𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝙶𝚘 𝙰𝚠𝚊𝚢 - H&S

There was more Kelsier could have said. More he could have tried to tell Nico about it. But, truthfully, it was almost all things Nico already knew, and he didn’t see any reason to continue the conversation when there was so much more to talk about.
He was more than ready to see Nico’s world. More than ready to experience this, experience anything and everything Nico thought he might want to experience. He trusted Nico to know where the best place to go was. Besides, whatever Nico thought was important in this world was automatically most important to him.
“Right. I’ll have to look at a computer at some point.” He decided, smiling a little at the thought. If computers were that impressive, it seemed important that Kel get to experience them at least once, even if he had no idea what he was doing. How hard could it be?
“Sazed will be all over it.” He mused, smiling at the thought. “You know him. He’ll be trying to decode it for years if that’s what it takes. The others...well, I’ll just make them look at it whether they want to or not.” He looked at the ticket again, more than pleased to have a physical representation of this journey.
“Oh?” The Mistborn glanced at Nico, surprised by that information. “And it doesn’t leave without you when you do? That’s nice of it.” He still wasn’t at all used to the idea of a carriage without horses, as the bus seemed to be, but he supposed if it was the best way to get around, who was he to complain? Besides, he was kind of looking forward to it, even if he didn’t know what to expect.
“What’s wrong with the clothes I have?” He asked, innocently, grinning at Nico, fun bright in his gaze. He switched to Scadrial for the next part, though, because he was at least a tiny bit sensible. “You don’t like my new style? I call it ‘near-death experiences’.”
He laughed a little. “New clothes would probably be a good idea.” He admitted a moment later, in English. “I want bright colors like everyone else, anyway. Not that I mind gray and black, of course. But there are no mist to blend in with, here.”

The warning was received with a small nod, Kelsier understanding immediately what Nico meant. The monsters would be attracted by his curiosity, naturally. Not that that was going to stop him. He was confident they could handle a few monsters, and he wanted to try everything at least once.
“He’ll be very excited, I guarantee it.” Kelsier had no doubt that Sazed could figure that alphabet out from just the ticket. He suspected, in fact, that he wouldn’t even need to know the words to do it. Was that even possible? Oh well. Kelsier fully believed Sazed could figure it out, given enough time. He was just like that.
He glanced at Nico, tilting his head a little at the question. “Right to left.” He answered, his expression curious. “That didn’t even occur to me. I’ve never heard of a language that didn’t read from the top of the page and right to left.”
He probably shouldn’t have assumed all languages were the same, but he hadn’t exactly had anything else to compare it to. He wasn’t a scholar, he didn’t tend to study as Sazed and others did. He was Mistborn, he belonged on rooftops with the mists themselves.
“Ah. That makes more sense.” He nodded a little, understanding. No wonder, because it would have been a pain for the passengers that didn’t want to get off if they had to sit around for hours as a couple of tourists poked around shops and other things.
Then the bus moved and Kelsier leaned back a little, caught off guard. It was...strange, but not completely unpleasant. A slow grin crept over his face as he looked out, watching the ground begin to move away. So this was what riding one of these things was like...he was excited, and it showed in his eyes as he watched.
“Oh?” He glanced at Nico, then accepted the headphones, putting them in his ears as his son had instructed. He, of course, noticed the closeness - how could he not when he remembered all too well how far from it they had been once? - but he didn’t call attention to it, instead obediently pressing the button until the words were familiar.
“Here we go.” He said, smiling at Nico.

“Will do.” Kelsier agreed, grinning at the idea. “Fair warning, he’ll have a million questions when that happens. He’ll be up for days trying to puzzle it out.”
His voice was fond, and he was still smiling. He knew perfectly well that Sazed wasn’t the only one who got excited about languages, and he couldn’t quite wait to see what happened when those two got going.
Of course, he wasn’t really in a hurry to go back. He was finally here, there was no way he was going to go back until he was good and ready. Or...maybe not ready, he didn’t think he would ever be ready to leave a world where he could be a real father to Nico, but he understood that it would happen eventually. He could stay, maybe, but would Nico allow it? Would he want it?
Well...of course he would want it. That wasn’t the question. He also knew that his world needed him, his world needed him to come back and he couldn’t actually stay away forever no matter how much he wanted to. Not that he wouldn’t miss his crew, of course...and the mists. But to stay with Nico, in his own world? That was almost enough to make him throw it all away and ask to stay here instead,
No need to worry about that now, though. He’d only just gotten here, he had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
“I’ll have to show you my alphabet, then. Maybe show you a few words, too.” He offered, happy because Nico was happy. He was aware that languages were something that excited the boy, and he was more than happy to oblige now that they weren’t in a place that automatically translated everything.
“Slow?” He raised an eyebrow at Nico, a little surprised by the warning, “this is slow? I’d hate to see fast, then. No, actually, I’d love to see fast.”
He looked out again, excitement building steadily inside of him. He was really, actually here. This wasn’t just a room. This was Nico’s world and he got to decide when he left it, not a moment before.
He glanced at Nico as he spoke, and nodded a little, agreeing. “We should.” He said, despite not knowing what Little Italy was.
“What is it?” He asked just a moment later.

Kelsier was so proud of Nico for smiling again. For meeting every challenge head on and coming out the other side. It was never easy, it had never been easy and it never would be, but Nico was so much stronger than he knew and Kel saw it in everything he did. How he did more than just survive the things that had been thrown at him, how he still managed to live, and laugh, and get excited about things. As far as Kelsier was concerned, Nico was the strongest person he had ever met, and that included himself.
He looked at Nico, his smile deepening at the words. “You couldn’t get rid of me that fast even if you tried.” He told him, expression sincere. “I’m staying for a good long while. And I don’t even have to worry about blinking back mid-sentence or anything.” Not that that was his main issue with the House, but that wasn’t the point. The place had introduced him to Nico, and though he would never forgive it for what it did...he had to admit that he wouldn’t have a son without it.
“Oh, yeah, I expect it’ll be a complete pain not to know how to read or write.” He said with a short laugh. “Terrible. Good thing I have you to constantly annoy with questions about everything I see, right?”
He grinned, then nodded. “Thank the House for that.” He mused. “Translations are useful until they’re not. And don’t even worry about spelling, it’s so hard in Scadrial that even I struggle with it.”
His voice lowered to a secretive whisper at that last bit. Like he couldn’t bear it if any of these random strangers found out he was bad at anything.
He listened to the voice again, pleased to find he understood the majority of it, even if he did miss some words and phrases here and there. He got the main idea, at least.
“Ah. Makes sense.” He nodded, though he wasn’t sure he understood completely. He got the gist of it, anyway. People who spoke Italian who were not Nico. “Anything specific you’re thinking of?” He added after a moment, remembering all the things Nico had told him about Italy. The things he missed. “It’s nice,” he mused, “that there’s a place like that where it’s safer.”
He’d switched to Scadrial again. Better safe than sorry.
Kelsier turned, looking at the Brooklyn Bridge, his eyes widening at the sight of it. It was amazing, every single thing here was amazing, but he couldn’t stop staring and he didn’t seem likely to get used to it any time soon. A glance at Nico told him there were some of those things he had mentioned they wouldn’t talk about, some of that history only Nico would tell him. He was ready for it, prepared to learn everything he could about this place, even the ugly bits. He wanted to understand this strange world that Nico called home.

“Oh, it’s old.” Kelsier glanced at Nico, considering him for a moment. “I’m not actually sure how old, but it’s been around since before most history books start. Not that that means a whole lot when a lot of history books have been destroyed, but I know it’s older than anyone alive, except perhaps the Lord Ruler.
He looked back outside. The bus itself was incredible, the sights even more so, and he couldn’t have hidden the pure wonder in his eyes if he’d tried. Which he wasn’t trying. He didn’t care who saw it.
He kept catching right of casual plants and flowers, poking up here and there, and the sky was a constant bright blue above him, reminding him of where he was. It was unbelievable, really, and yet he believed it.
He smiled as Nico leaned on him, glancing down at the boy, expression gentle. After a moment, he wrapped an arm lightly around Nico’s shoulders, not pulling him any closer than he was and easy to escape, but he was there. He was there and he finally got to spend as much time with Nico as he wanted.
“Okay, then,” he said, glancing outside again, noting the people and the...cars?...cars….and the buildings made of glass and so much more. “My first question is how these...head-phones? How they work. How does the sound come through them?”
He snorted a moment later as Nico answered him, and put a hand on his chest. “You heard nothing.” He told Nico in a lofty voice, glancing at him as he spoke, a smile at the edges of his lips. “I’m great at spelling. Even Saze thinks so.”
He didn’t care how bad at spelling Nico was. He would teach him as much as he wanted to know, he would teach him to read and write Scadrial as well as he spoke it, if that’s what he wanted. As for English, Kel thought it was probably a good idea for him to start learning, too. Though he was more than tempted to take on every language Nico knew at the same time.
If only Dox could see me now, he thought wryly, because he was no scholar. And here he was, at the edge of his seat over a language. Sazed would have been proud.
“Hot chocolate for sure.” He agreed, smile deepening as he looked at Nico. “At long last, the House doesn’t get to stop me. But I’m still not completely sure how anything could top the kind I had before.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Hey, my pasta is good!” He protested, though the humor in his eyes and his tone was clear. “It happens to be my favorite food, thank you very much.”
He paused, still looking at Nico as he continued, then at the map, trying to see where they were going next. He didn’t hesitate. He’d already made his decision.
“This is your world, Nico.” He answered, his voice taking in a more serious tone. “And you’re right. I’d never say that the bad things are excusable, but they are a part of history and they’re important too. I won’t turn a blind eye just because I don’t like them. They happened, and they deserve to be acknowledged.”

Kelsier nodded. It probably was older, though he wasn’t sure how much. He would have liked to be able to give exact numbers, but it wasn’t really like it mattered much. It was old. That was all he really knew.
He supposed New York being younger meant there was less history, but probably the history there was would be better known than Luthadel history. The Lord Ruler was like that, after all.
He still smiled at every bit of green he saw, every plant that was soft and colorful, every sight of the blue sky above them, the feeling of the sun on his face, not ash. Everything was so much brighter. Everything was so much cleaner and the smells alone were amazing, though he couldn’t place all of them. He still reveled in every new thing, everything that he didn’t understand, because he wanted to understand. He wanted to see everything.
Yes, this was truly nothing like Kelsier’s world. He had known the House gave rooms that were similar, he had been technically aware of how it was, but this was different, being here now was different than being in a room that offered him just a taste. Maybe it was because he knew he controlled when he went back. Maybe...maybe it was just because he knew this was really Nico’s world.
He was grateful. And not just because of the flowers, though they caught his eye and made his smile deepen every time he saw one.
He watched as Nico showed him how the thing worked, nodding along as if he understood, which he did...partially.
“Sound waves?” He repeated curiously, pulling one side of his own headphones off to look at it. His accent was a little heavier on the word, since it wasn’t one he was used to saying as much, and he stared at it for a long moment before carefully replacing it so he wouldn’t miss anything. If he cared about being overheard, it didn’t show on his features at all. Maybe he just assumed Nico knew what he was doing and if anyone asked, he could smile and they’d believe anything he told them. Deception was a huge part of his life, after all. If he wasn’t a good liar, he’d have been long dead.
“Fair enough,” he agreed, smiling at Nico. “I’m just saying, I can’t imagine it being better, that’s all.”
He gave a small laugh a moment later. “I just know that the kind I’ve had is amazing.” He said innocently, shrugging a little. “If your Italian pasta doesn’t compare, then you can’t fault me or even say I’m wrong, because you haven’t tried Scadrial pasta and you can’t know whether I’m right.
He was still talking as the voice continued, and he trailed off a little, letting silence fall as he listened to the story. So this was what Nico had meant. He couldn’t see the point of it...or, perhaps worse, he could. He hated that. An event that everyone here likely knew about and mourned, a moment he hadn’t known to anticipate the telling of...he glanced at Nico, expression a lot more grim than it had been since he’d arrived.
“I’m still glad I decided to listen.” He said quietly as the moment passed. It was in Scadrial now. These were words for Nico’s ears alone. “Sometimes I forget what I’m fighting for...or I don’t, but I’m blinded by the revenge I need. But people die in every world, and people hurt others in every world, and if I can right a single timeless wrong...if I can change one world, of thousands...that’s hope. That’s hope that I’m not the only one. If I can do it, so can someone else. If someone else does it, a child somewhere sees that things aren’t all bad, and they decide not to give up. That one act of not giving up...that’s what I fight for. A child in a world that’s not mine.”
He didn’t look away. “I’m sorry that your world isn’t better than this.” He said sincerely. “But I’m glad it has people like you in it, to give it hope.”
Maybe it was because he knew his own death was probably coming, sooner rather than later, but he wanted Nico to know that.
He smiled a little, a soft, yet fierce expression on his scarred face.

That didn’t quite make sense to Kelsier, but he didn’t push it. He supposed it was one thing he might not be able to understand completely, but would just have to accept, as Nico did. Like magic but not quite.
“That’s okay,” he said, shrugging a little. “I don’t really get how my world works, either. I mean, I understand Allomancy, but I imagine we have sound waves too, and I didn’t know about them. There’s probably a lot of things like that, things I take for granted in my own world, but I can’t ignore quite as easily here.” He supposed he would never have wondered how sound worked without having experienced it in the form of headphones. It still didn’t make much sense, but he didn’t mind that. It seemed to work, anyway.
He wasn’t thinking of the time he had met Nico’s younger self. He was thinking of now, the boy Nico had become, the boy who had survived. Was he disappointed in how Nico had changed? That couldn’t have been further from the truth. He was proud, so proud of how much Nico had accomplished, he was so proud of who he was. He didn’t believe that the boy he had tried to protect and the boy he’d killed seconds after meeting for the first time were different, he refused to believe they weren’t one and the same. He’d seen it. He’d seen older Nico in younger Nico’s eyes, he’d seen younger Nico’s smile on older Nico’s face. And who was he to judge change? He was not who he’d used to be.
“Funny, if you invented it, how did we get it? Kelsier couldn’t quite help himself from saying it, his expression playful. “I don’t remember inviting Italy to Luthadel.”
He grinned. “I look forward to it,” he promised, in case that wasn’t clear. “That and pizza too, which I’ve never heard of by the way. I’m sure I’ll love it,”
His expression was light, cheerful. He was so happy to finally be there, and it was making it hard to feel much else. They had so much to do, they had so many opportunities now and he was looking forward to everything.
Kelsier nodded, not surprised. He knew how people were. He was more than aware that they weren’t all gentle and kind, and he knew that that was how every world was. But couldn’t he try? He had a goal, and he couldn’t give up on it. He wouldn’t give up. He refused.
He didn’t realize he’d already done what he wanted to do. He didn’t know what Nico was thinking. If he had,..he would have smiled. He wouldn’t have known what to say, for once. But he didn’t know.
Nico had survived in spite of what he’d gone through, in spite of people not caring. If his survival hadn’t been a priority, well...it should have been. His survival mattered, and not only to Kelsier, but in general. His existence meant something. Of that, there was no doubt in Kel’s mind.
“Maybe you do something even better than bring hope. You bring an actual solution and do it,” the Mistborn murmured, his smile deepening. Nico didn’t even ask for recognition for it, he just...did it. Kelsier, he liked being in the spotlight, liked being feared by his enemies. He liked the attention, as the people in his crew knew all too well. Nico was different. Nico hadn’t asked to be feared, hadn’t asked for the life he’d been given, not like Kel had. Kel...he hadn’t asked for Hathsin. He hadn’t asked for Mare to die for him. But...he’d led a dangerous life, hadn’t he? And he hadn’t died for her first. That, in a way, was on him. Always would be.
He looked when Nico pointed, shaken from his thoughts by the excitement in the kid’s voice.
He smiled slowly at the description, his expression shifting from serious to pleased. Nico was right. He liked the gift. He let the seriousness of the last stop go and instead focused on her, eyes flicking down to the base as though he expected to be able to read it. He couldn’t, of course, but that didn’t bother him. He’d learn, before he went back, he promised himself that.
“I do like her.” He answered, smiling at Nico. “We could use her, back in my world.” They really could. She seemed a protector to him, someone to stand over the people in pain and protect them from their oppressors. He knew she was just a statue, but she was also a symbol of hope in his mind, and wasn’t that all he was trying to be? He’d made plans for his own death, after all. He was going to kill the Lord Ruler...no. He was going to try, that was all. If he failed…
As much as he pretended not to consider that, he’d made the deal with the Kandra for a reason. His bones would be consumed and he would continue his goal even if he failed. He hadn’t told Nico. He didn’t want to think about it happening.

Most of what Nico said was lost on Kelsier. He didn’t know what a good portion of those words meant. He wasn’t sure what resonating metal meant, or what a radio and radio waves were, and there were more things he didn’t quite grasp. But he didn’t interrupt. Truthfully, he loved it when Nico rambled, and he was always thrilled when he was the cause of it, because Nico deserved to be able to talk as much as he wanted without being interrupted and he didn’t get to be heard often enough.
“Makes sense,” he said, nodding a little. It wasn’t a lie. It did make sense...aside from the bits Kel had no way of understanding.
“No, they have no idea.” He confirmed, understanding the analogy at once. “I didn’t know until I Snapped, and I was in a group of Allomancers. I only knew the basics until he needed to use it. And most Skaa don’t even know that much. They fear the mists, and me, because they don’t understand either.”
He raised an eyebrow, considering that. “I guess Scadrians?” He mused, glancing at Nico. “I’ve never heard us called anything because...we’re kind of the only ones around. What are people from Earth called?”
He smiled a little as Nico continued, and he considered the idea. “Right,” he said slowly, tone a bit teasing. “Becuase you’re definitely not reaching there.”
He knew he’d like it. He was excited, very excited. And not just about the food, not even mostly about the food. Just...being in Nico’s world. Having successfully made it there, having protected Nico at last...he’d have done anything to do it long ago, but he would take this, he would protect this. He was finally here, and he wasn’t googling to waste a second.
“Oh, I’ve crashed enough nobleman’s balls to have a taste of finer food,” he added cheerfully. “I hate to say it, but they make excellent cakes. Ah, well...I’m sure I could do better.”
He looked at Nico for a long moment, considering him. Did he really not know how much he’d done? Was it possible that he didn’t know how deeply he’d touched the world he lived in? Kel’s face softened, because of course he didn’t. He didn’t know his own strength, even now.
Nico’s survival had already mattered. Kelsier had done his very best to make sure the kid knew that. It hadn’t completely worked...he didn’t think. But he’d tried, and he’d hoped it had at least helped. Even if he’d also made it harder to do what he had to do. Well...that was the price of caring, and it was worth it. Kel knew that now better than ever before.
He couldn’t stop looking at the statue. It was hope. He was hope, too. They had a lot in common, him and this statue.
Maybe even the hypocritical part.
He’d made promises. Said he was unbreakable, indestructible. And at the same time he’d made the Kandra deal and he knew perfectly well he might need it.
Yes...he was a hypocrite, but his intention wasn’t. When he said he was indestructible, he meant what he was building. When he said he couldn’t be killed, he meant the hope he was building. And Nico would understand. Right?
He shook the thought away foe the last time. This wasn’t the time for dark thoughts. He wanted to enjoy this as much as he could, wanted to see everything and taste everything and feel everything and experience everything.

Kelsier knew of some things, from the House and what Nico had mentioned to him. So he wasn’t completely clueless. He did wonder what would happen if he took one of these radios apart...would he be able to understand it then? He had no idea. Maybe he’d get to see at some point...for now he was content with listening to Nico’s description of the thing.
He understood the analogy. He and Vin had both failed to know much about Allomancy until it had been quite literally thrust on them, though Vin had had a slightly less dramatic introduction to the art of being a Mistborn. Kel had...well, there had been a lot of blood involved and it hadn’t been where it was technically supposed to be.
“Not all Allomancy benefits the Skaa, no,” he said, glancing at Nico. “Mine does, but...there are noble Mistings and Mistborn, too. More of them than there are Skaa, or technically half-bloods, like me.”
He paused, frowning suddenly, then getting a broad smile as he looked at Nico, “hey...we’re both half-bloods! I never actually thought of that. Huh.”
Definitely good that they were speaking Scadrial.
He fell silent, considering. Terrains, Earthlings…
“Scadrialings?” He considered out loud, tasting the word. It sounded all kinds of wrong.
He kind of liked it. Especially because he had an inkling that Nico would hate it. Oh, if he insisted on being called a Scadrialing...a slightly evil smile curved his lips as he glanced at his son.
“That’s probably because you haven’t met any aliens,” he continued. “Not that I have. To be clear.”
He gave a genuine smile at the feeling of Nico leaning against him, all the more precious for how special and rare it was. He treasured it, this trust between them, all the more for how hard the House had tried to smash it. They’d proven themselves stronger, in the end. Or...more accurate, Nico had proven himself stronger. All Kel had done was cause the problem in the first place.
“Ah, excellent.” He said cheerfully, a sideways smile curving his mouth. “You know, I have baked before. Just not recently. But I’d still say I’m a natural.”
He didn’t plan to leave anytime soon. He’d finally made it here...how could he just leave? Especially with how bad things were getting in his world. He didn’t know whether time was still passing there...a shadow passed over his face at the thought of his crew struggling alone as he messed around in another world. No…no, time must of frozen for them. That was how blinking worked. He wasn’t abandon his world. His people, his purpose. Nico was every bit a priority as anything else could possibly be.
“True,” he agreed, pulling himself back to the present. He was worried, but he didn’t want to let it ruin the moment. Didn’t want to let it ruin his time here. Not when he was finally here.
He looked out the window, watching as the statue faded behind them, then looking ahead instead. “Oh? No, I guess not,” he admitted, peering eagerly at the map. More new things. He absolutely thrived off new things.

Kelsier grinned, as he usually did when Nico insulted the nobility. He was right, too. The half-blood title was stupid and only served to benefit the nobility, as everything else was built to do.
He was angry, too. Angry at the situation. At the noblemen. Of course he was, he killed them often enough, and he felt no remorse for the lives he took. Nico was the only person Kelsier regretted killing even a little bit. Luckily for them both, it hadn’t stuck either time it had happened.
Nico was right about how the nobility functioned. They judged each other. They judged the Skaa worse.
Kelsier was going to fix it. He was going to make it right, fix the world, kill the nobility and more importantly the Lord Ruler. He was so sure he could win this. He was so sure he was going to succeed.
Just...maybe not quite how he’d first envisioned.
He let out a laugh at Nico’s horrified reaction to the word, and he grinned at him, fun sparking in his hazel eyes. “I am Kelsier, Survivor of Hathsin, Scadrialing.” He announced, keeping half an eye on Nico so he could see his reaction. He was very pleased to have discovered this, and he fully intended to use it whenever he possibly could, especially if he could trick Nico into using it too. Which he was certainly going to attempt to do. It wouldn’t be easy, but he would do his best.
He raised an eyebrow, and not for the first time he was glad that they were speaking Scadrial, as that comment might have warranted a few puzzled looks thrown their way. “You’re an alien,” he repeated, deadpan. “Not sure that works when we’re both human. Then again, there are humans in Myrnin’s world and he isn’t considered an alien...fine, you’re an alien. And so am I.”
He hoped they got to choose which name Scadrialings were called. Because he both could and would use the term unironically when having serious conversation.
He, too, felt at home in this strange world already, for the simple reason that Nico was there with him. It had shattered, once. And that had been one of the worst pains he had ever experienced, up there with watching Mare die. He thought, if he hadn’t already Snapped when it had happened, the moment he had realized what he had just done might have done it. Then again, if he hadn’t already Snapped, he would never have been able to do it in the first place.
“I made cookies one time,” he said proudly, the way a small child might present a painting. “With Myrnin. In the House. And also made a gingerbread house fly. Good times.”
He hadn’t really had time to bake in his own world, though he was a bit curious about it, like he had an inkling he would be good at it. Not that he was going to find out anytime soon.

Fate. Kelsier didn’t much care for the word. It was too often used in excuses and ways to force people into things they didn’t choose. Well, who was fate to tell Kelsier what he could and could not do? Who was fate to tell Nico who he would or would not be?
If he’d had a chance at knowing what Nico was thinking he would have disagreed. Nico was his own person, prophecies be damned. Who were the gods to say what he did? Who were the gods to decide that? No one decides who you are or who you become but you.
Kelsier knew Nico’s world was not the same as his own. And he knew that the prophecies existed for a reason. The thing was, if it hurt Nico? If it tries to force him into something he didn’t want? Kelsier didn’t care who said it. He refused to accept that it was meant to be. If some god threw a tantrum over that, then let them. Who was fate to think it had the right to decide?
He didn’t know. He didn’t know what Nico thought, but he knew who Nico was, and that was, perhaps, more important.
He merely smiled at the comment. They both knew he was dramatic and everything he did reflected it. They both knew that every move he made had a flare to it. It didn’t make him any less genuine. It just made him Kelsier.
He didn’t mind the glances they were both gathering. Had anyone edged nervously away from them yet? Crossed the bus, changed seats? He was expecting as much. It didn’t bother him, not really. It was the same in his own world, although...that was for a much more specific and life-threatening reason. Mainly, Kelsier was insane and tended to live up to the title. So the people wish a sense of self-preservation tended to give him a wide berth.
“Do they?” He asked curiously, glancing at Nico. “Huh. Then I’m definitely an alien. And...no, I suppose not.” He frowned a little, considering that. “I guess there have to be some physical differences between Allomancers and non-Allomancers. Or maybe everyone has the physical ability to burn metal and only some people can use it...honestly I’ve never thought about it before.” He was, at least, fairly sure he counted as human still. And Nico was half human.
He laughed a little as Nico continued. “Who’s to say we didn’t?” He said innocently. “The House seems pretty good at repairing itself.” He shook his head at the memory. It had been...a very long time ago. Before he had called Nico his son. Before...before a lot. Not long after the arena room, actually.
He nodded. Baking with Nico sounded very fun to him...there were so many things to look forward to. So many things he didn’t want to miss. A part of him wanted to stay here forever, with Nico, with green plants and flowers and butterflies and hot chocolate. He shook his head firmly. He wasn’t going back anytime soon...no need to think of it now.

“When you put it that way, yeah. That is a little weird,” Kelsier frowned, thinking that over. Of course there were words for things that they had never seen...or course humans labeled them just in case there happened to be anyone out there. Not that it was exactly helpful, as the aliens might want to be called something else, but the point was that an attempt had been made. Because that was the way humans worked. They dreamed and then they were careful to include the dream into the realm of possibility...it wasn’t that different from how he made his plans actually.
He frowned a little, considering that argument. “Fair point,” he conceded, nodding thoughtfully. He didn’t see the need to mention that it wasn’t the Pits that had done it, not really. The Pits had been a part of it, definitely, but what had actually caused him to Snap? Watching Mare die. Watching her get beaten to death. He shook his head a little…that was a correction he didn’t think he wanted to make at the moment. Nico already knew that, anyway.
He focused on the words instead.
“Right, at the very least Mistborn are different than Mistings,” he confirmed. “And I know some people who should definitely have Snapped and didn’t, so probably some people can’t. Most people, actually.”
He didn’t mind the question. He loved it when Nico rambled to him, actually. It was a habit his younger self had had, too, when Kel had met him in the House.
A slow smile spread over his face at the next thing Nico said. “Hm?” He asked innocently, a mischievous look in his hazel eyes as he glanced at Nico. He knew well enough what he’d been about to say, after all, and seeing the smile slip over his face when he realized he didn’t have to…felt incredible.
“Might it upset Lord Hades if I were to...accidentally, of course...set something ablaze?” He tilted his head a little, raising an eyebrow. “Ah, well, wouldn’t want that. Whatever would I do if he were angry with me? Oh, wait a moment...yes...I remember him warning me of what would happen if I dared come here, after our unfortunate little talk over the phone. Ah well. I’m sure I’ve been forgiven by now.”

Kelsier had to wonder whether anyone else had Snapped in the Pits. It seemed...almost certain that they had. Yet no one else had ever escaped...was there because no one else had been at the right place to get metals when it had happened? Had they known that they had the ability to escape? Or had they just died as anyone else in the pits did? He thought that was the most likely thing...though it made him angry to think of it.
He nodded, though he wasn’t sure it really mattered what made the difference. Was it really noble blood? He didn’t like that, but he also couldn’t completely discount it as a possibility.
Still, it didn’t much matter now. Kelsier was nothing the nobility had ever bargained for, and he was going to stay that way. And right now he was in Nico’s world and there were no nobility at all. He smiled a little at the thought...it was incredible, a world with no nobility. A world where there was no clear divide between humans. Someday….someday, Scadrial would be the same. He’d make it the same.”
A grin spread over the Mistborn’s face at the comment. The truth was, he was glad he could read Nico well enough to guess what he was going to say even if he didn’t say it.
He glanced at Nico, raising an eyebrow at him. “You’re expecting me to...try to make him like me?” He said slowly, as though he could show Nico the absurdity of the request that way. “He did say if he caught me anywhere near the Underworld, I’d regret my words. Something tells me it’s too late to avoid a grudge. How close to the Underworld do you think he meant, anyway?”
He shook his head a little. “I won’t get you involved, I promise,” he assured him, giving him a slow smile. “He already hates me. What the worst that could happen? Let him do his worst.”

Kelsier didn’t know everything about this world he had found himself in. He didn’t know what to expect from it, didn’t know what sort of people there were who might be like his nobility. He just knew that there were no Skaa, and no nobility, and there was no ash to choke the sky and turn the plants brown instead of green, and butterflies fluttered between brightly colored flowers, and for him? It was everything he wanted his own world to become. Everything Mare had wanted his world to become.
He understood humans would never be perfect. He knew there had been hideous things done here, wars that had stained even this beautiful ground with blood, wars Nico had been forced to participate in. But it was getting better. Maybe his world could get better, too.
“I don’t know if I’d say I wasn’t capable…” He replied slowly, frowning a little. “You’ve got an excuse for being liked by him, but I’d feel like I was doing something very wrong with my life if he liked me. Actually, that goes for almost all the gods. Am I really being the best version of myself if Zeus doesn’t want to kill me slowly?”
He considered that for a long moment, then looked at Nico again. “I’m actually surprised he hasn’t already challenged me for being in the Underworld. Poor security in the afterlife seems a problem to me, but what do I know? I’m only a humble Mistborn.”
His expression shifted a little, turning more serious as Nico continued, and especially as he straightened up.
“Hades is nothing like you, first of all,” he said firmly, shaking his head a little. “There are thousands of differences, it’s like comparing me and Captain Hook. Second, you said I was allowed to punch him.”