The door opened and the ringing of the bell overhead signaled to the staff that more customers were entering. “Hey! Be right with you!” it wasn’t your typical coffee joint, no this was more of a diner. A small one. A gem Sam had found when he was looking for a place to sober up or find a place where he could hide instead of drinking.

It was one of his most kept secrets from the team and his friends. Lenna was the fourth person he knew that he brought here. Cora was the first. Then Eve, then Iris and now Lenna. ”We don’t talk about this place got it? I like the fact that it is hard to find.” the icemancer said knowing she could appreciate the secret. The diner was under an over pass sandwiched between two taller buildings. If you lived in the area you knew the diner. Otherwise it was hidden.

They also had the best breakfast he had come across which was saying a lot.

”I like the fact that no one really knows me here and I won’t bump into anyone else I know.” he took the back booth. One with a clear line of sight on all exits and even the nearby building rooftops. The angle was enough to create a bad shot from above if anyone was trying to shoot at him but enough for him to see. A habit from early on in life he kept with him.

Sitting down he gestured to the spot across him and slid into the booth looking out a window to see the rain coming down hard on the streets outside. ”I know it’s a trek here but the coffee is always fresh and the food is always good.

An older waitress approached and slid two beaten up menus in front of them. She looked tired but held a sassy smirk as she eyed Sam. “How ya doing hon?” she said with a raspy voice like she spent half her life chain smoking, “The usual? And for your friend here?” she put her hands on her hips and waited for Lenna to respond. Before nodding and walking off. To yell out the order in the back as she got the coffee.

>> . ”We don’t talk about this place got it? I like the fact that it is hard to find.”

>> ”I like the fact that no one really knows me here and I won’t bump into anyone else I know.”

Lenna made a zipping motion over lips, a locking motion, and then pretended to eat the key. Which made zero sense. Why eat the key last…? Hooow? ”My lips are sealed,” she stated, through unsealed lips. Ones she had just mimed sealing. Literally the worst. what was she even trying to say.

She nodded. Yes. That was it, exactly. Her point had been clearly made.

He did not wish to be compromised. The way he checked locations and angles, it was telling.

She sat where directed. Then, took off her heavy yellow rain slicker and balled it up on the seat next to her. Function over form. Beneath it, she had worn dark blue jeans and a classic Star Wars tee. The one with Leia at Luke’s feet, with him holding his weapon aloft. Heavy yellow galoshes clompleted her Look. Completed. But yes, they did clomp.

>> ”I know it’s a trek here but the coffee is always fresh and the food is always good.”

Lenna nodded. A thumb went up. ”I cannot wait.” She smiled.

The waitress approached and was like ‘the usual,’ so Lenna held up 2. She would take one of his Usuals as well. What would this be, bacon and eggs and bacon, with black coffee and heavily buttered toast and hash downs? Perhaps pancakes the size of an American child? Whatever his Usual was, she was ready to be happily surprised. Unless it were baked beans and toast. Then, his obscure diner would hide his corpse nicely. Nobody would ever know where to look.

Her feet shifted in the tiny puddle she had brought.

”Long past time?” she asked. ”You can start.”

Had he shared his past with her? She could not recall. This likely meant it was long last time he shared.

The coffee’s were the first thing to arrive. The usual would be out in a few minutes after that after all it was a heaping helping of breakfast. “Here ya go ‘hon. I’ll be back soon.” the waitress said in her raspy voice. Sam nodded and looked back to Lenna who had asked him to go first. If any other student asked him to talk about his life before he was in New York he would have scoffed and laughed, however Lenna wasn’t like the other students. She was also a teammate. An X. Meaning she would need more information should anything arise... again.

”Yeah... guess it’s only fair.” he said mulling over his coffee before he sniffed it first and then drank it. ”Sure you heard about it from the other students, but a few years ago I was... under the influence of a telepath. One I shared my childhood with. She controlled me to kidnap a few of the students to... bolster the ranks of a organization I thought was long past dead. T.A.T.M.A.H. was the name of the organization. They had a few names but they all were based off the theory that the only good mutant was one who could be... controlled.” he didn't say the means of control but it should have been pretty obvious given his skill set and her having a similar childhood.

”I was around five when my powers started to manifest, started small. Ice, snow and immunity to the cold. It wasn’t much but when someone from T.A.T. got a hold of the information they decided to... recruit me. It was a kidnapping. I grew up in a small cell, only time I was allowed out was for training or lessons. Eventually they started to send me on missions.” the door opened and the sound of a bell rang.

Sam stopped talking for a moment and sipped his coffee. “Sit anywhere ya like honey! Be right with ya.” shouted Doris the waitress who was busy making another pot of coffee.

”At first it was just infiltration. I was small, quick and... resourceful. Meaning after sometime I started to get selected for more than just breaking and entering. My powers kept me safe. Protected. Meaning after some time they sent me on more violent missions.” Sam sipped his coffee.

“They trained me... made me think I was helping people. Not just hurting them. Ten years I lived that life until I decided to hit my teenage rebellious phase. Broke out.” he sipped his coffee again. It was robust. Something that could wake even the dead.

“When I escaped took out half of the organization as I went. Destroyed the base and made my way here.” he said glossing over the gorier parts of his childhood. The first time he killed someone on accident. The first time he did it on purpose... Sam never liked the fact he enjoyed it.

The icemancer wasn’t too proud of it all but it happened and he had been dealing with it ever since. Finding multiple outlets to deal with it. Some more harmful than others.

Lenna drank coffee. It was piping hot, and black, unpopulated by sugar or cream. Perfect.

She listened. Sam talked. He talked a lot. As she listened, Lenna thought about her life. About life choices, like being seated across from a kidnapper, mind control or no. One who helped her kidnap a friend back from rival kidnappers. Okay.

Complicated was an understatement.

TATMAH was a mouthful. And not a tasty one.

The only good mutant was one who could be controlled… interesting philosophy. Lenna wondered if organizations such as SUPER would have agreed with it.

His life story had a sad beginning. She felt a bit of kinship, a connection, with the tragic early start “trope.” Except he grew up in a cell, and she grew up in an extended family of children and young women, taught to kill.

The lie they told him felt similar to her own childhood lies… except she never had any illusions about her being trained to help people. No, she had been trained to help exactly one person, and that help extended in The direction of power. Money.

He took out half the organization when he left them, and she had… not. She honestly knew little about this world’s version of that place she grew up. Lenna knew her reality, her home, was now separate from this realm, and she could never go back. So they were good as dead. She simply had not done anything to cause such a thing.

Sam finished, and Lenna was halfway through her cup of coffee. She set it down gently, but it still made an audible clack against the table. She exhaled slowly.

”Yah,” She said. ”Mine is kind of like that. One moment while I think how to shorten the story…”

She thought. As she thought, the door opened with the sound of bells. A glance was cast that way, similar to the one Sam had spent. Middle-aged man and woman, thinning hair on one, brown, with beard. Curly blonde hair, in shoulder-length ringlets on the woman. Doris seated them with polite nothings. Neither had a familiar face to Lenna. The place was started to feel more crowded. Would Sam grow uncomfortable with this?

”A lot of this, I have pieces together after the fact. Learned out of order. I met this world’s Lenna’s aunt, and she taught me about this world’s Lenna’s parents. I can only imagine my story was similar. But I was young, so I cannot remember most of that childhood. Basically… when I was young. Probably 5, like you, my parents went on a boat ride somewhere they should not. And they were killed for it: I was taken in by people loyal to their killer. And I do not think the killing was personal. Just bad location and time. My story is like yours.”

She traced her finger across the tabletop, head bowed as she spoke. Her brow was furrowed in thought.

”I was basically raised by my “big sis”, Eliana. And teachers. In Colombia. Taught things like you were taught, to be part of an all-girl army for a man named Cortez. He was a crime lord. Cartel stuff, and worse. I was taught to fight, and kill… but never did a kill mission. I—“

She made a face. So complicated.

Also, their food chose that moment to arrive.

She waited until it was down, and the woman had left. Then, she continued.

”From my perspective, I never did a mission like that. Because I was turned young again, at the moment my mutation activated, mentally. For me. Lot like time travel. But my other self had done everything for years, and worked for SUPER, and I have had to deal with the reperc— repercuh— the shit— from that. I learned about her from various sources, and will have to share with you. About her: about the version of me from this reality, the one who came before, and died. But I came here from another world, and do not remember the trip. So, yah. Yay.”

After he was done running her through a brief history of his life, knowing that some of the juicier bits were left out (on purpose) he took another sip from the mug and added, ”Take your time. Food still isn’t here.”

His lone eye shot over to the pair that had entered and chose to sit across the diner. They were far enough away where Sam couldn’t see the faces. The only inclination Lenna would get that Sam was on edge was a chill in the air and some frost appearing on the window next to them. Another sip and Sam started to listen to Lenna’s upbringing. One that sounded more and more similar as it went on.

Another kidnapping. Another set of parents dead. His fingers tightened slightly around the mug the more he thought about another child robbed of a chance to grow up ‘normal’ and not being turned into a weapon. It made him sad that there were other people in the world (worlds) just as messed up as the ones who took him as a child.

His blue eye shifted back to Lenna who was looking down. Was it shame or was she in thought? His was shame, he was ashamed of most of the things he did when he was younger. To be manipulated so easily...

She trailed off as the food arrived. A big helping of breakfast. Fresh in house Corned beef hash, three eggs slightly runny and bacon. Lots of bacon, all the bacon. Sam smiled at Doris and waited till she left before looking back to Lenna eager to hear the rest. The food could wait. It was still steaming.

Taking it all in he waited till she was finished. The ‘Yay’ was his que. It also reminded him that she was still a kid. It brought a sad smile to the icemancers face. There was no judgment. Just an understanding and a hint of jealousy that she didn’t have to do what the other Lenna did. What he had to do.

”Repercussions.” he said slowly knowing that was the word she was struggling with. ”So you’re still trying to piece everything together...” the wheels were turning in his head as he grabbed a crispy piece of bacon. His stomach growled and he took a bite. He could talk to Sabine. Get the information about any missions the other Lenna had done. He could also call some contacts that would know doubt know of the old Lenna. The dead one. Part of him wondered if she was actually dead.

”Thank you. For telling me all of this. It sets my mind at ease a bit. I don’t like being surprised with information like this later down the road and from now on you don’t have to deal with the repercussions alone. You’re an X now. You have the team to help you if you need it. Myself included. I can help you finish putting the missing pieces together if you want.” he gestured to the food and took another bite.

”So I take it you know all about SUPER and those working for them? Take it you met Sabine then... Nice lady.” he said sarcastically. She was at the mansion before it was destroyed relaying information to all parties involved. They would have had to meet at some point especially if they worked for the same group.

>> ”So you’re still trying to piece everything together...”

Lenna shrugged her shoulders. ”It is complicated.”

She forked herself some corned beef hash, and mixed it with eggs. Had herself a good few bites. Slurped coffee.

>>
”Thank you. For telling me all of this. It sets my mind at ease a bit. I don’t like being surprised with information like this later down the road and from now on you don’t have to deal with the repercussions alone. You’re an X now. You have the team to help you if you need it. Myself included. I can help you finish putting the missing pieces together if you want.”

When he looked back, A piece of bacon was missing from CS’s plate. He had probably witnessed her theft, and she had her own. Lenna also had his missing piece, too. She quickly and crunchily disposed of the evidence.

>”So I take it you know all about SUPER and those working for them? Take it you met Sabine then... Nice lady.”

She frowned.

”It is also very complicated. You see, I ran into them after I first woke up. I went to an address previous me occupied, they attacked. I fled, then fought them and beat them with the help of another. They stole the apartment, I stole their wallet and phone. I lived off Kyles company card for a while, until Skye took me in at the mansion.” Lenna said. She waggled a piece of bacon at him pointedly. ”They contacted me, after the mansion blew up. They saw me, and hunted me down. They hate me. Spent so much of their money, before they cut me off. And I injured their agents. They have information. I Learned some things from items I got when I returned to my apartment later. My boyfriend back then had a power. Read memories on things. Ex-boyfriend, now… SUPER has more information… I want it…”

She glanced away. Frowned at Sam again. She paused a moment, to drink coffee. ”It is a complicated ongoing process. I will talk to you about it later. When I know more… something more pressing bothers me though… Sam, are my hands still clean?”

She did not show him her hands. It was clear she was not speaking of dirt.

His thermal sense was still active. Nothing went unnoticed by him, even if he wasn’t looking directly at his plate of bacon. He could feel the heat coming off it and then her hand snag something from the pile. Sam smiled and didn’t say anything yet. First one was free. She was a new teammate after all.

The frown was concerning, by now he was looking at her again seeing as he started the topic off. Knowing as much as he did about the origins of SUPER and the people that worked there. Even if Sam was friendly with some of them he still didn’t trust the organization as a whole. Which was why he was asking Lenna about them for clarity? Information? He wasn’t sure exactly what yet but she seemed to have more experience than most. Also a run in with a recovery team? Interesting. Sam filed that away along with the names she mentioned for later.

”........” he eyed the girl before him. She was still a kid. One that was talented in the field but still a kid. He had to remind himself of that when she asked him if her hands were still clean. Before he could ask what kind of information she was going after.

Sam pitied her. ”Kid...” he let out a loud sigh and grabbed his coffee, ”I’m not sure I’m the one that should be answering that kind of question.” he showed off his own hands, ”I’m still scrubbing them. Been years, and I’m sure it will be more before I’m sure they are clean. But, it’s next to impossible to have clean hands given the lives we were brought up in.” he said honestly.

”I still see them at night, the people, the things I did.... you’re asking the right question though. Meaning they are cleaner than mine and I’ll do what I can to keep them that way.” he had plans for her, she was talented in the field and had enough training to handle most situations. She was going to help him run some of the more... morally grey missions that the rest of the team wouldn’t be cool with. That was up until the question. He’d be no better than those that kidnapped them when they were young.

Taking a sip from his mug and eyeing his plate of bacon he added, ”I found when you stop asking that question you stop caring. Better than me.” he took a bite of bacon knowing what he was capable of. What he had done. It took years of therapy, multiple relapses with drinking to come to terms with what he had done and what he had to do to keep his team, his family safe.

He was not the correct person to answer her question. He thought that, but Lenna absolutely did not agree. With what she knew of his past (and he had told her quite a bit this day), he seemed someone who had experience with these sorts of questions. But she let him think what he thought. And listened to what he said.

‘Hands need lots of washing. With lives like ours.’ That was basically his message.

He still saw people he had killed, hurt. And he thought she was better than him because she was asking.

She had used tranquilizer darts on flying people. They had surely fallen. Some had surely not gotten up. Some had surely been hit by falling debris or explosions from within their own ranks. She was thinking of this. But all the other stuff existed in her periphery.

>> ”I found when you stop asking that question you stop caring. Better than me.”

Lenna furrowed her brow. ”Okaaaay.”

This sounded like he was still dealing with his own demons, and wished her to focus on dealing with her own. And that it was a constant process. And all this other stuff. Or at least, she made a lot of leaps of logic and assumptions to get to those thoughts.

”The people that fell. The mystics. They were trying to kill children and summon a dark God. Their own people killed them. And bad luck and bad choices helped. I will not dwell on them. I will not call my hands clean. But they really never were, even if I cannot recall all the things all the “me” have done. That was simplistic thinking. Wishful thinking. I will continue to be careful, as I have. And I will keep doing good things to make up for any bad things in the past. Yes. I think that is the best both of us can do. That, and eat.”

Lenna ate more of her corned beef hash and eggs. These were complex matters. They would not be solved over breakfast.