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Quin nodded when Will said he might take some ibuprofen after all, for after whatever they’d given him at the hospital had worn off. She could get it for him in a minute. ”Probably a good idea.” she said. She needed to look up what she needed to do. Did you ice bruised ribs?

Will protested the idea that he might have a taste for heroics, and rather thought that medical grade glue would be handy for kitchen accidents or an emergency. ”Like a 5,000 year old sorceress hellbent on bringing ancient Gods into modern day New York?”

It sounded so ridiculous when Quin said it out loud that it made her want to laugh. Maybe a bit hysterically. She didn’t do that though because laughing was apparently one of the things she was going to be unable to do for the next little while without discomfort.

Will apparently didn’t mind being…lean though and she almost immediately broke her recent prohibition against laughing when he continued. Apparently altitudinous was an appropriate word for her though ”Because it’s overly complicated and too long?” she said, unable to help herself from giggling just a little.

She’d also apparently gotten under Will’s skin a bit with her sort-of-compliment and she really did want to laugh when he pointed out that he hadn’t had a choice with his current shirt. Instead she just shook her head and tried to think of things that were decidedly less funny or ridiculous than this whole thing.

Then Will asked about the text story, definitely to change the subject and Quin couldn’t help it any longer, she burst out laughing, wrapping her arms around her middle. Maybe everything had just caught up with her, but between laughs she managed to say, ”It’s a long distance romance thing…that started as a wrong number text…he’s a firefighter trainee and she’s an art history major…”

Finally managing to pull herself together Quin shook her head, ”I’m so sorry, I’m not laughing at you. This whole day is just so absurd.”

There weren’t any immediate suggestions from Will about what Quin should watch as her first anime. That was fine, at the moment Quin couldn’t remember the last time she’d even had her TV on. When she’d couldn’t sleep she did often find herself mindlessly scrolling through shows, trying to find something to watch. It could be nice to have something different.

Will had noticed the lack of dance videos too. Sure, things evolved, but Quin had always thought that the videos were unique. Quin wasn’t much of a dancer herself, but it had been cool to see people who were doing their thing so effortlessly and it so many different ways even when it was the same dance to the same song.

“The one I’ve been following isn’t even voiced…it started out as a wrong number text, and the girl who’s writing it is also working on making it a book…It’s super good.” she said, “I don’t think it’s one of those silly AI generated ones.”

Quin couldn’t help but notice that Will looked relieved when she compared his shows to campy B-Movies. Was it supposed to have been weirder that he was into Japanese camp? Everyone had their thing.

At her offer to take his plate, Will simply got up and gathered his things so Quin made her way to the kitchen. It wasn’t like the plates were all that dirty, and as she put them into the dishwasher Will spoke again.

It spoke volumes that Quin wasn’t quite sure which scar Will was talking about and she turned to lean against the counter, “Mine?” she said, subconsciously reaching up to touch her cheek, “Just a scratch, looked way worse than it actually was.” Quin’s ribs had definitely gotten the worst if everything.

She couldn’t see Will’s arm from where she was standing, ”What about yours? You did an awful lot of… activity after you got patched up.” she said, then grinned.

“Though, you’re gonna have to start wearing shorter sleeves if you want to show it off.”

That grin told Quin that Will knew exactly what show she was talking about and the fact that he hadn’t reacted that way to any of the other shows meant he either didn’t know what they were or that Archvilles reputation had preceded it.

“What? she said, heat flooding her cheeks, “Whatever you’ve heard, it’s actually really good…”

Will accepted the question being turned on him with good grace though and explained that his television tastes ran more to the sci-fi and anime side of things.

“I’ve heard of the space one, I think…” Quin said, “It’s supposed to be good...but I am completely clueless when it comes to anime.”

Not that the stuff wasn’t popular, there was even a manga section at the NYU library…Quin just hadn’t ever had the time or inkling to get into it.

Clickclack and doomscrolling were absolutely things Quin could relate to though and she nodded her understanding there. ”Any favorite creators?”

Then Will brought up a word that Quin had never heard before. “What’s that?” she asked, it kind of sounded like one of the broths at a ramen place she liked to go, but surely Will hadn’t changed subjects so quickly.

A fair trade. Quin nodded as Will looked back out the window and Quin did the same for a moment.

“Wonder how long we’re gonna be quasi-neighbors here?”

Quin shrugged, ”I guess it depends on how right or wrong Michael was about how prepared they were for whatever that Egyptian woman is planning.” It still kind of blew Quin’s mind that all of this was actually happening.

“I know I said I’ve got mixed feelings about everything Michael is mixed up in…but all those good guys with guns downstairs do make me feel better…at least for tonight.”

They just kept circling back to the serious stuff. Quin supposed it was to be expected with the way the day had gone and as she started her second slice of pizza she couldn’t help but wonder if it was reasonable to hole up at home for the next while. ”I’ll probably have class tomorrow…” she said, running a hand through her hair with a sigh.

Pizza was a far better topic of conversation though, and Quin gave Will an incredulous look when he said he’d never even tried John’s.

“Oh absolutely though you should definitely get a fresh slice and eat it on the way or something…it’s so hot that the cheese is like, molten…wait, would that be a problem?“ she said, head tilting slightly with curiosity. ”The tea wasn’t too hot was it?” she added, eyes widening slightly. Surely not, surely he wouldn’t have drank it just to be polite if it was a problem.

Quin’s comment about Chicago didn’t go unnoticed though and Will’s look had her grinning before he even started speaking. He’d never had a proper deep dish, which made sense if he hadn’t been to Chicago, but it appeared that she was going to get a pass anyway because apparently Hawaiian pizza had originated in Canada.

Quin winced at that, but also couldn’t help but laugh a little, ”Well, your secret is safe with me…can I count on the same discretion?” she said

Will pointed out that at least for the time being he didn’t have a first job and that significantly freed up his schedule. That was really rough, presumably he needed a job. ”Maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed, or maybe they’ll want help getting everything customer ready again?” Quin offered in what she hoped was a helpful way.

Still, it seemed like Quin had a study buddy if she wanted, and it was always a lot easier when there was someone else to hold you accountable for actually doing the studying…

“Yeah…not much for stars.” Quin confirmed with a little sigh, it seemed like forever since she’d seen the actual night sky. ”You should see it when it snows though…” Maybe she was underestimating the view a bit…like she’d gotten used to it over the past few years and wasn’t appreciating it like she should…

She and Will were absolutely on the same page as far as SUPER was concerned. Sure, Michael seemed like a decent enough person, but Will’s point was absolutely valid. All it took was the right government official deciding that a more “proactive” stance was necessary.

Quin tried to think about what that would be like, having to worry about your powers all the time under the threat of having an actual collar snapped around your neck. Sure, the official government line had been that only dangerous mutants had been put into the camps…but there had been children there.

It was a lot to think about after everything that had already happened, and when Will echoed her sentiment about the pizza, Quin happily took the opportunity to change the subject. “There really is something about the oven stuff…” she said with a little laugh, then snagged a second piece and made her way back to the table.

“So… Quin said, casting around for something else to say that wasn’t related to past lives or the trauma of the day, they could go back to that after they’d eaten if they really wanted, but food conversation deserved to be lighter. “What’s your favorite actual pizza place though…?” she asked. Surely Will had one, it was a well debated topic in the city and most people had an answer ready.

Even being adjacent to the riots had to have been pretty intense, Quin thought, especially being a teenager and a mutant with newly realized powers. The articles had all made it sound like the initiating event had been bad, but the way things had blown up after had been even worse. Mutant vs Cops, Cops vs Mutants, people vs each other on both sides. Generalized chaos similar to what they’d experienced today.

Criminal defense sounded like a tough gig? Quin shrugged her shoulders, ”It can be. Everyone deserves their day in court. One of the things that Haven does is provide legal support for mutants who are wrongly accused or discriminated against. I thought that I might like to get into doing something like that eventually.” she said, ”Probably going to have to do at least a few years of public defense or interning somewhere before they’ll hire me on though.”

The pizza actually looked and smelled really good and Will even agreed. Realistically speaking he was probably right too…New York‘s pizza culture was wild, but the frozen section at the store wouldn’t have been nearly as big as it was if the pies there weren’t popular.

Will elaborated on his experience with the riots and Quin figured she knew exactly what video he was talking about. His sharper than usually senses had kept him out of trouble though, and he’d never really gone back. At least until today.

As for plates? “That cabinet over there…” Quin said nodding to one over her shoulder. The help would be nice, Quin admitted, all of this bending and twisting made it clear that reaching was going to be against the rules for at least a day or two.

Will asked about Michael then and Quin leaned against the counter as she waited for the plates, ”It’s like I said. Michael was teaching a self defense class a few months ago and recognized me. We haven’t talked much about how I knew them before but Michael basically told me I had been a garbage fighter back then too and that I needed to diversify. That was the first time someone who knew me had said anything other than super nice things so I instantly asked if they’d train me.” Quin shrugged, ”Michael is a harsh teacher, but I’ve learned quite a bit…and now they’ve started farming me out as a punching dummy to others.

Quin paused there for a moment and frowned, ”I knew about Black-Tac, but not the extent that they were embedded here…and I had absolutely no idea about their involvement with SUPER.” she said quietly.

Will didn’t make it a habit to tell people that he was a mutant. Quin understood, a lot of people did that. Sometimes it was just easier to blend if you could.

It also wasn’t like she ran around proudly proclaiming her genetic status to anyone and everyone. The difference was that she definitely didn’t go out of her way to keep it under wraps, and anyone who paid attention would have been able to pick up on it really easily.

Again, she was going to speak, but Will continued on and Quin subconsciously tensed just a bit as his hand closed around hers and he presumably began to undo what he had done earlier. Quin didn’t know how bad she was going to hurt, but by all expectations it would be more than she did right now so it was probably better to be prepared.

This time as he worked, Will spoke, explaining that it wasn’t particularly heavy lifting for him to use his powers, but that the more intensive use earlier in the day had taken quite a bit out of him.

That made sense, Quin supposed, as did the fact that in order to be able to use his powers he’d have to have people around who knew he had powers…and there just weren’t very many of those.

Things were changing now, and Quin could feel the dull, almost disconnected ache that had been present since Will had used his powers in the church growing in intensity. She tried not to think about it, instead focusing on what Will was explaining.

General sentiment had been rough when Will had been in school and despite the fact that he wasn’t looking at her, Quin gave a nod of sympathy. High school was rough in the best circumstances, throwing in powers and living in New York would definitely have complicated things.

Where she’d been and when she’d been, Quin had been something of a novelty. It had helped that she had already run with a highly accepting crowd and spent most of her summers traveling and with hippies.

The ache in her side was definitely worse now, and Quin had to hope that Will was almost done putting things back the way they should be. Suddenly though she realized that she felt…different? Normal? Quin could remember Will saying that she’d be a little numb as long as his powers were working on her and now that they weren’t…interesting.

Will looked up now and Quin looked back as he spoke and she nodded. “That makes sense.” she said, ”I didn’t grow up here, and people mostly just thought I was a bit of a novelty.”

She paused for a second then smiled, ”Also, now you’ve got at least one person you don’t have to be careful around.” That was better than nobody right? ”And I’m clearly easily bribed if you’re ever having a rough time.”