoke more softly, "this resort would be a lot busier." Raven couldn't help but blush at the clear appreciation in the others eyes even though it bothered her.
When that same woman stood there and made another appointment with the cashier for the next day with Raven right in front of her, Raven had to work hard to keep the disbelief off of her face.
After work she returned home to find Mystique looking very relaxed and reading the newspaper on the couch. It was almost like the woman had always been there, because the blue spy sure acted like she was at her own home and had no problem taking it over.
Later that night Raven took her shower and checked her alarm clock so that she wouldn't be rushing around tomorrow like she had that morning. "Any chance you can show me your magic hands?" Mystique's voice was sexual and teasing and Raven found herself blushing again, but at least Mystique couldn't see it. Sexual innuendo was quickly becoming Mystique's bedtime ritual.
"Make an appointment." Was all Raven said, with a slight smile on her face, before reaching out and turning off the light on her side of the bed.
"What's it like, working at a place like that?" Mystique's voice cut the darkened room, clearly not sounding very tired just yet.
"It's okay." Raven pulled the sheet over her shoulder.
"Ever think of playing with the tourists? They wouldn't be expecting anything long term."
Raven's closed eyes opened suddenly and she stared into the darkness away from Mystique. "No, not really." She kept her caution to herself and pretended to not have noticed anything odd, but the timing of that question was a bit too suspicious. Mystique was playing with her.
The next day when the brunette came in Raven almost called her on it, but there was something just a bit different about her. Raven had to explain where her clothes went to her again as if this were her first appointment. During the massage the woman admitted to being surprised that the hotel had massages available and she was so happy that she'd been given a complimentary appointment the day before by one of the staff.
"Have a nice day at work?" Mystique asked when the shapeshifter came home from wherever for dinner that night and Raven noticed the slight smile on Mystique's lips as she asked.
"Same old same old." Raven answered and turned the heat down on the stove. She didn't want to encourage Mystique's behavior. If Raven had said anything to the woman today she could have really looked like a fool, all because Mystique was feeling playful.
…………….
"Look" Raven hissed quietly at the man on her massage table. "I don't know why you're so determined to be such a bitch, but stop it. Keep your god damned hands to yourself." Her eyes held a promise to commit serious bodily harm. Mystique had been playing this stupid game for days, coming in to get a massage and flirting more and more outrageously while never using the same form twice. Mystique would hint at the house, but Raven refused to rise to the bait. Still with all that, the woman had never been so disrespectful, had never touched.
"I don't know what you're problem is lady." The man sat up, showing far more than Raven wanted to see. "It was just a little pat of appreciation." She didn't even think about it, she felt the anger at being played and at people thinking touching her was no big deal, like she should just get over it and her fist flew out.
Mystique would have been able to block that, was all that ran through her shocked mind as her fist slammed into his face and his head rocked back. Oh shit.
It felt like hours later, but actually it only took an hour, Raven was walking up to the beach house. "You're home early." Mystique called out from her place on the couch watching TV and Raven just glared at her while slamming her purse down on the table. The shapeshifter's voice became more concerned. "Are you okay?"
"I was fired." Raven's fist clenched as she turned to face the spy. Her eyes bore into Mystique. "I really thought you'd been paying me another visit."
"So you did know about that. I was starting to think you were a little slow."
"I was a little too fast for someone else today." Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It had felt good to stand up for herself, but she would have never done it if she didn't think it was Mystique. "I hit some man that thought he could feel me up."
"I would never touch you without your permission." Mystique stood up. "I remember how you were in the beginning and I might tease but I'd never,"
"I know." Raven interrupted and sat down heavily in her seat. She had noticed how Mystique was careful about Raven's boundaries. She should have known the woman wouldn't have put her hands there during a massage. She might say something, but she didn't touch. "I broke his nose. He says he's gonna sue. Can't wait until he finds out I don't exist."
"I was just trying to get your mind off of things." Mystique moved to sit next to her. Raven's eyes actually widened at that. She'd spent so much time wondering if this or that customer was Mystique that she hadn't been thinking about what she'd been doing two years ago at this time. The date came to her and she realized it was the anniversary of her horrible dice game. She'd forgotten about the anniversary of her capture or her other torments. Last year she'd remembered every last milestone.
"I thought you were just trying to drive me crazy." Raven spoke softly.
"That too." Mystique's voice softened. "Maybe we can go out and celebrate your time off."
"I'm gonna have to move again."
"Later, not now. We're staying here now. Irene hasn't sent you any plane tickets, she'll know when it's time."
Raven could see a hint of pain in those yellow eyes. "It's like she isn't really gone sometimes. I forget for a few seconds whenever I get a letter and then I remember and it hurts all over again."
"She didn't leave as many letters for me, but yeah." Mystique's jaw clenched for a moment and Raven leaned up against the other woman, giving and taking support. They sat that way in silence for a while, and Raven noticed the arm being put around her to hold her tight.
"Christy is a pretty good judge of character." Raven spoke quietly, almost to herself. Christy had never seemed to fall for the Professor's lies, had trusted Tessa immediately without really knowing she could, and she brought Raven to Irene and Mystique.
"My other self probably taught her that." Mystique pulled away, her voice slightly teasing.
"Nah, I think the flirting all the time, that was probably what the other Mystique taught her."
"You know, I've always wondered." Mystique sat back and grinned wickedly at Raven, "how exactly the two of you made love."
Raven just grinned and blushed. "Yep, definitely it was the flirting." Spending this much time with just Mystique reminded her of the things Raven had liked about her double. The teasing was sexual, but without any pressure.
"If you miss giving out all those massages, I'd be willing to sacrifice some of my free time to help you out." Mystique continued, "but for my sacrifice I think you should cover new ground so to speak."
"I told you I don't massage those." Raven kept her voice even and did her best to not smile at the teasing.
"Rise to new heights, climb new mountains."
"Explore the ice tipped peaks?" Raven added quietly.
"These are not witches tits." Mystique smirked and caressed the body parts in question.
"Coulda fooled me."
………………..
"Wake up." The voice commanded and Raven fought to do as asked. Her heart hammered and she sat up suddenly as the vision of Selene and the others faded slowly into her darkened room. "Raven." The voice was soft, soothing and Raven only tensed a little at the soft touch to her arm.
Mystique was looking at her with concern and Raven felt her pounding heart starting to calm. "Sorry." Raven muttered, knowing she'd had another nightmare. She hadn't had one with someone in the bed in a long time and she almost wished it was Drahke with her now, because Drahke would just hold her and not ask questions. The room wasn't so dark she couldn't see the questions in Mystique's expression.
"Nightmare or memory?" Was all Mystique said, and she didn't fill her voice with sympathy, which might have made Raven cry.
"Memory." She didn't elaborate.
"I'm here if you want. It's why I came." Mystique just laid back down, leaving the invitation wide open to interpretation. Raven just took a deep breath and laid back down, her eyes darting around the darkness nervously as if she expected an attack.
The soft touch on her back made her flinch and Raven noticed the second she did that Mystique pulled her hand away. It took a few tense moments before Raven finally rolled over and looked at the blue shape shifter in her bed, trying to decipher the invitation while slowly inching closer to Mystique. Raven slowly, hesitantly, rested her head on Mystique's shoulder and felt Mystique pulling her close.
"Sleep. I'll wake you if it happens again." Raven felt some of her tension melt away at that thought. It was strange how that made her feel safe, safe enough to sleep again.
…………….
"Terrance." Raven sat down across from him at the table and just stared for a moment.
"Flashback." He grinned. "It's my mutant name."
"I always thought of them as code names." Raven just smirked at Mystique's influence at work. The boy looked proud of his new name. "But it fits."
"You need a name."
"I have one." Raven's smile faded. She'd never told him that Raven wasn't her real name and she didn't want to have that talk now. "I wanted to talk to you about something." She'd best do it before she lost her nerve. "I was wondering if," Raven sighed. "If you wanted to spend Christmas with one of your friends." Hopefully he wouldn't feel hurt by this, but she really thought it would be better for him to be around happy people that day.
He lost his youthful energy and just stared at her in concern. "Raven, I really don't want to leave you alone."
"Mystique will be here. And you really should be able to have fun. We can do presents later. I like doing it New Years Eve better anyhow." She'd bought him a few new CD's since music was so big a part of his life any other gift made little sense. It wasn't like she could buy him a new stereo or anything that takes up space.
That inability to spend did help them build up a little of a nest egg, nothing impressive but it was a start. She'd needed it a few times, because not all of her identities made enough to survive. Irene was paying for her relocations and occasionally for some training, when Raven got more than a book and a good luck. Irene also occasionally found Raven and Terrance a place to stay for free, but not always. Raven got the feeling she was being slowly pushed out of the nest, because in the beginning Irene took care of it all and Raven only paid for groceries and gas if she had a car. Because she wasn't sure she'd always be taken care of financially Raven started saving and being more responsible with her money. They didn't overindulge in tourist activities when they got to a new home anymore, but she didn't deny Terrance or herself all fun. Raven was growing up and she liked how that felt. The Professor had always paid for things she needed, and since he made it so she couldn't hold a job that seemed fair to her and before that she'd been living at home. She'd never really been entirely responsible for herself, even on the team she was treated like the kid that needed to be protected and she was hardly the youngest on the team.
"I could see if Elisa's offer is still opened." He smiled a little too knowingly at her, interrupting her thoughts and it was clear he'd noticed her preoccupation.
"Okay." Raven sighed. "Good."
"Are you gonna make a move?" He asked her and Raven just glared at him, but his grin grew.
"No." She got up as she heard the bathroom door open. Mystique was done with the shower.
"You should."
"She should what?" Mystique asked as she came into the room and Raven glared at him hard when he grinned at her a second.
"Raven should treat herself more don't you think?" He spoke to Mystique about her with Raven right there. "She's always all work and I think she needs to pamper herself. Go get a new outfit or a pedicure or something. Maybe a massage even. She loved it that one time, but she doesn't let…" Raven's eyes burned into him and he slowed down but kept talking.
It was Mystique that interrupted him. "Life is short. He's right." Mystique smiled at her and Raven felt a hint of a blush on her cheeks at the attention. The woman flirted often, but the soft smile Raven got from her now seemed sweet.
It didn't help that she was still very aware of how safe and cared for she'd felt the night before, sleeping in Mystique's arms.
Elisa's family was more than accommodating and Raven wondered why for a guilt induced moment while Elisa helped Terrance out with his over night bag on Christmas Eve. Raven hadn't expected them to take him over night. She just thought he'd get to go to their party on Christmas day.
Terrance slipped back in and pulled Raven into a soft hug. "Have fun." He whispered with a smile on his face. "I'll call before I come home so you can even do it in the living room if you want."
"Shut up." She blushed and let go of him.
A few minutes later Mystique came in through the back door. "Kids gone?" She asked and when Raven nodded Mystique's skin color shifted back to normal and her black hair became red.
Raven had seen it so many times but she stared a little longer, noticing how Mystique really did look better in blue. It was something both Irene and Christy had mentioned at one time, but Raven had never really thought about it before.
"What?" Mystique finally asked her and Raven looked away.
"Nothing." She felt herself blush again. She'd been doing it so much lately she wished she could stop it. "You know Christy was a shapeshifter?" She finally filled the silence, hoping that Mystique would believe that Raven had only been thinking about Christy. "She could even do a little bit of it when she was in my body."
"She did mention she was." Mystique moved to get something to drink and Raven found herself studying Mystique's slightly sweaty form. The woman had clearly gone for a run. It made her blue skin shimmer a bit. It looked good. "You ever shift?"
"No." Raven sighed and sat down at the kitchen table. "She did it enough, thought about it enough, that I know what to do, but when I do it nothing happens." She stared at the mail on the table, and picked up a piece addressed to occupant and started to ripe it up. "You know," Her voice was quiet. "I don't have anyone else I can talk to about Christy. No one else knew her." No one she ever saw. Even the Xmen that had met Christy didn't know her very well. Christy had been much more opened with Mystique. Raven had no one at all she could talk to about Tessa, she didn't dare risk Tessa's safety that way, but Christy was someone she needed to talk about sometimes too.
"She really loved you." Mystique took a moment to speak and Raven looked up into yellow eyes. "It was obvious." Raven didn't hear any hint of teasing or disgust in Mystique's voice and it helped her relax.
"I loved her too." Raven picked up a pre approved Mastercard offer and started to rip again. "I never would have," Raven took a deep breath, "I never would have survived if it weren't for her. If I'd been just me I wouldn't have been able to," Raven's fists clenched, crinkling the torn mail. She would have fought a loosing battle and probably been killed. Right after it happened Raven might have considered that the better option, but she'd had a life since then a life she wouldn't have had. It might not be the life she'd wanted for herself, but it had its moments.
How quickly she'd caved during her hallucination the year before gave Raven a good indicator that she wouldn't have been able to handle the Hellfire club as well alone. And poor Tessa would have had to send her body back to the mansion. Tessa would have done that for her. She wouldn't leave her god damned mission, but she would have… god. Raven took another deep breath and tried to push those thoughts away. She hated seeing how the mission was more important to Tessa than Raven, and she didn't like to speculate on how much more important it might have been, how far Tessa might have gone to stay.
Thinking of Christy always brought up thinking of Tessa. It was like they were intertwined in Raven's mind now, even though Raven had known Tessa before.
Hands covered Raven's and took the mangled letter out of Raven's tight fists. "I liked her. She had attitude. The way she asked about the price of hits as soon as she met me," Mystique smiled and switched the tone of the conversation. "That was gutsy. I respected that."
"She knew you would." Raven's shoulder's relaxed. "She seemed to know her Mystique pretty well and it helped her handle you." Raven gave Mystique a slight smirk.
"You think she was handling me do you?" Mystique's answering grin was sexy.
"As if you didn't like it." Raven muttered and then her eyes widened in shock as she caught the double meaning. Mystique just laughed and Raven turned red again.
They sat down to dinner and Raven felt Terrance's absence keenly. He would have been a nice distraction.
Raven could see it now. She remembered that strange conversation with Irene and she could see it, but she didn't know what to do about it, or if she should do anything about it. Irene was almost a mother to Raven. Christy had been brought to Mystique's home as Rogue's little friend. It seemed almost incestuous to want to kiss the woman in front of her now.
It wasn't like she hadn't done incestuous before, part of her mind tormented her with how very closely related to Christy Raven was. Her connection to Mystique wasn't that tight. In fact it almost felt like Irene was keeping Mystique and Raven apart while she was alive, maybe to prevent that type of parental relationship from developing.
"Why are you so quiet?" Mystique asked while picking up the salt. Raven looked up and didn't know what to say. All this inner debate could be for nothing if Mystique wasn't interested. Raven studied her dinner companion for a moment and decided to try something.
"How are you doing?" If Mystique were still deep in mourning there would be no point in trying anything. The woman seemed to be in a healthy mourning, one that didn't consume her, but Raven needed to know. Raven's expression made it clear what Raven was talking about and Mystique sighed and just sat still for a moment.
"It's been hard. Somehow I always expected it to be me first, and I know that was selfish, but I wanted it that way." Mystique spoke and Raven felt trusted knowing that other people would get a smile and a brush off. "We were apart often, missions took me all over the world, but she was always there when I got home and now…" Mystique set her fork down and sighed. "Well, I try not to go home anymore. The silence is too much."
"You can always come to wherever I am." Raven offered, genuinely wanting to help. She understood loneliness.
Mystique smiled at her and touched her arm. "You'll get tired of sharing the bed, especially if you ever actually start dating, not that I mind." Her smile became flirtatious.
Raven looked Mystique in the eye, her expression serious. "I don't mind." Her hand gripped Mystique's and her voice softened and deepened a little. "I don't mind at all." The understanding came quickly and Mystique stared at her.
"Irene told you that you'd never have to pay for our help. I won't make a liar of her." Mystique took her hand back with a heavy sigh. "I didn't mean to make you think you would need to now."
"That's not," Raven started to protest quickly, but forced herself to talk slower. "That's not what this is about. I," Her face turned a painful red, "really like you and I like how you make me feel. I know I don't have to, I want to." She took a deep breath and tried to talk this out like an adult, even though the emotions involved made it difficult to be logical about it. "I need a lover that I can trust, one that isn't so painfully temporary. I feel like you care and that's enough. I know you could never love me like you love Irene and I'd never expect that of you." This conversation went against everything she'd ever read or heard about romance. It felt more like a business proposition to her, but she didn't think any more emotional plea would work and she was lonely. "I would never be happy with a string of lovers I have to leave, women I couldn't be honest with. I'm just not wired that way. I need something a little more, and I can give you a home to come to between missions. I know it could be months between visits and I know you sometimes end up in other beds." She'd heard about that as an Xmen and while she at first wondered how Irene dealt with that, her time with Drahke made it easier to understand the difference between sharing a body and sharing one's heart. "But if you want, I just want you to know that you can end up in mine if it isn't a one off." Mystique wasn't quite looking at her and Raven felt her nervousness calming as the worst of it was over. "I understand if you might not want to do this and that's okay. You'd still be welcome to visit anytime. I really like having you around." Raven felt like taking a deep breath of air after getting that out, but she sat still and keep a waiting air about her as if it were just business they were talking about. She didn't want to seem more desperate than she looked already.
"It has been a good month." Mystique spoke quietly, obviously just to say something, "I am flattered, but Irene…"
"Knows." Raven stared down at her plate. Irene would always be there between them, so lying made no sense. "She and I talked once, and I didn't really understand everything she said at the time. You know how it is, but she said it was okay." And Raven would have never brought this up if Irene hadn't done that. It would have seemed too disrespectful to do this to Irene even though she'd died, but Irene said it was okay.
"She what?" Mystique didn't sound very happy and Raven looked up into upset eyes. "She decided to line up my next lover for me?" Raven didn't say anything, because it didn't really seem safe to do so. Mystique was mad. "I… I need out of here." Mystique stood up and Raven didn't stop her as Mystique left out the back door to the beach. She'd seen tears, but Raven wasn't sure she should follow.
After slowly and reluctantly eating her dinner Raven moved to put the plate in the sink. She stared out the kitchen window to the beach and watched Mystique seeming to talk to no one. Raven had done that a time or two herself, feeling that Irene might actually have seen her conversations in a vision before she died.
The boat coming near her private beach was a surprise and Raven watched it cautiously, noticing that Mystique did as well. A woman tossed a bottle off the boat towards the shore while staring at the spy that hadn't bothered to change her shape to go outside. Then the boat with the short haired blonde turned and the woman waved before turning away and leaving the bottle bobbing in the waves.
Mystique went out into the water and grabbed the bottle and Raven tensed until she saw Mystique pull a letter out of it. "Irene, you are crazy." Raven let out the breath she'd been holding as she realized that Irene had known about the conversation that Raven and Mystique just had, and Irene had most likely heard whatever Mystique had been saying to her. That blonde must be Morgan. Irene had left the woman in charge of mailing out the letters to Raven and Raven suspected Morgan was responsible for a few other things as well.
Mystique's shoulders slumped as she read the letter and Raven turned away and went back to the living room, giving Mystique some privacy. Really, Mystique could do worse than Raven, even with the nightmares and the sexual issues, because Raven understood Irene's place in their lives. Few women would. Raven continued to think of why what she was doing wasn't just begging for acceptance, of what she had to offer, as she sat down and picked up a magazine. Raven no longer was a jealous woman either; she'd learned not to be because she'd never really had a lover of her own. The Professor had always owned part of Tessa and still did, and Drahke sold her services but not her heart. Raven had learned how to share and she could share Mystique with Irene and any random person Mystique's job ended up pairing her with. Mystique would have a hard time finding a woman like that. If Mystique really wanted something ongoing, and that was the if, Raven would be perfect for the job. Raven sat up straighter and tried not to feel rejected by the way Mystique had left. It wasn't about her; it was what Irene had done that had upset Mystique.
Mystique came in and quietly went into the bathroom. Raven could hear the shower start and she just stared at the coffee table, unsure what she should do now. Maybe it would be best to pretend it didn't happen until Mystique felt like bringing it up. Having used up her courage to bring it up, Raven just sighed and went about pulling her tablet out to draw. The next move was Mystique's. The woman had been flirting with her the entire time. Raven didn't think she was imagining at least some attraction there. God she hoped she wasn't imagining it, because that would be even more embarrassing.
Maybe she should have gone with a more romantic approach. Raven had assumed that something like that wouldn't impress Mystique too much, but maybe it would have been better than just laying it all out like that. Her self doubt started to plague her as she listened to the shower in the other room. Was it too late to try for more romantic? Or would that seem like she was pressuring Mystique? "I've always been lousy at this." Raven muttered, thinking of her less than smooth attempt to ask Tessa out that first time. Tessa had finally decided to not wait for Raven to figure out how to do it and took control of the conversation.
Mystique came out of the bathroom and was still rather quiet. Raven stared at her until Mystique looked over at her. "If you'd feel more comfortable in Terrance's bed you can stay there." Her eyes held an apology. "I'm sorry." Her words were whispered. In the end Mystique didn't take her up on that offer and they both quietly, and a bit tensely, got into the same bed that night. Raven faced away from Mystique and pulled the sheet over her shoulder, knowing she'd have trouble sleeping but hoping she was wrong. She felt guilty about the way she approached Mystique. It lacked too much, and it wasn't that she didn't think the woman worth it, but she really hadn't thought flowery words would impress.
She laid there for what felt like eternity, but was most likely twenty minutes. She could hear Mystique's slight tossing and turning, but Raven didn't move at all. Finally she rolled over at another sigh from her bed partner and looked over at Mystique. "Are you okay?" The tension in Mystique's face answered her, but Mystique herself lied.
"Yes"
Raven didn't push her and eventually must have fallen asleep, because Mystique was waking her up at one point. Raven's heart was pounding and she rolled over quickly, into Mystique's body. "I hate this." Raven muttered as her body shook from the memory, the nightmare. "I can understand if you don't want to, I mean I'm so messed up…" Her words were a whisper as a few tears escaped her eyes.
"Shh," Mystique soothed her and held her. Raven found herself able to sleep again, but she woke up to the dawn, and to something else. She felt a light tickle on her skin and moved to scratch it, but froze when she felt her hand meet with another. Raven turned her head and looked at Mystique's red hair tumbling over Raven's shoulder, but she couldn't see the woman's face. Raven pulled her hand away from the one caressing her stomach and stopped moving. She swallowed hard and felt the touch, noticing a soft pattern in how Mystique's hand moved in small circles.
"Is it fear?" Mystique whispered, "is that why your heart is pounding so hard?"
Raven flinched a little at the proof Mystique was awake, she hadn't been sure. "A little." She admitted quietly.
"It isn't passion for me?" Mystique still spoke quietly, and it sounded like she was asking about something much less personal.
Raven felt the caress stop and she did her best to will her heart to slow down. "Passion is a little slower in me, the fear isn't." This was the talk she dreaded having, the one that lead her to turn down a few dates she would have considered otherwise. "I need more," Raven sighed heavily, "to get past the, well, what they did to me. It doesn't mean I'm not attracted, I am. I just can't help it." The slow caress started again and Raven did her best to relax and enjoy it, even as a hand slid under her tshirt a little to caress higher.
"You like this?" Mystique asked and Raven felt a light brush of a finger tip on the underside of her breast.
"Yes."
"What is it you're really asking of me?" Mystique's other arm moved and the woman readjusted herself to stare down at Raven.
Raven felt embarrassed but she looked up into Mystique's eyes. "Comfort, companionship." Raven nibbled on her lower lip and hesitantly reached out to caress some of Mystique's hair. "passion." She whispered it very quietly. "A friend that…"
"Comes with benefits?" Mystique finished it and while it wasn't exactly what Raven was going to say it had a similar meaning. The smirk on Mystique's lips eased Raven's concern that she might have insulted the woman by suggesting this.
"And occasional dates." Raven felt a bit more confident and smiled just a little. "Dinner first once in a while might be nice."
"Well, I'm not feeling like waiting for dinner today." Mystique leaned down and kissed Raven, a soft kiss that became exploratory and a little demanding. Raven reached up and pulled Mystique's head closer, trying to show she could be passionate a little sooner than she was able to actually feel it. It didn't take long for it to become real.
………………
The fire was raging and Raven relaxed in front of it with a sigh. Her eyes turned to glance at the large window of the lodge and the endless white of snow. Another winter was here and this time she wasn't spending it on a warm beach.
"You picked up snowboarding rather fast." A teasing voice spoke almost in her ear and then the woman kissed her neck.
Raven turned and smiled at the rather wild looking red headed young twenty something woman smirking at her and shook her head. She'd seen this woman watching her earlier and didn't know, "Mystique." Raven spoke softly, but was still glad that this early in the day they were almost alone here. Terrance was still learning to snowboard with his friends, who had so nicely invited Raven along.
"You came in rather early. I was enjoying myself watching you."
"I hate the cold." Raven moved a little to the side as Mystique walked around the couch to sit beside her.
"Odd choice of vacations then." Mystique sat down and managed to caress Raven's well insulated knee as she did it. Raven had bundled up so much the kids had teased her, but she wasn't taking it off again until she was warm, or Mystique offered her an incentive.
"I heard a hot little red-head might stop by." Raven grinned at Mystique for a moment before her eyes softened. "I've kinda missed you, so a little snow isn't a hard price to pay." She glanced at the fire, "Besides, I'd planned to spend most of my time inside."
It wasn't long before Mystique took her to another room, her hotel room at the ski lodge and Raven looked around a little enviously. It had its own fireplace, and a very inviting bed. "Love shack doesn't really cover it." She muttered and Mystique laughed.
"I'd hoped you'd like it. I hadn't planned on skiing when I came up here." Mystique shifted to her true form and Raven felt something inside her relax, like it always did when she saw her lover's real face. They'd been together for almost a year, but it was so off and on that Raven still felt a bit self conscious with their lovemaking. The short visits with the long times between them made it feel new all the time, which was both good and bad. Mystique moved closer and whispered seductively, "You do want to stay in here with me don't you?"
"Yes." Raven found it easier and easier to respond to this woman. Her heart started to beat a little faster as images of the last time they'd been together replayed in her mind. Irene had been right, she'd been a lucky girl. Mystique could be very intense at times.
"I know I say this every time." Mystique continued to caress Raven with her voice, "but are there any fantasies I can fulfill for you?" Raven froze just a little at the new wording. Normally Mystique asked if Raven wanted the woman to take a different form, and Raven didn't feel comfortable with that. She was attracted to the blue skin, the yellow eyes, the woman herself. It wasn't like they were together enough for that to lose its exotic appeal. Raven wondered if she'd ever tire of seeing the contrasts between their skin, the deep blue against her pale complexion. It wasn't like anyone else she'd ever been with and that had proven to be a good thing. But with Mystique saying fantasy this time, instead of form, well it brought out a few ideas Raven wasn't sure she felt comfortable enough to ask for.
Lady Heather had told her it would be healthier to indulge in her submissive needs. Raven couldn't deny that she had some.
"I said something you like." Mystique smirked at her and stared into Raven's eyes. "You have some fantasies? Selma Hayek? Gillian Anderson? I've seen you drooling over Special Agent Scully."
"I don't drool." Raven blushed a little as the teasing started again. She'd just been absorbed in the show, and if the show had a lot of that redhead in it that was just, Raven sighed and decided to admit to it. "Okay, so I think she's hot." She could see Mystique's form starting to shift so she spoke faster, "but I don't want to have sex with her." Mystique stood in front of her again and Raven just sighed deeply. "I like how," She paused, this was it, "dominant she is. I like dominant women, strong, commanding." Raven blushed and looked towards the ground. "I," Her words trailed off into silence.
Mystique's touch was gentle as the spy forced Raven to look at her. "What is it?"
"I need you to, I," Raven struggled with admitting this. Even though Lady Heather had talked about it a bit, Raven had never admitted to it. "I need you to be dominant." Raven's hand reached out to caress Mystique's arm. "Mistress." Mystique's eyes widened in surprise for a moment, before a mask seemed to come across her expression, hiding that. Mystique was always careful about not triggering flashbacks in Raven, so for Raven to be asking for this had to be a shock. Raven's blush increased in intensity as she turned away, feeling a bit ashamed. Regular people didn't accept this in the way Drahke and Lady Heather did.
"What exactly do you want?" Mystique asked her softly.
"I just want to serve." Raven spoke quietly, feeling a little bit of hope that she wasn't making a huge mistake. "To, I don't know how to explain. I need you to be less gentle, but still not rough." She wasn't sure how she'd respond to that and for this first time she'd rather ease into it. "I want you to use me for your pleasure." That was all she could admit to now. Her other fantasies would wait.
"Okay." Mystique's voice took on a dangerous edge and Raven looked over to see the woman had changed into leather pants.
"You look like Christy's Mystique." The words escaped her as she took in the halter top as well.
"That's what she meant by that leather pants comment?" Mystique smirked for a moment, before the amusement was pushed aside. "You change your mind you tell me."
"Do you want this?" Raven had to ask. "I mean, I'm not asking for something you don't want am I?"
"I'll admit this isn't my normal, but I can do it." Mystique gave her a brief gentle smile.
Mystique was commanding, she was strong, and yet something was still missing. Raven couldn't figure out what it was, but she didn't really feel dominated. Raven decided as they were finishing up that she'd just thank Mystique for being willing to do this with her, but she wasn't going to ask for this again. It wasn't like, Raven hated to think it, but it wasn't like with Tessa or Emma. It wasn't like she imagined it might have been like with Lady Heather, not that Lady Heather would touch her sexually, but the domination just was off.
……………..
"I have to go." Mystique touched her hair so gently and Raven smiled, while feeling a bit disappointed that after months of waiting they only had three days. "I'm in the middle of a mission. The target won't be a hard kill, but I'll be taking over for him for a while." Raven's jaw clenched a little as she bit back her protest at more killing. She tried to believe, like Christy taught her, that those Mystique killed were bad and deserved it, but there was a chance they didn't and she couldn't delude herself into blindly believing that the killing was right. Talking about it never went well though. The last time Raven brought it up Mystique had left early and Raven wondered for two weeks whether she'd see the woman again. Raven's morality wasn't strong enough to risk being alone and she felt bad that she'd found her price. She really was a bad hero. "I might miss most of December, so I got you a little something." Mystique pulled an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to Raven.
Raven opened it to see one ticket to Las Vegas and a return ticket a week later. "What about Terrance?" She asked, but she was nervous about going back. She wanted to, she missed the people there, but she'd been gone for over two years.
"His ticket is for here. He and his friends can snowboard while you go somewhere a little warmer. His memories of Vegas aren't as pleasant as yours." Mystique kissed her softly and whispered. "I don't expect you to be monogamous either. Even Irene had her lovers. I'm barely around, you need to stop waiting for me. It isn't healthy for a beautiful woman like you to go so long without." Mystique smiled wickedly as she pulled back, "have fun and maybe I'll be able to join you there, but don't count on it." Yes, don't count on it. Raven knew better than to count on anything. Mystique's life left little room for plans.
Raven didn't know how to feel about the permission to stray. It was Drahke, but still it really did show they were just bedmates and not girlfriends. Raven wasn't used to that. "Thank you." She put the envelope in her pocket and pulled Mystique into a hug, while trying to ignore the strange shaky nervousness she felt about this gift. Mystique probably just didn't want to leave Raven alone for another holiday season, which felt a little overprotective as well. Why was she so bothered by this when it was actually a rather considerate gift? Raven felt uneasy the rest of the day.
………………….
Raven stepped out of the cab and stood on the driveway just staring up at a familiar mansion. Her leather pants and halter still fit and the coat flaired a bit as she forced herself to walk up to the front door as if she meant business. Since she still had to go back to the life she was currently living, Raven hadn't called to warn Heather she was coming until she got to Las Vegas. Raven readjusted the bag in her hand and knocked on the door.
"Hello." Lady Heather's stern Mistress persona melted a little as she started to grin. "Oh Raven, you even remembered your leather."
"I wouldn't want the Mistress upset with me." Raven smiled a little shyly. It was strange seeing how little Lady Heather had changed, and knowing she had changed a lot.
"Hair looks nice, but if you're playing Mistress here you might want to pull it back." Lady Heather reached out to touch Raven's now blonde hair and Raven leaned into the caress, her eyes getting watery.
"I missed you." Raven stepped closer and pulled the Mistress of the house into a tight hug.
"You'll have to stay in my guest room. There is so much to catch up on." Lady Heather motioned and to someone else walking up. "Take her bag to my guestroom."
"Yes Mistress." A voice behind her made Raven turn a little to see a slight smirk on a Mistress that looked a little familiar. "Good to see you again Lady Raven." The way she said lady was playful teasing.
"Thanks Rachel."
When they got the Heather's office Raven felt a little nervous about taking her jacket off. She'd had to make an adjustment to her outfit and as she set the coat on a hook she tried to not react to seeing those cuffs on her wrists again. Tessa had given her the soft cuffs years ago and Raven had kept them with her but never really put them on until now. It was better than the light scar on her wrists being visible. Many people might not notice, but Heather would in no time at all.
"Interesting. Getting in touch with your inner submissive?" Heather asked while pouring tea for them both. "Have you been indulging like I suggested?"
Raven blushed a little and sighed as she sat down. "Not really." She gave a weak smile. "I tried, but my…" and what did she call Mystique? "well, it wasn't…" Raven gave a heavy sigh. "I don't know how to ask for what I want." She started to tell Heather about who Mystique was to her, without saying names. She explained about how the woman had been there for her in the beginning and how tender a lover she was now. She talked about how the domination was still tender and really didn't make Raven respond like she'd learned she could in that hellhole. There were so many other things she could be talking to Heather about, but this was the one thing she'd wished she could talk to Heather about for a while.
"She's afraid." Heather said two words that didn't really seem to fit Mystique and startled Raven into thinking maybe Heather wouldn't be able to help her without knowing Mystique. "You both are tip toeing around your trauma and I'd bet she's afraid of causing some of those nightmares she's protected you from." Heather stared at Raven in that way she tended to do and it made Raven feel exposed. "Try showing her what you want by doing it to her. I know you can." Heather shook her head, "and for god's sake, talk to her. Tell her your fantasies in more detail than you gave her. Here we get a lot more information before we start a session. You aren't trusting her with your true fantasies and she's not trusting you with your safe word. She's afraid of going too far and it sounds like she doesn't trust you to tell her if she has, so she just dips her toe into the role. It will take a long time for her to learn your boundaries that way, especially since you seem so unsure of them yourself." Heather gave her suggestions and Raven paid a lot of attention.
"How's Drahke?" Raven finally got the nerve to ask after Heather brought Raven to the guest room.
Lady Heather moved to sit on the chair in the bedroom. "She's doing well." Heather glanced at the room. "Her new apartment is a little nicer and she has your painting, the one you did here, up." There was a pause. "She's dating someone new, a lawyer if you can believe it." Raven felt conflicted about that, she was happy her ex lover wasn't alone but she felt a wave of disappointment that she wasn't alone as well. "I get the sense that this woman has a few secrets of her own. She gives just enough details to make most people believe she's opening up but not enough to really do it. She talks like you do. Don't think I didn't notice that I still don't know your lover's name."
"Do you think she's dangerous?" Raven sat a bit more tensely. Lady Heather's instincts about people were very good and if Lady Heather thought something was off, something was off.
"No, I think she's afraid. I think she's running, and I'd be surprised if Elliot is really her last name." Lady Heather gave Raven a soft pat on the knee. "I think Drahke has developed a sixth sense for finding those with really big secrets and a need to protect them."
"But you don't know?" It seemed so strange that Drahke could find herself with another runner. Raven had wanted more for Drahke than that even when she was the woman's lover.
"I've only met the woman once, and you do know that Drahke would never have told me about you if you hadn't seemed to trust me on some level and if I hadn't been uniquely qualified to help you with some of your demons. I can't say Alexandra does trust me, and her demons are different. Not a brand I know quite so well." Lady Heather stood up. "Well, you'll get to make your own impression. I invited both of them to dinner on Christmas eve." That brought out another issue. Raven hadn't been in a house that celebrated that for a couple years.
"Okay. Thanks for the heads up." Raven sighed. So even if she wanted to be unfaithful, or whatever Mystique would call it, Drahke was off limits.
"We've both been worried about you. Whenever we get a shipment from you we both feel better. She still loves you Raven and when I told her that you'd be here for Christmas eve she was happy to hear it." Heather spoke softly before closing the door behind her so that Raven was left alone in the guest room. Raven took a deep breath and smiled just a little. She wasn't experienced with ex-lovers and how to act around them, but maybe this wouldn't be that bad. Drahke had always been so sensitive and she wouldn't pick someone that would be too cruel to Raven out of jealousy.
The next day Raven met Zoe, Heather's daughter, and was surprised at the energy of the girl. It was like a younger clone of Heather was in front of her and it seemed odd to see how open with her emotions she was. It didn't take long for Zoe to ask Raven to sketch her and the slight smile Heather gave them as Zoe asked made this feel more comfortable than Raven thought it would, almost like she was supposed to be here. She agreed to it and spent a few hours talking with a teenager about art, traveling and the world. Raven never realized how her constant moving would seem romantic or exciting to some people, but in telling Zoe about the beauty of Rome and the sand of Australia it became an adventure. Raven barely managed to not tell Zoe how lucky she was to have a home as she was cleaning up her supplies, not wanting to ruin the girls enthusiasm, but still a little jealous of the ability to not see the world.
………………..
"Lois." Raven spoke softly when the older woman opened the door and gave out a startled gasp as she was pulled into a hug.
"Raven," Was all Lois said for a moment, the hug lasting a bit longer than Raven would have expected if she'd expected the hug at all. "Come in, come in." Lois finally stepped back from the door and let Raven in. "I heard you were in town, but I wasn't sure you'd visit since Drahke isn't here."
"Amazing how fast word travels." Raven said as she followed Lois towards the kitchen and noticed a few unfamiliar faces looking at her in curiosity. The staff and the prostitutes were mostly new, it felt strange to have the building be the same and the people change. Two years felt longer. "Of course I'd come see you." She spoke softer and it earned her a gentle touch to the arm by the older woman.
"Jewel's working right now, but you'll stay long enough to see her right?" Lois asked as they stepped into the kitchen and Martha smiled at her.
"Look who the cat dragged back. Coming back to work Raven?" Martha asked.
"Just visiting Martha." Raven gave the cook a brief hug as well, getting used to how physical people were now when they weren't before. They sat at a booth and Martha brought them some cookies, giving Raven a proud look before moving back to work.
"I'm glad you came back. Irene would have wanted you to visit." There was a little pain in Lois' eyes as she spoke about Irene. "I still can't believe."
"I know." Raven sighed.
"She used to always talk about her girl Rogue when Rogue was growing up. I even met the child a few times." Lois reached out and took Raven's hand. "She always sounded so proud of her, you could hear her motherly pride even though she didn't give birth to Rogue." Lois paused, staring at Raven like what she was about to say was important. "And when she'd talk about you, I'd hear that same love in her voice." It made Raven's eyes water, but no tears fell. "If you ever feel like settling down, you are welcome back here. You're probably the only child she has that would fit in around here." Lois looked around at the kitchen as if taking in the entire brothel.
"What?" Raven felt like she was missing the punchline. Lois smiled at her.
"Looks like you never did figure it out either." Lois sat up a little. "Irene seemed like such a lady. No one suspected her of owning a Brothel." Lois smiled a little more mischievously, "I did tell you that the owner wouldn't want me getting in the way of romance."
"Irene owned this place?" Raven felt a hint of a smile she tried to suppress but she couldn't. "She owned it."
"She still does, or at least she owns most of it. I was given some after her death." The smile faded. "I would have rather had her alive."
"Me too."
"Her share goes into her account. I think she uses it to maintain her houses. The woman owns a hell of a lot. Shrewd businesswoman, our Irene. I only have hints of what else she owns, she probably has a lot more than I realize." Lois gave Raven another gentle look. "She wanted to be able to take care of her loved ones after she was gone and you know how she was."
"Yeah."
"How's her lover?"
"Mine now." Raven gave a slightly guilty smile to Lois. Mystique was hard to contain, but Raven got the feeling the woman was more hers than not even though they weren't together more than a few weeks in the past year. Lois just laughed.
"Yep, that's Irene alright. Always wanting to take care of everyone."
……………