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.
“Trust me, I’m all for putting my foot down when necessary. Sometimes the backlash blows though.”
“I hate being shot at as much as the next person. I don’t really like being yelled at either, but it can be worth it. I’ll never get how ungrateful some people can be. Go save your own asses.”
“Oh, you’ve noticed then? I’d almost argue its worse on this side of things. Pride and a chip on their shoulder. Makes me want to pull my hair out more often than not.”
“My best friend is Carol Danvers. Take that as you will.” Jess shook her head. “We’ll find a way to manuever this without excessive hair loss. It’s gonna take a lot of brainstorming.”
“Most of the time.” her lips twitched. “You know I wondered what it was like - to juggle heroism and a baby. Pretty incredible that you can do it without pulling your hair out.”
“Yeah, well, make sure you’re really curious before you try it. I spent most of my life hating kids, hating thinking about ruining someone elses childhood. I had Gerry because I’m selfish. I wanted a legacy, a family. When I die, I’m leaving one good thing on this Earth and it’s him.” Lips pressed into a smile, Jessica exhaled a laugh. “I’m pulling my hair out. I’m just lucky to have a lot of it.”
“We all need them, don’t we?” her shoulders rose in a small shrug. “Don’t feel bad. I wasn’t expecting much.”
“Some healthy, some not. They balance each other out.” Bloody knuckles and a baby. Jess had hopped to the extreme. “Thanks. You have no idea how often I’ve heard that.” Or said it, when she was dating Clint.
“Sensible.” Kate smoothed the lapels of her coat. “I guess it’s about time we draw a line in the sand and stop fighting all the time.”
“That’s the goal. It’s an attainable one to some extent. There’s always going to be egos – on both sides – and differences in opinion. But at the least we can try to compromise.”
“Don’t worry about it,” she waved Jess’s comment off. “I don’t need to feel better. I’ve accepted it, I’m living with it, and I’m just doing what I’ve always done. Krakoa doesn’t change anything, just makes my friends live super far away in a place I can never visit. If I would’ve known, I would’ve spent more time picking better decorations.”
“Sounds like some healthy coping mechanisms there.” Jess’ brows rose momentarily. “It sounds like you don’t need any advice, because I don’t have any to give. Way out of my wheelhouse here.”
The smile she gave in response was small, but appreciative. “I’m glad we can still be friends, despite everything.”
“I realized that learning to forgive was important. God knows a lot of people have forgiven me for some pretty horrible things.” The whole HYDRA involvement wasn’t really a secret, but Jess didn’t flaunt the indoctrinated decisions of her youth. Those who mattered had forgiven her and she had a lot to make up for. “Besides, we all need to be friends right now.”
“I play it up more than I actually feel. Sure, it’s not ideal, I might not have a restart button if I die, but it’s just shiny and new. I’m used to being out here, I know how to live out here, I don’t need to be in Krakoa.” Kate blinked a few times. “Better deal from whose perspective?”
“Most of us have to worry about dying because we know we won’t come back. I can’t imagine knowing that the option is out there but maybe not accessible.” Even though that was kind of what it was like to not be a mutant at this point. “People say things that seem too good to be true usually are. I don’t know, Kate. I’m trying to make you feel better and failing.”
