"So tell me again, um… I really must apologize for my manners, I haven't even asked for your name yet."
Kimball sat in her chair in the Sanctuary, her hands resting on top of each other on the massive wooden desk she claimed as her own.
The monitors sitting on the desk were running showing different places in the Sanctuary through the eyes of the dozens of cameras installed here for the inhabitants' safety. The pictures shown would change to another camera in a fixed rhythm.
In front of her in one of the huge armchairs, a young boy with blonde hair and eyes so dark they almost seem black sat there, shifting uncomfortably while he stared down at his hands. Following his glance, Kimball could see that he was kneading them uncomfortably.
His shoulders were hunched, like he was trying to make himself as small as possible. His eyes darted around the room anxiously, trying to see every inch of the room as if he was afraid that some kind of monster could jump out of a corner he hadn't checked. He looked scared, but also timid. That combination meant it would be a bit more difficult to get through to him.
Every wrong movement or word could scare him away, making him retreat into himself and making getting through his barriers even more challenging. It was always more difficult to earn the trust of such a person.
She knew that well enough not only from her years of experience interacting with others in general, but also from the last candidate she had met with a similar countenance some years ago: Simmons.
"I… hadn't said it either. I don't like it." The boy's voice wasn't much louder than the squeak of a mouse.
Kimball smiled encouragingly, waiting for the young man to muster up the courage to tell her his name.
Indeed, she was right. After some minutes, the young man seemed to notice that she wouldn't pry into his privacy and was instead waiting for him until he felt ready to reveal more to her.
"It's Matthews. My first name is Richard." He eventually told her before stating once again, "But I don't like it."
Kimball smiled warmly at the memory of someone else quite similar to this boy who had sat there not too long ago and had told her very much the same thing, "You know, Matthews… Is it okay to call you that?" The young boy nodded, Kimball continuing after the nod, "There's a young man in the sanctuary too, about six years older than you tops. When he came here, he said exactly the same."
Her smile held a note of amusement as she add, "Funny thing is, his name happens to be Richard too."
Matthews's dark eyes lit up when he heard that, "Really?"
"Indeed. He sat here and said just about the same thing you did about the name, which is the reason why everyone calls him Simmons now." She thought of something just then, "Speaking of him, if you are okay with it I would like to call him into our meeting so that he can open up a guest-account for you. This is where we will keep your medical check-ups and training results."
While talking, she pressed a button to make Simmons' pager light up. It would just inform Simmons that he would have to come to her office.
The boy paled visibly at that, Kimball immediately giving him a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, there are no goals you must reach. It's just something every guest here in the Sanctuary does regularly. It's only for me to see that you are doing well and have no illnesses which would need to be treated, and the training is just to see to what extent your abilities go and if there are any ways that you could possibly improve in utilizing or controlling them."
She quickly added for his benefit, "There's no pressure that you much improve or reach a specific goal. Just some tests to see how you do and for me to be able to check whether or not there is a task around here best suited for your specific abilities, okay?"
Matthews nodded shyly, looking at the leader of the Sanctuary with big eyes. She still smiled, her body giving away a calming aura. Again, there was silence.
"I… believe you." The boy muttered just then.
"Thank you, Matthews." The smile grew wider when she heard this from the young man in the chair before asking a question she had been curious about since this conversation had begun, "Now, why did you ask me for money earlier? Can you explain the whole story from your point of view beginning with your family?"
Again, silence settled on them as Matthews tried to remember exactly what had happened.
"Well, my family kicked me out about half a year ago. Not because I'm special, oh no, but because I'm gay. That I can do stuff others can't wasn't that much of a problem because I still look normal on the outside. As long as I kept my abilities in check, they didn't say something about them. But when I said I'm gay, they made me leave." The young man huffed out with anger, which was very much relatable when you were looking at things from his perspective.
"It's funny, they didn't get as angry when I told them that I have special abilities like a superhero. Maybe because they thought it was just some kind of phase I was having as I was growing up and they would fade away after time." He remembered, "But when I came out to my parents, thinking they would be just as tolerant about that as they had been with the abilities… They became furious. They hit me, called me names, and threw things at me. I had about five minutes to pack any necessary things like some spare clothes and my wallet and then I had to flee out of the house before they could kill me for real. Or try beating the 'gayness' out of me." The last words held so much hurt and venom against his parents that it made Kimball look at him with sympathy.
To have to go through something like that at his young age was defining. It was only understandable that he was so angry towards his parents who should love him the way he is. Instead they did something like that to him, something no child should ever endure. That it was his own parents doing that made a terrible situation that much more horrible.
His shoulders hunched again as his anger subdued, while he pulled up his knees, "After that, I managed to get places to sleep either in shelters or by asking people if I felt they were friendly." He tried explaining that last part a bit more, "It's like I just know that. I never really had an idea why that is and the internet doesn't give too much information on it although I didn't really often have the possibility to do look into it more. I was just trying to survive these last six months."
The door slowly opened, a redhead coming in, "Kimball? You called me?"
"Yes, please sit down, Simmons."
Looking over to the young man as he sat down, Matthews couldn't contain the curious question he had just then, "Your name's Richard too?"
The young redhead blinked at the remark, slightly taken aback by its forwardness before seeing Kimball's knowing smile.
A timid smile appeared on his features too when he replied, "That's right. Although I don't really like that name. I rather just go by Simmons." He could make an educated guess as to why his name had been brought up just then, "And I suppose it is better like that, because we now have two with this name, right? What's your full name anyways?"
"Richard Matthews. Although I prefer going by Matthews."
"Nice to meet you, Matthews." His smile became a bit surer following that, "As Kimball no doubt already mentioned, I'm going to open a guest account for you since I take it you're staying here?"
The young boy nodded. "I don't have a home anymore, so I would like to if that is okay with everyone."
"Of course, Matthews. I took you with me to give you the opportunity." Kimball replied.
Simmons took out his tablet, quickly taking a photo of the young man before sitting down on a chair beside Matthews and starting to type in information.
"Okay, Matthews, please continue."
"Where was I? Uhm… Well, during the day I asked random people if I felt they were okay for money to buy something to eat. Sometimes I worked, but I often got fired because I have two left hands."
Simmons winced nearby him. Kimball knew that Simmons had taken up some jobs while in high school to have the pocket money his dad denied. He had two left hands too in these jobs and would soon get fired as well.
"And, well, this went on for half a year until I met you this morning." Matthews concluded, looking sheepish again, "Although I still don't know how you knew I was special."
Simmons looked up, the same question written in his eyes. Kimball again smiled enigmatically, "Well, it was due to the way you approached me. You said you felt that I was a good person, which is why I have the suspicion you're something special. We call such people Abnormals."
Following this explanation, she asked, "Would you mind to explain the way your special ability shows itself again for my assistant?"
She pointed to Simmons just then, who turned bright red at the regard, "Simmons, I would like you to define what he is."
"But—" Simmons wanted to protest, but when he saw the knowing glance in Kimball's eyes he shut his mouth.
The leader of the Sanctuary already knew what Matthews' 'ability' was, but she wanted Simmons to define it. She wanted to test his knowledge and ability to determine the right species for himself.
The redhead nodded, "Okay, please, Matthews."
The young arrival shortly looked a bit confused from the still fondly smiling Kimball over to Simmons, who offered an awkward smile and a nod. He felt that he meant it to be a more encouraging gesture, but that Simmons was probably just as awkward around new people as he was.
"I saw you coming out from a house in the west end where I was living. I sensed that you had just managed to help someone special like me and that you felt relieved that he was okay and alive. No pride because of that, just happiness that you were able to help." He admitted, "This was the reason I decided to ask you for money. When I did so, you were at first startled, but then genuinely curious about my person."
He continued recollecting what had happened without stopping to debate events inwardly, "You asked me how I was doing and why I was living on the street. That was the first time someone had ever done that. Normally people would look at me with pity, give me some money and walk away as fast as possible like I'm contagious. However, when I explained my situation, you took me to a restaurant and told me that you would pay for anything I wanted to eat. While I was eating, you explained about the Sanctuary and everything." He nodded at that point, recalling further, "I never felt any twinge of the negative feelings I often notice with other people. You were just curious and genuinely wanted to help me."
Matthews shortly stopped, looking to Kimball to make sure he hadn't done something wrong. But she still was genuinely curious and happy about him being here. It made him smile timidly to see that.
"After that you invited me here, and I felt it was no empty offer and that you really meant it. That is why I'm here. If I hadn't felt that you were okay, I wouldn't have come with you."
After Matthews stopped explaining, he looked from Kimball to Simmons and back, waiting for someone to say something.
After some minutes, Kimball slightly turned her head, looking to Simmons, "So… What do you think, Simmons?"
The young man pondered over the information he had just been given before he carefully began to speak, "I would say he's an empath." He said at length, "Considering the things I've heard it's the only possibility."
Kimball smiled proudly at him. "You're a very attentive and clever young man. Well done. That's my conclusion too."
The redhead turned as red as his hair at the praise, sputtering something incoherent.
Matthews on the other hand was simply confused, "I'm a what?"
"You're an empath." Kimball repeated warmly, when her phone suddenly began to ring. Upon reading the message she had just received, she got up immediately, "I'm very sorry, but there's an emergency with an Abnormal in the city. Would you two mind finishing everything without me, Simmons?"
"Absolutely not." Simmons assured her, with Matthews nodding shyly afterwards.
"Thank you, Simmons." She nodded to the redhead who did the same in farewell, before turning her attention back to the newcomer in their midst, "I will see you later, Matthews."
When she was gone, Simmons sighed.
"Sorry about that, but sometimes she needs to make a fast leave when there are incidents involving Abnormals. She still insists on doing all the stuff herself." He looked lost in thought for a moment, "So, where were we? Ah yes!"
He snapped his fingers as the previous conversation came back to him, "As Kimball said, you're an empath. That means that you can feel the feelings of other people."
"Isn't that a telepath?" asked Matthews curiously, but also still a bit confused. He had moved the chair beside Simmons so that he could get a better look at the other man and watched how the redhead filed the information he had from Matthews into a form on his tablet.
Simmons shook his head. "No, a telepath can read or hear the thoughts of others. You feel their feelings. You see the difference?"
"I guess…?" Matthews wasn't sure and Simmons seemed to notice.
No, Matthews felt that Simmons knew that he wasn't sure. Simmons again shortly pondered over that before trying to approach things from a different angle.
"Look, a telepath can hear my thoughts. Like if I think 'This guy sucks!'. However, telepaths can get fooled by thoughts." He explained patiently, "You on the other hand can feel what I feel. Suppose I think that very same thought I mentioned before, but feel completely different for the person in question in reality. When I say I hate someone but my feelings say clearly that I like him instead. You get it?"
Immediately he pushed his thoughts about Grif into the farthest corner of his mind. Why had he felt the need to think of him anyway in this situation!? That was almost sadly hilarious.
This time Matthews nodded, "So telepaths can get fooled by thoughts?"
Simmons made a movement between a nod and a shake of his head, "Not exactly. Normally, humans can't control their thoughts, so telepaths can find out their true intentions very easily. But when you're around telepaths or are one yourself, you can train yourself to hide the thoughts you don't want others to read." He tapped the side of his chair thoughtfully, "This is when you can fool a telepath. But it's very difficult to do.
With feelings, it is even more challenging to do so. Sometimes you can persuade yourself that you feel differing feelings than you really do and empaths can get fooled too in those instances, but in general you can sense the true feeling underneath all denials and repressions when you're experienced enough or know what you are looking for."
Simmons chuckled nervously when Matthews didn't reply, "Did I overwhelm you with all of that information?"
The young boy immediately shook his head. "No absolutely not! I understood it pretty well. I think I get what you mean now. But uhm…" he paused, looking unsure, "Can I ask you some questions?"
"Of course."
Matthews felt genuine happiness from Simmons that he could share some of his knowledge with another person.
"You have a telepath living here?"
"Funnily enough, yes. His name is North Dakota." Simmons told him, "If you like, I can bring you to him when we're done with everything and he is back from the emergency call. He usually accompanies Kimball in those cases."
Matthews nodded, already anticipating the meeting.
"What do you mean by 'everything'?" Matthews again felt awkward as he remembered what Kimball and Simmons said before.
"First, I'll open up the account for you. That way you will have access to the internet, and Dr. Grey can fill in your information from the medical check-ups. Also, it will help us see how you do in training and how adept you are with using your abilities."
He thought of something else just, "But Kimball also insists on you going to school. Considering your age I guess you're in the last year of high school?"
Matthews nodded.
"Good. After that, you can go to college. She pays for your school, but you will have to work here a bit to help pay back the costs some. Or search for work outside the Sanctuary to help pay for your stay."
"Sounds clear to me."
Simmons smiled, "That's good to hear." He noted, thinking about what still needed to be done, "Next thing after the account is set up will be a short visit to see Dr. Grey. She's batshit crazy, but she's a good doc. She's a witch by the way, so don't freak out." Simmons winced at the memory of how he had freaked out when he had first found out about the doctor and going into lock-down-all-invisible mode for a week, "She will check how you're doing and see if you have some kind of illness or allergy we should be aware of. Afterwards, she will give you any vaccinations you're still missing to keep you healthy. Following the check-up, I'll show you the showers, your room, and introduce you to your new teammates. Okay?"
Matthews nodded. He didn't feel like introducing himself or going to a crazy doc in particular, but the faster they got things over with the better. And as long as Simmons was around, Matthews suspected it probably wouldn't be so scary.
"Can I ask you one last question before we start?" asked the young arrival timidly.
"Of course, what do you want to know?"
"What is your ability?"
Simmons chuckled, before he simply vanished.
He fucking vanished!
Only his clothes were still there, looking like they're put on a glass doll or something.
Matthews felt that Simmons was around and rather amused about his reaction, but couldn't see him. Which made Matthews feel very nervous.
Breathing out (he hadn't even noticed that he had been holding his breath) when Simmons reappeared with a grin, he couldn't help but ask, "So you're like hollow man?"
"Not as crazy and mean as that guy but technically speaking, yes. The molecules of my body are sensitive to light. And I can willingly control them and turn invisible as you just witnessed."
"That's awesome! Are there others? What can they do? Something cool like you?" This little show seemed to have broken the ice between the two.
Simmons again chuckled, although Matthews felt that he was embarrassed because of Matthews praise for his ability, "How about we get everything over with first? The faster you're through, the faster you can go explore the Sanctuary and meet everyone in person and ask them yourself."
Matthews immediately hunched his shoulders, nodding timidly.
Simmons smiled, Matthews feeling his ease when he thought about the others, "Don't worry, they're not bad. Maybe a bit crazy, but not mean or dangerous. The dangerous and mean ones are in a safety compartment in another wing of the house that only myself, Carolina, and Kimball have access to." He quickly added to that in order to calm any potential worries about the last admission Matthews might have, "It's outbreak-safe by the way."
His smiled widened, "So, do you want to start?"
Matthews nodded, before they both looked to the tablet as Simmons began to fill in the information for the newest member of 'Team Chorus'.
"After that, she bit the owner of the restaurant, making him trip over one of the shoes another guest had lost and fall flat on his belly. Since he had hit one of the shelves before, a huge porcelain vase fell off of it and directly on the back of his head and knocked him out. It was crazy!"
It was lunchtime at the Sanctuary and the Red and Blue team, as well as Teams Freelancer and Chorus, were sitting at the table and listening to York's joyous explanations about the emergency they had some days ago when Matthews arrived there.
His hands flew around, causing North more than once to reduce York's entity-energy so that he wouldn't smack anyone upside the head because his hands were flying around to illustrate what had happened.
"Northy-boy," York earned another withering glare from North for this nickname, which he pointedly ignored, "Got bitten to. In his hand. Luckily for him it wasn't that hard and he 'only'," York framed the only by drawing apostrophes in the air, "Fell over a chair and now has a nice bump at the back of his head. Wash fell into the huge rain barrel standing beside the entrance of the restaurant because the luck-eater bit him too. As you know, cats and water don't get along very well. He clawed and hissed at the water like it's his worst enemy."
"It is my worst enemy." Stated Wash calmly, his ears again lying flat on his skull at the memory of his unwanted bath in the barrel.
"However." York continued, "Carolina somehow managed to avoid getting bitten. What can I say? She's lucky."
Carolina snorted at the wordplay of York, while he carried on, "Kimball also managed to not get bitten."
"You got bitten too, remember?" North pointedly looked towards a swollen part of York's lower left arm.
"How could I forget? The girl's bite is as vicious as a snake's. Luckily I managed to become a ghost before more happened!" York whined, again asking Carolina to nurse his injury.
She just rolled her eyes and replied that he was fine and shouldn't act like a baby.
"You got bitten, turned into a ghost and the moment you became human again one of the guys came flying through the room because the owner of the restaurant, a walrus-human-hybrid, threw this poor guy just before he had the collision with the vase." North's eyes sparkled with glee as he calmly explained what had happened.
York on the other hand tried to shut him up, without any real success as North simply turned him into a ghost, "Stop it, North! You're ruining my reputation!"
"What reputation?" Asked Sarge, the grumpy self-declared leader of Red Team.
The rest of the table broke into loud laughter, before everyone went quiet once again to listen to the rest of North's story, "Somehow, the guy came flying over and the back of his head collided with York's dick."
"Hey that fucking hurt! I still probably won't be able to jack off for a week!"
Again some of the guys at the table laughed, North continuing without missing a beat, "One of his knees hit him in the head too. Although I doubt it helped him to get any smarter."
There were again some people snickering at the table, York only pointing to the laceration in his left eyebrow with a sullen expression.
"How could something increase when there's nothing to begin with? Even in mathematics the result is zero when you try to multiply a sum with zero." This time it was Wash, making a snarky comment before taking a sip from his milk. He grinned and his eyes clearly showed amusement. His ears peeked up, indicating that he was attentive but feeling comfortable around them all.
"Hey! I am smart!"
"Uh-huh, you show your overwhelming cleverness every day." It was Carolina who took this opportunity to tease York.
"Aw, Lina! Come on! That's not fair! You know I'm smart!" York made a pouting face.
"Should I?" the phoenix lifted her left eye brow in a mocking manner.
"At least I knew what you wanted to tell me when you made this sign!" York copied the sign for sleeping she made some days ago after her rebirth.
"Yeah, that's true." Carolina replied solemnly, York beginning to beam in triumph at the admission.
"But when I tried to tell you that I was hungry," She copied the sign again where she put the tips of her right fingers together and pointed to her open mouth, making a back and forth movement, "You thought I wanted to kiss you instead of getting something to eat."
York's normally tan complexion turned even darker while the table broke into roaring laugher.
"I am guessing there's still a lot you two love birds would like to share, but it's time to finish lunch. Boys and girls, back to school! The rest of you, time to get back to your respective works inside and outside." Sarge's gruff Huckleberry-accented voice cut in, making it clear that he wouldn't tolerate any discussions about the time. It was already past lunch and everyone had tasks to do around the house.
Some of them, like Simmons, had online college or high school and after school some tasks in the house.
Others, like Grif, had work in town that they had gotten due to Kimball helping them to do so.
Grif, for example, was working at the lumberyard after dropping out of high school.
Donut would work at the municipal nursery, looking after the different plants of the whole city. Although he had to be extremely careful in order to not get too wet and turn into a merman in front of his coworkers.
Part of the money the people working outside the Sanctuary earned would go to Kimball as support to keep up the infrastructure.
She was rich, but that was beside the point: Kimball was of the opinion that you had to give something back to the Sanctuary if you wanted to live there.
Some did so by helping her, others by giving her part of their salary as a sort of rent for everything they needed while there.