Mike let the ashes of the name fall to the deck as he saw the young man appear in his circle. He had no hair, wore a t-shirt, a leather jacket, and what looked like leather pants. He was also whiter than chalk, but his eyes, all of his eye, were green and glowing.
“Hi, I’m Mike,” he said, walking forward, his hand held out. “You must be Alexander.”
The young man looked at the outstretched hand. “Forgive me if I don’t shake hands, Mr….”
“Just Mike. Or Grimaulkin. That’s my magic name.”
“Mike,” said Alexander solemnly. He looked around the base.
“It’s away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” he said with a smile. Alexander turned to him, no emotion on his face. “Tough crowd,” Mike muttered. “Let me take you around.”
“Don’t you want to know about me?”
“Swoop told me. And I saw your file. You exude acid.”
“I’m a mutant.”
“Yes, and?”
“I’ve killed people.”
“So have I.”
“Then how can you be a hero?”
“It depends on who you kill, doesn’t it?”
Alex frowned. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve taken a life. More than one. I should go.”
“Wait,” and Mike put a hand on Alex’s shoulder.
Alex ducked out from under the touch, and turned his head, a look of horror on his face. “Don’t touch me, or you’ll die.”
“Trust me. I’m not going to die today.”
“Just being in the same room with me – you’re exposed.” He looked away. “I kill people, Mike. I destroy things.”
“Let me tell you a story, Alex,” he said, and started walking to the benches. “Please, sit.”
Alex turned back, and reluctantly followed Mike to the bench. Mike summoned a teapot and poured two porcelain cups of tea. “Don’t worry if that cup gets eaten away, I have a whole set.”
Alex took the cup in one hand and sipped the green tea. Mike sat back and said, “It all started when my brother Louie and I went to a Circle of Thorns meeting…”
Three crushed porcelain cups and innumerable amounts of tea later, Alex had a ruined pair of gloves and a t-shirt and jeans full of smoking holes, and a much better idea of the ruthless but caring man sitting across from him. How he had killed many men, women, children; loved a demon, and lost him, and loved and lost, and loved…and died. What he planned to do with his new life. How he loves again, twice. How he was trying not to go down the dark paths he’d been down years ago. And most of all, what this group meant to him now, especially after he described his last killing, and the proof of the deed.
They sat in silence. Alex stared at the fourth porcelain cup, already with the indentation of his hand. The handle had broken off and was with the debris from the other cups.
“So,” said Mike, “Have you decided on a hero name yet?”
Alex looked up at the change of subjects. “I…Lexi mentioned maybe…Toxicon.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Mike. “I’ll put you down that you’ll start tomorrow. Mind if I pair you up with the other new kid, Angel?”
“I don’t mind, but will he?”
“Don’t worry, I don’t think his guardian angel will let him get hurt.”
Alex got up. “Guardian angel?”
“A real one.”
Alex sighed. “I’d better go. My sister will be worried.”
“Okay. Wait.” Mike went and got the box of rings, explained how they worked and let him pick one. “It’s indestructible by mortal means. And some magical ones as well. And it has a spell on it so you can change your costume.” Mike smiled. “Scott told me to add that.”
“I don’t have a costume. They don’t survive.”
“I’m sure if you go to the tailor and tell them your specific issues, they can make something. If not? Well,” At this, Mike grinned. “there’s always magic.”