Mystique slowly opened her eyes to dim sunlight streaming through shades.

It took a few seconds to remember what happened--the camp...and the X-men...

Suddenly she sat up, which make her head pound.

What had happened? She didn't remember. (Small wonder after the mental shock).

Deja-vu-ish.

She realized she knew this room...the mansion...the one she'd been in before. 

For a second she had the weird sensation that the past two months had just been a bizarre hallucination and she'd never left.

She got up and went to the door in a hurry. It was unlocked.

Cautiously, she crept down the hallway and then the stairs.

She heard voices coming from the kitchen.

"Her parents are coming here." That was Jean. "What are we going to do? I didn't dare say no.... How are we supposed to explain?"

"You had to tell them." That was Wally. "They'd have called the police on you otherwise... Look, it's not like you planned this. Better just tell them the truth."

"It's not as if she could hide it from them forever." Shine's steady tone.

"But I don't like it." That was Rogue. "And what about that mean feller? We just keep him locked in the basement?"

"Ain't we ignoring another problem?" Gambit said.

Mystique slowly opened the door.

They all looked at her.

"And dere it is," Gambit said, before Rogue slugged him.

"What's...going on?" Mystique said, vaguely.

"Do you...remember what happened?" Shine asked oddly.

Mystique shook her head.

"I think that's normal," the Professor spoke. "It'll come back soon, I expect. You're very lucky, Mystique. A little more force and Psylocke might have broken your mind in a lasting way...but as it is, I think the shock will pass in a day or so. In the meantime...I suppose you can stay or go if you wish. Unfortunately, we have other problems..."

"Why...am I here?" Mystique asked.

"Because dumping you in the middle of nowhere seemed kind of like a low thing to do." Wally shrugged. "By the way, genius plan, Misty... It's a pity you don't remember it. It was epic."

"Quite the experience," Shine agreed.

Mystique could only imagine what that meant...She was starting to get hazy images of what happened in her head...something about Psylocke...and Magneto...and his stupid army.

Kurt looked at her and then looked away. "But vhat about vhat Trinity told us?"

Mystique raised an eyebrow.

"Guys, we're being rude," Shine said.

"Wouldn't want to be that," Logan said.

Storm sighed. "One thing at a time."

The Professor put his hands together. "Some of us will go after this young mutant. Mrs. West, I will trust you to handle things with your...guest. I will try to handle the Graysons. Perhaps with a little communication, we can save our reputation."

"I don't mind fetching the child," Storm said. "But are we sure now is the best time?"

"There often is no ideal time," Xavier said.

"I'll go with you, Storm," Wally offered. "In case it's a handful. What do you say, Logan, old buddy, old pal?"

"As long as I can avoid 'socializing' with a bunch of snobs, I'll get out of here," Logan said. "But stop callin' me old."

"Technically, you are kind of old," Wally said.

He got kicked for that.

"Come." Shine waved at Mystique. "I'm sure you're baffled..." She looked at the others. "We're still having a party later, whatever happens."

They shrugged at her or gave her weird looks.

"Party?" Mystique said as Shine guided her out of the room.

"So here's the 411," Shine said, with the air of one about to speed through something. "Magneto and us had a clash. You helped us escape in exchange for a ride, since things were not simpatico for you over there anymore. Psylocke did some kind of mental grenade that knocked you out for a full 18 hours. We came back here, found out Sabretooth made an attempt on the life of our young friend, Trinity. Her parents called, furious that she ditched church without telling them. But apparently her older brother covered for her. He's currently visiting from college. And he told her something about someone he knew there, sounds like mutant. So now we need to go meet this girl before someone else finds her there. By we, I mean the X-men. Her parents are coming here, under the impression that she had a sleepover without their permissions, and if they catch us with mutants here, they'll kill us. Does that clear it up?"

"Not in the least," Mystique said. "What part of 'I don't want to be here' do you not understand?"

"Next time you pass out from a mental bomb, I'll take you to your hotel of choice," Shine said, sarcastic. "Look, what else could we do? You know how hard it is to refuel that plane? You're lucky we got this far. If you want to go, go. But it's recommended you wait a while and make sure you're okay first. No one's going to keep you here. As far as the others are concerned, you helped us get out, so we're even. But if you do decide to stick around for a little, we might have a party, so that's a thing."

She rubbed her head.

"Did you say Sabretooth tried to kill someone?" Mystique had picked out this fact amidst all the chaos.

"Yes..." Shine suddenly looked angry. "We'll deal with him...later... I'm about ready to smack that smug face of his."

Mystique laughed before she could stop herself. "You would not be the first...but...uh..."

But she wasn't sure what to say.

Shine shook her head. "You know, sometimes things aren't as complicated as you think they are," she said slowly, "with the right people... Think about it. Most of them don't know why you left."

She shrugged.

Mystique suddenly looked hostile. "Did you...?"

"Tell them? No...only one," Shine said.

Pause.

"Who?"

"Who?" Shine said oddly. "Who do you think would have asked me?"

Mystique swallowed. Morph.

"And...what did you hear?" she said in a low voice.

"All of it." Shine shrugged, looking at her strangely. "Changes nothing. Not to me. But it might change it for other people. You know...there are less cruel ways to make a point."

"I did what I had to do." Mystique bristled.

"I know," Shine said. "I know you probably believe that."

She shrugged and walked towards the hall, then looked back. "Look, Raven...I've heard worse, okay? But not everyone is like me. Some people need an explanation, and some people need an apology. And if you're just going to leave anyway...why be unnecessarily tormenting about it? You are free now. But what you do with that freedom, that is up to you. You can make things worse...or better. But do you really need any more enemies?"

She left.

As usual, Mystique felt more muddled than before.

She sat down.

One of the Morlocks came in, looked at her, and then left.

Like she was the one who had the plague...she thought.

* * *

Storm, Wally, and Logan took the plane.

"So...this is exciting, right?" Wally said.

"How does the girl know about this again?" Logan asked.

"Weren't you listening before?" Wally said.

"I stopped listenin' after I heard 'teenager'," Logan said.

"I'm sure you didn't," Storm said. "But I missed some of the details myself... How did she find her again?"

"Oh, Jean was explaining that while you were upstairs," Wally said. "That's why... So Trinity is not an only child, like I thought. I mean, she kind of acts like one, right? But actually she's got a brother who's in college but in a different State. Anyway, he's home visiting for the week. And she got to talking to him about this whole mutant thing... Apparently, he's a bit more...open minded, you know? And he starts telling her that there was this girl at his college. He doesn't really know her, but he heard she was acting real funny lately, getting weird symptoms, and then...she drops through the floor."

"The floor," Storm said. "Yes...I remember that part. Could be phasing."

"Uh huh," Wally said. "So he thinks this kid could be a mutant...but get this, she's actually like a high school aged kid. She's just a genius, and she's only taking college classes for extra stuff. But the rumors spread. You know, someone tells someone who tells someone else... The thing is, she already had this mystery visitor who might be looking for mutants. So..."

"And this is where we come in," Storm said.

[Took this from the actual comic.]

They arrived some time later.

"Usually the Professor comes with us," Storm said uneasily. "But of course...he felt he should personally explain to Trinity's parents... I'm not sure I am the most reassuring person."

"And you think we are?" Wally said.

Logan just shrugged.

"So..." Wally said, as they walked up, "yeah, you guys had a moment, right?"

"A what?" Storm said.

"You know," Wally said. "Overcoming crippling fear, hugging it out, that type of thing."

"Oh, yes, that was a huge step." Storm missed what he was implying entirely. "I almost have hope that I may one day not be so held back by my claustrophobia."

Logan shot Wally a warning look.

"I mean, it's is important to have support." Wally ignored him. "Especially from people you can trust."

"Yes, I suppose that is true," Storm said. "I was fortunate... Kurt was also helpful."

"What are you doin'?" Logan growled at Wally.

"I'm just talking about how important it is," Wally said. "Why, did you think I was talking about something else?"

Storm cast a look back at them. "Is something wrong, Logan?"

Logan glared at Wally again.

"No," he said. "Some wise guy is just askin' for a knuckle sandwich."

"If something isn't wrong, then how am I asking for it?" Wally asked. "Maybe there's something you don't want to tell us, huh?"

"I'm goin' to start roughin' ya up if ya don't shut up," Logan said.

"Logan, is that really called for? I don't understand--what is so wrong about talking about it?" Storm was puzzled. "It was an important moment...at least for me...and Rogue had hers too. I am almost sorry it was overshadowed by the trouble later, but still..." She looked pretty happy.

"Now how can you have a problem with that?" Wally said slyly. "What's wrong with you, man?"

Logan looked ready to deck him anyway, but just then they reached the door.

Storm rang the bell.

A man answered it who looked nervous. "Oh...um...are you the specialists?"

"Yes," Storm said. "May we come in?"

"Uh...sure," the man said.  "I'm...Mr. Pryde..."

* * *

Somehow Professor Xavier smoothed things over with Trinity's parents... All the other mutants around avoided the house while they were in it.

Trinity's brother, Will, also came, mostly because he felt responsible for the whole thing.

He was a nice man, good looking, a lot like Trinity.

"So is this your only sibling?" Jubilee asked.

"Oh, no, I have younger ones," Trinity said.

"Wait...you're the middle?" Ryan said. "You act more like the oldest."

"I guess because Will is so much older than me, I kind of am the oldest to my sisters," Trinity said. "The twins...MK and AJ."

"Twins?" Ryan looked horrified.

"What are twins?" Kevin asked.

"Uh..." No one wanted to answer that.

"Look," Mr. Grayson said, "we appreciate that you called us. But we're just starting to wonder if your Jewels is a bad influence on our daughter. Making arrangements and not telling us--she never did those things before."

"We appreciate that Trinity wants to befriend new people," Mrs. Grayson added. "But we have to think of her also."

"I understand perfectly," Professor Xavier said. "But I assure you, our Ju-ewels is not influencing Trinity to lie to you. Young girls get excited, that's all. I'm sure she never meant to frighten you."

"Are you Jewels' grandfather?" Mr. Grayson asked, a little warily. "I do not quite understand.... This is a school? Or an orphanage?"

"It's a bit of both, I suppose," Xavier said. "A safe haven, for people who need one. We're hoping to expand it... Trinity has made quite the positive impression on our students, devoting some of her spare time to teaching them some healthy sports activities. They love having her over."

"They're going to have to do without her for a while," Mr. Grayson said finally. "Trinity, you're grounded."

Trinity swallowed that meekly. "Yes...sir."

"We don't wish to be too harsh." Mrs. Grayson stood up. "After all, she is denoting her time to charity. And as Christians, we have to encourage that, but not if she's neglecting to be responsible the rest of the time. Young people throw themselves into things headlong...and sneaking over without our permission is not okay. She'll have to think about what she's done. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Xavier."

"Yes, well, I'm sorry for the inconvenience," Professor Xavier said. "Trinity, you had better be more careful in the future. I hope we will see you again, however."

"Oh...thanks...and I will," Trinity said meekly.

"Wow...she's good at this," Jubilee hissed. "I'd be whining."

"You get good at that nice-kid act when you want to get out of trouble," Ryan hissed. "It works with youth leaders too."

"Is Trinity not coming back?" Kevin asked.

"Oh...nah, they'll get over it, I'm sure," Jubilee said. "Though, I'm a bad influence? Please."

"You kind of are," Ryan said. "I mean, at least, compared to Trinity's family's idea of good...you know, having a stick up your...uh...rear end."

"Hmpf," Jubilee huffed.

Trinity motioned to Jubilee to call her and let her know what happened later, before she was ushered out.

"Well...crisis avert," Xavier said. "Thankfully, they did not notice anything awry here.... I only hope young Trinity does not suffer too much for this."

"That was smooth." Shine leaned in the doorway. "You can sweet talk better than I thought, Professor."

"I was not trying to do that," Xavier said. "But we must be diplomatic."

"Oh, it was a compliment," Shine said. "But you have to admit, letting more people stay here was a good idea. How weird would it have looked to have one teen-aged girl living with 8 or 9 adults, not including Wally and I? The school thing is way more credible now."

"Perhaps...but I still worry we are over-reaching our capacity," Xavier said. "And, if the others are successful, soon one girl more."

"Another girl is coming?" Ryan came in.

"Only maybe," Xavier said. "As we understand it, she's already been exposed for being a mutant. She may wish to lie low for a while...but perhaps not. We'll see."

"At least that's over." Shine flopped onto the couch. "Major problem out of the way."

"And have you confirmed what our other unexpected guest is going to do?" Xavier asked.

"No," Shine said. "I gave her some ideas...but she is stubborn. And, let's be real, not many people here like her. And you don't want her around. She knows that."

She leaned on one arm, sideways. "I wouldn't stay if I were her either. But it's a shame. I do miss her when she's not here."

"I do not understand what you like about her," Xavier said. "While I wish to help any mutant...one who so blatantly refuses it, and even spurns our good wishes, is not one I can consider myself friends with."

"Yet you consider yourself friends with Magnus," Shine said dryly.

Xavier was quiet. "Well...I suppose...though, his actions disappoint me... He truly would not listen to reason?"

"When has he ever?" Shine sat up again. "You ought to stop blinding yourself to the truth, Charles. He is out of his mind. Crazed with anger and hatred."

"That is not true, Mrs. West. He is simply lost," Xavier said.

"Lost, sure, but not everyone who is lost is a decently good person," Shine said. "Or even remotely one."

"He is an honorable man," Xavier said.

"When it costs him nothing to be so," Shine replied, "but willing to sacrifice honor and kindness when it suits his purpose. That is not principle, Charles, that is evil."

"Magnus is not evil," Xavier said.

"The trouble with you is you think someone has to have some deep inhumanity to them to be evil," Shine said. "But, in our book, humans are evil. Wicked...sinful. And selfishness is as big a sin as malice."

"One of the many things I simply cannot agree with Christians about," Xavier said. "How can you look at all people that way?"

"It's impossible not to." Shine stood up now. "I don't say that to put us down, Charles. Perhaps you remember--I am human."

She frowned at him. "It is you who seem to think you have risen a little above that--and are not subject to those same sins and failings. And you can't admit people live accordingly. You decree Magnus is to be allowed to do as he does, until it becomes absolutely necessary to stop him. But you know what he will do. He should have been stopped ages ago. If he was human, would you hesitate to let him be arrested?"

"That is different," Xavier said. "Mutants are not treated fairly by the law."

"You let Hank be arrested," Shine said. "And stand trial. You pity Magnus too much. He does not need pity. That clear enough. He needs to hear that he is wrong. And you ought to tell him. It might save his soul. Though he would not thank you. But then, we don't do this for thanks." She shook her head. "Soon I will offend you beyond endurance, so I think I had better stop."

She left straightaway.

The kids all pretended not to have heard that and drifted out even before she did.

Xavier put his head in his hands and sighed.

* * *

Mystique wandered from room to room, unable to commit either to leaving the house, or to settling down in it.

Shine's words bothered her.

Also, she was dying to ask her about that chapter...but how could she? She might seem as if she'd begun to take all this seriously.

How did she end up back here? So neatly...like she'd been maneuvered into it. She'd just wanted to get away from the camp. Not back track.

She didn't see Morph all day.

That was for the best, she supposed.

She couldn't believe he'd told Shine what happened... No, she could believe it... And why should it matter? Why else had she done it but to convince them not to keep her there?

How could Shine really not be bothered by it? Even looked happy to see her... It was sickening.

Under that feeling was the uneasy suspicion that she was not finding it as sickening as she wished to.

She absolutely could not let herself start to think this was normal. Shine would have to realize, sooner or later, that she could not win over everyone.

But why didn't she care to try that much with Magneto? A voice kept nagging at her. "Why does she keep trying with you? Doesn't she really see a difference?"

And what difference was there? Not that much.

And they couldn't really be stupid enough to believe she helped them for their sakes. It was just her easy way out.

She shouldn't have yelled at Shine like she had...now that she was starting to remember doing it. Probably gave her the idea she was worried about it. It would have been bad for her if they were killed...that was all.

Of course...Mystique thought dimly, staring out a window, it would only have been bad for her because she knew that they were more willing to help her even after everything. Even that stupid Morph.

Not that he hadn't been livid. But that she never blamed him for...just for acting as if it didn't matter. Who just acted as if being angry didn't matter?

These people...

Maybe something about this really got into your head...

Somehow, even sitting in this house...she couldn't muster any of her old disgust for it. Did not being here against her will really make that much for a difference? Maybe it did... She could walk out any time... Was that why she was putting it off...? Because...then what? She'd start all over. New life...new lies...but same old existence.

It couldn't be that she'd started to enjoy the brief escapism from that that playing this game had given her?... Could it?

She didn't like this new clarity.

She really didn't like what all this was pointing to... It was like she'd missed this.

Two months of thinking about it literally every day and she'd put it all down to just being angry or ashamed over it. But what was this odd relief about it? Like...she'd wanted this but been too afraid and stubborn to take it herself.

It was just wrong...

What if one of them sensed it too...? She'd die of shame.

Moving yet again, unable to settle, Mystique wandered outside, where most of the younger kids had been hiding from the human guests.

Now they were at some kind of soccer game.

Something was wrong with the ground at one edge of the yard. It looked like it'd been kicked up into a wad.

Mystique stared at it in bewilderment before she recognized Proteus' power... What had gone on?

"Kid did a number on the yard," Morph startled her by appearing out of nowhere and commenting. "But I guess he saved Trinity, so it's worth it. Sabretooth has no decency at all. Picking on a kid like that."

Almost the same words he'd said to piss her off before she...well...

Nothing changed.

Mystique had nothing to say.

"Why are you still here?" Morph asked, sounding peeved. "Thought you'd be off like a slingshot."

Mystique stared at the disheveled ground.

"Shine has suggested I have unfinished business," she said finally. "Not that there's anything to be done about it...but I can't rest easy."

"Should that be comforting?" Morph said.

Mystique glared, finally turning to give him the full effects of it. "Do you have something to say to me? Just say it. I'm weary of this...whatever you call it, passive aggressive taunting."

She got a dead look in reply.

"You know, after what you pulled to get yourself expelled," Morph said, tightly, "just a little shame would be nice. But, what did I expect? Bet you didn't care that you upset Shine a whole lot by that stunt either."

"It was your own fault for repeating it," Mystique said.

"I was talking about the books." Morph was icy. "The other, she drove it out of me. And it's not like it made any difference. You really don't get it. She doesn't care. She sets her mind to a thing, and she doesn't give up. It's a good quality to have, I have to admit. She even defended you."

"D-defended?" Mystique sputtered. This was too much.

"Oh...not in a making excuses kind of way." Morph was cutting. "She's above that, you know. But she tried to understand...more than anyone else does. Makes me wonder what kind of people she's known before... She told me not to take it personally...can you believe that? Sure felt personal."

Mystique began to feel a little ill...from guilt, probably.

"What...wounded pride?" She tried to force a snide tone.

"Unbelievable." Morph was disgusted. "Why even bother, right? You know, maybe she's right. Maybe you don't know what you do when you do it--but it strikes me you just don't want to know. Nothing is important unless it happens to Mystique. She's the victim. So it doesn't matter what other people feel like."

"What did I really do?" Mystique knew it was a pathetic response, even as she made it. Same as with Kurt.

She thought to herself, she just ripped out Kurt's heart when he asked her for the truth...and she said she didn't do anything to him.

She didn't go that far with Morph, but clearly something had upset him more than she imagined, and here she couldn't even own up to that...though she wasn't exactly clear on what it was.

"Forget it." Morph had had it. He started walking away.

Mystique was going to just let him, but then she felt compelled by curiosity alone... Perhaps she had a sort of sick wish to know the worst things about herself, all the time.

[Been there.]

"No, come on," she called, catching up. "Finish, please." Even then she couldn't say it without disdain.

"No," Morph said.

Mystique frowned. "Then it's nothing," she said. "Who really has an offense and isn't willing to talk on and on about it?"

That did it.

Morph whirled around, looking almost ready to go into dark form.

"You want to talk about it?" he said.

Mystique regretted her words immediately.

"You know, I could take the other crap," Morph said. "I made peace with that a while ago, but the one thing I just can't seem to get past is...accusing me of having motives like that? I mean, how sick is that? I've never even thought of it... People who do that are disgusting... I mean, you know...just ignoring what everyone does, just trying to be a good person, but calling it something else? You can't even spare that little dignity for people?"

Mystique had never imagined this was going to be his main point of contention...but it did make sense.

She frowned. "So that's it? Pride? You'd have to excuse me for not thinking of that. It was not really my goal to stroke your ego."

"Isn't that deliberately misinterpreting what I said?" Morph said. "That's just it...ego has nothing to do with it... I've been doing my best here... Even if you don't get that, you could at least respect that some of us want to fix our lives. You gotta drag everyone down to your level."

Silence.

Morph was going to walk away again, but Mystique spoke finally. "You're right," she said.

"Huh?" Morph really thought she was just going to jab at him again.

"You're right," Mystique repeated in a low voice. "I do do that... I suppose it is the only way I know to understand...or maybe, more accurately, to retain power. I suppose also it's rare that it does not work. Most people can be brought down to any level you try... I live by it... It's not fair, is that it? I guess it's not... I'm sorry."

That was the last thing Morph thought he would hear.

Mystique didn't notice it was odd. She was only thinking out loud now. "I suppose I did hurt people in order to get what I wanted...not the first time...probably not the last... I knew it would end that way. Better to just get it over with. It's not fair, I'll give you that. It wasn't fair to anyone, but it's worse in the long run to keep pretending, that's all. Now you know. Don't expect more of me... What else is there to say? It wasn't personal...I suppose that is true. I try to avoid making anything personal."

She started to walk away now.

Morph felt more angry that before...in a different way now. Like that just wasn't good enough.

"And that's just who you want to be," he shot after her.

Mystique looked back, oh, so hopeless. "I can't be anything else..."

She kept walking, feeling heavy as lead now...but also, oddly, like she'd finished something... What silent tension had been there, at least it was out in the open now...rare enough for someone like her.

https://youtu.be/KGkUye2L-38