Miss Molly

She turned back to Caleigh as she picked up her fork, “So you work in the tower?”

She quickly grabbed her coffee and looked around for a place to sit, the only open seat beside a petite blond she hadn’t seen before. She made her way over to the woman, smiling when she reached her. “Mind if I sit here?” she asked, pointing to the seat beside her. 

She wondered if she ought to reconsider her decision not to get a cake, her tea looked rather lonely.  She ran her hand through her pixie cut, the style wasn’t really what she was into, but at least she wasn’t shaved bald anymore.

“Some of the others make regular stops at or even live in the Avengers Tower.  You shouldn’t struggle too much.”  She would really rather avoid incursions with the people she had suffered hell with for now.  She took the card and stood, ready to show Emma out when she decided to excuse herself.  “I’ll keep you in mind.”

She gave a little chuckle at that. “Logan, oh yes how could I miss his company.” She made a mental note to perhaps avoid this ‘Bek’ woman, as SHIELD made her rather uncomfortable to be around on a regular basis. But the other man she seemed nervous about had her interest. “Tell me more about him so maybe I can get a bead on him. Maybe I won’t be able to get him now, but I’ve a device back at home that could give me amplification to find him.”

She pursed her lips, considering.  She wasn’t quite up to telling the Avengers that she sometimes harboured a mercenary, but Emma didn’t seem all that interested in playing teams.  “His name is Wade Wilson, he goes by Deadpool professionally.  If you find him, you’ll probably encounter more than one voice in his head.  He likes Mexican food and large guns.”  She shrugged, “I’m really not sure what will help you.  His cells are always regenerating because of his healing factor.”

Emma flexed her fingers experimentally as they finally lost their luster. “Ah it comes and goes. I haven’t needed to get in scuffles too often. Magneto seems to be laying low. Waiting for a call from Stark. Reminds me of a school girl at the phone for her crush.” She smirked at the thought of Tony and Erik giggling over gossip and shook her head. “I’m glad you’ve got some friends though. If it would be alright with them, maybe I could meet with them at some point? See how they’re doing as well. I’m sure they’re taken care of in Stark’s ivory tower, but nonetheless I have my concerns.” Emma paused for a moment, taking a slow sip from her tea before looking at Molly in the eyes. “Would you like me to check on him for you? See if there’s anything in his head to be worried about?”

She thought of Wade, wondering where he could have ended up.  Maybe he had just been given a long job, but something made her want to worry.  She hoped it was just paranoia after her trials.  “His cells are constantly in flux, I’ve never been able to get any kind of read on his mind.  But you’re welcome to try.”

Emma scoffed and shook her head. “I’ll agree with you there. They’re both just power mad organizations looking to one up each other and keep the world in check. Mutants have been rather underfoot when they consider how they want to run things. People like us, we need to stay safe in times like this. Mutants are working with SHIELD because of the HYDRA threat, but it’s only temporary and I’ve made up my mind I won’t be there when they turn on us.” Emma had a small fire within her when it came to the topic of all the fallout from HYDRA and the mutant hate from what Tony caused with the Phoenix. As she went to pick up her tea, an unusual clink sounded as she noticed her upper arms and hands had turned to diamond. Damnit, of all the times. She sighed and concentrated, letting her skin return to normal. “As I was saying…it’s important for us to know how we’re all doing in these complicated times. 

She nodded along with what Emma was saying, agreeing.  “In the Avengers Tower I’ve found people I think genuinely want to look out for me, but all of them have been mutants.  There’s only one person who hasn’t been a mutant that I’ve been able to put my trust in, but I haven’t seen him since before SHIELD brought me in.  I’m worried about him, to tell the truth.”  Given who it was, worry was probably not necessary.  But she felt it nonetheless.  She saw the change in Emma’s skin, “Is that something that’s been harder to keep in check?”

Holliday Grainger attends day one of the Audi Polo Challenge at Coworth Park on May 30, 2015.

She added a single sugar to her black tea, “SHIELD were convinced that I was abusing my powers, Hydra wanted me to.  Both of them robbed me of my choices.  In some ways, I think they were bad as each other.”  She took a short sip.

“Yes.  Call me when you’re ready.  You’re in for a rough sleep for now.”  She smiled warmly and made her way down the hallway to the elevators.

“Well if they’re smart they won’t come crashing through your doors while I’m here. I care to think I’m not one for minions to trifle with. But reagrdless I’m sure you’ve covered up your trail quite nicely. But anyway, let’s get to why I’m here. There were quite a lot of mutants that were captured by HYDRA. Due to…various circumstances, I’m not exactly in with the X-Men anymore. But the Brotherhood has accepted me however. Don’t be alarmed, I’m not here for a recruitment drive or to say ‘lend your powers to the good of mankind.’ No I just want to make sure you’re safe and sound, and not getting into any business that could put you within danger of them again.”

She listened to Emma speak, she wasn’t used to people without motives, but she could allow her mind to be open for now.  She seemed genuine enough, not fanatical, but it was hard to find someone who was a part of any particular faction who didn’t really want to recruit.  “I’m perfectly safe here.  Comfortable too.  But thank you for your concern.”

“Well if they’re smart they won’t come crashing through your doors while I’m here. I care to think I’m not one for minions to trifle with. But reagrdless I’m sure you’ve covered up your trail quite nicely. But anyway, let’s get to why I’m here. There were quite a lot of mutants that were captured by HYDRA. Due to…various circumstances, I’m not exactly in with the X-Men anymore. But the Brotherhood has accepted me however. Don’t be alarmed, I’m not here for a recruitment drive or to say ‘lend your powers to the good of mankind.’ No I just want to make sure you’re safe and sound, and not getting into any business that could put you within danger of them again.”

She listened to Emma speak, she wasn’t used to people without motives, but she could allow her mind to be open for now.  She seemed genuine enough, not fanatical, but it was hard to find someone who was a part of any particular faction who didn’t really want to recruit.  “I’m perfectly safe here.  Comfortable too.  But thank you for your concern.”

“I can come by when the dust settles on what you’ve learned here.”  She said with a nod, “But I won’t be taking your money.  I would still be a lab rat if not for you.  I owe you my life, the least I can do is return yours.”

“Hey don’t be like that, you’re a strong kid. You woulda made it outta there. We weren’t gonna let anything bad happen to you guys,” He promised, giving the best comforting smile Logan could manage. “And I don’t mind payin’ ya. But if you don’t want the money just call me if you need anythin’ okay?” The poor kid had been through enough to have to deal with stuff on her own any more.

Walking in and surveying the place Emma found it was rather well designed. “It’s quite lovely in here. I remember my first place when I was a girl, bought it myself with the money I got using my talents. I assume that’s how you’ve got what you got?” Taking a seat she folded her hands, and looked at Molly with concern. “I’m here because I wanted to check in on you and the other mutants who had been in captivity. An old…acquaintance of mine, Mystique told me about you, and I decided to come see just who you were.”

She prepared a teapot, drumming her fingers as the water boiled.  “I suppose we lab rats are quite interesting to a lot of people,” she considered.  She had to go to the tower for tests every few weeks, to make sure there were no lasting effects to her mind or body.  It all made her skin crawl.

“I can come by when the dust settles on what you’ve learned here.”  She said with a nod, “But I won’t be taking your money.  I would still be a lab rat if not for you.  I owe you my life, the least I can do is return yours.”