After the chaos of the afternoon, Aunt May became even more convinced that Karl needed someone to share the burden.
Rather than pressuring him directly, she began working on Raven's mindset instead.
She praised Karl relentlessly:
his strength
his responsibility
his devotion to family
his kindness beneath the cold exterior
Karl could only watch helplessly as the situation drifted beyond his control.
At the same time, Aunt May laid down a firm rule:
Karl was forbidden from making impulsive advances.
She feared his overwhelming physical strength and passion might lead to losing control.
Yet paradoxically, she remained determined to find him a partner who could share the burden.
Under Aunt May's persistent guidance, Raven — still using the identity "Green" — unexpectedly agreed to try spending time with Karl.
Karl found this unbelievable.
Considering her true identity, he suspected she might be preparing to reveal herself.
After a moment's hesitation, he agreed.
The Garden Meeting
That afternoon, Aunt May deliberately arranged for Karl to take Green on a walk through the manor gardens.
The estate garden was quiet, shaded by tall trees and bordered by hedges trimmed with military precision.
Karl sat in the pavilion, watching her.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
Every possible motive ran through his mind.
Finally, he stopped pretending.
Without warning—
Raven froze in place.
Invisible telekinetic force tightened around her throat and lifted her slightly off the ground.
"Enough," Karl said coldly.
"Mystique — Raven Darkhölme. Stop pretending and tell me why you're here."
"If you lie to me… next year today will be your memorial."
Denial
"C-cough… boss… I don't understand what you're saying…"
She clutched at her throat, struggling for air.
"Are you… a mutant…?"
Karl's eyes narrowed.
A razor-thin ice blade formed in the air, hovering one centimeter from her forehead.
"If you lie again," he said quietly,
"I won't ask twice."
The Reveal
Her body shimmered.
Skin shifted from human flesh tone to cobalt blue.
Golden eyes gleamed.
Red hair fell around her shoulders.
Her true form emerged.
"Alright… enough."
Her voice was strained but steady.
"How did you recognize me?"
"But I didn't come here with any mission. I just needed a place to live."
Magneto? Charles?
Karl released the pressure on her throat.
She dropped to one knee, breathing hard.
"Oh? Not here for Eric?"
"Not revenge for Charles?"
Karl leaned against the pavilion table, watching her.
Raven blinked in confusion.
"Eric? Charles? We knew each other long ago, yes — but we went separate ways years ago."
"I haven't had contact with them in a very long time."
"And what do you mean revenge?"
A Timeline Misunderstanding
Karl frowned.
"Then what about your son… Kurt Wagner?"
Raven stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"My what?"
"How could I have a son?"
"I'm still a virgin!"
Her irritation was genuine.
Karl blinked.
This universe… was clearly not identical to any timeline he remembered.
No Nightcrawler.
No Azazel.
No Magneto partnership.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Then why apply to be a housekeeper here?"
Raven rolled her eyes.
"I told you — I needed somewhere safe to live."
"If May hadn't kept insisting I stay… what do you think I'd be doing here?"
Her form shimmered back into the identity of Green.
Karl Apologizes
Karl rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"…I'm sorry. I misjudged you."
After confirming she wasn't lying, his tension finally eased.
He had been preparing for infiltration, assassination, or sabotage.
Instead, he had nearly threatened someone seeking refuge.
Raven studied him carefully.
Perhaps she saw that he truly felt regret.
Raven's Truth
"I've been drifting for years," she said quietly.
"Changing identities. Changing cities."
"Mutants don't exactly have stable lives."
She hesitated, then added:
"You didn't look at me with disgust."
"That's rare."
Her golden eyes held his.
"Most people do."
Karl Explains Himself
"I don't care that you're a mutant," Karl replied.
"My abilities aren't mutant in origin anyway."
"They were acquired."
He paused before adding:
"And I assumed you might be here for revenge because… I destroyed Charles's academy."
Raven sighed softly.
"Charles is still chasing his dream."
"I don't know when that struggle will end."
"I don't share their ideals."
"I just want a peaceful life."
She hesitated, then asked:
"…You're not going to fire me, are you?"
A New Beginning
Karl shook his head immediately.
"Of course not."
Then, with surprising bluntness:
"May said we should try spending time together."
"I think that's a good idea."
"What do you think?"
Raven froze.
No manipulation.
No calculation.
Just sincerity.
She studied his eyes for several seconds.
Finally:
"…Alright."
An Unexpected Afternoon
They remained in the garden until sunset.
Karl's experiences from his previous life and Raven's decades of wandering gave them endless topics:
countries she had lived in
identities she had worn
cultures she had studied
Karl's strange perspective on the world
For the first time in years, Raven spoke without disguise — emotionally as well as physically.
She found herself relaxing.
Trusting.
Something she had not done in decades.
Returning to Their Roles
By evening they returned to the manor.
Inside, nothing had changed.
Servants moved efficiently.
Lights warmed the corridors.
Children laughed somewhere upstairs.
They resumed their roles:
Master and housekeeper.
Their relationship remained undefined.
And perhaps that was for the best.
Some bonds grew stronger without names.
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