Marvel: Impregnation System Chapter 230 - 217: Raven Luciano

"Why the hell is she here?" Bumpy muttered, utterly shocked that Agatha had shown up at Stephanie’s house of all places.

Though, instead of so snarky remark Junior didn’t answer.

He rely squinted at her figure as she walked inside, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

"Wait, where are you going?!" Bumpy suddenly shouted, watching Junior climb out of the car, his brow furrowed in a frown.

"To cuss out so Negroes," Junior scoffed, referencing their earlier conversation, before slamming the door and walking off.

"What the-DID YOU JUST SLAM MY F*CKING DOOR!" Bumpy yelled, his eyes widening at the blatant mistreatnt of his baby.

"Hey, HEY!" Bumpy shouted again, waving his hands at Junior as he disappeared into the night, before turning his gaze back to the house.

Originally, Bumpy had wanted to say his goodbyes to Mada, to get it all off his chest.

Until this sudden arrival stopped him in his tracks.

"Mada will be with you shortly."

While Bumpy was still lost in thought, wondering why Agatha had even appeared tonight, Mada’s maid had politely shown her into the living room before bowing lightly and withdrawing.

Imdiately, Agatha’s eyes swept over the carefully arranged quarters.

Two high-backed chairs stood in front of a marble fireplace, their dark wood fras carved with intricate designs, while a fire crackled softly, casting dancing shadows across the room.

However, Agatha’s eyes were almost completely taken by the bookshelves as the fire’s glow highlighted the spines of countless books lining the shelves.

Volus upon volus of religious texts, moral tales, and philosophical works, that just took Agatha by surprise.

Agatha’s fingers drifted along the edges of the books, tracing the titles absentmindedly, as though seeking so hidden story within the leather-bound covers.

Until those trailing fingers stopped atop a rare African deity she hadn’t seen in many years.

"You know of the African deity Bast?"

The voice rang from behind Agatha, echoing softly through the room.

Almost as if caught in the act, her fingers, which had been placed to lift the book, froze midair before slowly sliding it back onto the shelf.

"Yes, well, when you live as long as I have, you tend to hear a thing or two," Agatha said, slowly turning as her eyes fell on Mada St. Clair, who held two crystal glasses.

"Coconut water? It’s good for pregnancy," Stephanie said, holding out one of the glasses.

Agatha, anwhile, swallowed the bitter taste forming in her mouth as her eyes involuntarily trailed down to her stomach.

"Yes, thank you," Agatha murmured, forcing a small smile as she accepted the glass.

She followed Stephanie across the room to the two high-backed chairs near the fireplace and settled into one, the warmth of the fire brushing against her face, though her eyes remained cold.

"I apologize for coming unannounced, Mada-"

"Call Stephanie, since, after all, we are already so close," Stephanie said deliberately, her eyes following Agatha as she took a sip from her glass, masking the unmistakable bulge of not one, but both of their stomachs.

"But I must say, I would have never expected you of all people to drop by," Stephanie chuckled, tapping her fingernail against the cold glass of coconut water.

"Yes, well, I think it is ti we had a chat," Agatha said, lowering her glass as her fingers tightened around it.

A small gesture that did not go unnoticed by Stephanie.

"...."

At first, Stephanie waited for Agatha to begin, but it seed the woman couldn’t help herself, her gaze lingering on the stomach that carried yet another of Ricky’s bastards.

"If it makes you feel better, I’m just as uncomfortable with your presence." Stephanie joked, trying to loosen the awkward atmosphere.

However, instead of a bitter smile, Agatha actually laughed with a genuine sound that eased so of the tension between them.

Though only for a little while.

As her laughter simred, the conversation grew stale, settling once again into an uncomfortable silence.

Agatha’s eyes drifted to the nearby fireplace, watching the flas flicker and dance, her thoughts montarily wandering while the quiet stretched between them.

SIGH

"Agatha, why are you here?" Stephanie sighed heavily, her eyes narrowing with curiosity, wondering what another one of Ricky’s won was doing here of all places.

It wasn’t out of the ordinary to say that the other won in Ricky’s life felt incredibly uncomfortable around one another.

Excluding a rare few, the most powerful and influential won had little desire to associate with the others Ricky had entangled himself with.

It was hardly shocking.

Though Ricky maintained a harem of won, it would be false to assu that they all got along.

In fact, the opposite was glaringly true.

Most of them hated one another to their very bones.

The animosity was subtle at first, manifesting in glances that lingered too long, in polite smiles that never quite reached the eyes.

Conversations between them were often layered with double anings, complints laced with insinuations, and almost all laughter was simply hollow.

It was because those who were aware, and possessed the desire, understood that Ricky’s attention, influence, and favor were prizes each of them sought to monopolize to the fullest extent.

Including Agatha.

"I’m sure you’ve been made aware of my coven being stripped from ." Agatha said, returning her gaze to Stephanie, who simply took a slow sip from her glass.

"Yes, it’s rather all the rage within the gossip circles these days." Stephanie chuckled but instead of eliciting a laugh, she was t with Agatha’s deadpan stare.

Cough

"And it is my deepest apology for what has happened to you." Stephanie said, clearing her throat and attempting to maintain a composed tone, though there was so unease that lingered beneath her words.

"But if you ca here in relation to what happened to your coven, I assure you I had not part-"

"I know you had no part," Agatha interrupted Stephanie, her gaze drifting back to the fireplace as her glare mirrored the roar of the flas.

"But I’m sure you’re also aware that Raven had a hand in it," Agatha added, her scowl deepening as a wave of disgust passed over her at the re thought of that woman.

"Agatha, I don’t think-" Stephanie began, her eyes flicking to the condensation on the glass as she absently rubbed her thumb across it.

Crack

However, before Stephanie could dissuade the thought, the glass in the witch’s hand cracked, the sharp sound slicing through the room as she raised her gaze to the infuriated Agatha.

"She was there, coaxing Ricky, and making look like so sort of fool." Agatha spat, her words dripping with hatred as her fury flared at the expense of Stephanie’s ornantal glass.

"I’m afraid I’ve beco lost as to where you’re headed with this-"

"I want us to form an alliance." Agatha’s eyes locked onto Stephanie’s, ambitious and vengeful, while Stephanie rely nodded, her expression completely unreadable.

"Raven is growing more influential by the day, whispering things in Ricky’s ears-"

"And what would you have do about it?" Stephanie asked, interrupting Agatha as she took a deliberate sip of her coconut water, showing not the faintest interest in these kinds of squabbles.

"Join together, pool our strengths, and stop her influence from spreading even further." Agatha leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Stephanie’s.

Although it literally pained her to do so, Agatha was willing to pair with one of Ricky’s more influential won.

Soone whose power was significant enough to matter, yet not so great that it could challenge her own.

Mada St. Clair was the obvious choice.

Stephanie’s influence ran deep in Harlem since she was the entire community, her reach subtle but far-reaching, and her cunning matched alongside the rest of Ricky’s won.

Yet her strength was complentary rather than rivalrous; she would add leverage without tipping the balance of power against Agatha.

Aligning with her ant protection and strategy, a way to contain Raven’s manipulations while maintaining Agatha’s own dominance.

"If we don’t start acting now, then-"

"Then what?" Stephanie asked, shaking her head at the murky politics slowly taking shape within this harem she now found herself entangled in.

"I don’t think you truly understand what kind of person Raven is." Stephanie sighed, her fingernail pressing slightly into the glass.

"I know exactly what she is. I can see right through her," Agatha said, leaning back in the chair and setting the broken glass to the side as the clear liquid slowly leaked onto the table.

"Yes, you say that," Stephanie replied, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Agatha, almost as if asuring her in that mont.

"But that is not what I’m saying," Stephanie said, nodding to herself as if weighing her next words.

Her gaze swept over the woman before her, noting how Agatha’s only power now seed to be the grimoire floating at her side and her attachnt to Ricky.

"Honestly, Agatha, I think you’re not a match for her." Stephanie’s words hit with a quiet weight, making Agatha nearly freeze as she fixed her gaze on the woman before her.

"What?"

SIGH

"When you first ca here, what did you do?" Stephanie asked, her eyes fixed on Agatha, who opened her mouth to respond but paused.

"To New York, I an." Stephanie added, clarifying, her tone both curious and probing.

"I-"

"You settled down in Staten Island with your convent, then secluded yourself from the outside world," Stephanie said over Agatha, tapping her glass as she recounted what she considered Agatha’s single greatest mistake upon arriving here.

"The only ti we ever t was before Ricky left for that place, Otherworld, and that was about it," Stephanie added with a chuckle, her voice steady, revealing nothing beyond the facts.

"But Raven?"

"The second she arrived in this godforsaken city, she infiltrated every single high-society circle." Stephanie revealed, her voice sharp as she explained what Raven had been doing when she wasn’t working on her foundation.

Every one of Ricky’s won had their own private lives, their own carefully tended ecosystems, and though they all orbited him like a sun.

They still existed independently of him.

"It is too the point where she has beco prevalent in those exclusive gatherings where the wives of the rich and powerful spend their days while their husbands are off cheating." Stephanie continued, tapping her glass lightly as a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Very ironic, isn’t it?" Stephanie added, her gaze lingering on Agatha, as if daring her to respond.

"But can you imagine, just for a second, how utterly insane it is to think of a rich white woman becoming best friends with a mutant of all people?" Stephanie asked, leaning back slightly, her eyes glinting with sharp amusent.

"You didn’t even notice it, did you?" Stephanie continued, realization dawning as she watched Agatha turn away, her posture stiff, betraying the faintest flicker of unease.

"Oh, Agatha-"

"Do not patronize , Stephanie. I understand my situation clearly," Agatha said, cutting off any hint of pity before it could form.

"I already know that Raven has grown so influential within not only the Luciano family but the city, that is why we have to stop her-"

"And then what?"

However, that was where Agatha’s lips slowly snapped shut as her gaze locked onto Stephanie who understood everything.

This was impulsive.

Agatha was scrambling to compensate for the power she had lost, attempting to supplent herself with the borrowed strength of those she could easily control.

And it was all too painfully obvious to Stephanie.

"I admire that part of you that truly cares about your people," Stephanie began, a flicker of genuine respect in her eyes as she acknowledged Agatha’s efforts.

"In that regard, I think we are the sa," Stephanie added, a hint of warmth in her voice, as if recognizing a kindred spirit shaped in two very different worlds.

"However, I have no interest in the power you desire," Stephanie said, her gaze steady as she let it linger on Agatha, quietly signaling that she knew this was really about Ricky.

"In fact, I quite like my life," Stephanie said with a smile, gesturing toward her beautiful ho which was purchased with the wealth she had gained from her ownership stake in the bank.

"I am the richest Black woman in Arica, possibly the world," Stephanie began, her voice steady as she listed her accomplishnts, while Agatha listened quietly, taking in every word.

"I have the notoriety of being Mada St. Clair and the untouchable status of being one of Ricky’s mistresses," she continued, a faint smile tugging at her lips as if acknowledging the curious irony of her position.

"I have a completely independent lifestyle that caters to my already established routine," Stephanie added, leaning back slightly, her posture confident, almost regal.

"And, sotis, on those days I truly feel alone, feel as if it will always be this way." Stephanie admitted, her gaze softening for a fleeting mont.

"Then Ricky suddenly appears and makes feel loved." Stephanie said finally, rubbing her stomach gently, a private gesture that spoke to the way even loneliness would be swept away when her child ca into the world.

"I have everything I could ever want, right here."

"But it’s not enough," Agatha added quietly, her eyes fixed on Stephanie, watching the woman’s lips curve into a slow, knowing smile.

Because, of course, with all that, it still wasn’t enough.

She was still Mada St. Clair, after all.

"You’re right, it’s not," Stephanie chuckled, lifting her head slightly since it wasn’t as if she was trying to hide this well-known fact.

"But the things I want have nothing to do with keeping my position in Ricky’s eyes." Stephanie added, the confidence in her voice leaving no room for doubt.

"I have no interest in muddy politics-"

"This isn’t about-"

"I know exactly what this is about," Stephanie said, cutting Agatha off with a soft sigh while knowing deep down what all this led to.

The future of their children.

Stephanie had co to understand just how fiercely so of these won craved Ricky’s attention.

They all fought tooth and nail for even a sliver of ti with him, but at the heart of it, it was always about their children.

A child’s future wasn’t sothing to gamble with, and that made every one of these maneuvers, every bit of scheming, far more personal than any rivalry over Ricky could ever be.

After all, at the end of the day, there was only so much power to share.

"But I have no interest in taking sides-"

"There’s no such thing," Agatha interrupted, tapping the arms of her high-backed chair as her eyes locked onto Stephanie.

"There are always sides; even neutrality is a side," Agatha chuckled, knowing full well the truth in her own words.

"I know you’re well aware, but our children’s future depends not on the standing of their father, but on their mothers," Agatha said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stared down at the woman before her.

"She is weaseling her way into places she does not belong, and it is affecting all of us, you included." Agatha finished, leaning forward just enough to punctuate the weight of her words.

"She can’t touch unless I pick a side." Stephanie deduced calmly, shrugging off Agatha’s subtle threats as if they carried no weight at all.

"Say’s who-"

"Say’s Ricky." Stephanie said, squinting slightly as her patience was wearing thin at Agatha bluntly trying to strong-arm her into agreent.

"Agatha, he is a lot of things, but he wouldn’t let any one of us suffer," Stephanie said, knowing full well the mont any of these won tried to act against her Ricky would intervene.

So long as she never made the first move.

"The child I have will already have a vastly different life." Stephanie said, a shadow of sadness flickering across her features.

"They won’t have bricks thrown at them in the streets or be hosed down like I was." Stephanie quickly swallowed the emotion along with a sip of her coconut water, her posture regaining its usual calm composure.

"They’ll be a Luciano, they’ll be untouchable."

Although it seed to be the truth, in reality, Stephanie was just lying.

She did care deeply about her people and her community, to the point where she would actively do everything in her power to uplift them.

Yet here, in front of Agatha, she denied it, framing herself and her child as Luciano’s rather than part of the African Arican community.

It was a careful performance, a shield that allowed her to navigate these treacherous waters without exposing herself unnecessarily.

Because while everyone in Ricky’s harem had started moving, Stephanie had been watching.

She had always been watching closely, observing how these won were slowly entangling themselves in the power sches of New York.

And it was for that exact reason she wanted nothing to do with whatever was brewing within the folds of these won.

Because Stephanie was many things, but above all, she was reasonable.

She understood that getting caught up with these won, each capable of controlling forces most could barely comprehend, would bring nothing but trouble.

To her, her community, and most of all, her unborn child.

"Agatha, I-" Stephanie began, then hesitated, searching for the right words.

Though Agatha could be vicious, Stephanie knew how soft her heart could be beneath that hardened exterior.

"It truly breaks my heart to see what has happened to your people, especially after I heard it ca from within." Stephanie started, genuinely sympathetic for what it was that Agatha had to go through.

"I know you only wanted to give your people a better life, and believe , Agatha, I truly admire that part of you." Stephanie added, eting Agatha’s eyes with a sincerity that was impossible to feign.

"And above all." Sptehanie said, her voice dipping slightly with quiet intensity.

"I know what it’s like to trust people, your own people, and have them stab you in the back," Stephanie said, gripping her glass tightly as her eyes darkened slightly at the fate of her mother

"But you’re asking to help you, what? Fight Raven?" Stephanie asked, shaking her head in disbelief as her lips curved into an incredulous smile

"I’m asking you to stand against her," Agatha said, clasping her hands tightly as she stared at the power slipping through her fingers.

"No, Agatha, you want to stand against her." Stephanie shook her head slightly, letting the truth hang between them.

"I don’t want to be a pawn you use in whatever battle this is becoming," Stephanie said, waving her hand dismissively.

"Are you scared of her?" Agatha asked, lifting her gaze to Stephanie while expecting a severe response.

"Are you not?"

The words were imdiately unexpected, and Agatha’s eyes widened in surprise as Stephanie actually nodded in agreent with her assessnt.

"Do you even know the people who are coming to her charity dinner tomorrow?" Stephanie asked genuinely, setting her glass aside and leaning forward.

"Anne Morgan, Caroline O’Day, Jane Margueretta Hoey, Katharine F. Lenroot, Rose Schneiderman, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, and those are only so of the won." Stephanie continued, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she watched Agatha’s blank expression since i was clear the other woman had no idea who any of these influential figures were.

"The combined net worth of those won alone is in the hundreds of millions." Stephanie said with a sigh, rubbing at her tired features as the situation began to feel like a headache.

"And they’re all her friends," Stephanie added, her eyes narrowing slightly as she emphasized just how deep Raven’s claws had dug into the social circles of New York.

Unlike Stephanie, who clung to her own notoriety, or Agatha, who had walled herself off behind her coven upon entering Ricky’s world, Raven acted completely differently.

She wasn’t afraid to wield her status as Ricky’s woman like a finely sharpened blade, cutting through social defenses with a grace that felt almost casual.

Because Raven understood a simple truth: borrowed power was still power, and the trick was making it look like her own.

Raven slipped into their circles with a deliberate lightness, showing up where they gathered be it dimly lit cafés, speakeasies, or private social clubs.

But the thing that made Raven so special was that she didn’t push her way in; she blended, as though she belonged there all along.

Each appearance was a soft suggestion, not a demand, that she was one of them.

Or at least soone they couldn’t quite ignore.

She watched, always, even more than Stephanie.

Observing not just their words but their hesitations, their tastes, the way their eyes darted when certain nas were spoken.

Cataloguing preferences like a jeweler studying flaws in a diamond, searching for the hairline cracks that could split it open.

Over the months she’d spent in New York, Raven had ’coincidentally’ crossed paths with each of these won, always ensuring it happened when they were alone.

The etings were never overtly threatening; they were orchestrated to feel accidental, wrapped in small talk and faint smiles.

Raven was an assassin, different from these won in every way.

She had restarted her life more tis than any of them had even lived their own, and it was clear that the mont she settled into New York, she would leave her mark on every corner she touched.

"I didn’t even realize it until she had already joined these circles. It’s almost terrifying," Stephanie said with a nervous laugh, her gaze drifting toward the fireplace as mories of that first eting flickered through her mind.

"She has blue skin, she sticks out like a sore thumb, and yet, she blends in so well." Stephanie muttered absentmindedly, her eyes drifting back to Agatha.

"She could even be you right now, and it wouldn’t surprise ," Stephanie laughed, watching as Agatha’s features scrunched in response.

"And if you think she’s just starting to sink her claws into the Luciano family," Stephanie said calmly, her voice steady as she studied Agatha.

"She has you right where she wants you."

Even Stephanie knew, without a doubt, that Raven wouldn’t act without first laying the groundwork for whatever she was scheming.

And if Agatha was here, she knew that sohow, Raven would find out.

"I am not soone to be ssed with, either." Agatha replied, trying to keep her intimidating form even when her voice was tightening.

A flicker of emotion passed over her features as she reflected on how far Raven had co, all while she had been busy running a coven that, in the end, would inevitably betray her.

"I believe it since after all, you’re a force of your own." Stephanie said, gesturing toward the floating grimoire at Agatha’s side.

"But your power and her power are like two sides of a coin," Stephanie said with a soft chuckle, resting her head on her hand as she regarded Agatha carefully.

"And I’d rather not get involved with the fate of a re coin toss."

anwhile At Raven’s Estate,

"Rember, you have to hold his head."

While the two won discussed the other players in their tangled web, Raven was elsewhere, patiently teaching Danielle how to hold Thrawn properly.

Danielle stuck out her tongue in concentration, one hand supporting the baby’s rear while the other cradled his back.

Thrawn’s head rested gently on her shoulder, though he seed more interested in nibbling on the ear of his stuffed animal than paying attention to the lesson.

"You did it!" Raven exclaid, clapping her hands, and Danielle imdiately bead a toothy smile back at her.

"I’m doing it, Mommy! I’m doing it!" Danielle giggled, clutching Thrawn tightly as the baby turned his gaze toward her, his tiny eyes wide with curiosity.

"Ba~," Thrawn cooed, reaching out his tiny blue hands to touch Danielle’s cheek. She giggled even louder, her laughter bright and infectious.

A warm smile spread across her face as Thrawn’s little fingers traced through her golden hair, his red eyes focused intently on it.

"He has really pretty eyes." Danielle murmured softly, smiling down at her baby brother, who finally nestled his head against her shoulder with a sense of comfort and trust.

Raven held her hands over her face, unable to believe she was witnessing this beautiful mont with her own eyes. She felt the urge to cry from pure happiness, seeing both Danielle and Thrawn getting along so naturally, so effortlessly, and realizing how much love filled the space between them.

"Mistress, Raven." A man called softly, stepping to the side as Raven’s smile twitched at the interruption.

"Yes, Manny?" Raven asked, turning her frozen smile toward him, her eyes sharp and curious.

"Junior’s here. He says it’s urgent," Manny replied, bowing lightly. Assigned as Raven’s bodyguard, he maintained a quiet, professional deanor as Raven slowly turned her head, intrigued by the unexpected arrival.

"Franky is here?" Raven asked, a little surprised but nodding

"Danny, sweetie, could you look after Thrawn while Mommy talks to a friend, okay?" Raven asked, smiling warmly at her lovely daughter and son getting along so well.

Danielle’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly nodded, holding Thrawn closer as she gently swayed him side to side.

Raven walked down the long hallway, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Her yellow eyes fixed on Junior, who stood waiting, hat held neatly in his hands, the tension in his posture betraying the urgency of his visit.

"Franky, darling, what a pleasant surprise~" Raven said, her smile warm and effortless as she approached him.

She wrapped her arms around him in a hug, and though he accepted it awkwardly, there was a flicker of relief in his eyes at seeing her.

"I’m so sorry for the interruptions-"

"Oh, please, you’re family," Raven scoffed, brushing off his words as she placed her hands gently on his shoulders.

"But how are you holding up?" Raven asked gently, her eyes softening as she watched Junior lower his head, the weight of his grief clear in his posture.

"I know how much you idolized Frank, and it was a tragedy what happened to him." Raven continued, her tone a careful blend of sympathy and understanding.

"Thank you, it really ans a lot to hear you say that," Junior said, forcing a small smile as he rubbed at his eyes as Raven’s hand rested lightly on his shoulder, an almost grounding presence for the man.

"Winky, honey!" Raven suddenly called, turning her gaze toward the side to summon her favorite maid.

POOF

"Yes, Mistress!" Winky called, teleporting onto Raven’s shoulder before leaping gracefully into her outstretched hands, freeing Junior from her gentle grasp.

"Could you make us so refreshnts? Wine for Franky, and so coconut water for ," Raven requested softly, her eyes following Winky as the elf saluted and flicked her large ears to the side with a playful flourish.

"Right away, Mistress!"

POOF

"I shouldn’t stay for too long, but I wanted to warn you," Junior said, stepping to the side as Raven’s eyes imdiately lifted to et his.

"Warn ?" Raven asked, tilting her head slightly, curiosity sparking in her yellow eyes.

"I saw Mistress Agatha eting with another-" Junior began, but he quickly ducked his head, the words catching in his throat.

It felt almost disrespectful to speak such things aloud to Raven, a woman he held in the highest regard.

"Oh, co now, you can say it. I’m not offended in the slightest," Raven chuckled, her tone light, in stark contrast to the rigid airs Agatha often carried when ntioning the others.

"I saw Mistress Agatha eting with another one of the bosses’ mistresses." Junior finally admitted, watching as Raven drifted over to a nearby chair.

She sank into it with effortless grace, the regal posture making it clear she commanded the room even while seated.

"Who?"

"Mada St. Clair." Junior revealed, expecting so sign of anger, but instead, Raven let out a soft laugh.

"Really?" Raven chuckled, her eyes drifting to the side as her fingernail tapped lightly against the armrest.

"Well, I expected as much. I just didn’t think she’d target soone like Stephanie so quickly," Raven muttered, and Junior couldn’t help but notice the subtle edge in her voice as he ducked his head.

"Oh, I, uh, I apologize if I wasted-"

"Oh, honey, don’t do that." Raven chuckled, waving a hand to gently halt his hesitation.

"I really appreciate you coming to . I know you’re soone I can trust." Raven added, leaning forward to pat his knee reassuringly.

When Junior was first assigned to Raven, he had viewed mutants much as he once viewed outsiders African Aricans.

But everything changed when Raven discovered he was Frank’s son.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she began to bend his perceptions.

She didn’t confront his biases directly; she refrad them, twisting his understanding of mutants so it mirrored the resentnt and isolation he had felt as a Calabrian in a family dominated by Sicilians.

The feelings of being judged, overlooked, or dismissed, once personal and usually kept to himself, were now reflected in the mutant world, filtered entirely through the lens Raven had crafted.

By the ti Junior realized what had happened, he wasn’t just influenced, he had internalized it.

His experiences within the Luciano family had reshaped his view of mutants, and Raven had guided him there with deliberate precision.

Stephanie had been right: Raven already had her claws deep within the family.

And it was precisely because of that influence that she had made her move to acquire the club in the first place.

"And it’s why I’d love to reward your efforts," Raven said, smiling warmly as Junior slowly lifted his head.

"If you haven’t heard already, Ricky has given the Mystique Room," Raven said, her tone light as she observed Junior nod in acknowledgnt.

The news had already traveled through the lower ranks of the family, and even he couldn’t help but feel a little shocked at an outsider receiving a family asset.

"And I would just love it, if you would be at the head of that club."

The mont the words left her lips, Junior was taken completely by surprise.

Managing the club was no simple task, and yet Raven was entrusting it to him.

It wouldn’t just elevate his status within Harlem, where the club was located, it would also raise his standing within the family itself.

But there was always a deeper purpose with soone like Raven.

Because only soone within the family could quell the unease of the others, making his involvent not just a promotion but a strategic linchpin in Raven’s plan.

"Mistress Raven, that is too much for soone like -"

"Oh, nonsense," Raven laughed, waving her hand as if to dismiss any worry.

"Although you’re under Bumpy now, this can act as a safe haven while you navigate Harlem." Raven’s words frad it less as a responsibility and more as a gift, making Junior actually feel a sense of comfort.

"I-I would be honored."

"That is so wonderful." Raven smiled, clapping her hands and standing to celebrate with Junior.

"It will be a place that truly accepts people like us." Raven said deliberately, pulling him into another hug, which he received awkwardly.

"And I’m so glad to have soone like you, soone who understands, to help along the way." Raven added, filling Junior with a sense of purpose that even she couldn’t even understand.

Poof

"Mistress!" Winky bowed, holding out a glass of coconut juice, which Raven took graciously.

"Thank you, Winky," Raven said, smiling warmly, noticing the elf’s flustered expression. Complints still seed to embarrass her.

"It’s my honor, Mistress," Winky murmured, blushing as she pressed her large ears against her head to hide her face, then turned toward Junior with a shy but eager glance.

POOF

"Here you are." Winky dutifully said, holding out a glass of wine to Junior who took it lightly.

POOF

"Let us cheer for the future, Junior," Raven chuckled, lifting her glass of coconut water with a playful glint in her yellow eyes.

Junior mirrored her smile, raising his own glass and nudging it forward in a gentle clink against hers.

Cllink

"But Mistress, aren’t you going to do sothing-"

"About Agatha?" Raven asked, chuckling at the thought, her yellow eyes glinting as she took a casual sip of her coconut water.

"No, but I wouldn’t mind if you would help out," Raven added, letting the words hang in the air.

"Anything Mistress Raven."

"You see, I would really love it if you could help sway Agatha into eting with another," Raven said deliberately, tapping her glass with a smile that made Junior feel a shiver run down his spine as goosebumps rose along his arms.

"Who?"

"A loser just like herself, soone who is familiar with the art of second place."

5 minutes later,

HUFF

A horse poked its head into the house, and Danielle imdiately recognized Bucephalus, coming for a late-night brush.

"I can’t." Danielle murmured, her green eyes lowering in a saddened gaze as she gently rocked her younger brother, who nuzzled his stuffed animal.

Bucephalus opened his large mouth to retort, but froze when he saw Raven approaching the door with Junior as she hugged him tightly, guiding him out with practiced ease.

"Don’t you even think about it," Raven whispered, letting the words linger as she slowly closed the door.

When she turned back, Bucephalus had already vanished

The horse wasn’t entirely afraid of Raven, but he had long since learned that trying to anger her was futile.

Whenever he was brushed in ways that inconvenienced Danielle, she would retaliate indirectly.

First ca trimming all the trees in the backyard, leaving him without shade.

Then the grass was cut and sprayed with chemicals, and finally, Raven filled Danielle’s schedule so that the horse barely ever saw her.

It was this indirect confinent that frustrated Bucephalus most.

Resigned, he slowly trudged over to his favorite tree and collapsed onto the ground, knowing he wouldn’t get his way within this household.

"Mommy, can I-"

"Go to bed?" Raven finished her daughter’s sentence, watching Danielle’s smile fade into a hesitant frown.

"Of course you can, sweetie!" Raven laughed softly, bending down to kiss Danielle’s cheek.

She pulled both her pride and joy into her arms, holding them close with a warmth that made the small room feel like ho.

"But-"

"No buts, no coconuts," Raven finished her sentence, watching Danielle smile as they started up the stairs. The little girl rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, lting into her embrace.

"I want to see Daddy," Danielle whispered, revealing the real reason she had fought to stay up so late as Raven rubbed her cheek against her daughter’s golden hair, holding her just a little closer.

"I know sweetie, I know~"

"But he’s coming tomorrow, he promised," Raven whispered, her voice soft with the ache of seeing Danielle’s dejected expression. The little girl gave a slow nod, wrapping her tiny arms around her mother’s neck.

"Now, go get ready for bed." Raven said with a warm smile, setting Danielle down in front of her pink door.

The child darted toward the bathroom, renewed at the thought of seeing her father tomorrow as she quickly got ready to see him sooner.

Sigh

Raven sighed, guilt tugging at her for keeping Danielle up so late since she had truly believed he would co ho tonight.

That was the lonely side of being part of a harem.

For the man, it was aweso, picking and choosing which woman they would spend their ti with.

But for the won, it ant waiting.

Always waiting for the monts when he decided to give them his love, hoping it would be their turn.

However, that ti was slowly being replaced by the children they were blessed with.

With them ca a shift in what love ant since it wasn’t just about waiting for Ricky anymore.

And maybe deep down, that was why these won acted the way they did.

"Who’s my precious~" Raven cooed, finishing up the last of Thrawn’s change before gently lowering him into his crib.

"Ba~" Thrawn gurgled, his tiny feet kicking in the air as his gums worked on the ear of his black stuffed animal.

"That’s right, you are~" Raven cooed, her voice dripping with warmth as she leaned down and showered him with soft kisses.

Thrawn’s giggles bubbled up uncontrollably, filling the room with the kind of joy only a baby could bring.

"Sleep tight, and rember, not even bed bugs would dare to bite." Raven whispered with a quiet chuckle, easing back and moving toward the lamp, flicking it off.

When the room darkened, her yellow eyes and Thrawn’s faint red ones glowed softly, catching the faintest gleam from the crack of light. Out of habit, Raven scanned the shadows one last ti before easing the door shut, leaving only a sliver of light cutting across the floor.

Padding quietly down the hallway, she leaned her head into Danielle’s room, spotting the young girl’s face peeking out from beneath the covers.

"One story-"

"Two stories," Danielle murmured from under her covers, squinting her eyes, the hint of Lucky’s influence creeping into her tone.

"One story and it’s going to be about Daddy." Raven replied with a soft chuckle as she walked over and sat on the edge of the queen-sized bed.

"Deal." Danielle whispered, slipping a small hand out from the blanket.

Raven smiled faintly as she shook it gently, feeling the familiar spark of Lucky’s presence in the little girl’s mannerisms.

"Oh, you are just the cutest!" Raven laughed, scooping Danielle up and peppering her cheeks with kisses.

The little girl squealed and giggled, trying to squirm away but secretly loving every second of it.

"Okay, which one?"

"When daddy fought vampires."

"Okay, so, it all started when a bunch of n and grumpy old n forced your father out of the city-"

10 minutes later,

"And-" Raven whispered, stopping mid-sentence when she saw Danielle already asleep beside her.

Her blue fingers softly traced the child’s cheek, gently brushing her hair aside so it wouldn’t cover her nose or mouth.

Leaning down, Raven pressed a delicate kiss to her forehead while lovingly caressing her cheek.

Quietly, she rose from the bed and slipped out of the room, walking softly down the hallway toward the master bedroom.

Poof

"Mistress Raven, all the nightly preparations have been made." Winky said dutifully, giving a crisp salute to her mistress.

"Great job, Winky, see you tomorrow."

"Yes, mistress!"

POOF

Then, afterwards, Raven began her nightly routine.

Washing away the stress of the day with slow, deliberate motions, almost as if savoring the silence of the empty room with a gentle hum of her voice.

When she finally returned to their bed, she approached the right side, the soft rustle of sheets greeting her as she untucked the covers.

Slipping beneath them, she exhaled as she stared up at the ceiling.

But before closing her eyes, she turned slightly to the left, to the untouched side of the bed.

Her fingers reached out, gently resting against the neatly tucked fabric, stroking it as though trying to feel the warmth of soone who wasn’t there.

Only then did her eyes close, her hand lingering a mont longer before sleep slowly pulled her under.

Next Morning,

Poof

"Good morning, Mistress Raven!" Winky chirped dutifully, giving a tiny salute from her place on the nightstand as the clock struck eight.

"Good morning, Winky," Raven murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep as she turned over, rubbing her eyes.

Already prepared, Winky flipped open a small planner with a snap of efficiency, ready to brief her on the day’s schedule.

Raven had commissioned several small objects for Winky to use in her daily duties as their personal maid.

The real challenge, however, had been providing her with a proper uniform.

Every ti Raven tried to hand her a piece of clothing, Winky would panic, nearly dropping whatever she was holding.

Only then did Raven realize what the gesture ant in Winky’s culture and promptly stopped.

Instead, she hired soone to teach the little elf how to sew, letting her create her own garnts.

Now, dressed in her neatly tailored outfit, Winky stood proudly at the bedside, flipping through Raven’s schedule with professional focus.

"As you requested, Winky has canceled your morning breakfast and lunch to make room for today’s charity dinner," Winky said enthusiastically since it was her favorite part of the day, managing Raven’s schedule with pride.

"How is the guest list?" Raven asked, gently untucking herself from the covers and stretching in her silk pajamas.

"Winky has seen that everyone you wanted to co will be attending, but Winky hasn’t received word from a few." Winky admitted, her features drooping as she glanced up from her planner to Raven’s smile.

"Agatha and Morgana, correct?"

"Winky is always amazed at her mistress knowledge!" Winky cheered, surprised that Raven already knew as the mutant nodded her head.

"What about the other woman?" Raven asked, watching as Winky flipped through her tiny pages with quick motions.

"Winky has received word that Alina is going to the-"

"To the peer with her daughter, yes, I already know." Raven finished, nodding once before easing herself into a slow downward dog stretch.

"I also already know that Carla can’t make it as well, but what about Maria and Stephanie?" Raven asked, wondering if the two most important guests would be showing up.

"Winky talked with her maid; she said she’ll drop by," Winky said quickly, eyes flicking to Raven for confirmation.

"Well, it isn’t her type of crowd, so I understand." Raven murmured, aware of how uncomfortable Stephanie always felt around the city’s most prominent white socialites.

"And Maria?"

"Winky has received her acceptance!" Winky cheered, knowing exactly how much Raven wanted her to attend out of all of them.

"That is fantastic." Raven exhaled softly, a sense of relief washing over her as she knew this was the perfect opportunity to finally et Maria, who had been the hardest to reach.

"Also, could you-"

"Winky has already invited Sarah over for breakfast!" Winky announced excitedly, practically dancing in place, beating her mistress to the words as Raven chuckled softly, reaching out to pat Winky’s head.

"Thank you, Winky," Raven said warmly, watching the little elf dance on her night stand.

"Winky will prepare breakfast!"

POOF

Raven smiled at the scene, walking over to her window, only to stop mid-step as her head snapped rigidly toward the commotion, her smile twitching slightly.

"Now, young Thrawn, take the sword!" Alexander exclaid, pointing sharply at the wooden sword while shooting daggers at the stuffed animal.

At the side, Danielle humd a soft tune to herself, her golden hair catching the morning light, while Bucephalus slept peacefully beneath his favorite tree.

"Ba~" Thrawn mumbled, slobbering over the ears of his stuffed animal as he tilted his head curiously at the talking gerbil.

"No young Thrawn, the sword, this is your destiny!" Alexander hurriedly said, scurrying over to Thrawn.

"These animals of the stuffed nature are not suited for your inner warrior!" Alexander encouraged, knowing the earlier Thrawn began, the more comfortable he would beco with his training.

Though he was not technically Thrawn’s godfather, Alexander had already taken it upon himself to act as such, treating all of Ricky’s children like cherished disciples under his watchful guidance.

But Alexander’s guilt over that day had left him almost inseparable from each of Ricky’s children.

He had spent the entire morning with Moxie, filling the void left by her mother’s sudden absence, and now that attention naturally extended to Thrawn.

"But this, the sword, will beco your best friend." Alexander explained, pointing at the small wooden sword he had specially crafted for Thrawn before leaving New York.

"And if it doesn’t feel right, we’ll find sothing that does. But above all, no toys." Alexander reached for the stuffed animal, only for Thrawn to tilt his head stubbornly the other way.

"We must start your education-AH!" Alexander exclaid, only to be interrupted as a tiny blue hand wrapped around him.

"Ba?" Thrawn murmured, pressing the gerbil close to his face while Alexander struggled, trying to pull free.

"Such strength!" Alexander grimaced, gritting his teeth as the baby’s grip held firm.

"Thrawn, be gentle~" Danielle said from the side, her worried expression flickering across her face as she watched her brother.

"Ba!" Thrawn giggled, his small hands sohow sending Alexander skidding across the backyard as Danielle froze for a mont, then imdiately sprang to her feet.

"Uncle Alexander!" Daneille scread, rushing toward the little gerbil who had face-planted a few feet away.

Bucephalus stirred, one eye cracking open as he looked around, curious why his brushing had been interrupted, only to settle his gaze on Danielle rushing toward the sprawled Alexander.

Huff

Bucephalus only shook his head, letting out a soft snort before closing his eyes again, as if refusing to be bothered.

anwhile, Alexander struggled, his head stuck in a tiny hole in the dirt as Danielle rushed over, bending down carefully.

"L-Let help you." Daneille whispered, her fingers probing around the edges of the hole while she nervously watched Alexander’s tiny paws scrabble against the dirt in a desperate attempt to free himself.

GASP

Alexander rolled backward, gasping for air after being montarily suffocated by the dirt.

His eyes darted around, only to land on Danielle standing over him, worry etched across her small face.

"Uncle Alexander, are you-"

"What a marvelous throwing form!" Alexander exclaid excitedly, straightening up as Danielle flinched before bursting into a smile at the sight of the gerbil turning back toward Thrawn.

"But you’re rebellious, like your father, yet I trained him all the sa!" Alexander declared, raising his paw proudly as Danielle giggled at the side, watching the exchange with delight.

"You’re funny." Daniell laughed, watching her godfather who turned towards her.

"I have my monts," Alexander said, raising his furry chin proudly into the air as Danielle watched the little gerbil strike its playful pose.

"How are you, my dear?" Alexander asked suddenly, a gentle smile softening his features as he regarded the fearso little warrior she was blossoming into.

"Great!"

"And you’re keeping up with your studies-"

"But, it’s really hard-"

"My dear, I understand," Alexander said, halting her whines with a calm, knowing glance as he could read the exact frustration she was feeling in that mont.

"But generals are forged through the mind just as much as they are through the body." Alexander lectured, his voice steady, carrying both patience and authority.

"You must take care of both since you feed the body with exercise." Alexander gestured, flexing his small furry arm with a proud grin, earning a giggle from Danielle.

"And you feed the mind with your studies, it is what my ntor always said to ," Alexander laughed, his nuggets of wisdom earning a dutiful nod from Danielle.

"Danielle, sweety, co back inside!" Raven called from the upstairs window, her voice warm yet firm.

"But mommy~" Danielle whined, glancing back at Alexander as if to argue with her mother’s command.

"Listen to your mother, young Danielle. She knows best," Alexander said, patting Danielle’s knee gently.

The timid girl nodded obediently, then scurried over to Thrawn, her small hands reaching for her baby brother.

"Alexander, would you like to stay for breakfast?" Raven asked, her smile warm, always pleased when he visited as the gerbil paused for a mont.

"I would!" Alexander declared, raising his paw with enthusiasm.

"And Bucephalus, what have I told you about brushing in the early morning!" Raven called, her voice sharp, making the horse flinch and turn his head upward in guilty acknowledgnt.

HUFF

"Look at her, she’s filthy!" Raven scowled, pointing at Danielle, whose dress, knees, and hands were smudged with dirt.

HUFF

Bucephalus imdiately threw Alexander under the bus, casting all the bla on the gerbil, while Raven’s yellow eyes narrowed and slowly drifted toward the small wooden sword.

"Alexander." Raven squinted, her gaze sharp as Alexander froze pose.

"Is that a wooden sword?" Raven asked, pointing at the clearly baby-sized weapon.

"What if his ability stems from the art of the sword!" Alexander exclaid, defending himself as he thumped his furry chest with pride.

SIGH

Raven shook her head, letting out a soft sigh since she should’ve expected this from Alexander of all people.

Closing the window, she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples as a headache started to take root.

"No headache, no headache-" Raven whispered, her voice tinged with both exasperation and amusent, before promptly walking out of the room.

"Winky."

"Yes mistress-"

"Preparea bath."

"Yes mistress!"

POOF

Raven walked down the stairs, one hand resting lightly on the railing as she paused at the sliding screen door.

She turned her gaze toward Danielle, who was hesitantly stepping into the room.

Crossing her arms, Raven tapped her foot softly, watching the little girl glance down at her dirt-streaked dress before ducking her head.

"I’m sorry," Danielle whispered, clutching Thrawn tightly to her chest, while Alexander attempted to sneak quietly into the kitchen.

"Oh no, you’re not getting away that easily," Raven’s voice humd from behind Alexander as the gerbil sighed, slowly turning to face the assassin.

"In my defense-"

"Zip." Raven made a zipping noise with her mouth, her gesture cutting off whatever excuse Alexander had been about to utter.

"You will play Sarah while I give both my children a bath," Raven stated, the command carrying an air of playful authority, her smile masking the seriousness of the punishnt she deed fit for this tiny king.

"Young Sarah?" Alexander’s face paled, a shiver running through him as he realized exactly who he was dealing with.

"Wait, we can converse-"

"Not after you got my baby all dirty with you and that horse’s antics." Raven scoffed, walking over to Danielle and picking the both of them up into her arms.

"It was an accidental-"

"All tragedies in history could be described as accidents, but that doesn’t make their aning any less." Raven interrupted, striding back up the stairs as Alexander slowly nodded, processing the weight of her words.

"Well played,"Alexander said quietly, squinting at Raven’s taphor, his small paws barely concealing his respect.

"Bye, Alexander." Danielle whispered, her tiny hand waving as she clung to Thrawn.

"Until we et again, young Danielle."

15 minutes later,

"ROCKET SHIP, ROCKET SHIP!"

"YOUNG SARAH, WE CAN CONVERSE-"

"BLAST OFF IN FIVE, FOUR-"

"WAIT, WAIT, WAIT-"

"TWO, ONE, FLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The sounds echoed from downstairs, carrying faint clatters and giggles up the staircase. Raven raised an eyebrow, holding a freshly cleaned Thrawn in one arm and Danielle in the other.

"Mommy, can I?" Danielle asked quietly, her voice tinged with concern as she glanced toward the chaos downstairs, aware of how Alexander could be caught up in it.

"Yes, but no brushing. I do not want to give you another bath," Raven warned, her yellow eyes narrowing playfully as she set Danielle down gently.

Danielle nodded silently, understanding the warning, before stepping forward cautiously.

"Please don’t run down the stairs," Raven warned, gently gripping Danielle’s hand before she could even think about darting forward.

Together, they slowly descended the spiral staircase with careful steps and were now privy to the scene in the kitchen.

"WE’VE LANDED ON THE MOON, WHERE ARE THE ALIENS!" Sarah roared, bounding around the kitchen with wild energy, as if the room had turned into a zero-gravity playground.

"ALEXANDER, DO YOU SEE THE ALIENS!" Sarah shouted, her tiny fists pumping in the air as she pointed at the sprawled gerbil on the tiled floor.

Alexander, lying flat and panting from the earlier chaos, glanced up with wide eyes, trying to catch his breath while silently pleading for rcy from the energetic child.

"Not at the mont-"

"THEN WE WILL GO TO MARS!" Sarah exclaid, her voice ringing through the kitchen as she waved her tiny hand dramatically.

She sprinted over to Alexander, who flinched slightly, bracing himself for whatever chaotic mission the child had in mind.

"Young Sarah, wai-

COUGH

Alexander let out a startled squeak, his furry body montarily compressed as Sarah’s tiny grip constricted around him.

His eyes widened, and he struggled to wiggle free, but the sheer force of her enthusiasm pinned him in place.

"Wait, young Sarah-"

"BLAST OFF IN FIVE!" Sarah shouted, starting the countdown again, her arm winding up as Alexander resigned himself to his fate.

"Sarah, stop~" Danielle whined, rushing over to her side as the red-headed furball turned towards her.

"HI DANNY!" Sarah exclaid, beaming with excitent as she gave her big sister a toothy grin.

"S-Save ~" Alexander groaned, reaching his paw toward Danielle, who quickly scooped him up.

"Sarah, gentle~" Danielle whined, carefully prying Alexander from Sarah’s grasp. The little girl tilted her head in curiosity.

"But he says nothing can kill him?" Sarah asked, tilting her head as Alexander gasped for the air she had cut off.

"And I stand by my words~" Alexander said, raising a paw weakly before collapsing into Danielle’s arms.

Sigh

Danielle simply sighed, glancing at Sarah as the little girl bounced up and down with unrestrained energy.

"Want to play rocketship?!"

"Raven?" Irene asked, pausing mid-sip of her juice as she noticed Raven entering the kitchen.

"Hello, my dear," Raven smiled, striding over and enveloping Irene in a warm hug, which Irene returned with a gentle squeeze.

"I’m sorry about Sarah, but Alexander said it’s was fine-"

"Yes, I already know." Raven sighed, sitting down next to Irene as a glass hovered towards her since Winky was controlling almost everything in the house with her magic, including the kitchen.

"I am so excited about your dinner today," Irene said quickly, shifting the conversation with a bright smile as Raven took a sip of her juice.

" too, and I’m thrilled that you’ll be coming," Raven replied warmly, her yellow eyes briefly softening as they lingered on the red-haired girl who naturally seed to glow.

"And don’t worry about Sarah, I’ve set up a section with multiple people to keep an eye on the children." Raven added, noting Irene’s imdiate laugh, almost anticipating her words.

"You’re just amazing, Raven," Irene chuckled, shaking her head in admiration at the woman who sohow seed capable of doing it all.

"I an, planning all of this-"

"It’s not that big of deal-"

"It really is," Irene said, placing a hand gently on Raven’s arm and giving it a small shake.

"It’s so wonderful what you’re doing, and I’m so glad I can be a part of it." Irene genuinely expressed, so happy to have found a friend in soone like Raven.

"That is wonderful to hear." Raven replied, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

"I know this is sudden, but would you mind watching Danielle and Thrawn while I drop by the foundations?" Raven asked, knowing she would naturally agree but being polite.

"Of course!" Irene said as if it was nothing at all, Sarah running around Daneille who counted for their departure towards mars with Thrawn crawling over to them.

5 minutes later,

After saying her goodbyes, Raven stepped out of the house, her expensive attire glinting in the morning light, each piece easily worth the price of a small house.

The mont she reached the open air, the Luciano n on standby imdiately halted their tasks, forming a protective cluster around her with practiced precision.

"Manny, dear, could you call a car?" Raven asked, rifling through her designer purse, her tone casual yet commanding as the burly man at her side imdiately nodded.

"Right away, Mistress Raven." Manny replied, striding to the side to ready the car.

anwhile, Raven opened her compact mirror, giving a quick once-over to the final touches of her makeup before snapping it shut at the arrival of her car.

Manny opened the door for her and Raven slid inside, offering a small nod and a faint smile as she closed the door behind her, the leather clicking softly.

"Alright, everyone, you know the drill!" Manny called out, gesturing broadly as he headed toward the lead car guiding Raven.

Many of the Luciano n were still on edge from the long night, and the security detail surrounding every ho on this block had nearly doubled.

However this ended up being a blessing in disguise for most within the Luciano family.

More made n ant more opportunities to forge valuable connections, and guarding Raven was considered one of the most coveted assignnts under Ricky.

"To the foundation, Mistress?" a man asked, looking through the rearview mirror as Raven looked toward him with a smile.

"Yes, Stefano, and how is your wife?" Raven asked, lowering her sunglasses with a knowing smile as Stefano let out a laugh.

"She won’t stop asking when you’re dropping by, and don’t even get started on that handbag you gifted her," Stefano said, glancing at Raven through the rearview mirror with a wry smile.

"I couldn’t help myself," Raven replied, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

"I saw that Hermès Kelly and imdiately thought it deserved to be around her arm."

Their chatter continued, soft laughter and teasing words filling the car as it glided to a stop in front of a premium building.

The lobby beyond the glass doors buzzed with life, swarming with people of every shape and stature, mutants.

All waiting for one woman as if she were so sort of celebrity.

Manny, ever vigilant, stepped out of the car to open the door for Raven.

However, his hand froze mid-motion as his eyes caught a figure in the crowd.

The stranger’s stance radiated authority, the kind that made even seasoned enforcers pause for a heartbeat.

Raven, noticing Manny’s montary hesitation, raised an eyebrow, looking out the window to see what was wrong.

"Aye, stop!" Manny shouted, his eyes locked on the man who advanced toward the cars, causing the mobster to reach towards his waistband.

"That won’t work if your-"

CLICK

The sound of three double-barrel shotguns clicked sharply around the man as Manny lifted his gaze, clearly sizing up the obvious mutant.

"You think so?" Manny muttered, his eyes narrowing as the man’s gaze swept over the three barrels aid squarely at him, each positioned atop the hoods of the nearby cars.

The mutants waiting nearby, faces alight with anticipation at Raven’s arrival, suddenly paled though not at the made n.

But at the sheer presence of the man facing down the barrel of three double barreled shotguns without even blinking.

"Manny, what’s the matter?" Raven’s voice called from the car, her window rolling down as she raised an eyebrow and lowered her sunglasses.

"This f*cking guy tried to approach your car-"

GASP

Before Manny could finish, resounding gasps rippled through the scene.

Not just from the made n of the family, but from the mutants standing to the side, who had only ever heard whispers of what they were witnessing in person.

"I thought it was a joke?"

"That was actually real?"

"How did this guy get one?"

A swarm of whispers revolved around one particular object that the man suddenly held up.

"F*ck," Manny muttered, glancing to the side as everyone instinctively dropped their weapons, his hand extending toward the figure.

The burly man approached Manny deliberately, sliding what appeared to be a simple business card into his palm.

But it was far more than that.

It was Ricky Luciano’s signed card.

The one item that, if handed to anyone, granted imdiate access to Ricky himself, at any place, at any ti.

"Wow, I haven’t seen one of those in a while," Raven chuckled, her yellow eyes narrowing with intrigue as Manny’s gaze lingered on the card.

Instead of wasting anymore ti, Manny moved to open the door as Raven stepped out gracefully.

Her heels clicking against the road as she approached the man who held such a prestigious card

"My na is Ivan Sytsevich, but I am known as Rhino to my employers." Rhino said, his massive horn glinting in the sunlight as Raven’s lips curved into an appreciative smile.

"It is a pleasure to et you, Raven," Rhino continued, nodding respectfully since he already knew of her reputation, having followed the progress of her foundation closely.

"Mistress Raven, it’s the real deal." Manny announced from the side, extending the card toward her.

Raven took it, her eyes scanning the embossed script, and a wider, approving smile spread across her face.

"What can I do for you, Rhino?" Raven asked, unshaken by his imposing stature as he stared down at her.

"I was wrong, and I’d like to take Ricky Luciano up on his offer, but-" Rhino began, his deep voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"But you don’t know where he is, shocker," Raven interrupted with a chuckle as Rhino nodded, admitting silently that he had no idea where to even begin, so he had co to the one place he was most familiar with.

"I’m having a charity dinner later today. It’s nothing extravagant, but Ricky will be there." Raven instructed, noting the subtle gasps from the gathered mutants.

To them, this was the most prestigious event any mutant could hope to attend.

"Here, take this back." Raven added, handing the card to Rhino, who delicately accepted it despite the size of his massive fingers.

"Bring whoever you like, I’ll make sure you’re on the list." Raven smiled warmly, watching Rhino raise an eyebrow.

"But what about the card-"

"You’ll need it," Raven chuckled, lightly patting his chest as if to warn that trouble tended to follow him wherever he went.

"This city isn’t fully accustod to us yet, and people will surely ask who you are. Show them this until you et Ricky properly." Raven sighed lightly, shaking her head as if it were a sha.

"Thank you, Ra-"

"It’s Mistress Raven, show so f*cking respect." Manny snapped, squinting at the man, his tone sharp as he caught the faint Russian accent beneath the calm exterior.

"You’re a very tiny man to be talking so big," Rhino said, lifting his hand to show that Manny’s head could easily fit inside his palm.

"But unlike you, I do not act like the brute people assu to be," Rhino added with a smirk, watching Manny bristle before turning his attention back to Raven.

"Rhino, dear, would you like to co in?" Raven asked, gesturing towards the large doors at the entrance.

"I cannot-"

"Our foundation specializes in accommodation and from that look of hesitance, it seems you are not alone in your journey here." Raven said, reading Rhino like a book as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"No, I am not."

"Family?"

"Yes-"

"Even better, co, let us sort out your temporary arrangents." Raven said, placing a hand firmly on Rhino’s broad back and gently ushering him forward.

"I do not want to impose-"

Ahem

Raven cleared her throat, a subtle signal that rippled through the waiting mutants.

"All mutants are imposing, none are turned away!"

At once, a chorus of voices erupted, shouting the foundation’s motto as Rhino stood in the center, montarily stunned by the attention.

Other mutants waved enthusiastically, their cheers filling the space around him.

"We’re all in different shapes in colors, the only thing that matters is that you’re here."

"And good morning, everyone," Raven said, glancing to the side at her personal fan club of mutants as their faces lit up with ecstatic expressions while they waved.

"Good morning, Mistress Raven!" they called out in unison, their smiles wide and genuine.

Rhino shifted uneasily, unused to the warmth and excitent radiating from the crowd.

Accustod to being underestimated and degraded, this attention felt foreign, almost disorienting.

Even the doorway he passed through was over ten feet high, and at seven feet tall, he easily towered within it, feeling simultaneously cramped and impressed.

"I know you’re shocked, but that’s not even the best part," Raven chuckled, gesturing forward as Rhino’s eyes widened as they took in the interior of the building, every detail designed to awe.

"Welco to the foundation."

They were everywhere.

Mutants of all shapes and sizes moving about the white, polished interior.

So appeared almost human except for a faint shimr of their eyes or an unnatural hue to their skin, while others bore traits far less subtle.

Scaled arms, animalsic legs, or entire bodies sheathed in tallic plates.

The building itself humd with activity, designed like a sanctuary but running with the precision of a private institution.

A phonograph played a low jazz tune from the corner, nearly masking the shuffle of feet and low murmur of conversations.

At one end of the room, clerks sat behind desks, filling out paperwork with fountain pens and stamping docunts with quick snaps.

Behind frosted glass doors labeled ’Intake’ and ’Placent Office’ mutants of all shapes and sizes moved in unison.

Mutants being examined, tested, and cataloged with bureaucratic precision.

"Currently, we’ve already situated 150 mutants and their families throughout the greater Tri-State area." Raven explained, since technically Harlem fell within that region.

"So far, all we’ve managed is temporary placent here in Harlem, but that’s only the beginning." Raven walked alongside Rhino, nodding to the many mutants who waved or called out greetings, their faces lighting up at the sight of her.

Rhino didn’t respond, instead, his gaze swept the hall.

Taking in the makeshift classrooms, the orderly rows of desks, the bulletin boards covered in work postings and housing permits stamped with city seals.

The faint sll of pipe smoke and varnish hung in the air, mingling with the distant hum of a jazz tune from a gramophone on the ground floor.

"Every day we receive around fifteen mutants, but we expect that number to double in the coming weeks, with Ricky returning and all." Raven said though her voice was brimming with pride as she showed off her hard work.

"And how many of them actually know who they’re working for?" Rhino asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, recognizing that every bright developnt carried its own shadow.

"All of them." Raven chuckled, walking into her office as her assistant imdiately ca to her side.

"Raven, darling, you have a problem." A man, with a pink bowtie and a very pristine figure, walked towards Raven who imdiately scowled at who was sitting at her desk.

"I tried to stop him-"

"Viktor, I understand." Raven squinted, watching two hovering eyeballs slowly turn into crescent moons at her arrival.

"Could you guide Rhino to the cafeteria?"

"Rhino, it will be best if you-"

"I can handle him." Rhino simply said, turning to Raven who suddenly beca surprised.

"But I thought-"

"I know of Elias, he is a stain on us all." Rhino said, squinting slightly, willing to do this for free as Raven looked over to Viktor.

"Then never mind," Raven said to Vikto, who nodded and returned to his desk as she strode forward and opened the doors.

"Elias, as always, go f*ck yourself." Raven happily said, stepping into her office while Elias lounged in her chair.

"And here I thought you had an open-door policy," Elias telepathically replied, his telepath speaking for him as their voice echoed in the room as Rhino followed closely behind Raven.

"Ah, and if it isn’t my favorite sell out-"

"I will crush your eyeballs and turn you into a stew," Rhino growled, his gaze fixed on the man, every inch of his towering fra radiating a lethal intensity.

"Don’t tell you’re still mad about that little thing with your father-"

HUFF

Rhino’s nostrils flared, his massive fra trembling as he prepared to lunge at the man, until a firm hand pressed against his chest.

"Easy, Rhino. You can’t kill him." Raven chuckled, patting his chest lightly as Rhino’s fists clenched tighter, seething at how effortlessly this man had gotten under his skin.

"Not yet, at least." Raven added, side-eyeing Elias with a smirk as the mutant’s amusent at the towering man beca obvious.

"But before we start..." Raven let the sentence hang, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. Elias, catching the implication, stood abruptly from his seat and gestured toward it.

"Viktor!" Raven called, and her assistant appeared almost imdiately, carrying cleaning supplies and shooting a scowl at Elias.

"Viktor, good to see you-" Elias chuckled, watching his most recent loss in front of his two floating eyes.

"Save it, I have nothing to say to you." Viktor spat, quickly moving to scrub the filth off his boss’s chair.

"Ah, so that is how you stole one of my most prized underlings." Elias chuckled, watching Vikto hold back the tears as he scrubbed Raven’s seat.

"It truly was an accident what happened to your friend-"

"It’s always an accident," Raven interrupted, stepping forward to gently push Elias away from the trembling Viktor.

"Viktor, sweety, that’s enough." Raven tapped his shoulder, guiding him upright as he remained dazed, still trying to collect himself.

"Are you sure you don’t want Manny-" Viktor asked, hatefully staring at Elias who enjoyed the hatefilled gaze.

"It’s alright and besides, Elias knows he can’t touch ." Raven chuckled, Viktor giving one last glare before nodding and exiting the room.

"Now, what do you want Elias?"

"I ca to ask about my invitation, it seems to have gotten lost in translation or sothing similar." Elias said, his eyes gleaming with amusent as he watched Raven scoff.

"If sothing similar ans not inviting you, then yes, it got lost." Raven chuckled, watching Elias mock a hurt expression.

"But I am a mutant-"

"And yet, you’re still not invited," Raven chuckled, leaning back against her white leather seat as Elias’s telepathic presence rippled lightly through the room.

"Well, that is not why I ca here today." Elias said, moving toward the chair opposite Raven, while Rhino stared daggers at him.

"And will he be staring at like that throughout our conversation or?" Elias wondered, tilting his eyes balls towards Raven who pondered.

"Would you prefer him to stop?"

"Do you actually care?"

"Not at all," Raven laughed wholeheartedly, her disdain for Elias evident; it was impossible to like soone like him.

"Why are you here, Elias? I don’t offer any services for mutants who eat babies," Raven muttered, crossing her arms and delivering the jab with a sharpness that had already begun spreading through whispers across the foundation.

One rumor she had started herself.

"Haha, very funny," Elias said, playing along, his fingers tracing the seams of the chair before his gaze settled on Raven.

"This is about what really matters, my sanctuary."

"Did sothing happen?" Raven asked, feigning curiosity, tilting her head as Elias slowly raised his floating eyeballs.

"Yes, in fact, there has."

"You see, yesterday, I had a census conducted in the Sanctuary." Elias explained, Raven nodding as if she wasn’t aware of such a fact.

"You an the one where mutants can find safety, companionship, and resources to help them thrive?" Raven sarcastically said, watching Elias laugh at the description.

"Yes, that very one." Elias chuckled, crossing his shadowy fingers together with a thinning patience.

"But an oddity occurred." Elias said, receiving a fake look of shock from Raven.

"Of my two hundred residents, I seem to have lost fifty." Elias simply said, staring at the one woman who was definitely responsible for all of this.

"I guess your dealings with the family have bolstered-"

"Those aren’t the ones I counted missing." Elias interrupted, squinting his eyes at this woman who was blatantly stealing from him.

"Oh dear, did they run away?" Raven asked with fake worry, covering her mouth at the horror of such a thing.

"Yes, to Harlem and to here." Elias plainly said, watching Raven start to laugh before tracing her beautiful desk.

"Well, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of them." Raven smiled, assuring Elias that he shouldn’t worry about this topic any longer.

"Raven, we had an agreent-"

"No, you and Ricky had an agreent, we had nothing of the sorts." Raven clarified, watching Elias’ patience slowly beco thinner and thinner.

"And it’s not like I stole them, they ca running-"

"After you aired my dirty laundry!" Elias snapped, her patience thinning, before he caught himself and quickly regained composure.

"Viktor was a very important mutant to , his mutation, Neurostatic Imprint allows him to-"

"Tag any mory he wants and recall the details of hundreds of mutants at will, effectively becoming a living archive." Raven finished his sentence, already knowing exactly what Viktor was capable of.

"I know, he is such a treasure." Raven smiled warmly, relishing in that infuriating expression spreading across his face.

"You crossed a line-"

"I crossed the line?" Raven asked with a small laugh, looking at Elias with an incredulous expression.

"Would you care to know the difference between us?" Raven asked, leaning back in her white leather chair, her yellow eyes glinting with quiet authority.

"You see, Elias, you have this way of breaking people into their most vulnerable state." Raven’s voice carried a subtle edge as if she had experienced it personally.

"Crushing the things they love and filling that hole with your grotesque sense of purpose." Raven said while leaning forward, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

"But ?"

"I only help those who co and find ." Raven laughed, the earlier coldness in her tone giving way to a sharp, almost teasing warmth.

"And is it my fault that all your antics are coming back to bite you?" She shrugged lightly, letting her gaze linger on Elias.

"If anyone’s to bla, it’s on the man sitting right in front of ."

"He should’ve never found out what happened in Europe-"

"And yet, sohow, he did." Raven shrugged, watching Elias scoff at this conniving woman before him.

"How did you even obtain those records, I had them destroyed-"

"I have connections everywhere Elias, just like you, except, mine are better." Raven chuckled, letting a sly wink punctuate her words as Elias squinted, unsure whether to be annoyed or impressed.

"You want Viktor? You can’t have him, just like everyone else under the foundation’s protection." Raven simply said, waving her hand at Elias’ subtle attempt at threatening her.

"You are still the sa and it’s disgusting." Raven rely stated, shaking her head at Elias who only laughed at these words.

"And you’re differ-"

"I CARE!" Raven snapped, leaning forward, her eyes sharp and unyielding as she glared at the man who discarded mutants like disposable paper towels.

"Unlike your heartless form, I actually care about us as a species." Raven said, placing a hand on her heart with a sincerity that couldn’t be faked.

"You? Well, we both know that you only care about yourself." Raven scoffed, hatefully staring at Elias without care for the repercussions he could induce.

"You deserved what Sebastian Shaw did to you-" Raven laughed, pressing deliberately on the one sore spot she knew would sting Elias the most.

"I’ll have your tongue!" Elias hissed, his telepaths stepping forward, tension crackling in the air.

BAM

Right before one of the telepaths could act, Rhino swung with precision, sending the mutant crashing into the wall.

Cracks spidered outward across the plaster as the other telepath froze at Elias’s command, their gaze fixed on Rhino, who now lood over Elias’s comparatively small fra with an imposing glare.

"You were saying? Sothing about my tongue?" Raven asked, sticking out her tongue in mockery, her tone teasing as Rhino rely opened his palm to Elias, showing that at any mont.

He could squeeze them shut and with it, end his miserable existence.

Cough

"It was only a manner of speaking." Elias said, laughing it off as if it were nothing to be mad about in the first place.

"Well, if you have any problems, I’m sure you can talk to Ricky about all of them." Raven chuckled, watching Elias shift his gaze to the ground, knowing full well he wouldn’t.

"Oh? But he doesn’t even care either, what a sha~" Raven feigned sadness, her voice playful as Elias let out a soft, begrudging chuckle.

"Viktor, honey!" Raven called, the door creaking open as her assistant peeked inside.

"Call Manny, tell him that Elias here would just love a personal escort." Raven commanded, her eyes flicking back to Elias with that calm, piercing authority.

Elias simply shook his head, a phantom smirk tugging at his non-existent lips as he recognized the subtle display of power she wielded effortlessly.

"Yes boss." Vikto dutifully said, ducking out of the room to retrieve Manny who was standing outside in the hall.

"So, no invitation?" Elias asked, leaning back in his chair for old tis’ sake, only to be completely ignored as Raven’s attention remained on the doorway.

"No, but I did end up inviting everyone to your sanctuary." Raven suddenly revealed, watching Elias two floating eyes widen in exasperation.

"You-"

"Whoops." Raven said, faking a gasp as Elias realized sothing and stood up.

"Wait a minute, isn’t-"

"That’s right," Raven continued, her tone casual but precise/

"Out of the two hundred mutants invited, the one hundred and fifty I ntioned weren’t any of mine." Raven let the words hang for a mont, watching Elias process them, fully aware he already understood that those one hundred and fifty were specifically handpicked.

"They were all of yours."

"You cunning b*tch." Elias laughed, shaking his head and watching Raven simply lean back in her chair.

"This is against and Ricky’s deal, you can’t-"

"Who said anything about breaking a promise?" Raven tilted her head, watching Elias visibly trembling with anger.

"Manny isn’t going to escort you back to the sanctuary." Raven said as if it were obvious, watching Elias slowly realize what she was doing.

"But to your office."

Elias’s eyes trembled mid-air, a thin line of blood slowly trickling down from the corners of his telepaths who shifted uneasily beside him as Raven’s yellow gaze glead with amusent.

"You’ve been a very bad boy, Elias~" Raven teased, her tone effortless, as if tornting him were second nature.

"The deal specifically said that you would be working under , but you haven’t done any work since you ca to New York," Raven said in a mock tone of sadness, her fingers tracing idle circles on her desk.

The deal Ricky had struck with Elias involved more than just moving mutants from his sanctuary into the family.

However, it carried an additional condition, one where he would be working under Raven.

Naturally, Elias had no interest in a foundation that would monitor him twenty-four-seven, and he hadn’t even set foot in the building, a fact Raven had anticipated perfectly for just this occasion.

"And there’s so much I need you to do that even if you wanted to go to the dinner, I’m afraid you’ll be far too busy," Raven said deliberately, her tone betraying the satisfaction she took in riling the man before her.

"You do know this deal is only temporary-"

BAM

"And that’s why I’m going to squeeze you for everything you have," Raven hissed, slamming her palms against the desk with a force that rattled the papers in front of her.

Elias stared back, daggers in his eyes, but even he could feel the weight of her presence.

"You haven’t only wronged everyone under you, but you’ve wronged ," Raven whispered, her voice dripping with hatred as she watched him slowly grasp the full asure of her wrath.

"Ah, I see~" Elias finally admitted, nodding his two floating eyeballs with a subtle, self-satisfied chuckle.

"I know it was you." Raven spat, her yellow eyes narrowing as she fixed him with a hateful glare, looking at his eyes slowly forming into crescent moons.

"I know you sohow had a hand in it-"

"I had to," Elias confessed, unflinching, knowing there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"It was the perfect opportunity to take down the one person who always saw through my sches." Elias added, his voice laced with pride, as if this were one of his greatest triumphs to date.

Huff

Raven’s nostrils flared, her yellow eyes burning with hatred as they locked onto Elias, who sat unflinchingly in his chair, a smug calm radiating from him.

"The second you showed up in D.C., it was painfully obvious, so much so that I barely had to dig." Elias said, his shadowy hand slicing through the air, as if the opportunity had simply fallen into his lap.

"But you know how that troubleso ability works and just how smart she is," Elias hinted, turning slightly but casting a sharp side-eye at Raven, gauging her reaction.

"A couple whispers here and there, a bribe to the maids at the hotel you were staying at, and voilà," Elias chuckled, gesturing widely, all while Raven seethed in place, her yellow eyes narrowing with barely contained fury.

"I had those sheets shipped the very next day-"

"I will kill you." Raven vowed, her voice low and venomous as she stared daggers at Elias, who only smiled, clearly relishing how far under her skin he’d gotten.

"I will take everything from you, and I will make you feel every shred of pain I felt that day." Raven continued, pointing directly at his smug floating eyeballs, her yellow gaze burning with fury.

"Not this f*cking guy," Manny scowled, stepping into the room and fixing Elias with a glare. The mutant slowly rose to his feet, eting Manny’s stare without a flicker of fear.

"Well, at least I can finally grasp your reasoning," Elias said, nodding slightly, a hint of smug satisfaction in his tone as if he understood why Raven wanted to kill him so badly.

"Honestly, I am quite disappointed that it took you so long to figure it out," Elias muttered, blatantly mocking Raven right in front of her face.

"I suppose being a mother really damped your senses."

"Watch him. Don’t let him leave his office until he’s done every drop of work assigned to him," Raven ordered, her yellow eyes blazing with a vicious glare that made Manny freeze, taken aback by her wearing sothing other than a smile.

"Yes, Mistress Raven-"

"And don’t let him, or those things at his side, out of your sight. He’s slippery, like a disgusting fish," Raven scowled at Elias, her yellow eyes narrowing with warning to Manny who nodded.

"Aye, you heard her! Get moving!" Manny yelled, shoving Elias toward the door as the mutant reluctantly acquiesced.

"And Raven." Elias said, turning back to back before his telepath could leave the room.

"She even thanked ," Elias chuckled, exiting the office, leaving Raven’s breaths ragged and uneven as Viktor imdiately stepped in.

"Boss, is everything alright?" Viktor asked hurriedly, approaching her as if ready to do whatever she asked of him.

"I suppose you aren’t the only one who’s had sothing precious ripped away by Elias. In that regard, I guess we are the sa," Raven said, forcing a faint smile as she watched Viktor lower his head toward the locket around his neck.

"I am so sorry." Viktor murmured, the words heavy with understanding, knowing exactly the pain Raven had carried when she first confided in him.

"Could you ready a car?."

"Of course, anything."

Raven then sank back into her chair, opening a drawer and letting her eyes scan over so files, while Rhino quietly lingered at her side.

"I apologize for you having to witness that." Raven sighed briefly, her tone calm but weighted.

"No, you don’t have to apologize for his actions," Rhino replied firmly, actually understanding this feeling as well since they were all victims of Elias.

"My father died in the pursuit, when I was chased out of the motherland," Rhino continued, his voice softening slightly as he recalled the mory.

"He was gunned down while holding them off. I rode a coal train all the way to a forest with my mother before we fled to Arica." Rhino explained, keeping it brief as he had only later realized that Elias had orchestrated those events deliberately.

"Yes, well, Elias is too much of a coward to kill himself," Raven spat, her voice sharp as she regarded the mutant.

"He always has soone do the deed for him." Raven muttered this under her breath, then reached for a folder and handed it to Rhino.

"This is an ergency safe house, move whoever you brought with you there until tonight." Raven explained, having prepared for situations exactly like this.

"Once you co under Ricky, he cannot touch you but I’d advise you not give him any reason-"

"I know what he’s capable of." Rhino said, taking the folder and scanning it briefly before tucking it securely under his arm.

"And I won’t forget your generosity."

"It’s only natural since we might be working together, after all."

After that, they walked down the polished steps of the foundation and made their way to the front entrance.

Rhino’s massive fra moved with surprising grace, though his eyes kept scanning the surroundings, alert as ever.

He paused for a mont, glancing to the side, and a hint of relief crossed his face.

Two won were casually sitting on a bench, laughing as they ate hotdogs, while a boy darted around them with the boundless energy of youth.

The scene was so ordinary, so harmless, that it almost felt surreal to Rhino after the tense exchanges inside.

For the first ti that day, he allowed himself a small exhale, letting the normalcy of it all soothe the edge of constant vigilance that clung to him.

"I take it that is your family?" Raven asked, her gaze softening as she observed the older woman and the boy, most likely his mother and wife.

"Yes, I brought them here from upstate," Rhino replied, his voice steady but tinged with pride.

"After Mr. Rockefeller died, his children thought it best if we went our separate ways." Rhino said but was not the least bit bitter about the departure.

Which Raven keenly picked up on.

"Though it was expected since they never enjoyed my company." Rhino continued, shrugging since the entire family thought of their kind as a scourge on existence.

"However, in my line of work, you understand that money is rely a ans," Rhino said, lowering his gaze as his massive hands flexed slightly, the callouses on them speaking of years of survival and hard work.

"It is nice, but you slowly realize that it cannot always make a place bearable."

"So, what is your impression of New York so far?" Raven curiously asked, wondering how this imposing man interpreted his surroundings.

"A mixing pot."

"But it’s nice to see that my child will be able to grow up with others like him." Rhino smiled, looking at his son that was currently lifting the hotdog cart.

"I must go, I will see you later tonight."

"Yes, see you tonight."

Later that night,

At the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the room bustled with elegance as they readied themselves for the most important mutant event in the last century.

The Foundation Charity Dinner.

Crystal chandeliers scattered soft light over the gilded ballroom, where tables draped in ivory linen surrounded a polished dance floor.

Waiters in white jackets moved with precision, balancing trays of champagne glasses and silver-dod entrées.

"Everyone, may I have your attention!"

Author’s Note: tell what you think of these sorts of chaps, want to know what you sort of think fo changing perspspetives every one and a while. Also srry abotu not psoting Idk why but I jsut wasn’t feelig it yesterday and I will look at all the comnts either later today or tommorrow cuase im tired but I will get to them, anyways here ya go.