unstoppable

“Your optimism is inspiring.” Medusa smiled softly, honestly not trying to be sarcastic. It was nice to hear someone who looked at things glass half full for a change.

“What could the Champions possibly use Tik Tok for?”

Felicia smiled at the sight of Nadia shrinking down, and when the chips fell she grabbed them from the dispenser and smirked when Nadia grew back to her normal size. “I’ll give you props, that was pretty cool. Thanks.”

“That blows, sorry.” Gabby shook her head, rolling her eyes at the mention of C.R.A.D.L.E. “Makes me grateful to live on Krakoa. What was it like in there?”

Clint frowned as he watched the blood slowly start to form on the nick on his finger, and sighed before nodding his head at her. “Yes, please.” As he waited for the bandaid, he paused a moment before speaking again. “I have gloves, you know.. This isn’t like, a normal thing.”

Cassie nodded, deciding to just accept the forgiveness and try to move on. There was no need to dwell on things and make Nadia feel worse. She already had enough going on as it was. “What happened to Snowguard?”

God, this girl was like a miniature Jemma. It was honestly really impressive, and Daisy could just imagine the two going on to each other about quantum physics or something if they were to ever be put into the same room. “You’re kind of speaking a whole other language to me, but that sounds cool. It’s really nice of you to help me out with this.”

“Understandably,” Cindy nodded, understanding why they’d want to keep their identities private. She preferred to not be able to have people be able to track her down to her small apartment with her brother that she finally managed to get back. When Saya threw around her name it definitely freaked Cindy out at first, but she was trying to not let it get to her. “Fair enough.” She laughed at the selfie comment before pausing and nodding slowly. “I’m from Earth-616 too.” Well, now she was, at least.

“You’re not spouting stuff about how you wrong you guys were and how right the Reeducation centers were so I’d say you’re holding up well.” Cindy frowned as she remembered seeing how bad Lana came out of that place. There was definitely some sinister stuff going on in there and Cindy was just glad some of her friends came out alright. She’d been worried about Nadia. “I’m sorry I couldn’t check in sooner.. Pleasant Hill kept me busy. I’m really glad you’re alright, though.”

“Nope, stop right there. Before you say anything— this is just as confusing for me as it is for you. Scratch that— this is way more confusing for me. So just- don’t say anything stupid, alright?”

“you see, history is much more fascinating than you’d expect it to be.”

“Remember when you were a teenager and you know, you’re just starting to figure out who you are— so you start doing weird stuff, some of it really stupid, some of it really fun, some of it both. And it feels like you’re going to live forever? You find those little moments that stick in your head for decades, those ones that no one else would understand. That stuff that makes you.. you? Right, yeah, you get it. Well, you want to hear the truth? Being faced with the real possibility of living forever sucks. And sometimes the stuff that make you you, isn’t stuff you even did. Someone else did it, and then it gets artificially planted inside a fake brain you were shoved into without permission. Is there a lesson in that? Because I feel like there’s got to be a lesson in that.”

“Well, it’s a sandwich. Not as nice as night-pizza on a rooftop but— food is food.”

“Sounds like you’ve been busy, so I guess it makes sense that we haven’t. When you say jail that wasn’t jail, do you mean C.R.A.D.L.E.?”

“Maybe. But I think I beat you out in the irresponsible category. You were just trying to be a good friend. And I really appreciate it.” Cassie smiled softly at Nadia, genuinely meaning that. Nadia keeping that secret meant the world to her and she wasn’t sure what would have happened had the other girl not stepped in and helped out. “Without you I’d probably be phasing in and out of having physical matter, so thank you. Seriously, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay you. I’m sorry for getting you involved in the first place, though.” She grimaced at the description of the center and shook her head. “I’m really glad you’re okay, at least. Lana Baumgartner came out sounding like she was brainwashed.”

“It doesn’t seem like any of those many ways you talk about have been working as of recent.”