Starring:
Summary: Niki tells Micah about Hiro's visit, questions him about the uncannily realistic comic books and realizes that he, obviously, understands more about things like time travel and alternate futures than she does.
Date It Happened: December 10th, 2007
Seriously Sci-Fi
Sanders-Dawson Residence
Queens, NY
Between going to work — late, for long hours — and keeping everything else afloat, Niki has had little time to think about crazy things like comic books that tell the future and people who want to save the world. Now, in the light of day brought on by morning, she wanders from one end of the house to the other fuelled by more coffee than she usually drinks, making sure everything is in order to get the kids off to school okay — as if they need the help. She likes to do it anyway. In a light blue half-length robe that says she might go back to bed later instead of getting dressed, she heads for Micah's room, knowing there's still time before he needs to head out. "Hey, Micah?" she says in the doorway.
Already up, but not changed out of his Spiderman pajamas, Micah sits at the desk. In front of him, his trusty laptop is open and an instant message session can probably be seen in progress. But at the sound of his mom's voice, it's forgotten as his turns so his eyes catch Niki's. "Morning, mom."
"Morning, you. Online already? It's not even eight AM yet." Niki smiles, folding her arms loosely as she leans against the doorframe, coffee held close. The mug, well-used, is a paler blue than her robe and says 'Super Mom' on it. "Did Monica or Cam tell you about our little visitor the other day? I've been so busy that…"
"Yeah." Micah says, turning back ever so briefly to type. 'Gotta go. Mom's up.' And then the chat window closes. "A friend at school. Something about getting our teachers something for Christmas." he says, turning back with a childish grin on his face. "No. But I did notice some of my comics went missing." Oh course nerd-boy would notice that.
…yeah, about that. "That's because I gave them away," Niki answers, quick to punctuate that statement with a reassuring but ever-so-slightly mischievous smile. "Temporarily, that is. Don't worry, he'll bring them back. They're just out on loan." She steps, slipper-footed, into Micah's room and sits down on the edge of his bed. "You know that Japanese guy with the glasses in that 9th Wonders! comic?" she asks — casually, all things considered — with a curious lift of her brows to Micah, then takes a sip of the morning coffee.
"You did wha…." Micah starts to protest, rising from his chair. But then it's revealed to only be a temporary thing. There's a sigh of reliefe from the youngster. Comics are like…his life. Next to…well, his life. "Hiro Nakamura." he adds, nodding as he settles back into the chair and peers at his mom over the back of it. "You mean…." No, it couldn't be that.
"I mean…" Micah's mom starts to smile from ear to ear when she catches his peering gaze. This is turning out to be pretty entertaining, getting to tell him this story. Anticipating Micah's reaction, Niki answers, "I ran into him— here in the real world. And he needed all these comic books to figure out how to save the world or something." She's ,surprised that she doesn't sound as ludicrous as the scenario itself does when she says it out-loud. "So when the store didn't have them all…" she trails off, blue eyes sparkling at her son. "I thought, 'who on earth do I know who would possibly have all those comic books lying around?'"
<insert jawdropping moment here> The look on Micah's face is one of almost shock. Hiro was here! And he wasn't! "Awww….man! And I missed him too!" the boy exclaims, a momentary frown formning on his face. "I told Tommy that I had a feeling I was missing something important." But his face soon turns back up as she started poking fun at his comic book habit. "I do have a lot, don't I?"
"Mmhmm." He sure does have a lot. Hiro was pretty well-equipped when he left. "Don't worry, he'll be back. And he said thanks." Niki sets her coffee cup down on Micah's bedside table and leans forward on her knees, looking up at Micah. The smile hasn't left, not completely, anyway, but there's a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes, more serious than it is simple wonder. "You don't sound surprised that a comic book character is actually a real person," she points out. "Have you known all this time that it's not just a story?"
Micah grins. He's not worried now about the comic books. One of his favorite characters from them has them now. That is cool enough. "Will I get to see him when he comes back?" Micah asks. "Even if it's like three in the morning I want you to wake me up." Grinning, the young boy nods his head to the latter question. "There was just too many things in the issues that matched up to real life. Locations. Some of the events. And then….when I met Peter Petrelli, I was one hundred percent certain."
"He just kind of— appears," Niki says, then points at Micah with a silly grin. "Teleporting — is that what it's called? — let me tell you, not as simple as it looks." Sounds like Micah's mom has been out on some adventures. She hesitates for a few seconds, on the verge of saying something else, thoughtful lines of vexation sneaking into her face, along her brow. "It's … not just Hiro and Peter," she says quietly, almost hesitant, searching the boy's eyes all the while. What she's trying to say is, she found herself in there, too … and not in lights she particularly wanted Micah seeing her in.
"Awww man…." Micah says, his face a cross between excitement and disappointment. "Did you get to travel with him somewhere?" he asks, before noticing the look on her face and the hesitation. "I know, mom." he says, trying to sound as comforting as an almost twelve year old can. "I didn't want to say anything before. Because I wasn't certain it was true." But yeah, you can tell he's seen at least one issue with his mom in it.
"I haven't seen it all yet, but— I know at least one happens in the future," Niki goes on tentatively, "Or… it might've… will… could've…" Time travel is confusing. It's too early to figure out how the space/time continuum works this early in the morning. Or any time of day. She just gives her head a small shake and pushes gently up off the edge of the bed, coming to stand alongside Micah's computer chair. "Peter told me there's more than one future. So, I don't want you to think that … it means anything."
Micah swivels himself around in the chair, now that she's come to rest beside it. "It's like multiple versions of our universe. But each one has a different potential outcome." Yeah, can you tell he's read too many comic books. Or watched too much sci-fi on TV. His dark eyes do their best to convey a sense of understanding and comfort towards his mom. "I know. Just because something happens in one reality doesn't mean it'll happen here."
"…Right," Niki agrees, her expression that had turned concerned melting into another smile. Of course Micah would understand how this stuff works better than she does. She reaches out to lay a hand over the boy's arm, firm, fond contact, before se glances at his computer screen, for no other reason than to check the time. "You better get into your school clothes unless you're making a new fashion statement today," she points out playfully — but Micah still needs to scurry.
If ever Micah's expression conveyed his feelings clearly it is now. Slowly he brings his hand to pat his mother's, offering her a reassuring smile as an addition. "Don't worry, mom. I'm sure that whatever Hiro needed those comics for, he's doing what he can to prevent anything bad from happening." As she mentions his attire, he laughs loudly. "Well, Spiderman /is/ making a comeback. I don't think Ms. Jones would appreciate it though." he replies, moving to shift himself out of the chair to get ready. But not before reaching out to give his mom a hug.
Niki knows the future in the comic was dark, somehow devastating, but she didn't see far enough to know why or how. She looks down at the twelve year old giving her a hug, almost surprised by his reassurances. He knows better than she does what could have happened in that unexpected timeline — and it makes her wonder. And worry enough to stay silent past his Spiderman comment. She rests both arms overtop his shoulders and draws him close. "I let you get ready," she says after a moment, reluctantly stepping back and grabbing her coffee cup before heading for the door. "What do you want in your lunch?"
Micah knows all too well what could possibly happen. In any timeline. Time travel is fickle like that. As he's sure Hiro well knows. And the reason he's so reassuring is that with his father gone, he feels he has to be strong. For the both of them. As he lets go and his mom steps back he laughs. "Yeah, we don't want to have me late for school." he says, moving towards the closet. "Ummm…how about peanut butter and jelly." he adds, as he disappears into the small closet in search of something suitable to wear to school.
"Done." Next! Niki flashes a smile and a good-natured wink to her son before she disappears into the kitchen to keep the day going.