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Iara leaned close and squinted at the Nightguard.
<span class="mu-b">“Are you really a mutant like that goth freak said you were? Is that why you helped us?”</span>
Finally, Oya turned up to lock eyes with the shark girl. And the look she gave her was…pitying, you thought. Genuinely mournful, and filled with resentment that wasn’t entirely aimed at Iara.
<span class="mu-b">“No. I care very little for</span> <span class="mu-r">the affairs of mutants.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“<span class="mu-i">Other</span> mutants, you mean.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Deep…”</span>
Glass looked like he wanted to step between the two, but Iara wasn’t giving him any room to butt in.
<span class="mu-b">“...</span><span class="mu-r">Yes.”</span>
That single word looked and sounded like it had to be dragged out of her. Iara huffed out a breath and nodded slowly.
<span class="mu-b">“Need any help?”</span>
Oya’s bright, multi-colored eyes widened at that. She blinked several times and frowned slightly.
<span class="mu-b">“I’m</span> <span class="mu-r">sorry?”</span>
Iara’s eyes swiveled in their sockets, and you realized that was her version of rolling her eyes at someone.
<span class="mu-b">“Do you need any help?”</span>
She spoke the same words as last time, only louder and more slowly.
<span class="mu-b">“We’ve got a place for you to stay if you’re having trouble. It’s not as nice as Xavier’s, but it isn’t as stuck up either.”</span>
Oya stared at her for a while longer, her eyes searching the other mutant’s for a while before she shook her head and threw on her hood.
<span class="mu-b">“No. That won’t be necessary. Consorting</span> <span class="mu-r">with mutants would be of no interest to me.”</span>
Now it was Iara’s turn to frown.
<span class="mu-b">“And why the hell not? You’re a mutant too, aren’t you?”</span>
The Nightguard turned back to stare at her, and there was something cold in her eyes now.
<span class="mu-b">“Because mutants are</span> <span class="mu-r">an abomination.”</span>
Iara’s jaw dropped, and everyone went still as Oya pulled her hood further over her head and turned to look at you and Ana. She had said it so easily, as if it were an indisputable fact. There was not a spark of anger in those words.
<span class="mu-b">“The Nightguard appreciates your work here. We wish</span> <span class="mu-r">you luck in your endeavors going forward. Now, if you will excuse me…”</span>
Then, as if nothing had happened, she started to walk away, ice melting rapidly in her path to the point of near-instant evaporation. It was only when she was about halfway down the street when Iara’s senses returned to her, and she nearly chased the woman down to beat some sense into her!
Glass held her back as best as he could without worsening her injuries. He’d had to hand W off to Ana in order to do that, and that meant that no one was helping you stand. So, it was back to the floor with you.
(Cont.)
