“It’s almost as if you’re extrapolating your own issues to the rest of the world because you can’t bear to think that humanity could be anything better than animals,” Artemis commented thoughtfully. “Your whole worldview is really quite fascinating.”
Adrielle rolled your eyes. "And you talk like a psychologist who thinks that people can be fixed."
"Fascinating's one way to put it, for sure." Kiania said with a snort, shifting her arms to cross them over her chest.
“Oh, no, you misunderstand! ‘Fixing’ someone is impossible, you just have to help those who also help themselves,” Artemis replied, fiddling with her necklaces. “And you don’t seem very interested in that.”
Adrielle rolled her eyes.
Jett, who had been watching from a corner, spoke. "I think that you need friends."
“I think we all do!” Artemis replied cheerfully.
Nat's palms burned. Her nails stung as she pressed them in deeper.
“Well, while you’re all here, does anybody want a bite to eat?” Artemis asked, perfectly calm despite her earlier outburst. She walked toward the kitchen and opened up the fridge, humming softly to herself. “Ham and cheese sandwich, anyone?”
Kerenza was leaning in a corner, hidden in the shadows but noticing Nat.
"Not hungry," Nat muttered. She headed towards an unoccupied corner of the room and stood there.
“Whatever suits you best, I suppose!” Artemis said. “I would like to apologize for someone’s rude behavior. We Stranges usually pride ourselves on hospitality, something that you haven’t been shown nearly enough of.” She shot a glare at Adrielle, then smiled shyly at Nat.
Nat nodded back in acknowledgement.
Kerenza slid next to Nat, unnoticed. “Hey…” she smiles
Nat glanced over, hardly appearing startled. "Hey…"
Artemis finally noticed Kerenza in the corner. “Hello there, Miss Stark! Pleasure to see you. Can I get you anything? Tea, coffee? My goodness, I sound like a flight attendant!” She gave Kerenza a goodnatured grin.
Nat quickly looked down as Artemis started talking to Kerenza.
Kerenza smiles and shakes her head slightly. "No, I'm fine thanks" She hummed, turning back to Nat. "How are you doing?"
Nat shrugged. In reality, her mind was spinning. She'd released high security information. If it leaked and anyone at New S.H.I.E.L.D. found out about Maria Hill and Natasha Romanoff… Maria would be on huge trouble.
"Nat…?" Kerenza whispered in a gentle voice
"Hmm?" Nat looked up like she was snapping out of a daze.
“Are you ok…?”
"Yeah," she replied smoothly. "I'm fine."
“Are you sure?”
"Yeah," she mumbled.
Kerenza nodded and smiles.
Kiania was now in the corner, talking rapid-paced and low-toned Spanish to someone on the phone. She looked…worried, an expression that looked odd on her, considering no one here had really seen her without a smile, excluding the one incident earlier.
Nat's eyes narrowed a bit at Kiania. "Who's she talking to?"
“No clue…”
"I want to know…" She pulled out her phone and subtly began typing.
Kiania continued talking, completely unaware of her audience as she tugged a hand through her hair. Gage, you dumbass. What were you thinking? "¡No! Solo déjame lidiar con eso, ¿vale?"