Lee was helping because she had been where he was.

That was possible. A lot of people, mutants especially, came to places like New York because they knew that they could find people like themselves. They wouldn’t be alone, and there was a much better chance for them to fit in, work,
and have a life. It wasn’t as easy as simply showing up though. Just like anywhere, there were people in New York ready to take advantage and there were people in New York who were dangerous. Tarin had learned that the hard way and if Lee’s tone and words were any indication, she had too.

Still. Lee wished that there had been help for her, so she was providing help to him. Lee was one of those kinds of people. The kind of person who did something when she could. A helper.

Tarin had never been that kind of person and he didn’t think he ever would be, but he was very grateful that Lee was.

“Well. I’ve been there more than I want to admit myself and nobody has ever helped like this…so I definitely owe you one.”

He was thanking her again, saying that he owed her for this, and Lee kind of waved that off as she took a sip of her coffee. That wasn't why she had done this. She didn't need or want him to feel like he owed her.

Though if someone had outright asked her why she was doing this, Lee didn't think she would be able to verbalize a reason beyond she wished she'd had help in the past like this. It had just kind of…ended up happening and in some strange way felt like the right thing to do.

"Give me a few days to start getting all of this sorted out," Lee said after a few moments of walking along in silence. The shop, Lee thought, would be the easiest of everything to get dealt with, so it would make sense to not drag it out.

"Do you have a working phone on this side yet?" Lee then asked, looking over at him again.

They walked in silence for a little while and Tarin took the opportunity to look at The Park again. It had been a long time since he’d really done that, really looked at the park and appreciated it for what it was.

It was one of those things…for as long as he could remember, Tarin had been so worried about so many things that he hadn’t been able to appreciate what was around him. Central Park was really lovely…even if you could still hear the sound of the city and the traffic on the outskirts.

Lee asked for a few days, ”Of course, take all the time you need.” Tarin said, shaking his head. It was still hard to believe that this was even happening.

Did he have a functioning phone yet? Tarin shook his head, ”Not since the rift closed.” he said. That was another thing on his list. Tarin hadn’t realized just how dependent he was on his phone.

“You can just leave a message at the hotel though.” he said and gave her the details, he could definitely stay there for a while before money started to get tight, so chances were low that he’d go anywhere before Lee had things sorted.

He said that she could take as much time as she needed, and Lee nodded. But she was still planning on getting this part, the shop, sorted out as quickly as she could. That way it was one less thing on her list. One less thing that she needed to worry about.

The man walking beside her also hadn't had a working phone since the rift closed. Did that mean his phone has still been working here, even though it had come from the other side of the rift? That was very interesting.

And also not very important. But it did pose issues with her being able to get ahold of him, to let him know that she had everything taken care of.

It would make it very difficult to arrange meeting again so he could get the key for the shop.

This Tarin had a solution to the phone problem, and Lee nodded as he gave her details for the hotel he was currently staying at. "That should work, then," she replied. It wouldn't be as convenient as him having his own phone, but it was far better than having no way to contact him.

"Alright, when I've everything for the shop sorted out, I'll leave you a message to meet there the next day," she said. At least that way, they wouldn't have to worry about him not getting the message in time.

With that, Lee walked along in silence again, slowly sipping her coffee. "Are things really that bad over there?" she finally asked, her voice quiet, eyes straight ahead.

Surely the hotel would be able to take a message for him, Tarin decided. They did things like that on the other side, it totally stood to reason that they’d do it here too. He’d have a new phone soon enough, his wouldn’t even connect to the internet, so Tarin had been relegated to trying to learn things about this world via TV and the computer in the “business center” of the hotel that was about 25 years old.

They finalized plans and Tarin found himself wanting to ask Lee if there was anything he could do to help her. There was absolutely no way the woman realized how much she was doing for Tarin and it felt wildly uncomfortable to not reciprocate in some way. The words wouldn’t come though, there was something in the way. It felt too weird. Too presumptuous to assume that she would even want help.

Conveniently they were walking the direction of the hotel and Tarin was about to excuse himself to head further that way when Lee flipped Tarin’s question in the opposite direction and sent it back at Tarin.

Was it really that bad over there?

Tarin didn’t say anything for a few moments as they walked. The answer really wasn’t that hard to come up with. Yes. It really was that bad over there. It had been horrible for Tarin for a vast majority of his life. It had been bad enough that when a real opportunity had arisen, he had left the universe for somewhere he’d have to start from scratch.

Lee’s ex, the Father of her child, this world’s version of Tarin was probably over there though. Was it kinder to lie?

No, Lee deserved the truth.

”It can be if you’re too flashy or draw the attention of the wrong people.” Tarin said. ”SUPER pretty much has free reign and they use it liberally.

It could be that bad, on the other side of the rift, if someone was flashy or drew the wrong attention. Lee simply nodded as she swallowed the lump that had appeared in her throat.

Tarin could definitely be flashy and draw attention, with the hair and tattoos. And he didn't exactly have a great track record of keeping the fact that he was a mutant a secret. But he didn't tend to go around using his powers in public.

But he also wasn't the one who had been caught during the Registration Act. Hopefully that meant that he would be alright. Even if she may never find out.

If Tarin wasn't already dead somewhere thanks to Rupert.

"Thank you," Lee said, still not looking over at him but keeping her eyes straight ahead. He could have lied to her, could have said that it really wasn't all that bad. Many people probably would have after seeing how she was outside the shop, after learning that her ex could very well be stuck over there.

But he hadn't. "Thank you for actually telling me the truth."

The instant that he’d said the words, Tarin sort of regretted them. Surely it would have been better to say something that would have brought comfort, that would have done something other than make things worse.

A moment later though, Lee thanked him though and Tarin honestly didn’t know what to say. Why was she thanking him?

Tarin didn’t have to wait for long to hear the reasoning though. Lee was thanking him simply for telling the truth. Was it such a surprise that someone would tell her the truth?

Lee wasn’t looking at him, but Tarin nodded as they walked. He wasn’t going to elaborate. That would have just been cruel. Lee didn’t need to know what happened when someone was too flashy or what happened when they got on SUPER’s radar.

If the other Tarin was over there, and if he caught SUPER’s attention…this Tarin almost hoped he was the kind of guy who would take the job offer.

Still. They’d been walking for a while. “You’re welcome.” he said simply, “It’s the least I could do.”

It was the least that someone in Lee’s position deserved.

They were getting to the point now where it was going to get awkward to turn around and walk back, so Tarin slowed his pace at the next turn. “This is me…” he said. “Let me know?”

It was quiet for a few moments after she thanked him for telling her how things were, had been, on the other side of the rift. That things really were as bad as she had heard about. It wasn't good news, it didn't make Lee feel better, but she preferred knowing rather than just hoping for something that wasn't true.

As they approached the next place where the path split, this Tarin slowed his pace. Lee slowed with him, looking at him questioningly until he explained this was where he turned.

"As soon as I get everything sorted out with the shop, I will," she told him with a nod. "It shouldn't take too long, I don't think. Hopefully Monday at the latest." And, while Lee didn't think it should take that long, the fact was the next day was a holiday, and she could only do so much on her own without hearing back from the lawyer.

Monday at the latest? Wow. Lee really did not want to stretch this out any longer than necessary. Tarin supposed he could understand. There wouldn't be any reason for Lee to hold on to a business that she didn’t really have much to do with.

Hopefully, Tarin thought, he could get things sorted out before then to a point where he’d be able to actually do what needed to be done as far as the shop was concerned. If he was honest with himself, Tarin had a lot more questions he wanted to ask, but they were all the practical sort and could wait.

So. Yeah. That was pretty much it.

”I’ll keep an eye out.” Hopefully the reception desk at the hotel was reliable enough to relay the message if it came. ”And again…thanks.” Lee had said she’d been there before, but Tarin had a hard time believing just how much she was helping him out.

That said, Tarin nodded, gave a little wave and headed down the path that would take him in the direction of his hotel.

What a weird night. Weird, but lucky. A night that had literally changed everything.

Hopefully that luck would hold out.