Layla

Chapter 15: CIA Base Part 4

March 17, 1962

(Noon)

"Charles met with me last night," Layla admitted as she undressed from her orange Jackie Kennedy-inspired dress. "And this morning. He plans on opening a school for children like us." 

She took the dress and hung it up in the closet provided in their room. She had taken to unpacking her bags last night into their assigned CIA quarters. She'd hardly slept after her meeting with Charles and a mere suggestion of sleep to her son had him stay asleep while she worked to make the room at least a little more homey feeling. 

She had even met Charles for breakfast to discuss the meeting that had been called by Agent Duncan. He had wanted to meet with just the two of them, a thought had crossed her mind that it was just because she and Charles were the only true adults of the group, but another made her think it was just because they were the hardest to be manipulated. Whatever the case, it had been to discuss a possible way to locate other mutants. 

Erik's return had been a surprise to her. Thinking that just because Charles had had a discussion with him meant that he was going to actually reconsider his plans to go alone and kill Shaw was not something she had considered. He had seemed so dead set on taking down Shaw himself. Getting the CIA involved at all... hadn't been realistic. 

But now it seemed like it was going to happen, even if they were keeping the CIA at arm's length for the duration of their hunt for new recruits. Layla wasn't sure how she felt about getting so deeply involved with the CIA as to actively recruit new people for their cause. She still foresaw it going all wrong. Going down a path that resulted in another generation of children being taken in by a nefarious government organization and experimented on and made to do only god knows what. 

Her anxiety aside, she at least had the faith in the knowledge that worse came to worse she could just have the CIA forget all of this had ever happened... or kill them all. She was already going to hell for her crimes against humanity, why not add to that list? 

"He has faith that the CIA will do the right thing," Layla continued as she searched the closet for something more casual to wear to the satellite demonstration. 

"His faith is misplaced," Erik stated as he wandered up behind her. "Charles is under the impression that with a mere few months of getting to know us and helping them that the CIA will accept us for who we are. As a different but not so threatening new species." 

"They would rather have us under surveillance," Layla agreed. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." 

"You think they see us as enemies?" He asked, his gaze lingering on her brasserie-covered breasts rather than on her face. "Or do you think they see us as possible allies?" 

"Why not both?" Layla surmised. 

The CIA would see them as important allies until they saw them for what they could very well be, powerful enemies. She had no wish to see the CIA see them as enemies, on the contrary, if she had her wish they would merely see them as enhanced individuals to be monitored on occasion and left to their own devices. She could imagine settling down in the US if it meant that the CIA would leave her and her family alone. 

They could find a home in the DC area, she'd work as a translator, Pietro would go to school with American girls and boys, and Erik could get a job working as an engineer again. Things could go back to normal, even if they were in a different country and being monitored by a super international organization like the CIA, they could make it like home. 

She'd just need to brush up on her American style. Go to department stores here and steals herself a whole new wardrobe. She could create herself a whole new person. Just by changing her clothes, maybe even changing her name. Layla smiled at the thought, just a few changes and they could be right as rain.