In the Pagoda

[Mystique]

((Set a few days after "Lamaze Class" and "Running Home". For Magneto, Mystique, and Pietro towards the end))

It was a pleasant evening out, not too hot, and it was right after dinner, so there was plenty of daylight left. Mystique decided to enjoy it. After all, she couldn't go anywhere without an escort, so she might as well enjoy the grounds. Walking through the gardens was always fun, and she stopped to rest in the pagoda, at the very edge of the gardens.

There was a fountain trickling nearby, and it was overall a very nice place to be. She wished Charles could come out and see the night with her, but he was occupied with a student's training, and would probably not be available for quite a while. So she was just content to stay by herself and watch and listen.

After awhile, she heard footsteps on the small stone path, and turned sharply. A student, perhaps?

And then she was immediately surprised and irritated, recognizing the shock of silver hair, and regal manner. "Don't come near me, Erik," she said, eyes narrowing as he came into the pagoda.

[Erik Lensherr]

"Don't come near me, Erik," she said.

Erik heard the harsh tone of Raven’s voice and took an unconscious step backwards, giving her space.

"I am sorry to disturb you, my dear. I didn’t realize you were so repulsed by my presence. I’ll go now."

[Mystique]

She hesitated, and the subconscious desire for her to be near her again blocked her tongue. "No, wait," she called. "That came out all wrong," she admitted.

[Erik Lensherr]

“I know that the way I treated you in the past was abominable. It is my own fault that seeing me is uncomfortable for you. I wish it weren’t so.”

Erik took a few steps closer to her, hoping she wouldn’t push him and his apology away.

[Mystique]

She edged away slightly, and patted the seat next to her. She wished things hadn't become so out of control, right before he'd left. "You struck me, Erik," she said quietly. "It was the last time I saw you before you left. You called the child a parasite, struck me, and left. How do you think I should see you after that?"

[Erik Lensherr]

"Yes." Erik paused and looked away from her out over the fountain and garden beyond, acknowledging the bad blood between them. He couldn’t expect her to forgive his past actions but his cruelty had been born of passion.

"I was overcome by jealousy, but its no excuse."

[Mystique]

She shook her head. "It's not." Then she turned her head to look at him. She could understand about the jealousy part; they had tried for children years ago, and after a painful failure, it must have been a slap in the face to him. But all the same... "It hurt, Erik. I'm still hurt. I--I didn't want it to end like that," she admitted quietly.

[Erik Lensherr]

The regret seemed to slip from Erik’s shoulders and a hint of the resolve that carried him through struggle for mutant supremacy steeled him.

“Neither did I.”

Erik turned back to Mystique moving closer to her.

“It was too difficult for me to be around Charles and you… and the baby. That was one of the reasons I left. I couldn’t stand the idea of you having his child and not mine.”

Erik put his hand on Raven’s arm in what should have been a friendly gesture but with the burning look in Erik’s gaze was anything but.

“I returned because I’m not a man who gives up on what he wants, you know that. And I want you.”

[Mystique]

She caught the look in his eyes, and felt the hand on his arm. Part of her mind told her that no, this should not, definitely could not happen. She was in love, damn it. But the part of her that gave in was the part that looked into his eyes and saw his desire burning within them.

She brought her other arm up to the side of his cheek, her hand running gently across the smooth flesh, and trailing down his neck and to his collarbone. "Oh, Erik," she said softly.

[Erik Lensherr]

Erik’s heart beat faster and his confidence soared when she did not shun him. He’d been sure she would reject his overtures.

He pulled her into his arms quickly and reveling in the feel of her warm fertile body against his own. His hands wrapped around her neck, pulling her face to his. He had to kiss, to make this moment complete before she could think this through. Before she could remember Charles and this moment would end.

As their lips met Erik could feel the call of the iron in Mystique’s blood. He experienced at once the softness of her lips and the hum and flow of liquid iron.

[Mystique]

Mystique felt as if she would melt into Erik's arms. The way he held her, the touch, smell, and taste of him filling her like no food or drink could. She brought her hand up to cup his cheek, as her tongue slid forward, seeking to entwine with his own.

The feeling was marvelous, and she felt like she was on an entirely plane of existence, with it being just the two of them.

And then she felt a gentle kick in her stomach. The baby. The baby....all of a sudden, every visit to Hank came to her mind, with Charles by her side, holding her hand. All those nights they had spent together, talking and finding out just how much they loved each other.

She squirmed, suddenly sick to her stomach, and began to pull away.

[Erik Lensherr]

Erik felt Mystique pull away from him and knew the moment had ended. She had remembered Charles and his unborn child that she carried inside her. Perhaps it was a fool’s errand to try to win back a woman so nearly settled down with husband and family.

He would try again though. Erik knew she resisted with her head, but her heart gave in to him. He would have her eventually. They had years of history whereas she had only been with Charles for a short time. It was only a matter of reminding Mystique of the bonds that lay between them.

Then once Raven was back in his bed, Magneto would have use of his second-in-command again, making this whole lovesick farce worthwhile. If it took wrecking the brand new family of Charles and Raven had made to have his Mystique back then so be it. One had to make sacrifices in a time of war.

A look of mild guilt passed across Erik’s face and his stuttered, “I’m – I’m sorry” was impeccable.

[Mystique]

She looked at him, as he looked guilty for a moment, like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar. But she knew him. Both the look of lust and desire in his eyes, and now this look of guilt. They were both too extreme; one didn't fit. And she knew it was the latter, as he was never sorry when it came to getting something he wanted.

Same old Erik.

"No, you're not," she said, her voice sounding slightly accusing. "You're not sorry in the least, Erik." She shifted to get out from under his arms; she couldn't do it, not with him. He just wanted to get her back into his bed, like a tool.

[Erik Lensherr]

Well if she wasn’t buying his ruse, he could play it another way. The false guilt yielded to his usual confidence.

“I am sorry for thinking I could seduce you. You’re too smart for something so banal. You’re smart enough to know that I need you if I’m going to reform the Brotherhood.”

He motioned to her swollen abdomen. Appealing to her sense of reason had always worked in the past.

“You know Charles will never be successful in stopping Wideawake with his pacifist methods. Think of your child and its safety. If you want it to have a future you’ll help me.”

[Mystique]

"I believe in his methods more than I do yours," she said coldly. She brought a hand to her stomach, instinctively, as if she were protecting the child from a threat. And in return she felt movement; the child knowing she was there and responding.

"When I think of my child's future, I picture that he or she will have two loving parents and a stable environment, and have the ability to grow. That won't happen if I go with you, Erik." Her child would have a future where he or she would be constantly reminded of her own sins. The sins of an assassin and a spy. She couldn't go back to that, not now, not ever.

"I will not help you," she said, her words sounding final. Now that she was out from beneath his embrace, she began to rise from her seat, and get away from him.