Not Myself
By Princess Alexandria
Princess_alex24@hotmail.com
********
After dinner Shortpack turned on his computer. It was always sitting on the dining room table so it was easy for the others to see it. He kept his eyes on it while it booted up, hoping that Christy would be able to keep the clothes up. She'd wavered once towards the end of dinner. She didn't become naked, but the clothes had started to change without her realizing it. They faded back to normal and Mystique had shared a look with him. They didn't tell her, at least not then. Mystique might mention it later, but if Christy realized she slipped she might call it an evening and they wanted to do more.
"Well for smaller targets I combed through a few of my sources." He worked on starting up PowerPoint as he talked. "We have the gangs in the city, different drug dealers…" He sighed heavily. "Without running around waiting for crime to happen, it's a little hard to narrow a target down. Finally I found something that might work, but figuring out where to start may be a problem." He opened the presentation. There was a string of gay bashing in Seattle. These Neanderthals targeted singles and couples, usually women, but not always. Shortpack suspected it was the same people doing it, but he could be wrong.
"Well, this mirrors our problem here in Tacoma, only less lethal." Mystique's tone showed that she didn't like this either.
He continued to talk about the slides he showed while watching the computer. It outlined some beatings, the injuries, and the fact that the last couple was so severely injured that one of them was in a coma. This was escalating and Shortpack was glad Christy needed practice because he couldn't stand a bastard that would do this just because they didn't approve of who someone loved.
"We're going in soon." Christy's voice held authority.
"Easy enough to say, but we are still doing this rather close to your home. As a teacher I imagine a lot of people might recognize you. It isn't like you're locked away in a remote office all day." Mystique rained on Christy's parade rather well. "For this we need to be our own bait, unless you want to just hang around rooftops all night and watch me pick up women."
********
Annie stood on the steps with the others waiting for Ms. Frost to bring the van around. She glanced at Erik and then over at the others. When Sophie invited her to go with her and her sisters to the mall she hadn't realized that Ms. Frost was taking them. She didn't find that out until she'd already agreed. At least once they got there they didn't have to stick around that woman. Sophie glanced at her and smirked while pointing to her head subtly. Shields. Annie gave her friend a guilty smile and worked to strengthen them. Sophie was helping her work on that by reminding her whenever they started to fall. Usually it was when she was thinking about Ms. Frost. Irritation affected her ability to block her thoughts.
"Alright Children, let's get going." Ms. Frost said as soon as she'd pulled up in front of them. Annie didn't care for the children comment. Christy never called them that and it seemed demeaning.
********
~Did you invite her to see if she can upset Ms. Frost?~ Esme's amused mental voice reached her and Sophie just rolled her eyes. They'd all talked about how Annie tended to project less than flattering thoughts about their favorite teacher, but Sophie knew that Annie was trying to learn not to project them. Annie didn't mind having the thoughts and wasn't likely to ever like Ms. Frost, but she was trying to stop projecting, she just couldn't do it all the time yet. ~Hey, maybe we should ask her how Christy is.~ Esme continued to push it. ~Or we could ask Ms. Frost. It's only polite after all to ask about the lover right?~
~Esme, don't.~ Sophie's mental voice sighed in weary frustration. ~Just don't.~ Sophie wasn't thrilled with how much like Quentin her sister seemed at times. The girl seemed to enjoy other people's pain a bit too much. Annie was nice and didn't need people to tease her about her unrequited love or the fact that Christy was dating her teacher.
When they got to the mall Ms. Frost gave them a meeting time and place before dragging Erik out for more training. Sophie remembered working in this mall with her sisters when they first came to the school. Ms. Frost liked to combine shopping with teaching.
"Well, where do you want to go?" She asked Annie even though she could tell her sisters were eager to buy new clothes.
"Do they have a bookstore around here?" Annie seemed a bit hesitant. Sophie smiled to try and put her at ease.
~I'm going to take Annie to a bookstore.~ She sent to her sisters and could hear and feel their disapproval. While Sophie did tell Annie her and her sisters could spend time apart, they rarely did. ~It's not like you need me to try on clothes.~ She sighed mentally and then sent in a more pleading voice. ~I'll meet you when we get ready to go. Just buy me whatever you get.~
~Alright.~ Her sisters answered her and Sophie had their reluctant permission. They weren't like other sisters. They shared absolutely everything and now Sophie was telling them she wanted a friend of her own. She didn't want to share. She could feel the tension that created.
"Well, I know where a nice one is." She spoke out loud to Annie as her sisters moved off towards their favorite clothing store. Annie looked a little surprised to see Sophie's sisters leaving them, but she didn't say anything. They headed towards the nearest bookstore.
********
Annie was a bit startled when Sophie grabbed the hand Annie wasn't using to carry the books she bought and dragged her into a store without saying a word. The store was a bit dark and had things like small gargoyles statues in the window. "You said blue right?" Sophie turned to grin at her as they moved towards the side of the store and Annie saw the hair dyes.
The clothes Sophie and her sister wore really wouldn't go with it and she didn't want the other sisters blaming Annie for anything if Sophie really did it. Annie stood next to Sophie who seemed to really be considering this. Annie's black hair made that sort of thing not work for her. She'd tried once for Halloween years ago and she barely got a tint of color. Annie's eyes traveled to Sophie's very blonde hair and started to think about how any color at all would show up in that.
"What do you think?" Sophie held up a container of pretty blue dye. "I could just do a little…" Sophie turned to look in the mirror, "Maybe just a strand here." She pulled on a decent size chunk of hair that fell along side her face. "Then you'd always know which one was me."
"I'm starting to be able to tell." Annie couldn't help but think it would be cool to dye part of Sophie's hair. It would look really good on her.
"That's it, I'm getting it." Sophie then looked at the other colors and started to pick them up as well. "My sisters can have different colors too. We like to wear the same things." Sophie started to explain, "So if they have different colors they won't steal my blue." Annie helped Sophie carry the jars of red, orange, purple, green and blue to the counter.
********
After they got back from shopping Esme watched as Sophie unpacked her bag setting the jars on the bed, but pulling one jar away from the rest. Hair dye. Esme shook her head and watched their other sisters notice this as well. Ever since they were babies they dressed alike. It was who they were and now Sophie starts hanging around with that girl and wants to look different. The muscles in Esme's jaw tensed.
"This is a cool idea." One of their other sisters picked up the orange dye a little too quickly. Esme glanced at the other two and could tell she was going to be voted down. She didn't want to have them change. She wanted them to be like they'd always been.
"Don't touch the red." She spoke before either of the other two could reach for it. "It's mine." If they had to do this she wasn't going to get stuck with green. It would look like moss was growing on her head.
********
Mystique lounged on Christy's couch watching the woman fuss with makeup. Christy seemed to growl just a little before she grabbed a washrag and started to wipe off what she'd done again. "I don't know how to do this."
Mystique sighed and slowly got up off the couch. If Christy had better control she could just think of the look she wanted and get it, but this kind of fine detail was beyond her. "Here, let me." She made sure her voice held her weary disapproval as she motioned for Christy to sit on the closed toilet seat. Once Christy was seated she worked to quickly put on the dark eyeshadow and thick mascara. Christy's hair was already stiff and slicked back with a few different hair products. They had cut it short and it barely touched Christy's neck. Mystique had to promise her that they'd learn how to change it back before Monday. One thing was interesting about cutting Christy's hair. Mystique had never seen anything like it. The hair disappeared as soon as it was severed from the rest of it. There was no mess to clean up afterwards. Now the woman looked distinctively younger, tougher, and definitely butch. Mystique had come up with this look while Christy was at work by sitting in front of a mirror and using Christy's form, doing subtle changes until she had it. Once she finished with the makeup she grabbed the fake id they made for Christy and inspected it to make sure Christy matched what Mystique had created.
"There now you just need some lipstick and your clothes." She watched Christy's jaw tense a little. It was another outfit they practiced and they were finally going out in public the way shapeshifters were meant to be.
When Christy was done changing Mystique took a moment to double check her. The faded jeans fit like a glove and the chains from her belt loop to her back pocket moved properly and gave that metal against metal sound as they moved. Mystique was actually proud that Christy picked up on that one, since it seemed so hard for her to do things Mystique took for granted. To make part of her body feel and act and sound like metal was challenging. The half shirt went well with the low riding jeans, leaving Christy's midriff bare, and the bellybutton ring finally looked normal, although the tiny Xmen symbol was Christy's idea of a joke, not Mystique's. It wasn't like anyone else would be getting close enough to make out what it was. The thorn tattoo around Christy's upper arm looked real enough and sported the name Sarah. That coupled by Mystique calling her Chris several times during the night should drive home the idea that Sarah was Christy's lover. This form was like a large quiz and that was how Mystique explained it when she forced Christy to work on so many tiny details at once. The skin tight shirt was red and had she actually had to pull it on over her head it would have taken a long time, but since they made their clothes on them it wasn't ripped in the process. She also had a leather dog collar on, adding to a tough image but also Mystique amusement. Christy's hair had to be done the normal way, because all the other details seemed to be her limit and she hadn't been able to hold them and make her hair stay close to her head. That and the fact she also needed real makeup kept this from being a complete success. Still Christy wanted to go tonight, since it was Friday. The longer they put off the practice mission the longer the real mission was put off and Mystique agreed with Christy. This was good enough for now.
Mystique changed into her own form. The men doing the attacking went after younger women, ones in their early twenties. Christy's appearance and id put her in that range now. Mystique shifted into a college co-ed shape. Her hair was shoulder length and black. Her outfit a bit more feminine than Christy's, with a black skirt and flowing red silk shirt. "Well, Butch, we ready to go." Mystique smirked at the look on Christy's face being called that. They had agreed on the harsher look for the woman to make her less recognizable and Mystique went with a more femme form just so she could tease Christy like this. They could have done Christy without makeup and it would have fit her cover better but since she didn't normally wear it they went with lots of it.
Mystique grabbed one of the chains on Christy's outfit. This one ran from her belt loop to her collar. "Come on girl… heal…" From looking at the women being attacked, usually they were rather obviously gay. Christy now would fit with that very well. She also was a poster child for Bondage and Discipline with all the chains.
********
Christy parked the car a few blocks away from their target. They were going to go to a mixed bar, of straight and gay patrons, be very gay and then take a long walk back to their car. This was the area the majority of attacks happened in. The trip back to the car had several areas that would be good ambush spots and Christy's practiced eye was able to find a few while driving. She took a deep breath before moving to open her door.
"Come on Chris, I took a really pretty form for you. Don't act like it's a chore to pretend to be mine for one night." Mystique sounded just a little irritated and Christy suspected hurt.
She didn't bother looking at Mystique as she got out of the car. The further shortening of her name was Mystique's idea. Another butch touch. "I can do this." She smiled just a little at Mystique as she opened the door for her. "Just don't take advantage, okay?" Mystique was nothing if not a trouble maker and Christy could imagine Mystique pushing the limit on their pretend relationship. As Mystique moved past her, coming a bit closer than necessary to get out of the car, Christy whispered to her. "You look nice, but you look better in blue." Mystique took Christy's arm in a rather old fashioned way and squeezed Christy's elbow in appreciation of the comment before they started their journey to the club.
The hold switched to holding hands before they got out of the parking lot, and Christy made sure to give Mystique a few adoring glances for the audience when the streets became more crowded with people going to dance. She found it easier to do than she'd expected. She just made herself believe that this was a date on some level.
********
Mystique reached out and snagged a chain as Christy was turning to go get them their first drinks. Christy could drink as much as she wanted tonight, enough to make people think she was drunk, because of her mutation, but Mystique was going to be watering hers down a bit. This may be a small time mission, but she wanted to be aware enough to evaluate Christy's performance.
"Baby, come here." She gave Christy a flirtatious smile and pulled her closer by the chain on Christy's collar, while moving her hands up the chain until she had a hold of it right underneath the leather around Christy's neck. "Big kiss." Her eyes sparkled with teasing humor. They had to be a believable couple, and Mystique wanted that established to anyone watching early on. Hopefully it would cut down on men hitting on Mystique while they were working. Christy's outfit screamed gay, but Mystique's didn't. When Christy hesitated Mystique pulled her closer and whispered into her ear. "I promise I won't abuse this, but we have to look like a couple." No sooner than she said that Christy pulled her closer and nuzzled her neck before moving to kiss her slowly, passionately. Nice. Sometimes she loved this job. "Whatever you get me at the bar, make it a virgin." She said as they parted just a little. Christy's amused smirk was attractive.
"And how am I supposed to know if they are a virgin?"
"The drink silly." Mystique grinned, but she liked how playful Christy was. This might not be a disaster after all.
After several hours of close dancing, short make out sessions and other things to draw attention to themselves they left for the car. When they got to it without trouble Christy sighed heavily.
"Patience. This type of thing may take a few tries." Mystique could sympathize with Christy's desire to finish something. They got in the car and drove away. "You did very well." Mystique could believe that they were a couple in there. Christy was pretty good at pretending it. She also had been watching out for Christy to make sure there were no accidents, but the detailed outfit hadn't wavered. "We'll go out again tomorrow."
********
"Shit." Christy muttered as she saw the van pull into the driveway. It had been a while since her mother dropped by unannounced and Christy had hoped that habit was gone. Apparently it was just waiting for her kids to leave to resurface.
"What is it?" Shortpack sounded tense and Christy had to remember he was used to things going more wrong than this.
"My mother." She glanced at the small man standing on her dining room table. Well, no hiding he was a mutant. "Could you tell sleeping beauty to make sure she's in disguise if she comes out?" It was doubtful her mother would recognize Mystique, but Christy wasn't going to count on that.
The knock was soft. The woman usually didn't knock hard to start with. Christy took a deep breath and went down the stairs to answer it.
"Haven't seen you in a while." Her mother's double smiled at her. "I thought I'd drop by for a bit, my hair appointment isn't for another two hours." Great, Christy thought with sarcasm.
"Come on in." She kept her voice down. Maybe at least Mystique would sleep through this.
"Oh Christy…" Mystique's voice made Christy tense a bit, but when she turned she saw her in her Raven form. Shortpack came through. "Oh hi." Mystique smiled at her mother and Christy stepped back to let the older woman into the house.
"Mom, this is…" She gave Mystique a helpless look.
"I'm Ronnie." Mystique smiled at her mother and Christy just had a sinking feeling they'd be visiting together. "Christy's new roommate." Christy had a hard enough time keeping up with her charade when it was one on one. How was she going to do it now.
They walked up the stairs and Christy was up there before her mother. Shortpack looked a bit nervous. "Hi, I'm Ryan" He spoke and Christy's mother turned to stare in shock. Christy doubted it was his real name. It was a tense moment before her mother seemed to relax.
"Hi, I'm Kathleen." The woman spoke and Christy relaxed just a little. She noticed the searching look Mystique was giving Christy.
"Well, Kathleen." Mystique's voice, Christy swore she was being tease. "You want something to drink?" Yes. Mystique was planning to visit. Great.
*********
Mystique watched Christy out of the corner of her eye. Obviously momma here doesn't know Christy's a mutant yet. That didn't make a lot of sense since the human woman seemed rather supportive of the kids Christy had taken in and was bragging about Christy doing that. Mystique didn't run into a lot of flatscans that were so accepting, so why hadn't Christy told the woman?
"I remember the first time Christy saw a mutant." Kathleen started to reminise and then turned to Christy. "You remember it don't you. The grocery store." Mystique's eyes traveled to Christy and for a second it looked like Christy was completely confused, but covered it up.
"Mom, really do we need to embarrass me all day?" Christy whined just a little.
Kathleen just shook her head like she was disappointed that Christy didn't realize that yes it was a mother's job to embarrass her all day. Christy's mother turned back to Mystique and the shapeshifter had to smile politely while thinking this was a very boring conversation. "Christy saw this little boy with pointed ears walking next to his mother and she walked right up to him and gave him a big hug. She thought he was an elf. She was only maybe three or four. It was the middle of summer and it was weeks before we stopped hearing about Santa's elves from her." Mystique gritted her teeth subtly, thinking that story was just a little deeming. "Turned out he lived a few blocks away." Kathleen turned towards her daughter. "What was his name?"
Mystique sat up just a little straighter as she watched Christy flounder. "I don't remember."
"Come on, you two were best friends for years." Kathleen pushed. "Everyone called him Elf, but his real name was…" Kathleen seemed to be struggling to remember.
"I don't know." Christy sighed and stood up. "I need to go to the bathroom."
Mystique watched Christy walk away subtly and shared a glance with Shortpack who was mostly just quietly watching the conversations. It was hardly a subtle move, Christy was running away for a little bit.
"Damn, I shouldn't have brought that up." Kathleen watched her daughter head downstairs to her own bathroom rather than using the one upstairs. "I forgot…"
"Forgot?" This was sounding a little more interesting.
"When Christy was in the second grade Elf moved away suddenly. She said it wasn't his fault he didn't say goodbye. I didn't think it still bothered her." Mystique grimaced as she wondered at the boy leaving so suddenly. She tried asking questions, but it was clear that Kathleen didn't know the whole story.
The polite conversation was a bit tense as it took Christy longer than normal to come back upstairs. When she did she had a few DVD's in her hand. "Did you see this one yet?" She set three on the table but handed her mother one. "Annie gave it to me and I haven't had time to watch it." Mystique barely paid attention to the movie cover as she tilted her head and watched the slight smile cross Christy's lips briefly when that worked and the conversation turned to movies and away from mutants and her past.
Mystique had gotten up to work on lunch for them, but she enhanced her hearing so she could continue to listen in. Shortpack had moved back to working on his computer, probably something less important seeing as how Kathleen seemed to have absolutely no secrurity clearance. Mystique was looking forward to asking Christy why her mother didn't know about her being a mutant.
"Christy, I haven't seen you much since Annie moved in." The traditional mom guilt trip was starting and Mystique just smirked as she started to stove. "I was thinking that maybe we could do a family vacation when school gets out."
"I… I really can't." Mystique enhanced her hearing even further, hoping that there were no suddenly loud noises because that always hurt when she did this. Christy didn't sound happy at all that good old mom wanted to spend time with her. "I'm going to New York again when school gets out."
"Visiting the kids?" Kathleen sounded a little disappointed. Mystique couldn't say she blamed her. It sounded like once Christy took in those kids she shut her mother out.
"Yeah." There was a pause in the conversation. "I'm applying to work at that school. Emma thinks I have a good chance of getting it."
"Moving to New York?" Kathleen sounded stunned. "If you don't like your job anymore couldn't you find something closer?"
"It's not the job." Christy sighed and Mystique started working more slowly on lunch as she listened in. "I just really think I could make a difference there. The kids need me and…"
"What about your family. We need you too." Kathleen's voice rose just a little. "You can't just leave like that. It's bad enough Doug moved to California, but this is New York."
"It's not like you'll never see me again." Christy's voice held tension and Mystique debated about tuning down her hearing, because she wondered if they'd actually hear Christy yell. "I'll just be living somewhere else. I want this. I've wanted this for a very long time."
"Then why is this the first I've heard of it." Oh, momma got claws.
"Because I didn't think it was possible, but Emma thinks I have a real shot at it."
"Who is this Emma." Clearly Kathleen didn't like the woman.
"She works at the school." Mystique put the contents of the box in her hand into the boiling water. Christy wasn't saying the rest of it, but Mystique was pretty sure she just figured out who the mysterious girlfriend was. Emma Frost. She shook her head and grinned. If Christy actually managed to tame that woman she'd be impressed. "Teacher and administrator. If she thinks I can get in the chances are good."
"But it's a boarding school. You used to hate it when you didn't have privacy and now you'll move in with a bunch of students and teachers? What about the house?"
"I'll keep the house. I can let friends stay here when I'm gone and I can come home during breaks sometimes."
"Yes, about friends staying here." Kathleen's voice dropped but it was still loud enough for Mystique to hear. "It's dangerous for you to just let anyone you barely know live with you. You got lucky with Annie and the kids."
"Robbie isn't gonna hurt me. I know her."
"Over the Internet. I heard that people lie. You were lucky she was actually a woman."
"Look, I've known Robbie a while. I wasn't worried." Mystique smirked at that bold faced lie. Christy had been worried, or she wouldn't have researched her. "It's nice having her around." Mystique's smirk faded just a little as she wondered if Christy had been honest in that comment. Mystique knew she was pushing Christy really hard and honestly if it were Mystique on the receiving end of this treatment she'd hate her teacher, but Christy didn't. "Ryan's always so busy working we spend time doing things. I think that boy is gonna go blind he's on the computer so much."
"Why a mutant school?" Finally the real question Mystique knew Kathleen must have been thinking. "And so far away. You'll feel like you don't belong. Everyone will be a mutant but you. Will they treat you funny?" Here we go. Mystique moved a little so that she could hear better over the boiling water.
"I visited there and they treat me fine." Mystique gritted her teeth to wait for it. She wanted to see if Kathleen was so open about mutant rights when it was her own daughter.
"And if you don't like it there you won't have a job."
"I can always come back, but I don't think I will. I'm pretty sure I'll like it." Mystique just shook her head in disgust. Christy didn't do it. The opportunity was perfect and she didn't do it.
The pause was long, but it was Christy that spoke first. "There are a lot of different types of mutant powers. I… I'm a mutant."
"What?" Kathleen sounded confused. "But… you should have… How?"
"While I was at the school and the kids were all getting physicals, I just took one too. Part of my power is to avoid detection."
"Could they have made you into a mutant?" The woman sounded suspicious.
"No, doesn't work that way." Christy sighed. "So I'll fit in fine."
"Are you sure they weren't lying to you?" was followed by a gasp.
"Nope, I'm a mutant alright." Mystique risked a glance into the living room and could see Kathleen looked pale. Maybe she should get her a nice stiff drink. Mystique felt like laughing at the stunned expression until she saw the knife sticking through Christy's hand. Maybe it wasn't that her daughter was a mutant that made her pale like that. Christy pulled it back out and offered the hand to her mother. "Healing factor."
"You… You didn't even bleed." Kathleen took her daughter's hand inspecting it for damage. "Does it hurt?"
"Yeah, but it goes away. I didn't want to debate with you about whether or not I was. I am." Christy flexed her hand and took it back.
~Mystique, maybe you should keep that pot from overflowing.~ Shortpack sent to her. ~This is a very private conversation.~
~Well they are having it with us right here.~ She glanced at the small man standing on the dining room table, but she did turn to go turn down the heat on the stove.
It was a quiet lunch, but Mystique didn't miss the way Kathleen still hugged her daughter before leaving. She also didn't miss that Christy quickly disappeared into her room after that and locked the door. Mystique didn't bother her about it being Christy's turn to do the dishes. She just did them and then grabbed a magazine to read for a little while. She'd give Christy a break before sparring lessons.
********
Christy knew she was getting a bit better with the moves that Mystique taught her, but today wasn't the best she'd ever done. Talking to her mother always did this to her. It hurt to see her and when the woman was upset with Christy moving away Christy had been surprised by the anger she'd felt. She managed to keep it to herself, but all she could think about was how her real mother hadn't thought twice about leaving her alone in a far worse situation. Part of her knew that her mother's suicide spared her from true hell, but still Christy almost felt like she was going insane living alone until Tom found her. This version of her mother wasn't alone like that. She had a boyfriend, people at work, and could still call and talk to Doug and Christy. That wasn't alone.
The talk about the boy named Elf also through her off. It was the kind of reminiscing she'd been trying hard to avoid because she had no idea what Kathleen was talking about. It hadn't been in the other Christy's journals. From reading those anyone would think the woman didn't know any mutants and that Annie really would have been the first.
Christy moved to lay on her partly made bed and stare up at the ceiling as she thought.
"Why are your walls almost black?" Mystique's voice at the doorway of her bedroom would have surprised her if Christy wasn't getting used to the fact that Mystique liked interrupting her private time. If she locked the door Mystique took it as a challenge.
"I have no idea." Christy glanced at the dark walls. Her own hadn't been like that. She glanced at Mystique and noticed the thoughtful look on her face as she registered that answer. Christy probably should have made something up, but she didn't want to.
"What did you wake up one day and they were all painted purple?"
"Pretty much." Christy gave Mystique a small smile, her tone had been teasing, but it was close enough to the truth. Mystique's casually crawling onto Christy's bed was a bit of a surprise. Christy watched the blue woman until she was comfortably laying with one head on the other pillow.
"You're mother seemed to take your being a mutant rather well, in spite of your demonstration."
"Yeah, I didn't figure she'd have a problem with it." Christy could feel the eyes on her and moved to lay on her own side so they could talk. Really she had wanted a break, but Mystique wasn't someone you could easily kick out of the room.
"So why didn't you tell her earlier?"
"I didn't know." Christy grimaced. "I started to suspect when I wasn't changing, my hair wasn't growing, my nails, but I wasn't sure." She also didn't want to be too different from the woman whose life she stole, but that didn't matter as much now. She had to build her own life and to do that she'd need to be allowed to change from these people's memories of Christy. "Emma unburied my death. I didn't realize that the blast hit me. That would have been a big clue."
"Death." Mystique whispered that. "Is that why you want a name like that? You hardly seem dead to me."
Christy chuckled a bit humorlessly. "Yeah, that's why you tried to do CPR on me. I seem so alive."
"Well that was a pretty good trick." Mystique smirked at her, "but otherwise you seem fine." The smirk faded and Mystique gave Christy a seriously studying look. "What was it like?"
Christy sighed as she realized what Mystique was asking. This bit she could answer. "Terrifying. I knew it was going to happen and all I could do was wait for it. The fear was worse than when it actually hit me. It happened so fast I didn't feel pain, but I knew when my arms were ripped off, I just didn't feel it. My body must be in at least a dozen pieces that no one will ever find. I was stunned when I realized I was still standing after my body had been ripped away." She gave Mystique a small fake smile. Her death, or as Emma liked to think of it, her change, was scary, but Christy didn't bother telling Mystique that part of her had been glad when the end was coming, thinking the hell was over, because then she'd have to admit to there being a hell, and that would lead to everything she was hiding from the shapeshifter.
"Where were you?" Mystique asked her and Christy couldn't help the tension in her muscles from showing.
"That's part of the classified." She finally answered when she couldn't think of a lie. "Maybe I'll tell you someday."
"Charlie won't be happy with you if you do will he?" Mystique was watching her and Christy wished she could read the expression on her face. It seemed a little tender, but not quite.
"Charles isn't gonna be happy with me anyhow." Christy gave Mystique a searching look. She'd like to tell her about the plans for the box and how Emma was building them a second one, but if they couldn't deliver she didn't want to get Mystique's hopes up. "I think I can trust you a bit more than he wants me to."
"And I thought you were smart." Mystique teased.
********
Christy glanced around the club subtly. She was dressed like she was the night before and they'd cut her hair again as well. That morning she'd woken up to it like it had been before so she wasn't worried about what they did to it. Mystique said it was part of her standard form and wouldn't be as hard to do as switching to other forms, which was why she could do it in her sleep. The trick was going to be learning how not to do that, in case she learns to change forms to other people.
"Do you have to be so good at that?" Christy whispered into Mystique's ear as the shapeshifter was kissing and nibbling on Christy's neck. A slight moan wanted out of her lips and Christy let it because it went with their cover, but it embarrassed her that it wasn't faked.
"Hon, you haven't seen me do anything really interesting yet." Mystique purred into her ear flirtatiously, before capturing Christy's lips in a passionate kiss. They'd been doing this the night before but Christy's nervousness had kept her from feeling much then. Her guilt today didn't stop it. Mystique was very good at what she did. The hum of sexual tension in Christy's body made focusing on work hard.
"I'm gonna lose my focus." She managed to pull her lips away from Mystique's. Her concern over not being able to hold her form gave her the strength.
"That good huh?" Mystique's grin was wicked as she pulled away. "Well, don't worry I think we'll get some action tonight." Christy's eyebrows rose. Mystique's teasing was abusing the agreement. It wasn't supposed to go anywhere. These kisses and everything else were just for the mission. It was the only way Christy could justify it when she was so interested in someone else. This was work. "Some guys look really upset with you getting the girl. One of them had hit on me earlier." Mystique's hand grabbed the chain on Christy's collar again. Christy was beginning to think Mystique liked that thing a bit too much.
They shared a slower dance and Christy trusted Mystique to watch her back since she wasn't facing the people Mystique suspected would cause trouble. After the song ended Christy leaned down to kiss Mystique's neck and disguise her words. "Perhaps a nice stroll to see if they follow?"
"Sounds like a plan." Mystique grabbed that damned chain again and turned to leave. Christy had to follow closely.
********
Mystique had them walk just a little ways before pushing Christy up against the wall to kiss her again. From this position she could watch the club doors and see if anyone followed. The men would also see that the prey they thought they were hunting hadn't gotten away.
Christy's hand was on her shoulder, pulling her closer, trusting that this was part of the mission. Mystique kissed her deeper, risking closing her eyes so she could enjoy it. Yes, this mission came with perks. If Christy were more experienced she might have suggested something less fun like dropping her purse and having to pick up the things that fell out. It would kill time, but it had no style, no finesse, and no fun.
When Mystique opened her eyes she pulled back from Christy and let the poor girl away from the building. Their fans were just coming out of the building. "Eyes sharp and keep looking a bit drunk." Mystique pulled Christy in for another brief kiss before grabbing her hand and leading her down the street, confident that they were going slow enough to be caught. Christy followed obediently, taking her role seriously, by swaying just a little, but not so much as to be too obvious.
Christy pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her, clearly establishing their relationship, but also to probably rub in the fact she had what those bastards wanted. Christy seemed like she understood subtle comments like that and how it might piss off their entourage. Mystique risked a glance back and saw three men. That was what the victims had reported. Shouldn't be too challenging. Maybe she'd let Christy do all the fighting. "There faces should be recognizable when we are done. We want the victims to be able to identify them." She spoke with a smirk on her lips as Christy just nodded that she understood.
"Hey, dykes." Here it goes. Mystique didn't like the area they were in. Just a little further and they'd be out of sight of that shop. So she started to walk a little faster, probably looking like they were afraid of this confrontation. It worked. "Talking to you dykes!" Another man piped in. As soon as they were in a good spot for this conversation she didn't need to tell Christy, the woman turned to face the men immediately.
"My lady is a lesbian. Learn the difference." Christy growled at them. Mystique had to focus so she wouldn't chuckle at the labels being the argument. "Stupid Neanderthals." Christy turned to continue walking away and Mystique moved with her, listening carefully for an attack to their backs.
"You're lady is gonna learn to suck cock and like it." The men were catching up to them. "Lesson's start today."
"Touch her and I'll kill you." Mystique glanced at Christy. That threat sounded rather genuine. Hmm, was Christy feeling all butch and protective just because she had the form?
"Yeah, right." The men came to a stop right in front of them, just out of arm reach. "Gimme your bitch and I won't fuck you up too badly."
"I'm hardly her bitch." Mystique smirked at the men. "She's mine." She teasingly tugged on a chain to make it clear. "Aren't you my Bitch baby?" Mystique chuckled when Christy grimaced at that. It would be hard for Christy to talk her way out of the fight if she couldn't play with terror. Mystique just undermined her ability to do that. "She's got such a cute ass too." She spoke to the men as if she were bragging to a best girlfriend about her lover.
"Damned rug muncher." One man said in disgust to her comment. Amazing how much all bigots sounded alike.
"Don't talk to her like that." Christy seemed to be standing as tall as the little woman could. What was she, maybe five four? Mystique moved to lean against the wall and wait. Christy was trying to goad them into a fight for Mystique's amusement, well actually she was trying to get a chance to knock them out so they could call the cops and get these scum arrested. Mystique's amusement was just going to be a side effect. Christy looked like a cute little butch, but not really scary, even with the chains. Her face was just too feminine to pull it off.
The talk was boring, insults back and forth. It wasn't until one man reached for her that Christy escalated it by hitting him. A nice firm kick to the knee. At that it started. Mystique moved back out of the way as much as possible, but kept her eye on the men to make sure they didn't leave. They could have tranq'd them. Shortpack wanted them to tranq the men, but Christy needed practice fighting. Her aim with a gun was fine, but her hand to hand skills weren't.
"Fuck!" Christy new sparring buddy yelled when he got a firm kick to the crotch. Men should really learn to block those kinds of kicks better.
One man came at Christy with a knife and Mystique pushed off from her perch for a moment before remembering Christy's little example for her mother earlier. He wouldn't kill her. The knife slashed down on Christy's arm, it looked like it would go bone deep. Christy hit him hard, tossing him into the wall, before grabbing the hand with the knife and slamming it against the wall again to make him drop it.
At that point Mystique saw thug number three coming up behind Christy. No one was paying her any attention and she was supposedly the prize these men came to claim. Well, no reason for Christy to have all the fun. Mystique leapt at lucky number three and hit him hard across the face. These were common thugs and it only took two more hits to knock him out. Thug number one was rolling on the ground still, cupping his damaged balls.
"Shit." Christy muttered as her man slammed her against the wall, but she kicked up at him. Damn, missed the jewels. Mystique pulled out some restraints that she'd had hidden in a pocket and tied up her guy while watching Christy get the shit beat out of her. Looks like at least one of these thugs actually had fighting lessons. In the end it was Christy's losing concentration that gave her the edge she needed. When Christy's clothes disappeared he was stunned and Christy managed to land a few well placed kicks. Oh, naked fighting women… that's a pretty sight. Mystique hit him from behind to put him down, a bit proud that Christy turned her problem into an advantage like that, but kicking with bare feet didn't hold the same punch as her army boots, and Mystique had switched to her true form to do that.
"Come here. Let me show you how to tie them up." Mystique ignored that Christy was working on trying to get her clothes up and walked to Mr. Balls in Hand. Christy managed to get dressed again and watched as Mystique showed her how to tie the men so they couldn't move. It included their legs. Christy tied up the last man and Mystique double checked her work like a good little teacher. Not too bad. She just had to tighten a few things.
Mr. Balls in Hand managed to squeak out a question on when they were getting ready to leave, after Mystique called the police. "Who are you?"
Christy's smirk was wicked. "Demise." That's all she said as she turned to leave. Well, guess she picked a name, Mystique thought, fully aware that it was the one she'd suggested. Boy, she got all the luck. Maybe Charles would send all his new Xmen to Mystique to name. She smirked as she kicked the man who had stopped rocking in pain before leaving. Demise… a little darker than Charles would like. Of course Mystique was thinking Christy herself was probably darker than Charles would like. That must be why she liked the girl.
********