[how many times has he heard this by now? Hundreds, maybe thousands. From Charles, Raven, Erik, friends in Kyriakos, other mutants here. And now people who are still strangers. No matter how many times he hears it isn't sure how to take it, not without sounding as though he doesn't take the advice to heart]

I'm trying. [he says after a long moment] I'm not - ashamed of it, but embracing it is still . . . I'm getting there.

Thank you. I need to hear that sometimes.