Aw, thanks for the reviews. Very much appreciated! This chapter has a strong turning point, so keen eyes everyone!

Chapter 27

Raven stood quietly in front of Charles's office door, yet to enter. She had a feeling that Charles knew of the previous night. At least something about it because he didn't sound pleased when he telepathically contacted her. Raven clenched her fists gently. So what if he knew. She couldn't help how she felt. True, she was surprised at her own daring, but it had been worth it. But if Charles knew, surely he would tell Scott?

"Come in, Raven," called Charles's voice through the door. Clearly he knew she was hesitating entry. Raven slowly opened the door, entering with her head bowed and eyes on the floor. She felt like she was some misbehaved child who was about to get reprimanded. Charles was sat behind his desk, looking as imposing and authoritative as the day Raven first met him. "Come and sit down."

Slowly, Raven walked across the plush Persian rug in the centre of the office, moving gradually towards his desk. She took a seat in one of the luxurious chairs in front of his desk looking up slowly to regard his face with a defiant gleam in her eyes.

"I was surprised to find that you had spent the night in Cyclops's room," said Charles in a polite voice, "I do a general check of the grounds when I wake to ensure everyone is safe. You may tell me to mind my own business, but I am merely curious as to how he will let you stay in his room and yet not give you a second glance in passing. Which, of course, he shouldn't do."

Prying git.. thought Raven moodily, not particularly bothered if he picked it up.

But then Charles's voice went rather stern, "However," he said with a pause, "why is it that you hold memories of staying with Scott, yet he holds memories of staying with Jean. Obviously I cannot visually see the situation without entering your mind, which I assume you would not agree to. But it is most peculiar.."

Raven resolutely said nothing.

"But then also, there is something different about you, Raven. And I mean in here.." he tapped his temple with his middle finger slowly. "Have your powers progressed? Please do not refrain from telling me. It is important I know so I can help you as you stay here."

There was no point in lying to him, he would sense it. Slowly, Raven nodded, "A little," she said vaguely.

"Please go on," said Charles with an expression of polite interest.

Why should I tell him? Thought Raven bitterly. But it was too late now. "I can change my appearance at will," she said dully, "I found out the day Scott was able to see again.. When I ran out of the office."

"Naturally, trauma and stress at extreme levels can trigger further mutations, especially in a mind so delicate."

"I'm not weak!" Raven suddenly snarled, her fists quickly clenching.

"On the contrary, Raven, you are a strong individual, but you have had a difficult past that has effected your mind in ways it doesn't in others who haven't had such experiences." Charles leant forward slowly, "Would you care to show me?"

Raven looked up to him slowly, she had expected him to shout at her, to ask her why she had not told him of this earlier. It was clear he was not entirely sure of the events that occurred last night. She nodded in response, and once more, the crackling sounded from her back and spread as her blue skin peeled in little pieces. Slowly her piercing yellow eyes transformed into a sparkling cobalt blue. Charles straightened in his char, staring at Raven who now was an exact replica of the Professor, even wearing the same suit he had on now.

"Amazing," he whispered quietly, "This is like nothing I have ever seen before. What an extraordinary development."

"It was an accident that I discovered it," murmured Raven, causing Charles to start, for she replied in his own gentle voice.

"Is it just visual? Or do you somehow manage to have the powers too?"

"Just my appearance."

Charles leant back in his chair slowly, studying Raven with interest in his bright eyes, "Incredible," he commented quietly.

"Professor?" the door to his office had opened and Scott had stuck his head round the door. He took a quick glance around the office to see two Charles Xavier's looking at him! Scott faltered, pushing the door further open as he stared at them. "Er.." he said helplessly as he looked between the two. Raven felt her heart sink. He would question, and Raven would have to come clean about her extended mutation. Raven quickly looked back at Charles staring at him with desperation. But Charles was suddenly looking at Raven in disbelief like he had only just realised something. Charles slowly looked towards Scott then back to Raven, who was still sat in Charles's form.

"No.." he said quietly, "You did not do that did you, last night?" She could feel her head suddenly pulsing, and knew he was taking a very brief scan of her emotions.

Raven bowed her head slowly.

"Professor?" said Scott again, still looking between the two.

"Change back," said Charles in a cool voice. He was staring at her with anger flickering in his piercing eyes. Reluctantly, Raven let the skin of the form be dissolved away to reveal her blue skinned body once more.

Scott looked all the more alarmed, "Raven?"

"I didn't mean to do it," whispered Raven quietly to Charles, "It just.. happened," but she knew how pathetic her excuse sounded.

"Tell him," said Charles quietly no compassion in his voice now. It was full of great commanding.

Raven slowly looked round to Scott, seeing his surprised face looking down at her as he walked over. "What is it?" he asked her quietly.

Raven glanced back to Charles once more before back to Scott, "Last night.." she said, in a voice barely above a whisper, "it wasn't Jean in your room.. It was me."

"Show him," Charles spoke.

Reluctantly, Raven bowed her head, crackling of her skin sounding once more as trails of pale flesh were revealed as her blue skin peeled away. Where Raven had been sat, was Jean. Scott stepped back, staring at her in alarm and confusion. "Last night?" he said fearfully, "You were.. It was you? Before or after I went inside my room?"

"After," said Raven remorsefully.

"That is.. That's just.." Scott stared at her, speaking in a trembling tone, "That is disgusting.. How could you lie to me again!"

"I won't apologise!" cried Raven as she stood up, Jean's form disappearing as Raven rose as her usual self, "You don't understand how I feel about you!"

"You feel nothing for me, not to treat me like that. To lie and use me like that!"

"Get out of my way!" cried Raven as she pushed past him, feeling her head pounding horribly as such emotions tumbled around her head. "I hate it here! I hate everyone here! I would be better dying in my father's hands than coming here! GET OFF ME!" she shrieked as Scott moved to stop her leaving. Scott jerked back from her in alarm as she raised her voice.

Raven roughly stepped around him, stalking out of the office with her chest heaving for breath. She couldn't see where she was going, blindly walking with angry burning tears in her eyes. All of a sudden, she barged into something hard and she looked up accusing to glare at the surprised face of Erik, "Raven?"

"Don't," she said, shaking her head, "I'm going, I hate this place!"

"You're leaving? But where are you going to go? You cannot go out in the street like this, my dear." He gently gestured her face, at her skin, wiping a falling tear, "Not with the humans around."

"I know," said Raven pitifully. She seemed to have forgotten her new mutation.

Erik then looked up slowly, looking around the corridor suspiciously before he took her arm and pulled her into the next corridor where there were no classrooms doors leading off anywhere. "I can help you, Raven," he whispered quietly, "For a long time I have considered cutting my ties here and leaving to try and help mutants myself. They go about things the wrong way here. Trying to help mutants and regain peace with humans. It's never going to happen." He gently wiped another tear from her face, "It is your arrival that made me want to try harder, how humans have treated you. How appalling it is. People like you and I are superior to mere humans. You should not hide yourself away, Raven. You should not be fearful of what you are or what you look like."

Raven stared up at him, her angry eyes glistening with tears, "Professor Xavier doesn't seem to be aware of the Government and what they are planning. How they hate people like us." She gave a quiet sniff as she watched him desperately, "Please help me."

"I'm aware, my dear," said Erik quietly, "And you and I are going to do something about it. Go to your room, Raven. Gather what you can. We'll leave this place immediately." And he swept away from her, striding down the corridor with the same pride in his walk he had when Raven first met him in the library. A confidence superior to Charles, an emanating power that assured he could not and would not ever fail.

As Raven watched him walk away, it was then that she decided where her loyalties lied. With a man who could promise her safety, shield her from people like Scott, the humans, and all those demons that haunted her here. His words had sparked a new fire inside her. 'You should not hide yourself away, Raven. You should not be fearful of what you are or what you look like.' Raven clenched her fists as she spun around and ran upstairs to her room, barging past a surprised looking Storm as she descended the staircase.

"Raven?"

But she never replied.

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