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<span class="mu-r">“Glass is right. There’s still a chance that we can do something about the virus. Gloria is gonna owe us big time for this, and I’m gonna make sure that she pays up.”</span>
Glass nodded his approval, giving you a weak smile.
<span class="mu-r">“I’ll fix this. I’ll find a way to repair the damage, and we’ll have you patched up in no time. Good as new.”</span>
Iara chuckled to herself, kicking her feet and splashing around in the shallow water.
<span class="mu-b">“You know, if anyone else said that to me, I’d think they were bullshitting. But if it’s you…I think it just might be possible. And even if it isn’t…well, I’m just glad to know that you care enough to try.”</span>
You smiled at each other, but the sight of those black veins covering her face made you feel sick to your stomach.
She turned to smile at Glass, his already fragile features looking that much more brittle by the smile he was forcing himself to return.
<span class="mu-b">“Glass. I didn’t want to have to tell you this in person, because I knew you’d have that miserable look on your face…”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Don’t. You’re gonna be alright-”</span>
Glass never got to finish, because Iara grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer.
<span class="mu-b">“Just shut the fuck up and listen, okay?”</span>
His mouth clamped shut, and his head bobbed marginally.
<span class="mu-b">“You’re like a brother to me. Other than Callie, no one’s ever stuck around longer than you have. And I’m gonna need you to stay by her side if I don’t make it out of this, alright? She’ll never admit it, but the Morlocks need someone like you. Not because of what you can do in a fight, but because of what you can do outside of one. You genuinely give a shit. You believe in the inherent goodness of people, even when they haven’t given you a reason to. Callie might be our leader, but you’re the heart of the group. Don’t ever change, and don’t let them do anything stupid while I’m out.”</span>
Glass couldn’t stop the tears from flowing now. You were genuinely surprised that he was even capable of crying with his unique physiology.
But, Iara ignored them and turned to face W.
<span class="mu-b">“Hey, kid. I hate that you have to see me like this, but this is what it’s like to live as a mutant, sometimes. We don’t always win. Sometimes we lose. Big time. And sometimes…we get too caught up in thinking about the things we’ve lost, and we can’t see what we’ve already got.”</span>
W looked up, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying she’s been doing.
<span class="mu-b">“And you’ve still got a family back in New York. The Morlocks’ll take care of you. So will the Huntsman and his crew. You’ve got a lot of people that care about you. Even without me, you’ll be fine-”</span>
She went into a coughing fit, and you knelt down to assist her in any way you could, unsure of what to do. So, you rubbed her back soothingly, until she held up a hand and waved you off.
<span class="mu-b">“I just wish we’d picked out a name for you before all this shit went down. I had a few good ideas.”</span>
(Cont.)