Over the next few days, Jay conducted careful experiments. He took Domino to an arcade first, feeding quarters into skee-ball machines and claw games while she watched with amused tolerance. His scores improved noticeably—not dramatically, but enough to suggest her proximity was having some effect.
The casino was more revealing. Jay had expected to win big, but instead found himself losing slightly more than the statistical average. Interesting, but hardly the significant influence he'd hoped for.
At a corner lottery stand, Jay bought a dozen scratch-offs with Domino looking on. Two small winners, ten losers. Hardly jackpot material.
"This is your master plan?" Domino laughed as Jay crumpled the last losing ticket. "Buy lottery tickets and hope for the best?"
"I'm trying to understand how your luck works. The effects seem inconsistent."
"That's because you're trying to force it." She leaned against the newsstand, watching pedestrians flow past. "My luck isn't conscious. It doesn't activate because I want something—it responds to actual danger. Threats. Things that could genuinely hurt me."
"So casual gambling..."
"Doesn't register as life-threatening, no. My subconscious doesn't care if you lose twenty bucks on scratchers."
Although Jay knew this due to his comic knowledge, this now explained the ambulance. Her field had read his intention to steal her power and identified it as a genuine threat, setting probability in motion to protect her even before he'd acted.
Later that evening at the café, Jay decided on honesty. Mostly.
"I need to explain something about my abilities," he said as they sat in the now-quiet diner. "I can heal others and temporarily suppress other mutants' powers. It's part of how I help people—thus 'The Doctor' title."
"And you want to test this on me."
"With your permission. I'm curious how your luck changes when your abilities are suppressed."
Domino considered this, then shrugged. "Sure. Might be interesting to feel normal for a few minutes."
Jay reached for his power, but this time with a singular, deliberate focus on benevolent intent. He wasn't here to steal or weaken—only to borrow, briefly, with her full consent, so he could study her abilities firsthand. That distinction felt important, almost like the power itself understood the difference.
And despite how long he'd carried this gift, the moment struck him—he'd never actually attempted a true, temporary copy before. This was uncharted territory.
It was exhausting for her—she swayed slightly, blinking in confusion as her abilities were copied over.
In his mental landscape, the copied power appeared as a small, six-sided die made of translucent material. It flickered constantly, threatening to fade at any moment. When he tried to consciously control it, experimenting with a simple coin flip to come up heads repeatedly, he failed every single time.
Frustrated, Jay tried focusing on his Adaptive Power trait, concentrating entirely on willing the coin to show heads continuously. Still nothing. The die in his mind remained maddeningly unresponsive to conscious direction.
In a burst of irritation, Jay strode toward the café's front window. The copied power flickered weakly in his mental landscape—that translucent die spinning frantically as if sensing what was coming.
"What are you doing?" Domino asked, but Jay was already drawing his arm back.
He hurled the coin with everything he had, watching it arc through the evening air beyond the glass. It caught the streetlight for a moment, spinning silver against the darkening sky before disappearing into the urban maze below.
The moment it left his sight, Domino's copied power faded from his mind like smoke.
"Well?" she asked, steadying herself against the booth. "Learn anything interesting?"
"No change in luck, even when your powers were suppressed temporarily." Jay lied.
She accepted a refill of coffee gratefully. "Anything else?"
Jay stared out at the darkening street, thinking. The only way to potentially benefit from her abilities during his enhancement procedure was to have her physically present. Even then, it was wishful thinking—her field would only activate if it perceived genuine danger to her specifically.
But given what he was planning to attempt with Reed and Hank's help, genuine danger was practically guaranteed.
"Just one thing," he said finally. "When I call, I'm going to need you there in person. Not just available by phone."
"Figured as much. Lucky for you, I don't have anywhere else to be."
Jay smiled, but his mind was already racing ahead to the enhancement procedure.
Having Domino present might just be wish fulfillment, but it was better than attempting the procedure without any backup at all. Given what he was planning to risk, he'd need every possible advantage.
The pieces were falling into place. The Morlocks were organized and loyal. Masque was providing controlled appearance modifications. Reed and Hank had the theoretical framework for safe enhancement procedures.
And now he had probability manipulation on his side—even if it would only activate when things went truly wrong.
Which, knowing his luck, was exactly when he'd need it most.
[A/N]: I write across multiple fandoms. Support my writing and get early access to 20+ chapters, exclusive content, and bonus material at my P@treon - Max-Striker.