-A/N-: The world has gone crazy. And we’re the only sane ones left.

---

She was panting hard by the time she reached Xavier’s office. She didn’t need to slam the door open because it was already ajar, as though she was being expected.

Of course, this man was a bloody telepath!

Nevertheless, she stormed in, disorientated and lightheaded with thoughts and memories that weren’t quite hers running through her head. Her skin felt tight and looked almost a sickly blue to her eyes.

Mystique was in the mansion. Mystique was in the mansion with them.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” she yelled as soon as the Professor looked up from his desk at her.

Xavier looked not the least taken aback at her sudden arrival and vicious outburst—as though it were all inevitable.

“Rogue, what is it that I didn’t I tell you?” he asked calmly, steepling his fingers.

Rogue looked incredulous for a split second. Was he trying to test her patience?

“You know what I’m fucking talking about, dammit.” Her voice was shrill to her own ears. “Risty Wilde. She’s – she’s Mystique!” She was outraged. He should have known. So how couldn’t he have told them? Told her? And then she wondered: could John have known too? She glared at Xavier, waiting for an explanation.

Xavier sighed. “My telepathic abilities were not enough to significantly probe into her mind,” he said simply, “I was only able to recognize her powers as a shapeshifter. And then from there I knew who she ultimately was.”

“That still doesn’t tell me why the hell you didn’t let us know!”

“Rogue, I understand…” Xavier began, but he was interrupted by the arrival of Mystique herself, still looking very much drained and weak from the absorption of her life essence—her blue skin looked much paler than normal, and her hair was still tinged purple from Risty’s appearance. She leant against the doorframe for support, breathing heavily.

She looked about to say something but John appeared soon after, sidestepping the woman and striding up to the Professor.

“You knew,” John said simply, glaring at the man.

“I thought you would have figured it out by now,” Xavier said.

“Does it look like I figured it out?” John asked scathingly.

“Obviously didn’t train you well enough, then,” Mystique said with a feeble smirk, “if you couldn’t tell that little miss smart-ass Risty Wilde was me.”

John spun around to face his former ally. Ally? John wasn’t really sure what to call her. Nevertheless, she had been a mentor to him of sorts.

“Mystique,” John acknowledged evenly.

“Pyro,” the woman returned the greeting, as though they hadn’t spoken to each other in years, “you’re back with the X-Men I see.”

“You’ve got your powers back,” John said, ignoring her previous remark completely.

The blue-skinned mutant shrugged almost nonchalantly. “Had them for quite awhile now. Why do you think Risty even existed? The bloody Cure is definitely not a cure,” she mused.

Rogue eyed both Mystique and John wearily. And she was surprised how much she knew of what the both of them had been through whilst they had been in the Brotherhood. Maybe it was because she had both their fragmented memories and thoughts swirling around in her head. It was only when she pieced them together did she realise how much John respected Mystique, and how she respected him. And now, they weren’t in the Brotherhood anymore, because John had come back and Mystique… Mystique… Rogue was overcome with feelings of betrayal, anger and melancholy from memories of the one they called Raven Darkholme.

“Raven,” Xavier spoke then, “I think it’s time we all had a chat with you.”

---

“So. Why the hell is she here again?” Logan asked, none-too-politely, staring fixedly at Mystique.

They were all there: Storm, Logan, Hank, Xavier, Raven, John, Rogue and even Bobby… all seated around the study. Both Ororo and Hank didn’t look too concerned that they had a dangerous ex-Brotherhood mutant sitting among them—although that could go with John as well—they probably already knew. And that made the rest of them pretty peeved at the Professor for not saying anything.

“Look, Logan. I only told Storm and Hank about this because they should know about her presence in the school,” Xavier explained.

“And I don’t?” The Wolverine was incredulous that the old man had picked Storm and the Beast over him.

“You would have tried to kill her,” John said bluntly, “And then everything would go to hell.”

“Point taken,” Logan muttered, shooting another murderous glare at Mystique, who had already regained her strength and agility prior to the calamity with Rogue.

“I understand,” Xavier continued, “how you feel. I understand how all of you feel. But I reasoned that since Raven hadn’t been doing any harm, I didn’t need to expose her.”

“Well then, if she’s not here to murder kids, why is she even in the mansion?”

“Logan-” Hank McCoy began, disapprovingly.

“Hey, are you implying she kills kids every chance she gets?” John’s voice was hard.

Logan stared at John. “Why the hell’re you defending her?” he grated, then paused, finally realizing that he sounded real stupid, “Oh. Right. Brotherhood pals. Figures.”

“I’m here,” Mystique said loudly, shutting both Logan and John up, “because I needed a place to recover. At least until Magneto decides to show his face again. What better place to recuperate than Xavier’s Institute for Mutants?”

John raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t forgotten the little incident in the rear trailer where Erik Lensherr had turned his back on Mystique, and he was sure that she hadn’t forgotten either. Didn’t she, in any way, feel deceived by what he did?

“You’re going back to him? After what he did to you?”

Mystique snorted at John’s ignorance. “Go back? To him? Please. You were there when I was cured. I saw the look on your face too. Disbelief. That was what I felt when he walked out of there without even a single backward glance. No, I will never go back to him. What I want,” she said, looking over to Xavier, “is to exact my revenge.”

“So you plan to kill him?” the Professor’s voice was quiet.

Mystique snorted again. “Who said anything about killing? Hurting him, maybe… A lot,” she looked away slowly, “You must understand. I trusted that man. I was loyal. And what the hell did he do to me?” her voice cracked.

“What you do to Magneto’s none of my business,” Logan growled coldly. “Charles, I want her out. Now.”

Xavier stood, exuding authority. “Logan, like I said, I know how you feel about this. But I would appreciate it if you ceased your overly headstrong intentions. Believe me, even Storm had the same reaction when I told her who Risty truly was.”

“She’s Mystique, for crying out loud!” Logan exclaimed, as though it were all that simple.

“She wants to stay,” Rogue said then, quietly, and all heads turned to look at her. “She has no where else to go.”

A frown appeared on Mystique’s face, and then it slowly contorted into a smirk. “Having me in your mind doing any good?” she asked.

Rogue shook her head, but replied softly, “I’ll cope.” And she wasn’t really sure whether she could. Because she was still having difficulty take in all of the woman’s past.

“Miss Darkholme,” Xavier said then, “If you want to stay, then stay. I’ll ensure that no one here,” he looked sharply at Logan, “tries to cause any difficulties. However, I trust that no complications would crop up. We are confident that you won’t attempt to try anything while you’re living here with us. We forgave John, and I’m sure we can do the same for you.”

At that point, Logan had got up and stormed out of Xavier’s office in disbelief and rage.

“Someone’s not happy,” Bobby muttered as all of them stared after the man’s retreating form.

“He’ll get over it,” Mystique said, unconcerned, and she turned back to Xavier, who had once again seated himself back in his high-backed chair. “I guess I’ll have to say thank you. For allowing me to stay. I’m grateful.”

“Think nothing of it, Raven. This is an Institute to house mutants after all.”

Mystique nodded with a smile, and Rogue was surprised at how far she was from looking like a cold-blooded murderer.

“Just one thing, Charles,” the blue-skinned woman said, “Don’t call me Raven. Or Miss Darkholme. It’s ‘Mystique’. Just Mystique.”

---

-A/N-: She stays. Wow, looks like I’m introducing more and more characters to this plot (does this mean more characters are gonna' die in the end?). Anyway, this chapter had lots of underlying messages and implications, especially between Pyro and Mystique. But I think a lot of assumptions can be made.

The 42: You are a saviour. Thank you so much for pointing out my little mistake. I’ve corrected it. And I really do need to get a BETA reader for this fic.

PsYcHoThErApY17: I really, really appreciate your reviews! Thanks for reviewing ‘Sanctification’ too. Did I really make you nearly cry? Aww… I tend to like writing one-shot, angst fics. It’s like an addiction. Can’..

we-r-the-cure: Pietro deserves to die. But I’m kinda’ surprised that everyone hates him, because I’ve made him sort of like Pyro in a way (you know, his snarky, arrogant, I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude). Haha.

Jamie: Hey, you reviewed. I’m honoured. Haha. We should really have that X-Men movie marathon once X3 comes out on DVD. I’ll stay over at your house!

Dama Jade: I admire both Xavier and Magneto as well. And their unwavering friendship albeit their separate ideals constantly remind me of Bobby and John. That is why I didn’t like portraying Bobby as a ‘jealous ex-boyfriend’ because it just wouldn’t work. I prefer John and Bobby to be friends instead of archenemies. Anyway, thanks for your review! And thanks for commenting on ‘Sanctification’ as well! It was a really emotional piece for me to write.

Everyone else, thanks. The next chapter sees more Ryro and hopefully some angst.