”Doesn’t mean I can’t believe in it.” Sam said honestly sipping his drink and forming an ice sphere for Bruno. Handing it back to him he nodded his head, ”I’m not sure it is meant for everyone is all.” he shrugged, ”Or maybe I haven’t met the person to make me think otherwise.” he said into his drink. ”and I have to be the optimist to balance the cynics out.”

”Boy earned it.” he said patting Bruno on the side as he loudly chomped the ice behind them. ”He had to deal with two different versions of me and he is still around.”

”Nor the company.” Sam said leaning towards Cora a bit and giving her a little nudge with his shoulder. ”Honestly, view’s awesome pick Cora.” he looked to where she pointed for the ice caves. ”Depends who you ask, me now. Eight months ago, other me a decade and eight months.” he paused not sure how to explain why he was there but then left it vague, ”Decided to do a little R&R on my own. North, very north.”

”Not sure anyone had been there in years, no cities or trails just snow and ice, me and a good bottle and a fire.” he paused and looked back to Bruno, ”Before him. He’d have been too cold.” Sam said with a smirk, ”I am however impressed whenever I see any natural caves without me doing anything to them.” he smiled, ”You’ll have to take me sometime. Sounds like you know the area.”

Cora laughed, glad she had swallowed her last mouthful of whisky before she did. It would have been unfortunate to waste such a good brew on a cheesy joke. "Poor thing, having to deal with both versions of you! They do say dog is man's best friend, though. And maybe it helps he doesn't understand all the puns you throw around. And, you know, free ice. That's a benefit if you're a doggo."

She smirked happily, letting him nudge her. The alcohol was starting to do it's work, warmth in her body and letting her muscles relax. She quirked an eyebrow at his story, but no judgement. "Some people would think something like that sounds lonely, but heck, I would have a blast taking a trip like that. I'm not all immune to ice like you, but I don't mind it. Ironic for a Cali-kid." She kicked her feet against the rocks and chuckled.

"Probably comes from climbing so much. Higher you go, colder it gets. Can't fall off a mountain 'cus your fingers get too chilly, you learn to suck it up and keep going. Dad had a forward movement attitude. If I inherited anything, that would have been it. 'You can give up because of something temporary, or suck it up and find something that will last forever'. He was full of crap like that. But he did take me on some insane climbs. I don't regret going along." She smiled. She never regretted good memories like that.

"I know most the trails. I've explored this area a lot on my days off. I'd be happy to show you a few things. But--" She turned and wagged a finger at him. "You drag some date up here thinkin' you can show her the sunset and impress her, I may have to cut a few threads in retaliation. Guys who drag girls out here in their new designer hiking boots are just a mess for the rest of us."

It was lonely but he didn’t tell her that. He was in hiding at the time, trying not to be seen or tracked he was trying to live but after a few weeks in hiding he got stir crazy and that’s when he was discovered again. ”Good for self-reflection. Also good to enjoy the wilderness.” Sam agreed. ”Well Cali-kid you seem to be doing well here. Even more so with me an ice mutant.” he said with a smirk debating if he should start calling Cora a Cali-girl.

”Dad’s a smart guy.” Sam said again, ”I might steal that.” he said already knowing a few people he could use that on. Wishing he had some kind of memory with his father. He remembered one or two memories with his mother but his father he could never remember and seeing as it was his father all evidence of his existence disappeared other than his brother Dom who wound up in an orphanage.

”Sounds like you got some good memories of him.” Sam said not sure if he was going to touch on a sore subject, ”What’s his name?”


Raising an eyebrow and sipping his glass again, ”You’re cutting deep. One, this place is sacred now. I can only come here with you or Bruno.” Bruno whined hearing his name and Sam reached back and scratched his neck. ”Two, do I look like I buy designer anything?” he smirked, ”You want a mess that doesn’t buy designer,” Sam smirked, ”Cali-girl you’re looking at him.”

Cora regretted referring to herself as a Cali-kid already. She could feel the jokes starting, both hating and sort of enjoying the attention. "For an ice mutant you aren't that cold. Aren't you supposed to like, be aloof? Mysterious? Doesn't that go with the territory?" She laughed, finishing what she had poured for herself and setting her glass down.

"The whole personality goes with the powers bit doesn't always pan out I guess. You just had to be cool instead of cold I take it." She could play the puns game too. Not that she would come up with many he hadn't heard of.

Cora nodded when things drifted back to her dad. "His name is Gary. He's still around, sort of... Broke his back climbing a few years back, has been in a wheelchair since. But he never regretted it. Well, he regretted falling. But he always claimed he would still climb even knowing how it would end. I guess I got a bit of his fearlessness. At least with most things." She wouldn't call herself afraid of relationships, but she was certainly cautious. That was the only caution she allowed in her life, however.

She was pleased he agreed not to bring someone else here. For some reason, that made it feel nicer. "You don't see yourself trying to rock one of those Michael Korrs puffy jackets? No flashy gold shoes? So boring!" She taunted. She flat out grimaced when he called her Cali-girl.

"Hell, I've met some of the worst. Their $1000 purses and their tiny little stilettos. You haven't seen a cat fight until you've stabbed a girl with her own stiletto. Only happened once though. California school district brings out some wicked fights." She admitted. The girl needed stitches, Cora got a slap on the wrist when bigger issues drew the attention away from her. Not that Cora had anything to do with that. There may have been a few members of staff with sudden amnesia who couldn't remember what caused the fight to begin with.

Cora

Sam shook his head sadly, ”That was older me.” he shrugged trying to make a joke. Honestly as much as he heard and seen from his older self he had no idea what he had seen. What made him that mess. Sam didn’t think about it though. Nope. Not when there was a sunset. ”I’m glad you agree.”

Tilting his now empty glass towards her he grinned, ”Mind if I steal a little bit more of your whiskey?” the grin quickly faded as she mentioned what happened to her father. ”Oh ****” he said thinking about how awful that must be. Like a hawk who could no longer fly, ”I am so sorry.” he apologized for bringing it up but then had to splash some optimism, ”At least he is still around though right?” Sam asked. It might not be the way she wanted but he was a little envious she had a father.

Sam reached into the his bag and pulled a flashy communicator for the X-Men. Technically he wasn’t supposed to have it due to his ‘sabbatical’ but he did care for some of the people on the team and if they needed him he’d be there. ”About as flashy as I like.” he said glad to see there was no distress calls during his hike with Cora and Bruno.

”Hold up…” Sam said setting his communicator next to his glass, ”You stabbed someone with a shoe?” Sam asked laughing surprised. Most people probably wouldn’t have found that funny but to Sam that just showed resourcefulness. He smirked, ”Guess I have a type.” he shook his head.

Cora passed the whisky, and smiled in a reassuring way. "Hey, you didn't know the topic had a sad edge, so don't stress it. He's still happy as a clam: he has come by the gym from time to time, man's proud of how it turned out." She gave herself a little more to drink. She hadn't noticed how her smile had gone from snark and sass to something more natural.

He pulled out the communicator and she snickered at his comment. "Wait, you said you were a teacher. Don't tell me you did the whole superhero bit too?" If she was honest with herself, she would admit feeling a bit jealous of some mutants and their heroics. She could only rely on what she could do with her own human abilities. The threads just got in the way most times.

Clearly, stabbing someone with a shoe was not a heroic action. "I mean, they call them stilettos for a reason. I had a bit of a temper in my younger, wilder days." She acted wise and mature, winking at him. "If your type likes to stab people, maybe I should help you clear out some old threads sometime. Can't have random assassins chasing us down on a good hike. Although, I think I could hold my own."

Glad that her dad was still in good health considering the wheel chair was a small consolation prize. Wondering if he could talk to the mansion’s healer Doc into healing her dad he kept his thought to himself just so she wouldn’t get her hopes up. The man could heal practically anything right? Then again he did have an eye patch for a few years.

”Surprise.” Sam said with a sip of his glass. One way to get a ‘I occasionally risk my life and do things that could end in my death’ conversation out of the way. She climbed rocks he apparently took on volcanoes, both were rocks right? ”Tried not to bring it up but it’s flashy…and they are hopeless without me.” Sam said putting the communicator back in his bag. ”Apparently I was the OG when it came to heroics.” Sam said with a shrug thinking there were a few more before him. Not matter what his older self said.

Sam laughed nervously when she mentioned assassins apparently that was a trigger word for Bruno as well. The dog got up and turned while whining looking behind them to make sure there was no one. What did his older self teach this dog. ”Bruno clear.” Sam formed a sphere and tossed it to the dog who laid down behind him again.

”We aren’t supposed to say that word.” Sam said shrugging, ”I have no idea what I taught him but apparently that is a trigger.” Sam said scratching the back of his head. ”Might take you up on that. Sounds like too many threads is a bad thing.” Sam said trying to change the subject back to her mutation.

Lost without him? Cora had a catty grin as she faced him, laughing. "They're so hopeless but you have soooo much time to yourself right now. Crime must be having a slow day. Glad they could spare you for a hike or two." She swallowed another drink and shook her head. The gel was starting to wear out from her hair and making it lay flatter. She looked a little less punk the longer they sat. It could have been the setting, or just that he was easy to relax around.

"I could probably be into heroics too if I was an ice-mancer. Much easier to swoop in and save the day when you can create giant ice slides out of thin air. For me it would just be 'hang onto my back while I break out my rock climbing gear, we'll get down this cliff eventually." She failed to see a way her own abilities would be of use on that type of A-team.

Cora was surprised the dog was trained to jump at the word assassin. Well, maybe he did pick up a few x's he shouldn't have. Her surprise dissolved into a laugh, and she covered her mouth as she smirked at him.

"I wouldn't say too many is a bad thing, but hell, if you got those type of x's, having a few of them forget you wouldn't be a bad thing. And it wouldn't be hard, just have to look for the ones that seem to say 'I want Sam dead'. Black like their souls." she teased. "Don't worry, I won't go grabbing at them without your permission. You see too much of your own threads I'm afraid you'll jump right off the cliff to escape me."

It was true while he felt they were lost without him the feeling wasn’t mutual which was why he had been listening in whenever there was talks of a mission. Sam liked being included it was an easier transition for him missions were something he was familiar with and the X-men did a lot less killing. Ideally none at all. ”I explained this was important.” Sam said grinning.

Part of him agreed with Cora when it came to being on the team he knew his older version didn’t though reluctantly he decided to say something he figured older Sam would say, ”Your expertise alone would be useful some members of the team have more active mutations but couldn’t tell the difference between a rock wall and a bolder.” he shrugged, ”For every active mutation there is someone who doesn’t know what the hell they are doing.” Sam smirked, ”Not me though.” he thumbed his chest, ”Whole package.”

”I’d survive.” he laughed, making a downhill motion. ”But I’m sure there are a few black threads. Not sure if I want them cut yet or not. If I forget and they somehow remember…” Sam stopped and reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone and snapped another selfie of him Cora and Bruno. ”I don’t want to be a sitting duck you know?” he smirked and sent her the photo then put his phone away.

Even if he was joking, there was something nice about being told hanging out with her was important. "Yes, a hike and an interesting girl are clearly more important than heroics." She winked. She finished what she had poured herself for the second time, and decided that was probably the limit. She did have to drive back, eventually. The last thing she wanted was to lay her bike down in the middle of the road because she had one too many rounds.

He commented on her natural abilities, which Cora did give a moment to consider. The buzz she had now made her a little more open to thoughts like being a good guy, general good and all that. "I guess if you ever need a climbing expert you would know where to find one then. But, you're the whole package? So why would you ever need to call for my help?" She teased.

Cora considered his comment about cutting a thread and they somehow still remembered. "That would be a downside, for sure. It's usually the ones with the emotional baggage I have cut. The bad breakups, the messy friendships. It doesn't erase that person, but, you feel free from the weight. It's impossible to cut someone out from your life entirely, but cutting the thread seemed to accelerate that path toward moving on. I'm no psychologist though." She shrugged. Then she laughed and smiled for the photo before she stopped herself. It was probably one of the only photos out there that had her genuinely grinning.

"Good thing you took that now. Much longer you would have nothing to show but a black screen." They were on the tail end of the sunset now. She pointed up, watching as stars starting to fill the sky. "Never get tired of that, though. Worth driving back in the dark to see just how many stars there really are. Hell of a sight."

The icemancer laughed, ”A lot of things are more important than heroics. Especially hikin-“ Sam stopped short then smirked at her ”interesting girls.” Sam said noticing the stars. They were faint but they were there. The first few he noticed were behind Cora, then he realized he was staring and then he looked back out in front of them.

”From what I see heroics can be dangerous. I might get injured or a bad case of the deadsies.” Sam joked. They can be dangerous but that was why he spent his time training not to mention all the years before he spent training and doing said dangerous stuff most of them were far from heroic. ”They will need someone to help them climb.”

”Had to get proof you were with me if you decided to cut our thread.” Sam nodded his head watching the sky give off a final burst of orange before fading to black.

More stars were out now, ”Driving back?” Sam grabbed the bottle, ”Here I thought we were having a drink.” he topped off his glass and set the bottle down. ”Bruno and I were just planning on sleeping in the bed of the truck and star gaze.” Sam looked to Bruno and clicked his cheek getting the dogs attention. ”Isn’t that right bud?” Bruno barked for an ice sphere.

Cora missed the stare, or she would have razzed him for it. She was enjoying her buzz and the night was cool but not horribly chilly. The more she thought about it, she may have already drank one too many. Downside to riding a bike, there was no way to use it as a decent bed. Pillow, maybe, in a pickle. "What, you haven't helped train them how to climb already? Slacker!" She smirked to herself, or tried to smirk. It sort of just melted into a grin in the end. "Have to train you a few more traditional climbing methods so you can impress your teammates even more. You can convince them you were just training, not chasing after women for once."

She made a face when he mentioned cutting the thread, and waved a hand at him. "I don't think I want to forget you yet. Your sort of fun to be around. Tolerable, clearly. It's nice to hike with someone who doesn't look like they'll die on the first landing." She decided.

"See, you two were smarter, bringing the truck. If I have to I can just crash up here, not the first time I've slept outdoors. Digging the view, after all." Tired of tilting her neck, she settled against the rocks, bumping against Bruno as she laid backward. He sniffed her ear once, finishing chomping on his ice. "Although I should have brought my own furry pillow." She laughed and rubbed the dog behind the ears then looked back up. Stars kept appearing in an almost magical way. She wasn't romantic. Nope. But if she was, it would have been hella beautiful.

"Hey, Sam, you kept asking about my dad, how come you don't talk about your family? Don't think I didn't notice your man of mystery gameplay." She commented, swatting him from her spot on the ground. He had stolen the bottle or she would have taken that for ransom.

The icemancer threw his hands up his glass down, ”Got me there, I might be able to swing it so we can have a team building session there.” it was a slim chance Sam didn’t think they’d all go for it considering he was younger now. A few of the older members were currently treating him like a kid. Not that he’d admit his insecure feelings to anyone. Nor should he feel that way, he had more training than most of them they were just worried about the image. Which was fair, while Sam didn’t want to kill anymore he wasn’t above it, it was an effective way to save people.

”Awww.” he teased, ”That was almost sweet.” shifted his weight turning towards Cora a bit more, ”Third landing I might have trouble. You got at least one more out of me.”

”More than enough room in the bed with Bruno.” Sam said grinning, ”I planned a ahead and brought some blankets. Not that I was expecting you not to be able to drive.” Sam grinned slightly. ”I can make bed anywhere. Helps when you can make a snow pile.” he paused, ”Yes, snow piles are comfortable once you can shape it to your body.” Grinning further, ”I think you found another one.”

Sam took a swig of the whiskey again clenching his jaws this was a more sensitive subject for Sam, at least the older Sam. He didn’t even know if Cora would remember any of this tomorrow. In fact he hoped she wouldn’t. ”You wanted me to be mysterious I thought, comes with the powers.”

Sam shifted uncomfortably then looked up instead of coming anywhere into eye contact with her, ”Don’t have a lot of memories of them.” he said his tone flat, he didn’t like talking about it but Cora was honest with him, guess he should be as well. ”I was abducted when I was like five or something, I showed early signs for a mutation and somebody thought they could use it.” he frowned slightly, ”I remember a Christmas coming down the stairs with my brother and my mom filing us.” he said with a shrug, ”Still got a brother though. I found him or he found me a couple years ago. Technically I haven’t met him yet.” he said not really touching too much on anything else.

Cora blinked, snickering into her hand a little at the image of having a super hero team in her gym. "Do I have to fan girl and ask for autographs if you guys actually came out? I don't think I ever had celebrity climbers. Well, other than you." She winked.

He commented about having room in the truck and Cora smirked, continuing to pet Bruno. "Is that just a way to get me to bed with you? Oh, smooth one. Not sure you've made it to that level hot-shot. And I am trying to be a responsible adult, here. I should have stopped after the first glass but damn if that wasn't a good bottle. Have to thank Scout for it."

Cora expected him to deflect her question, but he didn't. She stopped her goading and listened. A lot more details seemed to drop into place. Survival training, being good at climbing, She put her hands behind her head and sighed a little. "Guess it can suck having a good mutantion too. Life's a lottery that doesn't care what it deals you sometimes." Bruno took the calmed atmosphere as an invitation to lick her face. Cora sputtered and sat back up, laughing and wiping the large trail of saliva off her face.

"Gotta train your wingman not to make his move first on women." She laughed, reaching over and wiping the dog slobber onto Sam's shirt like a good friend. She tried to fix her hair that was now standing up in a rather comical blue Mohawk. "I guess I have a mom out there somewhere. She decided there were better places she wanted to be than having a kid. I've thought about what would happen if she ever found her way back to us, but that's just drama I don't think I'm ready for. Sorry I brought it up. I'm the one always saying relationships are messy anyway, I should know families are included in that."

A celebrity. Sam grinned, ”I am more than happy to give you autograph. Unless you want Serena’s…” he shook his head throwing shade to the blonde again for humiliating in a danger room session. He technically shouldn’t even be made at her considering he trained her, then again that power in itself was impressive. Not that he’d ever admit it.

Sam raised his glass, ”To Scout.” he shrugged again, pretending his whole situation wasn’t a big deal. He was supposed to be cool like an ice mutant. Sam sipped his glass and smirked, ”It’s a super cool mutation.” adding more to his pun base.

”Guess I do.” Sam said laughing, feeling his shirt be used for a drool rag. ”He got you closer to me right?” Sam smiled cradling the glass in his hand when she touched on her mom. He had a feeling something happened considering she never talked about her. ”Can’t imagine what that was like.” Sam took his free hand and found hers on the rocks in between them. ”No one needs drama.” Sam agreed.