Post by mystique on Aug 9, 2006 22:23:55 GMT -5
The bed beneath her was so soft, Mystique hardly noticed the almost painful warmth along her back. Puffy clouds of down comforter surrounded her, and her head rested on a pillow that made the throb in her head almost tolerable.
If it hadn't been that she was being nursed by one of the most powerful mutants in existence, Mystique would have felt great. As it was, she hated having to be taken care of. Reaching up to touch the scorch marks around her throat, she remembered the argument. Mystique would not allow herself the emotions that began to rise from within. No... there was no reason to be sentimental about what had happened.
Her golden eyes turned towards the window where she saw Emma sitting, beautiful platinum blonde hair catching the soft sunlight through translucent white curtains. She was a vision, an angel; even as Mystique's pride cut cleanly into her heart, she found herself grateful for Emma's presence.
Emma had been sitting loyally near the bed and reading for the past few hours, looking over at Mystique every time thought of her made its way into Emma's mind--Which, due to Emma's concern, was every few minutes.
When she heard and saw out of the corner of her eye Mystique's arm rise to her throat, Emma stopped reading. She gave Mystique a few moments to remember everything that had led her to be where she was, respectful of her privacy, before she turned and looked at her ally and friend.
"It's times like these I realize how invaluable it is that we've both made ourselves a never-ending web of allies and contacts," Emma said, unevading but not obtrusive. Though Emma knew that the pain over her falling out with Pyro would not be eased so easily, she felt it was important that Mystique remember that all was not lost.
Mystique's lips tilted in what was only a shadow of a smile. She blinked slowly and turned to her side on the bed. "Agreed. Thank you for taking care of me... when I could not." She still wasn't sure what had gotten into her, why she had let all her emotions free. She'd always been in control, always smooth, always impossible to shake. Except with Pyro. He had a way of needling into the center of her soul.
The thought of him made her frown, and she closed her eyes, sighing. "Let him rot.." she whispered.
Emma marked her page in the book she was reading and set it down, then stood and crossed to the bed. She sat at the edge of the bed, on the satin covers, and as she sat, she rested her hand lightly overtop of Mystique's.
In the years that they had known each other, though they had bonded over many things and shared many laughs together, there had been few times when either woman had completely put aside their business and their secrets and simply been friends. But now, as Emma hoped to comfort Mystique, it seemed more like any young woman speaking to her best friend after a particularly hard break-up, or divorce, or some other bastardly deed done by a lover. Politics and plans forgotten.
"Time will heal you as well as anyone can ever heal," she said softly, and it was understood between them that she meant the emotional wounds as well as the physical ones. "You've always been incredibly strong. I've always wished I was more like you in that way." Emma looked at Mystique, honesty etched onto her face. The two women had always complimented one another lavishly, but rarely spoke of the other as being better than themselves in some way. It was a matter of pride, but Emma was willing to put that aside at a time like this.
Mystique looked up at her friend with a sort of dread she couldn't shake. Raven Darkholme didn't crack for -anyone-. Not even Erik, in all the years they'd known each other, had gotten past her walls. But since being cured, it seemed she still hadn't really regained that hard shell that protected her from the world. And it was a huge risk, letting Emma in, even if the woman could read her thoughts. Somehow saying these things out loud was like giving them life.
"I let him get the better of me, Ems..." she sighed. It was a playful nickname she'd said in moments where she'd meant to jab at the beautiful woman, but now it was a sort of grasping gesture, an offer of closeness. "He's just a child. A stupid... stupid kid." She looked up at Emma again. "It's like when I lost my mutant abilities I lost my grip on reality as well." She laughed softly.
"I just want to believe in him, I guess. He's the best chance they have."
"Well, then it's a good thing that the bedraggled troupe of misfits we left in Genosha aren't the only mutants fighting for our cause, isn't it?" Emma responded with one perfectly-tended eyebrow raising slightly and a small smile adorning her lips. "He may be the best chance The Brotherhood has, but I think you're one of the best chance the mutant race has. Of ever becoming free from persecution."
Emma paused for a moment, her smile fading but her eyes retaining their loyal shine. "I can help you with whatever path you choose to take from here," she said. Already she had thought of endless possibilities--One of the choicest, in Emma's opinion, being to return to Genosha and put a few safeguards on Pyro's mind which would cause him to become able to think clearly when he became very angry. But she would leave the choice to Mystique.
Mystique looked towards the window, her jaw tensing, too much emotion on her eyes. She shook her head a bit, sighed, trying to think.
"I have things I need to do. I got the info I wanted from NovaTeX, and I have to pursue that. It's going to mean disappearing for a while so I can infiltrate the company. I won't be in touch." She squeezed Emma's hand. "Emma... I know it's a lot to ask." She looked back at the White Queen, her gaze a bit more controlled now as business slipped into the conversation once more. "And I'd have to trust you to... remember our history together." She looked at her. "I want you to help him, Emma. Don't do anything he doesn't want you to... that's Xavier's style. Let him have his power. But I think Xavier did more harm than good. Now that his power is returning to him, he doesn't know how to handle it. He needs help."
Emma became very serious at Mystique's request. She was silent a long moment before answering, and when she did answer, she spoke carefully. "I will offer him my help. But I will not spend my life on that lonely spit of land trying to patch him up. I still have a business to run, and a public front to uphold. And I myself have other plans which I think are becoming...over-due."
Mystique shook her head. "No, it isn't necessary. Don't get wrapped up in his bullshit. And I think you should express to him that these problems are his responsibility. That their isn't always going to be a telepath around to help him. But something to take the edge off... if nothing else, to quell his nightmares... it would get him on his feet." She said the last part carefully, in a tone that was strangely caring, as if she'd be doing so for John's own good. "And if it doesn't... then he'll be taken care of."
Mystique was not asking too much of Emma. Her request was something that she could do--At least she could go to Genosha and try. If John refused, she would at least have tried to honor Mystique's wishes, and she could go on with her life. And her plans.
"As soon as you're all better, I'll go back," Emma agreed with a nod. "You will know whether he will allow himself to be helped." She didn't have to say how Mystique would know; with what Mystique knew of Emma's powers, she would know that Emma could just make her know.
Emma then paused; her eyes on her hands. "There is something to be had in a very unlikely place. If you hear of me again...Just know that I plan to never work on any single side of this war." She felt as though she needed to justify herself, which she hardly ever felt. But she had decided what she would do next, and she did not want to be misunderstood at any point in the future. "But for now, I will help The Brotherhood. If he will have my help."
Something flashed through Mystique's mind that she could not say out loud. She sat up. Sometimes, she could not get away from how amazing Emma was. Not just her beauty; the woman was intoxicating. Mystique smiled, looking down for a moment.
"Emma... you know better than that. None of us can work on a single side... and those that think they do, throw cars and set things on fire, without gaining any ground." She leaned in and kissed Emma's cheek, lingering there for a moment before sitting back to look her in the eyes. "If there is anything I can do to repay you for your aid... just tell me."
If it hadn't been that she was being nursed by one of the most powerful mutants in existence, Mystique would have felt great. As it was, she hated having to be taken care of. Reaching up to touch the scorch marks around her throat, she remembered the argument. Mystique would not allow herself the emotions that began to rise from within. No... there was no reason to be sentimental about what had happened.
Her golden eyes turned towards the window where she saw Emma sitting, beautiful platinum blonde hair catching the soft sunlight through translucent white curtains. She was a vision, an angel; even as Mystique's pride cut cleanly into her heart, she found herself grateful for Emma's presence.
Emma had been sitting loyally near the bed and reading for the past few hours, looking over at Mystique every time thought of her made its way into Emma's mind--Which, due to Emma's concern, was every few minutes.
When she heard and saw out of the corner of her eye Mystique's arm rise to her throat, Emma stopped reading. She gave Mystique a few moments to remember everything that had led her to be where she was, respectful of her privacy, before she turned and looked at her ally and friend.
"It's times like these I realize how invaluable it is that we've both made ourselves a never-ending web of allies and contacts," Emma said, unevading but not obtrusive. Though Emma knew that the pain over her falling out with Pyro would not be eased so easily, she felt it was important that Mystique remember that all was not lost.
Mystique's lips tilted in what was only a shadow of a smile. She blinked slowly and turned to her side on the bed. "Agreed. Thank you for taking care of me... when I could not." She still wasn't sure what had gotten into her, why she had let all her emotions free. She'd always been in control, always smooth, always impossible to shake. Except with Pyro. He had a way of needling into the center of her soul.
The thought of him made her frown, and she closed her eyes, sighing. "Let him rot.." she whispered.
Emma marked her page in the book she was reading and set it down, then stood and crossed to the bed. She sat at the edge of the bed, on the satin covers, and as she sat, she rested her hand lightly overtop of Mystique's.
In the years that they had known each other, though they had bonded over many things and shared many laughs together, there had been few times when either woman had completely put aside their business and their secrets and simply been friends. But now, as Emma hoped to comfort Mystique, it seemed more like any young woman speaking to her best friend after a particularly hard break-up, or divorce, or some other bastardly deed done by a lover. Politics and plans forgotten.
"Time will heal you as well as anyone can ever heal," she said softly, and it was understood between them that she meant the emotional wounds as well as the physical ones. "You've always been incredibly strong. I've always wished I was more like you in that way." Emma looked at Mystique, honesty etched onto her face. The two women had always complimented one another lavishly, but rarely spoke of the other as being better than themselves in some way. It was a matter of pride, but Emma was willing to put that aside at a time like this.
Mystique looked up at her friend with a sort of dread she couldn't shake. Raven Darkholme didn't crack for -anyone-. Not even Erik, in all the years they'd known each other, had gotten past her walls. But since being cured, it seemed she still hadn't really regained that hard shell that protected her from the world. And it was a huge risk, letting Emma in, even if the woman could read her thoughts. Somehow saying these things out loud was like giving them life.
"I let him get the better of me, Ems..." she sighed. It was a playful nickname she'd said in moments where she'd meant to jab at the beautiful woman, but now it was a sort of grasping gesture, an offer of closeness. "He's just a child. A stupid... stupid kid." She looked up at Emma again. "It's like when I lost my mutant abilities I lost my grip on reality as well." She laughed softly.
"I just want to believe in him, I guess. He's the best chance they have."
"Well, then it's a good thing that the bedraggled troupe of misfits we left in Genosha aren't the only mutants fighting for our cause, isn't it?" Emma responded with one perfectly-tended eyebrow raising slightly and a small smile adorning her lips. "He may be the best chance The Brotherhood has, but I think you're one of the best chance the mutant race has. Of ever becoming free from persecution."
Emma paused for a moment, her smile fading but her eyes retaining their loyal shine. "I can help you with whatever path you choose to take from here," she said. Already she had thought of endless possibilities--One of the choicest, in Emma's opinion, being to return to Genosha and put a few safeguards on Pyro's mind which would cause him to become able to think clearly when he became very angry. But she would leave the choice to Mystique.
Mystique looked towards the window, her jaw tensing, too much emotion on her eyes. She shook her head a bit, sighed, trying to think.
"I have things I need to do. I got the info I wanted from NovaTeX, and I have to pursue that. It's going to mean disappearing for a while so I can infiltrate the company. I won't be in touch." She squeezed Emma's hand. "Emma... I know it's a lot to ask." She looked back at the White Queen, her gaze a bit more controlled now as business slipped into the conversation once more. "And I'd have to trust you to... remember our history together." She looked at her. "I want you to help him, Emma. Don't do anything he doesn't want you to... that's Xavier's style. Let him have his power. But I think Xavier did more harm than good. Now that his power is returning to him, he doesn't know how to handle it. He needs help."
Emma became very serious at Mystique's request. She was silent a long moment before answering, and when she did answer, she spoke carefully. "I will offer him my help. But I will not spend my life on that lonely spit of land trying to patch him up. I still have a business to run, and a public front to uphold. And I myself have other plans which I think are becoming...over-due."
Mystique shook her head. "No, it isn't necessary. Don't get wrapped up in his bullshit. And I think you should express to him that these problems are his responsibility. That their isn't always going to be a telepath around to help him. But something to take the edge off... if nothing else, to quell his nightmares... it would get him on his feet." She said the last part carefully, in a tone that was strangely caring, as if she'd be doing so for John's own good. "And if it doesn't... then he'll be taken care of."
Mystique was not asking too much of Emma. Her request was something that she could do--At least she could go to Genosha and try. If John refused, she would at least have tried to honor Mystique's wishes, and she could go on with her life. And her plans.
"As soon as you're all better, I'll go back," Emma agreed with a nod. "You will know whether he will allow himself to be helped." She didn't have to say how Mystique would know; with what Mystique knew of Emma's powers, she would know that Emma could just make her know.
Emma then paused; her eyes on her hands. "There is something to be had in a very unlikely place. If you hear of me again...Just know that I plan to never work on any single side of this war." She felt as though she needed to justify herself, which she hardly ever felt. But she had decided what she would do next, and she did not want to be misunderstood at any point in the future. "But for now, I will help The Brotherhood. If he will have my help."
Something flashed through Mystique's mind that she could not say out loud. She sat up. Sometimes, she could not get away from how amazing Emma was. Not just her beauty; the woman was intoxicating. Mystique smiled, looking down for a moment.
"Emma... you know better than that. None of us can work on a single side... and those that think they do, throw cars and set things on fire, without gaining any ground." She leaned in and kissed Emma's cheek, lingering there for a moment before sitting back to look her in the eyes. "If there is anything I can do to repay you for your aid... just tell me."