Disclaimer: I don't own either Buffy the Vampire Slayer or X-men evolution.
I only own Raven and her family. I am not making any money off of this.
This is for entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 2
Raven sat down beneath a tree. She wasn't feeling too good. Spike watched as she grew listless, occasionally fidgeting and scratching at her back. He didn't get a chance to ask her about it because a jet touched down within minutes. Raven stood up and watched as a ramp extended and the form of her uncle rolled down to where they stood.
"Uncle Charles?"
"Angel?"
Raven didn't even notice the other man coming down the ramp as she flew into her uncle's arms. Spike came to stand beside the other man as they watched the tearful exchange.
"Oh my dear child it's been much too long," he said when she finally let go.
"Yeah it has."
"You've changed more than I thought."
"Yeah well torture and genetic tinkering will do that to you. Uncle Charles this is Spike. Spike this is my Uncle Charles and I believe the man next to you is Logan. Uncle told me about you a little."
"Pleasure to meet you Uncle Charles. As bit here will tell you I am a vampire, but don't worry I'm harmless. Thanks to this cute little chip installed in my head I can't hurt a fly. Literally. Nor would I really want to. After all that's happened I have changed quite a bit and while I may still have to feed I only do it on the willing. Well if I could, but the whole biting thing is out so I'm stuck."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Spike. I take it you helped Alicia out of the lab."
"Well actually she did most of the work. I was just the distraction. I wish I could have totally trashed those idiots but I couldn't so I had to let bit here do that. Quite a waste actually."
Raven smiled at Spike's babbling. "Spike hush. Uncle I was wondering if Spike could come back with us. I know having a vampire in your home is not the greatest thing in the world, but he was there for me when I needed someone. He truly did help me. I swear I wouldn't have lasted these past few months if it hadn't been for him." She tried to hide a yawn. For some reason she was so tired. Professor Xavier sighed, "For now, yes he may come with us. We will discuss his staying for longer later. Right now lets get you home and in bed. You look very tired."
"Thank you Uncle Charles."
They boarded and the whole flight back was punctuated with periods of fidgeting for Raven. Her back was starting to ache. They touched down and once they were in the hanger Spike voiced his concerns.
"Little bit are you okay?"
"I don't know Spike, my back; it feels like it's on fire."
"Come let's get you to the med lab. I'll have Hank meet us there," said the professor
Despite her protests Spike picked her up and carried her to the lab. They were met by Beast who promptly started examining her. He didn't get very far. She grimaced in pain as she lay on the table.
"Do you have any idea what's going on. You were in the lab with her," said Hank.
"All I know is the last time she came back she told me they had grafted some sort of metal to her skeleton and gave her some shots. I have no idea what, but she said the doctors mentioned something about them taking time to work." He sprinted to her side when she arched off the table with a scream. "Raven!"
"Oh god Spike it hurts," she sobbed as her Uncle and the two other men watched.
"What hurts Raven?" asked Hank.
"My back. Oh god it hurts."
"Here sit up for a second ducks," Spike said. Ignoring the glares he got he lifted up the back of her shirt. At the junction of her shoulders were two angry red welts. When he looked closer he saw that they were raised up above her skin. He had seen this before. "Shit!" he cursed.
"What is it Spike?" asked the professor.
"Is there somewhere you don't mind getting blood everywhere? A bathroom or something."
"What? Why?" started Hank.
"There's no time to explain," he said urgently as Raven sobbed and moaned on his shoulder. At a nod from the professor Hank led Spike to an adjacent bathroom. It was spotless and utilitarian. "Sorry prof but this has to be done," he said as he threw off his duster and shirt then stripped Raven down to her underwear. He set her gently on her knees in the tub facing the door. Suddenly she screamed and clutched the edge of the tub nearly cracking it. Spike held her and whispered soothing words to her as she sobbed.
The professor watching impressed with the tenderness Spike displayed. Logan was frowning but he understood that Spike cared for the girl a lot. They watched as the welts on her back grew bigger. Hank was fascinated. Obviously the chemicals she had been injected with was doing this to her.
"It's okay Raven. It's almost over. Just hang in there for a few more seconds."
With a final scream and a large spray of blood two huge leather wings burst from Raven's back. A smaller spray of blood signaled the appearance of a long spaded tail. She slumped onto the edge of the tub with a moan.
"Is she going to be alright?" Hank asked.
"Yeah she'll be fine. Sore for a bit, but fine," he said smoothing her silver hair back.
"How did you know what would happen?" the professor asked curiously as Hank went to gather clothes for the girl and some towels to clean her off with.
"I've seen something like this once before. When I was in Europe. Same symptoms, same results, same mess."
"Do you know what caused it?" asked Hank as he came back.
"Not really. I've never had the occasion to do things like this to people. The process is very painful and very tiring. She'll probably sleep for a good twenty four hours and then wake up hungry as all hell. Also not many live through it. They just can't take the trauma. Listen I need to get this blood off of her before it dries."
"I understand. We will wait in the lab," said the professor. Logan looked like he was going to say something, but stopped at a mental word from the professor. Spike watched as they left and closed the door behind them. He stripped all the way and cleaned her off. She was conscious, but only enough to stand up. She stood there as he cleaned her and the tub off. With some trepidation he dressed her in the sweats, which he cut a hole in for her tail. He was thankful that the top was a simple tank that would go under her new wings.
When he had dried them they proved to be pure white with silver ribs. Her tail was white, but the tip was silver. He smiled at her coloring before dressing himself and then braiding her long hair. He picked her up as she sleepily wrapped her new wings around herself. She hooked her wing claws on her shoulders to hold them there. In the other room he sat down on the table with her in his lap.
"So what now?"
"Now Logan will show you where you can put her. If you think she needs someone I will permit you to stay with her."
"After this I'm sure she will. She was never very good when she slept alone. Nightmares plagued her quite a bit. They didn't stop even after they stuck me in the same cell as her. The only time they stopped was when we shared a cot for a bit. And even then she'd wake up terrified to death. So yeah I'll stay with her. At least for tonight."
"Alright and you said she will sleep for how long?"
"At least twenty four hours, maybe a bit more depending on how much they gave her and if anymore changes occur."
"Do you think any will?"
"Maybe. If I knew what they were trying to do to her then I could probably figure it out. I know they wanted to turn her into some sort of super soldier to hunt demons and vampires and such, but other than that." He finished with a small shrug.
"What exactly did they do to her?" asked Hank.
"Let's get her into bed before we keep Spike up all day with questions Hank."
Spike nodded before following Logan out of the room. It was almost dawn, but Spike was glad to note that all the curtains were shut on the way to the room. They met one person on the way and that was Jean. She was notorious for getting up early. She was usually the first up with the other kids in the institute close behind her. She gave the billy idol wannabe a long look as he passed by her with the unconscious girl in his arms.
When only Logan came out of the room she was definitely curious, but left it. She had to get ready for class. The professor let Spike sleep until dark before sending Logan for him. When the vampire got to the office he was happy to hear that Raven had slept soundly all day. Spike told them what he could of what happened to her in the years she had been there.
Logan was growling by the end of the explanation. He couldn't believe they would do something like that to such a young girl. Two and half years of torture and experiments. He had seen the picture the professor had of her before she was taken. She had changed drastically. She was now the polar opposite of what she used to be.
In the picture she had been about 5'2 and a bit overweight with very dark hair and startling blue eyes. Now she was taller, a bit thinner, and her hair was silver and white. If he was to guess he'd say that she was about 5'10 now, almost six feet tall. She also had the same metal grafted to her skeleton as he did and the same claws. With the newest changes that had been made her family would never look twice at her. The only reason the professor had recognized her was because he was a telepath.
Just thinking about what had been done to her made Logan want to go out and kill something. He knew that Spike didn't know everything. The girl had only told him the basics and let it go at that. She seemed entirely reluctant to say much to the vampire. A definite change from what the professor had told him she had been like. Once she had been happy and cheerful, even in the light of her mother and sister's deaths. Now she had an edge to her that he could feel. Like she had seen and dealt death more times than she could count.
Knowing how labs like where she had been imprisoned were she had probably had to kill or be killed herself. The only way to survive in one of those places was to be the best and that meant becoming a killer. Logan excused himself while Charles asked Spike questions about where they had been held. His ramblings took him to the girl's room. He stood by her bed and watched as she slept peacefully. Probably the first time in years.
She murmured something in her sleep and then bolted upright panting. When she saw him she looked up with tears shining in her eyes. He looked into those golden depths and was lost. Hastily she wiped her eyes. "Hey Logan what are you doing here?"
"Just came to check up on you and make sure you were okay," he said gruffly as she tucked her legs up under the covers so he could sit in the edge of the bed.
"I'm fine. Where's Spike?"
"Talking with Chuck. Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. He knew she was scared. He could smell it on her. "Bad dream?"
"Yeah I guess you could say that, but truthfully I've had worse. Um, could I get something to eat?"
"Yeah sure. If you want I can get one of the girls to bring something up for you."
"Nah no one has to go to all that trouble for me. Just show me to the kitchen so I can make a sandwich or something," she said as she got out of the bed. Logan caught her as she stumbled. Looking down he saw she had rocked up on the balls of her feet and they now sported claws. "Dammit all to hell," she cussed as she steadied herself on Logan.
He chuckled, "Come on I'll steady you as we go. You'll get the hang of it soon. If you have trouble ask Kurt. He has to walk like this all the time."
"Okay I think I have it. My balance has shifted a little to compensate." She let go and he smiled when she was able to walk to the door without his help. He led her down to the kitchen and only had to assist her a couple of times. Once down the steps and another on the slick floor of the foyer. Her new claws clicked as she walked across it.
In the kitchen he chatted with her as she made herself a couple of sandwiches. He watched as she became more at ease and he was glad to note the scared scent she had given off had faded almost completely. He noticed that she had grown fangs as well as new claws.
'Logan, will you bring Raven up to my office?' came the professor's voice in both their heads.
Raven grinned, 'I'll be right up Uncle.'
There was a mental chuckle, 'I should have known you would hear me. You don't have to hurry. Finish your meal before you come up okay.'
'Sure Uncle Charles.'
Logan smiled as she wolfed down the rest of her sandwiches. "You're really close to him aren't you?"
"Yeah he was the only one I could really be myself with ya know. None of my family knew I had gotten in touch with him. Well except my dad and I swore him to secrecy. You see Uncle Charles isn't really my Uncle. I just call him that cause we were so close. He was the only one who really accepted me as I was," she trailed off softly.
"What couldn't your family accept?"
She smiled wryly, "I think it was the fact that I didn't do what they thought I should. I got a degree they thought was a waste of time. I didn't practice the same religion as they did and I'm Bi. When I was taken I had a girlfriend. Her name was Ro. I don't know what happened to her, but I could never go back to her. Not the way I am now. But that's a whole nother story. Come on let's not keep Uncle Charles waiting."
Chapter 2
Raven sat down beneath a tree. She wasn't feeling too good. Spike watched as she grew listless, occasionally fidgeting and scratching at her back. He didn't get a chance to ask her about it because a jet touched down within minutes. Raven stood up and watched as a ramp extended and the form of her uncle rolled down to where they stood.
"Uncle Charles?"
"Angel?"
Raven didn't even notice the other man coming down the ramp as she flew into her uncle's arms. Spike came to stand beside the other man as they watched the tearful exchange.
"Oh my dear child it's been much too long," he said when she finally let go.
"Yeah it has."
"You've changed more than I thought."
"Yeah well torture and genetic tinkering will do that to you. Uncle Charles this is Spike. Spike this is my Uncle Charles and I believe the man next to you is Logan. Uncle told me about you a little."
"Pleasure to meet you Uncle Charles. As bit here will tell you I am a vampire, but don't worry I'm harmless. Thanks to this cute little chip installed in my head I can't hurt a fly. Literally. Nor would I really want to. After all that's happened I have changed quite a bit and while I may still have to feed I only do it on the willing. Well if I could, but the whole biting thing is out so I'm stuck."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Spike. I take it you helped Alicia out of the lab."
"Well actually she did most of the work. I was just the distraction. I wish I could have totally trashed those idiots but I couldn't so I had to let bit here do that. Quite a waste actually."
Raven smiled at Spike's babbling. "Spike hush. Uncle I was wondering if Spike could come back with us. I know having a vampire in your home is not the greatest thing in the world, but he was there for me when I needed someone. He truly did help me. I swear I wouldn't have lasted these past few months if it hadn't been for him." She tried to hide a yawn. For some reason she was so tired. Professor Xavier sighed, "For now, yes he may come with us. We will discuss his staying for longer later. Right now lets get you home and in bed. You look very tired."
"Thank you Uncle Charles."
They boarded and the whole flight back was punctuated with periods of fidgeting for Raven. Her back was starting to ache. They touched down and once they were in the hanger Spike voiced his concerns.
"Little bit are you okay?"
"I don't know Spike, my back; it feels like it's on fire."
"Come let's get you to the med lab. I'll have Hank meet us there," said the professor
Despite her protests Spike picked her up and carried her to the lab. They were met by Beast who promptly started examining her. He didn't get very far. She grimaced in pain as she lay on the table.
"Do you have any idea what's going on. You were in the lab with her," said Hank.
"All I know is the last time she came back she told me they had grafted some sort of metal to her skeleton and gave her some shots. I have no idea what, but she said the doctors mentioned something about them taking time to work." He sprinted to her side when she arched off the table with a scream. "Raven!"
"Oh god Spike it hurts," she sobbed as her Uncle and the two other men watched.
"What hurts Raven?" asked Hank.
"My back. Oh god it hurts."
"Here sit up for a second ducks," Spike said. Ignoring the glares he got he lifted up the back of her shirt. At the junction of her shoulders were two angry red welts. When he looked closer he saw that they were raised up above her skin. He had seen this before. "Shit!" he cursed.
"What is it Spike?" asked the professor.
"Is there somewhere you don't mind getting blood everywhere? A bathroom or something."
"What? Why?" started Hank.
"There's no time to explain," he said urgently as Raven sobbed and moaned on his shoulder. At a nod from the professor Hank led Spike to an adjacent bathroom. It was spotless and utilitarian. "Sorry prof but this has to be done," he said as he threw off his duster and shirt then stripped Raven down to her underwear. He set her gently on her knees in the tub facing the door. Suddenly she screamed and clutched the edge of the tub nearly cracking it. Spike held her and whispered soothing words to her as she sobbed.
The professor watching impressed with the tenderness Spike displayed. Logan was frowning but he understood that Spike cared for the girl a lot. They watched as the welts on her back grew bigger. Hank was fascinated. Obviously the chemicals she had been injected with was doing this to her.
"It's okay Raven. It's almost over. Just hang in there for a few more seconds."
With a final scream and a large spray of blood two huge leather wings burst from Raven's back. A smaller spray of blood signaled the appearance of a long spaded tail. She slumped onto the edge of the tub with a moan.
"Is she going to be alright?" Hank asked.
"Yeah she'll be fine. Sore for a bit, but fine," he said smoothing her silver hair back.
"How did you know what would happen?" the professor asked curiously as Hank went to gather clothes for the girl and some towels to clean her off with.
"I've seen something like this once before. When I was in Europe. Same symptoms, same results, same mess."
"Do you know what caused it?" asked Hank as he came back.
"Not really. I've never had the occasion to do things like this to people. The process is very painful and very tiring. She'll probably sleep for a good twenty four hours and then wake up hungry as all hell. Also not many live through it. They just can't take the trauma. Listen I need to get this blood off of her before it dries."
"I understand. We will wait in the lab," said the professor. Logan looked like he was going to say something, but stopped at a mental word from the professor. Spike watched as they left and closed the door behind them. He stripped all the way and cleaned her off. She was conscious, but only enough to stand up. She stood there as he cleaned her and the tub off. With some trepidation he dressed her in the sweats, which he cut a hole in for her tail. He was thankful that the top was a simple tank that would go under her new wings.
When he had dried them they proved to be pure white with silver ribs. Her tail was white, but the tip was silver. He smiled at her coloring before dressing himself and then braiding her long hair. He picked her up as she sleepily wrapped her new wings around herself. She hooked her wing claws on her shoulders to hold them there. In the other room he sat down on the table with her in his lap.
"So what now?"
"Now Logan will show you where you can put her. If you think she needs someone I will permit you to stay with her."
"After this I'm sure she will. She was never very good when she slept alone. Nightmares plagued her quite a bit. They didn't stop even after they stuck me in the same cell as her. The only time they stopped was when we shared a cot for a bit. And even then she'd wake up terrified to death. So yeah I'll stay with her. At least for tonight."
"Alright and you said she will sleep for how long?"
"At least twenty four hours, maybe a bit more depending on how much they gave her and if anymore changes occur."
"Do you think any will?"
"Maybe. If I knew what they were trying to do to her then I could probably figure it out. I know they wanted to turn her into some sort of super soldier to hunt demons and vampires and such, but other than that." He finished with a small shrug.
"What exactly did they do to her?" asked Hank.
"Let's get her into bed before we keep Spike up all day with questions Hank."
Spike nodded before following Logan out of the room. It was almost dawn, but Spike was glad to note that all the curtains were shut on the way to the room. They met one person on the way and that was Jean. She was notorious for getting up early. She was usually the first up with the other kids in the institute close behind her. She gave the billy idol wannabe a long look as he passed by her with the unconscious girl in his arms.
When only Logan came out of the room she was definitely curious, but left it. She had to get ready for class. The professor let Spike sleep until dark before sending Logan for him. When the vampire got to the office he was happy to hear that Raven had slept soundly all day. Spike told them what he could of what happened to her in the years she had been there.
Logan was growling by the end of the explanation. He couldn't believe they would do something like that to such a young girl. Two and half years of torture and experiments. He had seen the picture the professor had of her before she was taken. She had changed drastically. She was now the polar opposite of what she used to be.
In the picture she had been about 5'2 and a bit overweight with very dark hair and startling blue eyes. Now she was taller, a bit thinner, and her hair was silver and white. If he was to guess he'd say that she was about 5'10 now, almost six feet tall. She also had the same metal grafted to her skeleton as he did and the same claws. With the newest changes that had been made her family would never look twice at her. The only reason the professor had recognized her was because he was a telepath.
Just thinking about what had been done to her made Logan want to go out and kill something. He knew that Spike didn't know everything. The girl had only told him the basics and let it go at that. She seemed entirely reluctant to say much to the vampire. A definite change from what the professor had told him she had been like. Once she had been happy and cheerful, even in the light of her mother and sister's deaths. Now she had an edge to her that he could feel. Like she had seen and dealt death more times than she could count.
Knowing how labs like where she had been imprisoned were she had probably had to kill or be killed herself. The only way to survive in one of those places was to be the best and that meant becoming a killer. Logan excused himself while Charles asked Spike questions about where they had been held. His ramblings took him to the girl's room. He stood by her bed and watched as she slept peacefully. Probably the first time in years.
She murmured something in her sleep and then bolted upright panting. When she saw him she looked up with tears shining in her eyes. He looked into those golden depths and was lost. Hastily she wiped her eyes. "Hey Logan what are you doing here?"
"Just came to check up on you and make sure you were okay," he said gruffly as she tucked her legs up under the covers so he could sit in the edge of the bed.
"I'm fine. Where's Spike?"
"Talking with Chuck. Are you sure you're okay?" he asked. He knew she was scared. He could smell it on her. "Bad dream?"
"Yeah I guess you could say that, but truthfully I've had worse. Um, could I get something to eat?"
"Yeah sure. If you want I can get one of the girls to bring something up for you."
"Nah no one has to go to all that trouble for me. Just show me to the kitchen so I can make a sandwich or something," she said as she got out of the bed. Logan caught her as she stumbled. Looking down he saw she had rocked up on the balls of her feet and they now sported claws. "Dammit all to hell," she cussed as she steadied herself on Logan.
He chuckled, "Come on I'll steady you as we go. You'll get the hang of it soon. If you have trouble ask Kurt. He has to walk like this all the time."
"Okay I think I have it. My balance has shifted a little to compensate." She let go and he smiled when she was able to walk to the door without his help. He led her down to the kitchen and only had to assist her a couple of times. Once down the steps and another on the slick floor of the foyer. Her new claws clicked as she walked across it.
In the kitchen he chatted with her as she made herself a couple of sandwiches. He watched as she became more at ease and he was glad to note the scared scent she had given off had faded almost completely. He noticed that she had grown fangs as well as new claws.
'Logan, will you bring Raven up to my office?' came the professor's voice in both their heads.
Raven grinned, 'I'll be right up Uncle.'
There was a mental chuckle, 'I should have known you would hear me. You don't have to hurry. Finish your meal before you come up okay.'
'Sure Uncle Charles.'
Logan smiled as she wolfed down the rest of her sandwiches. "You're really close to him aren't you?"
"Yeah he was the only one I could really be myself with ya know. None of my family knew I had gotten in touch with him. Well except my dad and I swore him to secrecy. You see Uncle Charles isn't really my Uncle. I just call him that cause we were so close. He was the only one who really accepted me as I was," she trailed off softly.
"What couldn't your family accept?"
She smiled wryly, "I think it was the fact that I didn't do what they thought I should. I got a degree they thought was a waste of time. I didn't practice the same religion as they did and I'm Bi. When I was taken I had a girlfriend. Her name was Ro. I don't know what happened to her, but I could never go back to her. Not the way I am now. But that's a whole nother story. Come on let's not keep Uncle Charles waiting."
