Not Myself
By Princess Alexandria
Princess_alex24@hotmail.com
When they were in the car Christy felt she could relax a little. She didn't want to say anything around other people that might overhear and wasn't sure how cautious she had to be. A little research showed her that Mystique was a wanted woman. The stories she'd read were pretty bad, but then the articles about the Xmen hadn't been glowing reviews either so she didn't count on the press to give accurate information. "I hope you plan on being a woman while you stay with me. I kinda already told my mom you were a friend I met on the Internet and you were renting out a room for a few months."
"Is this better?" The form shifted to blue skin and red hair. They hadn't even started to car yet. Apparently Christy was more cautious about that than Mystique. She glanced around the parking garage quickly to see if anyone noticed. "Worried they'll see you with a mutant?" Mystique's voice was a little deep for a woman, given it a sexy seductress quality, nice if it weren't for the irritation in it.
"No, worried someone might recognize you."
"She's got a point." A man's voice spoke and Christy's eyes widened a little as Mystique pulled a six inch tall man out of her pocket. "There have been quite a few posters of you made. You're a rather notorious freedom fighter." Christy caught the emphasis on the last two words. The man was set on her dash and turned to face her. "Hi, I'm your field agent, Shortpack."
Christy was proud of her ability to not stare too much. The advanced warning about his size was helpful. "I'm Christy." She started the engine, not sure if his standing there was really safe for him while she drove, but when he didn't make a motion to move and Mystique didn't grab him she just decided to drive very carefully. "Your house got in yesterday."
"Oh good." He sounded relieved. Christy started down the ramp to leave and nibbled on her lip as she thought about the manned gate she had to show her paid parking ticket at. She just sighed and waited to see what they'd do, rather than say something they wouldn't like. He sounded rather young, kind of enthusiastic when he started talking again. "We'll take care of your Friends of Humanity problems."
The gate was coming closer and Christy swallowed while she pulled her ticket out of her pocket. A shift of color made her glance up. Mystique had turned into a different woman, one that looked a little too business like to be in Christy's car. Shortpack was taken off the dash as Christy handed over the ticket and the weary looking man at the station hit a button to let her out.
"Thanks for coming." Christy said after she'd pulled away.
"I heard you got into some type of trouble." Mystique's body switched back to her own as she spoke. Christy had gotten used to different looking skin with Annie, but seeing the deep blue she'd seen in comics was still distracting. She made sure not to stare though. Christy just glanced at her for a moment. It was the yellow eyes that were more disconcerting. They were without pupils. The woman was pretty in blue and rather young looking for someone that must be pretty old in order to be Kurt's mom. Christy wondered if Mystique enhanced her appearance with her powers and if she was seeing the real woman or the image she'd created.
"What?" She wasn't sure what it would…oh. "He told you? As far as I know the police don't have any leads, I should be fine."
"Police? You're in trouble with the police?" Shortpack's voice rose a little. Christy realized that they didn't know.
"I'm not in trouble with them because I'm not a suspect. I plan to keep it that way." She could see Mystique was watching her and smirking. Christy sighed. "It's not a problem. Don't worry about it. I'm more worried about the F.O.H. and their serial killing spree. I have my research at the house you can look at. Maybe you can catch what I'm missing. I know who's responsible and I can't touch him."
Christy didn't bother to conceal her hiss of frustration. "I've even been in his house. His daughter is a mutant and I helped move her out before he found out. She'd visit with him and give me information, so I have some things you might find useful. We weren't sure if it was really his people until Jessi and Jon were almost taken. She recognized her father's right hand man."
She spent the rest of the drive explaining how she'd taken in her students and how after the F.O.H. found out about Jessi she had to send them away to Xaviers. Some details were left out, like how she'd ended up with police troubles. You don't talk about a murder if you plan to get away with it. It seemed rather obvious. Even edited down to just what applied to this mission she ended up talking for the entire drive home. Only a few times did either of them ask questions, usually tactical. Information about his house, his daughter, his habits. Christy was surprised how many answers she actually had because of small talks with Jessi about her dad.
********
Mystique glanced around the neighborhood as Christy seemed to get closer to home. The nearest grocery was a few miles away and the town looked pretty small as they passed through it. This house was hardly in the middle of the action.
They pulled up to a two story house and then into the garage. Mystique was just waiting to confront Christy about what her police problem was about. She'd get it out of her. She'd caught the slowing of the woman's speech a few times as she mentally edited what she told Mystique and recognized what was going on. Apparently she was only to get some of the story. "Home sweet home." She glanced around the garage, which didn't really have much of interest in it.
"Do you have more bags coming?" Christy asked as Mystique grabbed them out of the back seat.
Mystique licked her lips a little seductively, "I don't need much, since I don't wear clothes." Her eyes trailed over Christy's worn jeans and button up cotton shirt. She'd bet money those were really clothes and not an extension of Christy's own body. "I'll teach you. It's freeing." The blush that got her was rewarding.
"I… I" Christy stammered a little. It didn't take a lot to throw the woman off kilter. "haven't been able to do anything myself, well nothing obvious. I know they said I should be able to shapeshift, but I've been trying to do anything at all for the past couple of days and nothing happens. Maybe they're wrong."
Christy moved around her and started for the door to the house. With Shortpack on her shoulder Mystique followed.
"Why do they think you're a shapeshifter?" She was eager to hear the great Professor's assumptions on this. Christy stood aside as she entered the house into the office. Two computers were set up in the small room.
"That's kind of complicated." Christy's voice was a little deeper and a little more guarded.
"Is that code for don't tell the terrorist?" Of course the Professor had secrets, but if she was supposed to train the woman this wouldn't work. She grimaced as she followed Christy up the stairs. Shortpack was being rather quiet.
"You won't get in." Christy said suddenly and out of nowhere. "Stop trying Shortpack."
"You can tell." Finally he spoke.
"Oh yeah. Jean and Emma couldn't force their way in together." Christy turned to stare at Shortpack. Mystique caught the intensity of her gaze. There was definitely more to this woman than met the eye. "Seems every telepath I meet wants a tour of my shield." The heavy sigh following that made Mystique want that story as well.
"So, shapeshifting. How'd you join the club? I have my card around here somewhere." Mystique pretended to pat her pockets. "Did you get the membership card?"
"I was in an… explosion. My body didn't make it, but my powers let me remake another one." Mystique's eyes widened and she stopped walking for a moment. Christy's voice was flat, but it was clearly a sensitive topic. Mystique could see why. Christy turned around at the top of the stairs and waved a hand down her torso to indicate her body. "It's not quite real and it started to change when I let Emma into my mind. That's how I joined the club."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Mystique spoke softly. At least this explained how Christy could be this old before learning about this power.
Christy's sad smile came a moment before she spoke. "It's okay. You need to know to train me, don't you? I'm assuming that since it's you the Professor sent, it's shapeshifting 101 now?"
"Yes, but not before I get settled." Mystique finished walking up the stairs. "And where can I drop of Tiny Tim here? I need a shower and I'm not giving out free shows." She glanced at Christy again. "It costs at least five bucks a peek."
The room Christy took her to was modest. Mystique had stayed in a lot of places, some dumps and some rather nice. This was definitely in the middle somewhere. They'd dropped Shortpack off across the hall in his own room to check out his dollhouse and start setup for the plumbing. After a few missions Mystique knew he'd ask for her to fill the water tank after he'd unpacked his own belongings.
"When did the explosion happen?" She asked quietly as she set her own bag on the bed. Christy was still standing there, clearly wanting to chat. Mystique noticed the slight widening of eyes and the way Christy tried to cover her discomfort.
"Last summer."
"Genosha?" What Christy would have been doing there if she didn't know she was a mutant yet was a mystery, but a lot of people died last summer.
"No, something else." Christy turned to look at the other door in the room. "You have your own access to the bathroom. That one is all yours. I have one downstairs." Christy's voice sounded like she was outlining the hotel amenities. Obviously her explosion story was off limits. "I work full time and leave the house a little after seven. I'm back by six. You're free to use whatever you need. I have a gun in my closet downstairs for an emergency, but bullets are in the shoebox. I didn't see a gun when you were unpacking." Christy glanced at the opened bag Mystique was working on. Mystique was eager to see what this woman considered her home security system. She'd have to take a peek tomorrow while Christy was at work.
Mystique crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall, just watching Christy. The woman was starting to sound a bit in control, it sounded like orders as she talked. Mystique took in the small habits, like moving a hand when she talked or the way her eyes seemed to watch Mystique's mouth more than her eyes. All the little things a shapeshifter should notice in case they needed to borrow a form. Christy was giving her more than enough verbal data to copy the voice. It wasn't that she expected she'd do that anytime soon, but Mystique was always in the market for new shapes.
"Why are you getting involved in this?" Mystique asked and noticed how that seemed to stall Christy's reciting of what was where if she needed it.
"They threatened my kids." Christy finally looked her in the eye. "I know I should have gone after them sooner and I didn't. I almost lost two people I care about to those bastards, and Jessi will never be able to come home as long as they are out there. I had more than enough suspicion of who it was, but because he was Jessi's dad I didn't move. People were dying and I didn't move." Christy gave heavy sigh, "The only way I know to stop someone is to kill them. You're here so that I don't have to kill Jessi's dad. You're supposed to teach me how to do this without the body count." The slight smirk showed Christy realized that was an odd thing for Mystique to be teaching. Mystique felt herself give a smile back in acknowledgement. It sure didn't sound like Christy was Xavier's typical lap dog. "He may deserve death, but Jessi would hate me for that."
"What kind of police trouble are you in?" Mystique watched Christy's face, saw the hesitance.
"I killed two of the bastards that went after Jessi and Jon." Mystique had been watching carefully and there was no hiding eyes, no softening of the voice. Christy wasn't ashamed of her actions. She carried her head like someone that knew they'd done the right thing, regardless of what others may have thought about it. That can't have gone over too well with Charlie. Mystique's smile grew. Looks like Teacher has claws. Maybe Mystique would get a chance to see how sharp they were.
Christy then finished the verbal tour and left Mystique alone so that she could go shower. It was getting late so the woman was going to bed. That job of hers was going to be hard to work around.
********
Christy felt awkward leaving them alone. She felt like she should be entertaining them, but Shortpack was tired and Mystique was showering. It was also getting late and she had to go back to work tomorrow.
She was falling asleep rather quickly, since last night she'd been up most of the night making sure the place wasn't an embarrassment. She could hear the soft footsteps upstairs as she laid down in her bed. A small tired smile came to her lips. It was comforting to know she wasn't the only person here and that Mystique was more than capable of helping to defend them if anything happened. She finally got a decent nights sleep in her own house. She hadn't been able to do that since she came home alone, and truthfully when the kids were here she was waking up to every little sound, ready to protect them. Years of being on the edge in her own world made relaxing hard to do.
********
Shortpack glanced at the binders that Christy had left on the dining room table before leaving for work. Mystique was cooking a late breakfast before they tried to catch up with Christy's research. He really wasn't used to having an operative that went about her daily business too. He opened the binder and started to read. A lot of the news articles were one's he'd already seen as he prepared, but the girl's extra notes were helpful.
"This mission is…" Shortpack sighed. He was prepared for a mission, but this wasn't the same. Mystique was right, the woman was the mission, or the Professor would have had them quickly break up the F.O.H. and go on their way. Professor Xavier said to expect this to take a month or two.
"A joke?" Mystique smiled sarcastically as she sat down with her plate after setting his own smaller one down on the table. "Nothing more than a training exercise and he expects us to draw this out so that Christy can play." He wouldn't agree to all that. The Professor must have a very good reason to put them on this mission and expect them to work for so long on it when really Mystique could probably take care of it in less than a week. "I'm going to check out her fighting skills and such first. We need to know what we're working with." Mystique looked less than pleased as she added, "And get us a car. I'm not staying home like a little housewife while she works."
"Actually housewives don't…" He started to defend women that chose that as their career but then stopped. Mystique wouldn't care if his mother had chosen to stay home and take care of him and his sister instead of work when they were younger. One thing that was certain was that even housewives needed cars, probably more than other people. "I'll look into it." He could mention that when he called in his request for a new tranq gun for Mystique and one for Christy. Mystique was really hard on her tranq guns, they were always having to replace it.
********
Christy smiled when she opened her email. Every one of the kids had written her. She also had an email from Emma that from the size of it was rather long. She wanted to read Emma's first, but she went with first in first read.
Her smile fell a little when she opened Annie's. The girl was apologizing for her behavior with Ms. Frost and for Christy having to apologize for it. It was a rather short note and Christy couldn't see Annie's expression or hear her voice to tell her how upset she was. Emma had obviously confronted her, like she said she would. It took her a while to figure out what to say so she didn't undermine Emma, but wasn't sounding like it wasn't a big deal, because it was. She wrote Annie and talked about how strange it was to have telepaths around, how in normal life she would also think harsh things at people instead of confronting them, but that didn't work in a world of mutants. It was an adjustment they would all have to make. She ignored the fact that it was Annie's jealousy that caused this. She also told Annie that she hoped they all learned to like that school.
Jon's email made her laugh. He wanted a tally of how many meals she'd eaten since she left them and told her that if she didn't take care of herself he'd hire a babysitter. That's all he wanted to say, it was rather short. She lied and gave him the number she should have eaten and told him that the babysitter wasn't necessary, but if he wanted to hire her a cook she'd take it because she was already tired of her cooking.
Erik's email came the same day and Christy reopened the others to see that her students had gone to the computer lab together to write to her. Her eyes were a little glassy as she started to focus on his email. He said classes were good and that Ms. Frost was growing on him. He was working hard and she was tough teacher, but he knew he needed that. He said he'd be lazy otherwise. He sounded like he'd been away a lot longer than he had, or that Christy hadn't been there for some of it.
Jessi talked about a lot of things. She talked about how she was making sure Annie was doing alright, how Erik was spending more time with Myeisha, and how Jon was going to be the TA for shop class next week. She talked about how her clothes finally got there, she talked about how they were able to go to the mall on the weekends, and she talked about how hard her Telekinetics class was, but after all that rambling she said something small. Jessi loved her and wanted her to know that she was sorry her dad was such an ass. She was sorry Christy had gotten involved in all that and she was sorry that Christy had to do what she did. Christy stared at the screen stunned for a moment before she got up and closed her office door. The tears started to fall at that moment. God, Jessi was blaming herself. Christy wished she were right there so that Christy could shake some sense into Jessi.
The other three got responses to their emails, but Christy was going to wait until the end of the day to reply to Jessi's. She didn't know what to say to make her understand it wasn't her fault and Christy just did what she had to do. It didn't bother her like she knew people assumed something like that would. Christy didn't lose any sleep over those two mens deaths, not like some of the others she'd killed. Not even one moments doubt about her actions that night, and she wouldn't have lost any sleep if she'd killed the man they'd left unconscious, but clearly it was a good thing she hadn't killed him. Jessi couldn't have handled it.
Once she dried her quiet tears she opened up Emma's email. The crisp tone reminded her a little of the book Emma wrote. Emma approved her approach to their research and they'd plan to have it done a week before the Xavier Institute's year end meeting. The majority of the email was business, but the end wasn't. Emma said that when Christy came back during the summer she should bring more clothes for going out. It was a short sentence. The only personal one, and Christy spent part of the day playing with it in her mind and trying to decipher what it really meant, because this was Emma, and Christy wanted to believe one thing, but was worried it wasn't. Emma had kissed her, but friends sometimes kiss like that. It wasn't like Emma had kissed her passionately, like Sage had. It had been rather tame in comparison. And they had been joking about making the Xmen think they were a couple. Why did Emma kiss her? Were they friends or something more? At least these thoughts gave her mind a break from trying to find a way to make someone so far away realize that Christy wasn't a killer because of her.
********
"What's the fascination with teenage sexuality?" Mystique asked the second Christy stepped into the house from the garage. Christy looked at the woman who was on her computer. Well, she'd said they could use it if they wanted. She just didn't expect anyone to go through her history and bookmarks to see what she's doing.
"I'm helping Emma with a proposal." She moved to set her purse down on the bookcase. "I do the research and send it to her."
"Cool." Mystique turned back to the computer. "What about all the research you did on me?" A click and a webpage on wanted mutant terrorists came up, along with the information about the reward on this one. Mystique's voice was a little chillier.
Christy sighed as she sat down in the other chair. She hadn't expected Mystique to find out she'd done that. "I wanted some idea of what I was getting into when I heard you were coming." She glanced at the large reward. "Don't worry. Money isn't really high on my list of priorities." It never would have been high enough to turn in someone that had come to help her. She glanced at the computer screen. "Besides, you probably did a little research of your own. You get arrested and I'd be next wouldn't I?"
Mystique gave her a small smile. "You already know a bit about how the game is played. Not bad Teacher." That wasn't the first time Mystique called her that. It almost sounded like an assigned codename, and Christy didn't like it.
"Did you create your own codename?" When Mystique raised an eyebrow at her she continued. "You get Mystique, which is really cool… and you saddle me with Teacher? Did you name Shortpack? Cause let me just say I won't take it." She smirked when that got a laugh.
"Okay, if not Teacher, have you thought about one yet?" Mystique's smile faded a little. "When we go out on missions you need to have one. Especially since we are doing this in your backyard. Every spook knows better to work in their home town like this, but Charlie didn't think about that."
"I've been too busy to think about it." Christy thought it would take a long time to come up with something. "My powers are kinda… all over the place."
"Well start thinking about it." Mystique's voice lowered a bit, making it seem more intimate. "I found an article on a double killing on the beach. Clean shots, both of them. Were you in the brush?"
"Yeah. They were behind her and she couldn't protect from that angle." Christy sighed. She'd been thinking about that day quite a lot today. She sent a hopefully well crafted email to Jessi trying to explain how Jessi wasn't at fault in any way and that Christy would do it all over in a heartbeat. She had no regrets.
"Just two shots?" Mystique sounded a little impressed. Christy found she liked that, and also didn't like that it made her feel proud. Talk about conflicting emotions.
"I've had a lot of target practice." She pushed her hands down on her knees and stood up.
"And it wasn't always at the gun range was it?" Mystique clicked the mouse and an article about the deaths appeared. "You don't act like someone that just killed for the first time a few weeks ago."
"I never claimed I was an angel." Christy wasn't as upset with Mystique figuring this out as she should be. "I'm gonna go see about dinner." Mystique was too interested in researching her. The Professor's plan to keep Mystique in the dark was already falling apart. The only way to do that would be to not answer questions or lie, and Christy could do that, but she didn't want to. Besides, if they got into a jam Mystique might need to know Christy could pull the trigger if needed.
Mystique stared after Christy when she left the room. Christy could feel her eyes on her.
Shortpack went back to reading the reports after dinner and Christy put the dishes in the dishwasher, fully aware of the blue woman watching her with a bit of a flirtatious tip to her hips and a small smirk on her lips. "Pull your car out of the garage. I want to spar with you."
"In there?" Christy closed the dishwasher and stood up.
"Sure, just a little sparring, not a whole battle." When Christy just stared at her while trying to remember how good a fighter Mystique was the woman spoke again. "I need to know how good you are if you'll be watching my back."
"I'm not good at all. I've had no training." Christy sighed. It was her weakest area as a warrior and she'd compensated for that by taking quickly killing blows from far away. She wasn't able to do that now. She needed to learn to fight. She'd cancelled the lessons she'd planned to take after the Xmen came to visit them here, because she suspected she wouldn't have students to teach. She'd been right, but she still needed those skills.
"Well, we'll see what you can do Hot Stuff. Go change." Mystique was going to kick her ass. Christy just nodded and moved to change into something she wouldn't miss. Even without a normal body this was probably going to hurt.
********
Mystique checked out the garage and was glad that there were no oil leak problems with the cars. Shortpack was stationed on the workbench as they waited for Christy to change. He hadn't wanted to miss this.
Christy came in wearing shorts and an old t-shirt. She was looking rather uncertain, a bit nervous. She looked like she expected to become a human sacrifice and had decided to go with dignity. Well, if the girl didn't have what it took she should figure it out now and stay out of the business. She'd live longer that way.
"Well sugar, come at me." Mystique moved to the center of the two car garage and wiggled her eyebrows.
"Sugar?" Christy sounded amused at the endearment. It looked like a private joke from the expression on her face. That faded and the woman became all business. Mystique waited calmly, while ready to move at a moments notice. Christy walked around her, keeping her distance. "I'm not used to hand to hand."
"You wanted me to teach you how to leave the bastards alive." Mystique smirked when she heard Shortpack muttering something. "Come on." Christy telegraphed her move before she lunged. It was easy to side step out of the way so Mystique did that instead of blocking. She'd fight back after seeing what Christy had.
Christy swung an arm at her and Mystique ducked. Christy tried to swipe her feet out from under her and Mystique jumped. Dodging from side to side she avoided the blows Christy was trying to land. It was about as pathetic of a showing as Mystique expected, but the one surprise was the expression on Christy's face. No rage, no frustration, just concentration. Christy was being humiliated by not even being able to come close to a single hit but she didn't let it affect her attack, didn't get carelessly emotional about it. It was a rare quality and Mystique decided to test that.
Christy's head fell forward a little as Mystique slapped her in the back of it after dodging a blow. Mystique waited patiently while Christy turned around to face her and studied her eyes. Still clear. When Christy tried to kick her feet out from under her Mystique dodged and then kicked Christy in the side just hard enough to send her to the ground. The woman got up quickly and the eyes were still clear. There was no rushed attempt at retribution. Christy circled her cautiously. The woman didn't even speak as she fought. It was quiet for a fight Mystique was part of. Normally she'd be talking more herself, but she was intrigued by this. Christy lunged a few more times and Mystique kept her counter attacks gentle, just slaps on the wrist really. She humiliated Christy by dodging so easily and even making it clear it was no effort to do that. She kept her eyes on Christy's eyes. The woman telegraphed her moves, but not her emotions.
Christy sighed before lunging again, and Mystique stepped it up a notch. In an open space she would have flipped over Christy's head. Here she sidestepped and spun around to land her foot solidly on Christy's back, sending her slamming into the garage door.
~Do you need to beat her up. It's obvious she can't take you.~ Shortpack was upset.
~Don't worry she can take it. She's got that healing factor.~ Mystique watched Christy turn to face her and still there was no rage. She knew hitting the door like that had to hurt. She'd made sure it would. This time when Christy came at her she didn't dodge, she blocked once and then hit her in the stomach hard enough to make Christy fold. It took a second for Christy to stand up and face her again. There was still no flailing fists. Christy circled her quietly, her eyes full of concentration, looking for an opening she obviously didn't have the skill to recognize.
"You holding back?" Mystique smirked at her, taunting her. The punch she blocked wasn't done with enhanced strength, and she saw no evidence of enhanced anything. Christy seemed like a human. No powers to speak of. "Don't bother." She followed that up with an attack of her own. She moved quickly and hit Christy hard across the face. Hard enough to send her to the ground, but Christy didn't fall. Here we go… this is what I was after, Mystique thought while gritting her teeth to really lay into her. She ignored Shortpack's comment about not beating their host to a pulp. She swung again and Christy ducked, she kicked out and Christy stumbled a little but didn't fall. Mystique grabbed her and tossed her across the garage and back into the garage door.
"Stop It!" Shortpack yelled.
"No, it's okay." Christy said as she stood up. She looked a bit sore, but her eyes were still clear. She was still focused. Mystique didn't even reply she just came at her swinging and watched as Christy's reaction time got faster and faster. She made sure the hits were something that Christy could block, but kept them coming. The blocks were starting to jar her arms as she continued with this dance. There was the enhanced strength she heard about.
Her leg darted out and knocked Christy's feet out from under her. They watched as the woman fell to the ground and heard the sick slam of her head against the cement floor. Mystique didn't let it show, but she did worry she'd gone to far.
"God Dammit Mystique, you'll give her a concussion."
Christy answered, "She can't." Her voice was still soft. Her breathing wasn't ragged even with the exercise. The smile was just small, but Mystique felt a little chilled by it. Christy stood back up while staring at her. "I make Logan seem fragile." The voice changed a little and Mystique took a step back to wait for the next attack while noticing the threat in Christy's body language. There was no rage, but it was pretty clear she'd managed to piss her off. It actually made Christy move slower, more deliberately.
"I'm sorry if I'm rusty." Christy stepped to the side while watching her body language. "Usually when I'm this close to the enemy they are already dead." Christy's smirk was not pretty, it held a madness to it. "Or begging for their lives." The attack was swift and this time Mystique was blocking. Hmm.. Christy was a psychological fighter. Relied on terror in the hand to hand situations. Too bad terror didn't make up for lack of skill. Mystique kicked her hard as she could and watched Christy slam into the wall. That would have knocked a human out, but Christy was still standing and actually looked amused in a dangerous sort of way. She wasn't breaking character once she brought the psycho out to play.
Mystique gave her own wicked grin as she decided to test her a bit more. Her fingers grew longer and sharper. She held one hand up and waved an index finger to indicate that Christy should attack again. Christy's expression did falter for a moment. She looked impressed, but that was quickly covered up as she moved forward.
"Whoa, whoa…" Shortpack was talking quickly. "This isn't a grudge match, no need to draw blood."
"I don't have any blood." Christy said off hand and Mystique had to smile at the woman's casual comment. Christy may not have any faith in her other powers, but she seemed really confident that she'd heal from whatever Mystique threw at her.
********
Christy gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes as she stared at Mystique. She knew that her performance in this had been pathetic, and she was worried that Mystique would consider her worthless for the mission. She needed to get something right. Something to show she had potential. But Mystique was amazing, clearly a great fighter. Christy was severely outclassed. Mystique was probably going easy on her on top of it.
Christy walked sideways while keeping an eye on the shapeshifter. Those fingers looked sharp. Christy hadn't even considered that Mystique could do partial shifts like that. She didn't remember her doing anything like that before in what she'd read.
They sparred and this time when Christy saw the kick coming she made sure to be in it's path. She let her body go limp as she was tossed through the air again and slammed into the door. She stayed limp and fell to the floor, ignoring the pain of the concrete meeting her head again. She was going to try something like what she'd done before, but Mystique wasn't stupid like the bomber. She calmed her mind and reached for silence. It was something she'd played with while in bed when she couldn't sleep these past few days. She hated it, but it was the only thing she'd been able to control so far.
"Oh… Is she okay?!" Shortpack's voice was rather loud for such a small man. Christy didn't respond, she just continued to lay crumpled up on the ground. She concentrated on quiet while she felt Mystique roll her onto her back. The touch on her throat was warm, the ear listening for breath was close enough that Christy's nose was tickled by her hair.
"She isn't breathing and I'm not getting a pulse!" Mystique's voice rose in shock and obvious concern. It was an effort to not grin at her success. The sudden press on her chest was a surprise. The woman was starting CPR. Christy should have realized she'd do that. What now? She had been waiting for a clear shot, but this…
"Dammit, Christy… Charles will kill me if I've…" Mystique's voice rose. "Come on girl, breath!"
Lips covered hers and pushed air into her lungs. It took a lot to not gasp in shock. Christy was keeping her eyes closed. She had to end this, it was cruel… Mystique was actually worried. Before the woman could return to the chest compressions Christy reached out with both hands, opened her eyes and grabbed her shoulders, rolling them over so that she stared down into startled eyes. She lightly tapped Mystique on the cheek. "Tag, your it." She could have hit her hard enough to make it clear that would have been her victory, but after the panic in Mystique's voice from Christy's playing possum she didn't feel like it.
The foot in her gut barely had time to register before she was flying through the air again and slamming into the wall. "That was not funny." Mystique stared at her as Christy got back up off her knees after landing on them.
"Sorry." Christy stayed ready to fight in case Mystique attacked again. "I can't beat you in hand to hand. I'd have to use a trick to get you off guard." She moved to the side, making sure to stay out of range. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."
Mystique seemed to relax as she nodded that she'd accepted the apology, but Christy stayed ready to move. "Well, you have potential, but you're right. You have no training. We'll have to work on that. One good thing is you don't lose you head." The grin helped Christy to relax a little, "Just your heart."
"You can control your heartbeat?" Shortpack spoke and Christy risked taking her eyes off of Mystique.
"Yeah. I don't have any internal organs unless I'm thinking about them." She couldn't see his expression very well from across the garage. He was too small. When she noticed Mystique move out of the corner of her eye she tensed up.
"Relax, sparring is over." Mystique smiled as she moved towards the workbench with Shortpack on it. "You know if you wanted a kiss you could have asked, instead of tricking me." Christy blushed as Mystique gave her a flirtatious smile. Shortpack stepped into Mystique's hand. "Oh, looks like we cleaned up the spiderwebs in the garage with your body. Might want to shower."
"Okay." Christy moved to leave the garage, just glad that they hadn't broken the door or anything else Mystique bounced her off of. That itself was a miracle.
********
Mystique left Shortpack to continue his research on the inner group at the F.O.H. so they'd have leads Mystique could follow. One of those men would be a good form to use to infiltrate the organization.
While he worked she made her way back downstairs with a swing in her hips and a smile on her lips. Christy wasn't at all like a Xavier lap dog. She had real potential. Her words during the fight as she tried to make Mystique think twice about attacking her… Mystique thought they might not be made up. Something in Christy's eyes said it was true. Now Mystique had no idea how the teacher managed to do that with a record as clean as hers, but it was clear that something was off about the woman.
Mystique started to open the door and noticed it wouldn't. A quick look at the privacy lock and a short fingernail shape shifting later she tried the door again. Oh look, Christy's door wasn't locked. Mystique opened the door quietly and slipped inside. She could hear the shower starting to run.
A book of the bottom shelf caught her interest and she grabbed it before moving to lay on the couch. It felt like Christy saved the good couch for herself, because it was a lot more comfortable than the one upstairs.
She was in the middle of reading the second chapter when the water shut off. Mystique shifted her position so that the title of the book would be easily visible from the bathroom door.
Her attention waned from the book as she listened to Christy getting ready. It wasn't long and the door opened. The nakedness was a little bit of a surprise. Irene had always put on a robe when she was in the bathroom, Christy apparently thought that she was alone.
"I didn't bruise you did I?" Mystique teased and watched Christy's eyes widened before the bathroom door slammed shut again. It didn't look like she'd bruised her.
Christy was blushing a bit and didn't look too happy when she opened the door again. There was the robe Mystique expected her to be wearing the first time.
"Shapeshifters really shouldn't wear clothes anyhow." Mystique arched her back a little and set the book on the floor with one hand. "I'm not." Christy's eyes glanced at the clothes that Mystique was wearing briefly. "They are a part of me, like my hair."
"I thought I locked the door." Christy glanced at the door as if it betrayed her for a second and Mystique grinned.
"You must have forgot." She reached down for the book again, flashing the title. "These books are drivel. They act like these ideas are so new, and I've been doing this and more for a long time." She set it face up on the coffee table. Lesbian Sex. "Maybe I should write one. Lesbian Sex for the Shape Shifter. It brings in a whole new set of games to play." Mystique's tongue sneaked out to lick her upper lip. Christy's body had potential and Mystique would love to show it to her. In all her years she'd never made love to a shape shifter and there were times that she wished her lovers could do what she could.
Christy moved to her closet in the living room. Not really where one belonged. She pulled out some pajama bottoms and a t-shirt.
"No need to get dressed on my account." The clothes on Mystique's body shifted to a robe. "There, now we can both be comfortable." Christy seemed interested in that trick. "I save a lot of money on clothes. I can just look at the pictures and I've got it."
"I'll just be a minute." Christy said as she slipped back into the bathroom to change. Mystique just sighed and shifted back into her normal outfit minus the shoes. Charles didn't realize that it took Mystique years to be able to impersonate other people so quickly. He probably wanted her to get Christy up to her own speed in two months. It couldn't be done. Before she started to worry about that she wanted to see some proof that Christy was a shape shifter, that her powers extended beyond her ability to change the inside of her body.
Mystique was more serious when Christy came back out dressed. "I want to see you shape shift tonight. If you aren't a shapeshifter there is really no point in…" Her expression was nearly blank. "Charlie wants a shape shifter and if you aren't that I could just wrap up the F.O.H. for the police and leave. Maybe enjoy Mexico or some other warm climate instead of getting wrinkled in all the rain you have in this area." She could see Christy didn't like that. After a moment of shock, and was that hurt? The mask fell again and it was nothing but business in those eyes.
"What do you want me to try to do?"
"We'll start with something easy." Mystique pulled her legs off the couch and sat up, making room for Christy to sit. "You said you were trying to shift. What were you doing?"
"I'd stare at myself in the mirror and try to make things change. I tried to for a long time, but nothing happened."
"That is where you went wrong." Mystique held a hand out and did what she'd done earlier, making it sharp talon like tools. "I don't stare at it to make it do that." She held the hand up for Christy to see. "It's internal. You have to believe it looks like that normally and it will change." She moved her hand closer to Christy. "Touch it. Look at it. This is what a hand looks like, and you need to believe that." Christy's cursory inspection was probably inspired by shyness. "No, really look at it." Mystique moved a little closer to do this. Christy had to get an internal acceptance of this hand. That didn't happen in a minute with a new shifter. The time when Mystique was learning her powers were fuzzy, but she was sure that she'd needed to stare at things a long time before she could copy them back then.
While Christy was staring and touching her hand Mystique did some staring of her own. The woman's touch was gentle and curious. A small fantasy of that curiosity exploring her whole body made Mystique warm. "You're hands are so soft." Her voice was a little deeper as she spoke and she noticed the way Christy pulled her hands away from the shifted one Mystique was holding out. "Hardly warriors hands. Is that because you believe they are still soft? Let's try this." Mystique set her hand on the coffee table. "These are hands." She shifted her other one and set it down as well. "Show me hands." When Christy moved to put her own hands into her line of sight Mystique's voice rose. "No, don't look at them, just look at mine." Her words became slower, "These Are Hands." She wiggled her now extra long and sharp fingers.
Christy stared at her hands with an intensity that showed she really was trying. Mystique watched the hands on Christy's knees, waiting for any indication that this was working. After five minutes she just let her hands shift back. It broke Christy's trancelike stare. "Go to bed. You don't have it."
"What?" Christy stared at her and Mystique pitied her a little. She could see the whole time how hard Christy had been trying, but her fingers never changed even a little. Mystique may have forgotten most of her childhood, but she was pretty sure it didn't take her that long to copy anything even then.
********
Mystique was standing up to leave. "We've barely started." Christy felt the heartbeat she didn't need speed up. Mystique intended to just give up and take care of everything herself because Christy couldn't catch on in the first five minutes?
"We could have sat here all night. You won't be able to do it. You aren't a shapeshifter."
"Emma was sure…"
"Well, she was wrong." Mystique's disrespect in her voice and the giving up made Christy's fists clench. She stared down at them finally and they were just like they always were. Mystique's voice softened. "Get some sleep. You have to work tomorrow." Christy stared into those yellow eyes. "I'll start working on the F.O.H. tomorrow and I'll leave him alive like you wanted."
Mystique left and she closed the door behind her. Christy's hard eyes just stared at the door. "No, Emma wasn't wrong." Her voice was cold as she sat back down on the couch.
********
The knock was loud. It sounded like a kick. Mystique sat up and glanced at the clock. Four in the morning. Her lips set into a thin line as she moved to answer the door. It couldn't be Shortpack, it was too loud for him. The kick hit her door again. "I'm coming." She muttered loudly and opened the door.
The first thing she noticed was the expression on Christy's face. There was confrontation and a hint of anger. What she was still doing up was a mystery.
"Hands." The voice was cold as the hands laying at Christy's side came up and Mystique say them. The long sharp fingers were blue, like the hands Christy had been staring at. They were exact copies of what Mystique had showed her. When Christy just turned around and walked away Mystique felt a smile tug on her lips. That girl had attitude and a shifting power. It also explained why she'd kicked instead of knocked.
"We'll start training tomorrow." She called after her, ignoring that they'd probably both woken Shortpack up.
As she closed her door she chuckled. Christy spent over six hours working on that just so she could come up here and say one word.