Madelyne didn’t flinch when the headlights came screaming across the lot. She’d already felt the pulse of adrenaline in Rachel before the car moved, before they weren’t in contact with the ground anymore. Just a hum of pressure in her gut, a flicker of something deeper that wasn’t quite fear.
She steadied herself instinctively, one hand braced against the dash, the other curling slightly in her lap, not to summon anything yet, but reflexive.
When Rachel murmured, Madelyne’s mouth curved into a small, sharp smile. Like Rachel had asked if she could handle making tea. " Of course I can, " she said lightly, though her eyes were already tracking the other car, watching the pattern of movement like she was watching a dance she could step into at any moment. Her voice stayed soft, almost amused. " But I think she’s got it. Fear’s a hell of a teacher. "
The other vehicle skidded slightly, wheels protesting as it slowed, angling wide into the empty stretch. Madelyne flicked her fingers once, discreet, a tug at the ambient energy to nudge the momentum just a touch further off its dangerous edge. Enough to keep it safe. Enough that the driver wouldn’t even notice.
She leaned back, gaze cutting sidelong toward Rachel with something warmer behind her smirk. " You made the right call. No one got crushed. The car’s fine. And that - " she added, tapping her fingers against the console with a lazy rhythm, " - was very satisfying."
A quiet moment before she added, "…Do we count that as your first evasive manoeuvre, or should we wait until someone’s shooting at us? "
Madelyne’s fingers lingered on the console a moment longer before she glanced out at the now-still parking lot. The quiet settled in like an exhale, headlights fading, tires cooling. She tilted her head, assessing Rachel not with concern, but with something quieter. Not motherly. Not quite sisterly either. Something stranger, softer.
" Alright, " she said, voice pitched like a decision had just been made. " I’m stealing you. "
She popped open the passenger door and stood, stretching her arms over her head with a low, satisfied noise, curls catching in the spring light. Her heels clicked lightly as she came around the car to Rachel’s side, leaning in the open window.
" You just saved your first idiot civilian and didn't vaporize a transmission, " she grinned. " That deserves fries. Possibly pie. Something with syrup and poor nutritional value. "
And then she added, mock conspiratorial, " Also, I think that car’s driver’s about thirty seconds from realizing something weird happened, so unless you wanna get your first ‘so are you an X-Man?’ speech in a parking lot - "