Secret Bonding

Chapter 3

Raven thought she fared well through Erik’s questions this time, and the leader and founder of the Brotherhood appeared pleased with her excuses. That’s right; appeared. Mystique thought he gave her a weird glance, which she couldn’t interpret, but since he didn’t say anything she assumed it was alright. She was wrong.

Her Day of Judgement didn’t arrive until the following day. Raven had been able to relax again, figuring she was safe for now, and had already started planning her next trip to the X-mansion to see Rogue. She realized it had to happen while Erik was away as well; otherwise she’d make him suspicious.

When it finally happened Erik caught her completely off guard. When Mystique headed to her room after lunch, she found Erik standing there, in the middle of the room, with a grim expression on is face. Raven almost jumped when she saw him.

“Erik! What are you doing in my room?” she asked.

But Erik didn’t answer her question. Instead he asked one of his own. “Which one of them is it?” he said in his sternest voice.

Now Raven could see that her computer was turned on, and that Erik had been reading her email messages. Occasionally, when either Rogue or she was feeling lonely, they would send each other email with somewhat intimate content. And now Erik had been reading their electronic love letters.

In that very moment Raven felt like crushing Erik’s larynx. Hore hre he?! This was her room, her personal computer, and he had no right whatsoever to come here with his prying eyes. Knowing that Erik knew of her secret escapades embarrassed her, but her anger was stronger.

Raven’s hands balled into fists, and it took all self-control she had to stop her from lunging at the old man and causing him some serious damage.

“Get out!” she hissed. “Get the fuck out!”

But Erik wasn’t easily intimidated. “I don’t think so,” he replied. “We’re going to have a serious talk, you and I. Sit down.”

“I’ll rather stand,” Raven managed to say.

Erik sighed. “As you may see, I have been doing some research. And I made an interesting discovery, to say the least… So now I am asking you again – which one of them is it?”

Raven took one step in his direction. She was still she shocked and flabbergasted she wasn’t sure what to say. “You have no right…” she began, but was brusquely interrupted by Erik.

“I do,” he snapped. “As long as you live under my roof, and eat my food, I do. And I want an answer. Who is it? Which one have you been screwing?”

“I…”

“Is it the Wolverine?” Erik said between teeth tightly clenched together. His voice oozed of suppressed anger and Mystique could notice a faint twitch in everything made of metal.

“No,” she said slowly and clearly. “I have not been fucking Logan.”

“Then who is it?”

“Marie…” Raven murmured and lowered her eyes.

Erik looked like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Had Mystique been screwing a girl? And *that* girl? The one who was untouchable?

“Rogue?” he whispered. “Are you saying that…”

“Yes!” she hissed. “I ght ght you’d understand no one like Logan could have written me those letters! Or were you too self-absorbed to notice?”

Strangely, Erik’s fury had faded into mere surprise and curiosity. Now when he knew who Raven’s secret lover was he was suddenly more intrigued than mad. So Rogue was the one she had spent all those nights with, when Erik believed she was just generally “busy”?

“But… I didn’t know you were a lesbo, Raven?” he finally said.

Mystique’s anger flared up again when she heard him use that tone. “So you didn’t, huh? No wonder, I say. You’ve never really cared about me, have you? You’re too busy to notice anything past your own selfish little existence, Erik. Right, I’ve never told you about my attraction to women, but some things don’t require telling. Don’t give me that look! So it’s okay for you to dick young boys and I can’t even look at girls? Fuck off, Erik! I hate you!”

Erik was taken aback by the sudden outburst. When he looked at her, he looked lie’d e’d been slapped across the face. He had expected much, but not this.

“Raven, why?” he asked. “I mean… Rogue? You… You can’t even touch her.”

“I can!” she yelled. “I *can* touch her! Don’t you see? I’m the only one who can! You just…”

Erik sighed. “Congratulations…” he muttered. “You have managed to tame the Rogue… Perhaps you even deserve a Nobel Prize, hmm?”

“What do you want?” she asked.

“I want you to stop seeing her,” he replied.

Even though Raven had expected it, it felt like a blow to her abdomen. The air was knocked out of her and could barely speak.

“Why?” she said.

“She is an X-woman, Raven,” Erik said seriously. “An adversary. Don’t you understand?”

He approached her slowly, feeling a bit apprehensive as he couldn’t interpret her expression. Erik was aware of the strength and agility his blue-skinned, shape-shifting sidekick possessed, and therefore it wasn’t wise to infuriate her too much. But still, he had to show her who was in charge and make sure she didn’t forget it.

“I forbid you to see her anymore,” he told her calmly yet firmly. “Raven… Tell me you understand.”

“Or else?” she asked defiantly. “What are you gonna do about it?”

“Or else…” Erik sighed, hating to say the words, “you can move out to the X-mansion permanently. Make your choice.”

Raven looked straight into Erik’s pale blue eyes, to really see if he was serious. The old man’s face was stern and there was no doubt in his gaze. He was serious. Erik would throw her out if he caught her seeing Rogue again. She couldn’t take it. She loved the girl, but when it came to it, she would choose Erik over her. In this very moment she was convinced that she hated him, but she belonged with him and there was nothing either could do about it.

“Which is it?” he asked her when he didn’t get any reply.

“I won’t…” she whispered at last.

“You won’t what?”

“I won’t see Marie again.”

Erik raised his hand and seized her chin. Then he smiled. She hated that particular smile. It always meant he had gotten his will through.

“That’s my girl,” he said and stepped aside to leave the room. “I am sorry I had to pry, but I am sure you see the reason for it.”

“Erik,” she said without turning around to look at him.

“Yes?”

“Can I go there once more and talk to her? Please?”

“Alright,” came the answer after a few seconds of hesitation. “But make it quick.”

*

tbc...