Look, my parents were mad scientists who pumped me full of spider-juice just to see what would happen. I went to Hail Hydra high school and Nick Fury university. I've been extraordinary my entire life. After all these years of insanity... a little ordinary sounds pretty #$%^ great. You have your normal... and I have mine.
Carol laughed breathily. “Couldn’t remember puking on my shoes but you remember that. Nice, Jess.”
“No, someone else definitely threw up on my shoes. I didn’t drink anything blue.” Jess shrugged good naturedly. “But love! That’s exciting. I remember when I realized I loved Roger. I had just been told he had died. It feels good to be happy, doesn’t it? Actually happy.”
“That’s not fair. Steve and Sam give great speeches.” she wasn’t being serious, if anything, she was trying to bring some levity to the situation. “I don’t either, Jess. I don’t know if there’s anywhere to go.”
“Mhm, yeah. You’re definitely saying that because you’re tapping America’s new ass.” Stopping to sigh, Jess took a sip of her coffee and winced as the hot liquid scorched her tongue. “So what do we do? Just wait it out?”
“Wouldn’t be you if you weren’t.” The smile Carol wore was fond. “And wasn’t it you who told me not to make my life all about work? I’m just following your advice.”
“Actually, I’m glad we’re talking about this. Sam. Your boyfriend. Who you love. I was smashed at the Inhuman shindig but I remember your confession.”
That wasn’t true, because she did care, but she could also see the fallout of Westview. “You think SWORD is just going to let this go? You think the people of Westview are just going to let this go? An Avenger mind controlled people for months, took over their lives. We just put our reputation into the ground.”
“I think Abigail Brand doesn’t give a rats ass about Wanda Maximoff in the long run. And it’s terrible but I don’t think the people of Westview can do anything more than the people whose houses we smash through fighting the flavor of the month. Our reputation has been bad no matter how many inspirational speeches Sam or Steve give. I don’t know where to go from there.”
Her laugh was small. “I’m actually not, Jess. And the world is figuring that out at a faster pace than I can keep up with.” She chewed at her bottom lip, her blue eyes rising to meet her best friend’s. “Sam’s been helping. I’m not alone.”
Sam. Jessica’s brow arched automatically but she did her best to stifle the smirk/scoff combo that was trying to break out of her throat. “Am I offended you’ve turned to your boyfriend instead of me? Honestly – no, because I’m glad you’re engaging in a healthy human relationship. Will I pretend to be salty? Of course.”
She gave a small smile in response, her face warm. “He’s the best thing that’s happened to you.” Carol had no doubt about how Gerry had brought new light into Jess’s life. “Well, I would do anything for you, you know.”
Of course he was. Her selfish choice, her reckless decision. Her son was the thing that made it worth it when Jessica was on the ground with a broken rib wondering if she should get up and get smacked again. “I’m pretty sure I don’t deserve him, but I’m not questioning it.” Straightening up, she drummed her fingers on the table to a beat that pulsed in her head. “Does anything include refilling my wine glass?”
“Does that mean I shouldn’t try?” Jess was the only person to watch Carol waver, witness the falter in her resolve. Still, “I should’ve put a fist through Osborn’s face long before he bombed the UN. I should’ve see right through Ripley. I’m losing my edge, Jess.”
“Not if it means that it’s going to blow you up as well. Then what good would you be to anyone?” Jess exhaled a sigh, face softening slightly. “If anyone is to blame for Ripley, it’s me. I saw her back on Earth-616. Watched her almost kill you and just… didn’t put it together? But there’s a lot that we could do. You not killing Osborn does not mean that you’ve lost your edge. Choosing not to take a life even though you could makes you strong.”
Carol wanted to reach out but hesitated, her fingers twitching in her lap. “We won’t let anything happen to him. He has the best protection a toddler could ask for.” She was inclined to agree, that Gerry had been introduced to a world that wouldn’t always favor him, but he also had more people that would lay it down for him. “If there’s one thing I can promise, it’s that.”
Head inclining to rest on the heel off her palm, Jess let her fingers get lost in her dark hair. “I’d die for him, but then he’d be alone and – being a mom is terrifying, Carol. It’s beautiful and terrible and rewarding and just… why the hell did you let me do this?” Not that she had asked for permission or would have accepted feedback. It was more impregnate now and explain later. “Thank you. You know that I love you, don’t you?”
She waved off the concern. “A bottle sounds great, but there’s no need. Osborn might be under lock and key, but there’s still so much to deal with. The mutants, for one. The bombing.”
“Carol, I may have seemed like I was asking you but I was not. I’m telling you that you need to come and be a human with me. Because you are– human I mean. And you aren’t going to solve this alone overnight.”
