In theory, Sabine liked spending time with Pippa. They worked together, but given Pippa's goal of revamping Sabine's image, they had a surprising amount of time together out of the SUPER Headquarters. Those excursions were usually nice... right up until the inevitable moment where someone would try to kidnap or kill them. It happened twice, which did not sound like a lot, but for murder attempts, two was excessive.

It was over a month since the baseball game, so their public appearances were sparse. Sabine was not going to put Pippa in another abduction scenario. They would play things carefully until her team pulled up a lead on whoever was trying to get Sabine out of the way.

Much to the Senior Agent's surprise, the lack of public appearances and outings had her missing something. Sabine was a classic introvert, but sometimes it was the company you kept, not where you were, and Pippa was good company. With fewer excuses to hang out with her PR rep, Sabine was getting antsy. It was not as though she living in the same building, like AJ the lucky Adapted paramedic.

Sabine did know where Pippa lived after the last time a private car picked them up. Therefore, there was nothing weird about dropping by to say hi. Sabine kept telling herself that, bottle in hand, when she pressed the intercom in hopes that Pippa would buzz her in. "Hey Pippa! It's Sabine. I was just around and thought we've gone a whole month without almost dying. Figured that was worth celebrating with a bottle of wine."

It had been a strange few weeks. Sabine and Pippa decided to rethink public appearances, since two out of two murder attempts were not a good look anyway. Instead, Pippa was back to more traditional office work, and less time spent around her boss. Which made her feel a little bit useless, and also a little bit left alone. Wasn't her whole job to help with the PR of SUPER? And now she was slacking off... for a good reason, though. At least, both of them staying alive and un-shot was a good reason. She did not want to experience that again.

But it also meant she was spending a whole lot of time lounging at home instead of going out. Right now, she was preparing to go up to the rooftop gardens to occupy herself, when the doorbell rang.

>>"Hey Pippa! It's Sabine. I was just around and thought we've gone a whole month without almost dying. Figured that was worth celebrating with a bottle of wine."

Pippa blinked. Oh crap. She looked over herself. She was not exactly looking professional... or anything like she usually looked at work. She was wearing pink gardening overalls and a white shirt and ballet flats, which probably made her look like some kind of a tiny magical creature. Dammit. And Sabine was at the door with wine. Pippa was not sure how she felt about that, so she decided not to overthink the whole thing. It would have been awkward to say no anyway.

"Come in" she replied, pushing the buzzer to let her boss in. She ran her hands through her hair nervously before she opened the door a few moments later. "Let's try to keep up the winning streak, huh?"

There was a pause while Sabine waited for an answer. It was a long enough pause to question why she did not call ahead. Sure, she wanted to surprise Pippa, but was it going to be a welcome surprise? Sabine was an associate from work, so broaching a personal space might be unwelcome. It could even be argued, despite Pippa not being her direct report, that there was some power imbalance given Sabine’s status as a Senior Agent at SUPER. There was the possibility of Pippa not even being home, which might save Sabine some embarrassment. In the grand scheme of things, Sabine could have thought this through more thoroughly, which was unlike her.

Finally, the intercom box clicked back to life as a speaker rather than a receiver, piping Pippa’s voice through. She was welcomed in, which was a good sign, right? She made it to Pippa’s door, taking a once-over to see what Pippa looked like in her off time.

It was a casual look, but not Sabine’s brand of casual consisting of a tanktop and sweatpants. Of course, Sabine was not coming to Pippa’s door in her loungewear, but she did dress down to a button-down over an undershirt and a pair of comfortable jeans. ”I like the overalls. I don’t think I could pull off the pink,” she admitted. On Sabine, the look would be out of place, but Pippa was the embodiment of some cottagecore fantasy. ”Was I interrupting something with my impromptu toast to life and un-captivity? I could come back.”

Pippa opened the door, letting Sabine in. She couldn't very well send her away, and talking about not getting killed out in the hallway was bound to jinx something sooner or later.

>>”I like the overalls. I don’t think I could pull off the pink,”

Pippa blushed. She had not been planning on being out in public dressed like that. She was usually more confident in her work clothes. "I'll put that in the next press conference kit." she chuckled.

>>”Was I interrupting something with my impromptu toast to life and un-captivity? I could come back.”

"No..." she shook her head, leading the way into the apartment. "I'm not really doing anything. I have a few more days off. How have you been doing? Since... you know."

Sabine tried her best not to consciously profile people outside of work. She'd wired her brain over the years pick up little hints, in personality and habits and environment, that could piece together a picture of the person in front of her. She never meant it to be rude or invasive; this was just how she learned to understand people.

Pink overalls painted the kind of picture she could see Pippa in. Some of the troglodytes she worked with might have made assumptions that the blond with the perfectly manicured nails and fashionable outfits would be dainty and vapid, but Sabine could picture the hard-working, nurturing person losing herself in gardening to unwind at the end of the day.

Pippa taking time to herself was good. The year was more stressful than she deserved. "I'm okay. Which I acknowledge is what people say when they're not okay, but I mean it, she promised.

"I'm under strict orders to stick to desk work and secure press announcement for the moment. The Powers That Be are playing things cautiously, so I'm told to stay safe in the meantime. Thus, I'm here." Sabine wasn't sure exactly what she meant by that, but she did know that despite multiple life-threatening experiences with Pippa, she still found some degree of safety around the blonde mutant. Some things really did change.

Holding up the wine bottle, she shrugged, hoping to move things forward past recent events. "I did snag a fancy bottle of red from definitely not a repossessed crime syndicate wine cellar. Maybe you're up for a little tipsy gardening?"

>>"I'm okay. Which I acknowledge is what people say when they're not okay, but I mean it"

Pippa was glad to hear that. She doubted Sabine would tell her right away if she wasn't okay, even after what they had been through together, but showing up with some wine was at least some indication that things were looking up.

>>"I'm under strict orders to stick to desk work and secure press announcement for the moment. The Powers That Be are playing things cautiously, so I'm told to stay safe in the meantime. Thus, I'm here... I did snag a fancy bottle of red from definitely not a repossessed crime syndicate wine cellar. Maybe you're up for a little tipsy gardening?"

Pippa arched an eyebrow at Sabine.

"I didn't know you were into gardening" she chuckled. Getting tipsy, sure, she could see that. But she was having a hard time imagining Sabine in the garden. She moved to the kitchenette area of her apartment, rummaging around for wine glasses and a corkscrew. "Or are you so bored of the desk job that you'd do anything else?"

If Pippa was sizing her up, she was doing a good job. "You've caught me; I've never really been a gardener, but I'm a quick learner." The agent grinned, adding, "Plus, you clearly enjoy it enough to invest in cute overalls, so I'm confident I can follow you're lead."

That really didn't answer the second part of Pippa's question; the why of Sabine showing up for drinks and gardening unannounced. She kept a casual composure, looking around the apartment. It was much of what she would expect; decorated thoughtfully, lived in, full of life and plants. It was all cute. Sabine didn't use the word much, but with someone like Pippa, that just made sense.

Sabine handed over the bottle. "I know this may come as a shock, but I've never been big on investing in what you'd call a 'social life' outside of work." She paused for what she assumed would be a sarcastic reaction. "Considering you've kind of built up that social life from scratch, it made sense to drop by when I found some time. I... I hope you don't mind?" And in case Pippa's face might suggest she did, Sabine intentionally avoided it to look around the living space.

>>"You've caught me; I've never really been a gardener, but I'm a quick learner. Plus, you clearly enjoy it enough to invest in cute overalls, so I'm confident I can follow you're lead."

Cute? Pippa blushed a little. That was the second compliment on her outfit in so many minutes, and Sabine was not that much of a fashion connoisseur. She was used to being complimented by various people (usually when she was dressed for work), but she did not really expect it from Sabine. She busied herself with opening the bottle, wondering why she had come over, suddenly interested in gardening.

>>"I know this may come as a shock, but I've never been big on investing in what you'd call a 'social life' outside of work."

Sabine paused, as if it had been some kind of a confession. It was not exactly news to Pippa.

>>"Considering you've kind of built up that social life from scratch, it made sense to drop by when I found some time. I... I hope you don't mind?"

Pippa blinked. Built up a social life? She had, since she had moved over from another universe, but Sabine didn't...

"I... not really from scratch" she hurried to note. Pop went the cork. "Well, unless you count AJ crashing through the roof. But that was not exactly planned." There were more conventional ways to build a social life, really. "And no, I don't mind. I think I have had all the downtime I can handle in one go..."

Despite expecting a sarcastic quip from Pippa, the impromptu hostess said nothing, making Sabine's pause seem pregnant and awkward. Well, assuming really did make an ass of you and me. Well, mostly Sabine.

Seeking confirmation that she wasn't a burden or an unwelcome presence, Sabine was left wanting with Pippa instead getting caught up in the innocuous appreciation of Pippa building Sabine's social profile from nothing.

Confused, Sabine's patience was rewarded. Rarely did Sabine put herself in positions she was not prepared for. The risk of failure felt high and she wasn't actually sure what success meant here. "I understand. I get antsy when left to my own devices." she didn't forgo her vacations, but by the end of them, she was always itching to get back to work and keep her hands busy.

The mention of AJ dropping through the ceiling bright that story back to mind. Sabine had failed to consider the, by all accounts, handsome paramedic. "There are only so many good men in the world. I don't think you question when one falls into your lap." Oh, why did that thought sit funny in her stomach. "Does he drop in often? Figuratively. Considering you're, well, you, I'm lucky I didn't barge in on you and company." Pippa had the right energy to be a social butterfly. Though Sabine didn't hear about many friends outside of AJ and Haven, come to think of it...

>>"I understand. I get antsy when left to my own devices."

Pippa knew she did. Sabine had a lot to do, and had the drive to do it. She was probably anxious for this whole threat to be over (if it was every truly over) so they could get back on schedule with reforming SUPER.

>>"There are only so many good men in the world. I don't think you question when one falls into your lap."

"He didn't fall into my lap. He fell on the tomatoes." Pippa hurried to clarify with a smirk. She poured too glasses of wine, and handed one to Sabine.

>>"Does he drop in often? Figuratively. Considering you're, well, you, I'm lucky I didn't barge in on you and company."

Pippa arched an eyebrow at Sabine over her glass. What was she fishing for? And why did she care?...

"No, he's not... um. He's a friend." God, all of that sounded hella lame. AJ was... Pippa liked him. But she was not going to discuss that with Sabine because... reasons. "You didn't barge in. I think two murder attempts should be enough to make us friendly, no?"

Reading people's reactions was a skill Sabine possessed, but if she was blind and socially inept, she still would have picked up the way Pippa's expression changed when she danced around AJ and his status in her life. Still, she ultimately settled on them being friends and for some weird reason, Sabine's stomach calmed back down. "Good. He seems like a great friend and a decent firetruck driver." Sabine meant it with complete sincerity, because without him their experience at the stadium would have gone a much darker direction. Literally.

Sipping the wine, it was absolutely worth grabbing a bottle. The D'Souza Crime Family wouldn't be missing one bottle from lockup. Sabine smirked. "I'd hope being attached at the hip for the better part of three months would make us friendly. Two murder attempts just added character to the experience," she joked.

It was miraculous they made it this far. Not just because of the attempts on their lives, but because of where Pippa came from. It was why Sabine still questioned if they where are as friendly as she hoped. "Assuming I'm not being presumptuous. I know I couldn't gave been your favorite person given my checkered past and your... well, experiences." Pippa was part of Haven before SUPER, and mutant rights activists were not traditionally friends of SUPER. Like the Pippa from her world, who was also an activist. That was still quite the coincidence. Small (twin) world(s)?

>>"Good. He seems like a great friend and a decent firetruck driver."

"It was a unique first impression wasn't it" Pippa grinned. AJ had dropped in to save the day, in more ways than one. It was one thing to call someone a good friend because he was polite, and another to know he would steal a fire truck to save your ass.

>>"I'd hope being attached at the hip for the better part of three months would make us friendly. Two murder attempts just added character to the experience,"

"Beats the trust exercises, huh" Pippa tasted the wine. It was damn good wine. Tipsy was definitely in the near future.

>>"Assuming I'm not being presumptuous. I know I couldn't gave been your favorite person given my checkered past and your... well, experiences."

"And by checkered you mean heading up an organization known for snatching up my kind from the streets?" Pippa noted, wiggling a gloved hand. She was not gonna touch mafia wine bottles without gloves anytime soon. "I have to admit, you turned out easier to work with than I expected. You have not handcuffed me yet."

She was putting it mildly. AJ was flying by the seat of his pants at the stadium, but he showed himself to be cool under pressure and willing to put himself on the line to protect people. In Sabine's book, those were signs of a good egg. "He's a good man. I'm glad SUPER's better than it was, or someone would be aggressively recruiting him." It was possible that could have happened, even in a kinder, gentler SUPER, so Sabine elected not to report sightings of an Adapted. AJ had not recognized himself as such anyway, so she was barely covering it up.

Sabine noticed Pippa's signature gloves, recognizing how much of her life must have involved protecting herself from anything with a history. Sabine had plenty of history, but they never discussed if skin-to-skin contact triggered her mutation. Unimportant, but it came to Sabine's mind.

"I wish you'd all stop saying I'm heading things up," she muttered into her drink, taking a big, annoyed sip. She was not in charge, but with her seniority and workload, it felt like it. "But I know what you're saying. SUPER has some nefarious origins, and I was unfortunately part of that," she lamented, thinking of how different she was in the other world. Her world, though it stopped feeling like that long ago. Sabine lived moment-to-moment, and her moments happened here now.

Sabine smiled, the regret keeping it from reaching her eyes. "I'm glad you never saw it like that. Saw me like that." Of course, Sabine was assuming, but inter-dimensional tourism was common before the rift closed. "Did you ever visit the other side? See how the broken half lived?"

>>"He's a good man. I'm glad SUPER's better than it was, or someone would be aggressively recruiting him."

"I have a feeling you wouldn't succeed." Pippa was not entirely sure, though. AJ seemed like a kind man, someone who wanted to be helpful to people. He would definitely have not joined Old SUPER. But the new version?...

>>"I wish you'd all stop saying I'm heading things up. But I know what you're saying. SUPER has some nefarious origins, and I was unfortunately part of that... I'm glad you never saw it like that. Saw me like that."

Oh, but I did.

>>"Did you ever visit the other side? See how the broken half lived?"

Pippa buried her nose in her wine glass. She was on the other side. And she would be forever. She gave herself a moment to switch her brain around. At least B*tch Peggy was not in the same universe anymore.

"I... was not very keen on spending time. I heard it was not very mutant friendly." she muttered. There were some things she missed from over there. Fast food that was not a thing on this side, or movies that never got made. And her version of her parents. "How about you? What is it like, moving universes?"

In hindsight, Sabine was glad her dark humor missed the mark. Pippa did not know how bad SUPER used to be. Aggressive recruitment was a PR-friendly way to refer to an unpleasant past of coercing and sometimes kidnapping high-value targets. It was better for Pippa not to deal with the burden of past sins she was not involved with.

Pippa may not know the full extent, but there were stories. There was time to see what that universe was like, and Sabine was morbidly curious. She did not want to drag down the mood, but Sabine was investigative by nature. Pippa supposedly kept her interactions with Sabine's homeworld to a minimum; for the best.

Sabine was the one who existed with her front foot in one world and her back foot in an alternate past. "There's a lot to adjust to," she admitted. "The Yankees are pretty good here, which is cool. I had to relearn my commute, but the streets make more sense here. That's neat. Oh, but I had a go-to beer brand, Winsbrew, and nothing has tasted quite right here."

Sipping her drink, Sabine thought back to things she would not see again. "I never got to say sorry to my mom. I should have pulled in all my favors to transfer her over. She would have gotten better care here. I probably wouldn't be unlearning so many awful beliefs if that rift could have opened up sooner. You're meeting me at my best, honestly, not that it's saying much," the agent joked, but it did not reach her eyes.