บท 105: Raven
In this world, being a mutant means encountering folks Max never knew from his old world, and even facing events that echo past occurrences. Take the Sentinel project, for instance.
But Max isn't one to accept defeat easily. He believes in the possibility of altering the future with ample preparation.
Just like flipping the script on fate, ending it before it unfolds. Plus, there are Avengers here, and the Sentinel project isn't as advanced as it was in the old world.
As for Professor X, Max isn't keen on crossing paths with him too much. He's still a kid, probably not as skilled as Esme, and he's just Charles for now, not the seasoned Professor X who's weathered storms.
Leaving the manor, Max plans to head back to the hotel and regroup. Tomorrow, he'll track down Howard Stark and bring him back, fulfilling his mission in New York.
"What?"
Max returns to his car, only to find someone inside. A young woman in her twenties is rummaging through things in the driver's seat.
"A thief?"
"C'mon, how can you accuse me of being a thief, Ms. Qingben!"
Max chuckles, appearing from another dimension and tapping lightly on the car.
Startled, the woman halts her search and looks up. Upon seeing Max, she's momentarily stunned before asking boldly, "What's up?"
Max is taken aback by her confidence. "What are you searching for? Car keys?"
She nods, explaining, "Yeah, my boyfriend and I went for a spin, but he hopped into a friend's car, leaving me to drive back. But darn it, I can't find the spare key. And you?"
"I've got a situation too!"
Max grins, amused by her resourcefulness. "Just didn't realize I had a girlfriend added to the equation." He jingles the car keys with a smile.
The woman in the car is dumbfounded. This is his car? After a moment of shock, she tries to bolt, but Max grabs her wrist before she can make a getaway.
"Hey, aren't you my girlfriend? Why the rush?" Max quipped, a grin spreading across his face.
The woman struggled against his grip, but she couldn't break free. She spun around to face Max, only to witness a sudden transformation.
With a swish, her appearance morphed into an exact replica of Max's.
Most folks would freak out if they stumbled upon this bizarre scenario, and she could have used the opportunity to make a break for it. She'd attempted this tactic before. So, after the transformation, her initial instinct was to bolt while the other person was still processing the shock. Yet, when she exerted force to flee, she realized the other person's grip hadn't loosened at all.
How was this possible?
Why wasn't he frightened?
"Let me go!" she demanded, her voice identical to his.
But even as she spoke, the other person didn't flinch; instead, he just smiled—an eerie grin that sent shivers down her spine.
"Yep, it's a perfect match," Max remarked with a smile.
Max never expected the thief he encountered on the flip side to be Mystique Raven.
Initially, Max had planned to wait for the dust to settle before seeking out Mystique. After all, Mystique was the linchpin of the Sentinel plan. Without her, the plan would never come to fruition. But fate had other plans, as Mystique had stumbled right into his path.
In the old world, Mystique had long since perished, but here she was—a child fighting for survival in the shadows. With proper guidance and the enhancement of her abilities, Max believed she could become an invaluable asset in the future.
"Or, perhaps, I could treat you to dinner," Max suggested nonchalantly, releasing his grip and heading towards the car.
Raven hesitated. Her rational mind urged her to seize this opportunity to flee, but there was a nagging voice in her heart suggesting that this man was different—that he might just change her life.
The gnawing hunger in her stomach compelled Raven to grit her teeth as she made her way to the co-pilot's seat. Once inside the car, she reverted to the appearance of the woman she'd been impersonating.
"Who's this person?" Max asked casually as he started the car.
Raven shook her head. "I don't know, but she seemed content."
"Why aren't you afraid of me?" Raven inquired curiously.
"What's there to fear? A little girl who can't even fill her stomach?" Max replied with a smile.
Raven wanted to argue that she wasn't just a little girl, but for some reason, she always felt a twinge of guilt whenever she saw Max's smile, as if he knew something she didn't. It was a new sensation for her, grappling with human interactions for the first time in her young life, leaving her uncertain of how to respond, so she remained silent.
Max didn't press the issue, driving them back to the hotel in silence.
"Come with me," Max said to Raven as they arrived.
Obediently, Raven stepped out of the car and followed Max into the hotel. Inside, Max handed some bills to the front desk. "Get some food and deliver it to my room."
"Of course, sir," the receptionist replied, taking the money.
Money talks, no matter the color of the skin.
Once in the room, Max tossed the key aside and looked at the somewhat apprehensive Raven. "The bathroom's over there. You should take a shower first. By the time you're done, the food should be here. We'll talk after dinner."
Raven hesitated before making her way to the bathroom. However, there was no sound from within for quite some time. Suddenly, Max wondered if perhaps the Raven have left through the bathroom ventilation. Rising from his seat, he pushed the bathroom door open.
Upon entering, he found the figure of Raven in a towel instinctively trying to shield herself, ready to change. It wasn't that she was afraid of being seen. She just didn't want Max to see her true form.
She felt insecure.
"You don't need to change. It's just awkward in front of people. You look fine as you are," Max reassured her, helping her adjust the water temperature and showing her how to operate the shower.
Gradually, Raven realized that she didn't seem to fear or despise her appearance. Despite her youth, she was remarkably sensitive and perceptive in this regard.
"Thank you," Raven whispered as Max was about to leave the bathroom.
....
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