I do not own X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Two weeks 'til DVD release though!
The Story Left Untold
Chapter 3: Internal Conflict
Grrr . . .
No, I am not running after her. I'm . . . following behind at a brisk pace.
Grrr . . .
Oh, go to H-
And then he almost ran into her well-formed denim-clad backside.
And decided to stop arguing with himself.
Oh, man, I hate this. Wish I was Catholic. A few 'Hail Marys' and this'd all be over.
At the top of the stairs, she turned and stared silently at him. He felt like a wild animal caught in the crosshairs of a gun.
She was gorgeous, beautiful.
And angry.
Of course. What else would she be?
But it was her.
Raven.
And she was in pain.
Hurting.
The wound could get infected.
She could get sick.
She could die.
And whatever else he wanted, he didn't want that.
She was so focused on her mission that she couldn't see.
But he could.
He could help.
So he stood his ground, not backing down from her searing glare.
"I have medical supplies in my lab," he offered, trying not to sound awkward. "And extra for you to take with you."
She remained affixed to that spot for a moment as if deciding her course of action. Formulating her strategy. Weighing her options.
And then resolutely turned and walked away.
Toward the his lab.
And he followed behind.
Like a begging little puppy.
Grr . . .
Fine, begging little 'beast'. Whatever.
And he hated himself.
But he went anyway.
He didn't want to touch her.
And at the same time, he did.
Under the intense duress of having her so near yet so very far away after years and years apart, Hank McCoy did the only thing he could.
He locked up every single emotion he had ever felt in his entire life in an impenetrable metal safe. Spun the lock tumblers, and threw the entire back-breakingly heavy contraption into the deep well in the pit of his soul.
Meanwhile, Raven sat down on a stool and reluctantly pulled up her pants leg.
Hank repressed a grimace.
The bandage seemed wilted and discolored.
And leaking.
He knelt, started to reach for the fabric covering her inner calf, and then paused.
Glanced up at her.
She nodded slightly, her face unreadable.
So it takes ten years, attempted murder, and bullet wound for you to finally let me touch you? Or are we going to talk about shoes again?
He pulled back the bandage back as gently as he could.
She didn't flinch. Didn't move.
She also didn't breathe.
He inspected the area carefully with his gloved hands.
Wished there was no polymer between his fingertips and her calf.
And remembered that he didn't.
Then remembered he did.
Man, I'm going to need a drink after this.
The wound had been cleaned and cared for by a medical professional but that had been some time ago. The circular entrance wound was a little puffy and red but not so much that he fretted over it. A little disinfectant and some healing agent would clear it up and expediate the healing process. All protected under a sterile bandage.
Of course it would heal much easier if she would rest and stay off it.
That being said, he wasn't about to suggest tossing her over his shoulder and carrying her to kill Trask either.
He reached for the medical supplies he had retrieved and began his work.
Silence hung between them like a heavy iron shroud.
Iron. Huh. Well, hello, Erik. Glad you're here too. Even when you're not.
He tried to focus on his work, on the job at hand. Or leg, rather.
The silky, silky leg.
Focus, McCoy.
Grrr . . .
I'm trying, Beast.
"It's going to get infected if you don't take care of it," he relayed to her without looking up.
'I'll be fine,' she muttered offhandedly. "Erik taught me to compartmentalize pain."
Hank McCoy kept his face a careful blank.
Erik, yay. Did he also teach you to compartmentalize intelligence as well? Because if you don't take care of this you could get gangrene. And die.
He made sure it was properly cleaned and a healing agent applied. He affixed a fresh, clean bandage and secured it carefully.
The work completed, Hank removed his gloved hands from her physical person and stood.
"Thank you. That does feel better," she said, lowering her pants leg.
And looked up.
For an infinite second in time, their eyes met.
Blue to blue.
And he could see every single thing about her. The good and the bad. Everything she'd endured and felt and experienced.
And he felt she could see everything single thing about him as well.
He wanted her to.
And he didn't.
She was so different now.
And he missed her.
The her he had once begun to know, to care for.
The her he had hurt.
He had carried it inside him all this time.
He had never let it go, put it down. Not completely.
He had regretted it for so long.
Wondering if he would ever get a chance to apologize.
Not to ask her forgiveness. He didn't deserve it.
But to simply say he was sorry.
For his selfishness.
His ignorance.
His desperation.
His rashness.
His harsh words.
He had stopped hoping for that opportunity long ago.
Or thought he did.
But now she was here.
And he had his chance.
His chance to tell her he was sorry.
He opened his mouth.
"Raven . . ."
And then those sky blue eyes iced over again and the moment was gone.
"That's not my name anymore, Hank."
And she stood, withdrawn and reserved once more.
And walked away.
She was leaving again.
She was always leaving.
And once again he could not think of a single thing to say to stop her.
When her limping figure passed through the doorframe and disappeared from his sight, he felt completely destitute and forlorn.
That's it. I'm getting plastered drunk.
But in the end, he didn't.
Because he was Hank McCoy.
And Hank McCoy was responsible, reliable, and in control.
And that really sucked.
And that's that.
What'd ya think?
I've already got another fic in mind for this little deleted scene. Hello, obsession, thy name shalt be X-Men. And it's not Hank-centric. *Gasp!
Okay, a little explanation here. I originally had Hank think of OC Hope after Raven leaves. It was intended to make Hank feel guilty for revisiting feelings for Raven. But I don't think it came across properly (thank you my honest, helpful sweetie) so I took it out.
Anyway, thanks to brigid1318, MoonlitShadowsoftheHumanSoul, and DaniNatureGirl313 for speaking up. Thanks to you all quieter folks for reading as well. :)
Until next time . . .
