Paris did not change since the last time Mystique and Hank have been there. Fortunately, no one recognises them and they are treated like normal tourists. The journey was a very silent one. There was nothing more than small talk and a few longing glances. But who is to blame? Their relationship is not as close as it used to be.
They choose a small hotel near the river Seine as accommodation for their stay in room. The room they got is not the fanciest one. It is small with two old beds, a tiny window facing the river, an old chair and table and a barely acceptable bathroom. It's not the best room but okay for a short time.
As soon as they enter the room, Mystique shifts to her real blue skin and puts her bag with her few possessions on the left bed of the room. Hank sits down on the right one, next to the window.
"So... what's the plan?" Hank asks.
"We go find Erik's flat, break in and...yeah. Quite simple." Hank shoots her a sceptical look.
"What? Do you have another plan?" Mystique asks.
"No, yours is quite good but we should only specify it a little. We should go find his flat when we are completely ready. Then we should observe him to know when we can strike and then we choose the best moment and kill the bastard."
Mystique laughs at him. "You've been really thinking about it!" She exclaims and keeps on laughing. Hank blushes slightly but smiles. It seems so surreal hear such words out of his mouth.
"Yeah... I want it to be successful.", He explains and Mystique collects herself and tries to calm down.
"Okay. But we only need to change one thing about your plan. I promised Charles not to kill him, even if I actually want to. I know that it has to be done but I also know that Charles will never forgive me if I did it."
"Well, then we have to capture him and deliver him to the authorities."
"Yeah... but how? Killing him would be so much easier but as already said I cannot disappoint Charles once again. I've hurt him too much already."
Hank gives her a questioning look. "With what?" Mystique is surprised that he still has to ask. It should be clear since he had to repair all the damage she has caused for all these years.
"I left him because of my own selfish reasons as he was lying there heavily injured. I did not even write him a letter or called him at least once after I left. He has taken care of me as nobody else was there and I left him without ever saying thank you. I am aware of this and I feel guilty because of that and I have caused him so much pain. As I saw him here in Paris, I could perfectly see the depression in his eyes and I know that I am the reason. I don't want to disappoint him and push him into that ordeal again." Mystique's eyes are slowly starting to tear but she tries to hold them back like she always did. Hank takes a seat next to her and puts an arm around her shoulders to calm her.
"Raven, you are not the reason why Charles drowned in depression. He's always blamed Erik for everything that happened." Mystique turns to Hank. "The school has also been a reason. Many students were dragged into the war, committed crimes with their gained skills or were just difficult cases. One day we had to close the school because it was almost empty and Charles lost his hope. He had the feeling that he has failed and became that depressed as like you saw him." Hank takes a deep breath before he goes on. "It's also my fault because I've never been brave enough to call for professional help. I just let him down."
Mystique doesn't dare to imagine all these scenarios so she covers her face with her palms to hide her face in shame. Hank is trying to cheer her up somehow but not really successfully.
"Hey... he's better now. You need to see him! Meanwhile, he's the same quirky and wise professor again, filled with ideas and compassion. Do you know what helped him?" Mystique shakes her head and sniffs. "You." Hank adds rubbing her arm. She looks straight into Hank's eyes with disbelief written on her face but he's just smiling.
"Don't lie to me, Hank."
"I'm not lying. The fact that you, his beloved sister, listened to his advice gave him his courage back. He started to believe in the good in people again and now he's our professor again. All this just because you did not kill Trask and listened to him instead. He was very proud of you, Raven, and he still is."
"You mean it?"
"I mean it." He's not just a good scientist as it seems but also good at cheering somebody up in the last moment. Mystique snuggles closer to Hank and wraps her arms around his torso in response.
"Thanks for being here, Hank. I don't regret taking you with me...yet."
Hank laughs. "I will try not to make you regret, don't worry, Raven."
"Oh, and if you could stop calling me 'Raven' you would be even a better companion." Hank responds with a simple nod.
Being so close to someone warms Mystique's heart. She did not feel such an intimacy for a long time and she really missed this wonderful feeling. She wishes that she could stay in Hank's arms for a little longer but unfortunately duty is calling so she quits the embrace and shifts back to her blonde form. "Come on. We have business to do." She purposes and Hank follows her outside.
_
They take a taxi to the given address and arrive after almost 30 minutes. Erik lives in a pretty dubious district of Paris as it seems. It's practically screaming danger and criminality. The buildings are old and damaged and the people crossing the streets are fitting the atmosphere, they seem like criminals. It's not a welcoming environment but Mystique is used to such things. She has even been to worse. Erik's flat is not hard to find. It's in a more suitable building of the district but it still looks like fights happen here daily.
Mystique and Hank agreed on not striking today because they still need a better plan and a little preparation time. They observe their surroundings carefully, trying to remember every detail.
Thinking about the devil, Erik suddenly appears dressed in a long black coat and a black wool hat. It is just September so he's probably hiding his metal helmet under it. Erik checks his surroundings quickly and disappears into a small ally nearby his flat. Where was he going? This is not important at the moment but it's good that he's gone now. As Erik is completely out of sight Mystique takes Hank's hand and pulls him with her towards the house where Erik lives in. She checks the nameplates on the bells. Mystique cannot guess which alias he chose so therefore she doesn't know in which flat he exactly lives. "Let's wait a little until a resident of this house appears and maybe we can ask then." Hank suggests whispering and Mystique agrees. They wait in front of the house, sitting on its stairs, hoping Erik won't return in just a few seconds.
Not even a five minutes pass before an old woman who is carrying some bags arrives at the house. She seems to live at the house so Hank stands up quickly to offer his help with the bags in perfect French. The woman is sceptical at first but she gives in at accepts his help. Mystique is confused at first but then she understands what Hank's real intention is; He seems to want to get some information. Old women usually know everything about their neighbours. "What a clever guy." She mumbles to herself as she waits for him.
Some moments later, Hank re-appears acting like nothing happened. Mystique is curious. She takes his hand and leads him out of the district as fast as possible in complete silence.
_
Back in their hotel room, a safe environment, both sit down on their beds and Mystique breaks the silence. "So... did you find anything out?"
"Yes, I did. The lady said that she knows him as Joseph Eisenhardt, a German immigrant who is never at home during day time. He only comes home at late night. She also said he's strange and no one seems to like him. Erik became a master at hiding as it seems. He also seems to speak perfectly French."
"I already knew that. Erik is sometimes better at hiding than me. So... we need a clear plan... any ideas, genius?" She continues, lying down on her bed.
"Well, I've been thinking. What if we break into his flat, make all the metal disappear and...ehm.. well, just shut him down and deliver him to the authorities?"
Mystique is sceptical."And how are we gonna do this? Hank, I really welcome your commitment but..."
"I only need a few ingredients from a pharmacy to create a good anaesthetic which would shut him down for hours." Mystique sits up and faces him with surprise written upon her face. She never thought that Hank, gentle Hank, could come up with such an idea. He really seemed to have changed but not in a negative way. This new deceitful side of his is interesting.
She looks at him in admiration. "Okay... and further, genius?" Mystique asks smiling.
"Hm... I thought that we might deliver him to the authorities or call Charles..."
"Really?" Mystique snorts, "What would the police think of us?"
Hank breathes in deeply and touches his temples, thinking deeply."What about the CIA then? I am sure that they are after him."
"You're right. But the same here...what would they think of us and how can we contact them? It's not like we're trustful sources or have their number."
"Are you sure? I think that they are thankful for every hint. And I was part of the CIA once so I know what they want to hear and how to contact them." Mystique is left astonished. She gives him a bright smile. "Really?" She asks quietly. Hank nods in response.
Happiness overwhelms her because suddenly everything is suddenly so easy. This feeling became almost foreign for her. Full with joy, she decides to hug him once more, sitting down on his lap now. She can feel his increasing heartbeat through his light blue t-shirt and a small sincere smile forming on his face. As much as he tries to be tough, he's still getting nervous when Mystique comes closer and touches him. So there's still something that did not change about him after all and Mystique enjoys the fact that she still has such on effect on him.
She lays her head on his shoulder to whisper in his ear, "Let's go and get the things you need."