Disclaimer: Not mine

Notes: Takes place between the finale and the crossover with Wild Force, spoilers apply.

--

Nadira gave herself a glance in the mirror. Her hair was neat, her choice in clothes was perfect, and her make up complemented her features. She was, by mainstream society's standards at least, a very attractive young woman.

There would have been a time when she wouldn't be satisfied with that, she thought as she slung her purse over her shoulder. She would have stayed at that mirror until she was perfect in her eyes-- and only then would she ask Daddy for a mutant to help out with robbing whatever store had the nicest jewelry that week so she wouldn't get dirty in the process.
But those times were long gone, along with Daddy, and the person she was before. The person who dismissed all humans as not worth the air they breathed, the person who was able to distract herself with pretty things while her father, whom she loved more than anything, slowly went insane. And even then, it had only worked for awhile.

Nadira gave her one last look over before heading out. She looked good, but not great-- that would have to do.

She keyed in the lock for the door... and Katie was standing in front of her.

"Surprise!" She grabbed Nadira in a tight hug-- and to Nadira's surprise, she found herself hugging Katie back. Katie's testimony (along with the other three Time Force officers) had kept her from going to jail, and for that she would always be grateful... but she hadn't expected any of them to want to see her again afterwards. Even if she'd... seen things their way at the end, she'd still done too much to expect them to fully forgive her.

Somehow Nadira pulled herself away long enough to smooth out her dress. "Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Katie grinned at her. "It's my day off. I thought I'd spend it with you."

Nadira raised an eyebrow.

If Katie noticed that small demonstration of disbelief, it didn't show. "I haven't seen you in forever, and I know that it's been a month since your father..."

"If this is just a case of feeling sorry for me, I'd rather you didn't--"

"I don't feel sorry for you. I feel sympathy for you." The grin was gone now as Katie stared as her levelly. "And I know that they sound the same, but they're not." She squeezed Nadira's arm for an instant. For someone with genetically enhanced strength, Katie could be very gentle when she wanted to be. "When we were in 2001, I couldn't be with my father, and that nearly drove me insane." For a second, Katie suddenly seemed very far away, but then she continued. "Now that we're home, and your father... well, I don't want the same thing to happen to you. No one deserves that."

Nadira didn't know Katie too well... but she did know that she wouldn't lie about something like this. She also knew that it'd been forever since she had any fun, and because of that Katie's offer was sounding very tempting, but...

"I don't know. I'm not really dressed for partying--"

Katie practically dragged her out the door. "Nonsense. You look great."