Part 2/3.
A nice long catch up session was what Karolina had asked for, and it was precisely what the other woman got as America did loathe to disappoint. It spanned from the hallway at the front door, intermittently back to the bedroom, and then some. However, when all was said and done - and a significant amount of time had passed - America had cuddled up with the other woman reveling in the feel of her skin. How long had it been since she'd touched her lover...? While the feel of Karolina's skin underneath her hands was distracting, it was easy to share what they had been up to - basic life things, talking about what they could out of their respective lives, catching up about each other's friends, passively talking about known future engagements as they were both aware - until the tank started to fade and Karolina began to notice the bruises that were starting to form.
America didn't remember much after the commentary about her bruises, about a question of what trouble she'd gotten herself into now and how she should rest - she'd be fine, just a little thing she'd already taken care of - because the world faded out as she fell asleep to the soothing sound of her lover's voice.
The bruiser awoke a while later to an empty bed, and with the scent of food wafting into the bedroom. There was a moment of displeasure at the empty bed with a low huff before the smell of food fully registered. Karolina. Cooking.
A slowly pleased smile spread across America's face as she rolled over, letting fingers spread over the spot where her partner should have been laying. Only a moment would tick by before the bruiser pushed herself out of bed - only a little soreness lingered - and pulled on the minimal amount of clothing to be mostly decent in case someone decided to pop by unannounced. Sleepily, America emerged from the bedroom, slowly stretching before meandering into the kitchen and finding Karolina there. Cooking.
The smile remained as the tank padded lazily across the kitchen to step up behind the other woman and wrap her arms tightly around Karolina's waist so that the front of her body pressed against her lover’s back. A low, muted grumble was given as America buried her face against the back of the other woman's neck before sighing contentedly.
"Te amo." The words were murmured into the back of Karolina's neck before another happy sigh was given. She'd missed the other woman so much. So deeply. it wasn't just a physical desire. It was emotional. It wasn't just about Karolina, but America's own emotional state too. She'd watched Xavier be shot before her very eyes. Watch the blood and brain matter splatter. Witnessed her friends fall apart and a crowd filled with strength, hope, have everything they'd hung their faith on be shattered in the blink of an eye. America didn't know if she was a mutant or not. Karolina knew that. The tank had never bothered trying to figure it out. It hadn't mattered to her.... Mostly.... What had mattered was that they all had powers beyond that of a normal human, and that they should all work to make the world a better place regardless of where those powers came from in the end.
America hadn't addressed her own feelings on the matter - the fact that a part of her family had been killed before her eyes as far as she was concerned - with anyone. Karolina likely knew something was amiss with the drinking and punching, but...Maybe not. She had been away from this world and..... America had been too busy working, looking after others, drinking, and punching to even think about talking. In fact, that was normally how she handled her emotions. If it was upsetting she went one of two ways withdrawing and punching, or silently seeking affection and security in her lover's voice and skin with no explanation as to why. Perhaps Karolina had given up trying to ask her what was wrong after all these years. After all the fights about America's lack of talking, about all the disagreements and conflicts they'd had about if only America would talk.