Author's note: Thank you to StarlitStar, NicoleR85, partygirl98, babydops, and NotMarge for the reviews! Today's the big talk. I worked really hard on this, so I'm really hoping you guys like it. Don't forget, in my story Hank's serum only reverses his second mutation. His original mutation is still there. Anyway... please let me know if you think it's good, and you are so inclined ;-)

An Important Discussion

Zoey sat on the couch cushion next to me with her feet tucked up under her dress. I fiddled with a Coke bottle so I'd have something to do with my hands. I was so nervous the bland mashed potatoes from dinner were in danger of making a second appearance.

"You said that being a mutant was only part of your secret, and you also wrote in your letter that you believed you could never be anyone's 'Prince Charming,'" Zoey said finally, when I made no move to speak first. "Which leads me to think your mutation is physical?"

"It is," I replied reluctantly. Just because I promised myself I'd tell her everything didn't mean I'd have to enjoy it. Not when it meant possibly losing her. "Mostly."

"You're being maddeningly evasive," she griped, frowning.

"I know, but please understand that it's a very serious thing. So serious that I wouldn't blame you for kicking me out and never speaking to me again," I told her sadly.

"Try me," Zoey said.

When I finally found the courage to meet her eyes she met my gaze steadily. There was no judgment there, only patience and an open mind.

I took a deep breath and focused on slowly taking off my shoes and socks, revealing my prehensile feet. They stretched out, happy to be free from their prison.

Zoey gasped, making me wince. I looked at her face, expecting an expression of disgust or revulsion, but she was smiling.

Smiling.

She giggled and clasped my hand with hers. Then she scooted over on the couch until our sides were touching, she was so close, and untucked her leg so she could place her foot under mine. Sensing what she wanted, I closed my finger-toes and cradled her cute little foot with my huge one.

"We're holding hands and feet," Zoey said brightly. "Not many people can say they can do this, right?"

"Definitely not," I agreed, feeling rather dumbstruck at her apparent acceptance. "Y-you don't mind?"

"Of course not. Why would I be? Can you climb really well?" she asked excitedly, her eyes shining. "Does it hurt, folding your feet to get them into shoes? How coordinated are you with them? You're amazing!"

I just stared at her, while part of my worries leeched away. One hurdle down, though the worst was yet to come.

"Most people are repulsed by my feet," I observed dryly.

"Most people are too closed-minded to see past their own noses," Zoey retorted. I let out a startled laugh. She leaned down and tapped at my leg. "May I see?"

I crossed my legs, so my foot across my lap. "Sorry if they stink," I muttered.

"Men are supposed to have smelly feet, Hank," she replied dismissively. She poked at the sole of my foot with her free hand. "Are you ticklish? How sensitive are your toes?"

"No, I'm not ticklish. And I can use them just like hands, for climbing or anything else you would think of. And it's uncomfortable to fold up my feet, but it doesn't hurt," I explained, uncrossing my legs. My right foot was still cradling her left.

"Was that all you were afraid of?" Zoey asked incredulously. "Your big dark secret was awesome feet?"

"No, Zoey," I said heavily. "There's more."

"I'm listening. But before you tell me, could you explain your reasons?"

"I need to tell you because I want to pursue an actual relationship with you," I replied, feeling my cheeks start to burn. "And I was under the impression that you might be interested in doing the same."

She smiled and nodded eagerly, though her cheeks turned a little pink. "It's not every day a man buys me coffee and books and brings me flowers for months. It shows some dedication. And maybe it's a little weird, but I can appreciate flattery in its various forms."

I ducked my head in embarrassment. "I'm glad you took it that way. I knew I was being weird, but seeing you made me so happy and I wasn't brave enough to actually say something until now," I told her. "But anyway. I don't want us to become truly involved with each other unless you know exactly what you're getting involved with. It wouldn't be fair to you, otherwise. So I want you to know now and hopefully save you pain later if you were to decide it's too much for you to handle."

Zoey nodded. "I understand."

Well, here goes.

I prayed she would still want me.

"Growing up, I always hated my feet. I just wanted to blend in, to be normal, but they made me stick out. So I worked on a 'cure' of sorts, for my physical mutation. I met a shape-shifting mutant- Raven- who let me use her blood to try to synthesize a serum that would make my feet look normal, but allowed me to keep my other abilities," I said, feeling the old wounds sting. Time had mostly healed them, but speaking of my failure still hurt. "I miscalculated somewhere. The night before Cuba my serum turned me into a monster, instead."

She squeezed my hand, telling me to go on. Her brow was puckered, like she was concentrating.

"I had blue fur covering my body, yellow eyes, claws, fangs- the works. And I had this new side of my personality emerge. I'd always feared that part of me was an animal, and my feet were a manifestation of it. I felt that if I could just make my appearance normal, that... my inner self would follow, too. But then my serum back-fired, and I've always wondered if my appearance changed to match the beast inside, instead of the other way around. Because now I'm a feral mutant. We're more instinctual, more bestial. It's part of our nature to be like animals. My serum brought that side out of me."

"You're not blue and furry now, though. And you seem to act normal enough," Zoey argued softly. "Except for the extreme shyness, I guess."

"Right. Almost a year ago, now, I developed another formula that repressed my second mutation. I'm fine, most of the time. But when I get angry, or some other kind of- instinct kicks in... my serum fails, and my feral side takes over until I can calm back down again."

Um, can you see where I'm going with this...?

Zoey was quiet for a long moment, contemplating that. We were still holding hands as well as feet, so that was nice, but her silence quickly became unnerving.

"Can you see why I would be concerned about being involved in a romantic relationship with anyone?" I prompted.

"You're afraid you would get angry? That you could hurt me?"

No. Please don't make me say it? Please?

"No. I almost never get angry enough for that to happen anymore. It's pretty rare because I've learned to control my temper very, very well. Your brother-in-law trying to hit you made me upset enough for it to be a close call, but that was the nearest I've come to losing it in ages. And hurting a female goes against instinct, no matter what. I don't think I'd be able to hit a girl even if she punched me in the face a few times."

"Then what are you afraid-?" she began, but then she froze and her eyes went wide. Her cheeks took on a hint of color. "Oh. That."

Now she gets it. My sweet, innocent Zoey.

"It's the main reason why I never tried to speak to you," I admitted sheepishly. "Even if you accepted my weird feet and my utter lack of social skills, how could I ask you to be with someone who might not even be able to kiss you- let alone anything else- without turning into a furry blue monster?"

Zoey's cheeks turned completely red as she contemplated that. "Well, I wouldn't mind trying to kiss you-" she began.

Cue heart attack.

"But... as for 'anything else,' just so you know, I'm, um- saving myself for marriage," she explained awkwardly. Her face was as scarlet as her hair at this point. "Things worked out well for my mother, but I don't want to make the same mistake as my sister. So... yeah. Is that ok with you?"

I nodded eagerly, feeling quite relieved that we could put that particular hurdle far, far in the future for consideration.

Zoey now looked at me thoughtfully. I held her gaze, hoping she would see the agony I'd gone through over my decision to tell her, the fear I had that she would turn away in disgust.

"What I don't understand is, if you won't hurt me or anything... what's the problem?" she asked finally.

"The fact that I could turn fuzzy and-"

"And I was willing to give my secret admirer a chance even if he turned out to be thirty-five and balding," Zoey cut in.

Furry monster versus an older bald guy. I'm not seeing the comparison, honestly.

Suddenly she released my hand and pulled her foot away from mine, sitting on her knees next to me instead. Just when I was starting to feel like I was being rejected, Zoey flung her arms around my neck and snuggled her head against my shoulder.

"'Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind/ And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind,'" she whispered. "I'm so sorry you've always felt that you couldn't just be yourself."

I bowed my head and placed one hand over her wrist without thinking.

This feels like acceptance... can I really be so lucky?

Zoey lifted her head, so I did as well. Our faces were only inches apart, so close that I could smell her sweet breath and count her eyelashes if I wanted to.

She started to lean in. My brain felt like it was going through a nuclear meltdown- excitement, desire, and intense fear of what could happen swirling around, confusing emotions that made me feel a little lost.

The only think I knew for sure was that I'd never wanted anything as badly as to kiss Zoey in my entire life.

I felt her lips just barely graze mine-