X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Six
Author's Word: Thanks again for the feedback. Everybody have a great weekend and take care!
After listening to Charles' reminder about the rules that followed them right into the outside world, mainly curfew and 'appropriate' physical contact, Hank and Raven headed for the garage. As usual, Raven had been sure to keep eye contact while her brother played the part of a warden but really tuned him out to a merry song in her head. Hank, who still felt the part of an overrated guest in their home, made sure to follow every word.
When they made it to the garage, Raven looked on as Hank picked out the car, trying to get a better feel of his style. He decided on the cherry red Lincoln and the two drove into town with the top down.
As he drove, Hank watched Raven fool around with the radio; it mattered not to him what song she chose as her lush her blew in the breeze. Unsure of how long it had taken his lovely companion to pick out her current ensemble of short black skirt, white button down blouse with a thin leather jacket and dark high heeled boots, Hank himself had taken quite a bit of time during the dressing process. Due to devoting himself to his work and ultimately a cure for his mutation, it had been a couple years since his last dating experience. After much anxiety, he had gone with his present outfit of gray slacks and a light blue sweater with a ivory collared shirt underneath.
The two stopped off for dinner at a small Italian restaurant Hank had spied out on an errand trip a few weeks back. The host brought them to a two-seater near a window.
"I love this place," Raven told Hank as they lifted their menus. "Charles brought me here for a couple birthdays."
"I thought it looked very nice," Hank put forth then really hoped that did not as square to her as it did to him. "I wasn't sure what kind of setting you wanted and- and um, I really wanted this to be special."
"Well, let's see." Raven placed her menu down elegantly then put eyes on him. "We have you, we have me, and pretty soon we'll have food. I'd say that's pretty special but the food is a give or take."
Her words put him at ease and he smiled. "What do you recommend?"
They decided on ordering the same thing; baked chicken with cheese smother spaghetti and an unlimited supply of mouth-watering rolls. After they had their full of dinner, they shared a bowl of chocolate gelato.
Hank paid the check and got their jackets. Soon after, they loaded back into the car and headed for the park not too far away.
Once there, Hank took Raven by the hand and led her towards where the recitation was getting ready to take place. Not that either of them would have become lost, as the crowd was not overly thick but the comforting touch pleased them both. They sat under a tree, listening to pair of performers on the makeshift stage do a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
"I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I will roar you, as 'twere any nightingale." Raven rolled her head up to look at Hank from where she currently snuggled in front of him, resting her right leg on his left. "Sorry. I can really get into this sometimes."
"So super science smart and a literature buff?" Raven surmised. "You're nonstop surprises, Hank McCoy."
Hank gave her a hug from behind. "You're one to talk." Upon her confused expression, he elaborated. "Well, on the surface you're a rich girl who can have whatever she wants but you have a level of warmth and kindness about you that would shock many. Then the way you're able to possess such a strong control over your abilities yet able to step back from all of that and be the vibrant outgoing person you are."
Raven considered his words, clearly pleased by every single one of them. "I think a lot of it has to do with the whole shape-changing deal. I'm flexible because that's who I was born to be. At least I guess."
Hank nodded, giving some thought to her unfathomable response in regards to his own situation.
After the performers dismissed, the audience offered a gentle applause before disbanding. Linking hands again, the young mutants headed back to their vehicle and road home with the top down to block out the chill that had settled in with the evening. They made it back to the mansion with plenty of time to spare so they sat in the grass by the front of the house. Though the moon and stars provided them light, they seemed to find everything under the sun to talk about.
"Do you think I go too easy on Becca?" Hank asked her after the conversation entered into talking about their housemates. "I mean, not paying attention in class, poor work, missing a homework assignment? I'm supposed to be teaching her, not enabling her."
"Hank, you're her brother," Raven emphasized. "You love her like crazy and that was before any of—" she gestured grandly towards the house, "—this even happened. You're rooting for her success. All you want to do is build her up, not tear her down."
Leaning against one of his propped up knees, Hank said, "Charles isn't trying to tear you down, either you know." Despite the dim lighting, he did not miss the unexpected look that flashed across her face. "I'm more than just a lab head. I pick up on things here and there. Raven, I know how restrictive Charles seems with you but he would do anything for you."
"I know he would." Raven shook her head slightly. "That's not the question. I just can't help but wonder if I'm just his obligation while Erik is his new buddy." At Hank's attentive silence, she decided to go on. "I still remember when I went with Charles to find Frankie when Erik couldn't make it. It's like I was interrupting guy time. Maybe I'm stupid but sometimes I think Charles wishes I could permanently transform into a guy so he can have that brother he secretly wants."
Hank hummed thoughtfully but he spoke. "Well, first of all. If you were to permanently transform into a guy, I personally would be extremely disappointed." He got a faint laugh out of her at that. "Second of all, while you're anything but stupid, at the moment you are a little crazy. Charles could never prefer Erik to you. Very few are even capable of preferring Erik over a pack of rabid animals."
Raven stared down into her lap. "Hank…"
Slightly alarmed, he wanted to know, "What?" He reached out, touching her shoulder. "Raven?"
When her eyes came back up, silence spread out like a warm blanket over them. Raven started to lean into him but Hank proved faster and trapped her lips with his own. Ten seconds into the quickly growing kiss, the stars seemed to shine brighter all around the two but that turned out to be the wall lights in the foyer.
Breaking apart from her escort, Raven smiled innocently at Charles who currently stood in the now open doorway leading into their home. "Hi, big brother."
Charles feigned surprise. "Oh, is that you two out here? I thought I heard some commotion. Wanted to make sure everything was all right."
"Everything's groovy," Raven informed him.
"Yes, well," Charles cleared his throat, "it's a tad chilly out here, don't you think?"
Picking up the anvil of a hint, Hank stood. "We should head in."
Raven took the hand he held out to her and got up as well. "Good idea." She started inside first, stopping off just to give Charles a peck on the cheek.
When Hank passed him next, the telepath offered him a reassuring nod, which gave the scientist a much appreciated quiet approval.
Looking on as Raven headed for the kitchen and Hank upstairs, Charles himself returned to the foyer. Erik sat in his usual chair near the chessboard with a book in front of him, having gotten quite bored during Charles' end-of-the-night-interruption mission.
Upon the younger man's return, he asked without looking up, "Everything secure out there?"
"Yes, quite," Charles responded, retaking his own seat. He appeared contemplative, going over his next chess move.
"No inappropriate advances?"
"Oh, no. To the contrary, Hank was nothing short of a gentleman."
Erik turned a page before telling him, "I was actually referring to Raven."
IIIIIII
Peeling off his evening attire in front of the mirror in his bedroom, Hank still could not believe it. The night he had been passionately looking forward to as well as dreading had actually been- dare he say it- a success. Raven had neither stared at his shoes all night, wondering how he managed to stuff the obscene clodhoppers into a pair of loafers, nor had she grown bored of his tastes in dining and entertainment. And that kiss- not even the sudden appearance of Charles could water down the sparks that had sizzled.
When he was down to his pants and white undershirt, Hank heard a light yet somehow pounding knock at his door.
"Just a second." Hank went over and opened the thick wooden entrance only to find a very perturbed individual, clad in his deep blue bathrobe, standing on the other side. "Uh, Frank? Shouldn't you be in bed? It's after eleven."
"So," Frank started, his tone as set and hard as any twelve-year-old boy could ever hope to muster, "you think she's your girl now. Well, I got news for you, buddy. I'm still here. I'm always here." He jabbed a finger towards Hank's stomach. "And you better make her happy. Because if you don't, I know where you live- right down the hall… from me."
Not speaking until the determined kid finished his tirade, Hank responded, "I see. Is there anything else I should know?"
"One more thing," Frank stated before asking, "Can you help me with my science report? I'm stuck on chapter four."
"First thing tomorrow," Hank replied automatically.
"You're out of sight, Hank."
They both looked over as Alex stepped inside. "Go change your batteries, flashlight. Me and Hank need to talk about man stuff."
Frank sneered at him. "Aren't you one man short?"
"We're gonna be one annoying twerp short if you don't beat it," Alex retorted.
Mimicking Alex's threat slyly, Frank left to return to his own room.
Shaking his head at the standard interaction between the two, Hank put his attention on Alex. "So, you said we needed to talk. About 'man stuff' apparently."
"Yeah." Alex stayed quiet, not sure where to go with this and not wanting to say the wrong thing; something he was notorious for. "Listen, about yesterday… you were right. I was being a flat out jerk."
"You're not exactly kind hearted," Hank said, "but I had no right to attack you. I acted immaturely and irresponsible. I could have really hurt you and if I had, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself."
"Okay, you are so not making this any easier."
"What do you mean?"
Alex tried to explain. "I mean if you would at least be mad or refuse to talk to me that'd be one thing, but I come in here and you forgive me and turn the blame on yourself. Dude, you're too good. You kill me with that."
"I think yesterday was proof enough that I'm not exactly ready to apply for sainthood," Hank said regretfully. "I hope Erik did not come down too hard on you."
"Oh, I got it good," Alex assured. "But I deserved it- not even gonna lie. "
Hank clicked his tongue. "I'm not quite sure I completely trust Erik in the discipline department."
"Hank, he's not the guy you think he is," Alex stated. "Yeah, he's rough, totally. But he really said a lot of stuff that just made sense. He thought it was stupid of me to have grief with you just because you're smart and work hard."
Having not expected to hear anything like that, Hank asked, "He said that? About me?"
"No, he said that about you," Alex replied with as much sarcasm as he could muster. "Although he'd probably kick my ass for repeating it. Erik thinks a lot of you, man. I could tell."
Thinking that over, Hank asked next, "What about you? Ever since we met, it's as if you have some longstanding grudge against me."
Alex looked down at the carpet for a moment before bringing his head back up. "When you carry a chip on your shoulder for as long as I have, it's hard to be around a guy who has it all. I mean, Hank, seriously? You have the height, the brains, and now you've got the babe. You have the key to cool around here and you don't even know it."
"I have the key to cool?" Hank repeated. "Alex, the younger boys here look up to you, even though Frank would die before admitting it. And why shouldn't they? You're independent and strong-willed and you talk about how smart I am but you never stop to see it in yourself."
"You think I'm smart?" Alex actually glanced around for a second. "Me?"
"Yes," Hank replied without having to consider it, "which is why it exasperates me when you act the opposite of your own intelligence."
Silence trickled in next as the realization that they had both been misunderstanding each other for so long set in.
Wanting to break the tension, Alex spoke next. "Thanks, Bozo."
"You're welcome," Hank replied then smirked slightly, "Lanky. Now get out of my room."
"Yeah, you're probably expecting Raven pretty soon, right?" He laughed and managed to dart away before Hank's oncoming hand made contact.