Sven and Kai ended up hanging out with Lenny for a bit longer than planned.

They'd originally come here to steal. Clothes, money, anything useful. That was the plan. Quick in, quick out.

Instead, they were now sitting cross-legged on the floor of a trashed apartment, sipping lukewarm fizzy drinks and sharing instant noodles with a seven-foot-tall lizard mutant who was, against all odds, ridiculously easy to talk to.

Lenny talked like he was born in a chill lofi playlist and moved like a gentle giant who apologised if he bumped the couch. He had no edge, no aggression, not even a hint of the monstrous demeanour his body suggested. If anything, he reminded Kai of those kids in school who hit their growth spurt too early, huge and awkward, with no idea what to do with all that muscle.

He laughed easily. Cried just as easily. And, oddly enough, seemed to really enjoy their company.

"I don't get visitors often," Lenny had said, smiling sheepishly as he handed over a set of oversized tracksuits. "I mean… ever. So, uh, thanks. Even if you did break in and punch me in the face."

Kai blinked. "That's… very forgiving of you."

"Eh," Lenny shrugged, the motion making his huge shoulders ripple under his scaled skin. "I've had worse first impressions."

Sven, now wearing a baggy black hoodie and his ever-present leather jacket over it, offered a small smirk. "I didn't mean to punch you. I just panicked."

Lenny snorted. "You panicked into my face."

"To be fair," Kai cut in, "you did growl at us from the dark. That's like, horror movie 101."

The mutant chuckled again, rubbing the back of his head with a massive clawed hand. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I probably should've said 'hello' or something. Then again, you probably shouldn't have broken in."

Despite the rocky start, the atmosphere had turned surprisingly light. Kai couldn't help but notice how much Lenny seemed to relax just by being spoken to like a regular person.

Most people probably screamed the moment they saw him. Or ran. Or threw something.

But here he was, surrounded by two mutants who didn't flinch at his appearance, who joked around with him, who treated him like an actual person. Not a monster. Not a threat. Just a guy with a scaly face and a terrible taste in takeaway.

Lenny had drawn the short end of the mutant lottery. That much was clear. While others got flashy powers or enhancements that could pass under the radar, he'd mutated hard. Permanently. His entire body transformed into something reptilian. Durable, sure, Sven's bruised knuckles were proof of that, but it came at a heavy price.

Kai had seen it in his eyes. That look. That ache.

The man was lonely.

Probably hadn't spoken to someone in weeks. Maybe months. He kept trying to act cool about it, but every little glance, every lingering word, made it obvious: he missed being around people. Missed being seen.

Kai leaned back against the wall, sipping his drink and studying Lenny quietly. 'He's probably insanely strong… durable, too. But he's probably never fought or tested his limits. He just wants to be left alone…'

Eventually, though, reality came knocking.

They still had things to do. Places to be. Enemies to avoid.

After stuffing down a shared meal of microwave noodles and lukewarm fries, Kai got to his feet. The baggy tracksuit hung loosely off his frame, and he pulled on a pair of Lenny's old sunglasses to conceal his red eyes. Sven popped the collar of his leather jacket and adjusted the silver ring hanging from his necklace, then gave a mock salute.

"Well, that was fun," Sven said, stretching. "But we should bounce before someone comes knocking again."

Lenny stood up too, towering over them. "Wait. Here."

He shuffled to the side, rummaged through a drawer, and came back with a small wad of crumpled notes. He handed it to Kai.

Kai stared at it. "What's this?"

"Cash," Lenny said simply. "Association gives us a basic wage for being registered mutants. Nothing fancy, but it covers rent and keeps the takeaway guy in business. I don't go anywhere, so I don't need much. You probably need it more than I do."

Kai hesitated. He hated taking handouts. Especially from someone who had even less than they did.

But the look in Lenny's eyes said, "Please take it". It wasn't just a gesture of generosity. It was more like a desperate attempt to help, to connect.

Kai accepted the cash with a quiet nod. "Thanks, Lenny."

Sven gave him a friendly slap on the back. His hand thudded uselessly against a thick patch of scales. "You're a legend, mate. Stay safe, yeah?"

Lenny grinned. "You too. And, uh… thanks for not treating me like a freak."

Kai paused at the door, then glanced back over his shoulder. "I'm sure we'll cross paths again."

Sven gave a final wave. "Take care, Lenny the Lizard."

Lenny laughed as they stepped out into the hallway. "Seriously? That's what you're calling me?"

"Too late to stop it now," Sven called back.

The door creaked shut behind them.

As they walked down the dim corridor, Kai mulled it over silently. 'Lenny's like a symbol of everything that's wrong and right with this world... A good guy, cursed by circumstance. Strong enough to endure, but too kind to thrive.'

The world had changed, but humans hadn't.

Kai couldn't help but imagine what things would be like if it weren't for the Z Virus.

He would probably still have his memories, wouldn't have had to endure Nyx's torment and experiments, and he wouldn't have the live the rest of his life watching his back.

As for the world as a whole, hundreds of millions wouldn't have lost their lives to monsters, beasts, and other humans who had mutated. Cities would be intact, and people wouldn't have to worry about supernatural creatures tearing them apart randomly.

That led to his next question, which he was sure many others had wondered but had yet to come to an answer.

'Where did the Z Virus come from?'

Was it a naturally occurring virus, and the mutations were purely a random evolutionary phenomenon? Or maybe it was God's work, he was the best of planners after all. Or could it be...?

There was no way to know, and that was a rabbit hole he could go down another time. For now, he had to keep up with Sven...

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