Becca's low point was over, but that took a lot of work. Fixing herself. Letting the right people in. Not chasing romance at the cost of everyone around her. Everyone had lessons to learn in their teens and twenties, and she was still learning some of her own, but this was all progress. Things were better now, and a better personal outlook along with a positive support structure helped to get here there.

That was perhaps why she was trying to instill some optimism in Sam. She was not around for the years that formed him, but the older Sam had his demons and maybe could have used a support structure of his own. If Becca was here, in a better point of her life than she had experienced in years, she wanted to help the people around her find that, too.

"And maybe ye dinnae end up doin' th' relationship thing if it's really nae right fer ye." It was a valid choice and relationships did not equal happiness. "Ah'm jist sayin' dinnae assume yer nae allowed. Yer nae th' guy Ah knew, which means ye coods be better."

And that did not stop at personal connections. Becca winced when Sam repeated her word, but it was an honest point to make: Sam was just starting out now. "He took on a volcano, Ah helped take doon a tyrant, an' Ah know some fowk joined together years ago tae stop a giant zombie turkey." She was still sad she missed that one. "Ye dinnae hae tae be in his shadow. Ye'll make yer own legacy, coz th' world is weird an' X-Men loch us throw ourselves at weird."

Rebecca shoveled a large spoonful of sweet, slightly-melty dessert into her mouth and covered up with her free hand to add, "Heck, ye can aways rebrand and make a new name fer yourself. Ah jist changed mah codename; nothin's tyin' ye tae Cold Steel." It was a good name, but Becca could easily come up with ten ice-related codenames off the top of her head. Way easier than magnetism.

It wasn’t like Sam didn’t want a relationship with someone. It was always weird having to see people holding hands like that and profess their love for each other. The icemancer just knew with his life; past, present and looking like future it was probably best he didn’t get involved with anyone. He never knew when he’d had to disappear or if someone got hurt because of him, he’d never be able to live with himself. He didn’t argue though. She had a large spoon and was pregnant and had random powers. He didn’t feel like getting blasted out of the kitchen on a now full stomach.

Sam didn’t know if he wanted to leave a legacy here, however he was enjoying himself now what’s to say things get bad. No it would be easier to pack up and leave he’d of course have to take Bruno and Cammie with him or at least find them a home. Sam’s nostrils flared as he hopped off the counter and walked over to the sink to rinse the carton before putting it in the recycling.

”That was my code name when I was a kid.” Sam said folding his arms leaning up next to the sink. He didn’t like explaining anything about his past but again, it was oddly comforting talking to her, he didn’t like it….nope.
”It was either that or 602. Cold Steel had a better ring to it.” she did have a point while his older self and him did share a past tighter it didn’t mean he had to stick to everything.

”Rime.” he said finally. Sticking to the ice theme. Steel was only part of his name due to his ability with knives and swords.

It was important for Rebecca not to push her own narrative on the people around her. Yes, she spent time thinking she could only hurt people when she tried loving them, and yes, she managed to overcome that eventually. That did not mean Sam’s path would follow the same road. He was still way younger than Rebecca, and had time to decide if he even wanted a relationship. More than anything, she just did not want him thinking he was destined to not have things because the older Sam could not figure them out.

Finishing the last of her ice cream with a big, chocolate-covered scoop, Becca thought silently about Sam’s codenames and his past. She was not privy to all the details, but when you received a code name and number as a child, there was baggage that came with those things.

At least he seemed to take her suggestion to heart. That made her smile as she used a hand towel to secure her bowl so she could bring it toward the sink. ”Rime’s a good ain, Sam. Thematic, concise, nae tay edgy. Soonds loch someain Ah woodsnae mind gang on missions with. Ye know, when Ah can gae on missions again.” She still had to get through her pregnancy and relearn control over her own magnetic abilities.

Taking the dishes from Becca and the towel Sam put everything in the sink and rinsed them before putting them in the dishwasher. ”I guess that makes sense.” the icemancer said touching his stomach and gesturing towards her awkwardly. ”Missions get dangerous.” he agreed.

”Does that mean Rime gets to go help out or am I on sabbatical for hat as well?” he asked folding his arms, ”Been running missions since I was a kid, I can at least fly the jet.” he said confidently.

”Do I need a new costume with a new name?” Sam asked, ”Old Sam’s suits are a little… unpractical.” he said preferring to have less flash on his X-suit.

While Mirror was the one to put their foot down when it came to benching Becca, the whole team wholeheartedly agreed that she needed to step away from fieldwork. Begrudgingly, she agreed. Even if she was not pregnant, using her powers could put whole buildings in jeopardy. Right now she had to focus on her training and her child. ”Til then, Ah’ll jist be th’ voice on comms.” She was still a Team Leader and had a role with the X-Men.

The team did not have one leader, so Becca could not make unilateral decisions, but she did have a voice. ”Ah think Rime shoods be fine tae be part ay th’ X-Men, if ye want. Ye hae trainin’ and we can use mair good folk on th’ team.” The X-Men helped Becca be the best version of her; hopefully it helped Sam in his second go-around.

Being a hero was affirming and came with perks. Perks like costumes, which always brightened Becca up. ”We can absolutely gie ye a new outfit. Ah know a guy who does great work. Though Ah cannae exactly call him at twelve-thirty,” she pointed out, ”Sae it may hae tae wait til tomorrow. Though mah opinion: keep a mask. It’s nice tae keep th’ vigilante traditions.” Even if they were official and deputized, there was a history of vigilante crime fighting to which Becca wanted to pay homage.

Sam agreed with the decision to keep a pregnant woman out of danger children were indeed fragile and with her powers already on the fritz he could see how it would be more of a liability. Of course he was sure she knew this so he nodded his head, ”Everyone needs someone in the chair.” he wasn’t the one to sit in a chair though. No his short attention span was suited for fieldwork. That too he was sure she knew so he didn’t say anything.

”Great.” Sam corrected with a smirk, ”Some would argue the best.” the icemancer puffed his chest straitening his smile into a more heroic one.

His chest deflated and he nodded his head. As long as the guy didn’t deal in capes he was probably hired mainly because Sam didn’t know anyone else who could make him one. Maybe Ami could? He wasn’t sure but if he didn’t like the suit her guy made maybe he could ask her? ”I agree on the mask however I think older me kinda ruined it. The dude loved being noticed.” Sam shrugged then waved to her.


”If you could make it happen I’ll buy you more ice cream.” Sam nodded.

Being the woman in the chair would be a change. She was the Valkyrie; a shieldmaiden who wanted to be between people and trouble. Being in the chair was the furthest thing from her comfort zone. Still, it would keep her in a place where she could help others and her team. She would value the opportunity.

Being part of the team was a big part of her life, and this moment of bonding with Sam reminded her of how much she valued that. ”Ah can absolutely be bribed by ice cream,” she admitted. ”And Ah’m an internet celebrity, but Ah wear th’ mask. Sometimes ye dae things because they’re practical. Other times? It’s for th’ aesthetic.” She was wholeheartedly sold on the vigilante aesthetic, and they could pry her domino mask out of her cold, dead hands.

Yawning, Rebecca rolled her shoulders and backpedaled toward the door. ”We can discuss crime-fightin’ fashion tomorrow, Sam. Ah’ve gie a baby who needs me restin’ and yer still a growin’ young man,” she teased, adding a wink for good measure. ”Gie some sleep, okay? Or try.” She understood restlessness, but she hoped their midnight meeting could put him more at ease.