Author's note: Thank you to ZabuzasGirl, partygirl98, kmj1989, Bamboooozled, NicoleR85, NotMarge, and Rasha007 for the reviews! Sorry for the cut off last chapter, I knew that wouldn't be a popular move. But otherwise it would've been ridiculously long! Hopefully this one makes up for it. Happy New Year, everybody! I stayed up until 2230 writing and then crashed in bed. I'm such a party animal, I know. Anyway, interview time!
Just People
Thankfully neither of us stumbled as we walked out onto the sound stage and shook Ms. Walters' hand (she didn't flinch a bit over my claws) before sitting down, so I took that as a minor victory.
"It's very nice to meet you both," Ms. Walters said, smiling amiably.
I wish I could say she was trying to put us at ease, but it didn't really feel that way. The gesture seemed to be more for the cameras than anything. She wanted to get to the question/answer part of the interview, rather than wasting time on the inane pleasantries.
"It's a pleasure to be here," I told her politely, returning her smile without showing my fangs.
No fangs here, nope. I'm a big teddy bear, just ask my wife. Or my niece.
"Thank you for having us," Zoey added.
"So," Ms. Walters began, "I wanted to ask you about all this media attention you've suddenly attracted. It's because you decided to announce to your boardroom that you were a mutant, Dr. McCoy, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am," Zoey replied. "And everything basically snowballed from there."
"Can you explain why you told them, rather than maintaining your anonymity?"
"Well, my husband obviously can't hide his mutation anymore, and I realized that I didn't want to, either. It's not really fair, is it? People looked at me and didn't see me for what I really am, because my mutation is invisible," Zoey told the reporter. She seemed to instinctively lean into me as she spoke. "But I'm proud of who I am, and the man I'm married to. And I wanted my company- and the other people in our town- to know that."
"He 'can't hide his mutation anymore?'" Ms. Walters queried. She focused on me. "You didn't always look this way, Dr. McCoy?"
I felt Zoey relax somewhat next to me.
If all went to plan, the reporter would now focus on me for the rest of this interview, rather than her. We wanted it this way, because as Zoey put it, "this is your job, not mine. I don't have time to run a company, fix the world and be pregnant. Not when I have to pee every five minutes."
"No, ma'am," I replied to Ms. Walters. "I developed a secondary mutation after an accident."
"And how long ago was that?"
I had to lie at this question.
Hopefully it would be the only fib I had to make, but there wasn't much other choice. The truth- that my "accident" had actually happened over a decade ago- would involve explaining the development my mutation-suppressing serum. And I couldn't say anything about that, or else my reasons for destroying it in the first place would be utterly pointless.
At least the Friends of Humanity won't out me. Otherwise they'd have themselves faced with kidnapping charges and whatever other kinds of retribution the X-Men can think of.
"About two months ago," I replied instead.
"Could you tell us what it's been like so far, living this way? How do people react when they see you?" Ms. Walters asked, gesturing towards my obvious blue-furriness.
I knew I had to chose my words carefully here. I didn't want to seem apologetic for being the way I was (not exactly a good message, when you're trying to tell mutants they shouldn't be ashamed of who they are), but I also didn't want to seem confrontational and alienate the broader human audience.
There has to be a balance. I just have to find it.
"I think people in our town are more or less used to me now," I began hesitantly. "But at first the people where we live were afraid- or at least rather startled. No one really ran away screaming or anything, but I could definitely clear a path in a jiffy."
I plastered a wry grin on my face, trying to pretend that it didn't hurt when someone had purposely crossed the street just to avoid walking past me. It still stung, though I was slowly becoming accustomed and rather desensitized to it.
"I can't say I blamed them," I continued. "I know I can be a lot to take in, at first. No one expects to look up in the waiting room of a doctor's office and see something like me walking towards them, right? But people have gotten used to me, for the most part. I don't want to bother anyone. I just want to live my life much like everyone else does- going to work, trips to the grocery store, taking my wife out to dinner and a movie on occasion."
"That sounds so normal," Ms. Walters noted calmly. "Would you describe yourself as a normal man, Dr. McCoy?"
Normal.
The word brought a rush of painful memories to my mind. How much had I yearned to be "normal," ever since I was a child? To be like everyone else? To not be considered a mistake for being the way my genes made me?
Normal.
I despised that word now. Almost as much as I hated the word "freak."
"I think 'normal' is a relative term," I replied, before my musings created an awkward pause. "But it's important to realize that what I am is not who I am. It's just one piece. Though I certainly don't look normal, I'd still like to think my day-to-day life, my dreams and aspirations are the same as anyone else. I just want to provide for my family and make my wife happy to the best of my ability."
I glanced down at Zoey, who had been leaning her head against my shoulder until that point. She pulled back just enough to give me a warm, encouraging smile.
You can do this, her eyes seemed to say.
It was strange, but at that moment all vestiges of nerves fell away, leaving behind only a strong sense of determination to do this right. To change the hearts and minds of the people watching, if it was possible.
With you believing in me, my love, how can I fail?
"I think that's the biggest misconception people have about mutants," I said seriously, returning my gaze to Ms. Walters.
The words flowed effortlessly, shocking even myself.
"We have these abilities that fall outside the range of 'normal' human limits. Some of us, like myself, look rather alien to the average observer. It makes us seem 'other,' almost inhuman, to some," I explained. "But the truth is, we're just people. We have the same basic needs, the same hopes, the same feelings. All of us are trying to live our lives, just like everyone else.
"Whether you know it or not, there are mutants living among you. They're your neighbors, your coworkers- even your friends. They're your electrician or the waitress who served you at the diner down the street. You just don't know it because they're too afraid of facing discrimination for the way they were born. And those of us who have visible mutations, well... you probably won't see much of us. Not unless this country becomes much more open to the idea of accepting the mutant citizens who already live right next door without you even being aware."
"And why have you decided to make yourself known?" Ms. Walters asked pointedly. "Since it sounds like hiding yourself away would be much easier?"
I had to stop myself from showing my fangs as I smiled at Zoey- a genuine one this time, brought on by the thought of my impending fatherhood.
"We're expecting twins in a few months," I replied simply, making Zoey chuckle and squeeze my hand before I turned back to Ms. Walters once more. "Both of us grew up hiding and feeling ashamed of what we are, Ms. Walters. We want our children to know, from the very start, that there's nothing wrong with them if they happen to be born mutants. And we decided that the best way to show them that we accept them is to demonstrate first that we accept ourselves."
If I wasn't mistaken, Barbara Walters teared up a little at the sentiment behind that statement. But considering the hard-hitting reporting she became known for later, I may very well have been wrong.
She cleared her throat slightly. "There are some groups that believe mutants are abominations that should be identified and kept separate from the rest of society. What's your opinion on that?"
"I think it's that sort of ignorant thinking that allowed slavery to exist in this country for several hundred years, and then legalized segregation for a century after that," I said coolly. "The idea that one race is somehow better than the other is a fallacious argument. It really all comes down to genetics. Skin color, eye color, an X-gene. Is it really fair to discriminate against someone for the way God made them?"
"And what if 'the way God made them' is dangerous, as some groups would claim?"
Ugh. Time to talk smoother than I ever have in my life.
I thought quickly, searching for an answer that would be both honest and non-threatening. Unwelcome visions of Erik and Raven passed through my mind, reminding me that some mutants were, indeed, dangerous.
Zoey's sudden stiffness told me she was thinking along the same lines.
"Mutants are really just people, despite everything," I replied, with deliberation. "Yes, I'm sure there are some bad apples out there, but the truth is, the vast majority of us want to just exist peacefully and not hurt anyone. Just like regular people.
"And furthermore, if we were truly as 'dangerous' as those groups claim, surely you would be hearing about mutant versus human crime on a daily basis? The fact that mutants are now suddenly getting national attention does not change the fact that they've been a part of society all along, for the most part not hurting anyone. If they were truly minded towards making trouble, social convention wouldn't stop them. But you don't see that, do you?"
My next words were almost a plea for understanding.
"I'd like to think the American people are inherently good, ma'am," I told her earnestly. "Not humans or mutants, one over the other. Just people."