There and Not

     “Right,” Carol stepped off to the side, avoiding the flow of traffic. “Are you… superhuman?” She tilted her head, “as in, can you get hit by a truck and survive, or no?”

The sight of the marketplace and the surrounding buildings was one thing; the crowds was another. While Ava would have preferred staying right where she was to admire everything, she didn't want to lose her guide and only person saving her from becoming an "indentured servant" to some alien pawnshop owner. The overstimulation of it all got to her before she could steel herself. Instead, she allowed a small fraction of her power to pass through the few people who ventured too close to her. Hopefully, they wouldn't notice with all the bumping and shoving everyone else was doing. She was more than thankful when they finally stopped for a breather. "... depends. Are we talking Hot Wheels or the real deal?" Was she trying to make a joke?

Ava's thumb paused for a second. A flicker in her form as Mantis brushed up against her, unprepared for her question. "I used to, once. Then I wrote off the possibility given my condition and the concentration it requires." Her hand slowly fell away to rest at her side, the thrill of the situation somewhat diminishing. She had wanted to see if she could get this far without having to think about it. Test her boundaries before she took a step back. "But, I think, you can help me with that. Keep me in the here, I mean. While..." Well, she didn't want to finish that thought. Not with her words, anyway.

"We could just get it over with now rather than waiting, don't you think? Like ripping off a bandaid." That's how Ava was used to doing things, anyway. Minimal pain, cut to the quick, instead of lingering in the anguish of what-could-be. "It's no pressure at all." She stepped closer and took the other woman's hands in her own, sensing her unease. "You're worried he won't approve?"

Killjoys: Wargasm (S03E10)

These two🔥🔥

Watching Killjoys for the first time: The Warrior Princess Bride

"What do you want to change...?" The curtains were slowly being pulled back, revealing a side of Mantis she'd never even considered or asked about. Probably because she always oozed such optimism that it never crossed her mind that all of it could come from a dark place. "There's... something you regret?" She took Mantis' hand in hers and held them both against her chest; a gesture of trust, if she wanted to talk about it.

"I'm afraid i do like shooting the shit with you, because i've found you're the only one i can't creep out yet." Bucky replied humorously, shaking his head a bit. He enjoyed Ava's company, they was on the same wavelenght in some way. Hearing her next words however, Bucky tilted his head a bit. It made sense concidering everything but still... "Really?" He asked curiously. "If it makes you feel better.... I'm quite sure i've never kissed someone that gives me butterflies." That was a can of worms he wasn't sure he was actually sure he was willing to go into right now. "It's not sad....! People are never going to understand people like you and me, so don't play to their standards of what's normal. It's only gonna make you sad."

"When you've been taught to phase a man's heart through his chest before you've even had your first period, there are very few things than can creep me out." Visually, no. But there were other sensations that made it easy for the panic to set in. "But I guess you're right. As long as we're not dead, there's still time. ... damn, I wish I had something to toast with..." So instead, she held up her fist for a fist-bump. "Here's to us finding someone who'll sweep us off our feet, yeah?"

"I'm not the one with flawless skin here." It's not that Ava didn't appreciate the compliments; she merely felt that if the two of them were put in a lineup for a blind date, Mantis would get more votes on looks alone. "I do know. It's what I used when I needed to get into somewhere I didn't belong. A flirtatious shoulder, show a little leg, and men are dumb enough to let me in anywhere." She adjusted the little ghost on her shoulder. "How about you do this little guy the honour of naming him?"

Ava's stare narrowed; she couldn't believe he would say that to her face. "A knife? I'm more subtle than that, Barnes. However I decide to get back at you, it's in a way you'll least expect it. My answer would be you, if you keep talking like that."

Everything in Ava's body went slack on feeling her empathic touch against her mind. No more nausea, no more twisting of her insides. What a relief it was. She found it difficult not to relish the sensation every second of the day. "Much." Despite the comfort, Ava's colour didn't improve. This was all just a temporary fix, of course. "Doesn't... doing this all the time make you tired...?"

"Well, I guess that would be nice for a change." He heard himself confess before he even realized it. "Can't remember the last time I actually got to celebrate it."

Buying one. Why hadn't she thought of that? Impersonal, sure, but it was better than outright screwing up the entire cake. Better to practice in secret until she got it right instead of going all in on an important day. "Me neither, if that helps. Maybe when I was five?" She nudged his shoulder with her fist. "Trauma bonding! ... that is what it's called, right?" She could never keep up with the lingo nowadays. "What do you know how to make, our of curiousity?"

Watching Killjoys for the first time: Baby, Face Killer