Author's note: Thank you to kmj1989 and Annastesia LaFayette for the reviews! I won't lie, today's chapter is a little bit of filler, but I think it will be enjoyable to any Quicksilver fans out there. There's also a couple call backs to events to The Beast Within, so I hope you guys remember them! Look out for some action next chapter, but I hope you enjoy this bit of character development in the mean time. Thank you to everyone who reads this, and extra thanks to those who review!

The Olive Branch

Hank hears the ladies return from their shopping excursion but refrains from seeking Roxanne out immediately. Surely she'll want time to put away her new purchases and figure out how to organize her closet and such? He surmises that his presence would be unwelcome during that process.

He feels very proud of himself for curbing his own desire to constantly be in Roxanne's company. He doesn't want to come on too strong, or seem overbearing and ruin what could grow between them. Hank wants to give her time to adjust to life at Xavier's without him being in the way, but also wants to make sure she knows he's here for her if she needs him.

Hopefully without seeming clingy.

It's a fine balance, one that he's not sure he can manage.

He's not exactly sure where things stand in regards to Roxanne and himself. He does know there's an undeniable, mutual attraction between them, a bond that is much stronger than one would expect between people who have only known each other a couple of days. The feral side of him certainly took a shining to Roxanne, though Hank balks at the notion of there being some sort of mystical attachment existing between them, the way Beast believed while he had control of their shared psyche.

Hank is unsure of how to proceed with this budding connection- and it definitely doesn't help that he's a complete novice about romantic relationships, even at the age of thirty-two. He's afraid of frightening her off with the intensity of his feelings for her, of smothering Roxanne at a time when she most likely needs space after everything that's happened to her. After all, her entire life just got turned upside down. He doesn't want to ruin everything by rushing her, or doing anything that could hurt her at such a vulnerable time.

That being said, when she knocks on his bedroom door he practically trips all over himself to answer it.

"Wow," he breathes, as soon as he catches sight of the beauty on the other side. Roxanne is wearing a cream-colored sweater dress that shows off her slender figure to perfection, along with knee-high boots that hug her long, graceful legs. "Roxanne, you look-"

"Very unlike myself?"

Hank frowns as he ushers her inside and shuts the door. Despite the teasing tone, he detects an underlying edge in her voice. "Your clothes are certainly different," he agrees, because he's only seen her in jeans and t-shirts before. "But you're as beautiful as ever."

Roxanne casts her eyes down. "Thanks," she says shyly.

"Did you have fun with the girls?" he asks tentatively.

"They all seem very nice," she replies after a slight pause. Hank wonders if she meant to say something else, but decides to let it pass without comment. "I won't lie, shopping isn't my thing- unless it's for books, that is."

Hank grins. "We have that in common," he tells her. He checks his watch and notes the time. "They're serving dinner downstairs, if you're interested."

"Yes, please."

He offers her his arm, and the smile she gives him as she slips her little hand through the crook of his elbow almost makes him run face-first into the door.

They go downstairs to the cafeteria together, where they make up plates and then take seats across from each other at one of the tables.

Once seated, Roxanne bows her head silently for several moments. Hank waits patiently, because he knows she's most likely reciting the same sort of blessings Gramps said before the meals they shared back in Alaska. He's not particularly religious, but he also knows that performing this ritual probably helps Roxanne feel closer to what she's lost.

She gives him a grateful smile when she looks up again. "Amen," she pronounces, with a cheeky grin.

Hank chuckles, immediately understanding the reference. "I thought we don't-"

A silver-haired speedster suddenly materializes in the chair on Roxanne's left, along with a plate piled high with food. "Hey guys," Peter says cheerfully. "Can I sit with you?"

Roxanne jumps slightly, startled by the newcomer's sudden appearance.

Hank gives her a sympathetic look. "You get used to that," he assures her. And then, "hello, Peter. And technically, you already are sitting with us."

Peter grins and sticks a French fry in his mouth. "Yeah, but I figured it would be polite to ask."

"Pretty sure you got that backwards," Roxanne notes, with a laugh.

He shrugs, with another charming grin. "I do that sometimes."

She glances at Hank, who shrugs apologetically. This makes her laugh again. "We would love for you to sit with us, Peter," she tells him.

The two ferals tuck into their food, while Peter presumably does the same. It's rather hard to tell, considering how large chunks of food seem to disappear without warning from his plate in irregular intervals. He's finished his meal long before his dining companions are even halfway through their food.

"So what do you think of Xavier's so far?" the speedster asks.

Roxanne hurries to swallow. "What I've seen so far is nice," she replies diplomatically. "Maybe too nice, actually. I'm afraid I'm going to break something."

Peter laughs. "I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you," he assures her. "If I can make it here, anyone can."

"Hank mentioned that you teach PE?"

"Yup," Peter says, puffing up with a little bit of pride. "I like it here. Before this I was living in my mom's basement, so it's nice to not be a loser anymore."

She laughs.

Peter can't help noticing Hank's reaction to the way Roxanne laughs. The nerdy scientist lights up like a daisy, all bright eyes and goofy smiles. The dude obviously has it bad for the girl already.

That's good for him, Peter thinks. For a while there Hank was all hung up on Mystique, which Peter thought was super weird. For one thing, Hank is really nice (if incredibly dorky) and ridiculously smart, and Mystique is- to put it plainly- a stone cold bitch. It made no sense, Hank liking her. Sure, she's pretty sexy in her blue form, and she can turn into whatever the hell she wants, but looks can only go so far. Especially for a guy like Hank. Peter's glad the dude's completely over her and willing to speak up when she starts being bitchy, even when it gets himself in trouble.

Hank's a good guy, and he deserves to be happy. Good on him if he can land a chick as hot as Roxanne.

Because she's hot- really hot. And only twenty-three years old. And apparently super smart on top of all that, along with being really nice so far. With that combination she's way out of Hank's league.

Hopefully the dork doesn't blow it.

"I heard the Professor say that you were going to teach chemistry," Peter comments.

Roxanne nods. "That's the plan," she agrees. "Hopefully I do alright at it."

"You're going to be great, Roxanne," Hank assures her. "If you'd like you can sit in on some of my classes tomorrow to get a feel for it."

She smiles at him, revealing her dainty little fangs. "I'd like that, thank you."

"Are you going to be an X-Man?" the speedster asks.

"I don't know," she admits. "I'm not sure I know how to fight."

"But we can teach you," Peter tells her. "Right, Hank?"

"We can, but only if that's what Roxanne wants," Hank replies carefully. "Don't feel obligated, Roxanne. If that's not something you see yourself doing, so be it."

"I do, it's just-"

Something over Peter's shoulder catches her eye. She cuts herself off and purses her lips.

He glances over to see that Mystique just walked into the cafeteria. The shapeshifter gives their table a disdainful look and stalks off to get herself some food.

Well that explains a lot.

Peter turns back to his dining companions. "Ugh."

Hank frowns at him. "What happened in Africa, Peter?"

"We got the job done, if that's what you're asking," the speedster replies. "But we were all- still are- pretty pissed that she went to the Professor to get you taken out of the field, and she knows it. So she was even lovelier than usual, if you know what I mean. It got pretty tense."

"Why would she do something like that?" Roxanne wonders aloud. "What did Hank do?"

"He told her off for being such an arrogant bitch to all of us," Peter explains proudly.

"Those were not the words I used," Hank amends hastily.

Peter waves this off. "It's what you meant, though. You're my hero for that, just so you know," he says. "She deserved worse than that, trust me."

The redhead looks thoughtful. "Is she- does she take a while to warm up to new people?" she asks.

The speedster snorts and shakes his head. "That's what I'm trying to tell you, Roxanne- she doesn't warm up, to anyone. I always kinda get the vibe that she hates being here."

Hank is motionless and tense, like he wants to agree or maybe even argue but is trying to remain neutral. Peter thinks his silence speaks volumes, though.

"That sounds... that sounds really lonely," Roxanne observes. "I feel bad for her."

"You shouldn't," Peter replies. He's usually pretty easygoing, but he still hasn't forgiven Mystique for blabbing to everyone about Erik Lensherr being his dad. Nothing like everyone knowing your dad helped a crazy blue guy try to destroy the world at one point, even if he tried to fix it afterwards. And before that Erik tried to kill President Nixon, so really, his track record is pretty terrible. And now basically everybody knows that Peter is the guy's son except for Erik himself. "She-"

"-Is headed this way," Hank murmurs quietly, with a slight nod of his head.

Sure enough, Mystique is making a beeline towards their table.

"Yikes," Peter mutters. He stands up with his empty plate. "Nice talking to you guys. Good luck, I'm out."

Roxanne snorts back laughter as the young man zips away, clearly finding his cowardice- a stark contrast to his trash-talking- somewhat amusing.

Raven reaches their table a moment later. The blue woman's sour expression gives the impression that she just stepped in dog excrement.

"Where'd Peter go?" she demands, without preamble.

"I'm not sure," Hank replies calmly. "He didn't say. Perhaps it was urgent, though."

Raven snorts in disbelief. "Well there's a team meeting after dinner. Eight o'clock, in the Danger Room."

"Am I invited, or are you only telling me this to pass on the message?" he asks. He feels it's a valid question, all things considered.

She scowls. "You're invited," she says, though her reluctance is obvious. Her gaze flits over to Roxanne, watching silently.

"Ok. I'll be there," Hank assures her.

Raven turns to go, but before she can step away Roxanne speaks up. "Would you like to sit with us, Mystique?"

Hank gives the feral woman a disbelieving look- Raven is one of the last inmates of the mansion he would choose as a dinner companion.

The shapeshifter doesn't answer except by giving Roxanne a cold, condescending glare.

However, if her intention is to intimidate Roxanne she completely fails. The feral woman meets her dirty look with a carefully composed grin, clearly unfazed by Raven's frostiness. She's determined to offer an olive branch.

Raven breaks first. She turns around and walks away without deigning to reply.

Roxanne wilts slightly over the obvious rejection once her back is turned. Hank can't help adoring her even more for trying to reach out to the painfully aloof shapeshifter, though he knows her kindly overtures are doomed to failure.

"It's not you, Roxanne," he assures the feral woman. "Like Peter said- it's just her way."

She nods disconsolately and goes back to picking at her dinner for a few minutes. Half of her meal is still on her plate when she sets down her knife and fork.

"You're done?" Hank asks doubtfully.

Roxanne nods.

He bites back a comment, though he's sure his concern is evident in his expression.

It's almost time for the team meeting, anyway.