Sci-Fi-Reader: It indeed has meaning to it, lol. Thank you for capitalising it! And that's a really old joke, you should know better! Lol.

CalliopeMused: Well our current Raven wears clothes (although baggy ones because they irritate her scales) since her arms are covered he would only feel scales of he touch her face (although her mouth and neck are smooth – just looking at a picture now) or her hands. The underside of which are smooth. To your review; I'm glad you like the relationship, to me it makes perfect sense that Raven would want to be friends, or even something more, with a blind mutant. He cannot see her for what she really is.

Maid of the Mer: Lol, no, you are obsessed with muffins.

Chapter 20

There was a fire in her that she had never felt before. And all because of this mutation. It had changed her in some many ways, inside and out. Normally one to shy away from strenuous activities, it had come as a shock to Raven in the park when she fought off the police. But now she had accepted this development of energy and flexibility, and promised to work with it and increase the newfound strength. Charles was right, times were changing, and she needed to accommodate.

The gym hall was vacant of any classes this morning, and after weeks of deliberation, Raven had decided to make use of its emptiness and begin to try and train herself up. If she ever needed to defend herself again, it would certainly come in useful. One of the main reasons as to why Raven had been so hesitant to exercise was that it required clothing that firstly wasn't baggy. It also required less clothing. Raven had regarded the training outfits with horror. Sleeveless vests were folded in their cupboards, some even cropped. When Storm had helped her pick an outfit, Raven regarded herself in the mirror with a frown. Whilst the navy jogging bottoms covered her well, the white vest top left her arms in clear view and it had taken Raven a while to exit the changing rooms in revulsion of her body.

But that was a good number of weeks ago, and since Raven had diligently trained herself several times a week, sometimes accompanied by Storm. Once, Charles dropped by for a visit and informed a delighted Raven she possessed supreme fighting abilities that would benefit her enormously in the future.

Currently, Raven was in the gym alone, the only sounds being the grunts as she heartily attacked a large hanging punch bag with her feet. The slaps of her kicks to the stuffed rubber echoed around the large gym that was bathed in sunlight from the long row of tall windows that looked out onto the pristine lawns. Raven dropped back from the punch bag, gasping softly as she swiped slick strands of hair from her eyes. But Raven wasn't entirely alone anymore. The double doorsof the gym were quietly pushed open as Scott navigated himself in, holding the door as he moved into the room.

To the creak of the door, Raven spun round to watch Scott walk cautiously across the centre of the hall, "Raven?" he said quietly, "Storm told me you were in here. I could hear the sounds of something being attacked so I think she was right," he made a slow grin.

With still faintly panting breaths, Raven returned the grin, turning from the punch bag, "Yeah, she was right," agreed Raven, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," said Scott simply, shaking his head to dismiss her question, "Just wondered where you were." He was now directly in front of her now, and some of her earlier panic flitted through her stomach. He normally placed his hand on her arm so he knew where she was.

"Have you had lunch yet?" asked Raven, taking a small step back from him.

Scott shook his head, "No, that's what I was going to ask you about actually. Want to freshen up then go to the kitchens?"

"Oh, alright," Raven quickly replied, "Yeah, give me a moment though to grab my clothes. I'll need a quick shower too." Raven purposely placed the smooth surface on her palm on his arm as she guided him with her so he would not touch her first. Upon reaching the changing rooms, Raven quickly disappeared inside to shower and change into her usual baggy clothing, and it didn't take long for her to emerge in the corridor again. She felt a lot less frightened now, for her large clothing covered her well. A long sleeved shirt of white cotton and baggy black jeans. Both of these items of clothing fit loosely as to not irritate her skin texture.

Scott was dutifully waiting for her outside the changing rooms, leaning against the wall with his hands in his jean pockets as his bowed head faced the floor. The sound of the closing door signalled Raven's return and Scott raised his head to turn his face towards her. As usual, he held a smile for her, the one that made Raven's stomach flutter. "Raven?"

There went her stomach again, "Yeah?"

"Well, I don't know if the Professor has told you, or even Erik, but they think they may be able to make me see again.. Y'know, open my eyes without blasting everything to oblivion," he made a wry smile.

This was certainly news to Raven, "Make you see again?" she repeated, sounding a little surprised, "But how?" she quickly demanded. She could feel the newly built up fragments of her world begin to crumble. A Scott with vision meant a hated Raven. He would never see her the same again.

"I didn't really understand most of it, but apparently there is a special liquid they can solidify. Ruby Quartz, and it can withstand the pressure of the – "

Raven roughly cut through his explanation. She didn't care. All she cared about was that the day Scott could see would be the day Raven would lose him. To interrupt him, her hands had grabbed him by the upper arms. This was not the only thing silencing him, for Raven broke through her barrier of fear, and consideration for others, as she roughly moved against him and pressed her lips against his without any words of warning. Scott was pinned back against the wall, trapped beneath her strong hold. It didn't take eyes to realise what was happening. But whilst Raven had expected him to retort angrily and push her away, she was relieved and greedily satisfied to feel his still lips close about hers with a warmth she had only dreamed about.

She released her grip on his arms to feel them instead hold her gently. The smoothness of her lips and chin were as supple as a normal human's, perhaps even softer, it was only the scales Raven didn't want Scott to feel, and they facially began further up her features. But Scott's image of Raven was nothing like the reality, and it was nothing but downright selfish for Raven to not tell the truth. She used his blindness to her advantage, to mould him as she fed her lies to make him fall for her the way she fell for him.

Scott's hold around her waist did notfeel the scales that navigated enchantingly down her back; the soft material disguised all hidden abnormalities. But Scott's hands were drifting, almost subconsciously, along the bottom of her shirt, dangerously close to where a bit of her exposed stomach was revealed from her pull of her raised arms about the man's next. She felt his thumb brush along her flesh, perilously alongside the trail of scales from her navel. The touch alerted her like a shock of electricity, and Raven shot back from Scott like he had just become a live voltage himself.

Scott immediately looked bewildered, and his hands groped the empty air in front of him to feel where his companion had gone, "Raven?" he murmured, sounding worried. But Raven was pinned back against the wall opposite him, burning blood coursing through her veins as panic took over her like a venom. Her eyes were wide and frightened, her chest heaved for breaths as though she had just run miles. That had been a very near miss. It could have brought her façade crashing down. "I'm – I'm sorry!"

Footsteps sounded around the corner, and Raven span her head to stare with a terrified expression to see Erik turn the corner, the smile of noticing Raven fall as he watched her. He looked slowly to Scott before back to Raven. He then spoke in tones Raven had never heard before. Commanding yet powerfully enriching, "Raven. Come with me." It was an order, not a request.

Goodness me! Raven is indeed being very selfish now. She's turing into the bitch we know and love! Review!