She snorted a laugh. “That’s a secret you couldn’t keep if you wanted to.” Her arms relaxed into a twined clasp, fingers wound together, and she regarded him seriously again. “I think you are no worse, in that way, than growing up without shields in a small town. If I can survive that … ” She shrugged, carelessly. “And as I said — you’re needed. In the face of that, what matter my small wants? Besides,” a small smile curved her mouth, lighting her eyes, “you’re enjoying this.”
Now that had him laughing.
“Well shoot, and I thought I hid it so well.”
“Guess you have me figured out more than I thought.”
He arched his eyebrow at her mention of growing up without shields. He wondered if she knew just how close to home that comment was for him as well.
It stung a little. He let it go.
“Needed or not, pretty sure at the moment I have no choice but to hang around. At least for a little while yet.”
She flicked her eyebrow, in return. “Now what did I say? Strange little reaction, that, to my little life history. Is that another secret? Are you one of the Professor’s kind as well, all hidden under technology?”
It had seemed like a reaction to her remark about shielding. But that made no sense. If he was another empath, she’d surely be able to tell; if a telepath … well, she could tell the Professor, even at this distance, so surely she’d be able to tell that too. And who else would need mental shields?
“You are quite the little bundle of puzzles, Mr Stark.”