Mismatched colored eyes stared at the microwave as the countdown continued. Carrick didn’t know how this food would taste just that it smelled better than the rest of the food in the S.U.P.E.R. fridge in the employee lounge. A bushy tail flicked behind him as he grew more bored by the second. The plate rotated as it heated and Carrick had to look away otherwise he felt like he’d go insane.

In short the shifter was bored and when he was bored he did stupid things. Like call Zek and see what he was up to. Which usually resulted in a few scrapes and cuts the most recent incident left him sorer than most of the other exploits. His run in with his former Rap hero was nothing compared to the sewar clowns. Getting stabbed hurt a lot more than bullets that missed him.

Luckily for Carrick he healed faster than most and given that he didn’t shift recently that meant he had to rely on Doc at the school to heal him. Unfortunately for Carrick, Doc was also a teacher and felt a lesson should have been taught so the healer only patched up the big wounds. The ones that would have taken the longest to heal the scrapes on his hands and face however remained.

Still under the illusion that his powers healed him quickly from anything Carrick didn’t think much of it, the soreness and the pain went hand in hand with the shifter when he turned and this was nothing compared to shedding his skin. Literally.

Stifling a yawn he walked over to the skin and grabbed the utensils left out for Employee use and he ignored the ‘clean up your mess’ sign as something caught his eye. The garbage disposal. How fast did he heal? How bad would it hurt? On a scale from one to ****? Zek would have encouraged him to try it and find out. He was a good friend like that. Always encouraging Carrick to be his best self.

His left hand still had a stab wound where he caught the blade, pointy end in. It was a scar now but it was still tender. It couldn’t hurt any worse right? His tail flicked behind him as he turned the water on and the disposal and stared at his hand then the hole to the disposal. Then back to his hand again.

Catching his reflection in the steel paper towel dispenser he eyed himself ignoring the bandage over his nose and the few scrapes on his cheeks. ”Can only look better from here right?” he said to himself before moving his hand closer to the disposal as it roared, calling him in closer to test out his curiosity.

For better or worse, Carrick had become a frequent flyer (no pun intended) at SUPER headquarters. On the philosophy of "keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and your idiotic shapeshifter rogues even closer than that", Sabine had decided that Carrick was better as an asset than a constant liability. And the kid worked hard on being both. Ungrateful little sh*t.

But today, Sabine was otherwise occupied, so when they reported Carrick was visiting, Pippa had to pick up the slack.

Walking into the kitchen, she arrived just in time to find the goddamn kid about to stick his hand in the...

"CARRICK NO!" Pippa acted on instinct. She was not really generally a violent person, but she was also too small and too in heels to cross the kitchen in the necessary amount of time. So instead, she launched the coffee mug she had been carrying in her hand, straight at Carrick.If she was lucky, it would hit him in the head...

Before he could actually do what he was thinking about doing Carrick heard the shrill voice of one of his ‘moms’. His bushy tail shot up notifying the world he was taken by surprise and slowly started to turn just to take a coffee mug to the face. The mug connected and Carrick followed the blow staggering backwards. ”Aye?”

It hurt. Mug shots were painful and this would have been the first one since his ‘least preferred’ form decided to get into a shouting match and then maul someone. That was painful as well. Getting shot hurt. ”Awww!! Fer **** sakes!” Carrick shouted grabbing the area of his face that got smacked with the mug. Thankfully it was mostly cheek. He had two.

The glass wear clattered to the floor and shattered before Carrick could kick the thing back at his attacker. His ‘mom’ the person who kept him out of prison and gave him a job. Someone he sent flowers to recently just as a ‘thank you’ for keeping an eye on him. His look matched how he felt betrayed.

”**** ***** ******* why ya throwing mugs!?! Who throws a ****ing mug!” he shouted holding his cheek. One of his scrapes opened up again where he was hit. Was the lunch he about to eat hers? Was that why she did it?

Summing up his experience he looked for the nearest exit with a loud ‘Owwwwww!’

Pippa already new this had been a bad idea before the mug hit Carrick square in the face. She had not been counting on her aim being this good. Oops.

>>”**** ***** ******* why ya throwing mugs!?! Who throws a ****ing mug!”

There was blood. Oh hell. She'd just hit a kid in the face. Pippa hurried closer to take a look. The sound of the disposal jolted her back to the original situation. The mug-throwing had been a distraction. It worked, although probably less violent things could have worked too.

"You had your hand in the damn garbage disposal!" she snapped, standing on her tiptoes trying to get a better look at him. "What the hell, Carrick?"

‘Fight?’ the voice in the back of his mind questioned not sure if the woman was more of a threat. Pippa had just attacked him but she also let him out of a prision cell so it wasn’t sure what to make of the situation. Was she friend or foe?

Ignoring the his instincts as usual the shifter looked up to the woman who clicked across the room till she was in striking distance. Carrick threw his hands up and started to back up until his wings were essentially on the counter. ”No I didn’t! You did! That be stupid!” Carrick shouted lying all too easily and ignoring the sound of the disposal so he could focus on yelling at mom.

”I’m a musician and a magician! Why would I do anything to put me hands in danger!?!” his tail flicked into the cabinet behind him. Holding them up to show they were fine, well minus the scars he had from where he caught the knives. Doc could have healed him better. He’d bring it up with the healer later, maybe in the form of a ‘staff review’ questionnaire. There were things the healer could improve on anyways.

”These are the money makers! Some could argue national treasures!” flashing his hands again and waving his fingers at her. Carrick continued, ”Was this because I didn’t fill up the coffee pot yesterday?!? Or ya mad Sabine’s Christmas gift cost more than yers?” maybe next year the moms wouldn’t get anything! That would show her!

Carrick refused to make eye contact with her. She was too close.

>>”No I didn’t! You did! That be stupid!”

Pippa paused, staring at Carrick. Was he on drugs or something? It better not be drugs. That was way, way out of her job description.

>>”I’m a musician and a magician! Why would I do anything to put me hands in danger!?! These are the money makers! Some could argue national treasures!”

He held up his hands, which were clearly injured, although the injuries did not look fresh, and he still had all his fingers. So far, so good. Pippa walked past him and turned the garbage disposal off with a pointed glare.

>>”Was this because I didn’t fill up the coffee pot yesterday?!? Or ya mad Sabine’s Christmas gift cost more than yers?”

Pippa looked up at Carrick (she was always looking up, he was fairly tall), and adjusted her glasses. She used her best diplomatic voice.

"Carrick. Are you on something?"

When she turned off the disposal Carrick inched himself away from the sink and Pippa. No longer with his back to the cabinets he felt a little more confident in the situation and was willing to make eye contact again.

Just in time. Because if he wasn’t looking at Pippa he would have lost it at the question. He wasn’t on anything at the moment but still had a hangover from the night before. You survive a sewar full of exploding killer clowns you earned yourself a drink. There might have been few, along with a cigarette or two.

Was she asking or offering? Maybe she needed something? Most people don’t throw mugs. She did have to deal with the rest of SUPER. ”I’m gonna need a little more context?” his confidence faded a bit at the question.

”Now? No. But... Is there an exam? Might have some nicotine still in me. No one told me that be an issue. Helps with the pre-show jitters. Ha” he showed off his hands again shaking them trying to get her to crack a smile.

”New glasses? They look nice!” he added for good measure while his tail flicked behind him.

Pippa did her best to stare down the kid who was pretending he had not just had his hand about to go into the garbage disposal. Carrick sounded... off. Not just sheepish, but quite... incoherent. Pippa really, really hoped he was not on drugs. She did not need that in her life.

>>”I’m gonna need a little more context?”

"You are not quite coherent, Carrick. Also" she gestured at the sink. What the hell.

>>”Now? No. But... Is there an exam? Might have some nicotine still in me. No one told me that be an issue. Helps with the pre-show jitters. Ha. New glasses? They look nice!”

Pippa folded her arms and held his gaze, refusing to be distracted by the compliment.

"Carrick? What the hell is going on?"

The compliment didn’t distract her. Damn. Maybe he wasn’t laying it on thick enough? Giving her a once over to compliment something else he stopped once he saw the gaze fixed on him. The shifter’s shoulders tightened up a bit and he suddenly felt the urge to run. To escape. It took him right back to being a kid trying to talk his way out of his mother’s stare.

”Kinda caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.” lifting his scared hand a bit and then put it in an imaginary ‘jar’ or disposal. His shoulders slacked a bit and he looked around to make sure they were the only ones in the room. They were.

Without being able to talk his way out of it with a compliment or a distraction he tried something else he rarely did unless it suited him. The Irishman told the truth. ”Listen... I ummmm...” how did one come clean with news such as this. Leaning in and whispering, ”I’m pretty sure I’m immortal now.” he leaned back after the reveal and made a gesture that it was a ‘head exploding’ revelation. It was. At least to him.

”Might have walked in on me testing me theory.” this time he was a little louder but his bravado returned with a flick of his tail. ”The healer back at the mansion said me powers stich meself up after all the scrapes I--- stumble across.” almost implicating himself he added. ”Testing limits and all that.” he smirked.

The Microwave finally dinged and his attention went to the microwave where he was reheating someone else’s lunch.

>>”Kinda caught me with my hand in the cookie jar.”

Pippa quirked an eyebrow. Sure. A really horrific, bloody, painful cookie jar. That made sense. Carrick leaned closer to share a secret...

>>”Listen... I ummmm... I’m pretty sure I’m immortal now.”

... maybe he really was on something.

"Elaborate."

>>”Might have walked in on me testing me theory. The healer back at the mansion said me powers stich meself up after all the scrapes I--- stumble across. Testing limits and all that.”

Okay, finally something made sense.

"You... think you developed a healing factor?" Pippa knew enough to have met mutants who could heal, in various ways to various degrees. "... and you wanted to test it with cutting your fingers off?!"

The Irishman shook his head, ”No.” holding up both hands he showed off the scared over holes that were in the center of his hands where he caught the knives of the murder clowns. ”I don’t think. I know.” it might have seemed like he was bragging at this point, he was.

”Well not all of them. Was probably gonna test it at the pinky and see how things went from there... when ya put it like that it does sound bad doesn’t it?” he sighed realizing it probably wasn’t the best method to test a theory. Then again he never had the best methods for testing anything. He didn’t even know he could fly till he was thrown off a cliff.

”Works better when I turn.” he added, ”New skin heals the old ones but...” he gestured to himself, ”Immortal now.” turning and opening the microwave and pulling the contents he grabbed a fork and started to scarf down someone else's food ignoring the name on the label.

With his mouth full he continued, ”Pretty sure we shouldn’t be telling the world though.” he had seen enough movies to know that there can only be one immortal and he didn’t want to fight for the spot.

>>”No. I don’t think. I know... Well not all of them. Was probably gonna test it at the pinky and see how things went from there... when ya put it like that it does sound bad doesn’t it?”

"You think?!" Pippa's voice went up to a higher register as the truth of the situation settled in. The dumb kid really was going to cut his fingers off. For gossakes. And not only that, but he also seemed sure they would grow back.

>>”Works better when I turn. New skin heals the old ones but... Immortal now. Pretty sure we shouldn’t be telling the world though.”

Pippa ignored the food theft, for the time being.

"First off" she noted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Healing factor does not equal immortal. Second, you don't test a healing factor without an actual healer present! What was the worst thing you have healed from, so far?"

The way she was talking to him the shifter felt like a child again getting yelled at for ‘mischief’ something he got scolded for often when he was younger. His tail flicked behind him as he shrunk into each bite hoping that by him scarfing food it would be enough to change the subject. It wasn’t.

With a full mouth Carrick shook his head and then tried to swallow almost choking in the process at least he made it seem that way before he responded in hopes whatever he said would be the right answer or close enough to it. If Pippa knew that was one thing, he didn’t want all of SUPER knowing he was immortal (even though he wasn’t).

When she pinched the bridge of her nose the shifter smirked, it looked like she was getting a headache? Maybe that meant the conversation would end and she’d just forget about everything? ”Well, it doesn’t not- not mean that.” Carrick said leaning over a bit to get to Pippa’s height glad he was finally taller than someone older than him.

”On or off the record? My answer might change slightly.” Carrick raised an eyebrow trying not to implicate himself. The adventures with Zek would more than likely be frowned upon here at SUPER or at least a mountain of paper work for whatever intern Carrick handed his paperwork over to. Maybe he should ask about that... looking back to Pippa he decided now was not the time.

”Does it count when I shift? Tear me skin off don’t I?” he shrugged, ”Before and after the turn. I can give ya a demonstration if ya want.” debating another bite of the lunch he set it down and started to take off his shirt.

Having an intern... eventually a possible agent (not that she would tell him that) with a healing factor, that was a catch for any agency. But Pippa was not sure even Carrick himself knew what he was dealing with at this point.

>>”Well, it doesn’t not- not mean that. On or off the record? My answer might change slightly.”

"Carrick."

>>”Does it count when I shift? Tear me skin off don’t I? Before and after the turn. I can give ya a demonstration if ya want.”

"No, do not. Not in the kitchen" Pippa hurried to clarify. She did not need skin and fur flying everywhere in a space where people ate. "I mean, that has been part of your shifting... but other than that? Did you... get injured recently?"

There would only be one reason to shift in the lunch room at SUPER headquarters and that would have been best if there were no witnesses. At least not for the shift, anything after would be fine. The shifter was still dead set on surprising Mike Hunt, a Gryphon jumping out from behind a wall would probably do just that.

The Irishman just added a little bass to his voice acting up the part as if he was going to shift, ”Ya sure? Been getting better at it! Only would break a table this time. Promise!” his voice returned back to normal and he raised an eyebrow in Pippa’s general direction when she said his name and followed it up with another question. One he had been set on avoiding, least he’d get himself into trouble with one of the moms.

”Define injured?” Carrick asked trying to by some time for himself so he could manage to escape the questioning all together.

”I mean, Doc patched me up, might have left some already existing holes to heal on their own.” hiding his hands he put them behind his head and held the pose, ”I might come into a bump or a scrape now and then. Concerts, magic tricks, clowns, the danger room... I mean nothing that would warrant ya to worry about me.” he said lying, his tail flicked revealing he was uncomfortable. It was also clear he was choosing his words carefully.