Part 3/3.
Karolina shifted, moving to do something with the cooking and America's grip tightened. Not enough to hurt, or hamper the other woman if she really desired to pull away, but enough to send a clear message across that right now, in this instance... America really didn't want to let go. That America needed this. That the bruiser’s holding on wasn’t some casual show of affection, but something that ran much deeper within herself. A sign, that something inside of her was wrong.... Swallowing, slowly, hesitantly the tank worked her mouth open, tying to force herself to speak.... Then closed it again.
Inhaling deeply the tank's grip remained tight around her lover's waist, using the feel of Karolina's body underneath her grasp to anchor her.
"Xavier." There was a long pause, as if America wasn't sure what to do or say next. "I was there." There was another pause. How did people talk about shit? It was just easier to.... Not.
"I didn't stop it..... Couldn't." There was a swallow, and her grip loosened a bit as she struggled with the words, struggled to speak. "Another item on my list." The silence that followed was heavy. "Saw Anna.. Jean...." America's jaw tensed, her grip tightening - but always careful not to hurt - absentmindedly again and the words died in her throat. Clearing her throat, the tank would try again.
"Everyone's upset." Her voice cracked mildly, betraying her own feelings on the situation as a whole. How did Karolina always talk about her problems? She made this shit look easy.
"....... I am too." Her voice cracked more. Though, America was upset at more than just the fact that Xavier was dead. She was upset at the security detail, the Avengers for doing nothing, for herself for not doing more or being able to find more, at the person who had done this, at.... So many, many people and things that she'd stopping counting all the reasons she'd kept punching anything she could these weeks past. It was easier that way. The tank had thought about trying to consult with another universe's Xavier but.... There was a high probability that would cause more harm than good.
Where did she go from here? Karolina wanted her to talk about all the things that bothered her, to allow herself to be not fine around her partner about anything that was bothering her. Not just things in their relationship that bothered her, and for once in her life... For what felt like the first time in years.... Maybe the first time in her entire relationship with Karolina... She was really, deeply, actively trying.