You had moved to Poland a few years ago and had grown fluent in the language due to having no choice but to, if you wanted to create a life for yourself there. Your home was remote and the nearest town was a small industrial town where you had worked since you moved there.
There wasn't much to do there though, it was mainly occupied by families with the fathers working in the factories and the mother and children would spend their time within their home or in the beauty of the nature surrounding the town. It was a sad fact that there were few opportunities to meet people, but having worked in the only pub in town you knew everyone.
Tonight was one of your nights working behind the bar which pretty much only consisted of you pouring out pints for men that were complaining about work, and attempting to drunkenly hit on you. You didn't respond to any of their advances seen as you knew all of them were married or in long term relationships and it wasn't as though you had any interest in any of them anyway.
However there was someone you did not know sat at the bar. He was new to town.
"Hello," you said in Polish.
He seemed hesitant as he responded with a shaky Polish greeting. It was clear that it wasn't his mother tongue.
"You don't speak Polish very well do you?" You laughed continuing in Polish.
Furrowing his eyebrows he tried to think of a response finally saying, "No."
"No problem. German? French? English?" You smiled.
"English?" He questioned.
"Well you're lucky there my friend," you stated reverting to your first language of English, "I am from London."
"I do speak French and German also. I just haven't grasped Polish fully yet," he explained.
"That's fine. It took me a while to adapt. So what brings you here?"
He sat down on one of the bar stools in front of you, interlinking his fingers on the wood of the bar.
"I need a new start. This place seemed nice," he stated.
"What is your name?" You questioned.
"Henryk Gurszky."
Laughter erupted from you at the concept of him saying that was his name. You knew who he was, unlike the people of the town you had spent most of your time out of the town and you'd seen the news of what had been occurring in America.
"That is a very Polish name for someone who does not speak the language," you commented.
"My father was Polish, he died when I was young and we didn't leave here meaning I never learnt the language," he stated hesitantly.
You nodded, pretending to go along with the story. Although to be fair that could be true however you did know the truth of that not being his name.
"Well I am Y/N Y/S/N, Erik," you smiled.
"Pardon?" He said, eyes widened.
Looking at his hands you could see him moving his fingers and you knew what could possibly occur if you angered him.
"I called you by your true name. Do not worry. Most of these men have never left this town, I'm certain none know English."
"Are you going to tell the police?" He asked.
"And have a piece of metal through my throat, I think not. I do not know the truth of what occurred or why you are hiding here, but I can only presume you are not as evil of a man as the news portrays you as. I shall not tell anyone. Mutants must stick together."
"You are a mutant?" He said in a near whisper.
You nodded.
"What is your-" He trailed off.
"You'll just have to hang around and find out won't you Henryk?"
With that you turned away from him and paid attention to one of the other men that wanted a drink.
~*~
Written by Charlotte.