After retracting her hand, Lily observed the girl, Ava, whose gaze lingered on her own palm. Ava appeared pleasantly surprised that she could make direct physical contact without her own abilities interfering.
"Are you... one of those people?"
Ava asked with some reservation in her voice. She hesitated to use the term 'Mutant' due to its derogatory connotations towards individuals with the X-Gene.
However, Lily didn't mind. She wasn't a mutant, to begin with, so she had no opinion toward the word itself.
That would be a different story for people that used it offensively or threatened her using it. But that wasn't the case here.
"A mutant? Yes, that is what I've been told."
Lily replied, noting Ava's nod of understanding.
A few seconds of awkward silence took over the room as neither Lily knew what to say to the girl nor did the girl know how to talk to Lily.
They were both rather anti-social individuals, so conversing amongst themselves was difficult.
"It was nice meeting you."
Lily finally said as she broke the silence, following up quickly with another sentence.
"I should probably head back since there isn't any training scheduled for today."
Ava nodded once more, but Lily could see the subtle hint of reluctance within her eyes. She didn't want the conversation she was having with someone such as Lily to end just yet.
Lily decided to interact with her a little longer to get to know the girl more since they would be working for the same people for some time.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you develop your abilities?"
Lily asked the girl.
She already knew the story of how she gained her abilities from the movies, but she wanted to be told from the source itself. This would justify her knowing about it in the world.
Plus, the chance always existed that it would be different from how it was in the movies or details that were left out.
Ava's expression turned melancholy momentarily, a look of longing or remembrance lingering in her eyes as she looked down at the floor.
"It's a long story that happened a long time ago."
She replied.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Sorry for asking."
Lily replied when she noticed the emotions that appeared from the girl when she asked.
"No, it's fine; it's just hard to remember. It happened when I was a child. My parents were researchers on some projects. My father and mother tried to complete it, but an accident happened that killed them and injured me."
As she told her story more and more, Lily could see that the girls were reliving the day of the accident within her mind. It must have been such a clear memory, seeing both your parents die before you, unable to save them.
Being changed forever, only to live in constant pain without anyone or anything to help you.
"That was how I ended up like this."
She added at the end.
"I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. It must have been tough on you."
Lily commented after the girl had finished speaking; she didn't know what else could be said about such a story.
"What about you? When did you notice you had your abilities?"
"I only recently learned about them, or what they were, because of the Agents. Before, I didn't think much about it. I'm still trying to learn how to control and make the most of it."
Lily replied, giving a rather vague story as it was very much just a lie.
"I see, that's good. You already have impressive control over it, from what I've seen. I wish I had such control or maybe a less chaotic ability."
Lily knew that the girl would rather have no ability than the ability she had now, but not everything worked out the way you wanted it in this world.
Some things are just meant to be.
Lily offered an encouraging smile and spoke.
"Powers come in all forms, and it's important to remember that they make you unique. Feel free to reach out if you ever need someone to talk to or train with."
Ava's face lit up with gratitude at the words of the girl.
She felt somewhat ashamed having to be cheered up by someone younger than her. Shaking her head as she returned to her normal look.
"Thank you, Lily. I'll keep that in mind. Stay safe on your way back."
Lily nodded in appreciation.
"You too, Ava. Take care."
With their brief encounter coming to an end, Lily and Ava went their separate ways.
Lily returned home to await notification of what was to come, while Ava went on to train some more since she had a new motivation.
Behind the scenes, outside of the knowledge of either of them. Multiple figures in S.H.I.E.L.D. were discussing the matter that unfolded that very day.
Watching over the screen were the scenes of them both fighting played out, a discussion could be heard over the communications, multiple older people voicing their opinions, others shutting it down, and some remaining out speaking.
A few people discussing matters that could affect thousands, all behind locked doors.
When the meeting had concluded, new orders were given to Lily.
She received a notice the following day that she had been cleared to receive field missions and to make matters more interesting, she was assigned to a team alongside Ava to do special assignments from S.H.I.E.L.D.
What exactly that meant?
It meant they would be doing the dirty work that S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted done. Things that normal Agents couldn't do.
It also meant that they would now be disposable units that S.H.I.E.L.D. would use as they please and throw away in the end.
But Lily had no intentions of being someone that was used one-sidedly and thrown away when they no longer used her.
She would benefit from this as much as she could.