This hotel bed is so uncomfortable that it makes Mystique's back hurt like someone has kicked it for five hours straight. It is very hard to find sleep on this matrass but her roommate Hank has kept her awake almost the whole night anyway. Slowly, she opens her sleepy eyes and looks at him. Hank is putting his clothes back on, trying not to wake her. He does not seem to notice that Mystique is actually awake and looking at him with a small fatigue smile on her face. This smile is caused by the memories from the past day which have found their way to her mind again.
Mystique remembers telling him about her feelings what made Hank to open up a little more and to admit that he shares them. He did not want give into his feelings first because he was afraid that it will only hurt him and make his heart shatter again but fortunately he did it anyway. Everything started with a passionate kiss in the morning and ended with more in the evening. It was indescribable. She can still feel Hank's big clawed hands caressing her skin. However, she misses his lips.
"Good morning.", Mystique greets. Hank turns around and bares that he is just about to inject himself with his serum.
"Good morning, Mystique. Slept well?". Hank injects himself and turns into a normal human again. "I did sleep well. Having you as pillow helped a lot...I could get used to this."
"Me too." Hank blushes slightly and sits down on the bed next to Mystique to take her hand gently in his.
"You should get ready. It's already quarter past eight and you said that we're gonna be at the embassy at nine."
"I will... but first..." Mystique leans forward and kisses Hank on his lips again. It feels so right. "Last night was perfect." Mystique whispers against his lips and leans in for another small kiss. Hank does not break the kiss this time but wraps his arms around Mystique's upper body what makes her release a little moan.
"What about continuing this later after we finished our business with the government?" Mystique is a little sad because she has to say this now but business comes first. She gets up and goes to the bathroom to take a short shower.
_
The embassy is still crowded by armed guards. It even seems that there are more of them here now. Hopefully, this is a sign that the government has accepted their plan. Yesterday, Mystique has told Charles about the progress in Paris and he seemed to be happy about it. He even offered his help in case they would need it. Mystique is happy that Charles does not mind that Hank has left him for catching Erik. Maybe, Charles finally understands her way of solving problems.
They enter the embassy fast and easily without anyone complaining. Ambassador Thomas is already waiting in the entrance hall. "Good morning, Mister Thomas!" Mystique greets happily before she shifts into her real blue skin. Thomas is fascinated by this progress but also a little confused. "I hope that you have good news for us."
"Err... Please follow me to my office first." he says anxiously. Hank wants to go after him but Mystique stops him, giving him a concerned look. "Why? Can't you tell us here?" she asks.
He turns around. "No. Please follow me." Mystique and Hank exchange a glance before they follow him slowly.
He guides them into his office in which a certain someone is waiting for them. It's the President of the United States, Richard Nixon. He is standing at the window, looking out of it like a lion observing his victims.
"Mister President? These are the mutants I have been telling you about." Mister Thomas informs. Nixon turns around with no emotion on his face. He studies Mystique and Hank before he opens up and speaks. "Aha...the mutants from Washington. First off, I guess that I speak on behalf of our nation if I thank you for saving us from Trask's Sentinels and Magneto's wrath on the announcement a year ago." Both nod. "Now we have to thank you even more for helping us out in our Magneto threat. But enough about this. What can you offer us?"
"Not so fast, Mister President. We will only share information with you if you agree to our conditions." Mystique remains confident.
"Ah, your conditions. Well, we will accept your conditions but only if we modify them a little. I hope that you can understand this."
"No, we can't. After everything that has happened to the mutant society in the past years, we deserved at least a little respect and at least this little victory." Hank says. Mystique is surprised that he understands how these things here work after such a short amount of time.
"Yes, but we cannot destroy files that easily and where do we know that you will really deliver Lehnsherr to us?" Nixon turns around and looks out of the window again.
"We are able to keep our promise. As already mentioned, we are also interested in having him in one place." Hank replies confidently.
"Fine. Then deliver him here tonight." Nixon says turning around.
"Our conditions must be fulfilled first." Mystique counters with a smirk on her face. The CIA agents and the ambassador look expectantly at Nixon.
"You are our only chance in this case", He mumbles to himself, rubbing his chin.
He starts walking up and down the office in complete silence. Nixon is really fumbling with himself. What can be so challenging for him, Mystique wonders. Nixon takes one deep breath and looks at Mystique and Hank. "I accept your conditions but only if you assure us that you will bring us Lehnsherr, too."
Mystique and Hank exchange a confident grin. "We can give you this promise written on a paper." Mystique replies.
"Good. Then we should sign this contract."
_
Mystique and Hank leave the embassy with their hands interwined after two dreadful. As they are fully out of their lot, Mystique kisses Hank's cheek. She is so ecstatic that everything is working out so well so far.
"Everything is perfect. Now we only need Erik to play well in our game." she whispers into Hank's ear and he gives her a little smile. "He will, don't worry." The two mutants can start making a plan now.
_
After a generous meal, Mystique and Hank are back at their good old hotel room. Their plan is set and now they only need a little preparation time. Mystique is still convinced that Erik's time as free man will find an end tonight. His unconscious face will be priceless.
Meanwhile, Hank transforms into his furry alter ego and frees his feet from his squeezing shoes. He takes a seat on the table and starts unpacking the painkillers and muscle relaxants from their packing. Mystique shifts into her real self as well and watches Hank do his magic. "You still didn't tell me how you want to knock Erik out with these tablets."
Hank takes out one of his empty syringes. "These work as sedatives, so they will make him sleepy. I will just prepare a little liquid with them and shoot these into his blood system. I hope that I can make the dose perfect so that he will fall asleep as soon as the needle bores through his skin. In case it won't work, I will inject him with my serum. It worked on Charles and me, so it will work on Erik, too... theoretically."
"Do you learn such things when you study biophysics?"
"If you are also into chemistry and medicine, then yes. The human body is so complex that it can be considered as its own universe."Mystique nods in response.
She lies down on her hard bed and watches Hank pulverise a bunch of tablets in his hands with pure muscle power. He is so focused on his task. "Do you need help with something? I feel so useless when I see you doing all these cool... well.. stuff."
"You don't need to help me. I'm okay."
"Are you sure that you don't need my help?"
"Yes, don't worry. I'm alright. You could relax a little before the big storm. Remember, we will need our whole strength."
"Why don't YOU relax? I am quite strong so I don't need to sleep or something."
"Well, me too. The fact that my feral side doesn't need much sleep is definitely an advantage."
Hank stands up and goes to the bathroom with one of his small serum canisters to fill them with some water. Mystique follows him and leans on the doorframe, admiring him. "This means that you like your mutation in some way?" Mystique acknowledges smiling.
"I never said that I don't like it. It's just difficult to control it sometimes and to deal with the reactions of my environment."
"Oh really?" Mystique comes closer to hug him from behind. She makes her legs a little longer so that she can lean her head on Hank's high shoulder. He smells so good, she thinks. "I can't await to kick Erik's ass tonight with you by my side." she whispers into his ear while looking at their reflections in the image is not so terrifying as she thought.
"Thank you for letting me be a part of this special mission, Mystique." Hank puts the little canister which is filled with water now on the sink and takes Mystique's hands in his.
"Thank you that you are here with me, Hank." Mystique nuzzles his thick fur and starts kissing his neck. She feels the desire to come closer to her new favourite person once more.
With one fast move, Hank turns around and wraps his arms around Mystique's waist. "Mystique, I love you." he says tenderly. Mystique beams because he said the magical three words she wanted to hear all those years ago. She smiles seductively and leans in so that her nose touches Hank's. Maybe it's time to say three another surprising words.
"I am Raven." She closes the small remaining distance and presses her lips hungrily on those which belong to the man who makes her heart explode with love.