"Steal?"
"Master?"
After catching a few key words from Henry's outburst, the woman's eyes widened in sudden realization. Panic surfaced on her face.
"So you're not from the Mutant Association? You're not here to arrest me?" she asked quickly, her voice trembling. "You're the actual owner of this villa?!"
Henry didn't respond right away. He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, letting the silence stretch long enough to make her squirm.
"Do you really think," he finally said, "you're in any position to be asking me questions right now?"
Caught red-handed in someone else's home, after using their bathroom no less, she clearly wasn't. And she knew it.
Her shoulders slumped as the gravity of the situation dawned on her. She lowered her gaze and offered a quick, genuine bow of apology.
"I'm sorry. Truly. If you have anything you want to ask, I'll answer. Please just don't call the authorities."
Henry studied her carefully.
"You mentioned the 'Mutant Association' earlier," he said. "That means... you're a mutant?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. I am."
"What's your name? And what exactly are you doing in my house?"
There was a long pause before she finally answered, voice low but clear. "My name is Lorna Dane. And I'm not a thief, I swear. This is just a big misunderstanding."
Henry remained quiet, waiting for the rest.
"I know it was wrong to enter your home without permission, but I was being hunted. I was just trying to escape capture. I saw the villa was empty and thought I could hide here for a day or two—rest, gather myself, and move on. I didn't steal anything, I promise. You can check every room if you want."
Henry had already connected the dots before she finished.
Lorna Dane. Also known as Polaris.
Daughter of Magneto. Possessing magnetic field manipulation abilities akin to her father's. Her signature green hair was a dead giveaway, and everything else fit.
In the world of Marvel, mutants were treated as second-class citizens, often feared or outright hated by society. Their abilities made them dangerous in the eyes of many governments, leading to surveillance, regulation, and, in many cases, persecution.
The Mutant Association had been established to monitor, regulate, and, if necessary, detain mutants—though many suspected their true purpose was more aligned with experimentation and control than protection. Once captured, mutants often faced inhumane treatment, and many never made it back.
Polaris likely fell into that category: a target, simply because of what she was.
Henry exhaled slowly, the pieces falling into place.
She had broken into his villa unintentionally, hoping to hide from her pursuers. It wasn't malicious—but it wasn't exactly forgivable either.
"You may not have meant to," Henry said, "but breaking into someone's house is still illegal. And you used my shower? Really? That's bold."
Polaris looked genuinely embarrassed. "I hadn't bathed in days. I wasn't trying to disrespect you… I just—was desperate. I'm sorry."
Henry wasn't about to let her off that easily.
"If apologies were enough, the police wouldn't have a job."
Her expression instantly tightened. The mention of police seemed to hit her nerves.
"You can punish me however you want," she said quickly, almost pleading. "Make me clean the place, take my things, whatever. Just please don't hand me over to the police. If they find out I'm a mutant, I'll be turned over to the Mutant Association."
Her fear was real. Tangible.
Henry narrowed his eyes. "You're making demands now?"
"I'm not trying to be difficult," she said quietly. "I just… I know what they'll do to me. If you're going to kill me, fine. I'll accept that. But please—don't send me back to them."
Her words weren't melodramatic. They came from experience. It was clear: she would rather die quickly than be tortured slowly in a lab.
Henry understood the sentiment.
He had read her file in his past life, knew how mutants were hunted, dissected, and turned into little more than research data. He also knew Polaris would go on to become a leader, someone who would eventually fight back and protect her people.
But right now, she wasn't that person. Right now, she was just a scared girl trying to survive.
After a moment, Henry flicked his wrist and dismissed the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, and with another motion, dispelled the mirror dimension.
The room shifted back to reality. The tension in the air softened.
Polaris looked up in disbelief. "You're… not going to kill me?"
"I'm angry, sure," Henry admitted. "But you're a first-time offender, and your situation is... understandable. I'm not heartless."
"Thank you," she said softly.
Henry wasn't finished.
"That said, I'm not letting you off without consequence."
Polaris straightened, alarm returning to her expression. "What do you mean? Are you… still calling the police?"
She rushed to add, "Please, don't. I know mutants have a bad reputation, but I've never used my powers to hurt anyone. I've never even fought back, even when I was cornered. I just want to survive."
Henry paused, something clicking into place.
Polaris was normally headstrong. She inherited Magneto's pride and will. But here she was—meek, apologetic, and unwilling to resist.
Then it struck him.
She wasn't there yet. She hadn't been pushed far enough. She hadn't suffered the loss or betrayal that would forge her into the person history would remember.
"How old are you?" Henry asked.
"Eighteen," she said.
Ah, that explained it.
Still new to this world. Just barely stepping into adulthood. No wonder she hadn't yet formed the Mutant Underground.
"What about Professor X?" Henry asked. "Didn't he offer protection for mutants like you?"
Polaris hesitated, her voice low. "I tried to save a friend… but I failed. The Association got to her first. I couldn't go back after that."
Henry nodded. The picture was clearer now.
"Well," he said at last, "you broke into my house. That has to mean something."
She looked up again, nervous. "So… what kind of punishment are we talking about?"
Henry put on a thoughtful expression, then smiled faintly.
"I need a housekeeper."
Polaris blinked. "A… what?"
"You heard me. You're going to work for me—for free—for the next three months."
Her jaw dropped. "You want me to clean?"
"Clean. Cook. Keep the place in order while I'm gone. Consider it your penance."
"I…" She struggled for words. "That's it?"
Henry shrugged. "If you'd rather be arrested, I'm happy to change the plan."
"No, no, no! It's fine! I'll do it!" Polaris said quickly.
"Good. Then it's settled."
Henry's expression sharpened a bit. "But there are rules. You're restricted to the first floor. If I find you snooping around the second floor, I'll consider it a second offense—and the next time, I won't be this generous."
Polaris nodded furiously. "Understood."
"Also," he added, "there's no salary. This isn't a job. It's punishment."
Polaris opened her mouth, hesitated, then sighed. "...Okay."
Henry turned to walk back toward the kitchen, but her voice stopped him.
"Wait… what about groceries?"
"You'll handle them," he said matter-of-factly.
"Me?! But I don't—"
"You weren't invited here. You broke in. You used my utilities. And now you're living rent-free in a luxury villa. The least you can do is buy the vegetables."
Polaris stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly, reluctantly, she nodded.
"…Okay," she muttered.
Henry couldn't help but smirk as he walked away.
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