Author's Notes: X-men: Evolution, Prada, Gucci, and Vogue not mine. I don't know when the heck Jean's birthday is, I just made it up. I'd just like you to know that this chapter is a bit longer than usual.
Unforgiven, Unforgotten
By: Nakamura Michiyo
Chapter 4: All Things Free
"Where is she?" Jean grumbled, looking at her watch.
"Who?" Tabitha asked.
"Mystique!" Jean threw her hands up, frustrated. "We're supposed to be setting out for a shopping trip that the professor forced me to go to!"
"Well" Tabitha shrugged. "At least you have his credit card."
"You're right" Jean said thoughtfully. "I'm going to check on the woman and get to the mall before it closes."
Mystique groaned as somebody hit her head with a pillow.
"What?" she mumbled, going back to sleep before hearing Jean's answer.
She was harshly brought back to reality again when someone shook her.
"Ever heard of knocking?" Mystique sat up her bed, rubbing her eyes.
"We're supposed to be going to the Bayville mall in half an hour and you're still in your pajamas" Jean complained.
"Hmm?" Mystique said, yawning and heading for the bathroom. "No problem."
Jean waited impatiently for five minutes before Raven opened the door, steam billowing out. She took one look at Mystique and groaned.
"What are you supposed to be wearing?" Jean said, gesturing at her robe.
"Do you have a fashion magazine or something?" Raven flopped back to her bed.
"You don't know who you're talking to" Jean fell silent for a moment before a ton of magazines floated in the room and dropped to the bed.
"Interesting" Raven took the latest issue of Vogue from the pile.
She leafed through a couple of pages before she turned to Jean and showed her the picture.
"How is this?" Mystique asked thoughtfully, pointing at a Prada creation.
"It's okay" Jean said slowly. "But it could be better."
She got the magazine from Mystique and turned the pages until she found what she wanted.
"How about this?" Jean turned the magazine towards Raven.
"It's fine" Mystique said, frowning at the red, silk shirt that showed off one shoulder and the white Capri pants.
Jean sighed. "You don't like it."
"I do" Raven said. "I'm just seeing how I can change into those clothes."
"I didn't think it was possible" Jean shrugged.
"Darling" Mystique grinned. "Anything's possible."
She was wearing the Gucci a few seconds later.
Jean raised her eyebrows. "Impressive. But can you change the color of your skin?"
Mystique scoffed. "Of course."
She paused for a moment, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Since we're probably meeting some people you know, I'm going to be your long lost aunt" Mystique said matter-of-factly.
Jean didn't say anything, waiting for Raven's explanation.
"So we won't arouse suspicion" Mystique said impatiently.
"I see" Jean said.
"I'll be taking your skin color" Raven looked at her. "And your eyes."
She quickly changed her physical features.
"What do you think?" Mystique asked her.
Jean bit her lip. Raven looked more like her cousin than her aunt.
"What?" Mystique turned to her.
"Nothing" Jean said quickly. "You look okay."
"Well then" Raven said. "What are you waiting for? Let's go."
"Wait" Jean said, stopping her before she went out the door. "Aren't you putting on makeup?"
"And hide my natural beauty?" Mystique grinned. "No thanks."
"Did you remember to bring your wallet?"
"No way will I spend my money on this trip" Mystique grinned even wider, holding up her hand to reveal a little plastic thing. "Charles's credit card."
Jean nodded as if it explained everything.
When they went down, they found the all the X-men in front of the television, watching General Hospital.
"Scott" Jean called out. "We're taking your car."
He mumbled something like "sure, whatever" and tossed her the keys.
"Don't forget to tape it for me" Jean reminded them, and they all nodded without tearing their eyes away from the screen.
The shopping trip surprisingly went along well, with them arguing only a few times, say, a hundred. It actually went quite uneventfully, until their last stop that is. They just had enough before the professor's credit cards went over the limit to buy a couple more clothes.
"Well, where do you wanna go?" Jean tapped her foot with annoyance.
"We devoured all the shops in this mall…" Mystique thought for a moment. "I know a place just near here. C'mon."
They arrived at the parking lot within five minutes, gladly dumping their shopping bags in the back, sending a prayer to God that the tires won't deflate from the load.
"I'm driving" Raven said, holding her hand out for the keys.
"Why should I let you drive?" Jean asked her. "I don't even know if you have a license."
"Just give it to me, will you?" Mystique snatched the keys from Jean and started the engine.
"Hey!" Jean shouted, but didn't do anything.
"Glad you know your place" Raven said before driving away.
They arrived in a small store just a few blocks from the mansion, and Mystique gunned the engine, getting out. Jean followed Raven inside, marveling at the selection of clothes they had.
"How come I have never seen this place before?" Jean asked, picking up a blouse.
"You're just not looking hard enough" Mystique said.
Jean started getting everything off the racks and heading for the fitting room. She poked her head out before locking it.
"Aren't you going to buy anything?" Jean asked.
"Just go ahead" Mystique told her. "I'll be right here."
Jean emerged from the door and handed the saleslady everything, giving her the professor's credit card. She saw Raven waiting for her outside, with only a single bag in her hand.
"That's all you're buying?" Jean raised an eyebrow at her.
"Believe me; this thing I'm holding took all the money the credit card had left" Mystique said.
Jean and Raven waited until the saleslady handed Jean back her purchases. Mystique quickly headed out the door, the sky above her turning purple, indicating nightfall. Jean could tell that something was wrong, but she didn't bother saying anything out loud.
Jean opened the lights to her room, exhausted. She was ready to fall on her bed, but something else was already there. She cautiously walked towards it, and immediately recognized what it was. It was the bag that Mystique carried with her earlier. She carefully opened it, and her breath caught as the most beautiful top fell into her hands. It was light blue and long-sleeved, but slightly off-the-shoulder. Two butterflies were embroidered on the lower right corner, hovering above a rose. A she held it up for a closer look, a note fell out. She read it, squinting on the small handwriting.
Knew you couldn't resist looking. Sadly, this is not for you.
Can you please give this to Rogue, and tell her that she
needs to wear more color, because black doesn't suit her.
I did give you a little something for your trouble, just look a
little closer in the bag.
-Mystique
P.S. Don't tell Rogue that it's from me. Tell her that it's
consolation prize for Scott or something.
Jean blushed at the last part, but nevertheless looked inside the bag, seeing a small box in the corner. She took it out and opened it, where she brought out a simple silver bracelet with three crystals around it. She fingered it, her eye catching a smaller note that flew out.
For your birthday.
Jean felt tears fill her eyes, but she wiped them away. She didn't know how Mystique found out the date of her birthday, but all she was thinking about was that maybe she wasn't so bad after all.
