If Yesterday Was Tomorrow [ X-Men ]

Chapter Eight

Victor poured himself a glass of water. He threw a look towards the living room. Angel and Mystique were already there. He took out five other glasses from the cupboard and filled them up with water. He placed them on a small tray. The others would probably enjoy something to drink. And if they didn't want water, then too bad for them! They'd have to get something to drink themselves.

The girls were already talking with each other when he entered. He placed the tray on the table and took a glass for himself before sitting down with them.

"Thank you," thanked Mystique as she took a glass. Angel thanked him as well, but did not take anything.

"Damn, we're going to a fight, not to a business meeting!" Angel commented when she noticed what Victor was wearing.

He frowned. His suit was pretty tame compared to others he had. He had a classic white shirt with a dark blue suit that was more like a stylish vest, as it was lighter than usual suits, with dark pants made of a stretching fabric. Battling others didn't mean that you had to lose all sense or style or dress like you were going to the club. At least, his clothes would protect his body if he was attacked!

Angel was only wearing a black skirt with very short shorts under them. She wore that with a long-sleeved black shirt that had holes at the elbows and at her shoulders in addition to being open in her back in order to give space for her wings. High black boots with silver details completed her outfit. Victor could almost see her belly-button. Frankly, their fashion style couldn't have been more different.

And the worst was that Angel was not as stylish, or as elegant, or as confident-looking as Emma, who had a similar fashion style. Angel just didn't have enough presence to look cool. She was good-looking, yes, but she missed something essential and Victor really wished that she stopped trying to be something she was not.

"So, I've been thinking..." started Angel. Her voice snapped Victor out of his thoughts. "You know, as like we've all adopted some kind of super-hero identity or name, I thought we could find a name for ourselves."

"What'd you think of?" asked Mystique. She'd been taking her blue form more and more often lately, leaving her human appearance behind. She finally embraced her mutant nature, and she looked beautiful. Mystique knew it and didn't mind flaunting her body to the other members of the team.

Erik wasn't shy to show that he was attracted to her, but he still kept a reasonable and respectful distance between them, considering her more like a teammate or little sister to protect more than anything. It seemed to drive Mystique crazy.

Victor personally only felt physically attracted to Mystique- who wouldn't?- as her personality felt a bit dull to him. However, he'd noticed the way Azazel checked her out subtly every time they were in the same room. Azazel rarely showed interest in other people than the Hellfire Club. But after all, he was a guy and Mystique was hot. He wondered if Mystique was conscious of it.

"The Brotherhood of Mutants, or something like that?" Angel proposed. "Cause Erik- I mean, Magneto, always says we're brothers and sisters."

Victor smiled. He liked that. It was turning Erik's mannerisms into a joke.

"I like that," agreed Mystique, probably not for the same reason as Victor. She crossed her legs, her skin ruffling slightly like a sapphire snake. It was quite elegant.

"What about you, Riptide?"

Victor nodded. He was okay with it. It still felt weird to be called Riptide, but he'd get used to it. Mystique, Angel and Erik had taken a liking on calling him that in the last few days. Raven, on her side, had taken the name "Mystique". It was kind of cool to have nicknames, even if he would never admit it. As if they were super-heroes. Maybe they'd be considered super-heroes one day in the future, when they will have saved mutant kind from the dictatorship of humanity.