The Scientist

Wormman

Zedaph pov:

I sighed, flipping through the comic section yet again, trying to guess what Xavier might enjoy. He was definitely one of the most mysterious additions to our group. Normally, with new folks, you could get a sense of their personality and preferences after a bit, but Xavier? He was still such a closed book.

We’d tried a few times to get him to open up, bringing him along for shopping trips to see if anything caught his eye. Hels had joined in, hoping he’d be able to coax out a few hints, but even with Hels by his side, Xavier was hard to read. And he hadn’t exactly been up for much talking since he was still recovering from that massive bruise on his head. The quiet made it even tougher to tell if he was truly disinterested or just too exhausted.

“I wonder if he likes superheroes,” I muttered to myself, flipping through a stack of brightly-colored issues. But then again, Xavier didn’t seem like someone who was easily dazzled by flashy costumes and over-the-top villains. Maybe he was more of a mystery genre person? Or did he like the classics?

Impulse wandered over, glancing down at the pile I’d gathered. “Any luck?”

I shook my head. “He’s... really tricky to figure out. I’ve got no idea what kind of comics he’d like, or if he even likes them.” I hesitated, looking over at Impulse. “Do you think he even wants gifts?”

Impulse rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. “Honestly? I think he’d appreciate it. Even if he doesn’t show it, I think he’d be glad someone thought of him.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I smiled, feeling a bit of hope. “Maybe I’ll just grab a mix, something lighthearted and something with a bit of depth. If nothing else, it’ll give him some options.”

Impulse grinned. “Sounds like a good plan. And hey, worst-case scenario? You’ve got more comics to read.”

I laughed, nodding. I was genuinely relieved that Impulse had decided to come along with me. Being alone was still something I wanted to avoid after everything that had happened with my kidnapping. And luckily, it wasn’t just Impulse—I had Tango and Skizz here too. Those two were zipping around the store, enthusiastically pointing out their favorite heroes and debating the finer details of battles they’d only ever seen on the pages of these comics.

The hum of the store wrapped around us, the sound of pages flipping blending with chatter as people discussed stories and heroes they adored. I flipped through some of the more obscure superheroes, skipping past the big-name ones that everyone in our group already knew and loved. My fingers slid along the glossy pages, each one filled with a different world, but nothing felt quite right. I was getting a bit frustrated, unsure if I’d ever find something that Xavier might connect with.

Just as I was about to move on, a bright pink and yellow cover caught my eye—Worm Man, a comic with an unconventional hero who wasn’t well-known. I held it up, curious.

Impulse peered over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “Worm Man? Now that’s a deep cut. You think Xavier would be into this?”

I shrugged, smiling a little. “Honestly? I don’t know. But something tells me he might appreciate a hero that doesn’t fit the usual mold. Worm Man is... well, he’s weird, but in a good way, you know?”

Impulse nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, I get that. Plus, he’s not the ‘perfect hero’ type—he’s scrappy, kind of odd, and people underestimate him all the time. I could see Xavier getting a kick out of that. Or at least, seeing himself in it a bit.”

As I considered that, a burst of laughter from Tango and Skizz echoed through the aisles. I looked up to see them arguing over the “real” strength of a comic character that had to be, what—seven, eight feet tall?