"My father…
…who is he?"
"I don't think you have the right to know that, you're not even my daughter."
One would think someone would take a pause if suddenly asked a question like that, but not Charlotte. She answered in less than a fraction of a millisecond; even gesturing to the door to let Alice know that she was done asking any questions.
Before she could turn away, however, she turned to look at Riley, who was casually just looking at the menu for any changes in the selection of flavors; nodding and shaking his head accordingly.
"And you…" Charlotte walked slightly closer to Riley, "...You're back, why? You could have just stayed in a place where no one actively has it out for you."
"I go wherever the flow takes me, Charlotte," Riley shrugged and answered without even looking at Charlotte, "And the flow just happens to take me back here."
"..." Charlotte could really only let out a long and deep sigh upon hearing Riley's answer, "Your carelessness and neglectfulness are the only things you have in common with your mother. You really shouldn't have—Oi! Stop using my machines!"
Charlotte seemed to have a lot to say to Riley, but as soon as she noticed Chihiro using her ice machines and making her own dessert, she quickly started pointing at her and raising her voice.
"Relax, Mrs. Lane," Chihiro, on the other hand, completely ignored her rantings as she continued to use the store's instruments, "I was an employee of one of these shops in one of my other lives. I know these machines like the back of my hand."
"Wait… that voice," Charlotte's eyes squinted as she looked at Chihiro from head to toe, "Golden Fox? You're alive—no, wait…"
Charlotte glanced at Alice, before looking back to Chihiro, "You're not our Chihiro, you're from another universe."
"Kind of? It's a little more complicated than that," Chihiro chuckled, "It's not me, but at the same time, it is me."
"What are you even—"
"I would like a Mango Graham, Chihiro." And before Charlotte's confusion could be solved, Riley cut her off as he suddenly started ordering from Chihiro, "And please use the iced milk."
"Okay. That will be $4.99."
"I said to stop using my machine! And don't touch the register, we don't even accept cash here!"
Charlotte wanted to stop Chihiro from doing anything more. But alas, her arm was suddenly grabbed by Alice from the other side of the counter.
"Look here, Mom. I am trying to have a freaking conversation with you," Alice almost growled.
"Wow, you really are like my daughter—even the way you treat other people is the same," Charlotte looked at the hand grabbing her arm, before pulling away and letting out a small scoff, "I figured your rudeness would transcend to another universe."
"Huh," Alice also scoffed as she looked at Charlotte's small frame from head to toe, "I probably inherited it from someone. Both my parents are gone and I haven't got the pleasure of meeting any of them, but hearing all the stories I heard of how you treat your grandson…
…I probably got my attitude from you."
"What do you want from me, Alice?" Charlotte rolled her eyes as she finally stopped trying to avoid Alice; even looking her directly in the eyes, "Aren't you in your late 40s now? You've lived an entire life without your mother, you're doing fine."
"What I want is to talk," Alice returned the glare.
"And as I said, you and I have no reason to talk, you are not my daughter."
"No, no. Not at all," Alice raised her index finger as she forced out a chuckle, "Your daughter is dead. Neglected by you, and you did not even have the guts to take care of her freaking son."
"Neglected…?" Charlotte's eyebrow started to raise, "Be careful, woman. You have no idea what you are talking about. I loved my daughter, I still do—but she had demons that only she was able to see, and she lost that fight."
"If you were alive in my world, you would have probably neglected me too," Alice did not even care for Charlotte's words, "In fact, I would have probably turned out worse than I have if you were present."
"Well, aren't you lucky?"
"I just want to talk, you don't have to treat me like your daughter because I sure as freaking hell not treating you like my mom," Alice raised another finger; and as she did so, one of the stools near the window quickly flew beside her and she sat on it,
"Talk, I'm no longer asking."
"That chair was bolted to the floor."
"Riley's rich, he's going to pay for it. Talk."
"..."
"..."
"Your father's name is Lancelot Lane."
It took a few seconds. But with a sigh, Charlotte started speaking as she placed both her hands on the counter,
"He's just a normal man, not even a Super. He served the Navy SEALs as a Chief Petty Officer. He died when a super attacked the submarine he was in. Happy? Or were you expecting something more?"
"That's it?" Alice's eyes squinted as they stared at Charlotte.
"That's it."
"..."
"..."
"Well, I don't believe you," Alice let out a small chuckle; taking a few steps back as she shook her head in amusement, "Seriously? Lancelot Lane? The least you can do is come up with a more creative name. I mean, Lancelot Lane? What the freak kind of made-up name is that?"
"It's not, I can show you photos if you want," Charlotte breathed out her frustration as she rested her forehead on her palm,
"Look, I know you think there's some kind of special mystery behind all of this, but there's not. We've been over this and I have already talked to Diana a million times. Riley Ross is just… different. The two of you are just freaks of nature, and I mean that in the most endearing way possible."
"I don't think I appreciate being called a freak. I am, of course—but I don't appreciate it coming from you."
"Go home, Alice. There is no story here," Charlotte once again sighed as she started walking back, "And you are right, Alice. Your mother dying was probably the best thing that could happen to you—you seem like a fine adult, you should treasure that."
"..."
"I'll allow Chihiro to use the machines, but close up and clean before you lea—"
"Gone. I said both my parents are gone."
"Hm?"
"I didn't say my mother died, I only said she was gone," Alice tapped the counter, splitting it in half as she casually walked to block Charlotte's path, "How did you know she died?"
"You can't be serious, right? Now you're just reaching," Charlotte tried to control her breath before looking at her destroyed counter, "I am already underpaid as it is, and you keep destroying stuff."
"It's not a reach, I didn't tell you my mother was dead."
"You told me she's gone! Do you even know how old I am!? I could die at any time!" Charlotte could not help it anymore as she raised her voice, "You're as stupid as my Alice if you think this actually means something else!"
"Then how old are you, Charlotte?"
Charlotte was about to walk away, but Alice once again blocked her path, "A hundred? Five hundred? A thousand? Maybe you're as old as Diana."
"Cut it with the nonsense, woman," Charlotte closed her eyes before letting out a very long and very deep breath. And as she opened her eyes, a glimmer of blue could be seen glowing from them,
"I am no longer playing your games—this is a warning."
"Good," a small smile crawled on Alice's face as her hair started waving in the air, "I have heard tales of the Shadow Mimic, I want to know if you are as good as they say you are."
"There is a reason why no one tests me. Just walk away."
"I am not leaving until you tell me what I need to know."
"I already told you, stop being so stubborn."
"How do you know my mother was killed?"
"I didn't say she was killed, I said she died."
"But I didn't say she died, I only said she was gone."
"My god are you stupid. There is no story here, go back to your world."
And as the two started exchanging words without even letting their saliva rest, both Chihiro and Riley were watching them; their eyes darting back and forth between the two.
"You know, Riley…"
"Hm?"
"I told you Charlotte doesn't make the news or anything like that in all the lives I lived, right?" Chihiro leaned closer to Riley, even grabbing and pulling the spoon that was already in Riley's mouth as she continued to watch Charlotte, "Don't you find it weird?"
"I find it weird that you are touching my spoon, Chihiro."
"No, but listen…" Chihiro squinted her already small eyes, "...Someone like her—previous leader of the Hope Guild, known to be the strongest Super of her time—could someone like that just disappear from the media altogether?"
"Yes."
"But in all the universes? Not even one tried to be relevant after she retired?"
"Perhaps she is just—"
And before Chihiro could finish her words, Charlotte suddenly appeared beside her; her hand, already touching her shoulder. And without even any warning, Charlotte suddenly opened a portal and disappeared into it.
"You think you can actually escape from me!?" Alice, however, just closed her eyes.
"...Found you!"
And after a few seconds, she just suddenly flew away—completely destroying the ceiling.
"..."
"..."
"Well, that was weird," Chihiro blinked a couple of times as she looked at the space Charlotte disappeared to, "She copied my powers."
"Yes, Chihiro," Riley just casually nodded as he continued eating his dessert, "Charlotte has the power to temporarily copy superpowers. Almost like me, but inferior."
"I know that, but…" Chihiro looked at Riley,
"My power is granted by Machina…
…it's not from the Supervirus."
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