Z. CLARICE / BLINK.

“Well, perhaps not a new reality.” Thor shrugged. “But I am no stranger to loss. I’m sorry that you aren’t either.”

“fair enough,” hunter nodded in understanding, despite his disappointment at her lack of interest. he moved to retrieve his discarded shirt from the chair he had left it on, “now, can i help you with something else?”

“Oh, trust me, it’s more sad than scandalous. I’m talking waking up in alleyways with no idea how I got there in the first place.” It would be much more fun if it was beds Steven was waking up in, though. Not that he’d ever want that. He was perfectly content with what he had going with Layla at the moment. “Are other realities and other timelines really that far off? Maybe it’s related?”

“Blink..” Rachel recognized that name, remembering the time Kurt had to draw with her during their fight at the Quarry. She thought that maybe her Clarice was doing some work with S.W.O.R.D. now, but she didn’t know the other mutant well enough to remember for sure. She did know that this Clarice was not the one from her own reality. She could sense it in the other woman’s thoughts, memories of a mutant underground and another woman with green hair who looked strikingly similar to Lorna. She had to step back for a second from how disoriented she got as she furrowed her brows at Clarice. “You’re not supposed to be here, are you? In this reality. That’s why you feel lost.”

“no, uh—” he lets out a slight laugh, “it’s kind of a long story, but this is actually my second time back. think it’s gonna be for a quite a bit longer though. whatever that means.”

“Do you enjoy talkin’ to walls? Walls with attitude and a god complex.” 

Kate winces. She did know someone for that, but the pair might just make things worse. “There’s a lot of that going around,” she admits. “We’re trying to figure it out.” Who is we exactly? Couldn’t say. But someone. 

hunter nods, understanding very quickly that she doesn’t trust him in the slightest. fair enough. “don’t quite know where i stand at the moment if i’m honest. everything’s been shite as of late.”

“Okay, sorry. That was probably rude.” Rachel didn’t feel that bad, but still. This woman seemed pretty lost, and she could understand that feeling. “What’s your name?”

“you know, as weird as it sounds, i know the feeling,” peter smiled giving her a half-wave hello, “peter. nice to meet you.”

“sounds like you’re in need of some allies here then,” hunter offered a hand for her to shake, “lance hunter. special agent and whatnot—”

“You get used to being alone. But it’s a shock when you’re not expecting it.”

“Oh no no, don’ lump me in wit’ them. You want boy-scout, head to toe in latex condom, I can get you Summer’s number. I like the movement in these chaps.” 

“Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right person.” Stephen felt like he was basically an expert on the Multiverse now after everything he’d been through with Wanda and America. Fighting several of your own variants had to count for something. “Stephen Strange.” Holding his hand out to shake, the sorcerer raised a brow at the woman. “When did this happen?”

“I care.” Kate tried for a smile, but it felt awkward when she pulled it. “Can’t promise you I have a lick of sense when it comes to the happenings around here, but there’s probably someone I know who can help.” 

“christ, don’t answer any quicker,” hunter shook his head, a slight flush creeping up his neck in embarassment.

“If you’re looking for me to tell you it gets easier, it doesn’t.”