Alright, so I finished all the story branches from the FMA mobile Valentine's event, and I've compiled a summary/translation. Now let me preface with this: I do not know Japanese. I can read katakana, hiragana, and a handful of kanji, and I know basic sentence structure. So 99% of this is from Google Translate, and it may not be 100% accurate. It is long. I included some screenshots. With that being said, the summary is under the cut.

Chapter 1

It seems to be a dream sequence. There's this novel called Two Phantom Thieves that has become a sensation across Amestris, and everyone, including Roy Mustang, is reading it. He falls asleep while doing paperwork and imagines himself and Hawkeye as the titular thieves. It seems they have a rivalry, always hunting the same treasure. On their latest heist, they are caught in a trap set by Detective Hughes (with Havoc and Breda on his squad), and instead of fighting for the treasure, they have to work together to escape.

After escaping, Phantom Thief M (Roy) asks Phantom Thief H (Riza) to look at the moon with him and chat for awhile. She expresses her gratitude that their combined effort allowed her to escape. Roy says something along the lines of "We work well together. If we joined up, we could steal any treasure in the world." Riza is not keen on the idea. Apparently, she steals for the poor, while Roy steals for the wealth and fame. He says he has higher goals than wealth and fame and wants to change things from the top. Riza is surprised at the idealism and asks if he really thinks he can do it. He says he would tell her all about it, but the police are coming. Riza remarks that he seems different than usual, but regardless, next time the treasure is hers. She leaves and Roy has a moment where he reflects on her true identity and decides to have some fun with it.

The next scene shows that the Phantom Thieves have day jobs as reporters for the very same newspaper (return of glasses!Riza here). Their boss wants them to cover an event featuring the Eternal Chocolate Heart, but the viewing is only open to couples. Their assignment is to pose as lovers in order to write an article about the treasure. There is also something about alchemical research being revealed at the party and a competition for the alchemists to win the heart or something like that. Set up for the fighting portion of the event. It’s said that whoever touches the heart will be blessed with eternal love. Roy thinks to himself that this will be his next treasure hunt as Phantom Thief M.

Chapter 2

Reporters Mustang and Hawkeye arrive at the party, which is being hosted by Alex and Catherine at the Armstrong mansion. Hawkeye is holding Mustang’s arm stiffly, going over the type of information that they need for their article. Mustang says something like, “I know we’re just acting, but if you don’t seem a little more natural, they’ll find out we’re not a couple.” She ignores that and continues observing the situation.

Detectives Havoc and Breda are there, chatting with Catherine. Detective Hughes is also present with Gracia and Elycia. Hughes wants to get the Eternal Chocolate Heart for his daughter.

Armstrong gathers everyone and reveals the Eternal Chocolate Heart on a small table in the middle of the room, explaining that it has been imbued with alchemy. It’s divided into 4 pieces, and he says whoever eats one will be granted some kind of power, which works best when shared between two people. For that reason, they’ll be giving it as a prize to one of the couples tonight.

On the table, Armstrong is shocked to find that there are two envelopes: a pink one with the letter H and a blue one with the letter M. Notices from the Phantom Thieves. Armstrong then announces that if the thieves are here, stealing isn’t necessary. He invites them to join the competition as well. Mustang thinks to himself that it may be better to just do it fair and square.

Then the chocolate at the center of the table… disappears? Idk this part is a little unclear. Regardless, it was a decoy. The real chocolate is hidden in a labyrinth under the mansion. The winner will be whichever couple successfully recovers the chocolate.

Riza pretends to be dizzy, presumably so she can get away from Mustang and transform into the Phantom Thief. Roy also dons his disguise during this time. 

In the fight sequence, the Phantom Thieves have appeared again, and Detective Hughes and his squad are all over the place. They agree to join up again and manage to lose them.

Chapter 3

Another couple at the party, Bard and Emma, have progressed a little further and are in the gardens, but there’s a puzzle they can’t solve. They hide and try to let someone else figure out the mechanism instead.

Roy shows up and notices Riza has escaped to the same place as him. Annoyed, she says she was just about to stop him with her bullet. Roy flirts and says something like “I wish I had the time to celebrate our reunion.” Riza says she’s got some information to share: they’ll have to solve the mystery together to progress, but “We’re only working together for now! The chocolate is still mine.” Roy notes that the chocolate is in four pieces, and they could just share it. But Riza says that only half of the chocolate isn’t worth as much, and she needs to help as many poor people as she can. Roy agrees, and the matter is dropped as they solve the puzzles.

They notice Bard and Emma are following them. The story branches slightly here depending on player choice:

3A: Pursue Emma and Bard

This leads to a small fight sequence. Emma wants to get the treasure before the Phantom Thieves to ridicule them. After they run away, Riza looks pensive. Roy asks what’s bothering her. She says, “Nothing, I was just wondering if I could use them to get one up on you somehow.” Roy says “Well I’ll just continue to keep my guard up…”

3B: Ignore Them

Nothing really happens during this option. They get through the puzzle and Riza makes some remark about getting the treasure before Roy.

The different paths lead to slightly different versions of chapter 4.

Chapter 4-1 (Choose option 3A)

Mustang and Hawkeye are getting closer to the center of the labyrinth. They seem to be the first ones to get this far. Bard and Emma come up on them again. Mustang asks if Hawkeye is going to launch a surprise attack on him after helping her solve the mystery (?? I think. This could be directed at Bard and Emma). She says “I’ll watch your back. You focus on solving the puzzle.”

Roy goes through the puzzle (following a rabbit through the right flowers). Bard and Emma followed again. Now Bard wants to fight, but they are overwhelmed by the Phantom Thieves' synergy. Bard decides to fight another time and runs. 

Chapter 4-2 (Choose option 3B)

Bard and Emma have reached this point of the labyrinth before Roy and Riza. They are apparently not very good at puzzles and are lost again. They decide to hide again and let someone else figure it out. Roy and Riza arrive on the scene and chase the rabbit together this time. They arrive at the center of the labyrinth and note that it is eerily quiet and that it shouldn’t have been this easy. 

Bard and Emma launch a surprise attack. Roy says, “They seem to be quite skilled. Can I trust you with my back?” Riza says “It’s an honor to have your trust. Let’s win this.” Bard and Emma are overwhelmed by their synergy and run to fight another time.

In either path, the chapter ends by cutting to Detective Hughes with his family. They hear the fighting, so Hughes goes ahead of them to secure the path. He wants to catch the Phantom Thieves and get the chocolate for Elycia.

Chapter 5

Ngl this bit was a little confusing, so idk how accurate this is.

Hughes, Havoc, and Breda are blocking the next section. As they try to get through, Mustang tells Hawkeye that their only goal is the chocolate, so she should go on ahead. It seems the fight can’t be avoided, so they fight together. Roy remarks that it would do the detectives better to just solve the puzzles rather than try to chase them. Riza points out that Hughes’s family seems to have disappeared. The traps in this next section have tiles that make you teleport to another location.

They agree to truce and work together here. Roy doesn’t like the idea of a small child being all alone. 

Chapter 6

Gracia and Elycia were teleported just outside the labyrinth.

Cut to the group inside. The puzzle has a bunch of tiles that all need to be activated. They have to work together. Hughes wishes his family were here to solve it with him. He hears Elycia encourage him from outside the maze somehow??? Riza remarks that she’s just happy his family is safe.

Now that the tiles have been activated, all that’s left are for the 6 remaining tiles to be stepped on at the same time. However, they only have 5 people present. Emma comes out from hiding, saying Bard left because he was sick of losing. Now they have 6. They step on the tiles, and some creatures come out, guarding the chocolate heart that appears in the middle. They all have to fight to reach the treasure.

The ending is determined by which character you let grab the heart.

6-A: Riza gets the heart

Phantom Thief H reaches the heart first, announcing her victory, but Phantom Thief M pulls some trick and manages to snatch it. He says it’s not over yet. They can still catch him as he escapes from the labyrinth.

6-B: Roy gets the heart

Roy says, “The treasure is mine, Phantom Thief H. With this, I can reach the top.” He starts posturing, announcing to everyone that he got the heart. He says it’s not over yet. They can still catch him as he escapes from the labyrinth.

6-C: Any other character gets the heart

Exactly the same as 6-A, but replace Phantom Thief H with Hughes, Havoc, Breda, or Emma.

On a high balcony, Alex and Catherine are watching. Catherine says it’s finally her turn.

The story’s final ending is determined by your choice in this chapter.

Chapter 7

Roy is running away, noting that the party started at night, but it’s already dawn. As he is escaping, he falls into Bard’s trap, where he was waiting for the winner. He releases poison gas, disabling Roy. The fight sequence is against multiple Hugheses, caused by Roy’s confusion from the poisoning. 

Riza runs onto the scene and says she can’t let her partner lose to such cowardly tricks and helps him. Roy asks why she doesn’t just take the chocolate and run. She says she doesn’t want to win with dirty tactics and wants to beat him fair and square.

Catherine appears and determines that the bond between them is real (???) and leads them to the exit. Alex declares the Phantom Thieves as the winners as they emerge, but Roy is still affected by the poison, being supported by Riza. He mentions that the chocolate has the power of healing as well.

Riza lays Roy across her lap on a bench as she feeds him the chocolate.

Havoc, Breda, and Hughes wonder what they were fighting for to begin with or something and says they all worked together to solve the mystery.

Catherine and Alex talk about their intention with the chocolate. Apparently it was designed to make people work together, which is why she held the tournament.

Meanwhile, the chocolate seems to have worked. Mustang says “I feel a lot better. Thank you for your help, Phantom Thief H… or should I say, my colleague, Ms. Hawkeye?” Hawkeye grits her teeth but doesn’t say anything. He asks again if she will be his partner. He says if they work together, they can change the world. “After challenging the labyrinth with you and being rescued so many times, I’m convinced.” Hawkeye still doesn’t give an answer. He says not to rush. She can give him the answer soon.

Cut to Catherine and Alex again. She says the effects of the chocolate are maximized between two people with a particularly strong bond, which was proven by the Phantom Thieves. Alex says something like, “Too bad it only lasts 15 minutes…” lol. Hughes snaps out of it and shouts, “What the hell am I doing?!”

Back in reality, Mustang is woken up at his desk by Lieutenant Hawkeye. She says he must have been dreaming, since he was stirring and making noise in his sleep.

Roy tells her about the dream he had.

Chapter 7-1 (Choose option 6-A)

He says, at the end of the dream, they were able to escape from their pursuers after a fierce battle. It cuts back to the dream sequence.

Phantom Thief M and Phantom Thief H are overlooking the grounds where the chocolate was. Mustang remarks that the chocolate makes people want to join hands together. He says he wants to give Hawkeye the rest of the chocolate. She is a bit skeptical. He says it’s so that he can “join hands with her” and he asks for her to be his partner again. She says that they were only allies temporarily for the competition, and their rivalry stands. She says instead of relying on chocolate to steal her heart, he should try stealing it with his own hands. Roy says he seems to have decided his next target.

Cut back to the real world. (biiiiig question mark about all of this:) Hawkeye remarks that she can’t believe he gave away all the chocolate in the end, but that sounds like him after all. Roy says that his rival was one step ahead a few times (?????), and a woman’s heart is deeper than the sea. Hawkeye says, “Even so, I’m intrigued by the novel that inspired that dream. I might find time to read it.”

Chapter 7-2 (Choose option 6-B)

He says, at the end of the dream, they were able to escape from their pursuers after a fierce battle. It cuts back to the dream sequence.

Phantom Thief M gives Phantom Thief H part of the chocolate. She asks why he would give her some when he was the one who won. He says, “If it’s mine, then half is yours, since you’re my partner.” She says she never gave him an answer. He replies, “But you’re here now. Can I still expect to see you by the beautiful moon?” (not 100% on that translation either) They hold hands in the moonlight.

Cut back to the real world. Hawkeye says that they have to continue to work hard to reach their goal, and she will continue to watch Mustang’s back. “Even so, I’m intrigued by the novel that inspired that dream. I might find time to read it.”

Chapter 7-3 (Choose option 6-C)

He says, at the end of the dream, Hawkeye escaped under the cover of heavy rain, but he was caught by Detective Hughes, who was chasing him. It cuts back to the dream sequence.

Mustang is being apprehended by Hughes while Hawkeye looks on from atop a tall building. She says that even though he may be a perfect phantom thief, his only weakness is water. All this heavy rain was just bad luck. She then says, “It’s sad that there’s no one left to compete with, but I’ll make your dreams come true some day.”

Cut back to the real world. Hawkeye says, “Even in your dreams, you’re useless on rainy days. What a shame.” Mustang says, “Don’t look at me with such pity, Lieutenant…” Hawkeye then says, “Even so, I’m intrigued by the novel that inspired that dream. I might find time to read it.”

END

NO GFA ANON I HOPE UR AWAKE CAUSE I FINALLY FINISHED. THE SICKFIC

I no longer have the message in my inbox RIP but here it is at last your requested Hunnihawk sickfic I sincerely hope you enjoy this and im so sorry it took me so long to do

“There,” Hawkeye sits back on the cot, satisfied with the job he’s done of tucking BJ in, “You comfy?” 

“No,” BJ replies, miserable and unhelpful, “But thanks.”

Hawkeye gives his shoulder a sympathetic pat. “Believe me, I’d rather keep you in a comfy post-OP bed,” He tells him, letting his hand linger on his shoulder, “But we’re almost full in there, and Radar said we’re expecting more to come in tomorrow, so you’ll have to make do with the roaches and rats in here.” 

BJ leans back against his pillows, settling a bit more into his cot. “How dare they come and take our beds,” He mutters, “Don’t they know I’m dying?” He asks, with a playfulness to his voice that makes it clear he’s not being serious. 

“How could they?” Hawkeye asks in return, matching BJ’s playful tone, “You’re such a strong, silent type that nobody would ever know you’re sick.” This is, of course, a bold-faced lie. BJ’s been down with this fever for a few days, and he’s been, to put it kindly, a nightmare. Thought with affection. Kind of. 

Doctors always make the worst patients. This is law, a truth universally known and acknowledged. Hawkeye knows he’s a pain in the ass to deal with as a patient, he pities whoever has to deal with him whenever he’s sick or injured enough to need any sort of care. He’s a goddamn nightmare.

BJ still manages to be on a whole different level, though. 

He starts off stubborn. Insisting on carrying on, dodging all attempts to doctor him, that sort of thing. And then, when it catches up to him enough and gets his ass put in bed, he gets sneaky. So far someone- usually Hawkeyes- has had to go and hunt him down and put him back to bed five different times.

It’s only been two days. 

“You sure you don’t need any help?” BJ asks quietly. He brings a hand up, loops it around Hawkeye’s wrist.

“Not from you,” Hawkeye replies. He reaches over with his other hand, places it against BJ’s forehead to check his temperature, “Not until this fever of yours decides to break. You’re so hot I could fry an egg on your forehead right now.” He remarks. 

BJ musters another weak grin. “You’re not so bad yourself.” He rasps. It’s a line that would be much more effective if he didn’t sound like he ate a dirt road for breakfast. 

Hawkeye rolls his eyes. “Real cute,” He deadpans, taking his hand back and folding it in his lap, “I should get back to OR,” He continues with a sigh, “Make sure everything’s ready for tomorrow.” He’s dreading tomorrow. He’s already exhausted, he’s coming off a double shift and he’s looking at another long day tomorrow once the next batch of wounded comes in. That’d be enough on its own, but without BJ…

“Do you have to?” BJ asks, with a look that borders on a pout.

He doesn’t have to, is the thing. He doesn’t even want to. “I should.” He replies. 

“But do you have to?” BJ asks again.

Hawkeye raises a brow at him. “Where are you going with this, Beej?” 

BJ tugs on his wrist. “C’mere.” He says.

Ah. “No,” Hawkeye replies, trying to take his hand back. BJ tightens his grip, “No, you’re a one-man sauna and I want no part of it,” He tugs on his hand a bit more insistently, to no avail. Damn BJ’s stupid strength, “BJ.” 

“Hawkeye.” Stupid fucking smirk on his face.

“Let-“ He doesn’t get to finish that sentence. BJ grabs his arm with his other hand, and yanks. Hawkeye yelps, tumbling over directly on top of BJ, who wraps both arms around him and holds fast.

“Hi.” BJ grins, probably thinking he’s really cute.

Hawkeye scowls up at him. “Release me, villain.”

“No.” BJ’s grin doesn’t so much as falter.

“If you get me sick, I’m killing you,” Hawkeye informs him, “I mean it. I’m killing you with my own two hands. I’m a surgeon, I know how to do that in creative ways.”

“Enlighten me.” BJ invites, making no move to let him go.

“I’ll start by putting swapping your kidneys,” Hawkeye threatens, “And then I’m gonna put your stomach where your heart oughta be. And then I’ll get really creative.”

BJ chuckles, low and warm. “Will you, now.” 

“I have not yet begun to threaten,” Hawkeye proclaims, “Just wait till I get my hands on your spine.” 

“I’m terrified,” BJ says, not looking nor sounding terrified in the slightest, “Quaking in my boots.” 

If looks could kill, Hawkeye would currently be killing BJ with his glare. “I hate you.” He tells him, with no real heat at all.

“Love you, too, sweetheart.” BJ replies, knowing him all too well.

Hawkeye sighs. Long and loud. This is really comfortable, is the thing. BJ is a bit too warm for his liking, but he can suck it up. He’s exhausted. He isn’t actually required to be in OR right now. Getting as much rest as possible before tomorrow is ideal, honestly. He’s got no actual good reason to fight back against this.

“You’re a goddamn pain in my ass.” He tells BJ anyways, the closest he’ll get to admitting defeat. 

“I know.” BJ says, looking way too pleased about it. 

For M*A*S*H

1, 3, 7, 8, 17, 25? 😌

1. the character everyone gets wrong

I'm going out on a ledge here but Hawkeye. Specifically, I think certain aspects of Hawkeye get flanderized a lot. Hawkeye does have a lot of sex with multiple partners and he is very sex positive (as is the show). But he doesn't really dress slutty (look at him he literally dresses normal) or flaunt his body in public. I think people try to fit him into some sort of slut archetype and that's not him! The one time he does get naked publicly it's for a bet that no one will notice and when people do he quickly tries to cover up. In later episodes, he'll try to cover up if he's stranded without his robe in the shower. Trapper and Oliver are casually shirtless much more than Hawkeye is.

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

I saw these tags one time about the alleged dynamic between BJ, Hawkeye, and Margaret that said BJ and Margaret could continue their parts with other people but Hawkeye couldn't?? It was like "what's he supposed to do, pretend he wasn't in love?" and like literally yes? Or acknowledge that he was and just. Move on? Get over it? People literally do it all the time? Hawkeye was left by the love of his life (Carlye) twice and he literally moved on and had relationships with other people. Like what on earth.

7. what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

So I've mentioned BJ before and I figured I should explain why I hate fanon BJ. I limited my exposure to fandom before I finished the show, but deliberately chose to have some because I didn't want fandom participation to coincide with running out of new episodes to watch. So, I was aware of fanon BJ and since everyone posts about it like it's canon, I kept waiting for him to start acting like that. He never did. So I felt pretty misled, lol. It's not necessarily that I would dislike fanon BJ if he were canon, it's just that he's not. I was also really taken aback by his popularity, because he's the character I find least interesting. I also didn't realize people thought he was attractive for a long time lol I'm a lesbo. And the fanon BJ characterization kind of interferes with other things; like "you can't trust what he says" to me describes Hawkeye, because he Just Says Stuff and some of it is literal and meant to be taken at face value and some of it isn't. But because "you can't trust a word he says" was assigned to BJ, no one really discusses it with regards to Hawkeye. And I can't even make semi joking headcanon posts about Hawkeye exchanging regular letters with Trapper and just not mentioning without people saying "that's BJ behavior." This inaccurate characterization about a character I don't feel strongly about is inescapable. I don't hate (canon) BJ, but every time I get accused of hating him I'm like maybe I should lol.

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

Sidney being a hardcore Freudian. He references Freud and obviously studied him, but there is no indiction he's a particularly close follower. I can't remember if it's in the final episode or just the script, but there was a reference in Dear Sigmund to the exercise of formatting his diary as a letter to Freud being something he started doing as a student. Freud is also, whatever your opinion on him, a famous and massively influential figure in Sidney's field. If Hawkeye wrote a fictional letter to Hippocrates or Halstead (famous surgeon) I don't think people would take that as evidence that he was a huge fanboy. He also makes jokes about Freud/Freudian psychology. I think canon points to Freud being one of several influences on Sidney's practice of psychiatry, not to Sidney being a devotee. Sidney is also clearly not strict follower of any theory or of theory in general and learns a lot from hands-on experience.

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

Can I say gen fic again lol. I think I would like to see more canon divergence! I don't usually care for full on AUs, but there are so many fun opportunities with canon divergence! I'm also really fond of Hawkeye/OC (usually OFC but I like both) fics, but not ones where the OC is basically a reader insert.

As for art, I like silly little comics.

25. common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing

"Stop making everything about Trapper vs BJ" especially when it's in response to things that were not even Trapper vs BJ. I mean, Trapper vs BJ comparisons are unavoidable anyway, and comparisons don't have to be inherently divisive. I too am weary of the ones that are, especially because they're usually really about a ship war I'm not invested in. But it's also become a way of shutting other things down. There was a really good post about how the early seasons don't get enough credit for having the most pointed political episodes because BJ wasn't there that got a very defensive reblog about how "it's not about Trapper vs BJ." And, like, it wasn't! OP didn't mention Trapper. The point was that BJ is a popular fandom fave and therefore the fandom doesn't give enough attention to the seasons he's not in.

hello another kazi request !! could you do a normal/civilian reader (they/them pronouns?) and kazi meeting for the first time? maybe during a heist lol

thanks for requesting! i’m sorry this took so long, university has been killing me lol. i hope you enjoy! :)

Twist of Fate

kazi kazimierczak x reader

gender neutral pronouns

TW: mild crime, mentions of weapons

a/n: this is set before the events of Hawkeye, when I kind of headcanon Kazi doing small crime type of stuff

a/n: part two: i kind of have an idea for another part, let me know if that would be something you wanted to see!

marvel masterlist

It was a simple job: a small jewelry shop tucked into an alleyway full of expensive stuff. It was the final stop of a long night of thievery, and while the first tendrils of light were stretching into the sky, Kazi was sure that he could get in and out before sunrise.

Slipping into the back, Kazi made quick work of the simple lock on the door. A narrow hallway led to the back work area of the shop, and Kazi slowed his steps as he saw there was a light on. At first glance, the work room seemed empty. The source of light was a lamp on the table, shining down on an assortment of tools and a necklace that seemed to be under repairs.

Just as Kazi stepped another foot into the room, a person came walking in from the door leading to the storefront. Kazi froze and the person shrieked, jumping back as they saw the former standing there. As Kazi reached for the gun hidden in his coat, he was taken aback when he heard laughter,

“I’m so sorry, I hope I didn’t scare you.” The person breathily laughed, continuing their path to the table Kazi had just been looking at. “You must be the new hire, Amanda said you would be stopping by this morning to learn the ropes.”

Kazi remained frozen in place, mind blanking as he tried to decide what to do. He could still rob the store, after all there was only this one person and he had weapons. Yet something twinged in Kazi’s heart when he thought of that; this person seemed so sweet, and there was something wholesome and genuine in their smile. No matter how much his head reasoned, Kazi couldn’t find it within himself to hold this person hostage.

“I’m Y/n by the way; remind me of your name again?” They turned to Kazi, hand outstretched.

“Kazi.” Immediately Kazi mentally cursed himself; giving out his real name was the dumbest thing he could have done. Still, he took Y/n’s outstretched hand and shook it.

“Okay, so Amanda said you had some experience with jewelry repair, right?”

“Uh, it’s been a while.” Kazi fumbled, unsure why he continued to stay and talk to this person. Still, he followed Y/n’s gesture to sit down next to them.

“Don’t worry, I’ll show you the ropes.” Y/n said with smile that elicited butterflies in Kazi’s stomach.

For the next couple hours, Y/n carefully showed Kazi how to fix a simple gold chain. Their hands guided his as they removed broken links and attached new ones. Slowly Kazi got used to using the soldering tool to close up the rings permanently. Finally, after lots of mistakes and hard work, the chain was completely finished.

Y/n beamed at Kazi, clearly proud of the work he had accomplished. The latter felt surprisingly proud of himself, amazed that he was able to fix something that seemed so delicate.

“You did amazing Kazi, you’re basically a pro now.”

Kazi laughed, “I wouldn’t say that, but I did do pretty okay.”

The clock on the wall chimed, signaling the time. Y/n glanced up at it and hurriedly got up from the chair. “I’m so sorry, but I’m afraid that is all we can work on today. We have a private viewing, so we’ll have to continue your training another day. I have your phone number on file, so I’ll send you a picture of your schedule.”

Sadness struck Kazi’s heart as he realized that the little act he had been playing was up. He should have been relieved that his true intentions weren’t found out, but instead he found himself longing to spend more time with Y/n.

Kazi moved to grab his jacket, but Y/n stopped him. Carefully they picked up the chain and undid the clasp, bringing their arms over Kazi’s head to place the chain around his neck. His heartbeat quickened as his felt Y/n’s fingers brush the back of his neck as they closed the clasp. He tried not to focus on how much he loved the pressure, nor the disappointment that came from when Y/n’s hands left his neck.

“There, you keep that. You worked so hard so I think you deserve it.” A rattle could be heard at the front door, and Y/n looked at Kazi apologetically. “It was great to meet you Kazi; I look forward to working together again. Enjoy your day!”

As Kazi watched Y/n’s retreating figure, he knew they wouldn’t be working together again. But as he went to leave, he realized that he wouldn’t be able to just not see them again. No matter what it took, Kazi would find a way to see the cheery, smiling Y/n again.

"Is it often like this?" Hawkeye's voice was so soft, Ed almost didn't hear it through the static clouding his head. He took a moment to breathe. "Not often", he finally said. "This storm's a bad one, but usually I could just take it easy for the day. Get some rest. It passes. Just—" He cut himself off with a sigh. "Just …?", Hawkeye prompted after a moment when he didn't continue. Edward grimaced. "Well, the shitheads who have it out for me rudely don't give a fuck if I'm having a bad day or not. Really we should make them sign up on a schedule. Attempted murder on fair days only, please." -- Edward knows not to push himself too much when the rain makes his scars ache and the strain of the automail on his body unbearable. Really, he does. It's just … sometimes he's not given a choice.

T+ | Gen | 11K | Canon Compliant | Angst and Hurt/Comfort

I'm really nervous about posting this one, I hope there'll be some folks who like it... 🙈

The White Dove Pt 30 - Crystal Hitler

*.*.* Earth 4055 *.*.*

Tables of documentation displayed in beams of shifting illuminations of an anger inducing sight. Deep within the forgotten chasm of pure evil a crystal formed body housing the mentality of one of the most evil humans ever documented. Something right out of a sci-fi novel a buried den of ill repute was being maintained by one who sought to profit off of this place’s main purpose. Clones, pods of clones charged and ready to release the next of their name for the next generation to face off against.

One of them had been freed however. Mentally at least, housed within this crystal formed body, like a rainbow casting cyborg that lacked the ability to leave this place for very long, a safe guard to keep the main priority intact. The last human tasked to maintain this secret sect near to dying had set just one copy of the coveted mental being of his divine ruler free to protect his future selves from harm and being wiped out.

Something had happened, the latest known clone freed died named Hate-Monger, at the hands of one named The Punisher. Only he was the last to be freed with 900 remaining clones to be released that by the day was dropping by hundreds in unsettling fluctuations of population both up and down by how the news of past years rapidly had changed.

One fact and one alone was behind what he could find to be the problem, the very term of his own existence, Hitler must die for the clone initiative to initiate. No one had killed Hitler.

Life in obscurity under an alias in various ways by the hour had him either discovered and punished by lifetime of suffering with no chance to end his life or at the end of his silver years finally old age would claim him to nullify the initiative all together. Someone had to kill Hitler.

He thought he had it the last time. Nine people, snatched off the streets with two most promising. Seven to be smokescreens and yet unfortunately as he overshot the proper time zone or destination none had prevailed. One, however seemed to show promise while sadly damaging his crystal body, now that a new body had his mentality, 48 was primed with time watch calibrated to send his tiny assassin to kick off this program into full gear. Five days to the new year and he had to mend this problem so that the next clone could be unleashed to continue their work.

 *.*.*

 “Sorry,” you whispered to a woman with her son in her arms you almost stepped in front of. Bitterly the cold had slapped you in the face upon exit of the book shop that had you glad to have your coat and tall boots to counter its effect on you.

Across the street they hurried to catch their bus and in fastening the buttons down your chest alone on the street you were noticed by Hawkeye up on a balcony corner out of the sight of others a few doors down. Cooper was being detained by SHIELD with work on a troublesome new apprehended figure they’d been unable to break and wanted some fresh thoughts on the matter. Widely his eyes snapped at the body that popped up out of a blustery wind from nowhere to fold arms around your middle and then with a sudden pop the both of you were gone.

Right into his pocket his phone was brought out to call Rhodey who was on point to be contacted in case of emergency. “Hitler,” was how he began the call absolutely perplexing the man contacted by naming the identity of who had taken you without any hint of explanation behind it.

“What?” Rhodey asked only for Hawkeye to see a spark formed sparking circular portal appear where you had been taken from he leaned over to see the inside of a stone building encased in shadows and debris.

“Pluto’s been taken. Some, I can’t explain it, some type of rainbow light suit with Hitler’s face on it. Grabbed her and vanished, now I got some sort of portal,” he said easing an eyeglass from his breast pocket to see better, “I think it’s Polish graffiti on the walls, place looks half destroyed.” More details were shared on the room he could see until Rhodey’s racing pulse calmed a bit to hear him say, “Pluto walked out the portal, with one of those monks that helped against the Titans and the Inhumans.”

“She hurt?”

“Can’t tell, coughing.” Hard and fast a series of coughs were let out before he sat up more seeing you drop to a knee to open and dig through your bag. “I think she’s choking, call you back.” Over the railing he hopped to get down onto the sidewalk to race across the street, “Pluto!”

Onto his knees he dropped watching you uncap a cylindrical injector he helped you to jam into your thigh as he noted the dark puffiness of your lips and tongue and blotchy patches spreading inside of the walls of your mouth that he could see. Gently his hand rested on the side of your neck to help you stay upright in your clench eyed few moments of regaining calming breaths. “Slow and steady,” he said and turned his head to see the suv that drove itself around the corner to prop its doors open on the side closest to him. “That’s it, let’s get you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine,” you slurred in the open of your eyes that had his eyes sweep over your neck and face that right in front of him was drastically reverting its allergic reaction.

“That was an allergic reaction. Those shots usually are a bridge to get you to the Doctor.”

“I made it, it’s stronger, don’t need to see a Doctor.” You said clearing your throat as your tongue began to shrink to its normal size. “Fit to my DNA for rapid results.”

That had his brow arch up but the subject switched as he asked you, “Why is there whiskey on your breath?”

“You should ask the crystal Hitler guy who keeps people snatching. Honestly, out of everyone he’s snatched figure Stark would be up in arms the most to hunt him down.”

“What? He took Stark too?! You saw Stark there?”

“Last year, the loop, monks said they brought him and the others back.” And that had his mouth open.

“That’s why he can’t remember what he did all day.” His eyes swept over you and he asked as you tried to get up that had him help you up again, “Where’d he take you?”

“Not certain, but there was a lot of Nazis.”

 *.*.* Couple Minutes Earlier *.*.*

 Sharp and quick arms left your torso dropping you in the center of a crowded hall of highly ranked SS Officers. Behind your head, seen in an angle of your head back to see where the one who grabbed you had gone, with a second pat of fingers on the face of his watch 48 was gone with a grin leaving you to look forward for any sign of where you were. You couldn’t focus on him however as your eyes lingered on the wall of Nazi regalia surrounding a massive portrait of Adolf Hitler.

Guns were drawn, and without thought eyes and hair ignited to explode vines and trees to leave this castle of a building in ruins. The vines of which reached a lab far below the ground to crush the man inside of that now tattered portrait, who later would be dug out of the ruins by some of the hundreds of soldiers within the city who rushed towards the mushroom cloud ruined building to hunt for their leader.

Quietly between vines and branches with hold of your leather tassel messenger bag and the golden eagle topped pen pulled out of your back from the secretary desk you had fallen atop of you crept out of sight of those soldiers, making your way to the city surrounding it. A wayward yellow bolero hat was lifted from a branch to sit atop your head to help disguise your face.

While not a bustling city at least with the panic it was rather easy to manage through streets and around corners. Until an emptied guard station at its borders enabled you an array of maps to gather up and slip in your bag to be looked at later when you were out of reach of this city and that crystal armed stranger.

Sore from the pen wound that was beginning to close up alone on an empty street you walked with mind racing to a lock of your eyes on the golden pen stained with your blood being wiped away by your thumbs. This time at least inside of your bag a good portion of your hive had been brought along to help you work on a project at Columbia to help modify a few tools needed it was less painful. Although irritated themselves at feeling what Chester faced, and was facing again, crept out of your bag to nestle around your necklace and in your braided hair and atop the found hat to search for any hint of a threat in teams to spare energy while others took to resting for their round on guard later on.

Wartime was evident and off towards the distant mountain ranges littered with forest across them became the goal to get to by dark. Fairly empty handed radio chatter of what became of the ruined castle had convoys cross your path. The hat you had taken apparently was familiar granting you a few moments distraction to take out the men, out of whom you took the most intac of their packs to load up with all the ammo possible to go with the pistols and sniper rifle you chose out of those weapons they had in the best condition.

Barely half even had weapons and the astounding lack of food had you about ready to scream as you left their tins of meth the government had left from their now dismantled alliance with Russia that their forces were guzzling up like water to be unstoppable. All the trucks were uselessly near to empty on gas just leaving the motorcycles that made too much noise and required fuel too often to be useful for long so on foot you aimed yourself towards those trees.

Echoes of a ghostly whinny on the wind from the sounds of more convoys aimed for the road you were abandoning sent your head on swivel until flaming hoof marks had you smirk to yourself. Whispering, “Banshee?” in wonder if your magical friends were here so that you wouldn’t be alone in this.

Confidently in a ripple of flames the brown stallion came to solid form to gladly race right for his small friend he had noticed amongst enemy forces ahead. “Hey beautiful,” you said stroking his head that was pressed into your chest, “Out here alone like me?” A nod of his head and down onto his front knee joints he lowered to allow you an easier time climbing on his saddle to carry you to safety. And before harm could find your way in a fireball he was up and off again to head back the way he had came.

.

“Let’s see what we got in here,” you said at the small clearing Banshee stopped in, saying it was safe and within ally patrol. “Two, rotten potatoes,” to your left you turned to bury the pair of them that with a glittering mist around your palm shot up to grow dozens more potatoes safer to eat.

An apple seed had him excited to watch you grow a second tree he reared up to eat from as you dug up a potato to wipe free of dirt soon to lay with a second on your lap. The emergency pop up stove in your usual bag was easy to prop up and light to warm up as you pulled a dagger from your waistband to skin the potatoes. Down behind you Banshee settled, listening contently as you said, “Figures I’d have to hit some of the worst up Germans who wouldn’t have a pinch of anything edible.”

Talk from him however had you grinning at all he had to share in the past few years since last seeing you. Each tale more exciting than the last until you could blow on the skinless baked potatoes to take generous bites, chatter halfway through your first potato had you collect your sniper rifle to look through the scope. American soldiers from between a pair of hills littered with trees.

The glint on the scope however had their Captain order them to stop a moment. The familiar voice had Banshee let out a whinny and you lower the rifle mid ignition of your hair to let the now chuckling man in on who his friend had stumbled across. Even without the scope you watched his hand raised to mirror your wave, and he urged the men onwards to the dim of your hair again.

“Look who you went and found Banshee,” Carter said with a wide smile and move to come and sit beside you telling the others, “Boys, this is Chickadee, mind your manners. I have a good mind that she’s the one behind that mushroom cloud.” Disbelieving scoffs sounded and the men were just glad to rest in the campground and to be able to use your pop up stove and potatoes you lit up to amaze them by growing more of they returned the favor to spare a bit of seasoning and left over boar meat one of their men had killed a week back. “Take it you ran into unfriendlies,” Carter rumbled with a nod to your ammunition loaded bag and rifle laid across your lap.

“Crystal man struck again, dropped me right in the middle of a Nazi castle.” That had you bring out the pen you had landed on out of your pocket he smirked in accepting to look over. “Had to pull that out of my back, landed square on a desk under a portrait of Hitler, blew the place up when they went for their guns, found this hat in the rubble and started walking. Ran into a convoy, grabbed some weapons and then Banshee found me. Where are you headed?”

“Just East of here, heard there were some railways we’ve been ordered to secure,” he said as you eased the rest of your second potato into your mouth, the end of his sentence had you lift a finger to reach for your bag.

Still chewing the men around you hushed at the sight of how much ammo you had until a thick folded roll of maps that you handed him to say behind a raised hand, “Pulled those out of a guard station, might help.”

That had him chuckle and a few of his guys hurry over to sit on his right and look at the spread of information noted on these. “This is their entire transport plan, guard times, check points.” Another of the men scoffed, “This one even has the roads they send higher ups on.” Together they looked at you asking, “Why’d you take these?”

“I was going into the wilderness, maps are helpful for that. Didn’t exactly know where I got dropped this time.” To Carter your eyes drifted to ask, “Where are we?”

“Just East of Warsaw, Banshee was cleared to race all the way to Germany, no doubt that’s where you got stabbed with this,” he said giving you back the pen you pocketed again. “You look tired, you can use my bedroll.”

“Just got off work after school, you won’t need it?”

“Plenty rested, I’ll stand guard, you rest up. We have some plans to radio ahead.” Out of his pack he gave you his bedroll to lay out and stretch out on a side to get some rest. Over the radio the plans were shared to the stolen glances of a few of the men who were curious to guess at how the two of you were related and how someone like you was so unsettlingly at home in a war like this.

.

Breakfast was pulled together and over it Carter shared their plans for the travels ahead and handed you back the folded maps, “Told the nearby base we ran into a friend who came across this information and they want it taken to them. Now I’m not too kindly to that idea but I know with Banshee’s help you can get to the base safely and back to us again if you can’t find your way back home again just yet.”

“I can do that. Always did want to play postman just once in my life when I was little.” Making him chuckle at your joking tone. “Plus, we split up we can double the coverage to keep your six covered if they make you turn back around.”

“Not sure if it helps or hinders, heard Stark is at the base.”

“Of course he is. Not too sure he’ll be pleased to see me again.”

“Oh yes he will, did all he could to keep ads up for information on you. Do think he’ll be pleased you aren’t in a dress like last time,” his grin spread in rumbling, “Leather bag seems more useful as well far as size goes, and the tassels are a nice touch.”

“Almost didn’t take it, had to use some shoe boxes and fabric to make some pocket inserts for it. Can’t seem to find a bag meant for looks and utility in my price range. And can’t say that the pack I stole is very much useful either, it all just sort of clatters around. Best thing they had on them was the sniper rifle and pistols you must be handing them their asses back to them, aside from that thirty had two rotten potatoes for sustenance.”

Excitedly the men gave exclamations that they were doing just that, leaving the Nazi’s on the ropes just scraping by. For the last bit of time together they shared some tips of the path ahead right up to Carter helping you up onto Banshee’s back to be carried to the edge of the forest not far from the city base of the allied troops.

.

“Thank you,” you said stroking Banshee’s face after a hug goodbye. Careful to tuck a note for Carter into his saddle bag so it would not be lost as a goodbye for him in case you couldn’t get to see him again. Reluctantly he had to leave to return to Carter and down against the base of a tree nearest to you down you crouched to lift the gun to use the scope for any sight of danger.

Halfway ruined the grey and tan stone city had one road into it guarded by two men manning the rail gate lifted and lowered to allow bodies and vehicles in and out. Planes overhead adjusted the aim of your scope to confirm who was manning them. In the aftermath of rumbling silence noise came back into the forest and lowering the rifle you rose up to exit the forest.

Each step once in view of the guards seemed to grow louder. Binoculars were lifted by one of them as the bees around the brim of your hat kept on guard in both color and heat scans to find any sense of danger. Over their radio Chester tapped into the frequency so you could hear their warning of a petite armed female on the edge of the city. Call for diligence was all that was replied and had the pair of them keep hold on their guns to see what would come out of this stranger.

“Hello,” you said when you neared the stiffening duo, “Captain Slade sent me.”

Eyes shifted down your tiny self and one of them asked, “What kind of accent is that? Eastern European?”

“American.” You said making his brow arch up and the other man lift the radio to share the Captain’s messenger arrived with the discovered intel on enemy forces.

The gate was lifted and a soldier who came into view out of a building not far away neared to be your guide deeper into the city. “Sergeant Memphis will show you to the Major.”

Mid nod under the gate you passed, feeling their eyes trail over your clearly armed self. Not willing to leave any chance of being attacked from behind. A few feet from there you glanced up at the Sergeant who had the last name Darling stitched onto his jacket, the feel of eyes on him had him steal a glance down at you, “Memphis your first name or hometown?”

“Hometown, my CO had the same first name. How’d you meet the Captain?”

“Met him in a graveyard few years back during a meteor shower. One of them supposedly came down near his house.”

Past a series of stacked bits of broken furniture you passed a half eaten plate of fruit cores and a sandwich his eyes followed your reach for the peach pit. Casually the motion was taken without stopping. The unbroken stride only bringing you closer to the sight of dozens of soldiers loitering inside the courtyard that came up at the end of the straight street you were on.

“Wait here,” a second soldier spoke to turn on his heels to head inside the building behind him.

“Howard Stark wouldn’t happen to be here, would he?”

That had the second soldier pause to look back at you, “Names of those inside the base are not open for discussion.” Right away your eyes and hair lit up, causing him to reach for his gun on his hip that had a familiar woman behind him reach out to grab his wrist. Peggy Carter’s eyes locked on the peach pit atop your raised palm that split open to expose sprouting leaves and roots littered in yellow glowing mist that carried the growth into a broken patch of cobblestones in the center of the courtyard to allow room for a magnificent peach tree. Five peaches within a matter of moments were released by their branches into your grip, the last you raised to take a bite mid dull of your hair and eyes.

“I’ll watch her, Sergeant,” Peggy Carter said without break of her gaze as more loitering soldiers neared the tree to inspect it. “Care to sit?” gesturing her hand to the side to a small table with stools made of empty metal spools. You nodded and moved to as the stunned soldier broke from his place to continue inside as you chewed and swallowed your bite.

“If you do see Howard tell him Chickadee is here,” you said taking another bite of the peach.

“You’re Chickadee?” Peggy asked as you shifted a shoulder to have the pack drop to an extended finger to catch it and the rifle strap, both of which you lowered to the table against the wall. She stood as long as you did, watching you set each of the uneaten peaches on the table and shook her head in your offer of one. “No thank you.”

When you sat down you were able to say, “Do have to say, pictures don’t do you justice.”

“You know me?” she asked plainly as you settled your leather bag on your lap taking another bite of the peach you turned in you palm.

Smirking at her you replied, “How can I not know Peggy Carter SSR Agent. Not many women to look up to these days.”

“What do you know of the SSR?” she asked while giving you a pointed gaze.

“Enough to help me hunt Hydra and Leviathan down,” you said parting her lips, “I know we’re in a war but you don’t have to be afraid of me I’ll be gone before long.”

“Chickadee!” Clearly was shouted from the other side of the building the soldier had entered and was followed by racing steps to bring Howard out of the doorway wide eyed and panting.

“Want a peach?” you asked lifting one and took another bite of yours widening his grin. “Have plenty.”

He came closer to see you light up again splitting the pit in your hand you tossed to be a good distance from the peach tree already grown to grow a second as Howard came to accept the peach still in your palm. “I have been looking for you everywhere.”

“Carter mentioned you made a few ads.”

Before he took a bite of the peach he glanced at your hand as you lifted another peach and asked, “Have you heard about Barnes?”

His eyes lifted to meet yours and you answered as the Major exited the building, “I know he fell from a train trying to keep Captain America from kill the both of them.” Peggy’s mouth fell open and you said to her, “And you can’t convince me that anyone but Rogers is responsible for what happened to James Barnes. James, his entire life while he knew Rogers tried to keep him from killing the both of them, all of which Rogers kept racing at danger knowing Bucky wouldn’t let him go alone. He used that dedication and love selfishly to leave a bigger bang until he managed to kill himself, and proudly Rogers can know buried in the Arctic he finally succeeded. Not only did Rogers have to self destruct but he had to take innocent people with him just like his father did.”

Howard gestured a finger at you a moment over his peach as you took a bite of the new peach only to curl his finger around the peach as the Major looked you over when he neared the table. “Captain Slade informed us he was sending a friend with intel on the Germans?”

Out of an inner pocket on your jacket you offered the folded maps he and the Sergeant who escorted you unfolded them to allow them and Howard, who leaned in closer to gawk at the various maps they shifted between. Howard was first to ask you, “How’d you get these?”

“Got dropped in the center of Germany. Some castle filled with Nazis. Landed on a desk and had to pull an eagle tipped pen out of my back, found those in a guard office and this hat on my way out.”

Howard’s eyes narrowed at you and he asked, “Dropped how?”

“Bit complicated, probably help you more in going over those details than to try and figure that out because honestly I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Just landed on a desk under full view of a portrait of Hitler, guns got pulled and I bolted.”

The Major said, “Keep an eye on her,” and turned to head back inside leaving you looking up at Howard, who smirked as you finished chewing your mouthful and swallowed it.

“You look hungry,”

“I’m always hungry.” You said making him chuckle and nod his head to the side.

“Let’s feed you then, Sergeant, I’ll be taking my friend to the kitchen.” Off the stool you stood to walk with him to a building not far off with hold of your peaches in the sway of your leather bag still draped sideways across your torso. “You shrank,” he teased.

“Wearing boots this time.” You said dropping another pit to grow a third tree on the way out of the courtyard to help the soldiers add more fruit to their stored food supplies.

“Same coat though, been in the forest long?”

“Just a night. Been here long?”

The Sergeant said, “Our missions are of no concern to civilians.”

Making Howard smirk before saying, “Not long, off in the morning to another base. Where are you off to after this?” You shrugged and he said, “You can come with me then, brought my own plane since you have some free time.”

Peggy who had come to take his other free side asked, “Who do you report to?”

“I go where the Norns guide me.” You said causing her brow to arch up.”

Sergeant Darling said, “Never heard of any Norns.”

“The Norns created the Old Gods. Lay out the destinies of all who fall within their reach.”

“Old Gods?” she asked.

“I’m not Christian, where you may have one my people have several. I have no affiliations I do as I please.”

“Hopefully you get paid well for that,” Howard said making you chuckle and shake your head.

“I’m 16, no one wants to pay me well.”

“No, no,” he said stopping to look at you, “Last time we met back in ’38 you said you were 15.”

“Time is different where I come from,” parting his lips, “I know you’ve met Einstein and understand men like him have theorized of alternate realms, those fall prey to time differently than Midgard does.”

“So, it’s been years to us, but months for you.” He said and you nodded, “That makes sense.” Then he shook his head, “But, you got sucked into that tear, my machine, that can be a portal to your world?”

“No, I was taken from my world by someone who used a machine similar to yours to tear open a portal, I had to replicate the machine to go back and repair the tear. Your machine cannot open a door.”

“So you just had to copy the proper process and mechanics to return. Do you need another of my machines?”

“No, I wasn’t taken the same way this time. There was something about his wrist though, felt something on it.”

“Like a watch?” Peggy asked.

And you nodded, “But I didn’t see it and I can’t feel another tear like last time.”

Peggy, “What if you cannot go home? What must your parents think?”

“I am an orphan, but my brothers will find a way to get me back.”

Howard asked curiously, “You, you can grow things and do that explosion thing,”

“I can manifest and manipulate atoms.” You explained.

“What can they do?” he asked continuing to move to the kitchens again.

“Well one eats people, the other a journalist, but they both cherish me deeply.”

Howard and the Sergeant halted mid step a moment to look at one another then quickened up as Peggy asked, “You said, eats people?”

“Yes. Only if he cannot help it. Normally he has a great show of resilience.”

Vaguely details of your life were shared while Howard had the soldiers in the kitchen fix you up a breakfast. Note of the blood stain on your lower back once your jacket was taken by eyes of people around you who puzzled at the peach button down shirt under a black vest to go with the worn jeans, thick tall socks and boots. Odd layers with fabric not common in war shortages and styles of cut with little care to how it accentuated your figure only accented as you rolled up the sleeves on your shirt.

.

For hours you spoke to them between shared updates from the Major’s right hand who confirmed that the news was being passed on to the allied troops and reminders for Howard who sighed continuously at being reminded of his being expected to be on time.

Alone in the Mess Hall you were seated at a table with deck of cards in hand brought out of your bag. Still under watch by other soldiers around the room not to be allowed to leave you wondered at the name of the base Howard was flying to. They shared the date and clearly you could recall reading about that base being leveled in the morning. All day they had kept you here and for a short time Howard had been called away with Peggy at his side urging you to begin a series of card games to keep busy in wonder on what you were meant to do with this information.

When he came back however with a couple bottles of whiskey and a pair of glasses he took a seat beside you saying, “Figured we could use a toast.” Clearly a drink in already he uncapped the bottle and poured two glasses, making sure to ease one your way you lifted as he raised his, “To lost first loves and the selfish idiots who stole them from us.” The words from him had you roll your eyes and tap your glass to his and down the drink as the plan came to fruition.

Poker was an easy temptation with more bodies filling the table as liquor was unearthed to keep the game going. Bolts and pebbles were pooled in front of you and others to mark winnings, all to be ignored in Howard’s slight sway on his seat signaling by sight and means of a body scan he was close to passing out by one of the bees hidden in your hair. Glass after glass the bitter biting drink was downed uselessly by you. To simply urge him on to keep up until the cards were left and winnings split so you could help Howard up to go and find his room, his grinning self again wearing your hat and had hold of your coat and bag to be led by your smaller body under his arm.

All night in the window of his tower room that sat drafty and dusty you sat up beside the view of distant explosions and smoke stacks rising to block the stars. You just had to keep him busy for a few hours after dawn to ensure he would be late to his meeting.

.

Several times the same huffing soldier would come in to glare at Howard’s unresponsive self then stomp out to come back later after the genius had wanted to be woken and warned of his plane being fueled up and ready to go first thing. No one ever expected him to be on time and just once he had sworn to try and change his image, you however had come in between that achievement and him.

He did however wake to you seated cross legged at his side with a bowl of fruit to snack on for breakfast. A smile flinched across his lips until he realized what that golden glow around you actually was, “What time is it?”

“Almost ten,” you answered and he shot up to start gathering things. “Brought you some fruit for breakfast. Boys all ate the oatmeal.”

Into his bag he shoved things and turned around to ensure he had everything asking you, “They were supposed to wake me, have my plane ready at dawn!”

“Private Thick tried to wake you. Plane’s ready.” All he did was shut the lid to his bag and he raised a hand to press on his forehead during the slam of his hangover that caught up to his finally stationary self. The sway on his feet made you cross the room, offering him the bowl he looked at it then you. “Eat your breakfast, you can’t fly I have my license.”

“I am never going to hear the end of this. I swore I would be on tie for once! Now I’m going to be arriving near to sunset!” Again he groaned and pressed his hand on his forehead. “I shouldn’t have drank, now I can’t fly,” he muttered and you folded the bowl into his free palm.

“Eat, I got your bag,” you said plopping your coat over your bag you draped across your torso to lift his bag. “Eat,” you ordered him with a gentle nudge to the door collecting your stolen hat along the way.

“You wouldn’t wake up,” Private Thick said on the way to the polished silver DC-3 plane waiting for Howard and yourself.

“Ya ya, no one feels worse about it than me,” Howard muttered and groaned in the jolt of propellers to begin turning on his plane you had climbed inside to fire the engine up.

And glumly he went to join you inside only pausing at Sergeant lovely who hurried onboard calling out, “Forgot your ammo and rifle.”

“Thank you, Darling,” you called out in a glance back making him smirk to himself.

“Cards are in the side pocket,” he added then hurried out behind Howard’s back once he had entered the aircraft the Sergeant would seal to enable a swift take off.

“See you move on fast.” He teased making you look back to the float of your bees to scan the bag for any dangers hidden inside.

“His name is Darling,” you clarified.

“Sure it is, but you didn’t have to say it like that.” He said adding his sunglasses he had lifted to look at you mid cocky grin.

“Just handle the tower chatter, I’ll handle the flight.”

Making him smirk and add his headset saying, “Aye Aye, Captain Chickadee.”

.

Burning rubble beyond the smoke plumes that had Howard inch up and take his headset in hand to adjust to comply with the radio signals of the tower to not be shot down had snapped him out of the shock that his destined base was destroyed. Down below bodies sifted through the rubble and upon permission to land a jeep loaded with bodies came to meet the plane to see what was going on.

“Howard Stark!” The highest ranking man said as the scientist hurried down the plane steps to shake his hand. “Your name was on the dig list. All the notes had you set to arrive this morning,” up to you when you stepped onto the staircase eyes shifted and Howard turned to gesture his again freed hand your way.

“This is Chickadee. My friend, ran into her yesterday.”

“Chickadee, the same Chickadee who broke all of Germany’s transport routes for us?”

Making you shrug, “Not sure about all of them, found some maps.”

Howard chimed in, “Being modest.” And he looked to the men again asking, “What happened?”

“Base was hit in a series of retaliations. There’s reports someone set off a mushroom cloud in the center of German forces few days back. Five of our bases were hit in retaliation, three uninhabited,” that had the man chuckle, “But the bastards caved.”

“Caved?” Howard asked.

“Hitler killed himself inside his bunker day of the cloud and his next in command has given word Germany is surrendering. Officials are meeting up today to get it in writing. Now with those maps no one can slip by unnoticed till it’s final.”

Another nodded his head to the side urging you both to the jeep, “Colonel will be glad to see you, Mr Stark. Most of the men inside have already been pulled out. Only five dead, not so bad. Would have been worse if you made six.”

Howard nodded and hung back to whisper to you, “You happened to land in Hitler’s headquarters and now the country folds?”

Your eyes met his to say, “Hitler killed himself inside his bunker.”

“Oh that’s terribly convenient,” he muttered watching you accept a hand up from one of the men into the back of the jeep.

“You’re bleeding!” That turned heads and you shook your head.

“Old stain, just a bruise now,” you said lowering the ammo filled pack that had another of the men chuckle.

“You got your own personal arsenal.” He teased in a peek inside your ammo loaded pack.

“Took it off a German convoy on my way into Poland. Need some ammo?” You said and they shook their heads to say they’d refilled their own supplies to Howard’s climb inside to sit beside you with his bag on his lap as you adjusted yours on your own lap.

And outside the building you had been driven to Howard broke his stare fixed on you and not the smoldering city they drove past to get to a smaller encampment further down the road missed by the attack. There you were helped down to find the Colonel while they had to return to their posts.

“Why me?” he asked in a moment alone as the men turned to drive back having aimed you towards the building the Colonel was inside of. You looked up at him and he said, “This is twice now you stopped me from being blown up. Why me?”

“You know, I often ask myself that same question. I certainly don’t wake up in the mornings wondering how I can keep flammable Howard Stark from exploding today?” and he shook his head.

“I won’t forget this. I might not be the hardest to get drunk but I know you intentionally didn’t drink last time to keep a clear head and you did this time to get me to.” A moment later he asked, “You really have a bone to pick with Rogers? I know you miss Barnes,”

You lifted a hand to stop him, “The difference between Santa Claus in the Macy’s Parade and the one filling stockings is the one tearing himself apart to protect hope and goodness in children around the world is not the one tossing candy canes to the crowd,” parting his lips. “The man is hollow without his shield, you made him strong and increased his healing but you never bothered to look at why he threw himself on that grenade in the first place. He hated who he was and where he came from so deeply he fed into any and everything he was told to say or do.”

“How do you know this?” he asked with his eyes narrowing.

“You want to know what America stands for you look at the files of black men that same Serum was used on.” Sharply he let out a breath at your sharply whispered jab. “You tell me why they get to suffer so another white man can be given the fixed Serum to be the next Cap. Why they get buried until the man with the right face or background gets to step onto that parade float. America is all about one man standing in the limelight while his boot is shoving someone else’s face into the grindstone.

Those men locked away are fifty times the Captain Rogers will ever be to me. They will spend decades erased, tortured and kept out of the sun, I know who your parents were and where you came from. I respect you for that. We might not have the smoothest coexistence but there is a body and soul behind what you do, I don’t hate Rogers, I despise the fact he allows other people to define who he is allowed to be while holding himself to pious levels for that persona. Small and sickly you face that fate and you don’t dare to flinch or leap to the chance to hide and be the perfect man instead of actually knowing who you are alone in a quiet room.”

At the door he opened the dividing barrier and let you through first, “You’re an immigrant too,” he said realizing where the underlying issue came from of who an American can be. “Trust me, I get it. It does get easier.”

“My brother got me in therapy, it’s helped a great deal. But, then again I am a teenager, still time for everything to take a sharp left as my brain keeps developing.”

“Puberty is a beast,” he said making you grin to yourself. “I know I barely made it myself.”

“Food,” you were heard whispering, having smelled meat pies somewhere as Howard got called to the other end of the buffet table containing hall to speak with the Colonel in charge. Whispers of who you were was shared with glances stolen at the settle of the bolero hat, ammo bag and rifle down against the wall to accept a small cloth napkin to lay an offered closed meat pie. Softly you thanked the Polish woman who made the treats in her tongue and turned to look around the hall.

An open doorway however had you pause and turn to look head on at a mark graffitied on a distant wall. “Chickadee?” Howard called out to you as you stepped into the doorway. “This is where you’re gonna vanish again on me aren’t you?”

“Hope so,” you said making him shake his head and regrettably have to focus on the soldiers in front of him when you took a first step outside.

Across a courtyard to a first bite of the meat pie the black symbol you recognized as one of those summoned on the hands of Sorcerers began to glimmer faintly the closer you got. Once at the corner the symbol vanished to appear on another wall further down the shadowed pathway narrowing as buildings closed in. “Ancient One?” you whispered then shifted your tongue in its odd prickle you took at first as too much salt on the pie you raised to claim another bite.

Right in the middle of a door left ajar a crack the final mark was placed and had you nudge the wooden barrier open gently revealing a male Sorcerer inside you had seen before. “Hello,” you said in his rise from the chair he had promptly sent back to its place along the wall.

“Hello, I am Karl Mordo. The Ancient One, regrettably as our eldest Master, was sent after the creature who sent you here and has asked me to fetch you instead.” Another step was taken inside closer to him and he turned to wave his hands in circles to summon a portal back to your time then faced you again. “Quite admirably you have restrained yourself. Perhaps myself in my earlier days of training I would not bear the strength to withstand such a journey alone.”

“Well, getting uncomfortably used to being snatched off the street. You said she was after crystal man?”

“Oh yes,” he said with a nod as you reached his side and finished off your pie. “A rather rough blend of a consciousness inside of a crystal formed body to sustain it.”

“So, he’s an AI?”

“In a way, a consciousness yet to be shaped into the body of a clone.”

“Clone of who?”

“Adolf Hitler,” shallowly into a curled fist you coughed feeling a prickle rising up your throat as you felt the food hit your belly. “The creature Hate-Monger was amongst his peers.”

“He’s gonna snatch me again isn’t he?”

“No, not if the Ancient One is successful in her efforts to contain them. No. Would you like to know the answer to Howard Stark’s dilemma?” Up at him you looked again mid subtle cough behind clenched lips. “Whether or not you killed Adolf Hitler or if he committed suicide inside a bunker?”

“I don’t really think I need that ego boost. History says he committed suicide.” Widening a grin across his lips.

“An admirable choice,” he said and when you had passed through the portal again to feel the link with your hive snap back into place he stated, “And do not fear, that explosion was always meant to be contained as a conspiracy set by the allies.” Making you smirk in his pass back into the portal that snapped shut. Just in time for you to begin to cough harder and finally recognize the taste in your mouth as mushroom broth that had you drop to fumble your coat away to get into your bag at the injector.

.

“Are you sure I can’t take you to the hospital?” Clint asked helping you into his suv.

“I’m sure, just need to eat something I’m not allergic to. Your ankles alright?” you asked making him smirk. “Bit of a jump you made.”

“My ankles are fine. Do have a bruised hip though it didn’t help, but we all have our qualms. There’s blood on your shirt.” He said patting a hand over where you pulled the pen from on your back.

“I landed on a desk, broke a pen and inkwell or two.” Out of your coat pocket you showed him the golden eagle topped pen he took hold of to turn over and read the markings on it he recognized as an impossibly well crafted copy of pens museums held custody of the Nazis used. “You want a Nazi pen?”

Up at yours his eyes snapped and he smirked handing it back to you, “Maybe you can donate it to a museum or something.” Back to you he handed the pen you put back into your coat pocket. “What do you want to eat? Pick you up something on the way to your place. Just gotta text Rhodey first so he’ll stop having a heart attack.”

Forward you turned and he shut the door to bring out his phone and text Rhodey as he climbed into the driver’s seat. ‘Allergic reaction, had a shot with her. Taking her to get food and then home and I will call you after.’

“There’s a small Italian place three blocks over,” you said and he followed your directions to park there and then get out to help you out only to look you over as your eyes settled on your mud stained boots. “Am I confrontational?”

That had him let out a chuckle and he said, “Not to me,” watching you fumble your jacket off your bag to put on he helped you to untangle it and pull it on again so you could button it again.

“I gotta tell you, I got three kids, and if my little girl is half as strong as you are I’ll be one proud papa. Can’t fake that, I know you went through hell without hearing a word of it. Steve,” he shook his head, “Rhodey shared about your heirlooms and he had no right to say they weren’t yours. He blows up and even for me I gotta walk away to not sock the guy in the mouth. Now the dad in me really wants to know about the whiskey.”

“You’re gonna think I’m crazy.”

“Try me.”

“I was at Rogers and Barnes’ wake.” That had his brows arch up. “Some soldiers got me away from the Nazis. They had a table of food and, pie and mushrooms in it.”

“So, forty, forty two, crystal Hitler’s got a time machine then. Messed up. Seriously messed up, that is going to drive Tony crazy that we can’t chase him.”

“They said the Sorcerers are chasing him. Gonna try to trap him somewhere. I’m a magnet for chaos.”

“I think crystal Hitler is a bit beyond chaos, at least a hair.” He said straightening up to turn and lead you inside. “You get what you want, much as you want I’m buying three pizzas for myself.”

He would be the wide eyed one to have to eye his pizzas that were 2 feet across to be added to your two large pizzas, laptop sized box of spaghetti and lasagna to go with the bag of garlic knots.

All were put inside the suv that you would hold and then lift to hand over to Eddie who was seated on your front stoop in wait for contact from you after the ping box had gone off then fallen silent in a matter of moments. Your bees had helped you to message him on who was bringing you home and were the reason he was so calm and able to keep from tearing the door off the vehicle when it came to a stop.

“Pluto had an allergic reaction, she can tell you the rest,” he said to your slightly more uncomfortable experience. And he said to you, “Get some rest, need be go get checked out and stay home tomorrow.”

You nodded and said, “Thanks, for the help and the food.”

“Anytime, see you around.” And he climbed back inside saying, “Got my own week of pizzas to get started on,” into the vehicle he climbed and put his phone on speaker to talk to call Rhodey back and drive to his place in town to get started on his ridiculously large pizzas.

Eddie right away in the time alone asked, “Why do you smell like whiskey?”

Softly you huffed and said, “I had to get Howard Stark drunk to keep him from blowing up.” To the stoop you turned adding, “And I might have killed Hitler.” Throatily he chuckled at the bare bones of the explanation he would not hear filled out until you were inside his place and could spill all the details including showing him your pen. Before you could eat you wanted to change and quickly brush your teeth and comb your hair you unbraided to be washed in a shower prior to bed.

“And, wow. You okay?”

“Yes,” you said bringing your hive chunk out of your bag to show him on the way to add it by the rest of the hive. “Had a bigger guard this time. Mordo said the Ancient One is after the Hitler clone AI, so hopefully I won’t have to get sucked back to WW2 again.”

Venom asked, “Perhaps there is an element we have not witnessed from the initial trip, Sister?”

“Well I didn’t have my hive, fairly likely.” You said settling down to the spread of food at your coffee table and drinks he had brought out for you both.

Venom stated, “Several were taken months ago, just you this time. Perhaps you were the closest to achieving what crystal man required.”

Eddie questioned, “This like that Sean Connery film, ‘There can only be one’ and crystal Hitler needs the real Hitler dead?” Making you shrug.

Venom, “We have paid witness to civilizations with clone programs that require the original to perish.”

And again you sighed opening your bottle of juice to take a sip, “How many times are we going to have to kill Hitler?”

Pt 31

@devilishminx328​. @theincaprincess​, @lilith15000​, @jesevans​, @jiminapickle

THUNDER AND FURY (THOR ODINSON X BLACK! OC)

Summary: Nicki Fury a tough girl who had no time for games is put on a team of formidable superheros falling in love with her polar opposite Thor odinson

Previous | Next

It's a man with long black hair, a smile sprawled across his face in a mischievous manner, he raised his head. The smile dying down. He looked deep into the eyes of Fury, Nicki, Barton and Selvig. Standing up, he held a scepter.

"Sir, please put down the spear!" Fury commanded.

He looked down at his spear as if reminded of his power, suddenly pointing it at where Fury, Nicki, and Barton were standing and shoots out and exploding blue light toward them. Barton tackles Fury and Nicki and barely missing the blast.

Machine gun fire is shot at the man, but the bullets ricochet off him like rubber. He jumps high from the platform and attacks the guards firing at him.

In the blink of an eye, the intruder takes down several guards with his knives and energy blasts from the scepter.

He stops and waits to see who will attack him next. Honestly, the whole lab has almost gone to shit. Barton tries to stand up but the male quickly walked towards him. As Barton raised his gun the stranger grabbed Barton's hand.

"You have heart." He mutters pointing the head of his spear at Barton's chest. Barton's eyes suddenly glow black then fade blue just like the Tesseract.

The ability to control Barton's mind was now in his hands. Barton puts his ear piece away standing up straighter.

The man seemed busy using his abilities to control the minds of several S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel, Nicki watched as Fury took the Tesseract, placing it back into its case and following him as he snuck out of the lab.

"Please don't. I still need that." The intruder said stopping the pair.

"This doesn't have to get any messier." Nicki warned raising her arms in defense.

"Of course it does. I've come too far for anything else." He paused regaining himself "I am Loki of Asgard, and I am burdened with glorious purpose."

Selvig gasped quietly "Loki? Brother of Thor?"

Nicki was perplexed why I the world would the gods come down just to pick a fight with them? they hadn't done anything, or had they Nicki thought eyeing her father suspiciously.

"We have no quarrel with your people." Fury said confused.

Loki smirked maliciously, "An ant has no quarrel with a boot."

"You planning to step on us?" Fury questioned pretending to sound offended.

"I come with glad tidings, of a world made free."

"Free from what?" Nicki scoffed, another villain with a hero complex.

"Freedom. Freedom is life's great lie. Once you accept that, in your heart..." Like a gunslinger, Loki turns to face Selvig who'stood behind him and placed the spear against Selvig's heart. Selvig's eyes begin glow black also fading blue. "You will know peace."

"Yeah, you say peace, I kind of think you mean the other thing."

From the vacuum chamber ceiling, the Tesseract energy cloud rapidly builds into what Nicki could assume may be an implosion.

"Sir, Director Fury is stalling. This place is about to blow. Drop a hundred feet of rock on us." Looking to the two Barton continued "they mean to bury us."

"Like The Pharaohs of Odin." Nicki smirked crossing her arms.

Selvig typed something into the computer "He's right. The portal is collapsing in on itself. You got maybe two minutes before this goes critical."

"Well, then..." Loki raises his eyebrow looking to Barton almost as a signal Hawkeye , Shoots Fury who falls to the ground.

Nicki's hands began to shake as they did every weapon in the hands of the evil SHEILD agents flew out of their reach leaving Barton and the rest unarmedm

Nicki let out a loud hiss as she felt a sharp pain pierce though her abdomen looking down she saw it was a blade that loki had previously used.

Suddenly she was sent flying back by a force so strong that made her clutch her head in immediate pain.

She groaned as she watched Barton grab the case containing the Tesseract leaving the lab with Loki, Selvig and the others.

Forcing herself up she crawled to her walkie talkie "Hill, do you copy?" Nicki asked pulling the blade from her stomach.

Maria stood outside she'd had heard Nicki but she was praying the god hadn't. "Barton is..." Maria got no time to hear the rest before Barton began shooting at her.

Clint hopped in the driver's seat of the Jeep still shooting at the agent as he drove away.

"Dad? Dad?" Nicki called for her father who didn't answer he was to busy pulling the bullet from his pierced skin.

Snatching the walkie talkie out of Nicki's hands he spoke "He's got the Tesseract! Track it down!"

As the Tesseract's storm was still brewing in the vacuum chamber Nicki threw her father's arm around her neck before running as fast as she could out of the building.

The pair made it safely through the building dodging a couple falling beams. Nicki could feel the ground shake underneath her feet.

"Get in the passenger I'll fly" Nicki told her father as she jumped in the aircraft. She watched as her father scrambled "looking for something?"

Pressing a button on the control panel the back of the jet converted into a weapon wall complete with grenades and all.

"All I need is one" Fury smirked confidently taking one of the guns down.

The surface of the landing pad began to give way right after Nicki had gotten the aircraft off the ground and up into the sky she watched in the rearview mirror as the place they had work so hard for fall as if it were nothing.

Fury slid open the chopper's door as he began shooting at the Jeep carrying the evil god and the tesseract.

Loki looked up at Fury and in a fit of rage, pointed his scepter which shot out a blue light. The chopper soon caught on fire.

Nicki tried to stable the plane her hands shaking against steering wheel she tilted the plan to the side giving them enough time to jump safely before the aircraft touched ground.

Nicki brushed her hair out of her face before standing next to her father who was shooting at the Jeep but they were too far and too late. Loki looked back a victorious smiling on his face.

"Director? Director Fury, do you copy?" Agent Phil Coulson said through the walkie talkie.

Fury paused before answering "the Tesseract is with the hostile force. I have men down. Hill?"

"A lot of men still under, don't know how many survivors" she said almost as if straining.

Nicki stood there watching the spot the Jeep had just been at, she wasn't mad she was angry. Snatching the walkie talkie out of her father's hand she spoke "Coulson, get back to base. This is a level seven as of right now, we are at war."

"What do we do?" He asked softly.

Nicki didn't know she looked up to her father who started off in the distance.

But she could tell behind that eye patch was the plan of a lifetime.

THE AVENGERS

Within the Chaos, Magic is Found

Read on AO3...

@michi-hawkeye @911reversebang

Maddie sits down on her bed in her room, knees pulled up against her chest, and her chin resting on them solemnly. She blinks, eyes not yet damp with tears from missing Taylor but the room gives off an air of solitude that isn't exactly welcome at the moment. 

Royal life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, she has admirers and suitors after her hand, but they don't want her. They want the image her parents have created for her, the one they force her to continue by parading her around in fancy clothes and performing royal duties. 

What does balancing a book on your head have to do with real life? 

She's never gotten a clear answer to that question.

A wistful smile appears on her face when the image of red hair whipping in the wind and a bright smile directed at her enters her mind. Besides her little brother, Taylor is the only one who truly sees her as who she is and not who she's supposed to be. The first time she noticed it, she felt exposed and vulnerable to this unfamiliar terrain, but it was something she liked getting used to.

They'd met when Maddie escaped the castle one night, thanks to her favorite bodyguard, Athena, who'd turned away and pretended not to see her when she snuck out, the hood of her cloak pulled over her head. As if that getup isn't suspicious at all. 

She'd ended up at a café, sitting in the back of the room, the same hood covering her despite how warm the room was. Taylor had been typing away at her laptop, and Maddie found herself intrigued by her, how in the zone she looked at whatever she was doing, and at that moment, Maddie had wondered if she could ever be that passionate about something. 

What she didn't realize, and what Taylor had told her later was that she was watching her pretty intently too, from the moment she'd walked in, really.

Maddie looks out the window at the pretty view, trees floating around in the cool air of the night. Her gaze follows the closest tree to her as it sways back and forth, and it embarrassingly takes her more than a minute to figure out why that tree looks so much more interesting than usual. Her eyes catch on a flash of red, and Maddie swears that she imagined it until she sees the flash again.

"That cannot be a part of the tree," Maddie whispers, pulse quickening in excitement.

Her theory is confirmed when she sees a hand pushing hair out of the way and she wonders how no one else can see this. Maddie shakes her head at how ridiculously endearing it is.

She pulls a pink coat around her body, deciding to forego the cloak this time. She'll probably end up paying for that later when someone recognizes her, but whatever. Normal people don't walk around wearing hooded capes all the time, no matter how powerful they make her feel.

She grabs her things and heads for the bookcase, pushing the wooden structure aside to reveal the secret pathway. Walking down the long corridor, her steps are dainty to avoid noise. She's lived in the castle her whole life but she isn't certain there aren't other entrances to this area or cameras watching her or guards looking around waiting to pounce. 

"Are you crazy?" Maddie whispers loudly when she finally gets outside. The usual guards that are there aren't. Maddie doesn't question it.

"Only for you," Taylor replies, scrambling down from the tree. It's become a habit of hers, saying cheesy pick-up lines just to make her roll her eyes.

"That has to be your worst one yet," she tells her. 

Taylor gasps, feigning offense. "I'll have you know that I have said way worse." 

Maddie ignores that comment and pulls Taylor in for a hug. They hadn't seen each other for a week. Taylor got tied up with work and Maddie couldn't find a good time to get out of the castle, all the guards breathing down her neck like they don't have anything better to do.

When they separate, Taylor leans in for something more intimate, colliding their lips together. Maddie easily reciprocates, and her heart thumps happily in her chest where they are pressed together. They separate just in time for Maddie to catch her breath. 

"So what brings you—" Maddie's question is interrupted when Taylor swiftly grabs her hand, pulling her to the side so their backs are pressed against the thick trunk of the tree. 

"Tay—" She stops when she sees what Taylor sees, a guard walking out of the same exit Maddie had just used, whistling a happy tune. Her theory was correct, but that doesn't make her feel any better. 

Maddie presses herself closer to Taylor under the guise of keeping herself hidden. Taylor probably knows her real motive but doesn't say a word, but that may have more to do with their current situation. 

They're quiet against the tree for what feels like hours when Taylor tugs on her hand. Maddie spares a fearful, wide-eyed look back at the guard to see him smoking a cigarette and staring up at the sky, clearly distracted. She turns her head back and follows Taylor. 

They peer around the tree, and Maddie doesn't expect the second guard that appears, her least favorite guard too. They lock eyes and Maddie grips Taylor's hand tighter. 

This is not the time to stay frozen. "Run," Maddie whispers. 

"What?" 

"Run! Let's go!" She almost yells it this time, and she and Taylor dash off toward the gardens, Maddie's heart pumping adrenaline throughout her body as the guard is yelling for them to stop, footsteps loud and fast and swiftly approaching. 

Her eyes zero in on the extravagant blue shed across the garden and it's a long shot, but if she zig-zags left and right to throw him off, she might be able to lose the guard and hide in there. Her feet travel to one side and then the other to test her hypothesis, but it feels like someone else is moving them; this can't be her. 

She's halfway to the shed when a hand pulls her down, and she yelps, panting like a dog and clutching her pulsating chest.

"Shh!" Taylor says. She sits down against a tall plant. Her mother really does like them. The pastel blue ceramic pot is nearly as tall as Maddie is.

The force of Taylor's yank sends her into a heap next to her, the upper half of her body sprawled in Taylor's lap, a strand of dark hair stuck in her mouth. Maddie tries to spit it out but fails, and she musters up the energy to reach a hand up toward her face and pull it away. 

Maddie pulls herself back up and settles for leaning her head against Taylor's shoulder. 

"Is it safe to move?" Maddie asks, mumbling into Taylor's clothed arm. 

Taylor cranes her head up and around the potted plant. "He's headed for the shed. He looks pissed." 

Serves him right. Frank pisses her off too. Always sucking up to her parents, angling to get a promotion. He always has that stupid scowl on his face whenever her mother and father aren't watching. 

She's hated him ever since he called her then 6-year-old brother a brat for trying to jump out of the castle window and causing him to cry. 

"He can deal with it," she says, twisting her head to the side opposite Taylor's to see if she can get a better view. 

"He's in the shed! Let's go!" 

Taylor and Maddie jump up simultaneously, taking long steps to avoid making noise, almost like they're running in slow motion. 

The door to the shed creaks back open and Maddie ducks behind another, similarly-sized plant. She moves her head as much as she can without being seen in the limited space she has, eyes scanning her surroundings, swallowing a thick gulp when she can't see Taylor anywhere. Her stomach drops, a ball of twisting anxiety developing in her gut. 

Maddie wipes her sweaty, shaking hands on her pant-covered thighs, resisting the urge to run those same hands through her hair. 

Did Frank get Taylor?

He can't possibly have because she can still hear his footsteps thumping against the neatly-trimmed grass, searching. 

When she can't hear him anymore, she twists her torso as much as she can so she can see if he's still watching. His back is facing her, and she can so perfectly picture the snarl on his face as he scans the area. 

How stupid can a man be?

Pretty stupid, apparently.

Maddie worries her bottom lip through her teeth, giving the world around her a once-over. She steps on her tip-toes as if she were a ballet dancer and sets her foot on the top of the pot. She pulls her other foot along with her and keeps her knees bent into a squat as she sits within the obnoxiously large leaves. They resemble the tall, thick stalks of an aloe vera plant but Maddie can't be sure what exactly it is, only knowing that her mother would kill her if she found her sitting inside her prized possession. 

Her stomach swoops further when she remembers that she still doesn't know how to go about finding Taylor. 

She closes her eyes, visualizing the garden around her, where Taylor could have run off without her knowing. She wouldn't have abandoned her, Maddie thinks slightly hopefully. Another moment of pondering has her certain of that. 

"Maddie?" 

Maddie's eyes snap open quickly and then shut again, deciding that it's the wind playing tricks on her. 

That's a thing, right?

"Maddie!" She opens her eyes again. It's louder this time, like a whisper-yell, and the voice sounds suspiciously familiar. 

She bites her lip, wondering if she should answer. "Yes?" She whispers loudly, matching the voice's volume and grimacing. 

"Where are you?" 

Maddie looks around, and Frank is nowhere to be found. Maybe he's given up. Or he went to notify her parents. Or maybe Athena talked some sense into him. Who knows?

"In a plant. You?" 

"I'm in a tree." 

Maddie's eyebrows pull together confusedly, hating herself for wanting to laugh at a time like this. 

"Which tree?"

Her question goes unanswered.

"Can you see me?" Maddie squints through the dark at the nearby trees as she had done earlier in her bedroom. She scans each tree thoroughly, establishing that Taylor is not in any of those while the leaves dance to the beat of the wind.

She's almost given up when she squints just a little bit further and sees what looks like a hand waving around erratically. She's taking a big risk here; Frank could still be lurking. He most likely is.

"I see you! I'm coming." 

Maddie extends one leg in front of her, scooting her bottom to the edge of the pot and sticking the same leg out under herself, trying to locate the ground. 

"I am way too short for this," Maddie mutters when she steals a glance and notices her foot still dangling in the air below her, not quite reaching the soil.

She pushes herself further off the plant, her other leg quickly following the first, and she tries to hold herself up against it with her bent arms, purse hanging loosely on her upper arm, and it works for a few moments until the dampness of her sweaty hands skids against the ceramic and she lands in a thud on the ground, her arms aching. 

She pulls the hood of her incredibly conspicuous pink jacket (of all colors, why did she have to pick that one) over her head as if that would help matters any and runs across the too-big garden, stopping in front of the trunk of the tree she presumes Taylor is in. 

She looks up to see Taylor's feet scrambling down the branches, reaching out a hand for Maddie to help her down. 

Maddie grabs the hand as quickly as it is thrust in front of her and grips it tightly so Taylor doesn't lose her balance and fall. Just like she did a moment before, she thinks dryly.

"Thank you," Taylor says sincerely when she steps in front of her. 

Maddie shakes her head slowly, not quite believing what they had just been through. "How the hell did you get into a tree?" She has to ask.

"I don't know! All I saw was him coming out of the shed and you running like Usain Bolt, so I knew you'd be okay and I just…" She trails off. 

"Bolted?" Maddie jokes. 

"Yes, bolted." She sighs. "And when I made it up the tree, you were gone. That was worrying." 

"I hid inside a plant," Maddie admits, gaze flicking to the ground and then back to Taylor. "It's not as cool as it sounds. And then I fell, which I have decided is not my fault because no one in their right mind needs a plant that big."

"Maybe you're just short," Taylor says, looking down at her with a glint in her eyes. 

"Hush." 

"Fine." Taylor pulls Maddie into her arms and holds her tightly, Maddie smiling into her shoulder at the fact that they've now reunited after that. 

Crack. 

"Did you hear that?" Maddie whispers, pulling away, her eyes wide and her stomach starting to return to its previously anxious, knotted-up state.

"Hear what?" 

Snap.

"That!" It sounds just like a twig breaking in half. Like someone is still looking for them. Like they need to get the hell out of here right fucking now.

Looks like Frank hasn't given up yet. 

"Let's go!" She tells Taylor, and they run out of the gardens, ducking behind the obscenely large fountain, their clothes and hair dampening just a tad before they agree it's safe to leave again. They run past the buildings and the structures, and in a blur, they're out of the castle and in the real world, where people walk down sidewalks and go to stores and let their hair down and talk to each other without ever having to worry about the example they're setting, the best way to sneak out, or what rich family their parents are planning on marrying them off to. 

Maddie looks over her shoulder, her mouth falling open because she can't quite believe it, and if she had a little more courage, she would simply leave and never return. But she can't. 

The reasons why are so few these days, but she can't. 

Burnt red leaves blow in the wind as Maddie and Taylor take slow, steady steps across the sidewalk, no destination in mind. Her right hand is clasped in Taylor's left as they stroll.

"Our usual spot?" Maddie asks as they approach the café, Maddie letting go of Taylor's hand so she can push her purse up higher on her shoulder, trying not to blush at the way Taylor simply grabs her free hand instead. It's a bit of an awkward position but not at all unwelcome. 

Taylor hums in a reassuring agreement as she lets go of where they're joined together and opens the door for Maddie. 

"After you, Princess." 

"Shut up," she says as they walk in together. The moment they set foot in the bakery and the door behind them closes, Maddie is met with warm, comforting air and the smell of freshly-made cookies, a direct contrast to the biting air of the outdoors and the sharp scent indicating that it's going to rain soon. 

Taylor had mentioned once before that this is the place where she does her work when she doesn't want to be bothered, the noise of people bustling around her oddly comforting. Maddie smiles when she imagines Taylor the same way she was when they had first met, her hair up and behind her while she furiously types away at her laptop. 

"What are you thinking about?" Taylor asks, blue eyes wide with curiosity. 

"You," Maddie quips because it's true. 

"Is that so?" She raises an eyebrow, looking into her eyes and Maddie stares right back at her, not being one to back down from a challenge, even a non-existent one. 

Their staring contest is interrupted by Bobby. He's the owner of the café but he likes to be upfront, talking to people and giving them their orders. 

"You guys are here really late," Bobby tells them as if that's not the case every single time they're here. 

Taylor rolls her eyes. "What a newsflash, I'll write an article about it." 

Maddie turns her head to keep from laughing and her muscles tense up when she notices a man across the room looking at her with his head tilted as if she looks familiar and he's trying to place her. Maddie ducks her head and catches a concerned glance of Bobby's before his eyes melt into what she hopes is understanding because she doesn't think she could handle it if it were anything else. 

"Your usual?" He asks Taylor. 

"Of course!" She replies and lets Maddie lead her to their table. She chooses one in the back corner where Taylor can sit across from her and block her from everyone's vision. 

She glances back at the man and he's back to drinking whatever is in his coffee cup, having given up on trying to figure out who she is. That, or he has and he just doesn't care. Either way, Maddie is grateful. 

When Bobby comes to bring them their orders, Taylor's cocoa and Maddie's latte, they find themselves staring at each other again silently as they sip their drinks. Maddie tries to fix this by looking away shyly, and Taylor occasionally looks down in her cup as if the sight of the pale milk swirling around against the brown chocolate is the most interesting thing in the world, but they always end up looking back at each other again. It's not an uncomfortable silence, but Maddie wishes they had something to talk about, that she could pull a topic out of the air like magic.

"Maddie?" Taylor asks, her voice filled with a hesitance Maddie hasn't heard many times before. Taylor usually acts so confidently, so it's jarring to notice a time when she isn't.

Her eyelids shrink into a concerned squint as she looks at Taylor and she grips her cup tightly, her knuckles turning white as she does. 

She lifts the cup to take a long sip and holds in a pleased hum at the wonderful taste and the sensation of the warm liquid sliding down her throat.

Liquid courage, she thinks, though she's sure that term usually applies to alcohol. Coffee is the next best thing, she thinks.

"Do you ever think about—" Taylor looks around nervously, and Maddie follows her gaze, noticing Bobby across the room happily taking a young woman's order. There aren't too many people in the shop anymore. Statistically, fewer people in the room equal fewer people recognizing her. 

"About?" Maddie tries to look at her softly with a smile on her face, hoping that would relax her into asking what she wants to ask. 

"About maybe—" 

For a journalist, she sure is secretive, Maddie thinks dryly when Taylor glances around their surroundings again.

"Going public?" Her face looks hopeful now. What does hers look like? She's not sure except for the shock that runs through her, the way her heart twists with excitement at the mere possibility, and the way her mouth falls open slightly in surprise. 

Taylor must have taken her silence as rejection because her face falls and she tries to stammer out an apology. Maddie rests a hand on hers to stop her. 

"I think about it a lot, actually," she says softly, and internally pats herself on the back for the way Taylor's smile returns to her face. 

"You do?" 

"Yeah. I'm just… not sure how." 

They'd agreed not to go public not just for the sake of Maddie, but for the both of them. Taylor didn't want it getting out that they were together because she wasn't sure that kind of attention would be good for her career, and Maddie didn't think it was a good idea to go public given her parents' rigid ways of doing things. 

They've been together almost a year now, and not many things have changed, but Maddie's main worry was if she were exiled, she'd never see her brother again, but he's rapidly approaching adulthood so maybe they can leave together. Someday. 

Someday, we'll all get the hell out of here. 

It's a lot to hope for, but it's all that keeps her going right now. That and Taylor. 

"I don't know either," Taylor admits, and Maddie's eyes flick back to hers. 

"What about your career?" 

All that negative attention? Maddie doesn't say that, but she's sure they're both thinking it by the way Taylor's face turns thoughtful. 

Taylor exhales through her mouth in a loud sigh. "Maybe I can write a tell-all article," she jokes, "That way the attention it brings won't be bad, you know?" 

Maddie chuckles. "That's not such a bad idea." 

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah. That way everything's public and I get to show you off." The corners of Maddie's mouth lift into a flirty smile that usually Taylor is wearing on her face, but now it seems that the tables have turned.

But of course, Taylor being Taylor has to outdo her. 

"No way, if we're going public, I'll be showing you off, Princess." 

Maddie rolls her eyes. "You drive a hard bargain." 

"Think you can take it, Buckley?" 

"I know I can." 

"Sure." Taylor drags out the sound of the word as if she doesn't believe her.

"Shut up." 

"A royal telling someone to shut up?" Taylor gasps dramatically. 

"There's your million-dollar article," Maddie comments. 

"Exiled princess does have a nice ring to it." 

"I agree." 

They fall into another silence that this time Maddie doesn't feel the need to fill with unnecessary chit-chat. She sips her coffee and stares at the bare nails of her left hand, looking away when she finds that Taylor's face is a lot more interesting. 

She's reading some pamphlet about baking that just happened to be on the table, and the way her eyes scan back and forth across the words on the page is far more satisfying than any of the sights of the coffee shop. 

No offense, Bobby.

At some point, Taylor clears her throat and fixes her eyes on Maddie expectantly, more than a ghost of a smirk on her face. 

"See something you like?" And Maddie isn't about to admit to anything, so she takes the bait. 

"Yeah," she breathes, "The wallpaper is super interesting here." She tries (and succeeds) in her attempt not to laugh, and Taylor's eyes narrow. 

"Really?" She asks, her voice tinged with disbelief. "That wallpaper?" Taylor gestures next to her to where Maddie had just adjusted her gaze— to the plain white color of the wall just beside them. 

Maddie pokes her tongue in her cheek and decides to take it a step further. "Yeah, it's got kind of a minimalist quality to it, don't you think?" She ends her statement with a split-second raise of her eyebrows as if daring her to disagree. 

Taylor stares at her blankly for more than a moment before the smirk returns to her face.

"You know what I think, Buckley?" 

"Hmm? No, what's that?" 

"I think you're lying." 

"Oh, you do?" Taylor's eyes narrow further at the challenge, and she purses her lips. 

"I do. That wall can't be more interesting than me." She crosses her arms defiantly, and Maddie rolls her eyes. 

"You sure do think a lot of yourself, don't you?" 

Taylor responds to that by huffing. A loud rumbling emits from Maddie's stomach, and Taylor laughs. 

"Would you believe me if I said that wasn't me?" 

Taylor's face scrunches in thought as if she's seriously considering her answer to that question. Her features relax into their precious expression, and she says, "No, I'm not sure I will."

The rest of the coffee date goes by quickly. Taylor orders Maddie a bagel with cream cheese when her stomach starts to loudly rumble again, and Maddie tries not to look away shyly when she helps her wipe off cream cheese from her bottom lip.

They talk about everything and nothing at the same time, the sound of the door opening and closing with people coming and going merely background noise, not drawing the least bit of Maddie's attention. 

It's like a bubble has formed around them, a bubble that only pops when Bobby shows up once again at their table. 

"You do realize we're closing now, right?" He asks, and Maddie lets herself chuckle at the way Taylor rolls her eyes at him again. 

"Hush," is all Taylor says in response, taking a few steps so she's standing behind Maddie's chair, helping her back into the pink coat she had abandoned earlier in the date.

"Have a nice night!" Bobby says and Maddie greets him a happy, polite goodbye in return while Taylor only lifts her hand above her head and gives him a thumbs-up, her other hand resting comfortably on the small of Maddie's back. 

"Do you have to do that every time?" Maddie asks amusedly with an unimpressed look on her face. 

"Yes, it's our thing. He gets it." She nods, emphasizing her point, and Maddie huffs out a laugh before she lets it go. 

They're walking down the sidewalk once again, the darkness of the night slightly lighter than before. Taylor shivers and Maddie takes her hand, softly caressing it to help warm her up. 

Taylor shoots her an appreciative look and they continue walking, autumn leaves blowing around aimlessly in the air before landing softly on the ground.

Again, softly, not at all reminiscent of the ungraceful way Maddie had fallen from that plant just a few hours ago. 

And speaking of that plant… 

"So how are you sneaking me back into the castle?" Maddie asks her. There's a bench planted into the cement of the sidewalk, so Maddie takes refuge there, pulling Taylor's hand down with her so she follows. 

"That's a good question." 

Taylor doesn't say anything after that and only responds when Maddie's eyes shift back and forth at their surroundings before coming back to look at her expectantly. 

"Depends on if Frank is still lurking." 

"He probably is, he has no life," Maddie muses, eyes locked on their hands joined together just above Maddie's right knee. 

"How much trouble do you think you'll be in?" 

"Depends on whether Athena said anything or not. He reports to her. My parents might not have any idea I'm gone." 

Maddie's tone is neutral, not quite giving away what she's feeling, and Taylor must pick up on that given what she says next. 

"Is that… good or bad?" 

Maddie blinks. "A little of both, I guess." She leans her head on Taylor's shoulder, looking up at the gray clouds that slowly cover the stars of the night sky. It was supposed to rain, but it hasn't yet, it seems. 

"Good because them not paying attention means I get to spend time with you," she says sweetly, gripping Taylor's hand tighter. 

"And bad because as parents, they should be paying attention," Taylor finishes for her, and Maddie nods without looking at her. 

"Being royal is more important to them." Maddie's statement is wistful like she knows it shouldn't be that way but that's just how it is, how it's been ever since Daniel died. 

They were happier then. They were busy a lot but still made time for their children. They played and danced and laughed. She and Daniel would drive their parents crazy by running through the castle and making them look for them. Hide-and-seek is so much more fun when there are near-infinite spaces to hide in. After he died, they lost interest entirely. Or maybe they just pretended they did so it would hurt less. 

Maybe there's some method to their madness. 

"We should probably head back," Maddie says, her tone soft and regretful like that's the last thing she wants to do. Taylor seems to share the same sentiment by the way she hums a sound of agreement but doesn't make any effort to move from where they are. 

"Probably," Taylor says after at least a minute of silence. Maddie scrunches her face in confusion until she remembers what she had previously said. 

It's at least another few minutes until Maddie shifts where she's leaning against Taylor, cheek pressing further into her shoulder.

"Are you ready to go?" Maddie asks, her voice slightly distorted due to her position. 

"No. But let's go anyway." Taylor gets up and Maddie holds her tightly around her upper arm, trying to savor these last moments with her because she may not see her again for a while. 

Once or twice they've been able to visit a few days in a row, but those circumstances are rare. They usually get to see each other in some way about once a week, except for that one time they didn't get to go out for almost a month, and if that situation repeats itself, Maddie doesn't know what she'd do to cope. Maybe she'll write long, dramatic Victorian love letters.

The sun is just starting to come up over the horizon now, so they know they need to hurry, but Maddie can't bring herself to make her steps any faster than the slow pace they are currently at. 

Especially when the light of the early morning sun hits Taylor just right and Maddie wants to take a moment to stop and look and savor it, but she can't. 

She has to get back home, but Maddie isn't sure if the palace is really home anymore, or if it ever truly was.

Maybe home isn't supposed to be a place.

"Maybe we'll have another adventure trying to sneak you back in," Taylor muses, and Maddie lets out an exhale that's supposed to be a laugh but took a wrong turn somewhere and became a sad sigh. 

When the palace starts to come into view, they walk toward the gardens, the ones that hold a whole new meaning in her eyes now. Maddie gazes at the tall plant that had betrayed her earlier with an amused light in her eyes and nothing more. 

"I don't see Frank anywhere," Maddie says. 

"There's hope for us yet." 

Maddie laughs, this time a little harder than she probably should. She's savoring these moments because they can come so few and far in between and it's so much better to remember them as happy and full of laughter. 

"You can just leave me here," Maddie says, voice low so only they will hear, "It won't look weird for me to be in the garden." 

Something in Taylor's face looks a little pained, but Maddie doesn't comment on it. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah, I am." 

Maddie opens her arms and lets Taylor sink into them. When Taylor's hands grip the middle of her back, Maddie adjusts her own to sit around Taylor's neck, brushing against her soft hair and stroking it gently.

When Maddie pulls back, she catches the eye of Athena standing by one of the many entrances, and Taylor follows her gaze. 

"I guess that's my cue to leave," she says, and Maddie nods sadly. 

"I love you!" Maddie calls after her softly, too softly for her to hear. 

Or so she thinks. 

Taylor turns around and jogs back to her, throwing her arms around her this time. 

"I love you too," she whispers in her ear, and Maddie giggles.

***

She really shouldn't have worried. Maddie wakes up in the middle of the night three days later to a sharp knocking at her door.

Maddie groggily sits up in bed, pushing the covers out from over her and climbing out, stumbling to her bedroom door and swinging it open with an unexpected yawn.

When her blurry vision starts to fade into something that makes sense, Athena comes into view. 

"Are you okay?" She asks her. 

Athena nods. "Just thought you should be informed that you-know-who is outside in a tree and you should probably go get her before she falls and kills herself." 

"Oh my God." She thanks Athena and the woman walks off with a kind nod and quiet footsteps down the long hallway. She moves like a cat. It's terrifying. 

Maddie throws her things into a bag and runs a brush through her unruly hair, slowly pulling back the extravagant curtains in front of her window and gazing at the trees. 

She can't quite make out Taylor, but the image of her scrambling up a tree and holding on for dear life is both amusing and worrying, Maddie thinks. 

She takes quick, loud steps through the not-so-secret entrance because Athena kind of has a point about that whole Taylor falling-and-dying thing, and that wouldn't be ideal.

Birds of A Feather- Need You Tonight

The third part of Birds of A Feather. Clint finally works up the courage to ask Blair out after a handful of derailed attempts and encouragement from Natasha. The only problem is that he doesn't know where to take her, and when they eventually get there, it's not what he had hoped for. Happy reading; feedback is always appreciated. Also posted on AO3.

“I know it’s more than a crush, Clint.” Natasha ground out as he landed a blow to her ribs. 

“Tasha, less talking. More punching.” 

The pair were currently occupying the training room; having no trouble throwing each other around like rag dolls for the sake of working out. 

“Im just saying,” Natasha ducked an oncoming kick and managed to sweep Clint’s feet out from under him, sending the archer onto his back. Natasha took the opportunity to look down at him. “If you don’t ask her to the Christmas Gala, you’ll miss your window.”

“I’ve been trying to ask her for a drink for weeks, and that keeps blowing up in my face.”

“Clint, don’t make me ask her for you.”

Just as Clint was about to respond, pushing himself up off the mat, Natasha was on him again, pinning him down. 

“Ask her, Barton.”

Leaving him where she had taken him down, Natasha strode from the training room, towel over her shoulder, and a smirk on her lips. 

“Fuck…” Clint scrubbed a hand down his face, thinking of what Nat had just said to him. 

He knew she was right, because to him, Blair was the type of woman who couldn't possibly stay on the market long. Clint had to make a move before it was too late. 

“Damnit Tasha, why are you always right…” he grumbled, moving to exit the room and head for his level of the tower for a hot shower and a pot of coffee. 

As he waited for the elevator, he considered just how he might ask her. This was bigger than asking her for a few drinks after work; and doing just that had proven difficult for Clint. Every time he seemed to get close to doing so, something got in the way. A mission, or too much paperwork on her desk, or a migraine brought on by said paperwork. 

He was able to breeze through conversation with her if he kept it light, humorous, and kept her on her toes. It’s why he tended to poke his head out of the air duct that lead to her office; no matter how many times she jumped out of her skin when he did it, the smile on her face when she looked up at him and scolded him, mirth in her eyes….yea, it was totally worth it as far as Clint was concerned. 

The elevator doors opening snapped him out of his daydream, and stepping inside, he noticed quickly that he wasn’t alone. Blair was on her way up to the office to start her day. 

“Morning, Hawkeye.” 

She turned to face him, hip braced against the side of the elevator, coffee cup in one hand, and a few folders in the other, tucked against her chest. 

“Well this is awkward…” he grinned, deflecting with humor right off the cuff. 

“Oh?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Do superheroes not say good morning?”

“Oh no, we do, but  usually you’re already at your desk and I’m hanging upside down when we say good morning…”

“Should I take it back? Save it for later maybe?” 

The elevator stopped on the Avengers floor before he had a chance to respond, and they exited together. Blair stepping off to the right and Clint moving towards the left. 

“I’ve got to shower,” He spoke by way of saying goodbye. “Tasha beat me up good this morning.”

“I’m not surprised,” Blair grinned. “See you later?”

“Oh, there’s a very good possibility.” Clint winked. 

“Let me rephrase,” Blair chuckled. “Will I see you or the top of your head?”

“That has yet to be determined, honey.”

Laughing, Blair turned to head down the hallway, calling back to Clint without turning around. 

“I’d rather the former, not the latter, Barton!”

Clint turned, watching Blair walk down the hallway with a dazed look in his eyes, his mind wandering back to the conversation he had with Natasha in the gym just moments ago. 

“I’ll be damned…” he whispered, a smile on his face as he turned to continue his journey to his quarters so he could shower and make his way to see Blair. 

It took Clint longer than he wanted to before he was able to get to Blair’s office. After showering and running things over in his head a thousand times, he had begun his initial journey to see her, and was sidetracked the first time by Steve. The soldier had stopped him to remind him he had three mission reports due by the end of the week; Clint had brushed him off with a polite nod and a promise to get them turned in soon. The second distraction came in the form of Natasha, who stopped him to make sure he was going to do what she told him to do earlier. He had yes’d her to death while trying to get out from under her thumb. He had to remind himself that she was his best friend and meant well. 

Walking down the hall to her office, he silently hoped that she wasn’t on the phone or swamped with work; either of those would end up sending his plan in a downward spiral. Shaking himself out of his daydream, he straightened his shirt and poked his head around the doorframe. She was focused on the screen of her computer and mumbling something that he couldn’t quite pick up. When she pushed the papers in front of her out of the way and sighed, Clint took the momentary break in her work to knock twice on the door and grab her attention. 

“Am I interrupting?” He asked. 

“Would it make a difference either way?” Blair smiled, and he could see any previous frustration drain from her face. 

“Nah, not really,” he smiled. “You know me.”

“I do…” she nodded. “I know the door might be a little foreign to you but, you can come in you know.”

Clint pushed off the doorframe and entered her office, choosing to walk past the two chairs on the opposite side of her desk and perch himself on the windowsill just behind her chair. Now he was closer, and as she turned her chair to face him, Clint could just see a glimpse of what was stressing her out. Tony’s latest interview where he had shot an arc reactor blast from his newest piece of tech straight through the wall of The Today Show at NBC studio. Complete accident, naturally. 

“So…” she grinned up at him. “Nice to see your face and not just the top of your head today.”

“I aim to please.” He chuckled, the archery joke not lost on her. 

“Of course.”

The pair sat quietly, only the sound of the music playing surrounding them, before Clint spoke up again. He hoped she couldn’t sense how nervous he really was. 

“Can I ask you something?” 

“Sure,” she relaxed further back into her chair, gaze focused completely on him. “What’s on your mind?”

“Are you…are you uh, free?” He asked, and specified further when he noticed Blair looking at him questioningly. “Tomorrow night?”

“I am, yes…” the smile blossomed on her face as she realized what he had just asked her. “Are you asking me on a date, Clint?”

“If you want it to be a date… no pressure, it can just be two friends having drinks.”

“And if I want it to be a date?” 

“Then I want it to be a date, too.”

“Then it’s a date.” She smiled. 

Clint let go of the breath he was holding, and he hoped that she couldn’t see just how relieved he was that she had said yes. Now, all he had to do was figure out where to take her. 

He had spent the remainder of that day, and half of the next wracking his brain for ideas. Dinner and a movie was cliche and he didn’t want to come off as not trying. It was the holidays and the city was already overflowing with tourists and shoppers; he wanted to stay somewhere a little more discrete. By lunchtime the day of, Clint had come to terms with needing help, and so, he found himself in the lab with Tony and Bruce. 

“I’m telling you, it’s the holidays, you can’t go wrong with a rooftop bar.” 

Clint stood in the lab while Tony continued to mess around with his latest project, the billionaire not even looking up. 

“It’s December, Tony.” Bruce chastised from the other side of the room. 

“I’m with The Doc on this one,” Clint nodded, offering Bruce a thankful smile. “It’s December.”

“They have heaters and you can get an excellent view of the skyline while you eat, and drink, before you take her home and warm her up.”

“Tony!” Bruce warned. “Blair is a nice woman….not that she wouldn’t want to, with Clint…sorry Barton, you know what I mean.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that, but you just had to make it weird, Stark.” Clint laughed. 

“Hey, what am I good for if not lewd suggestions to break the tension.” He grinned. 

“You know a good place then?” Clint was relenting, and only because it was the eleventh hour, the day of the date, and he hadn’t decided where to take her. 

“JARVIS, can you make a reservation for Agent Barton and Blair at mine and Pep’s favorite rooftop lounge?”

“Of course, Sir.” The AI responded. “I will send the details to Agent Barton’s phone.”

“Thanks J,” he turned then, facing Clint. “Done; now, all you have to do is have fun.”

“Easier said than done, but, hey, you never know.” Clint called as he exited the lab. 

He needed to make a quick pit stop at Blair’s office, before making his way to his own quarters to change before getting in a quick spar with Natasha. And, because he was a gentleman deep down, he wanted to pick her up at home, not just leave straight from work. 

“Knock knock…”

“Is that Clint Barton at my door? Or am I seeing things?”

“Very funny.” He grinned. 

“You can come in.” Blair gestured to the empty office, a smile on her face. 

“I can’t stay, Tasha wants to spar.”

“Well, I’d suggest going easy on her but…” 

“But she’ll just hurt me if she knows I’m pulling my punches.” Clint finished. 

“Exactly,” She replied. “But I would like to see your face later.”

“Ten-four, ma‘am,” he saluted. “Oh and before I forget, I came here because I need your address.”

“Oh! Are we not going straight from here?”

“Is it alright that I pick you up?”

“Absolutely alright,” she beamed, grabbing a post-it off her desk and scribbling down her details. “What time should I be ready?”

“7:30?”

“Do I get a hint at where we’re going?”

“Nope,” he gave her a cheeky smile, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “But I’ve heard the word ‘chic’ might help you figure it out.”

“Ooh, mysterious. I like it.” 

“See you tonight, Darlin.”

The subtle insertion of the nickname threw her a bit, and before she could reply, Clint was out the door and on his way to the training center. If Blair spent the rest of the day with her head in the clouds, dreaming of Clint, well, that would be her little secret. 

Clint broke out into a jog as he checked his watch; it was 7:40 and he was ten minutes late picking up Blair for their date. Cursing, he skidded to a stop in front of her building, taking only a moment to catch his breath before taking the stairs two at a time. Pressing the buzzer with her last name on it, he waited only a moment before her voice filled the air. 

“Clint?”

“Hey Darlin!” He called back. 

The sound of the door unlocking told him that maybe he wasn’t so late, if she was letting him upstairs instead of meeting him downstairs. 

Clint was about to ascend the stairs to the fifth floor, when he heard the telltale sound of an elevator arriving, and a quick glance over his shoulder saw an older woman exiting, eyeing him suspiciously, before he gave her a smile and stepped into the lift. 

Pressing Blair’s floor, he let out a breath as the doors closed and the quick journey up allowed him a moment to collect himself. It was just that, a quick journey, and the doors were open again and suddenly he was in front of Blair’s door, fist raised to knock gently. 

When the door opened, there was Blair, dressed for a night out, a radiant smile on her face. 

Hi!” She beamed, stepping aside to let him in her apartment. “Sorry, I  just need two minutes, the train was delayed coming home, so…”

“Don’t rush, take your time.” He replied, taking a moment to look around at her home. 

Modest one bedroom (he assumed) with a clean kitchen, large living room; clean but somehow decorated in a way that emulated her style. He could faintly hear music coming from her bedroom, and smiled when he realized it was Duran Duran. 

“I don’t want to make us late,” she called from her room. “My luck, I’ll end up costing us the reservation.”

Before he could reply, the sound of a pair of shoes falling to the wood floor rang out. 

“We have plenty of time, please don’t rush.” 

She came around the corner at that moment, heels clicking on the floor, and Clint could swear he felt himself wanting to memorize everything about the way she looked. 

She was wearing a pair of high waisted, dark wash jeans, a deep green off the shoulder blouse that was tucked in, and a pair of suede camel boots that reached just over her knees. He thought she was gorgeous every day he saw her at the tower, dressed for work, but she was gorgeous like this too, and he wouldn’t fail to let her know. 

“You look beautiful,” he smiled, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him. “I’m a lucky sonuvabitch to get to take you out tonight.”

“Clint…” his name fell from her lips softly, a light blush working its way up her neck to her cheeks. “Thank you, you sure know how to boost my confidence.”

“Well, I’ll do it for as long as you’ll let me.”

Reaching forward, Blair gave his hand a gentle squeeze, before stepping away to grab her coat and purse. 

“So, where are we going on this mysterious date?”

“Don’t laugh,” he started. “But I thought we could have drinks and a bite to eat, and see the tree.

“That sounds like a great idea, what are we doing first?”

“This is the part you can’t laugh at, but Tony made the reservation for us so…”

“Am I underdressed?”

“No, no, it’s a rooftop lounge with a view of the tree, he said he and Pepper love it, so…”

“So it’s ultra fancy I’m guessing?” 

“Couldn’t say,” Clint laughed, holding his arm out for her. “But I’m up for an adventure if you are?”

“Lead the way!” She grinned, pulling her coat on and allowing Clint to lead her out of the apartment. 

“Wow…” 

Blair looked around once her and Clint had been seated in a cozy booth, the Manhattan rooftop bar was decorated from top to bottom in what she might describe as ‘Christmas Chic’ and she could tell why Tony and Pepper liked it so much here. It was cozy, the numerous heaters and tall plexiglass enclosure kept the heat in and the wind out, while providing an incredible view of the skyline. Directly below them was the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. A pillar of the holiday in New York City and a huge tourist attraction. 

“I can see why they like it here so much,” Clint peered over the edge, down to the tree, eyes watching intently. 

“Are you assessing potential threats, or watching the ice skaters?” Blair teased, leaning forward towards him. 

“The skaters, definitely,” he chuckled. “That guy just ate it, hard.”

Blair leaned closer, her hand falling over Clint’s as she turned to see the skaters below them, her chuckle falling short as she felt Clint turn his palm up to capture her hand in his. 

“You’re right…” she grinned softly, turning her gaze on him. “He did eat it.”

“Told ya…” Clint grinned, his gaze on the woman next to him, the moment theirs to enjoy. 

Until the waitress popped their bubble of intimacy with her arrival, shrewd and rough around the edges. 

“Hi! Can I start you both with a drink?”

Clint inwardly sighed, and only straightened when he felt Blair give his fingers a gentle squeeze, her smile turning on the waitress. 

“Can we have another minute to look over the menu?” She directed herself at the waitress, not missing the way the other woman was eyeing Clint. 

“Sure! Let me know whenever you’re ready…” she was speaking pointedly at Clint, ignoring Blair directly beside him. 

She turned and walked away with what one could only describe as an exaggerated sway to her hips and a bounce in her step. 

“Okay, she’s rude.” Clint grumbled. 

“I think she has a crush on you,” Blair chuckled, facing him once more. “And she definitely knows who you are.”

“Which means everyone here will know.”

“Clint, it’s okay… that doesn’t really bother me.”

“It’s frustrating,” he sighed. “I wanted to spend time with you, not taking selfies or signing autographs. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad but…”

He broke off on a sigh, and Blair took no time at all in making a split second decision.

“You trust me?” 

Clint’s head snapped up to look at her, a twinkle in her eye that told him she was planning something. 

“Yea,” he nodded, a smile forming. “Yea, I do.”

“Get your coat, come on.”

Standing, she shrugged her own coat on, and grabbed her purse from the booth before sliding out and holding her hand out for him to take. As soon as his own coat was on, he slipped his hand into hers and allowed her to lead him from the rooftop, and if she noticed the waitress staring after them in annoyance, she didn’t show it. It wasn’t until they had taken the elevator back down, exited the building, and were waiting for a car did Clint finally speak up. 

“You do have a plan, right?”

“Call it a long standing contingency plan.” She spoke against the wind, throwing her arm out as another yellow cab made its way towards them. When the car stopped, both were quick to get in, Blair rattling off an address in Brooklyn. 

“Brooklyn?”

“Yes,” she settled in her seat, and pushed some of her hair away from her face before facing him. “I used to live there, but, working in the city, this is just a little more convenient.”

“So, your long standing contingency plan is…”

“I won’t lie, it’s a complete dive. A real hole in the wall kind of place, but it'll give us the privacy we both want. And they have a decent juke box.”

Clint was silent a moment before he began laughing, head back against the seat, eyes crinkled at the corners. Blair found him even more handsome if at all possible. 

“I should have just let you plan our date.”

“Well, at least this way we saw the tree.” She winked. 

“Because you know Tony; he’ll ask-“

“Pester.” She cut him off. 

Clint laughed again, nodding his agreement with the pretty brunette sitting opposite him. He vaguely caught the cab driver making eyes at her through the rear view mirror, and Clint subtly scooted closer to Blair, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her into his side. Worried he may have been too forward, he chanced a glance down at her, and when she gave him a smile that reached her eyes, he only gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. 

They remained that way, silently watching the city lights fly by from the cab’s window, until they pulled up to a bar in Brooklyn. Clint threw a few bills at the driver to cover the ride and a tip, helped Blair from the car, and shut the door behind him. As the car peeled away into traffic, Clint allowed Blair to lead him into the dimly lit bar, just catching a sign that wasn’t even lit that read ‘The Hideout’. 

“Your contingency plan is….an actual dive…”

“When dates go sour, or I feel like watching a ball game without someone hitting on me or quizzing me on whether I can name five players on the Yankees, I come here.”

“Old reliable.” Clint grinned, following her as she walked all the way to the end of the bar, pulling out two stools for them. 

“Charlie’s an old friend, and even if he knows who you are, he won’t advertise it.”

“That’s good to know.”

“It’s nothing fancy… so, I hope that’s okay.”

“More than,” he slid onto the stool next to her, watching as she hung her coat from the back of the chair and placed her bag next to her. 

A man in his forties approached them, he was bald and had a myriad of tattoos ranging from Freddy Krueger to the logo for 3-1-1 and offered Blair a smile. 

“Bad day?”

“Quite the opposite,” she smiled. “Charlie, this is Clint.”

Charlie appraised him briefly, his eyes giving a flash of recognition before he held his hand out, offering the archer a friendly grin. 

“Welcome to this shit hole,” Charlie laughed. “Happy to have you, Clint.”

“You got a great place, man, I love these kinds of bars.”

“Well, it’s been a slow night so, you two should be safe to play the jukebox and whatever you had planned.”

“Thanks man,” Clint nodded his appreciation, his gaze falling on Blair. “What are you drinking, Darlin?”

Blair hadn’t had a chance to answer before Charlie had a short rocks glass in front of her, and Blair shook her head at him. 

“What if I wanted something else,” she laughed. “You always jump the gun.”

“And you always order the same thing,” Charlie rolled his eyes, mocking her. “Tequila and club with lime juice, chilled.”

“I knew you were a tequila girl!” Clint exclaimed, calling back to their first night hanging out at the tower, where she had helped him polish off the last of the margaritas. 

“Shh, Natasha didn’t need to know that.” Blair winked. “Now, what are you drinking?”

Clint looked over the beers on tap before settling on one, Charlie quickly pouring it and leaving the two to tend to his other customers. 

“Cheers,” Clint held up his glass, Blair carefully lifting her own to meet his. “To your contingency plan.”

“To sharing my contingency plan with someone special.” She smiled at him, bringing her glass up to her lips. 

Clint took a sip of his beer, nodding appreciatively at the taste. His eyes fell on a group of twenty somethings who had just walked in and gathered at the other end of the bar, and it was almost like he was waiting to be noticed. 

“Hey, it’s okay.” Blair turned in her seat so she was sitting sideways, and facing him, urging him to do the same. 

“Sorry, it’s second nature to be on guard when I’m out.”

“Understandable. Do you want to switch seats? I’ll sit facing the door?”

“No, also better if I can see who’s walking in.”

“You live up to your name, Hawkeye.” 

“A blessing and a curse.” He agreed. 

He caught one of the patrons telling his buddy to put something in the jukebox, and thinking on his feet, he pulled out his wallet and handed Blair a ten dollar bill. 

“Make good choices.” He winked, gesturing to the jukebox over his shoulder. 

She grinned excitedly, snatching up the money and hopping off her stool to make it to the bright touch screen jukebox before someone else, using the ten dollars from Clint plus five of her own to make sure all her songs played on priority. 

It was some time later, the jukebox still playing Blair’s songs, that she and Clint were laughing like teenagers at the bar. The younger crowd had been annoyed at the song choices she had made, grumbling and complaining to Charlie who had told them to suck it up or find another bar for the night. Some of them had taken him up on that offer. 

The song changed, and Clint threw his hand up in victory as the opening blasted through the bar. 

“Big INXS fan?”

“Not really but I love this song in particular…”

Blair couldn’t help the smile, it seemed no matter what, she couldn’t make her face do anything except smile while she was around him. It wasn’t the alcohol, or the vibe of the bar; it was the man she was with, wrapped up in buttery leather and jeans, the crinkles at the corner of his eyes as he smiled at her and continued to sing along to the song, body moving with the beat of the music. 

As the chorus kicked in, Blair sang along with him, taking his hands in her own and moving closer, their noses touching as they made their own fun, in their own little corner of the world. 

“I’ve got to let you know, I’ve got to let you know…” Blair whispered so only he could hear. 

“You’re one of my kind.” Clint finished with a grin, moving to press his lips to hers quickly, surprise coloring his face when after he pulled away, Blair chased him for another. 

“Hi…” He smiled, faces still close together. 

“Hi…” 

“Do you want to go to the Stark Christmas gala with me?”

“Yea,” Blair grinned. “Yea, I do.”

Tags: @rowdy-redhead @mizzzpink

Loki chapter 1/6

You are a little Midgardian, Loki take you when attack with chitauri..

Word 3800

Warning smut, rape, non-con, forced, bad Loki. 

THIS IS 18+!!!!

The battle raged in the sky as well as on the streets of the city, the inhabitants of New York fled looking for a place to hide and stay safe, waves of Chitauri continued to come out of the portal and poured between the skyscrapers, breaking down windows and walls, destroying everything, who was not fast enough had no escape, the Avengers tried to be everywhere but the alien hordes seemed endless, "I want her" said a man with long black hair in green leather armor and golden scales, the helmet with long horns protected his head, "Take her to Asgard .." he growled at a general dodging an explosive arrow, "..That not a single hair is wronged", the general nodded, took a couple of soldiers with him and flew to the terrace below them, there a woman was watching in terror the battle hidden among the flower pots, she did not immediately notice the shuttle approaching lost in observing Hawkeye that she was shooting arrows at an incredible speed, when she turned around hearing the exploding vases it was too late to try to escape, the Chitauri had surrounded her, the last thing she saw before she passed out was the blue beam of light aimed at her . When Y/N woke up inside a luminous glass case she started screaming with all the breath she had in her throat hitting the lid with her fists, what apparently looked like a doctor approached smiling and activated a panel, "You have to stay calm" she told her neutral, "If you insist you will hurt yourself and that's not what we want", "Let's see if with blue it calms down" said another doctor walking towards them, "With the Midgardians it usually works" he whispered to himself touching the case which warmed from transparency to a dull sea blue tone, Y/N relaxed and stopped to fight, as the heck they had done, she wondered staring at the doctors around her, "This species is more sensitive than others to variations in temperature and colors" the doctor was saying aloud to a group of young people who had gathered, "Now that you are calm can you tell me your name dear?", “My name is Y/N” she replied in a whisper, “Where am I? What do you want from me? " she asked agitated, "You are in a medical shuttle outside of Earth's orbit" replied the doctor, "You are one of the many prizes that our King has chosen for himself", "... I don't understand .." Y/N said in full panic, she had too many questions and couldn't put them in line, "There is nothing to understand" smiled the doctor, "You are the new pet of the King, your task now is to stay calm until we arrive in Asgard .. do you think you can relax or do I have to sedate you again?" woman stared at the group of doctors and with tears in her eyes nodded yes, "Very well, she is Lady Sif she will be your guardian and she will answer your questions" she said bowing to a woman in silver armor with a pair of laced axes. hips and a helmet with wings, looked like the classic Valkyrie he had often seen in Norse story books, “Thank you Thessaly,” Sif said of her, motioning her to pull herself up, “Do you understand our language? Can speak?" she asked her looking at her curiously, the doctor nodded, "You can call me Sif if you have any questions," she said to the woman, “Where are you taking me? Why are you keeping me locked up? Who are you? " "As Thessaly will have explained to you we are returning home to Asgard, you are locked up in this capsule for your safety, you are not used to this type of travel, if we took out your body it would implode and the King would not be happy" she replied with a half smile seeing the panic on Y/N's face, "The king? Which King? " asked the woman, "Loki, son of Odin, Lord of the 9 Realms and rightful King of Asgard," she replied seriously, "You are part of her spoils of war, now that Midgard has bowed there will be changes for your species but it does not concern you, you are you have been chosen to keep the King company, no harm will be done to you ", "I have read many books but in all of them Thor is the King of Asgard .." she said, "Thor is the First General and Protector of Asgard and the 9 Kingdoms" she said seriously, "Your scribe and druids are wrong", Y/N kept asking questions and Sif answered, "What was it?" Y/N asked scared hearing a roar and seeing a strange light outside the shuttle, "The Bifrost has been opened for us, stay calm, everything is fine" replied Sif laughing, "We'll be home soon" she said getting up, the two girls followed her out of the room, a few minutes, and many jolts later, the shuttle stopped hatch was opened and a group of warehouse workers got on board, the one who looked like the boss talked to the doctors and started giving orders, ".. the animals straight to the stables Falstaf is waiting for them .." he said reading the sheets, "..Alrund take the box of seeds and take it to the greenhouse then come back here .. er .. yes and there are two .. no three boxes of trees .." the men moved quickly, "Heret" a female voice called the leader who turned and bowed, "Lady Brunhilde my lady tell me" he said seriously, "I have to take over the King's new animal, where is it?" she asked him looking around, the man checked the sheets and accompanied him to the Y/N case, "This is it," Heret replied, Brunhild approached by snapping the bracelet, the case stood up and finally Y/N could look where it was, she was in the hold of the shuttle like any other commodity, she saw animals and fish in cases similar to hers that were unloaded with all the care , as if they were very precious, "What is your name pet?" Brunhild asked the woman, "Y/N" she replied intimidated, Brunhild was tall and statuesque with long red hair and bright green eyes, her body covered with tattoos, she gave the impression of strength, "I'll take you to the palace in person" she said gently, "Soon you will be able to get out of there", she turned and walked towards the exit, the case moved behind her, Y/N narrowed her eyes passing from the darkness of the hold to the the sun of the city, tall glass and metal buildings surrounded by trees and gardens welcomed her, under her the street seemed to be made of rainbow crystal, many people met who looked at her with curiosity, a girl approached smiling to Brunhild handing her flowers, "Thank you baby" replied the woman with extreme sweetness giving her a caress, her baby hopping back to her mother who bowed as she passed, "Mom is that a Midgardian?" asked the little girl pulling her robe to her mother, "Yes Kastalia is a Midgardian" the woman answered sweetly, "She's beautiful right?", the little girl nodded, continuing to stare at Y/N who began to feel like a zoo animal, Brunhilde resumed her path and shortly after they reached the foot of the palace, a group of guards joined them, putting themselves on the alert, "My beautiful Brunhild if she's already back?" asked a man hugging her, "I see that Midgard gave up in the end, my brother has superfine tastes" he said looking at Y/N, "Thor already finished the wedding celebrations?" the woman asked back, hugging him, "Hide a barrel of mead from me before they drain everything, I'll put the pet in the King's room and I'll join you" she said laughing going towards the inner rooms, went up a wide staircase and waved goodbye to two guards at the door, "Lady Brunhilde" they said bowing her head, "The King is waiting for you", Brunhilde knocked and waited for the doors to open, "My King I brought you your pet" she said bowing, Y/N floated behind her staring at the man who was going towards her, she was fascinated by his eyes of a color between blue and blue, they looked like splinters of ice , the long black hair was in contrast with the light skin, the green leather armor with fine golden scales fit like a glove on the slender and strong body, he seemed human but if the legends she had read were true he was in front of a God in flesh and blood, "Brunhilde my trusty Valkyrie" he said lifting her face, making her stand up, "I knew I could trust you and Sif" he moved towards the case, turning around her observing the contents, "It's in perfect condition thanks .. you can go celebrate it for yourself you're deserved" he smiled dismissing her, the woman bowed and went out, Loki snapped his fingers and two maids appeared out of nowhere, "Prepare her and take her to the room ", the girls bowed their heads and took over the case with Y/N inside. The bathroom was immense, the bathtub was more like a swimming pool with two white and gold statue-shaped fountains on the sides, a girl playing the harp in one corner, next to the tub a pair of white sofas with al center a table set, a scent never heard was released from the steam floating up to Y/N which relaxed instantly, one of the handmaids went to a piece of furniture and took bath towels while the other snapped the lid of the case, "Don't be in a hurry, move calmly" she said kindly to Y/N extending her hand to help her, "You may feel light-headed for the vapors", the woman leaned against the girl feeling unsteady on her legs, she wanted to escape but was not able and gave up .. there would be another chance, they helped her undress and made her soak up to her shoulders, the water was hot and fragrant, they wet and washed her hair still full of dirt and rubble from the battle, "Stay still you have a wound on your face that needs to be treated" whispered one of the maids before snapping the bracelet on her wrist and making her hands dance over the wound,  Y/N felt it sting and nothing more, "That's it" she smiled the girl, "You will be hungry and thirsty, I'll bring you something", "Thank you gladly" Y/N answered enjoying the bath, indulging her jailer, the girl returned with a plate of things never seen before and a goblet with a golden pink liquid inside with an intense perfume, "It is a drink based on ambrosia drink calmly your body is not used to this nectar" the girl told her handing her the glass, Y/N drank savoring that strange liquid, she felt better immediately, the ambrosia was sweet and spicy and she felt him slowly warm her up, her head felt light as if she were drunk, the girls laughed and helped her out of the tub, while one of the maids came out of the room the other dried her hair and ran a scented cream over her body, "What good perfume, what is it?" asked Y/N taking the jar in her hand and smelling it, it reminded her of the mountain, "It is an extract of lilac and mulberry with pearl powder" she replied starting to comb her, made a soft five-ply trace by weaving ribbons and pearls into her hair, the second maid returned with the dress she would have worn, "Don't you think I'm going to wear that dress?" she asked semi serious, she couldn't even consider herself a dress, they were a few silk strips held together by a string of pearls .. she was practically naked, "It's a joke ..", the maids looked at each other before answering, "The King chose this," said a voice behind her, her maids bowed, "My Queen" they said moving, Frigga smiled at them and focused on Y/N, "As I said, the King has chosen the dress and you will wear it whether you like it or not" she said seriously putting a string of pearls around her neck, "In case you have not understood it, you have no right to choose, you are the new pet of my son you just have to obey ", Frigga passed her dress and finished preparing it, "Look at you you are beautiful "she said turning Y/N towards the mirror, as she imagined it covered almost nothing, the bodice was made of thin strings of pearls and the skirt, if you could call it that, was made up of two panels of soft and light silk fastened at the sides by other pearls, she was not wearing underwear and she felt embarrassed just one movement too many and it would show everything, she realized that that which she thought was a pearl necklace was in effect a collar and her bile went up, "I don't intend to be treated like an animal" she screamed trying to tear off the collar, her legs gave out and she found herself on her knees too stunned even to scream .. as soon as she touched the pearls an electric shock went off, not so strong as to really make them bad, but enough to make her want to try again, "Do you still have objections or will you be good?" Frigga asked her kindly, putting her back on her feet, "My son has always treated his pets well, he will not make you miss anything, but you must be obedient" she said, checking that it was in order, "Well you are ready, take her to the King's room", the maids they bowed and led Y/N into the next room. The room was deserted, the maids went out leaving her alone Y/N waited a couple of minutes, looked around to be sure she was alone, the only presence in the room beyond her was a kind of blue cat that was dozing on the armchair, approached at the door but heard the guards talking he then went to the large windows and opened the one that overlooked the terrace and leaned over the parapet to look for an escape route realizing in a moment that it was not feasible, the terrace overlooked nothing, literally nothing , the water of the fountain was turning into clouds far below her, "shit" she thought as she went back inside and went to the bathroom which she found deserted, she opened the window and again the void beneath her, she let herself go leaning against the wall and she burst into tears.. she was trapped, she was curled up crying even when she heard the door open, "My little pet, did you think you could go for a walk?" asked a deep voice in front of her, the woman looked up and saw the cat sitting next to her legs staring at her, shook her head, "Well now I hear her voices too" she said to herself, leaning her head against the wall, "Are you imprisoned here too strange cat?" she asked, reaching out to stroke his head, the animal purred and moved a couple of steps, "You didn't answer my question" again Y/N looked around not seeing anyone .. or almost, the cat was transforming, the woman was petrified in witnessing the scene, slowly the feline was becoming human in front of her eyes, in a few moments Loki was standing in front of her and staring at her with predatory eyes, "What the heck .." she said surprised and embarrassed, Loki was naked and looking at her like a cat looks at a sparrow.. she was terrified, "On your knees before the King pet" he ordered in a deep voice, "Y/N" the woman whispered, "As you said?" asked Loki questioningly, "My name is Y/N not pet" she said a little higher voice still motionless at her feet, Loki burst out laughing bending over her, "So you have a name of her" he laughed, taking her face in his hands, "And should I care why?" he growled, yanking her by the wrist and she stood up, "I'll call you as I like pet and I'll do what I want with you .. did I explain myself well enough?", "I ask forgiveness my Lord" Y/N replied with shining eyes, "It will not happen again", "Prepare my bath" he ordered, settling himself comfortably on the sofa, the woman moved uncertainly around the room opening the same furniture used by the maids, she returned to the tub with a bath towel and several perfumed bottles, "Take my dressing gown in the room and come back here" Loki ordered entering the tub, the woman obeyed, continuing to think how to escape, put the dressing gown on the sofa, poured some soap on the sponge and approached Loki starting to lather his back, "Good pet" he said relaxing, "Bring me a drink", Y/N took a bottle of ambrosia from the table and returned to the tub handing a full goblet to the man who finished it in one gulp, "Come here, let's take a good look at my prize" he said taking her hand and pulling her towards him, "You are really beautiful, the Midgardians are so delicate and soft .. Thor and I have always loved them" he whispered, caressing her, went down on her hips and he undid her skirt, "DON'T TOUCH ME" she screamed giving him a slap, she didn't have time to turn around to get out of the tub that a shock went through her taking her breath away, she clung to the edge of the tub before falling, Loki was behind her in an instant, "I like rebels" he laughed excitedly leaning on her, "You are one who does not give up .." he said tearing off her few clothes, again the woman tried to react but she did not have enough strength to rebel Loki had blocked her by grabbing her by the neck, "..it will be fun to tame you" he growled opening them her legs with his knee, Y/N tried to kick and scratch when she felt the man's cock rubbing on her pussy, "LET ME" she shouted trying in vain to push him away, he was too strong, he grabbed her hips with her free hand and entered her making her scream, he let go of her neck and took her by her shoulders sinking into her, "I haven't fucked a human in a long time .." he said excitedly, ".. soft and tight .." he took all the time to enjoy her screams and her body, ".. keep singing to me it's so hot" he laughed taking her arms and crossing them behind her back to control her better, Y/N was crying begging him to stop, she heard the man snorting behind her excitedly like an animal, even though she looked like he soon realized that a God who fucks you has nothing to do with a human, she felt his cock getting thicker and harder making its way inside her fucking her hard, clenched his fists hoping it would finish quickly, Loki slowed down sliding his hands over her body, squeezed them her breasts torturing her nipples, scratched her back biting her neck, "Gorgeous" he moaned, "I want to look at you while I fuck your pussy" he growled pulling away from her, the woman did not move, "Come here, sit down" he ordered sitting up continuing to touch himself, Y/N moved slowly, Loki took her in his arms and slid her on his cock entering her, again the woman stiffened and again tried to react scratching Loki when he tried to kiss her, "Little wild cat do you want to play it like this?" he growled touching his face, jumped up making her fall into the water, grabbed her by the neck lifting her up to stare at him, "Let's see how to get rid of the urge to scratch" he said dragging her into the room and throwing her on the bed, took the armor belt and the tied to the support of the bed, "I didn't want to go that far but it will still be fun for me" he growled, tying her ankles to the foot of the bed, immobilizing her, "I think I'll punish you before I fuck this nice ass" he said spanking her, Y/N moaned, she had no breath to scream, she burst into sobs when she heard a snap near her face, Loki was testing the whip before punishing her, the pain was intense and sudden she felt the whip envelop her hips, thighs, breasts, "Enough please" she moaned in tears giving up, she heard Loki laugh behind her, "It didn't take long" he whispered in her ear touching her, "It would have been a shame to ruin you", his hands slipped over her body more and more impatient, he kissed her neck licking her whips, untied her hands pushing her face to the mattress, her ankles still tied they left her ass up exposed and helpless, took some scented oil and poured it on her ass starting to spread it, put two fingers in her ass making her stiffen, "Relax I don't want to hurt you" he said excitedly starting to push his cock up her slit, put his hands on her back to make her arch and entered her, tried to be gentle so as not to break her, put his hand between her legs and started to stimulate her clitoris to relax, he heard her moan and whimper, "Am I the first to have the honor?" he asked her leaning over her to kiss her neck, "I expect you to answer when I ask you a question" grins entering her completely making her scream, "Yes" Y/N replied in a whisper, "Please .. please slowly .. you hurt me .." she whimpered, "If you relax it won't hurt so much" he said slowing down continuing to stimulate her clit and breasts, "Being fucked by a God is an honor reserved for a few pets, take the pleasure I'm giving you" he said, Y/N was exhausted. she had been fucking for hours using her as a toy, when the man noticed it he untied her ankles and turned her, "I could go on until tomorrow" he said stroking her, "But you're too tired to enjoy my cock", he took her in his arms and put her in a case similar to that of the trip, this was wider and more comfortable, spread it on the pillow, put food and ambrosia next to her, and closed the lid before going to bed.

Feathers and swords

Clint Barton x reader

Requested by: @marygoddessofmischief Thanks for the request ❤️

Warnings: Fluff, Violence, smut, swearing, mention of blood, shower sex.

A/n: (18,000+) 🥸..... enjoy

_______________________________________________

Y/n and Clint ran into the large living room of stark tower. He shot a few arrows at the stray bots, and Y/n cut a few down with her razor blades. One of the bots jumped on her back trying to flip her over, but even larger blades stabbed out of her and into it.

The fighting continued until nothing but broken metal and shattered glass was left.

"Tony! What the fuck!?" She yelled.

Clint looked over at her, the back of Y/n's shirt was soaked in blood. He came up behind her and touched her back.

She gasped at the pain and gripped his arm..

"That hurts don't do that." She grunted.

"I've never seen the razor blades come out of your back, we need to get you to Banner now!"

_______________________________________________

Y/n sat on a stool, Tony in front of her and Bruce behind her. Clint was seated beside her rubbing her shoulder.

"How the hell did this happen?" Banner asked.

Clint held up Y/n's arm and squeezed, three large silver blades came out with a swoosh sound.

"These sons of bitches came out of her back." He said.

"Well, your back and shirt are soaked in blood." Banner explained while he took off his gloves.

"How the hell do you bleed from your own abilities?" Tony asked.

She shrugged..

"It's simple, my blades come out and I fight. They go back in and my body heals over. So every time I need to fight, the razors literally slice through my skin."

Tony nods and leans back on Banner's desk...

"We need to do something about that, Y/n."

She stood, Clint grabbed her arm and helped her...

"Hey well, you go ahead and try. I'm gonna wash this blood off of me."

_____________________________________

Clint helped Y/n into the shower, he stripped himself down and grabbed a soft wash cloth for Y/n's back.

________________________________________

You know what's funny? I have read so many fanfics that I literally read Y/n as Samantha 🤣👌 and at some points in stories I nearly type down Samantha instead of Y/n..... ________________________________________

"You're coming in too?" She asked with a giggle.

"Yeah, I got all sweaty while fighting." He responded. "Turn around, honey."

Clint grabbed the body wash and spread it across the cloth, he made slow gentle circles over Y/n's back. She looked down and saw red water run into the drain.

"Ouch." She whispered.

Clint stepped closer and planted a kiss on her shoulder, he slowly pulled her back into him and ran the cloth down her front.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm okay, babe."

She could feel his erection pressed against her ass, Clint leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"The way you fought today was so damn sexy."

He faced her towards the wall and pulled her hips back, he lined himself up with her and asked...

"Do you want this, sweetheart?"

She nodded and bit her knuckle.

"Uh-huh, Y/n. You gotta say it."

"Yes." She groaned. "I need you, Hawkeye."

That did it for him. He loves when she calls him by that name, he does shit to him.

__________________________________________

"So then Pep said-" Tony was cut off by a sudden man's groan come from the vent above their heads.

Stark and Banner both looked up, then back at each other and cleared their throats.

Tony closed the vent with a button on his watch, Banner crossed his arms in front of his chest a waved him along.

"Please continue."

_____________________________________________

"That's a good girl, who's my little razor beast Huh?"

Clint growled.

"I am." Y/n's voice came out like a whisper.

He reached down and rubbed her clit, he smirked as he felt her legs start to shake.

"Oh what's the matter, huh? Daddy too ruff on you?" He asked.

"Oh God! I'm gonna cum." She moaned.

_______________________________________________

Tony looked over at Banner, who was pointing up at the vent.

"They're really getting it on up there, huh?" Bruce asked.

Steve, Nat, Thor and Bucky all sat around the island type thing in the middle of the lab.

"I thought you said you closed it." Nat said with a mouth full of food.

"I did." Tony replied, he clicked the button on his watch again. "See, that's open."

"Holy fuck, baby girl!" Clint said from the vent.

Steve nearly choked on his Dr. Pepper, he waved his hand at Tony and loudly whispered...

"Close it! Close it!"

THE END ❤️

hawkeye being on disney+ means there’s no concrete reason for a strict run time, meaning I’ll never understand how you could delete FIVE MINUTES worth of the title character’s backstory when we’ve never seen any of it before, or even told it.

“the hawkeye series will dive into clint’s past.” you mean ‘past’ being something that happened less than five years ago for the character? not any other pivotal moment in his life for example THIS??

they really go so hard on this family that he has, who does nothing for his story, without ever diving into where he actually came from, or what he came from. which was almost nothing - and that is so important and completely parallels kate’s story! hello!!!!!

it doesn’t help that one of the directors flat out said that they weren’t touching on SHIELD because they, for whatever reason, thought it wasn’t ‘relevant’ but how can anything be irrelevant for a character when you know nothing about them yet? absolutely everything is relevant at this point.

clint barton was born to a young mother, who likely fled with him from harold who was an abusive father, and explains why barney hasn’t been brought up in the mcu while ALSO giving more reason to why clint is more of a quiet loner type in the mcu. he’s been on his own for a long while but still kept his heart.

he was forced to grow up and be tough, he’s been making different calls since the beginning. took his own mother’s words and used them even if it meant giving her up, because he listens to his heart and he knows what’s right deep down. this is all so important and I love clint more just with these five minutes.

YOU NEVER MISS!!!!! MY GOD EDITH!!!!!

I would so much rather see more of this part of clint’s life and how he came to be in SHIELD, than continue on with a farm and 4 people that are obviously tied to him so you don’t need screen time to show it, there have always been and will always be more important things in clint’s life to show on screen than them.

I’m so sorry that your backstory was given up for bad child acting and some dialogue about a watch, clint. hope everyone still enjoys it here until it officially comes out.

AT LUNCH WITH: Alan Alda Hawkeye Turns Mean, Sensitively

By Elizabeth Kolbert May 18, 1994

THE first thing Alan Alda wants to know when he arrives is whether everything is O.K. He has chosen the restaurant, Orso; he hopes that's O.K. He has asked for a table outside, on the patio. Is that O.K.?

In Hollywood, it isn't easy to get a reputation as a nice guy, but somehow Mr. Alda has managed. Perhaps it is because he spent so much time playing Hawkeye Pierce, that superficially snide but deep-down-lovable scamp. Or maybe it is because he has been married to the same woman for more than three decades and campaigned for the equal rights amendment years before the sensitive guy was even invented.

Or maybe it's just because he's the kind of star who, when he arrives for an interview, seems genuinely concerned that things are O.K.

Whatever the reasons, Mr. Alda has had enough. Over the last few years, he has set about refashioning himself, on screen at least, into something of a jerk. First, in the Woody Allen film "Crimes and Misdemeanors," he played a vain television producer whispering his brilliant insights into a pocket tape recorder. Then, in "And the Band Played On," he portrayed Dr. Robert Gallo as an egomaniacal character more interested in getting credit for discovering the AIDS virus than in curing it.

Now, in "White Mile," which will have its premiere on Saturday on HBO, Mr. Alda is Dan Cutler, a hard-charging advertising executive whose reckless enthusiasm for male bonding results in the deaths of five men.

He made the shift to beat what he calls the "type thing" but has found that he quite enjoys villainy. "The reason that actors like to play bad guys is that you get to do things they won't let you do in real life," he said. "You have people fired, you hit on women, you tell people off, you have them killed. It's very nice to have people killed and not have to go to jail for it."

For lunch, Mr. Alda was wearing a silky maroon shirt, a blue sport jacket with a faint white check and a pair of steel-gray pants. At 58, he is still as lanky and trim as in his "M*A*S*H" days, but his hair, once black, is now completely gray. To read a menu, he now puts on a pair of round-framed bifocals.

Although on television and in movies Mr. Alda tends toward the wry -- whether he's playing nice or not so nice -- in person there are few quips and not a lot of irony. It's not that he is sincere, exactly, but he seems to want to be. "I tried not to come in today with a line of talk," he said. "I tried not to come in to sell you some idea. I'm bored with that."

"I'm not trying to look like I'm a certain type of person, or trying to sell you on 'White Mile,' " he continued. "If you like it, you like it; if you don't, you don't."

"White Mile" follows a team of advertising executives who embark on a rafting trip with their clients as a kind of high-stakes adventure. The head of the agency, played by Mr. Alda, does not want anything to interfere with the bonding experience, so all the men end up piling into one raft, with dreadful results. After five men have drowned, Mr. Alda's character is unrepentant: "I didn't motivate them enough" is the closest he comes to blaming himself for the disaster.

To film "White Mile," which is based on a true story, Mr. Alda and the rest of the cast, including Peter Gallagher and Robert Loggia, spent most of December on the American River in northern California. Mr. Alda described the work -- flailing around while being swept down the river -- as not only strenuous, but also frigid.

But unlike his character, he was not given to machismo in the face of danger. "In every meeting we had," he said, "I asked them how many river people we were going to have. I think they got the message. Everywhere you turned, there was somebody to pull you out of the water."

Mr. Alda has been acting for almost half a century now, ever since his late father, Robert, the original Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway, started to use him in vaudeville routines in the 1940's. He credits all the hours he spent hanging around his father and his father's friends with giving him a sense of how much serious work it takes to be entertaining.

"When my father was in vaudeville, I would stand in the wings and watch the magician," he recalled over a plate of penne with vegetables. "I could see how he made the audience think there was nothing in the box. I was seeing him from the side; I'd see how he'd reach under the table and put the pigeons in the box.

"Standing on the side -- watching and hearing the reaction of the audience and seeing the performers five feet away, reading their thoughts, watching them time their performance -- is an education that you can't get from the other side of the footlights. You can watch actors create their illusions, but if you don't see where they get the pigeons from, you don't really know how they're doing it."

Over the years, Mr. Alda has performed just about every role in show business. He has written, directed and starred in four films, the first of which, "The Four Seasons," was a commercial success and the last of which, "Betsy's Wedding," was a flop. He has acted on Broadway, most recently in the Neil Simon play "Jake's Women," tried his hand at writing sitcoms and appeared in commercials. But as he has grown older, he has become pickier about the projects he takes on, and as a result, his schedule these days is . . . let's just say pretty loose.

In a few months, he will be seen as an inept President who orders the invasion of Canada in a new movie from Michael Moore, the director of "Roger and Me." But beyond that, he said, he has not been offered any roles he felt compelled to take. "It's an interesting problem I have," he said. "I want to be able to use the years I have left to have the richest kind of fun I can have."

Ever since "M*A*S*H," Mr. Alda has split his time between the East Coast, where he has houses in the Hamptons and Leonia, N.J., and the West, where he owns a house in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He and his wife, Arlene, a photographer, plan to pass this summer on Long Island, spending time with their three daughters and three grandchildren.

Mr. Alda, who in the 1970's became feminism's poster boy -- or should it be poster man? -- no longer spends much time on politics. "I think I put in my time," he said of his days campaigning, unsuccessfully, for the equal rights amendment. "I just got tired of making speeches."

Perhaps. But when he gets going on the subject of women's rights, his voice changes timbre and he comes perilously close to speechifying.

"I don't think we've gotten as far as we can go," he said. "But I think we've gotten much, much farther than anybody imagined we would. I mean, I just read yesterday that the Navy -- it wasn't big news -- that the Navy was going to start making more space for women with increased combat responsibilities.

"That was the main argument for not passing the equal rights amendment: that women would have to be in combat. Well, it turns out they didn't need the equal rights amendment to have the Navy do that, and it's not even big news. So the mind-set has changed enormously, and it has plenty to go."

It was "M*A*S*H" that made Alan Alda a household name -- and an enormously rich man -- and with reruns of the show broadcast practically continuously, it is "M*A*S*H" that in many ways continues to define his public image. The show, which ran for 11 years, is still regarded as the gold standard in the world of sitcom production, and its last episode, on Feb. 28, 1983, was one of the highest-rated entertainment programs ever. But Mr. Alda said the series, which he does not watch in syndication, seemed very distant to him now.

"I'm very happy that I've done something that gives people pleasure still after all these years," he said. "Not that they remember: that they still see it. But for me, as a personal experience for me, it's as though it happened to somebody else."

As for the fame that went with "M*A*S*H" and has been slowly dissipating since then, he maintained that he was just as happy to see it go. At lunch passers-by seemed to notice him, and occasionally paused to greet him, but they did not surround him or even seem particularly impressed by his presence.

"I never was comfortable being as famous as I was," he said. He recalled one evening during the heyday of "M*A*S*H" when a woman who saw him at a restaurant was so overcome that she started to sob. To this day, he said, he regretted not having gone over to comfort her.

All of which again presents the question of being a nice guy. Mr. Alda insisted that it was the press that defined him that way.

"I never was as wonderful a person as everybody said I was," he said. "It occurred to me a couple of days ago that it's too bad that I'm not as wonderful a person as people say I am, because the world could use a few good people like that."

Here’s the thing. Scar felt… weird. And not like illness or a restless mind. He built, he built a lot, but something inside him was swirling and bubbling constantly. It was weird.

Here’s the thing. Scar wasn’t a killer. He really wasn't. More of the practical joke and overall silliness type. He had his newest bit, the “Hawkeye!” bit where he tried to hit hermits with his bow when flying past. It was fun, harmless. Okay, maybe Pearl had died but she hadn’t been wearing any armor! Hardly his fault!

Here’s the thing. Scar needed to kill. He couldn’t hold a bow without aiming it at someone. He itched for a battle axe like Impulse’s. How many of his fellow hermits had he killed so far this season? Pearl’s death to his bow had been sweeter then any cookie. He’d smiled and talked his way into killing Joe where he stood, and the trophy of Joe’s head hung over his bed for at least a month.

If it wasn’t so deep and all-encompassing, maybe he could laugh it off. Death could be brushed off here on Hermitcraft; they’d all killed each other so many times throughout the years. But this was a deep itching, where he kept finding himself with bow in his hands, pointed straight at someone else. And it disturbed him.

He ended up in front of Cleo’s snake, in a weird turn of events. He hated that damn snake. But, of all the people he knew, Cleo knew death on a personal level. They’d played on the same field twice now, and if anyone knew about something like this, it would be her.

Cleo walked out on the serpent’s tongue and looked down at him.

“You said it was urgent. It better well be, Scar. I’m busy.”

“Oh, can we please just take a walk? That snake, it…” Scar shivered, maybe a little dramatically. Cleo rolled her eyes, but hopped down and they strode very slowly together along the riverside.

“What’s this about, Scar? You aren’t usually one to be serious.” Cleo looked at him curiously.

“Cleo, I don’t quite know how to do this with any real eloquence, so I guess I’ll just say it.” Scar paused, tucking some of his long hair behind his ear. “I want to kill.”

Cleo didn’t roll her eyes, to his surprise. She just nodded and gave him a grim look. “I know.”

“You know?” Scar whispered. “How?”

“Oh Scar, you are many wonderful things, but subtle you are not. Every person you pass catches your eye and suddenly there’s a weapon in your hand. Your way of greeting people is to shoot them. You’ve always been one to wear your emotions on your sleeve, and this bloodlust is no different.”

“Then why is it happening, Cleo? I feel feverish, like it’ll never end, like the world is in rose tinted sunglasses but it’s blood instead of roses!” Scar could have dropped to his knees to emphasize, but Cleo looped his arm with her own, and they continued their slow walk down the peaceful river.

“I have a theory. Well, okay, Joe had a theory and I’m taking it for my own, because I helped think it through. You remember Last Life, don’t you?” Scar nodded. “Well, and forgive me if I’m misremembering, but you were intertwined with illness during it, right?” Scar nodded again. “You had many lives, and it didn’t matter because you sunk to death so fast, it was almost painful to witness. You were alone. I didn’t really know you all too well in there, but I remember hearing about a wizard alone on a mountain, buying friendships with crystals and sly contracts. All brought to a halt by a random arrow in a random fight. And we were all too busy fighting to really remember you. And then we came back to Hermitcraft and there was the moon and everything was insane and there was no time for any other thought. I think the bloodlust never got spent out as it should have. The Scar who wasted away on that mountain lives within you, festering and calling for blood.”

Scar was quiet. The two sat down on a bench and watched the sun begin to set.

“But how do I fix it?” Scar asked eventually. “It’s all-encompassing. I just want to kill everyone in sight.”

Cleo sighed. “I don’t know, honestly, Scar.”

She still had her arm looped through his, and she patted it softly. Scar could feel her crude stitches against his skin. “Maybe we just need another death arena. They say three is a magic number.”

Phase One: Avengers (Part Two)

Apparently I had so much to comment on this crappy book that I had to break this up into two parts (you can read part one here). No, I have nothing to say for myself. Lol

Let’s continue.

Clint Barton and Loki’s hand-picked strike team were in a stolen Quinjet with a faked S.H.I.E.L.D. call sign, 26-Bravo. That got them close enough that by the time the air-traffic officer on the Helicarrier knew something was wrong, it was already too late.

Whoa whoa whoa. I thought you said Loki didn’t care about the details. I thought you said such things were beneath him. Make up your mind.

With a last heave and twist, she freed herself from the fallen beam and ran. At that moment, the Hulk turned and saw her. She vaulted up a stairway and onto the next level. The Hulk swiped at the stairway and shredded it into scrap metal. Loki had gotten what he wanted. He must have been trying to time it so he could manipulate Bruce into becoming the Hulk right as his soldiers came to attack the Helicarrier. The Hulk would do at least as much damage from the inside as the rogue Quinjet could do from the outside.

Yes. Yes, he did. Lol

Natasha kept running, and the Hulk came right behind her. For a moment, she thought she’d lost him, but then he came at her out of the shadows, roaring. He was like walking rage, a single-minded engine of destruction. She shot a hole in the pipe over his head. Steam shot out of it into the Hulk’s eyes, stopping him for just the moment she needed to get a head start. She ran as fast as she could, but she knew she wasn’t going to stay away from him for long. He came after her, smashing through bulkheads and doorways like they weren’t even there and roaring the whole time.

Mood, though.

Steve got to the edge of the turbine mount about the same time as Tony. “I’m here!” he called out.

“Good,” Tony said, dropping into view and hovering in the Iron Man armor to survey the wreckage. He had the suit on, and Steve could hear his voice through the earbud microphone all S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel wore. At least that channel was still intact; if they lost communications, they’d be done for.

Convenient. Clint would absolutely know this, which means either 1) he's incompetent, 2) he's not as mind-controlled as we think, or 3) Loki allowed/arranged for his own team's semi-failure.Take your pick.

“What’s it look like in there?” Tony asked.

“It seems to run on some form of electricity,” Steve said.

Tony was shoving loose huge pieces of debris that prevented the turbine blades from rotating. “Well, you’re not wrong,” he said.

Steve fumed. He wasn’t here for technical support. But that was all he could do at the moment.

Ironic for Steve to call out Tony for being useless without his suit when Steve is apparently useless at anything other than beating people up. Lol

Tony stood inside the turbine housing, looking at the blades. He’d cleared most of the debris jamming the rotors. “Even if I clear the rotors,” he said, “this thing won’t reengage without a jump. I’m going to have to get in there and push.”

“If that thing gets up to speed, you’ll get shredded,” Steve said.

Hey hey hey now, I thought Tony wasn't the type of guy to sacrifice himself??

The Hulk stomped around the flight deck, roaring. He saw Thor and swung a fist twice the size of Thor’s head. Thor caught it in both hands, straining to hold both the Hulk’s arm and his attention. “We are not your enemies, Banner,” he grunted. “Try to think!”

Now, where have I heard that before...?

In answer, the Hulk punched him through the wall.

Jealous.

Thor got up and watched the Hulk coming after him. Now this was a fight! He held out a hand, waiting for Mjolnir to return to him. Mjolnir smashed through another wall and reached Thor’s hand just as the charging Hulk came within striking distance.

What's a little bloodlust between friends, amirite?

The Hulk caught the hammer, and a fierce grin spread over his face… then he toppled backward and Mjolnir pinned him to the floor of the hangar.

None but I can lift Mjolnir, Thor thought. Not even this giant.

Yes, yes. You're very special, Thor. We're all super impressed, promise.

“You like this?” Coulson asked, meaning the gun. “We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don’t know what it does.” He powered it up, and rings along its barrel glowed bright orange. “Want to find out?”

But Loki wasn’t there in front of him. Thor saw it too late to do anything. That Loki was an illusion… and the real Loki was behind Coulson.

Lokiception.

“You lack conviction,” Coulson said. He did not move from where he sat against the wall. Blood trickled at the corner of his mouth, and the enormous gun lay uselessly across his lap.

Of all the things Coulson might have said, this was perhaps the one Loki expected least. I have moved worlds out of conviction, he thought. Made bargains with beings who snuff out planets as an afterthought. “I don’t think I…”

"bargains"

“Tasha,” he said. “How many agents did I—?”

“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t do that to yourself, Clint. This is Loki. This is monsters and magic and nothing we were ever trained for.” Better than maybe anyone on the Helicarrier, Natasha Romanoff knew you couldn’t blame yourself for things you did while you were brainwashed. All you could do was try to heal and get things right the next time.

OH? DO TELL.

“Yeah, takes us a while to get any traction, I’ll give you that one,” Tony said. “But let’s do a head count here. Your brother the demigod, a Super-Soldier, a living legend who kind of lives up to the legend, a man with breathtaking anger-management issues, a couple of master assassins… and you, big fella, you’ve managed to piss off every single one of them.”

“That was the plan,” Loki said with a grin.

“Not a great plan,” Tony said.

YOU'RE RIGHT, TONY. IT'S AN OBJECTIVELY TERRIBLE PLAN. NOW ASK YOURSELF WHY HE WOULD DO THAT ON PURPOSE.

“You’re missing the point!” he said, and his tone got sharper. “There’s no throne, there is no version of this where you come out on top. Maybe your army comes and maybe it’s too much for us… but it’s all on you. Because if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be sure we’ll avenge it.”

Weeeeeell...

With those last words, he tapped Tony on the chest with his scepter, just has he had Hawkeye and Dr. Selvig. Nothing happened. The Arc Reactor in Tony’s chest countered the scepter’s effect.

Loki tried it again. “This usually works.…”

“Well,” Tony said, “best-laid plans. You know the saying.”

Uncomfortable with mild swear words and dick jokes, I see. Lol

Look at this!” Thor shouted, holding Loki and forcing him to gaze out over the destruction in the city. “You think this madness will end with your rule?”

“It’s too late,” Loki said. Thor thought he was beginning to understand what he had done. “It’s too late to stop it.”

“No,” Thor said. “We can. Together.”

Loki looked him in the eye… and then betrayed Thor again, stabbing him in the side with a knife hidden in his sleeve. Thor dropped to the ground, clutching the wound. “Sentiment,” Loki said mockingly.

OH MY GOD. HE'S MOCKING HIMSELF, YOU ABSOLUTE KNUCKLEHEAD. I swear to god, this author sat down and went, "Hmm. How can I systematically erase any and all complexity this character possesses so he's as generic a villain as possible?"

CASE IN POINT:

On a bridge, Cap huddled behind a destroyed car with the Black Widow and Hawkeye. “Lots of civilians trapped up there,” Hawkeye said, indicating the nearby buildings. A flight of Chitauri went over, and Cap noticed something different about one of them.

“Loki,” he said. He was shooting at the civilians fleeing through the streets. “They’re fish in a barrel down there.”

It can be admittedly hard to tell because most shots of the Chitauri vehicles firing on people are from too far away to tell who's piloting... but I checked the clips from the Battle of NY and the only person Loki can definitively be seen firing at is Natasha. On another Chitauri whatever-you-call-them. Not even aiming for the street.

Thor was still watching the Chitauri zipping overhead. “I have unfinished business with Loki.”

“Yeah?” Hawkeye said. “Get in line.”

“Save it,” Steve said. “Loki’s going to keep this fight focused on us, and that’s what we need. Otherwise those things could run wild. We’ve got Stark up on top—”

Almost as if... according to plan...

Look, I have historically not bought into the full "Loki formed the Avengers so he could lose on purpose" theory because I feel that it contradicts the canon explanation that he was being influenced by the sceptre. But... you'd have to be an absolute moron to think he wasn't sabotaging himself, whether accidentally or on purpose. I suppose one could argue that just because it was amplifying his negative emotions, that doesn't necessarily mean it prevented him from working against his "allies". But if it wasn't affecting his actions at all, I don't know why they'd bother to confirm the theory as canon.

Also, like... according to this book, Loki is somehow targeting civilians and not targeting civilians at the same time ?? lmao

“Dr. Banner,” Steve said. “Now might be a really good time for you to get angry.”

Bruce was already walking toward the Leviathan. “That’s my secret, Captain,” he said over his shoulder. “I’m always angry.”

Same, tbh.

Thor reached the top of the Empire State Building and lifted Mjolnir. Storm clouds gathered and lightning struck down, hundreds of bolts reaching for Mjolnir. Thor turned the Empire State Building’s iconic spire into a lightning rod, gathering the force of the elements into it. Then he thrust Mjolnir in the direction of the portal. All the energy he had built up blazed out in a single forking bolt. It struck and destroyed every single Chitauri between the Empire State Building and the portal itself. Hundreds of them exploded and tumbled from the sky at once, including several of the Leviathans that tumbled down to smash into buildings below.

...so why didn't Thor just keep doing this for the rest of the battle? Too draining, or not exciting enough? Lol

Satisfied, Thor nodded and glanced over at the Hulk. Perhaps the scales were evened from their last fight against each other on the Helicarrier—

The Hulk shot out his left fist and smashed Thor all the way across the block-long gallery. Then it was his turn to look satisfied.

Jealous. Again.

Maybe that was just Loki, but Steve was starting to feel like the Chitauri were going to absorb every punch the Avengers could throw. They had to close that portal, or nothing was going to stop the invasion.

Well then. It sure is fortunate that Loki allowed Selvig to install a failsafe, huh?

Fury stood and listened to the World Security Council explain that they had decided to take the operation out of his hands. They were going to use a nuclear missile to destroy the Tesseract and close the portal—but at the cost of untold civilian lives. Fury protested as strongly as he could and one of the councilors cut him off. “Director Fury. The Council has made a decision.”

These crazy motherfuckers would have killed so many more people than Loki it's not even funny.

...and tbh, it probably wouldn't even have destroyed the Tesseract, so they would have killed them for literally no reason too.

The Hulk paused, confused.

“You are, all of you, beneath me!” Loki raged.

Not yet, sir, but I would very much like to be. 😏

She knelt next to him and said, “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know what you were doing.”

Selvig digested this for a moment and then said, “Actually I think I did. I built in a safety to cut the power source.”

Of note and as alluded to previously:

1) The mind control over Barton and Selvig was not absolute either; therefore, if they are not responsible for their actions over the course of this movie, Loki is not responsible for his either.

2) If The Other could hear everything Loki was up to, it's very likely that Loki could hear everything Barton and Selvig were up to as well. Meaning that, at a minimum, he knew about the failsafe and did nothing about it.

The missile had a lot of momentum built up, and Tony’s Mark 7 suit was not operating at full capacity after the amount of energy he’d expended in the battle already. It was no easy task to get the missile angled up sharply enough to clear the tallest buildings in Midtown—especially Stark Tower. That was where the missile seemed to want to go. So, Tony thought, the World Security Council is jealous of me, too.

Look, I get that he's mostly just being witty, but seriously... this dude is out here accusing Loki of being an egomaniac? Lol

He got underneath the missile and angled it upward, straining against its stabilizers, which tried to keep it on course. But slowly he forced it up, and once he got its warhead pointed at an angle, pushing it into a steeper climb got easier. A little.

Steve Rogers’s voice broke his concentration. “Stark, you know that’s a one-way trip?”

So... you're admitting you were wrong, then? 🙃

The Avengers looked up. On the roof of Stark Tower, Natasha said, “Come on, Stark.”

They saw the explosion through the portal, brilliant as a new sun. There was no way Tony could have survived that.

I was wrong about him, Steve thought. When the time came, he did make the sacrificial play.

Thanks, Steve. That's really all I wanted.

Loki had just gotten himself put back together enough to get out of the hole in the floor. Painfully he dragged himself toward the door. Never had a mortal damaged him as much as that green monster. He would be healing for a long time.

He's literally in better shape now than when he came through the portal. And the author made zero mention of his health there.

But heal he would, and then he would have his revenge. Even though the portal had collapsed and he had lost the Tesseract. Even though his Chitauri army was destroyed. Loki would show the so-called Avengers they never should have opposed him.

Raise your hand if you watched Avengers and thought Loki was thinking about revenge right after getting Hulk-smashed. Why aren't any of you raising your hands??

Seriously, there are two emotions I felt from Loki at the end of Avengers Assemble: relief and anxiety. I have no idea why Alex Irvine is so intent on turning him into a boring, one-dimensional villain, but it made this book absolutely insufferable to read.

Anyway, that's it! I hope you all found this as entertaining and cathartic as I did. Lol

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