<span class="mu-r">“Well how long ago was it?”</span> Wanda asked.
<span class="mu-s">“...Almost a year now.”</span> Cindy answered, her eyes focused on the ground in front of her.
Wanda’s frown was immediately replaced by a look of pity. Even Pei and Nature Girl were looking at her differently.
<span class="mu-s">“What?”</span> Cindy asked, sounding a bit defensive.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh my god…”</span> Wanda gasped. <span class="mu-r">“I’m so sorry…”</span>
She placed a hand on Cindy’s shoulder and pulled her into a hug. Cindy squirmed in her embrace.
<span class="mu-s">“It’s fine. Really.”</span> she claimed.
Wanda released her from the suffocating hug and stared Cindy square in the eye. She was looking at her as if she’d just grown two heads.
<span class="mu-r">“No…it really, <span class="mu-s">really</span> isn’t.”</span> Wanda said, shaking her head at your ward. <span class="mu-r">“Cindy, that’s like…one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. How can you say that?”</span>
Cindy was transfixed by Wanda’s expression. The hurt in it felt…genuine.
Her eyes searched her friend’s face, and her mouth worked wordlessly for a while. This time, you were the one to bail her out.
<span class="mu-r">“Have you ever thought about therapy?”</span> you asked, taking Storm's advice to heart. Unfortunately with the others here, you were forced to pretend that you weren’t her current guardian.
Wanda nodded her agreement.
<span class="mu-r">“Yeah, has your foster dad taken you to see someone?”</span>
Cindy tried not to look in your direction. Instead, she returned her eyes to the ground. That was apparently all the answer that Wanda needed.
She shook her head in disbelief.
<span class="mu-r">“What!? Are you serious? That’s crazy!”</span>
<span class="mu-s">"He's been really busy lately. With work."</span> Cindy said in your defense. "Plus, he's done so much for me already. He took me to...speech therapy before school started, and he's made sure that I have everything I need."
"Okay, but what about your mental health?" Wanda asked, clearly not pleased with your parenting style. "Being 'busy with work' isn't good enough. You said it's almost been a year since the accident, right?"
You and Abe shared a glance. Neither of you could voice the guilt you undoubtedly shared.
What will you say?
>"...She's right. You deserve better than that, Cindy. He should've done better.">"We might not have a therapist on call, but I just so happen to know an Avenger with some powerful empathic abilities.">(Look to Pei.) "Could Cindy's...trauma really be the cause of her chi block?">Remain silent and let Cindy speak.>Write-in.Pastebins:
Character Sheet:
https://pastebin.com/1ZihFYSV Equipment and Gear:
https://pastebin.com/WAhveFAd Contacts:
https://pastebin.com/WdcFXD2s 10 Commandments of the Desperados:
https://pastebin.com/Qpr2jVPE Costumes:
https://pastebin.com/5Jie54X2 The Huntsman’s Travel Guide:
https://pastebin.com/PU6LWsipUpcoming Events in the Maximum Universe:
https://pastebin.com/DceSEjiR 