Hank's lab, at the wind tunnel

[tobenormal]

Hank had a terrible time sleeping last night due to two factors, not being alone in the world anymore and Raven. The Raven factor was many fold and danced in his head even when he finally did manage to sleep; her beauty, how he wished he could help her be normal, how she thought he was amazing, how beautiful she was, and how he wanted to know more about her.

When he woke a thought hit him and he closed his eyes to better see the molecular bonds of his formula. Like Archimedes he wanted to shout "Eureka!" as he realized Raven may hold the key to both his own awkward mutation and her own. But how to approach this? One didn't just walk up to ladies and ask them for their blood. Not if you wanted to have a chance at getting said blood anyway. He decided another lunch might be a way to broach the subject and so sent her an invitation for lunch in his lab.

He couldn't resist a post script promising a surprise though.

Comments

[tobenormal]

"It was the surprise I mentioned but I do like spending time with you," Hank says despite the fear clutching his throat. He's screwed it up, he knows he has. She's going to run any minute now and never want to speak with him again.

[andproud]

"You know, when most guys ask me out on a date it isn't my blood they're after," she murmurs, her lips shifting into a subtle smile that carries into her eyes, warm and slightly fond.

[tobenormal]

Hank twitches nervously in awkwardness and excitement.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to be so forward," he manages to say. "I'm just excited."

[andproud]

"I don't mind it," she murmurs, meeting his gaze.

"I'm just saying that it's never exactly happened before."

[tobenormal]

"I'm sorry," he says not really listening to her. He turns to put away the syringe siting in the kidney pan. "I should have waited until we knew each other better."

[andproud]

"Hank."

She reaches out a hand towards him, her fingers gently closing around his forearm.

"Take the blood," she whispers, her eyes searching his.

[no_more_hiding]

He can't hide the smile of joy as he turns back to her though it slowly falls from his face as he loses himself in her eyes.

"Okay," he says, his voice heavy. He reaches over blindly for the syringe and alcohol. "I'll only need a little I'm sure."

[andproud]

"Take as much as you need," she whispers, unable to tear her gaze away as she offers her arm to him, turning her palm to face upward.

She sits forward on her knees, swiveling closer, gently easing the sleeve of her dress up to expose the inside of her arm.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank tears his gaze away with a smile as he needs to pay attention with the syringe. He rubs her arm with the rubbing alcohol all the while very aware that she is likely the first woman not his mother he has touched in so intimate a manner.

"There's going to be a little pinch," he warns while kicking himself mentally to not read too much into this. He is very careful and finds a vein straight away. As he finishes, he holds some gauze over the needle and continues to hold it until the needle is clear. He keeps holding it as he looks up and her eyes fill his world. Lost, his mouth opens for a breath that catches.

[andproud]

There is a pinch, slightly more than, but she barely flinches, only blinking once as her eyes briefly water, but the sensation is over before she even allows it to register much. What she's focused on is his face, hovering so close to her own, his lips parting slightly almost as if he's preparing to speak.

She doesn't say a word; instead, she leans in slowly, close enough to feel the soft beginning brush of his mouth against her own.

[no_more_hiding]

So lost her eyes he completely misses her leaning close to him until he feels her lips and my then it is far too late. His world melts into the feel of her lips, silken butterflies dance in his stomach and his blood feels as if it's aflame. He stops breathing, hoping to make the moment last forever.

[markedformore]

Erik's been searching through the lay of the base to find where they might keep their secrets. There's always some and no doubt they'll have a great deal of wealth for him, enough to let him break away from this ragtag bunch and pursue Shaw as he was meant to.

Still, as he passes through the shadows of the turbines, he cannot help the smug amusement. "Kinky," he observes, hands in his pockets as the insufferable smile no doubts reigns his expression. He can feel the metal in Raven's arm, assured it must be giving some pain. He casts a look to Raven, then to Hank, consumed as always with the hatred that they think they have to hide.

"By the way, if I looked like you? I wouldn't change a thing." Both of them should hear it, neither of them will listen, he suspects. What is larger feet, what is blue skin when mutants are the superior race, when humans will see that and inevitably bow and make way to the new race.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank pulls away startled at the sound of footsteps and then blushes at Erik's comment. Was it all a joke? Like back at Harvard? He blinks furiously and carefully moves from between them.

"Thank you," he mumbles and caps the needle.