"Sean is going to kill me."

"Why?" Fern asked, not looking away from the mirror. Out of her peripheral vision, she could see Hank's distress, but she wasn't particularly bothered by it.

Hank looked positively contrite as he peered at the young woman before him. Voice heavy with regret, he rubbed his brow, "When you said you wanted to borrow them, I thought you were going to use them on Sean."

"What? Why would I use them on Sean?" Fern loved Sean's hair. These clippers would be going nowhere near him if she had anything to say about it (which she didn't, but she liked to think she did). Her nose wrinkled as the metal teeth gnawed through her thick locks. Half her head was done, but the noise was still just as grating as it had been when Hank had clicked it on.

The young man blinked and dropped his wide eyed gaze to the sink. It was a mess of black hair and vaguely, he was glad Fern had insisted he show her how to use them in her personal quarters and not his room. "Well, it would be best if he kept it shorter so he could see better while he's flying."

Her hand paused. "While he's what?"

The clippers continued to buzz in her hand, and for a moment, Hank was certain she was threatening him with them. Staring at them, he slowly leaned away from her. "Uh, the suit I'm making...it's going to help him catch the soundwaves he creates. If he catches them at the right angle, he should be able to fly. Didn't he tell you?"

"No," her voice was surprisingly blank. Fern looked pointedly back to the mirror and continued to run the clippers through her hair. As more of the dark strands fell into the sink, she asked, "Can you get the back? I don't think I can make it even."

With a sigh, the scientist stepped behind her to finish the job. He was silent a few moments before he asked why it was she was shaving her head in the first place. "If you don't mind my asking."

Her sharp nails drummed on the porcelain in front of her. She thought of Erik trying to touch it and grit her teeth. A flash of rage, and maybe a little bit of fear if she was being honest with herself, pulsed through her. Her skin spasmed violently in the mirror in front of her, but she simply replied, "It's just impractical."

Picking the loose locks from the shoulders of her sweatshirt, Hank nodded. "Most definitely, although I don't think Moira or Raven will be emulating your new look."

"Raven already has short hair."

"Well, she prefers it long."

"Then why doesn't she grow out her natural hair?" Fern arched an invisible brow. Repressing a smirk, she shrugged with a mock innocence. "Maybe she just knows you prefer it." At his hard blush, she went on a bit more genuinely, "You really don't like how she looks? Naturally, I mean?"

"It's very…" Hank winced with unease as his cheeks returned to their natural pale state.

"Abnormal."

"So?"

"So it's not for everyone." A bit defensive, he pursed his lips. "I much prefer her human appearance."

More curious than angry, she tilted her head. Sharp tipped fingernails tapped on the porcelain sink, electing a quiet clink from it as her toes flexed. A thin, near invisible brow arched at him, but her voice remained surprisingly empathetic, "Why?"

"It's just better, for everyone, for her to present herself in such a way." He tilted it back into place and resumed her hair cut.

Fern blinked. The buzzing against her skull was strange, almost ticklish. A wave of pity washed over her for the insecure man in the mirror. "It must be very hard to think that way, given your own abnormalities."

"If I have my way, none of us will have to be like this for long." Hank smiled and pulled the clippers back. Brushing the shorn locks from her shoulders, he nodded his approval. "There. Done. You just need to do your bangs."

The young woman stared at his reflection. "What did you mean we won't have to be like this? What's wrong with being like this?"

The scientist chuckled and pushed his glasses up. His smile wasn't quite genuine, more out of bemusement than mirth. "You can't want to stay like this. I mean, why would anyone want to be a freak?"

Fern turned to face him. He seemed more legitimately confused than confrontational. Features passive, she resisted the urge to put a hand on his shoulder, because she would probably throttle him if she did. "Whatever you're making, keep it to yourself. I was born a freak, and I'll die a freak." She shrugged her thin shoulders with a hint of nonchalance. "It's how I'm supposed to be."

"But you could be better." His smile remained, albeit not quite as steady. Almost a bit desperate, he shook his head. His hands deep in his pockets, he clenched his jaw before he sighed. "You could be everything you are now with none of the side effects."

"Side effects like my skin? Like my entire body?" She shook her head. A bit proud, the grey skinned mutant smirked up at him. "Then I wouldn't really be me."

"What about Sean?"

Fern frowned. "What about him?"

Hank lifted a brow. Knowingly, he asked, "Don't you think he'd like it better if you were normal?"

"Why should he care how I look?" Crossing her arms over her bound chest, she dropped her gaze to the floor. The white tiles were covered in bits of her hair. Nails digging into her palms, she kept her tone firm despite the sting of his words, "It's none of his business."

"I might be a little awkward, but I'm not stupid. I see how you look at each other."

Her eyes sharpened as they returned to his. The audacity in them was almost startling. She had never seen anything like it on him before and frankly, he didn't wear it well. Skin shimmering a dark charcoal with rage, Fern sneered at him, "So?"

"So, you really think his parents are going to accept someone who looks...like you?" His voice was filled with doubt and pity and just a bit of smugness. "You won't be able to go out on dates or even leave the mansion."

"What happens between me and Sean is none of your business." Her scales quivered and so did her bottom lip. With a sneer, she squared her shoulders. "If he doesn't accept me for how I look, he clearly doesn't deserve me."

Hank glared at her as she shoved the clippers into his chest. "You asked."

"And you made it personal. No wonder Raven has so many issues. Everyone around here's been so focused on how she looks, no one's taken the time to tell her it shouldn't matter."

"I'm just trying to help."

"Help what?" Her brows rose as she shook her head at him. Disgust twinged her scathing tone as she snapped, "Her feel better about herself or you feel better about being with her?"

Without another word, Hank shook his head and stormed out of her bathroom. The door slammed behind him and Fern huffed.

Crouching down on her haunches, she banged her head into the tiny white doors of the cabinets under the sink. As she clutched the little metal handles, the young mutant wondered why she couldn't just keep her stupid mouth shut. Things had been going so well between them! They had been civil, they had been bonding and then she had to go and push the Raven button. After nabbing the small first aid kit from under the sink, she scooped up the mess of hair from the floor, put a few pieces aside, and quickly chopped her bangs back. They were a bit too short and a bit uneven, but they would do.

The mutant peered at herself curiously. She didn't look much different from before, and to her absolute disappointment, she didn't look any less feminine. Her features were angular and her lips thin, and even with her new short hair, she still looked girlish. Maybe even more so than before. Her eyes looked bigger and her cheekbones sharper and she wrinkled her nose.

Annoyed, Fern fixed her messy bangs before making her way downstairs. A few familiar faces sat at the kitchen counter, but she didn't really pay them any mind. Raven and Alex continued to speak casually to one another, discussing some kind of trip that Fern had no interest in, while Moira and Charles were reading.

It was the British man who looked up from his newspaper to greet her and ended up doing a double take. "What in god's name have you done with your hair?!"

"Shaved it off."

"Why?!" Charles gaped at her, but the young brunette didn't pay him much mind.

Fern offered him a limp shrug as the others turned to look at her. Not wanting to meet their stares, she turned and grabbed a bowl from the cabinet. She then grabbed the milk, a spoon and a box of Sugar Crisp before she made her way to sit next to Moira.

The woman smiled warmly at her. When Fern eyed her skeptically, she simply nodded her approval and told her, "I like it. Trés chic"

"Thanks." The mutant didn't know what that meant, but figured it was probably a compliment, given how pleased the older brunette seemed. "What'cha reading?"

Moira rolled her eyes in an over dramatic fashion as she held up the file. "Field report from our little trip to Russia."

Fern dumped some milk onto her cereal and began to push it around her bowl. Disinterested, but polite, she asked, "How'd that go, by the way?"

The agent shook her head. "Not great."

"Oh, that's too-" Fern flinched as Raven reached over the table to touch her new do. Smacking her hand away with her spoon, the taller mutant scowled. "Don't."

"It's so short!" The blonde gushed, but let her hand fall. The grey girl couldn't tell if it was with dread or amusement or approval, so she simply let her continue, "How'd you get it that short?"

"Hank did it."

Alex let out a snort of laughter. "You let McCoy do your hair? What're you two joining the Girl Scouts next?"

Fern squinted at him, but chose not to dignify that was a response. Instead, she took a bite of her cereal. Mouth full, she asked where Sean was.

Alex smirked and kept chewing his Twinkie as he told her, "He got his ass handed to him at Rock, Paper, Scissors and had to finish up some chores."

Said chore was filling the pool the duo had painstakingly spent upwards of six hours cleaning out the day before. As someone who didn't do solitude well, the redhead was miserable. Sean whined to himself as he sprayed the firehose into the empty hole. The novelty of playing with it had long since worn off in the past ten minutes, and frankly, he was ready to throw himself in the pit. There was only about a quarter full, so he reasoned if he managed to knock himself out, he could die peacefully while drowning.

Thankfully, Hank made an appearance and put a stop to all that. The young brunet poked his head in and offered him a benign, "Hey."

"Oh my god, what year is it?!" Sean moaned. He didn't get up to greet him though. He stayed seated on the edge of the pool, his long legs dangling precariously.

"What?"

"How long have I been down here?" Words dripping with sarcastic annoyance, he continued to keep spraying the hose. Charles had said it would help build up his upper body strength, but Sean was fairly certain that was just an excuse to get out of doing any dirty work. "Weeks, months? Tell me, did you and Alex finally work your issues out? Has Fern known the touch of another man?"

Hank resisted the urge to roll his eyes the redhead's mocking thousand yard stare and wistful voice. "That's actually what I'm here to talk to you about."

That got Sean's attention. The redhead whipped his gaze over to Hank. The bespectacled young man had his hand stuffed deep in his pockets, his shoulders hunched and he was smiling sheepishly. Sean's blue eyes narrowed on him. "What did you do?"

"I'm developing a formula that should alter any inhuman appearances without affecting the primary mutation."

The young man crossed his ankles, but stayed quiet as his gaze returned to the pool.

Hank mistakenly took his silence for interest. Maybe even approval, and carried on thusly, with a wide smirk. Brows high, his tone was just a bit too smug for the redhead's liking as he continued, "It could be a huge step toward people accepting mutants that look like me. Or Raven."

"Or Fern," Sean supplied knowingly. His gaze didn't leave the pool. It had eclipsed the quarter mark, and his shoulders were starting to ache. If he kept the stream up, it would be done in under an hour.

"Yes, exactly." Hank grinned and moved a bit deeper into the bunker. "But when I tried to explain, she got so defensive...I was hoping maybe you could talk to her?"

"About what?"

The brunet blinked, a bit puzzled by the stoic response. "The benefits of being normal. You could explain how much easier her life would be, how people would treat her differently."

Sean pursed his lips. Hank seemed a bit desperate, but he merely shook his head. "Different isn't necessarily better." He shrugged his gangly shoulders and looked back to the pool. "If she doesn't want to change, I'm not going to talk her into it."

The standing man let out a forced, slightly hoarse, chuckle. His smile was a bit manic, as his were his eyes as he snapped, "But she can't be happy like that!"

"Why?" The redhead turned to arch a thin brow at him. "Because you aren't?"

A frown crossed Hank's lips. A bit hurt, he shook his head. "I'm just trying to help."

"Yeah, well," Sean dropped the hose in the pool and stood. His arms ached as he brushed the back of his jeans off. Gaze stern, he stood before the taller scientist. "I don't think she needs your kind of help."

"I guess...it just can't be an easy life."

His blue eyes fell as he shrugged. After a moment, Sean huffed. "But it's her own. No one can make that decision but her."

Hank took a step closer. "But if she heard your side-"

"My side? What do I have to do with any of this?"

"Sean, come on. Everyone knows you're…"

The redhead pursed his lips. "So?"

"So wouldn't you like her better if you could have a relationship with her?" Hank asked, not unkindly but rather beseechingly. "A real one?"

"Not that it's any of your damn business," Sean growled at him, his normally pale cheeks a bright pink. His grip tightened on the brass handle of the hose. "But we have a real relationship."

"No you don't," The scientist said simply, knowingly, smugly. His features, however, were blank, almost cold. "She can't even leave the mansion. What kind of life is that?"

A bit manically, the shorter man shook his head. "Look, I get you're coming from a good place, but if you don't shut the hell up, I'm gonna throw you in the damn pool."

Hurt, Hank pouted. "But-"

"No." Sean pointed a firm finger at him as his flush faded. "And if you say any of this shit to Fern I'm gonna come up to that lab of yours and break every single test tube in it, got it?"

The brunet's shoulders slumped. "I just want to help."

The redhead groaned. Running his hands through his hair, he wandered back to the pool's edge. "I know. I get it, but you can't just come at her just because she doesn't have the same hang ups as you." He grabbed the hose with a frown. The muscles in his shoulders flared, but he kept his grip tight. "She doesn't need anything for her skin and you don't need anything for your feet. Accept it and move on."

"Easy for you to say, you're not a freak."

"But I am in love with one," Sean replied. His tone was light and his features passive as he turned his eyes to Hank. The brunet seemed thrown by the confession, but Sean was fairly at ease with it. He wasn't sure why it was so easy to admit, even in an off the cuff manner, but Sean meant it. In fact, the words brought a smile to his lips, only for him to sober a moment later. His gaze met Hank's as he finished, "So I think I get it a little more than you might think."

With a sigh, the bespectacled boy moved to stand next to him. For a few minutes, they were quiet. They simply watched the pool fill and as it slowly reached the three quarter mark.

"She made me cut her hair."

"She made you?"

Hank ignored the question, and the hint of amusement in the redhead's raspy drawl. "And I told her about the flying."

Sean cringed. "Was she mad?"

"I have no idea. She can be kind of hard to read."

Resisting the urge to point out that it was incredibly easy to tell what she was feeling if he took the time to learn what the ripples in her scales meant, Sean instead just hummed.

After a beat, Hank changed the subject, "I think Raven wants to go into the city tonight."

The redhead offered him a crooked grin. It reeked of smug amusement and so did his tone, "Oh yeah?"

Hank glared at him, but a small smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. His cheeks a light pink, he cleared his throat. "Yeah."

Sean sent a gentle elbow into his friend's side with a cheeky grin. "Sounds like good time, Hank, you really know how to sell it."

"I should go."

"No hard feelings?"

The brunet smiled as he turned to leave. "None at all. Don't forget to add the chlorine."

"Yeah, yeah, Charles gave me the cleanliness spiel already." Sean waved him off with one hand. It was really more of a twitch of his wrist because that was all he was really willing to commit to. "Go get ready for your date."

With a laugh, his friend went to do just that. The pool was mostly full. Grumbling under his breath about Alex shirking his duties, Sean let the hose fall into the water and made his way to the small supply closet off to the side of the bunker. With a long sigh, he popped the door open. Inside sat a ten pound bag of chlorine particles.

Jaw clenched, Sean grabbed the bag. It wasn't spectacularly heavy, in fact by comparison to some of his nieces and nephews it was rather light. Deciding he had just about enough working out for the day, the redhead wandered back to the pool. Shaky hands dumped the entire sack into the water. No one had told him anything about measuring it and Charles had been pretty adamant about making sure the pool was clean...so he didn't see the harm in going a bit overboard.

Nose and eyes stinging from the fumes, Sean shook his head before he made his way to shut off the water. He then rolled up the hose and left the pool to sit and the chlorine to dissolve.

Upstairs, Charles and Alex had left the women to their own devices. The trio was really more of a duo, since Moira had once again taken to editing the field report, but of course, Raven was happy to fill the silence.

"I just thought since we're supposed to start sparring tomorrow we should go out tonight." She smiled, bright and bubbly. "You know, before we get all bruised and exhausted."

Fern arched a brow, but didn't look up from her apple. Her cereal long since gone, the grey skinned mutant found herself not only still hungry but completely thrilled with the prospect of finally being alone. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, you know. Dinner, a movie, maybe have a drink after…" The blonde smile wavered a moment. "Those of us who are old enough to drink, I mean."

"That should be fun. When are you leaving?" Please say soon, Fern thought to herself, absently peeling a bit of the skin off the fruit.

Raven's features fell as realization dawned in her eyes. Of all people, she should've realized what she was saying, but things had been so casual in the mansion. So normal, she had forgotten who she was talking to. "Oh, Fern, I didn't mean to-"

The Ailey girl chuckled. Features surprisingly warm, she shook her head. "Don't take this the wrong way, Rav, but I could kind of use a break from you guys. I mean, you're great, but you're kind of overwhelming."

And frankly, she could use some time to decompress; between Erik's distressing come on and Hank's dressing down, Fern really just wanted to relax without anyone's opinion or comments.

"Are you sure?" Raven pursed her lips. Her blue eyes flickered over her grey features, but Fern's skin was calm and still. "You really don't mind?"

"Not at all."

"Oh good. Thanks."

Amused, the brunette squinted at her. "Um, you're welcome?"

"Wanna help me pick out an outfit?"

"No."

Raven pursed her lips, but her eyes shone with mirth. "Fern."

The grey girl rolled her eyes and let out a long, agonized huff that sounded vaguely like, "Fine."

After disposing of the apple and putting their dishes in the sink, the duo left Moira to her field report and had just made it to the staircase when Sean slipped out of the bunker. He stretched his arms over his head with a yawn. His gaze landed on them and he offered them a grin as he crossed his arms. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?"

"Hey Sean," Fern greeted, but didn't stop her ascent. She didn't really want to see Sean, or be reminded about what Hank had said.

Her friend grabbed the younger girl by the arm. Smiling, she greeted the redhead warmly and asked if he was coming out with them.

"Nope." Sean bobbed his shoulders. "Can't. Twilight Zone marathon on tonight." His gaze flicked back to Fern. His smile grew, crooked and warm, as he leaned a bit closer to her. "You cut your hair. Can I…?"

At his raised hand, the young mutant sighed but nodded. Beside her, Raven smirked but didn't comment as the boy began to thread his fingers through the short black locks.

Blushing faintly, Sean nodded. It was a quick, almost eager action as he cleared his throat. "It looks good, real good. Kinda like Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina."

"I take it that's good?" The brunette drawled with a hint of sarcasm. Her skin fluttered from grey to black with embarrassment, but a pleased smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. It fell when she noticed the strange scent embedded in his pale skin. His hand held a strange chemical smell. Almost like bleach. She wrinkled her nose and pulled out of his reach.

"Well, you wear it better than her…" He nodded his approval as Raven giggled. "You look great."

Jaw clenched, Fern's large eyes narrowed on him. All the positive attention was nice, but she hadn't forgotten his casual dismissal of Raven's invitation. "You're not just staying in for my sake, are you, Cassidy?"

"You wish, Fe. This is all about the Zone." His smile grew crooked and warm. His fingers found hers. Tickling the inside of her palm, he bowed his head sheepishly before meeting her gaze with a faint blush and a nonchalant shrug. "But I wouldn't kick you outta the room if you wanted to join me."

Her skin spoke volumes for her, twisting between flattered and surprised and a bit annoyed. The latter was at Raven's giggling, but Fern merely shrugged and turned to go up the stairs. "I've never seen it before."

"Well, that settles it." Sean slipped up to join her, only to have the girl shove him back down. With a fake pout and a snicker, he gave her hip a squeeze. "I'll meet you in the den after I shower, alright?"

"Sure." Fern grabbed the blonde woman and yanked her up the stairs.

Raven stumbled after her, smirking all the way to her bedroom.

For the next hour, Fern was subjected to Raven's wrath. Well, her exuberance, which in all honesty, was twice as frightening. She gave advice about what Fern should wear and how Fern should act and what Sean would like, all while routing through her own closet for an outfit to wear out.

The grey girl stayed silent through most of the 'exchange'. In fact, she only offered the odd grunt of reply from where she was sprawled out on Raven's bed. Her toes flexed as she thought of what Hank had said- or rather implied. Fern wasn't stupid, she knew if she was ever in a relationship with anyone it wouldn't be easy. A small smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her skin rippled with joy as she recalled how coy Sean had been, how he had waited for her the night before and decided fuck Hank. What the hell did he know anyway? It wasn't like he was in a relationship.

Her blue eyes flickered down to where Raven was dressing at the end of the bed. Toes flexing, Fern licked her teeth. "You think you and Hank are ever gonna...you know?"

After smoothing the black skirt, the blonde grabbed a thin blouse and offered her a shrug. With a devious smirk, Raven hummed. "Who knows? Maybe we will tonight."

"Hm." Deciding she had spent enough time watching Raven moon, Fern rolled off the bed. It was a hurried, but graceful movement. "I'm gonna go bug Sean."

"Have fun...but not too much fun," Raven teased before she offered the girl's bottom a pinch.

Horrified, Fern glared at her and walked a little faster out of the room.

True to his word, Sean was waiting for her in Charles' den. His shaggy hair was still damp, his white t-shirt showing off flushed pink arms. He was fiddling with the dial and merely offered her a smile when she slipped onto the couch. Stretching her long legs out, she asked what the show was about. Not that she had ever actually seen a television program before, but she knew the general idea of them. They were like radio shows but with pictures to go along with the sound. Not exactly a ground breaking notion, but if she got to spend alone time with Sean, she didn't see the harm in sitting through one.

"Different stuff." He shrugged, but didn't take his attention off the dial. "It's kind of like showing you little pieces into different universes."

"What, like the multiverse theory?"

Sean blinked at her over his shoulder. "You know about that?"

Fern arched a near invisible brow. "Josie got a few philosophy books from the library a few months back." Her toes flexed absently. "Not really my bag, but it's an interesting idea."

"Okay, well, it's like that, but it's like all those realms and all the weird possibilities all take place in this one place, the Twilight Zone. A fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man," Sean recited in his best Rod Serling voice. The young man stood and picked her feet up before he fell onto the couch beside her. With her feet on his stomach, he threw one of his legs over hers. He opened his mouth to continue, but the man himself took up the speech before he could.

After an episode, the rest of the gang poked their heads in to let them know they were leaving. After waving them off, the duo got a bit more comfortable. Shimmying down on the couch, Fern let Sean take hold of her ankle.

"There's a monster on the wing of the plane!"

"That man's a terrible actor," Blue eyes not leaving the screen, Sean commented, "his career is going nowhere."

"Yep," Fern agreed, admittedly paying more attention to the small circles he was rubbing into her ankle than the show itself. Rolling it in his hold, she dropped her hand to his leg to mimic the touch. Her fingers drifted under his sweats to stroke at the pale skin of his calf. Worry knotted her stomach. Sean was bony. Slim. Fragile. Cheek against the armrest, she hummed and carefully stroked his freckled skin with the pad of her index finger. "I'm not sure if it's a good idea…" At his curious look, the young woman clarified, "You flying." Her scales shimmered over her cheeks. "You're not exactly the most co-ordinated guy, Sean…"

He chuckled and ran his fingers up her leg. Her skin was cool. When he ran against the grain it was rough, and when he ran with it, very very smooth. A bit touched and okay, a little embarrassed by her concern, the redhead teased, "Don't be such a sourpuss. I'll be fine."

Fern's gaze stayed locked on the television. Arms wrapped around her torso, she pursed her lips and held herself a bit tighter. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

A smile stretched over Sean's mouth. Sitting up, he hugged her feet to his chest and offered her leg a consoling rub. "I'll be fine, Fe. I promise."

Her skin flickered as her features tightened, but her eyes didn't leave the screen. "You don't know that."

"Sure I do." The redhead squeezed her shins. "And if I do get fucked up, Hank's a hell'va doctor."

Embarrassed, her scales twisted as she sat up a bit. "You're right."

"It's okay." He leaned down to press a kiss to her knee before he laid back. His fingernails skimmed over the top of her foot. Over her ankle, they slipped under her baggy grey sweats. The pads of his fingers rubbed careful circles into the stiff muscles of her calf. A smirk crossed Sean's lips as she sunk deeper into the couch. He watched her scales shimmer and swirl with each gentle push and pull. Each one made her like him just a little bit more before his fingers slipped back up to her knee. He then skimmed back down the length of her shin and did it again. "Your toenails are pointed."

The girl flexed her toes for him. "I'm aware."

He tilted her ankle back. "And the scales on the bottom of your feet are different."

The girl flinched as he ran his finger down the sole of her foot. "Don't."

"Ticklish?" Sean asked, more curious than teasing.

"It's hard to explain." She rolled her shoulders like a restless cat. Nose wrinkled and scales twisting, the brunette told him, "Feels weird."

"Alright." He moved his fingers back over her ankle. "Can I keep touching you? I like how your skin feels."

With a shrug, Fern shuffled back down to rest her foot on his shoulder so he wouldn't get any more ideas. Pushing her pants up, Sean began to knead the meat of her thigh, just above her knee. The young brunette gasped and arched her back. The thoughtless action made the baggy sweatshirt she wore shift, exposing an inch of her flat stomach to him. Her skin quivered with delight and okay, maybe arousal, and Sean's mouth went dry. All his willpower went to not bending down to taste her scales. Realizing that might be a bit forward for a first date, he grit his jaw and instead simply watched them swirl a moment. They reminded him of something he had learned about in class and vaguely, the young man wondered if Fern was aware of it.

Voice a bit rough, he rested his cheek on her calf and asked, "Hey, Fe?"

She offered him a weak hum, but didn't open her eyes.

"You ever see a Van Gogh painting?"

"No."

"Oh. Too bad."

Fern peeked an eye open. "Why?"

"You're skin reminds me of them." There was nothing but approval in the redhead's tone. His eyes were fond and so was his smile as he stroked her shin. It reminded him of snakeskin, the queer texture rough and smooth at the same time. "The swirls and different dimensions, the movement. It's beautiful."

He grinned as her scales twisted in response to his kind words.

She offered his chest a light prod with the tip of her sharp toenails from the foot in his lap. "This is why you're my favorite."

The young man chuckled and kept rubbing her leg. To his surprise, she began to mimic his touch. Taking his leg from where it was slung over her thigh, she began to trace over his skin. She kept her caress feather light, as delicate as she could manage with her setae.

As she pushed up the bottom of his black pajama bottoms, she thumbed his ankle. "I like your freckles."

"Oh yeah? What do you like about them?" He settled back into couch with a smug smile. "Be specific."

Fern giggled and crossed her legs. Catching his between her own, her knees offered his thigh a squeeze. At his laughter and vain attempts to get away, she grinned and settled back into the couch. When he settled (and his hand returned to rubbing her leg), the young woman told him, "They remind me of home…" She shook her head with a wince. "That sounds weird."

Sean's expression turned pensive. Tenderly stroking up and down her calf, he let his gaze caress her features. "Explain it to me."

As her skin shifted, Fern sighed. "When you're out in the boondocks, it's like the stars are coming up from the ground. You're skin's like that, but inverted." She grinned at him, flashing sharp white teeth and a bit of embarrassment. "Instead of light dotting dark, it's dark dotting light."

Cheeks pink, he asked if she missed it. Her home.

"Yeah." The young woman tilted her head. "Are you still on the outs with your ma?"

Gaze falling to her leg, he pursed his lips with a nod.

Fern eased forward and took his hand. Turning his wrist, she skimmed over his pale skin. "You have a lot of freckles."

"I'm aware," Sean teased, echoing her earlier response.

Her large blue eyes met his. "Are they all over?"

With a snicker, he wiggled his eyebrows at her. "You wanna find out?"

"Maybe," She teased, stretching out the word as she smiled. It was a bit devious and a bit provocative as her fingers drifted up his arm to caress the sensitive skin of his inner elbow. "I've never seen skin like yours before."

Eyes wide, he nodded stupidly and agreed, "Likewise."

The brunette considered a moment before she offered, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Sean's jaw dropped as she stood. He watched her walk to the door and when she realized he wasn't following, she turned to face him. Arching an expectant brow at him, Fern asked if he was coming. Nodding eagerly, the redhead all but ran after her.

A few minutes later, the two of them stood beside the young woman's bed. Arms crossed over her chest, she nodded to his shirt. "So go ahead."

"What? Why do I have to go first?! This was your idea!"

"Yeah," Fern agreed with an impudent nod. "My idea. So I call the shots."

Sean glared at her. "Together?"

The brunette let out a huff but agreed. "Fine, together."

"Shirts first?"

Fern nodded. Fists clenching anxiously at her sides, she cleared her throat. "Okay."

On three, the two of them stripped out of their tops. Of course, this left Sean shirtless and the girl in a t-shirt.

Crossing his lanky arms over his pecs, he scowled. "You cheated."

Fern didn't hear him. Too busy staring at his pale skin, at the trail of orange pubic hair that ran from his navel down to his pajama pants, she was struck by one thing. "You're too skinny."

Sean blushed. It went over his cheeks and down his throat to his chest. Her gaze flickered over his ribs and sunken stomach and he shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Okay, you're starting to make me self-conscious."

She tilted her head. "I can see your hipbones."

"Fe!" His flushed cheeks darkened as he covered them with the palms of his hands. "I can't help it! It's my metabolism."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Quit staring at them!"

"I like them." Fern touched the back of his hand and tried to pry his fingers away. Carefully, of course, not wanting to hurt him with her sharp fingernails.

Skeptical, the young man held tight. "You do?" When she nodded, Sean beamed and put his hands on his waist in an effeminate, bold manner. "Then stare away."

Her fingers reached out to touch them. The setae made him shudder, but he merely pressed closer to her touch. As she traced over the shallow dip, Fern briefly wondered what the hell she was doing, coming on to a boy she barely knew. Still, she was curious and had part of a deal to uphold, she stripped out of her shirt.

Instant regret.

Sean gasped at the sight of her bound chest. The beige tensor bandage strapped her breasts down tight, the thick material plain in contrast to her shiny skin. The area under her collar was equally dual, a faded grey that struggled to swirl along with the rest of her scales. Shaking his head, he stepped closer to her and eased his fingers over the strap that wrapped around her ribs. "Why-"

"I just…" Fern jerked away from him. At his hurt blink, she dropped her gaze. As she rubbed the back of her neck, the young woman sucked in a breath through her teeth. "Wanted to draw less attention to myself."

As her scales twisted, Sean brushed his fingers along her collarbone. A frown played at the corner of his mouth and he struggled to keep his tone light, "From me?"

"Erik."

His expression darkened. Rage made his stomach knot. Unable to keep his voice completely even, he clenched his jaw, "If he makes you that uncomfortable, you should tell Charles."

"I will later." The young woman rolled her eyes and forced a grin. Snapping the waistband of his pajama bottoms, she ordered, "Lose the pants, Cassidy."

He licked his teeth as she began to unwind the tensor bandage from around her chest. As Fern dropped it on the bed beside them, she realized the patch of missing scales on her side was visible and tried to covertly cover it with her forearm. Thankfully, Sean was too distracted by her breasts to notice.

They were modest peaks topped off by dark grey (and to his surprise, scale-free) nipples, the same shade as her lips. He watched them slowly shift through a mirade of shades as the circulation came back to them. The pale blue from the walls around them seemed to stick to them, as did the white from his boxers and even his own pale skin. Of course, some of her scales refused to co-operate, too bruised to reflect. His gaze drifted from them to where she was favoring her side. Tilting his head, Sean gently touched her elbow.

Fern flinched. Regret pooled in her stomach, but she was too curious and too stubborn to stop now. Answering the question he didn't ask, she snapped, "Nothing."

"Fe-"

Her expression softened into something a bit more vulnerable, but she still refused to look him in the eye. "It's just sensitive."

He offered her a wide, crooked grin. "Good sensitive or bad sensitive?"

The girl canted away from his inquiring touch. "Don't-"

Sean immediately dropped his hand. Understanding, he offered her a weak, sympathetic smirk. "Okay, sorry."

"It's just...bad memories, you know?" She offered him a weak smirk and dropped her chin to her chest so she wouldn't have to look at his understanding features.

Stepping a bit closer to her, Sean smoothed her short hair with tender fingers and brushed their noses together. As he desperately tried to ignore the brush of her peaked nipples against his chest, the young man thumbed at her temple. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not right now."

"You sure?"

She nodded.

"Positive?"

Fern smacked his hand away from her cheek. Beaming, she batted his inquiring fingers away as they moved to cup her hips. "Oh my god, Cassidy, no wonder you never get laid!"

"Hey!" Sean looked genuinely offended, or would have if his eyes weren't sparkling so brightly. At her ill-contained smirk, he slipped his arms around her waist and teased, "My pillow talk is impeccable."

"Oh yeah," the brunette mimicked his thick drawl sarcastically, "hey baby, how'd you get that scar? So sexy."

A wide grin lit up his freckled features. Pulling her lithe form to his chest, Sean ignored the brush of her nipples against his skin and hoped and prayed that she wouldn't notice his erection digging into her thigh. She absolutely did, but she had the good taste to ignore it as he teased, "I would never call you baby, babe."

She shook her head. Eyes fond, she thumbed the side of his neck. "You're such a sap."

"Don't act like you don't like it."

"You're killing the mood," Fern warned as he buried his face in her neck.

"Mood? What mood?" He rested his chin on her shoulder. Voice innocent, the young man smoothed his fingers over her bicep, over the thick glands down to her hand and wove their fingers together. "I thought we were just having a naked hang out."

Scales shimmering with embarrassment, and maybe a bit of amusement, she asked if he had those often.

"Nah." Sean eased back to smile at her. "You're special, Fe."

The young woman brushed some of his bangs from his eyes and stroked his cheek. The saetae of her fingertips made him shudder, but when he only pressed closer to her, she told him, "You're so weird."

"Good weird or bad weird?" He teased.

Just as she had before, Fern nodded her approval. Skin and eyes sparkling, she gave his cheek a pinch. "The best weird."

The redhead pursed his lips. His eyes were a bit more serious than they had been, but he tried to keep his tone light as he teased, "Careful. Someone might think you might actually like me back."

The girl's expression fell. Skin twisting with surprise, and maybe a bit of sadness, Fern ran her hands up and down his arms. "What made you think I don't?"

Sean offered her a strained smirk. It wasn't that he didn't think she didn't like him- he knew she did. Knew she loved him even, but that didn't mean she was attracted to him. They were friends, and easily the closest people in the mansion, apart from maybe Erik and Charles. He'd had girlfriends before and there were certain pretenses, certain standards that went along with having them.

With Fern, there wasn't shyness. There weren't any stolen glances. He and Fern were open about everything. They laid their feelings out on the table all the time, whether they were annoyed or amused, they were blunt about everything. Even things he didn't necessarily want to be blunt about.

His smile grew as she demanded he lose his pants. Huffing, he obeyed and watched as she, in turn, yanked hers down. Sean's gaze immediately dropped between her legs. She had scales. He wasn't sure why that surprised him, but it did. Maybe because her nipples had been bare (grey, but scale free), he expected the same of her more private parts, but no. Her mound was delicate and with her legs tight together, he couldn't exactly get a good look. His blue eyes flickered up to her face.

Fern was staring curiously at his penis, but beyond a bit of interest in her gaze, she seemed fairly calm.

His cheeks went red. It didn't seem like she had any kind of romantic attraction to him at all. Sure, she was a bit protective of him, but that wasn't surprising. Especially given her staunch dislike of Erik to begin with. Fern could've just been being a good friend. She could've just been looking out for him because she thought he couldn't for himself. Cheeks back to their pale state, Sean's expression grew thoughtful, and maybe a bit sad, but the brunette didn't seem to notice.

The young woman snickered and stroked his hip bones again. "You're so skinny."

She wasn't flirting with him. She had never flirted with him, never fluttered her eyes in anything other than naivety or confusion and Sean wondered if Fern even knew what it was to be attracted to anyone.

Then he remembered how she had looked at him on the couch. How her lips had parted and her gaze sharpened as she touched him...and it was nice. To be validated, to know that maybe she did want him. It made him feel less dirty. There were moments in their relationship, as brief as they were, when Sean worried that he was manipulating her affections into something perverted. His stomach knotted as he brushed his fingers through her short hair. It made him sick, knowing he had objectified her like Erik had. More subtly perhaps, but he had done it. Had watched her, lusted after her, albeit in a less aggressive manner than Erik had; one that frightened her, that made her so unsure of her own appearance that she took steps toward altering it.

Thumbing her cheek, he forced himself to smile. Sean had been certain she could hate him if she knew, but Fern was peering up at him, completely comfortable being so close to him. Touching him with fond, curious hands and there was no fear in her eyes. Nothing to suggestion hesitance or confusion.

At his silence, Fern offered a reassuring smile. Blue orbs twinkling, she told him softly, "I do. Like you, you know."

The redhead smirked. "I like you too, Fe."

"I know." Using her toes, she kicked her pants up and caught them. Folding them, she ignored his chuckle.

"You know?" His brows rose as she bent and did the same to his own. Covering his crotch casually with his hands, Sean snickered. "Someone's cocky."

As she stood, the young woman shrugged, chin high and proud. "I noticed you looking at me a few times."

He sobered, spine straightening as realization passed over his freckled features. "Like Erik does."

"No." Fern frowned. "Not like Erik. Like you. You don't scare me. You don't intimidate me-"

"Gee, thanks."

"You're welcome." She pushed some of his shaggy bangs from his eyes. Sean blinked. She was paying him a genuine compliment. Vaguely, he wondered how many people she came across on a daily basis that frightened her, but merely let her continue, "You look at me like I'm a person." Fern thumbed his cheek with a hint of a frown. "Not many people do."

Sadness pulled at the corner of his mouth. "So you're doing this to thank me."

"Don't be stupid." Her eyes sharpened at him. As she relaxed, she stroked her fingers down his throat to caress his collarbone. "I'm doing this because I want to, and because I want you, and I know you want me, too."

Sean blushed, but didn't deny it. Instead, he nodded. "I do."

"I know, I just said that." The grey girl dropped her chin to her chest and bit her lip before squaring her shoulders. Curious, and a bit apprehensive, she asked, "Do you like me because of how I look?"

He chuckled. "No."

"Do you like me despite how I look?" Her blue eyes were surprisingly earnest, almost tentative as her gaze flickered over his face.

Sean shook his head. "No." His gangly shoulders bobbed in an almost absent manner. "I just like you and your body. I mean, you were always cool looking and then I got to know you a bit and saw more, I noticed parts of you...of your body and I like it. I like how you look, but it's not the most important thing." His gaze softened and he put a hand on her shoulder. "It's not the only thing."

A smile drifted over the man's lips as her scales shimmered; he recognized the pattern, a pleased, subtle twirl over her entire body. Tipping her chin up, Sean opened his mouth to speak, only to have another voice cut through the room.

"Guys, we're home!"

The couple shared a panicked look before they rushed to cover themselves. Once fully dressed, the two leapt on the bed, head to foot. As Sean pulled a pillow under his head, Fern cleared her throat.

"Uh, Cassidy, you might want to you know, roll over."

"Huh?" He frowned and looked down. His boner looked back up at him. Blushing, he cussed and turned onto his stomach.

At the sound of footsteps outside the door, the two of them quickly feigned being asleep. The bedroom door peeked open.

"Guys?" Raven whispered. When she realized the light was on, she spoke a little louder. "Guys, you up?"

Sean's head popped up the pillow. Cheeks a fiery red, he raked a hand through his hair and settled a little deeper into the mattress. "Hey, what's up?"

Fern chose to merely groan and cover her face with her arm.

"We brought pizza," Raven sang playfully.

Interest peaked, the brunette sat up.

The woman blinked then giggled as she handed the box to Sean. The redhead dropped it onto the mattress beside him, but didn't sit up.

"Hey, Fern?" The blonde asked with a grin. "You know your shirt's inside out, right?"

The grey girl arched a brow and set the box on Sean's back. Opening it, she ignored the faint swirl of embarrassment her scales gave and offered a placid, "So?"

Raven waved her off. As she spun to leave, she teased, "Just letting you know."

The door closed behind her and Sean rolled onto his back.

Fern huffed before she bit into the pizza. "I miss the country."

"Gimmie a bite." He opened his mouth expectantly.

"Get your own." At his pout, the brunette rolled her eyes and fed him a bite. As he chewed, he offered her a smug smile. Fern glared at him. "Crybaby."

A/N: Shout out to my wonderful beta, Linda Ku!