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When the rescue happened, everything was chaos. There were dozens of people - human and mutant - to be brought out. Families to be notified. Homes to be found. Bodies to be healed. So many questions to be answered. Under Crystal's sponsorship, Medusa was moved into the medical bay of the more private areas of the mansion for treatment. Crystal has been a constant presence whenever her duties don't call her elsewhere, waiting for her sister to wake up.
Tonight, she had another obligation. A god to meet at the gates, for a serious discussion about families and futures. She's not yet ready to talk about that with Erik, so she's come back to the infirmary, checking back in on things.
*
For the past half hour, Medusa has been stirring. It may have been alarming to whomever was monitoring her in her sleep, since at first it was simply a sinuous, snakelike series of ripples flowing though her hair while her body remained in inert. But then she became fitful in her slip, and with uncanny timing, not long after Crystal's arrival, her lashes lift, eyes darting quickly to take in her surroundings, most notably the face hovering above hers.
"Crystal?" Her voice is week, like she's been sleeping for a long time.
*
"Medusa?" Crystal closes the last few steps to her sister's bedside at a run, reaching for her hand as she sits carefully at the edge of the bed, a hopeful smile spreading. "It's all right, you're safe here. Whatever was happening there, it's over. You're- We're not home, but this is a safe place, I promise."
Her hand tightens on her sister's, hopeful, as she looks down. "Are you all right? Is there anything you need?"
*
Medusa sits up carefully, taking a good look around at the room. Her mouth presses in on itself; is she going to be all business and start demanding answers? No, it would seem; The length of he hair coils around Crystal lovingly, tugging her in for a tight hug. "Crystal." she whispers, her voice already getting stronger. Whatever kept her weak and asleep, her Inhuman metabolism is burning it off pretty fast now that she's awake. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for being gone."
*
Crystal lets out a rush of breath when her sister pulls her in, wrapping her arms tightly around her shoulders. "There's nothing to apologize for," she shakes her head slightly, eyes closed. "You're safe now. I'm so sorry we didn't find you sooner, Medusa. I was searching. I thought we were getting closer. This was- I'm so lucky we found you when we did. Please." Suddenly she leans back again, searching her sister's features. "Please tell me we weren't too late."
*
"Too late?" Medusa echoes uncertainly. Her hair relaxes from around Crystal's body, compacting upon itself and resuming its natural drifting, slightly lifted state. "I don't think I've been hurt. Whatever they were trying to do to me…nothing feels like they've managed to do it." There's a pause. "Wherever you found me…were there others? Other Inhumans? There were others with me. Where are we? Does this place belong to others of our people?'"
*
"No other inhumans," Crystal shakes her head. "The whole place went under when we left, so we weren't able to check the records for how long they might have held you or what might have been done. It's just…Jean was-" She pauses to take a breath, steadying herself. "It seems they were running some very unpleasant experiments there. I'm so relieved to see you weren't subjected to them."
The second question, though, is significantly more complicated. "This place is…Well. They're not Inhuman, no. They're mutants," she explains, moving to a more secure seat on the bed. "I came here because we'd heard rumors that there were people with unusual powers here. I'd hoped that if you were lost, you might have ended up here. Or that maybe someone here could help me find you. They couldn't. Find you, that is. But…in truth, it's the closest I've seen to home in a long time."
*
"Mutants." Medusa echoes, looking around the room. "They're truly not that different from us, according to the Genetic Council." But she says so with a distracted air, as moves to put her feet down and get up from the bed. "What now?" she asks quietly. "You've found me. But what are we to do now, Crystal? Continue our lives, running? Make this place our home?" She doesn't really know what this place is.
*
"Careful," Crystal cautions, reaching a hand for her elbow when she starts to get up. "We don't know how long you were out or what else they might have done to you." The question? That is a more complicated matter. "What now has been…" She sighs. "A difficult question. Black Bolt refused to even try to retake Attilan while you were missing. Now that you're back with us, I assume his sights will turn back toward home. I can't imagine that things are going well under Maximus' hand, can you?"
*
"Blackagar…" Medusa's eyes lower to the ground as she pauses in her efforts. Her teeth are gritted. "He shouldn't have waited. If he had the resources, he should have taken it back." She sounds quietly angry about it, looking displeased, but not in any kind of real rage over the issue. She pushes it aside. "For now," she asks, gaze lifting once more, "Do we have asylum here? Can we stay? Perhaps consider a plan?"
*
"He was worried about you, Medusa. We all were," Crystal points out, voice gentle. "And we had no way of knowing how long any effort to retake Attilan would last, or how successful it would be. And of course Maximus sends someone after us when it suits him to." She takes a deep breath, looking toward the ceiling at the last question.
"We have…limited asylum here. Dr. Xavier has been very understanding. I've been working here for the last few months. But Dr. Xavier is also very protective of his students. If we endanger them, we will not be welcome here. But Lockjaw is still well, so we can travel. And…" She hesitates. "And there is a possibility of another alliance, perhaps."
*
"I am not as certain as Black Bolt is about my feelings." Medusa declares, looking away. "Of course I care for him." And it's her duty. She's just uncertain. "We can let the others know I am well." She leaves that alone for the moment, moving again to carefully get to her feet. "I'd like some manner of food. And while I eat, you can tell me more about this alliance."
*
Crystal blinks, going still for a moment. "You're not-" But that's an argument she's not going to have right now. Not when she just got her sister back. "Of course. We'll go up to the kitchen if you're feeling well enough. There's plenty left over from dinner." Still, she offers a hand for Medusa's elbow, ready to offer support.
*
She puts up a hand. "I know. It really doesn't matter, does it?" Medusa manages a brief, tight smile. Straightening her spine, she accepts the assistance, letting Crystal guide her as she more likely knows the way. "I hope your Xavier will at least not force us to leave until the morning." Her tone is slightly wry.
*
"I sincerely doubt that." Crystal makes her way down the hall, up the stairs, and into a building that's much more traditional than the medical quarters. The mansion itself is quiet, the students all in bed by this hour, and Crystal leads the way quietly into a well-appointed kitchen, seeing her sister settled at the table before she moves to the refrigerator. "I've been asking myself a great number of questions about what matters lately, Medusa," she sighs. "And here I was hoping you might have the answers."
*
"Well then," Medusa replies, a lock of her hair extending toward the refridgerator to curve around the handle and tug it open. "I suppose you'd better start asking me, little sister.'"
*
Crystal sighs a bit, reaching into the fridge to pull out a couple packets of aluminum foil, setting them on the counter as she starts the oven up. "I'm afraid it's nothing impressive. It's just that- Well. While I've been here, I've grown very close to someone here. And of course Mother and Father disapprove, because he isn't one of us. But to further complicate matters, there's a prince of Asgard here in New York who has expressed interest in seeking my hand. And he's very kind, and very sweet, and were it not for- It could be a valuable alliance."
*
"A prince of Asgard." Medusa drawls, her hair slowly curling back to float around her. Letting her elbows rest on the table - such poor manners, their parents would be appalled! - she rests her chin in her hands. "Start from the beginning," she suggests archly, "And when you come to the end, stop."
*
Crystal sets the packets on a cookie sheet, sliding it all into the oven to reheat as she settles in at the table across from her sister with a sigh. "When I first came here, I met someone," she explains. "Erik. He's…" Looking away, she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "He's complicated. He's beautiful. He's brave, and proud, and hurt, and…He makes my heart ache for him, Medusa. But he isn't one of us. He's a mutant."
One finger traces a pattern on the table top, distracting herself. "By chance, I met one Asgardian. And through him, I met the prince. Who, it seems, is somewhat taken with me. It's complicated as well. Thor is resistant to his station, seeking love here on Midgard. He wanted to seek permission to court me. I think he hopes that his parents will approve because I'm a princess. I think he is perhaps overly optimistic, but…Could I turn him down if it meant giving up a chance for assistance in retaking Attilan?"
*
"You have always had far greater luxury in your choice of spouse." Medusa says frankly. "And either way, I cannot imagine you have known either of these men for very long. And marrying to the advantage of Attilan is a duty that I wouldn't impinge on you." Another wry smile. "That's my purpose. Consider well your heart, and take your time upon it. If it becomes a point to consider, we can see if we could make such an alliance at all, which we would be up to the rulers of Asgard as much as you."
*
"Greater, perhaps," Crystal smiles faintly. "But not complete freedom. I can't imagine they'll ever…" She flicks her fingers, trying to dismiss the thought. "I've offered to help him with a matter in Asgard. To give him the opportunity to bring it up with his family. I know these decisions…These decisions are made for so many reasons. But I don't want to risk Attilan for nothing, Medusa."
*
"You're moving very quickly, it seems." Medusa says with a small frown. "What matter are you planning to aid him with, and what exactly does he plan to ask his parents? And what would you get, for such a marriage? As powerful as we are, we are as mayflies to them. And what of children? Would you even be genetically compatible? Think carefully, Crystal. If you aid him in this errand, it still benefits you, it means he'll owe you a debt. But be careful about making any promises before there's an opportunity to aid Attilan, as you say."
*