"Good morning, Hank." He turns around in shock but smiles as he realises that it's just his companion.
"Good morning, Mystique. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, even if the bed is harder than a stone." Mystique stands up and streches a little. Her bones are really sore from the hard bed. Thank God that she won't have to sleep on it forever.
Hank tries to inject himself but he's too distracted by a very flexible Mystique who is stretching and showing off her attractive body in front of him. Mystique notices this but doesn't stop. Instead she bows down, her hands touching the floor. Hank is still hypnotised by this view, the needle lying still in his right hand.
"Do you like what you see?" Mystique whispers with a smirk on her face.
"Yes... I mean... no... I mean... ehm... I'm sorry." Hank tries to justify himself.
He quickly refocuses on the syringe in his hand, injects himself and takes a deep breath as his appearance changes from beastly to human again. Mystique gets up and watches this process with fascination. "I hope that you remember what you promised me." Mystique says.
"How can I forget that?" he answers smiling.
"Good." She slowly sits down on his lap and kisses him lightly on the lips. "I also hope that you're ready to convince some CIA idiots." she continues.
"Always. I am optimistic about our plan. We will be able to manipulate them."
"Manipulate? Really? You're willing to manipulate them for your benefit? I like that side of you, Hank. " She giggles but he remains silent. "I never thought that you had it in you." Admiring his big blue eyes, she strokes his cheek tenderly. Being so close to him feels so good.
"Special circumstances require special behaviour, you know."
"I see." Mystique kisses him again but Hank breaks the kiss abruptly. All of a sudden, he seems to be uncomfortable with their closeness.
"What's wrong?", Mystique wants to know but he doesn't answer. Hank just shakes his head and lets go of her hips. Confused, Mystique stands up from his lap and studies his now sad looking face closely. She has to admit that it is indeed a big and very confusing change in their relationship. A few months ago, they were just old friends and now they are kissing without having any doubts, like it's the most natural thing in the world. This is indeed strange but it feels so right.
"Hank? I'm sorry for kissing you. It's just... being around you makes me kind of... happy... like I used to be when I was Charles' little baby sister. I know that we're not the same anymore and that's why I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry for anything. You didn't do anything wrong... it's me."
"Why? Is there... another woman?" Hank shoots her a sceptical look.
"Another woman? I admire your flourishing imagination, Mystique." he starts laughing. "How am I supposed to date another woman if there is... forget it. Let's go... Erik is not waiting." Before Mystique can throw something in, he takes his jacket and leaves the room. Mystique shifts into her human form and follows him, feeling a slightly guilty.
"Let's take the Métro to the U.S. embassy, okay?" Mystique suggests. Hank nods in response. Something is bothering him a lot but Mystique is unable to guess it.
The U.S. embassy is surrounded by at least a dozen armed guards. The feeling that these measurements are taken because of the incident at the colonels' meeting a year ago is not leaving them both. Thankfully, nobody knows that they played a big part in this.
Showing their passports, they are given access to the building, even if the guards shoot them dirty looks. They head to the information desk where a young but obviously overworked lady is sitting behind a glass wall. She is reading a magazine.
"Hello, we'd like to talk to your boss, the ambassador, please." Mystique says in the friendliest tone she can fake. The lady gives her a confused look.
"Sorry. Impossible for you."
"Why? Isn't he here?"
"He is here but he doesn't talk to random people. We are still in alert." She continues reading and Mystique turns to Hank, giving him a questioning look.
"We aren't random people. Actually, we are very special and pretty important for him. Could you please call him?"
"What do you want to tell him?" the lady's voice is full with annoyance.
"It is not intended for everyone's ears, you know." Mystique whispers still smiling.
"Don't play games with me, guys. I'm not in the mood and the embassy of the United States is a serious institution. Please leave if you only want to fool around."
Mystique turns to Hank and gives him a small smirk, like a signal. "So, you won't help us?" Hank asks calmly.
"Please leave or I will call the security." the woman says fiercely but Mystique is unimpressed. She grabs the lady's sleeve through the small opening of the glass wall separating them and drags her towards it. "You will better call your boss or we won't be friendly anymore.", Mystique changes her skin to her natural form, "Call your boss or you won't survive this. Get me?"
The lady is shaking and does not even dare to look into Mystique's bright yellow eyes. "Security!" she screams in panic and three armed guards rush in only moments later.
"Leave the building now!" one of them shouts, their guns pointed at Mystique and Hank.
Hank turns to Mystique, who has let go of the desk lady and is looking at the guards now. She remains bold until she sees that Hank is lifting his hands up and walking slowly towards the guards. This gesture shocks her. How can he give up now?
Just as she wanted to shout at him in anger, Hank changes slowly into his furry form and punches one of the guards right in the face, making him fall onto his collogue. The third one is about to shoot but Hank grabs him faster than he is able to react and throws him across the room in a split second. The other two follow shortly after. Hank releases an animalistic growl and returns to the desk. "She told you that we are special. And now... will we get to speak to the ambassador... please?" he asks but the lady is too terrifyed to answer.
"Call him!" Mystique snaps and the lady obeys. Her voice trembles while she is trying to order her boss down to meet the mutants. Hesitating, she tells him that two blue people want to meet him. That will encourage him to come down for sure, Mystique thinks.
Just a minute later, a group of armed guards are rushing in, their guns all pointed at the blue people's heads. "Leave the building now! Mutants are not welcome here!" a white haired man in a black suit orders, while coming closer with his gun pointed at them. He seems to be a CIA agent. "Hands up and leave!" Mystique and Hank exchange a look but don't move. They've silently agreed to remain stubborn and not to give in. These silly humans underestimate them.
"If you kick us out you will never be able to catch one of your country's most wanted criminals.", Mystique exclaims with a confident smirk on her face. The man seems confused. "You don't know who I mean? I'm talking about Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto. If you kick us out you will never find him. We're your only hope in that case. Do you want to risk this?"
"You're lying. I bet you're working with him." The guy remains tough as well and is still pointing his gun at them.
"Believe me, mister. Not every mutant is evil. We know where he is hiding and we even want to help you to catch him."
"This is a serious case and you are at high risk if you give us false information."
"We won't fool you, don't worry. We just want to talk to the ambassador." Hank throws in confindently.
The white haired man studies their faces but the two mutants don't make a move. Hesitating, he lowers his gun and gives his colleagues the order to do the same and to leave. They follow his order even if not everyone seems to be sure about that.
Mystique and Hank follow the man to the first floor. The man knocks on a huge wooden door and someone calls them in immediately. The man sitting in the burreau seems to be in his mid-forties and is dressed in a fancy black suit. There are no words needed to ask the man to end his phone call as he spots the blue mutants entering the room.
"Sir, those 'people' want to talk to you." the white haired man says annoyed. Mystique and Hank step in slowly but with confidence. Their plan is running smoothly so far.
The ambassador makes a gesture to invite them to take a seat which they accept. The white haired man closes the door behind him and directs his stare at Hank and Mystique. "H-How can I help you?" the ambassador stutters. He is visibly unconfortable and terrified by their appearrance.
"Well,", Mystique takes the name plate from his table in her hands, "mister Thomas...we're here to give you something precious."
"And what?"
"Information.", Mystique replies with a smirk on her face. She crosses her legs and leans on the chair's right armrest. Hank just fold his hands in his lap and stares at the already terrified man with his emerald eyes.
"And about what, miss..."
"Call me Mystique. We have information about Erik Lehnsherr, the guy who is a bigger threat to your country than the communists. He is, right?"
Mister Thomas's jaw drops and his gaze wanders to his safety man who does not react. "Yes,", he replies with a still shaking voice, "but how did you find out anything about him?"
"We're skilled, Sir." Hank exclaims with a calm voice.
"So, what did you find out about him?" Thomas looks at them with disbelief written on his face but they aren't impressed by his reaction.
Smirking, Hank adds, "We know where he is."