Together As Mutants (Book Six)

CXLII. Questions for Mom

At four years old, the Hamato kids found themselves growing more and more curious about the world around them. Not only that, but they became more and more intrigued by their parents. Many questions started to show up in their developing brains, just begging to be asked.

Leonardo

Dean toddles over to Destiny as she reads Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, pulling himself onto the couch and standing next to her. He rests his hands on her shoulder, toying with her long brown curls. A fanged smile falls across her face as she slips a bookmark into her spot and sets it down, looking at her young son.

"Hi Dean," she says. "Having a good day?"

He nods. "Uh huh, but I have a question," he announces.

"You do?"

He bobs his little head up and down as he reaches his hand over to her face, running it along the scarred half of it.

"Why do you have these?" he wonders.

Destiny feels her heart clench, his innocent eyes meeting hers. She takes a long breath in, releasing it after a second.

"Dean...do you remember all those stories that we've told you?" she asks, lifting him into her lap and letting him sit there.

"Yeah! Like where you and dad and uncles fought aliens!" He grins.

"Well, how about I tell you another story?" She smiles at him as she ruffles his black hair. "Would you like that?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, so this story is about...a man made of metal and a leopard," she starts, choosing her words carefully. "The man of metal hated our family, more than anything. He got an idea in his head that I could...help him."

Dean frowns. "You would never help a bad man."

"That's right, but he didn't want to stop trying," she continues. "So, one day, he made sure that I came to his home. When I got there, I met a leopard. Let's just say...your mom doesn't always know when it's best to shut her mouth." She lets out a dry laugh. "The leopard didn't like me, so she gave me these."

The wolf-raven woman touches the dark scars, those markings that have marred her face for so long. Dean reaches up and touches them again, his face confused.

"So she hurt you because she didn't like you?"

"Yes."

His tail flicks. "Why didn't she just tell you she didn't like you?"

Destiny smiles weakly. "That's...not the way enemies work, Dean."

He looks up at her again. "Why can't they go away?"

"They're a reminder," she answers. "Whenever I see these in the mirror, it reminds me to be strong and protect my family. Without them, I wouldn't be the same."

He doesn't say anything for a moment, but then a smile falls across his face. "Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"You're still the prettiest person in the world. I wanna be like you and daddy one day."

She feels tears well in her eyes, but she holds them back as she hugs her little boy. "Yeah, I'm sure one day you will."