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<span class="mu-r">“You should be asking them, not me. It’s up to them whether they feel comfortable with you staying here.”</span>
Screwball nodded.
<span class="mu-s">“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. So am I just supposed to walk on over and–woah!”</span>
Screwball was cut off by Iara suddenly flying up to her and lifting her out of the tree like a firefighter would a stranded kitten.
<span class="mu-s">“Wait! My camera.”</span>
Shark Girl glanced at the camera, before casually plucking it out of your web and handing it back to Screwball.
<span class="mu-s">“Thanks. I’m really not looking forward to cleaning this gunk off when I get home.”</span> she said, pulling off little strands of webbing one-by-one.
You didn’t quite have the heart to tell her that your new diet would make that a lot harder than it would normally be.
Slowly, you and Shark Girl flew back over to the others, who were waiting in anxious silence for you to arrive with your new guest.
<span class="mu-b">“Hey Glass, this is-”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Screwball. I heard, Shark.”</span> Glass confirmed, staring at the silly woman that was being presented to him like a newborn baby in Shark Girl’s arms.
<span class="mu-g">“Huntsman told me about you. He says you came here to snap pictures of us and post them online.”</span>
A susurration ran through the group of mutants gathered here, and they were looking at Screwball with more than a little suspicion.
<span class="mu-s">“Hold on. I’m not here to make you guys look bad. I don’t have anything against mutants. Me and my mods are all about equality. Hate speech of any kind isn’t permitted on my stream or in my chat.”</span>
You and Glass exchanged a look. You just shrugged. If Screwball was at all bothered by the appearances of the people around her, then she was doing a great job of hiding it.
Glass focused his attention on Screwball once more.
<span class="mu-g">“If what you’re saying is true, then why are you here?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“I just wanted to see what was going on here. I’m not the only one who’s curious, you know. Not everyone in the city is a mutant hater. Some people just want to know what’s happening to their park.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“We’re squatting here. That’s what’s happening.”</span> Skids answered.
<span class="mu-b">“Nature Girl’s been helping take care of us, but Glass and Huntsman over there are saying that we have to move again.”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“We’re in the process of finding a new place to live. Huntsman knows someone who can help us.”</span> Glass corrected.
Screwball gave you an assessing look.
<span class="mu-s">“You’re a mutant too?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“I’m an ally.”</span> you said.
<span class="mu-g">“He’s a friend.”</span> Glass declared at the same time.
<span class="mu-s">“Right. I guess what I’ve been meaning to ask is-”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“Can she stay?”</span> Iara asked, cutting off Screwball before she could get the words out.
(Cont.)
