Two weeks had passed since the New Mutants arrived at the Massachusetts Academy, and a week since Inarius and Illyana sparred late at night. The New Mutants were in far better shape now—emotionally, mentally, and physically. Emma's telepathy and the camaraderie with the Hellions had helped them regain their fighting spirit.
The Hellions and the New Mutants were growing close. Jokes were shared during training sessions, teamwork became smoother, and even their downtime felt less tense. Everyone seemed to be moving toward something like friendship—everyone except Empath, of course.
Empath remained a thorn in everyone's side, his jealousy and manipulative tendencies souring the atmosphere whenever he opened his mouth.
Dinner that evening started pleasantly enough. The Hellions and the New Mutants were seated together in the academy's spacious dining hall, enjoying a rare break from training. Conversations buzzed as laughter and the clinking of plates filled the air.
But Empath couldn't leave well enough alone.
"So, Illyana," he said with a sly grin, his voice dripping with condescension, "what's it like being the queen of Limbo? Does ruling over demons make you feel better about being so... ordinary here?"
The table fell silent. Illyana's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Excuse me?" she said, her voice low and icy.
Empath smirked and turned to Sam Guthrie (Cannonball). "And you, Sam—ever think about how your little rocket trick is basically a glorified firework? I mean, come on, you're not even the flashy kind."
Sam's face turned red, and Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane) growled under her breath.
"Empath, knock it off," Inarius said, his tone sharp.
But Empath was on a roll. He leaned toward Rahne with a fake sympathetic pout. "And poor Rahne, stuck between wolf and human. Must be exhausting being halfway to a dog all the time."
Rahne snarled, her fists clenching, and the tension in the room reached a breaking point.
"Enough!" Dani Moonstar (Mirage) snapped, slamming her hands on the table. "What is wrong with you?"
The New Mutants and Hellions all started shouting, anger directed at Empath from every corner of the table. The Hellions weren't defending him either; they looked just as fed up as the New Mutants.
Inarius stood abruptly, silencing everyone with a hard glare. "Empath. Room. Now."
Empath scoffed but followed Inarius out of the dining hall, muttering under his breath. Once they were in their shared room, Inarius closed the door and turned to face him, arms crossed.
"What the hell is your problem?" Inarius said, his voice tight with frustration.
Empath rolled his eyes and sat on the edge of his bed. "Oh, come on. It's not my fault they're so sensitive."
"Don't give me that," Inarius snapped. "You're being a total asshole, and you know it. You're jealous because the New Mutants are getting along with everyone, and instead of dealing with it like a normal person, you're using your powers to be a jerk."
Empath frowned but didn't respond.
"You think this makes people like you? Spoiler alert—it doesn't," Inarius continued, his voice rising slightly. "None of the Hellions like you, Manuel. Not Roulette, not Jetstream, not Catseye, no one. They tolerate you because they have to."
Empath flinched, but Inarius pressed on.
"The only reason you have anyone in your corner is because of me. I'm your friend—your only real friend—and I'm telling you right now, if you keep acting like this, you're going to push everyone away. Including me."
Empath's face twisted with a mix of anger and shame. "You don't get it," he said quietly. "They don't care about me. They never have."
"And whose fault is that?" Inarius shot back. "You have a chance to change that, but you have to stop being such a—" He paused, searching for the right word. "—a bitch."
Empath blinked, caught off guard.
"Yeah, I said it," Inarius continued, his tone softer now. "You need to be better, Manuel. Not for them, not even for me—do it for yourself. Or keep being the villain in everyone's story and end up completely alone. Your call."
For a moment, Empath didn't say anything. He looked down at his hands, his usual arrogance replaced by something more vulnerable.
"I'll... think about it," he mumbled.
"Good," Inarius said, his tone firm but not unkind. He clapped Empath on the shoulder. "Now, I'm going to bed. Don't make me regret sticking up for you, okay?"
Empath gave a small nod, and Inarius climbed into bed, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
As he drifted off, he couldn't help but feel like he'd gotten through to Empath—at least a little. Whether it would stick, though, was another question entirely.