Marvel: Sin Lord

The sun hung low over the Massachusetts Academy, casting long, golden streaks of light through the windows of Emma Frost's office. Inarius stood just inside the door, his hands tucked into his pockets, his shoulders tense. The room was immaculate, a reflection of its owner—crystal decanters lined the shelves, along with leather-bound books and expensive decor that screamed elegance and authority.

Emma sat behind her polished desk, her expression unreadable as she gestured for him to take a seat. He hesitated for a moment before lowering himself into the plush chair opposite her, the faint hum of the Academy's activity muffled through the thick walls.

"I wanted to talk to you privately, Inarius," Emma began, her voice smooth but firm. "I've been watching you closely since you arrived, and I think we need to have a deeper understanding of each other—of who you are and what you're capable of."

Inarius shifted in his seat, his eyes darting to the floor. "Okay…"

Her gaze softened slightly, though her composure remained sharp. "I'd like your permission to look into your mind. To see your memories. I believe it's important for me to fully understand your abilities—and you."

He froze. The thought of anyone, even someone as composed as Emma Frost, digging through his memories made his chest tighten. He'd spent so much of his life guarding his past, his secrets. But the warmth in her tone, the way she leaned forward just slightly, made him feel like she wasn't asking to judge him.

"Will it hurt?" he asked cautiously.

"Not at all," Emma assured him. "And if there's anything you don't want me to see, you can tell me to stop."

Inarius swallowed hard, then nodded. "Alright. Do it."

Emma rose from her chair and walked around the desk, standing beside him. She placed two fingers lightly on his temple, and her icy blue eyes glowed faintly as her telepathic powers took hold.

It started slowly—a swirl of emotions and fragmented images—but soon, Emma was diving deeper. She saw flashes of his childhood, the dingy apartment, his mother screaming at him, the pain of her fists. Then the memories sharpened: the rat he'd absorbed in that dim, filthy room, the realization of his powers, the terror and disgust when he'd taken his mother's life.

Emma didn't flinch as the scenes played out before her, though she felt his fear and anger as if they were her own. She saw the man with the blue sword, his death, and the moment Inarius realized he could take powers, altering them into something uniquely his.

The flood of memories was overwhelming—years of pain, survival, and the slow, dark acceptance of who he was. She saw him practicing in the sewers, saw him clutching his father's ring, and saw the moment he stood in the wreckage of his life, deciding he would keep moving forward, no matter what it cost him.

When Emma finally pulled back, her hand dropped from his temple, and her expression softened in a way few had ever seen.

Inarius sat stiffly, his eyes glued to the floor. "So… now you know." His voice was flat, barely above a whisper.

Emma knelt slightly to meet his gaze, her piercing blue eyes locking onto his. "Yes. I do."

He braced himself for her judgment, for the cold dismissal or maybe even the disgust. Instead, she did something he never expected—she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug.

"It's okay, Inarius," she said softly. "You've been through so much more than anyone should ever have to bear. But you're here now, and you're not alone anymore. You have a family here, and you have a home."

Inarius froze, unprepared for the sudden wave of warmth that spread through him. He blinked hard, willing himself not to cry, though his throat tightened.

"I… I thought you'd kick me out," he admitted, his voice cracking slightly.

Emma pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "You've made mistakes, yes, but you've also survived unimaginable pain. What matters is what you do from here on out. You're one of us now."

After a moment, she stood and returned to her seat, her demeanor shifting back to her usual composed authority.

"Now," she began, "let's talk about your powers. I noticed something when you absorbed that man with the blue sword."

Inarius sat up straighter, glad for the change in subject. "What about it?"

"It seems that when you absorb someone's power, it doesn't remain exactly the same. It alters to complement your… unique abilities."

Inarius nodded slowly. "Yeah, I noticed that, too. His sword was blue, but mine's purple. It feels… connected to my sin power, like it's feeding off it."

Emma rested her chin on her hand, thinking. "It's an interesting evolution. Your powers aren't just about taking—they transform. It makes you extraordinarily dangerous, but also incredibly valuable. We'll need to explore this further, but for now, I want you to focus on control."

"Control, huh?" he said with a faint smirk. "Not exactly my specialty."

Emma's lips twitched in the hint of a smile. "It will be. Come back tomorrow, and we'll start working on it. For now, go get some rest."

Inarius stood, feeling lighter than he had in years. As he left the office and walked back to his room, he couldn't help but think about what Emma had said. A family. A home.

It sounded too good to be true, but for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't.