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<span class="mu-r">“It’s okay. We’re here to help you, not hurt you.”</span> you urged, removing your cloak and dropping your weapons to the ground. Mostly it was your knife and dual pistols. You hadn’t had much of a chance to use any of these since you showed up, but you liked to be prepared.
Gordy watched you carefully, but said nothing.
<span class="mu-r">“I heard you’re a mutant. I actually have a couple of good friends who are mutants. Would you like to meet them?”</span> you offered, calling Callisto and Glass to the forefront.
The two of them stepped forward, seeming more nervous for the kid’s wellbeing than for their own sake.
<span class="mu-b">“Hey, kid. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I think we have a decent idea of what you’re feeling.”</span> Callisto began.
Gordy looked up sharply at her, as if to say something, but no words came out.
<span class="mu-g">“You’re terrified of your powers.”</span> Glass cut in. <span class="mu-g">“You’re scared that you can kill so easily, without much effort on your part. So you’re constantly holding back, keeping your distance from people, having nightmares about what it would be like to cut loose for once, just for a second.”</span>
Gordy lowered his arms, his eyes widening out of shock instead of fear this time, as he took a moment to inspect the transparent man before him.
<span class="mu-g">“My powers are pretty straightforward. But they can be used to do some pretty nasty stuff.”</span> Glass continued. <span class="mu-g">“One day, when I was still working for X–some powerful people, I met a mutant named Sage. She gave me a temporary boost so that I could realize my full potential. For only a few minutes, I managed to hit Omega Level. I developed a technique that my mentor called ‘Diamond Dust’, where I release tiny glass particles into the air.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“W-what does it do?”</span> Gordy asked, speaking for the first time since you’ve seen him.
<span class="mu-g">“When people breathe in bits of glass, they get tiny little lacerations on their organs. The people that I used it on…they died without knowing what was happening to them. I could kill people without beating them in a straight up fight.”</span> Glass explained, looking rather remorseful. <span class="mu-g">“I once had a guy gloat about how much better he was than me, right before he dropped dead from breathing in too much Diamond Dust.”</span>
Callisto gently patted him on the back, and Glass seemed to take a moment to gather his courage before continuing. <span class="mu-g">“Everyone was telling me how cool my powers were, but honestly…I was scared out of my mind. I felt like a monster, and no one else seemed to care. No one except the younger students. They all looked at me funny when they found out. Started keeping their distance.”</span> he said, examining his skeletal hand through his opaque outer layer. <span class="mu-g">“I left the team, and the school soon after that. Callisto here took me in. If you can see past the eyepatch and constant scowl, she’s about the nicest person a mutant could ever meet.”</span>
(Cont.)
