#HM. YEAH. that’s fine I was in the mood for a protein shake anyway!

[a-high-femme]

.

[medeafive]

Blood and Stone - 15

Masterpost

(Not sure how to warn you about this but there is one scene at the beginning that's very much not pretty, though ultimately turning out fine. Also some brutal action.)

She's clean again, the wound on her head has stopped bleeding but it obviously still smells. She's pacing around the apartment restlessly. Maybe it's the adrenaline or the worry that James is mad at her, that she went too far, or- she just feels off. The nerves. Schmidt's going to want her dead now, as soon as he hears.

She's washing her face when she hears the balcony door, quickly dries it, grabs a pistol just to be safe. But it is James, in the living room, looking through the pile of bloody clothing. She leans in the doorway, crossing her legs. "James?"

He looks up, smirks, looks her up and down, only the black cloak tied around her neck and nothing else. "Oh Nat."

She smiles, even though she doesn't feel like it. "You weren't going to just leave, were you?"

"Sun's coming up," he reminds her.

"Stay." She walks over, taking his strangely warm hands. "Please."

He whirls her around and dips her, like in the old movies. "Sweetheart. If you insist."

She wants him to want her. More than she wants him. Oh, she's a wreck. Surges up to kiss him hungrily, grabbing onto his shoulders. Wants him to stay without asking, to grab her without prompting, to fuck her without waiting for permission. She's in a weird mood. He lowers her on the ground carefully, too slowly, breathing. "You do smell strange, though."

Maybe that's the needy feeling. "Good?"

"Awfully," he confirms, licking over her sternum. "Carnal. Not bloody, but… I don't know. You do know bad things happen to people who wear these things without permission, right?"

"Are you going to do bad things to me?" she asks. She doesn't sound like herself, neither the tone nor what she's saying. "Do you want to punish me?"

He breathes her in. "You smell- really, I don't know. How do you feel?"

"Answer my fucking question," she demands. "You pushover."

He growls, baring his fangs, yanking her towards him. "You're utterly helpless, dollface, so don't push it."

She's turned on and frustrated and swear to God. "Don't give me empty threats. You don't have it in you."

"Have what in me," he scoffs, claws digging slightly into her hips. "Don't make me do something you don't want."

She's served herself on a silver plate, naked in the black cloak, and he's hardly done anything about it. "You're too weak to take what you want anyway."

His nostrils are flaring and his eyes are not normal. "You can't stop me."

"But you won't," she hisses, planting her feet. "You won't even try. Because you're soft."

His fangs sink into her shoulder, painfully, she groans loudly, and then he slams into her without warning, she is awfully dry and it burns , hurts, worse than the shoulder, like turning a knife in- he's whispering scary stuff about how she's his and she suddenly doesn't recognize anything anymore, needs to make it stop right now, he impales her, jacks this impossible object up her vagina, she gets her feet against his shoulders and kicks, throws her head back and pleads with him to-

His face is above hers, still some of the crazy tinge in his eyes. "Is that part-"

"No," she whimpers. "Make it stop. Please. Stop."

She's curled into a ball, cradled, starts crying. It still hurts, even if he's not inside her anymore. Just a few seconds and- she has no idea what just happened, how she got into this mess. "Shit, doll," he mutters behind her. "I'm so sorry. I really didn't want to hurt you. I'm sorry."

She's crying so she can't- she doesn't understand it either, what got into her. Something runs down her shoulder. Blood. She shudders. "Did you-"

"No poison," he tries to assure her. "I promise. I didn't want to- I thought you wanted it rough but I didn't want to hurt you, really. I'm sorry."

It's like a different world. She has a bite wound on her shoulder. "Could you- suck on my shoulder? In case there is any trace of poison?"

"Whatever you want," he replies, rolling her onto her back. "But I really didn't poison you. Would never… but I never wanted to hurt you either."

It's quiet when he licks over her wound and sucks on it. She feels a little calmer but will break back into tears at any hint. Somehow weirdly estranged from her body. "I'm- I'm okay."

"Are you?" he asks. "You were talking strangely. Smell strange, too."

She sighs, tear pricking at her eyes. "I don't know what- what got into me. Didn't feel like- like me."

"I should get you back to the tower," he says, wrapping her in the cloak. "So you can get some rest. It's going to be okay."

"The sun's coming up," she protests weakly as he helps her up.

"Let's see whether your tinker's stuff actually works," he says. "Where's your suit?"

"Bathroom." She chews on her lip. He is off to the bathroom and she keeps talking to herself. "That was- creepy. Scary. I don't know- I don't know. I just wanna get home."

"I'll get you home." He shakes the suit out. "It's still wet but it's not far. I'll get rid of Pierce's clothes later."

"I'll- I'll take them," she suggests quietly, taking her suit from him. "Blood samples and- yeah."

He pulls out the mask, goggles and hood from under his cloak. "I'll step outside and try it out. Be right back."

She breathes deeply, bracing herself on the table. She's hot and shaky and slightly sick. Probably the mix of exhaustion and adrenaline and maybe she overdid it on the vampire blood. Fucked up her hormones. She should just get home, get into bed and sleep. Let her body sort it out.

The door opens again. He looks scary with the mask and goggles and the hood hooked into it, not leaving a sliver uncovered. "Seems fine. Are you ready?"

His voice sounds weird through the mask. She zips up the cold wet suit and grabs the bloodied vampire clothes. "Let's get home."

He opens the balcony door. "Yeah. It's just one jump."

  The rest is fuzzy and she wakes up in her bed, ten hours later, still tired, alone. Sore, especially in her arms. Hungry. She shuffles into sweatpants and down the stairs, hearing voices from the kitchen. Stops for a moment, leaning against the wall. "Still can‘t believe she killed him," James' voice says. "All on her own. Just like that."

"Yeah, I know," Sam replies. "She's awesome. And scary. But, I mean, you taught her some of it at least."

"Some," James admits. "But-"

"Yeah?" Sam prompts.

"I think I love her."

"Oh yeah." Sam snorts softly. "Noticed."

Her stomach churns and she pads further down the stairs, rounding the corner into view. James sits up. "Hey."

"Hey," he replies. "Feel better?"

She rolls her head. "Some, yeah. Still exhausted. And really hungry."

"I'll make you eggs," Sam offers, slipping off his chair at the kitchen counter. "Sit down. You should take it slow for a while."

"Thanks." She sinks into his place, rubbing her eyes. "I think the vampire blood really fucked me up."

"It can be traumatic, fighting" Sam suggests carefully, pulling out a pan. "Even if you don't get hurt. Just the stress of it. Life or death."

"My head doesn't feel straight," she admits. "But it's alright. I'll get better."

Tony walks in, going straight for the vampire clothes on the table. "Oh wow. One of the magic cloaks."

James snorts. "Literally just a cloak."

"So it doesn't deflect bullets?" Tony questions, unfolding it, studying the fabric critically.

"It doesn't do shit," James replies. "Schmidt thinks it looks cool. Just a symbol."

"Power," Natasha mutters, drinking from Sam's glass.

"Sounds like a real bluffer, that Schmidt guy," Tony remarks, folding it up again. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised a nazi is into hierarchy and status symbols. The gold fangs, too?"

James sighs, touching one. "I guess. When they get knocked out, during a fight- which is very painful- they put gold in while they regrow so that the fang builds around. Also painful. It's supposed to make them a little stronger or something, but it's mostly show. Status."

"Really likes scare tactics, the guy," Sam remarks, cracking an egg.

"Oh, hey Nat," Tony interjects. "So you got him, huh? How'd that feel?"

"Exhausting," she replies, drinking from James' glass, too. "Scary. Confusing. I don't know, I just feel out of whack."

"It was a lot of vampire blood," Tony admits. "Maybe you should let Bruce have a look at it, once he gets up."

She has a bite wound on her shoulder that she can't explain. Would just get them unnecessarily concerned. "Thanks, but I'll just try to sleep it off for now."

"Fury's asleep, in case you were wondering," Sam adds, putting a glass of orange juice in front of her. "They'll congratulate you later. We just didn't know when you would wake up."

"That's alright," she mutters. "Can wait."

"What's that?" James asks as Sam spoons some powder into her juice.

"Protein powder," Sam explains, stirring. "With potassium, calcium, cholesterol. Thought she could use it."

"Thanks," she mutters.

"Pep will be down soon, too," Tony remarks, looking through the other clothes. "Oh, nice. Blood samples."

"Uh, my DNA is all over it, for obvious reasons," she remarks. "And I drove a wooden stake through his heart, so that might contaminate it as well."

"Are you going to stay for dinner?" Sam asks.

James looks surprised. "I don't really- eat."

"Yeah, I know," Sam replies. "Just hang around, if you want."

  She almost falls asleep during dinner. James sits down on her bedside, caressing her cheek. "Sure you're going to be okay?"

"Just tired," she mutters, closing her eyes. "It- it wasn't your fault. Or my fault. I really didn't feel like myself."

"It was scary," he admits. "You know exactly where my pressure points are, don't you."

"Hm?" she makes, not opening her eyes.

"You sounded- kinda like Schmidt," he explains. "When he makes us fight. When being weak and soft and not tough and brutal enough gets you killed. That sorta thing- it gets into my head, you know."

"Wasn't intentional," she mutters. "It was scary for me, too."

He breathes out. "Otherwise, I never would have- your strangely alluring smell, too. I really thought that's what you wanted."

"I thought so, too," she whispers. "Maybe some- hormonal or gynaecological issue, and all the vampire blood- I don't know what happened."

"I should let you sleep," he says. "They'll look after you? I'd rather not risk being seen around the tower but you can always text me if you need anything."

"I'll be okay," she sighs. "Uh, do I still smell? Alluring?"

"Yeah." He pulls the blanket up to her neck. "A little less. But I can handle that, don't worry. The smell and if you talk like that, that's close to the edge, though."

"Won't," she mutters. "Mhm. Good night."

She doesn't even hear him leave the room anymore.

  "You really eat a lot," Clint observes.

Sharon snorts. "Oh yeah. You kill a black cloak, let's see how hungry you are afterwards."

"Just observing," Clint retreats. "If she is hungry, she should eat. Just seems it really drained her, is all."

"I feel better already," Natasha remarks between bites. "Hungry like a wolf, though."

"We should plan our next step," Fury interrupts, empathetic and caring as always. "The hunting party. Without Romanoff, if she's not back on the wagon soon. We don't have forever."

"Little over two weeks," Sam agrees. "And honestly, Nat deserves it to sit this one out."

"I'll be fine in a day or two," she promises. "Or three. Don't worry."

"Don't put so much pressure on yourself," Pepper suggests. "We'll be fine, you can really take a break. Be back when it really matters."

"My estimate is that we need about six to eight litres of vampire blood," Bruce states. "More than a human has. It could be more, though. So it would be good if you could get at least two uncontaminated vampires, optimally all three."

"It clearly has side effects, though," Clint remarks. "Looking at Tasha. And that's only going to get worse if you give him eight full litres."

"It's not permanent," Natasha counters. "I'll be alright, really."

"I'd like to take a closer look at that, but I agree, it doesn't seem to be permanent," Bruce confirms. "And I mean, he's been frozen forever. It's definitely an improvement if he wakes up, even if it has side effects."

"So your hippocratic oath is okay with that?" Tony questions.

Bruce nods. "Definitely. It's the only way."

"Well, Clint and Sharon staked out their hideout pretty well," Sam remarks. "We need to strike by night, otherwise the sun will burn their blood before we get them to the tower. I suggest just after sunset, so they're only just waking up. Surround them, all exits, break in at the same time from all sides."

"No weapons," Sharon adds. "Nothing silver. Maybe batons."

"Did Bobbi leave hers?" Pepper asks.

Fury snorts. "She would've never left her batons. But we have some."

"Any blunt weapon will do," Natasha remarks. "Just beat them. Full force. Break their bones until they can't move."

"The vampire slayer has spoken," Tony comments. "Honestly, if I were your friend, I'd be really really scared."

"Are you kidding," Sam replies. "I'm already scared of her as it is."

  She eats a lot and sleeps a lot and gradually feels better. Not fully on it but good enough for a fight. Sam's nutritional supplements seem to help as well. The others have been training the last few days, all in good shape. Seems like they're really doing this.

They crowd around the basement in the evening when everyone else is rushing home behind locked doors. She's on the South side, together with Sharon. Sam and Clint in the West, Pepper and Tony in the East, no exit on the Northern side. "Are you sure you can do this?" Sharon asks.

Natasha breathes deeply, clutching the batons. "Yeah. Absolutely."

"Is it true that you used to have a sword?" Sharon asks with amusement.

"Fury promised to get me a new one," Natasha replies with a smile. "I'm completely out of practice, though."

"I'd love to see that," Sharon remarks. "You know, at the dinner, your friend… he really seemed familiar. I still couldn't find him in the database, though. Are you sure he's American?"

"I mean, he never said-" Natasha pauses. "I don't know. Maybe the database doesn't go that far back. Or he was just never active in America."

"Yes," Sharon concedes. "Maybe."

The comm crackles. "Sun's down. Move in in 40."

"Copy that," Sharon replies. "Ready?"

"Won't get much readier," Natasha returns.

They stalk towards the Southern entrance to the basement, the tilted wooden hatch, keeping their breathing down. Steps around the building. "Five."

Natasha looks to Sharon who nods. Just a little moment and- slamming wood, Sharon kicks down the hatch, dropping down herself, Natasha following her- it's dark and quiet, mouldy smell. Flashlight on, darting across the cellar walls. Smells of old blood, somewhat rotten. Old broken furniture around. Fangs-

Sharon ducks down just right and the vampire flies over her, crashing into Natasha, hard stone floor, teeth trying to break through to her arm, she tries to kick and knock him off but he's got her pinned down, fangs forcing through the suit-

Sharon yanks him off, gets in a hit with the baton before she has to dodge, he throws her over and she kicks his legs out, Natasha grabs his head but he's up too quick, knocking her back, he's fast enough to block both hers and Sharon's blows, Sharon goes for the legs again and Natasha pummels him in the face, sending him stumbling, dark blood dripping from his mouth, she jumps at him and wraps her legs around his neck, momentum sending them both to the ground. His claws scratch across her biteguard, Sharon's baton hits him in the neck, he jumps at her again, she grabs his arm and slams her foot in, cracking, howling, twists him so she can get him in a chokehold, he tries to sink his teeth through her arm protection, scrambling for purchase with his claws, Sharon grits her teeth and twists hard, his neck cracks, not enough, lets go and yanks his head around, crushing his spine.

He drops down slowly, not fully paralysed, hisses at Sharon when she comes closer, she picks up his other arm and breaks it, too, then the legs, calmly and methodically while he screams in agony, then straightens. "You okay?"

"Yeah." Natasha groans, head dropping back. "Just a second. I'm exhausted."

"Stay with him while I look for the others?" Sharon suggests. "You could… incapacitate him even more."

Yeah, she knows a thing or two about that. Sits up. "Yeah. Go."

There's still fighting noises emanating from the door Sharon disappears through, flashlight down the hall. The vampire with the broken neck hisses at Natasha. She grins, pushing up. "So."

"Bitch," he hisses, breathless. "Slut. Whore."

"Quite the smooth talker." She crouches down next to him. "You know, I'd put you out of your misery, but we need you alive. So… your spine's not quite through, is it."

He bares his fangs again. "The Red Skull's coming for you. You know that."

"Looks like he's not coming quick enough," she remarks, leaning over and taking his head. "Uh, this is going to hurt, not gonna lie."

She twists and he screams before gritting his teeth, and then it's quiet. She grins. "Oh, now you feel nothing. Good."

"We found the body," his twisted head whispers.

She leans forward involuntarily. "What?"

The vampire grins, blood running out of his mouth. "You- killed him- and now they're coming for you. You're all going to die. Painfully."

Shit. "Who's coming?"

"Everyone," he whispers, craning his neck as good as he can. "Everyone."

  Clint has a broken hand but otherwise, everyone is fine. Tony maybe knocked against a wall too hard, despite the helmet, slight nosebleed. They're dragging the vampires out now, strapping them to stretchers. Doesn't bring up good memories.

"Hey!"

She turns around and James is hiding in a dark entrance, looking agitated. She looks back. "Mind if I-"

Sharon waves her off, so she walks down the alley and ducks into the entrance. "Hey."

"What the fuck are you doing," he asks.

Right. "Hunting vampires," she replies. "Is what we do. Uh, over the black cloak, I kinda forgot to tell you about the ice block."

"The ice block?" He doesn't seem pleased. "What the fuck?"

"Someone fished a frozen guy out of the Norwegian sea," she explains. "And Bruce, our resident smart guy, is trying to revive him. Needs a lot of vampire blood for that, though. So we thought we'd raid a hunting party."

"That's not how vampire blood works."

She snorts. "Yeah? You know that?"

"I just can't believe you'd change plans for that ," he complains. "I thought we agreed!"

"Look, they're not going to be surprised that we hunt vampires," Natasha counters. "Actually, bigger fish to fry. It seems that the Castle found Pierce's body and sent a messenger to Schmidt, so this place will reek of his goons soon enough."

James leans back against the wall, breathing out. "Shit."

"Yeah," she agrees. "But it seems they don't know about your involvement. So it shortens our timeline but doesn't change the plan."

"He can't draw them together that quickly," James remarks. "I talked to Pierce- before- and the black cloaks are all across the globe. He thought two in Prague would be enough. There's only three others in Europe and they may not be dispensable."

"Can't just hop on a plane?" she asks.

He snorts. "Sweetheart. The sun."

"Right." She rubs her nose. "So three. Karpov in Russia."

He pulls a face. "Yeah. Awful guy. So you heard about him."

"Schmidt has big plans for Russia," she says. "So Karpov's probably not available. Who are the others?"

"Schmidt's in Northern France," he replies. "Strucker is still doing Germany and the Viper's down in the Balkans."

"The Viper?" she repeats. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, fun lady," he remarks. "She knocked my fangs out last time. Schmidt has a thing for her."

"Wow." She shakes her head. "Thinks he's a god and is actually just a guy . And the most powerful vampire alive, of course."

"She's worse than him," he adds. "He's at least trying to achieve something, she just enjoys terrorizing and killing people."

"Great people you're working with," she remarks. "And they're both available?"

"Probably," he states. "I'm not sure about Karpov. Maybe you're right. Schmidt doesn't usually tell me what he's planning."

"Oh man." She rubs her forehead. "So they could be here any day."

"Stay in," he advises. "Really. I'll check in with the Castle, whether they know more. I'll come over in a few days and let you know."

"Okay." She breathes out. "Thanks. We‘ll try to work out a battle plan."

"Are you better?" he asks. "You still look kind of pale."

She smiles. "Yeah, I'm better. Don't worry." She gets on her toes. "Glad to see you, actually."

He's careful in kissing her. "Mhm. Can I tell you something awkward that I can't tell anyone else about?"

"Isn't that everything?" she questions. "Sure."

"Last time we met, when you killed Pierce," he starts. "I was warm for a whole day after. Actually, when I brought you back to the Tower, I… I still had the boner, so after bringing you to bed, I went to the bathroom and jacked off and- it just worked. Yeah. And even after I left the Tower, it took some hours until I went back to room temperature."

"Did that turn you on so bad?" she teases.

He snorts. "No. I don't know why. Felt really fucking good, though. I like having sex with you, absolutely, but it's kind of nice to have it in my own hands, too. Literally."

"Yeah, seems fair," she acknowledges, pecking his lips. "I mean, if I can and you couldn't… so I'm glad."

He grins. "Mhm. Tell me more."

"You'd like that," she accuses, pressing against him. "So… will you always be scared when kissing me now?"

"I just feel-" He sighs. "There's something, between us, that's neither me nor you, that's pulling us into a direction and- it's kind of scary. And I don't want you to get hurt, so I'd rather be careful."

"Yeah, maybe that's fair," she allows, kissing him again. "I should get back, probably. Before the Viper strikes."

He snorts. "Yeah. I wish that was funny."