#actually to correct myself when your compound is run by MEN there is no better safer compound lol ;;;; | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

just-dreaming-marvel · 4 years ago

Text

It’s Always Been You ~ 143

OUT OF TIME MASTERLIST

IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 3,600ish

Summary: Surprisingly, more secrets come out. A final plan is formed.

Notes: Please read the ending note. You must read Out Of Time in order to understand this. The chapter numbers continue from Out Of Time. (gifs aren’t mine)

“She’s not the only one whose kept secrets, Steve,” Natasha said, once Y/N was clearly gone. “We all have.”

“This is different,” Steve argued, mad. “This has to do with half the universe turning into dust and the man who did it. She should have told us so that we could have—“

“Done what, Steve?!” Tony retorted. “Spent the past five years planning and waiting for something to happen?! That’s not a way to live! I know that because I’ve lived that! I’ve tried to do that!” Tony took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he backed away from everyone. “I may be the only one who feels this way, but I wouldn’t change the last five years. Yes, I miss people terribly and feel the guilt of what happened constantly. But I finally have the family I’ve always longed for. I have a daughter who is my whole world, and a wife who fights for what she loves.”

“Her telling us everything wouldn’t have changed when Scott came back or when I put the pieces together about time travel,” Tony continued. “Keeping that a secret didn’t change anything.”

“Tony’s right,” Clint spoke up. “It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

Tony and Clint nodded at each other. Tony knew it had to be hard for Clint to admit that, especially since he had lost his whole family. Steve clenched his jaw, frustrated.

“Steve,” Natasha called calmly, “have you ever thought about how many times you get angry at Y/N for keeping things from you?”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with anything,” Steve said.

“You freak and turn around and blame everything on her. Maybe she doesn’t tell you things because she knows that you won’t react in the best way. And you doubt her, so much.”

“How is this now about me?”

“I’m sorry, isn’t everything?” Tony retorted. The two men glared at each other in silence for a moment, the tension getting thick. “I’m going to go check on my wife.”

~~~

“Hey Pepper,” Y/N greeted, video calling her friend.

“Hey Y/N,” Pepper replied.

“Is Morgan up?”

“I’m sorry, I put her to bed already.”

“That’s okay.”

“Is something wrong though? You seem a little down.”

“I just… can you poke me in there for a second? I just need to see her.”

“Of course.” Pepper began heading to Morgan’s room. “She really misses you guys.”

“We miss her too.”

Pepper quietly opened Morgan’s door and reached her hand in so that Y/N could see the little girl on the phone. Morgan was sound asleep, clinging onto the Iron Man stuffy that Tony had bought her. Y/N’s eyes slowly filled with tears as she longed to hold her child.

“Thank you, Pep,” Y/N said softly.

“Of course,” the woman replied.

“Tell her we’ll call her tomorrow. And that we love her.”

“Y/N, what’s up?”

“This is all just getting more real. And I don’t want something to happen with Morgan knowing her parents love her.”

“Nothing’s going to happen. You and Tony are going to be fine.”

Y/N gave her friend a tight lipped smile, clearly not believable. “Thanks for taking care of her for us, Pep. Good night.”

Y/N sighed after hanging up, leaning back against the headboard. She closed her eyes and sucked in her lips. She had never missed her abilities more in the last five years, then at this very moment. She wished she could simply portal herself home, to hold her child. But Y/N couldn’t, and she knew she needed to stay at the compound and finish out the mission. No matter the cost.

“Are you okay?” Tony’s voice was quiet as he leaned in the doorway, worried eyes raking over his wife.

“I’m fine,” she answered, not bothering to open her eyes.

Tony sighed before he walked over and sat himself on the bed. He made sure he wasn’t touching her, not wanting to press. “I let Steve have it after you left. It wasn’t right for him to do that. Red even had my back.” Y/N didn’t respond. “Honey… I’m sorry.” He set a comforting hand on her leg. “I know that I’ve pushed you in the past for not saying anything. But I’m beginning to see the weight that the Stones have placed on you. I’m so sorry.”

“He will never understand,” Y/N breathed out quietly. “He hasn’t been able to since he came out of the ice… I lived 5 years with believing he was dead. I changed in that time and he has never been able to accept that… but doesn’t make it hurt any less. He’s still my twin…” Y/N finally opened her eyes and met Tony’s. She reached out and took his hand from her leg. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For standing with me.”

“I made vows to do so. I never intend on breaking them.”

She pulled him closer to her. She wrapped herself around him, earning a light chuckle.

“Can we stay like this the rest of the night?” She whispered.

“Of course,” Tony answered, kissing her hairline. “We can stay like this as long as you like.”

~~~

In the morning, the couple ate breakfast in bed before venturing out to face the rest of the group. Everyone was seemingly trying to act normal, but Steve. Every time he glanced Y/N’s way, it was harsh. Cold and unforgiving. Tony kept himself at Y/N’s side as the group began going over the Tesseract.

“Our first major run in with the Tesseract, or Space Stone, was back in the 40’s,” Steve explained. He was standing in front of everyone, pictures, videos and information were playing on the screens behind him. “HYDRA’s then leader, Red Skull, was using it to create mass energy weapons. Y/N and I were on Red Skull’s plane when it took off to bomb major cities around the world.” Steve looked at Y/N. “Would you like to tell the rest of it?”

She pursed her lips, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Sure.” She stood up and went to the front of the room. “As Steve said, we were in the ship. I was trying to get to the controls and the Tesseract, when it could knocked loose. It portaled Red Skull away. I…” Y/N paused with a sigh. She hadn’t recounted this story since she woke up. “I grabbed the cube as it fell, burning my hand. Dropping it, it burned a hole in the floor causing both myself and the cube to fall. I grabbed onto it as a fell…” Y/N looked down at her scarred hand, rubbing it nervously. “Howard Stark later found it in his search for Steve and I.”

“After that, it was in SHIELD’s hands,” Y/N continued. “And, from what Carol has added to the record, a scientist who was trying to save the Skrull species. From their Fury began tests on it and began making weapons of his own. That’s how the Battle of New York started… Being control by the Mind Stone himself, Loki came and took the Tesseract. He used it to open a giant portal, letting the Chitauri army through.”

More video footage began being played of that day behind her. The all watched, with those who were there remembering the day like it was yesterday.

“How long did you fight these guys?” Rocket asked.

“About, uh, two or three hours,” Natasha responded. She looked at Tony who nodded along in agreement.

“The Chitauri are the suckiest army in the galaxy. Why didn’t you just blow up the mothership?”

“We didn’t know that was a thing,” Steve said.

“You didn’t know that was a thing?” Rocket laughed. Tony stood up from his seat, shaver in hand. (He was shaving as he was listening.) He went up behind Rocket and shaved some of his hair on top of his head. “Everyone knows— Hey!”

“There we go,” Tony said. “All better.”

“Tony was the one to send the missile up through the portal, successfully destroying the mother ship,” Y/N explained. “I closed the portal.” She looked at Tony, who met her eyes. “Luckily, we all came out of it alive.”

“Not all of us,” Clint commented. “We lost a good one that day. Phil Coulson.”

“Yeah… about that… Fury actually brought him back to life.”

“What?!” Natasha, Clint, Thor, and Steve exclaimed. The four quickly noticed at Bruce and Tony weren’t phased.

“Did you two know about this?” Natasha asked.

“Yes,” Bruce answered, “but only because it was vital. We were helping Skye—“

“Daisy,” Tony and Y/N corrected together.

“—and Y/N with their new found powers. Phil was a big part in that.”

“Those missions… that base you would talk about… SHIELD suddenly resurfacing,” Steve mumbled, putting the pieces together. “You leaving to save your Team… You kept SHIELD and Coulson alive, right under our noses.”

“Again, I was only doing what was right,” Y/N defended herself. “We saved the world countless more times than anyone even realized, including the other heroes in this room…. Coulson’s team is the reason we found Loki’s scepter. And in Sokovia, the helicarrier Fury brought was from Coulson. He had found it and patched it back together.”

“Sif,” Thor whispered. “She was so very vague about the two times she was down here.”

“She was keeping the secret. If people knew that Coulson was alive, it would have changed the game.”

“How did he survive?” Natasha asked.

“It was called the TAHITI Program. Fury directed Coulson to head it. It was meant for a fall of an Avenger. To bring them back if anything were to happen in battle. After years of trials, it was disbanded. The side affects were awful… but then Coulson died. And Fury couldn’t accept that.”

“Who else knew?” Steve asked.

“Besides Fury, Tony, Bruce, Sif, and myself, Maria Hill, our SHIELD teams, and many government officials worldwide. Including President Ellis.”

Steve scoffed. “All the secrets,” he muttered, shaking his head. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“Where is Phil now?” Natasha asked. “Did he survive?”

“He died right before the Blip,” Y/N answered. “Complications from the TAHITI Program and other things that had happened… Please don’t be angry. I understand that it seems like I’ve kept some big things from everyone. But you have to try and understand it from my point of view.”

Everyone was silent, not knowing what to say. Y/N stood in the front of the room, preparing for the attack on her. But it never came. Steve stormed out and the others from the original team followed, including Tony and Bruce. Y/N closed her eyes, trying to keep herself calm.

“I know that I’m new here and don’t know much,” Scott said, standing up to go to Y/N. “But I know that you have a good heart. And that you were only trying to protect everyone.”

She looked at him with a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you, Scott.”

~~~

“It’s just one thing after another with her!” Steve exclaimed. “Is everything a lie? It’s like I don’t even know who she is anymore!”

“Steve, I think we need to stay calm and look at this from her said,” Natasha said. “She has been trying to protect everyone, except herself. The whole time she was going from fight to fight without much of a break.”

“It’s true,” Tony agreed. “I personally witnessed the wear and tear it did to her.”

“When she got shot after SHIELD fell, was that because of Coulson?” Steve asked, marching up to Tony.

“It wasn’t because of Coulson. It was because someone on her team ended up being HYDRA.”

Steve ran a hand down her face. “I don’t know where the lies stop and the truth begins.”

“She never actually lied to you,” Natasha brought up. “She told you what she could and kept the rest to herself. To protect everyone.”

“She still should have told us about Coulson,” Clint spoke up. “He was important to all of us.”

“Coulson and Fury specifically instructed her that the team not know,” Tony explained. “She actually got in trouble for telling me and Bruce.”

“But again we had to know,” Bruce said. “Y/N and Skye—“

“Daisy.”

“—had suddenly gained powers. If anyone was going to be able to help them, it was going to be us.”

“I need some time to think,” Steve said, walking away.

“We really shouldn’t be focusing on this right now,” Bruce sighed, shaking his head. “We should be focusing on the Stones. What Y/N kept from us is not the priority.”

“As long as she tells us any other information that could be of use to us,” Natasha said.

“She will,” Tony promised.

“I can’t imagine she’s taking this well,” Clint mentioned.

“She’s not really showing very much, trying to keep it all in. But I don’t blame her. Steve’s been going after her since he got out of the ice.”

“It’s hurting both of them,” Natasha said. “It’s like they want it to be how is was before the ice. Yet, they both have changed.”

“I don’t think Steve’s willing to see it the most,” Bruce added. “It’s going to tear them apart when we need them to work together the most right now.”

“Together, they can be one of the best teams.”

Tony sighed. “Let’s finish getting the information on the Stones. Then we can worry about the rest of it.”

~~~

They all gathered back together to go over more about the Stones. They finished all the new on the Tesseract and Space Stone before moving to the Mind Stone. It was hard to talk about that one, since Vision was a big part of it.

“Where’s Vision now?” Scott asked.

“We brought him back to the Compound, but the Accords and his own will forced us to give his body to an organization called SWORD,” Natasha explained. “They were forced to dismantle him because of the Accords.”

“We were too late in getting him to Wakanda,” Bruce explained. “So there was no way to bring him back without the Stone.”

“Hopefully that the only permanent casualty we take from all this,” Tony commented, bringing Y/N closer to his side.

“That wasn’t the only life lost,” Nebula said. “My sister, Gamora, she died too.”

They took on the Soul Stone next. There was very little information on it besides what Y/N and Nebula knew.

“Thanos found the Soul Stone on Vormir,” Nebula explained.

“What is Vormir?” Natasha asked, taking notes.

“A dominion of death, at the very center of Celestial existence. It’s where… Thanos murdered my sister.”

Everyone sat there awkwardly, and saddened. Not knowing what to say or do.

“Not it,” Scott said, breaking the awkward silence.

“Y/N,” Steve called, in this stern Captain voice. “Do you know anything about the Soul Stone that could possibly help us?”

“I know that it is a very power Stone in its own right. With it I was able to conjure the spiritual representation of those who are dead.”

“What?” A few gasped. Tony reached over and grabbed her hand.

“I saw…” She paused, swallowing her emotions down. “I saw my unborn son, AJ, my parents, and Phil Coulson.”

“Our parents?” Steve questioned. Y/N responded with a simple nod. “How could you not tell me?”

“At the time we weren’t talking, and it never came up later.”

“I can’t—“

“Guys,” Natasha stood up in the middle, placing herself between the siblings. “Stop fighting. We have something bigger we need to focus on, and if you can’t see that you both can leave.”

“I’m not the one with the problem,” Steve growled.

Holding the tip of her tongue between her teeth, she silently watched Steve. She was trying to put her thoughts together when Tony decided to speak up.

“Seriously, Rogers, cut the bullshit,” Tony said. “I get you’re probably hurt that she never told you anything. But that doesn’t give you the right to make her your personal emotional punching bag. Crap happened and she didn’t tell you, but she’s telling you now.”

“You know…” Y/N began slowly. “I miss the days when it was you, Bucky, and I against the world. Just like you do. The days you trusted me and didn’t doubt me, no matter what… you blame this all on me, Steve? Fine! But communication is a two way street. Just remember that. I’m not the only one that’s kept secrets. Like the one about Howard and Bucky.” That left Steve silent. “I’ll be in the other room, trying to put a plan together if anyone needs me.” She left.

“Go work out some energy, Steve,” Natasha suggested. “We’ll take it from here.”

~~~

Tony found Y/N laying on a table with FRIDAY talking to her about the Time Stone.

“Mute,” Tony ordered, coming into the room.

“If you’re here to talk about Steve, I’m not listening,” Y/N responded, looking at the ceiling.

“I figured. That’s why I came to join you and help.” Tony leaned over Y/N and gently kissed her.

“Uh, guys,” Bruce broke in before the couple could get heated. They turned to see Bruce and Nat standing in the doorway. “We just came to see if you needed any help. Everyone else needed a break.”

“Help would be great,” Y/N responded.

Tony crawled up onto the table, sitting by Y/N, while Y/N sat up. Bruce and Nat came in further and the four of them began going through everything they knew about the Time Stone and trying to form the most logical plan to collect the Stones. After of few hours of nothing coming together, Tony and Y/N were back laying on the table. Bruce was laying on the floor with Natasha leaned up against him.

“That Time Stone guy…” Natasha began again.

“Doctor Strange,” Bruce corrected.

“Yeah, what kind of doctor was he?”

“Ear-nose-throat meets rabbit from a hat,” Tony answered, spinning his glasses in one hand while rubbing his eyes.

“Something neuro,” Y/N clarified.

“Nice place in the village, though,” Bruce added.

“Yeah,” Tony agreed. “Sullivan Street.”

“Hmmm… Bleecker.”

“Wait, he lived in New York?” Natasha wondered.

“No. He lived in Toronto,” Tony scoffed. “Were you even paying attention?”

“Guys, if you pick the right year, there are three Stones in New York.”

Bruce sat up in surprise saying, “Shut the front door.”

~~~

The team was quickly gathered and Y/N explained the best points for them to go.

“Okay, we will retrieve the Soul and Power Stones in space 2014; the Reality Stone on Asgard in 2013; and the Space, Mind, and Time Stones in New York City in 2012,” she told them, pulling the information up on the screens.

“Now all we need are to assign the teams,” Tony stated.

“I’ve sketched out a plan and would like to get everyone’s opinions.”

They all glanced Steve’s way, waiting for the Captain to say something. He simply glared, arms crossed over his chest.

“Shoot,” Clint encouraged, when Steve didn’t speak up.

“So, due to certain knowledge of events, I believe that we need to try and stick to our own timelines, even though it could be dangerous,” Y/N explained. “We know our own timelines best. Where to avoid, where the Stones would be found, all that jazz. With that in mind, I was thinking Thor would go to Asgard, Rocket and Nebula would go to space, and the rest of us would go to New York.”

“The teams need to be evened out,” Steve spoke up, not impressed.

“I was just getting to that. I was going to see if anyone was going to volunteer to retrieve any of the Stones. I believe we need at least two people on each mission. And remember, the space mission is actually two separate missions.”

“I’ll go with Thor,” Rocket offered. “I think I could probably help the best there.”

“Thank you Rocket.”

“I can go with Nebula,” Rhodey said. “I’m not familiar with any of the spots, so I might as well.” Y/N nodded in agreement, making a note of it.”

“I should stay in 2012,” Tony said. “Being back in the Tower, I might have to break into JARVIS.”

“Agreed,” Y/N.

“I’ll stay in 2012 as well,” Steve said. “I also think Scott could be a good asset with us as well.”

“Sounds great,” Scott nodded along.

“Bruce, I was thinking that you and I could go and speak to the Ancient One and get the Time Stone,” Y/N suggested. “I have a feeling it will take some convincing to take the Stone from her.”

“Okay,” Bruce agreed.

“That leaves Clint and Natasha. Since you guys are a good team, how do you feel about hitting up Vormir for the Soul Stone?”

The two looked at each other and nodded, before looking back at Y/N.

“We can do that,” Clint said.

“Awesome,” Y/N responded. “Now we just need specifics for each mission. Break off into teams and use the information to create a specific plan.”

Everyone split off and created plans for their team. Coming back together, each plan was explained.

“Alright,” Steve claimed the attention once the final plan was laid out, “we have a plan. Six Stones, three teams. One shot. Take the night to get things together and rest, we’ll meet up and head out in the morning.”

next chapter >

I know that this fighting and secrets thing is probably annoying, but I promise there is a point to it. Please be patient with me. Thank you.

I appreciate all likes, comments, asks, and reblogs! Thank you for all the positive support!

If you want to be added to the tag list, please dm me or send in an ask.

IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU TAG LIST:

BOTH:

@23victoria

@azure23x

@booknerd-3000

@thewidowsghost

@tuttifuckinfruttifriday

@i-dumb-bitch

@marinettepotterandplagg

@booksarebae2000

@roxytheimmortal

@love-couldbe-my-weakness

@bellamy-barnes

@loveisallyouneed1125

@paintballkid711

@stuckupstucky

@austynparksandpizza

@sydney-m

@fangirl-swagg

@livinglikebritishroyalty

@cspr-2

@supernaturallover2002

@laic2299

@aubreeskailynn (won’t link)

@capstopavenger

@bestofbucky

@irishfaulk97

@a--1--1--3

TONY:

@bispences

@topstory21

@supernatural-bangtanboys

@marvellover04 (won’t link)

@rapunzelskywalker1234 (won’t link)

@theofficialzivadavid

@emmuut

@mikariell95

#tony stark x reader #tony stark x rogers!reader #steve rogers x sister!reader #the avengers x reader #avengers x reader #marvel x reader #tony stark imagine #marvel imagine #marvel imagines #tony stark #Tony Stark fanfiction #marvel #avengers endgame #endgame #iron man x reader #iron man imagine #steve rogers x reader

169 notes · View notes

dontcare77ghj · 4 years ago

Text

Inked

Natasha x reader x Wanda

"You know those cause cancer, right?" Mal asked, entering your office. "And you're gonna stink out your office."

"The window's open." You shrugged, exhaling slowly and sending the smoke out the open window. "And you and I both know, cancer isn't something I'm scared of."

"Yeah, yeah, death licks your boots." Mal rolled her eyes, blowing a strand of blue hair out of her eyes. "Anyway, I'm going on break, Blaine's with a customer, and we've got a walk-in."

"I'll handle it." You promised, putting out your cigarette. "You going to pick up Erin?" You asked the younger girl.

"Yeah, I'm gonna drop her off with a neighbor. May offered and wouldn't let me refuse." She told you.

"Well, here. Get Erin something sweet for me." You said, shoving a twenty into her hands.

"Y/N, I can't." Mal started, trying to give you the money back.

"I insist." You cut her off. "I want to be her favorite aunt." You shrugged, forcing her to curl her fingers around the money. "Go, get your kid, and give her a hug for me."

"Will do, boss." She nodded before leaving.

"Hi, welcome to SkinPolish. How can I help you?" You asked, entering the main room to see the back of a man. He was looking over the walls of the store but turned at your entrance.

"Just so you know, I'm not here to get stabbed a thousand times," Clint told you with a grin.

"I think your day job provides you with enough of that." You joked, wrapping your arms around him. Clint chuckled as he returned your hug, pulling you close. "It's been too long, geezer."

"I know, you've got at least four more tattoos since the last time I saw you, you hoodlum." Clint teased you.

"It's been two years, Clint. Some of us had to change our identities." You reminded him, pulling back. "What are you doing here?"

"I need your help." He told you.

"Blaine, watch the shop." You said without taking your eyes off the man before you.

"You got it, Y/N!"

"Follow me." You told Clint. You led Clint out of the front of the store and into your office. "Clint, I left when SHIELD fell. I handed in my clearance and took off." You said, lighting another cigarette. "I'm not doing any more work for them."

"Don't be like that." Clint groaned, sitting on your desk.

"First off, get the fuck off my desk. Where are the manners Laura shoved down your throat? And secondly, I can't come back. Fucking HYDRA was running SHIELD for years, and none of us knew. All our information was in their hands. Who knows what they took? I have people I care about, Clint. I can't risk anyone's lives." You told him.

"I'm not asking you to do anything for SHIELD. I'm asking you to help the Avengers." Clint explained.

"Even better, a more public job." You scoffed. "Clint, we're friends. We've been through a lot. I get why you're here, but why the fuck would I risk the people I care about for another mission?"

"Argentina." He said simply.

"That is a dick move, and you know it." You groaned, finishing your smoke.

"I do know it, but I have to use it. We need your help." Clint said, rising from your desk to stand in front of you. "We need your help, kid. I wouldn't be asking if I had another choice."

"Fine." You relented after a minute. "When do you need me?"

"Tomorrow," Clint told you. "I'll pick you up." He added before going to leave.

"You don't know where I live." You protested.

"Yeah, I do." Clint corrected you. "I'll see you at nine." He said, and with that, he was gone.

"Fuck me." You sighed, rubbing your hand across your face.

"Remind me why I agreed to this again?" You asked, watching as the Avengers Compound grew closer through the window.

"Because you love me," Clint responded cheekily.

"Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart." You rolled your eyes. "You never even told me what I'm needed for."

"Briefing's in half-hour," Clint told you. "Which gives you enough time to get acquainted with everyone." He added as the car slowed to a stop.

"You know how I feel about crowds of people."

"It's not a crowd. It's the team and Maria. You're fine, kid, I promise." He said.

"Fine, let's get this over with." You sighed, unclicking your belt.

"Avengers!" Clint called as the two of you moved further into the maze of a building. "I have a surprise for you all!"

"Is it a unicorn?" A male voice asked as you both entered what looked to be a meeting room.

"Even better. Gentlemen, and Wanda,"

"Smooth Barton." A redhead coughed.

"This is Y/N L/N." Clint continued his introduction. "A specialist in all fields, especially disguise, and the only reason we might do our job today."

"Oh, so I'm doing your work for you again, Barton? Nothing's changed, I see." You commented.

"Hey! That's not true! Name one time that's ever been true!"

"I can list fifty off the top of my head." You said, raising a brow at him.

"I can add sixty-seven to your list." The redhead piped in. "Natasha Romanoff." She introduced herself.

"Pleasure Agent Romanoff." You smiled. "C'mon Barton, formal introductions, please."

"Yeah, Barton. Introduce us."

"Y/N, this is Tony, Steve, Bruce, Thor, and Wanda." Clint gestured. "Are you all satisfied?"

"Not particularly, since you still haven't told me what you need my help for." You said, crossing your arms.

"You haven't even told her that. Jesus Barton." Wanda snorted.

"I was getting to that. I was waiting for you all to meet." Clint whined.

"Well, we're met." You said, taking an empty seat beside Natasha. "C'mon, what am I doing here?"

"There's a gala tonight," Natasha said, handing you a file. "A man named Jayden Reeds is going to be in attendance. Reeds has stock in several large companies, but that's just a front. Reeds actually has ties to HYDRA and deals in human trafficking. From what we've gathered, Reeds kidnaps people who will seemingly not be missed. They're then delivered to HYDRA bases around the world and never heard from again."

"Am I here to kill him? Because I can get behind that." You said, shaking your head.

"Wait till you hear the rest," Clint told you.

"There is a possibility Reeds also has his own collection. He's been spotted with several women who have all disappeared shortly after."

"What's the connection between them?" You asked.

"They're all French brunettes."

"So let me guess, my job is to go undercover tonight and see if he takes the bait. And when he does, I bring him in."

"Bingo Boingo," Tony told you.

"Well, I guess I better find a long sleeve dress. Oh, and maybe a wig."

"You know, if I didn't know better, I would have assumed your accent was real myself," Wanda commented later that night.

The mission had gone as smoothly as could be. Reeds had fallen for your act believing you to be a young French brunette on vacation in America's busiest city.

You hadn't even needed to corner him as he'd followed you into a woman's bathroom with two other men.

You hadn't given any of them a chance to move or say anything before you had them unconscious on the ground.

Now you were heading home, still decked out in your gala gown, with Natasha, Wanda, Clint, and Tony.

"It's not that good. No matter how much I practice, even my Italian's better than my French." You shrugged.

"Not that good?" Tony snorted, glancing at you in the rearview mirror. "Sweetheart, if I weren't engaged and I met you in Paris, I'd take you back to Hotel Plaza Athenee and show you a time."

"Cute, Starky boy, but you're not my type."

"I'm everyone's type."

"Sorry, hon, but I like women." You told him. "This is my stop." You added as Tony pulled over.

"You live here?" Natasha asked, looking around the neighborhood in distaste. You could understand her aversion to the area. Any one of your neighbors would move in an instant if given the choice.

"Yep." You said, unclicking your belt. "Been here since SHIELD crashed."

"Did SHIELD pay this bad?" Tony questioned you.

"SHIELD pay wasn't great, but it was something. I saved most of it, but a lot of it went to making sure Y/N Smith, the tattoo artist from the wrong side, wasn't connected with Y/N L/N, SHIELD agent." You shrugged. "Didn't see a point in moving after." You added. "This was fun. We should do it again sometime." You said, sliding out and holding the door open.

"We'll give you a call if we need someone to do all the work for us." Clint nodded.

"Great. Come by the shop if you ever want a free tattoo. Clint knows where it is."

A part of you was sure you wouldn't see any of the team again. They led much more busy lives than you did, and their schedules were forever changing.

So imagine your surprise when Natasha and Wanda entered your shop the next day just to simply chat. And they continued to do so for a week. Sometimes Clint would come, Steve had popped in for a few minutes while on a run, but Natasha and Wanda visited every day.

On the seventh day, the two came in at one in the afternoon with Tony.

"Hey, Tony. I didn't know you were coming to lunch with us." You said, continuing to lock up the shop. "I'll be ready in a couple minutes."

"Great, but there's been a slight change of plans," Natasha said, watching you closely.

"As long as foods still involved, I won't be too bothered." You shrugged.

"Food is involved. It's just going to take us a while to get to it." Tony cryptically informed you.

"Guys, I'm running on twenty minutes of sleep and caffeine. Please, no cryptics." You sighed, narrowing your eyes at the three.

"Relax, we're not trying to hurt your head." Tony chuckled. "We have something to tell you."

"But first, step this way, away from any possibly hidden weapons," Natasha said, gesturing you forward. "No-one should get a knife to the head because they shocked you."

"Haha." You rolled your eyes, walking forward. "For the record, I did that once. And Clint caught it." You added. "What did you three do?"

"Technically, Tony did it," Wanda said, pointing a thumb at the billionaire.

"Real smooth, Sabrina." Tony scoffed. "Alright, yes, I did this, but I did it out of pure kindness."

"Did what?"

"I've had all your stuff moved out of your apartment. I've had it moved into a spare room in the Compound," Tony announced.

"Put it back, Tony." You demanded, crossing your arms. "My things aren't yours to touch."

"You live in a shitty neighborhood." Tony defended himself. "You have eight security systems of your own just to keep yourself safe. You won't find a new place of your own volition, so I found one for you."

"Tony, you moved my things into the Avengers Compound." You sighed. "I'm not an Avenger."

"Yet." Tony cut you off. "You are more than qualified to join the team. The way you helped us the other night, the way you took those men out and got the information quicker than we would have done. You can be an Avenger."

"I'm not risking those closest to me." You shook your head. "I gave up Y/N L/N when I left SHIELD. I have people in my life now, civilian people, who could get hurt because of me."

"Than don't let them," Natasha said. "I've been through your records, know how many people you helped and protected. Protect those you love just as you did all the strangers. You can still lead this life as well as one where you can protect people again."

"At least try temporarily," Wanda suggested. "Give it a month trial period and see if you can remember what it feels like. If it doesn't work out, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. And if it does work, you can join our team. Please." She added, giving you puppy dog eyes.

"Fine. A trial period." You sighed, pushing your hair back. "But no more using those eyes. It's evil, and you know it." You said, pointing at the witch.

"Yes, she does." Natasha smiled, putting her arm around her girlfriend's waist. "C'mon, there's a car waiting to take us back to the Compound."

"Where Tony ordered lunch," Wanda added, putting her hand out to you to take.

"At least he did one thing right." You joked, taking her petite hand.

"Hey!"

You had been staying at the Compound for almost a month. There were four days before the end of your trial period, but you hadn't made your decision yet.

There was still a part of you that thought it would no longer be safe for the civilians in your life if you joined the team. If you entered the Avengers, you might have to give up this identity and everything and everyone that came with it.

But there was something about being around the team that ignited a spark within you. A spark you long thought had burned out. You longed for adventure, for that adrenaline rush that came with being undercover and the pride you felt at helping someone.

You were torn between two worlds. Torn between two personalities.

"Jesus Christ, you smell like an ashtray," Natasha complained as she suddenly appeared by your side. You snapped out of your daze just in time to see Natasha take the smoke out of your hand and take a drag for herself.

"Didn't know you smoked." You commented, watching her exhale the smoke slowly.

"I don't. Not anymore." Natasha shook her head. "Just couldn't resist."

"Don't expect me to kiss you until you brush your teeth," Wanda said, skipping into the room and crossing her arms as she stared at the two of you. "I want a tattoo." She announced, staring you dead in the eye.

"Okay. Do you want me to find a parlor for you in the morning? I have a couple friends who owe me a favor or two." You suggested.

"No, I want you to do it," Wanda told you firmly. "As soon as possible if you would."

"And you're sure about this?" You asked, raising a brow. "You're sure you want a tattoo and that you want me to do it?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"Alright, then. Follow me." You said, leading the two back into the Compound and into your room.

"You have a gun and inks in your room?" Natasha asked, looking your makeshift parlor over.

"Yep. Set it up the night I arrived, gave myself this the next." You said, lifting your shirt to reveal the healing tattoo on your hip.

"Geez, you know most people drink a bottle of scotch to welcome themselves to a new place? Not give themselves a tattoo." Natasha informed you.

"Probably." You nodded, beginning to set up your station. "Okay, Wanda, what did you have in mind?"

"I want the words, 'Ty namnogo bol'she' to wrap around my wrist," Wanda said, tracing around her thin wrist with her finger.

"Alright, I can definitely do that. But you might have to write it down for me. My Russian's not that great." You informed her.

"We'll have to work on that," Natasha said as Wanda began to write it down.

"Alright." You began after Wanda handed you the spelling. "Let's get started."

"I love it." Wanda smiled, watching as you gently wrapped her wrist. "It's perfect."

"I like to do my best." You grinned, putting the last of the tape down. "Make sure that stays moist. And do not scratch it under any circumstances." You instructed her as you began to shove your equipment away in plastic tubs.

"You need a better system," Natasha commented. "Yours is kind of a mess."

"I'll update my system when I change this room around." You said, looking around the nearly bare room. Everything you owned was in plastic tubs or bags. You hadn't been bothered to unpack yet.

"Does that mean you're planning on staying?" Natasha asked. "Have you made your decision yet? To join the team or not?"

"Not yet. I'm still trying to decide." You sighed, leaning against the wall. "I like not giving a shit. I like waking up in the morning and paying too much for a shitty cup of coffee. I like going to work and being around people who've never had to see the shit we have. I like not having to feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, but I miss it.

I miss being a part of a team. I liked saving people. I enjoyed going on missions, creating new personas to get what I needed done. I miss being around people who've seen the shit I have. Who know what the weight of the world feels like.

Now I don't where to go. What I need more in my life." You told them.

"We told you, you don't need to pick one world," Wanda said, standing from her stool. "You can still save people and drink over-priced coffee. You can still be with people who share your trauma and be with those who don't. You don't have to pick one world."

"Can we help your decision along by us asking you out to dinner?" Natasha asked, breaking your pensive silence.

"Excuse me?" You asked, for once being taken aback by another person. "I think I went temporarily deaf there. Can you repeat yourself?"

"Let us take you on a date," Natasha repeated slowly. "We were thinking about dinner and wine and then a night at the opera." She said, causing your nose to scrunch up without thought.

"She's kidding." Wanda giggled. "Actually, we were thinking we get a couple beers, order a pizza, and watch a movie in our room."

"Can I pick the movie?" You asked her.

"With your crappy taste, no." Wanda shook her head.

"Okay, now she's kidding," Natasha said, taking three steps forward to stand beside her girlfriend. "Of course, you can pick the movie."

"And this wouldn't hurt your relationship?" You asked tentatively. "I wouldn't ruin what you already have?"

"You could only add." Wanda smiled.

"So, what do you say? You wanna go on a date with us?" Natasha questioned you.

"I'd love to."

"Go away.” You groaned, rolling away and under the covers into Natasha’s body.

“Wakey, wakey. Up and at ‘em you two.” Wanda ordered, pulling the blankets off the pair of you.

“Wanda!”

“Both of you will forgive me when I tell you I have coffee.” Wanda rolled her eyes, sitting on the bed beside you.

“The overpriced kind?”

“What other kind is there?” Wanda asked. “C’mon sit up or no coffee for either of you.”

“Alright, alright, we’re up.” Natasha said, sitting up with you on her chest. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

“I love you.” You groaned after taking the first sip of your steaming beverage.

“Are you talking to me or the coffee?”

“Can’t it be both?” You shrugged before grabbing her hand and kissing her palm softly.

“As long as there’s love for me too, it can.” Natasha told you.

“I love you too, Nat.” You promised, kissing her collarbone.

“After today’s meeting, I want you to give me a tattoo.” Natasha announced. “I don’t care where is is, but I want ‘YA zasluzhivayu lyubvi’.” She told you.

“Alright then. I like this plan.” You smiled, looking up at your girlfriend. “You know I think I’m due for some new ink myself.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you can choose for me.” You shrugged. “I trust you both, always.”

Once, you left SHIELD and it’s lifestyle behind. And then one day Clint Barton walked into your shop and brought you back into it.

He brought you back to the life you missed and brought you to Natasha and Wanda.

Remember all Taglists are open as are requests.

Taglist

@rvgrsbrns @smilexcaptainx @hopingforbarnes @starlingelliot @piper-koko-barnes-rogers @jelly-fishy-babie @skeletoresinthebasement @agent-barnes40 @reann-loves-sebstan @skadikh @summergeezburr @buckybarton03 @sunshinepower17 @bindythedemon @natasharomanoffismywife @keenmarvellover @bbybarness @storiesbystarlight @buckybarnesplumwhore @bromieeeomieee @marvelmenarebeautiful @niki-is-a-thing @pauloonig @abyssiniapleasant @beautybyfire @officalmarvelbaby

Natasha Romanoff Taglist

@natasha-danvers @5aftermidnight @ohfuckno

All women Taglist

@imnotasuperhero

#natasha romanoff #natasha x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #wanda maximoff #wanda x reader #wanda maximoff x you #wanda maximoff x reader

367 notes · View notes

kingfallsamtranscripts2 · 3 years ago

Text

King Falls AM Episode Twenty-One: Swimmin’ With Kingsie

King Falls AM Transcript

Episode 21: Swimmin’ With Kingsie

Run time: 23:38

First Aired: Mar 1, 2016

Summary: Reverend Xavier Hawthorne unveils his newest plan for King Falls and the boys get a worrisome call from Lake Hatchenaw.

(For a list of characters and references from this episode see the end of this post)

[King Falls AM theme plays, transitioning into mildly creepy piano music]

Commercial: Sometimes in life things don’t go as we have all planned. Sometimes in life it’s easy to get discouraged when plans change. Do you get discouraged when plans change? We don’t. I’m Leland Hill of the Science Institute. Perhaps you’ve heard of us because of the help we do for families and people in need. Locally, globally, internationally. Or maybe you’ve only heard of us because of the suppressive media attacking myself, Science Institute founder Roland Northwoods, and other Science Institute alumni. Or maybe you’re just lost and looking for help in the dark and scary world. Possibly your inner consciousness is reaching out into the unknown, looking for answers. Why are we here? What’s the meaning of life? Why is a medium drink the size of a small bucket at fast food restaurants? Whatever you seek, just know, the Science Institute can help you. We want to help you. We will help you. We are here, King Falls.

[King Falls theme plays]

Sammy: The Science Institute? Really?

Ben: Keeps the lights on, Sammy.

Sammy: You’d think they could get one of their Hollywood brainwashed pals to at least read their propaganda instead of the ghoulish Leland Hill.

Ben: He does give me the willies but he is also paying the bills!

Sammy: Absolutely! And I’m sure the advertisement budget he’s paying Merv is a drop in the bucket compared to that old compound they’re finishing on Old Bombing Range Road.

Ben: I can see that you are trying your hardest to stay on their good side, Sammy, but let’s stay on track here.

Sammy: (laughs) You got it, we absolutely can, and should, keep it on the rails, I’m sorry.

Ben: Ooh, that’s the hot-line right on time. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the good Reverend Xavier Hawthorne calling in to tell us about his new venture as well as hopefully taking calls from you lovely listeners!

Sammy: New venture? Did God start paying less?

Ben: (Clearing his throat) Good evening, Reverend Hawthorne! Thank you so much for working us into your busy schedule.

[Reverend Hawthorne dramatic organ intro music]

Deacon Reggie: Ladies and gentlemen of King Falls, please put your hands together, get those hands a clapping, like the girls asses be clappin’ up in the club, put' em together for the one, the only, Reverend… Xavier… get right with Goooood, Hawthorne! Deacon Reggie, out! (Sound of a high five) Go get ‘em, brother.

Hawthorne: (very quietly) Oh Deacon Reggie, thank you so much for that lovely introduction! Appreciate you, fam!

Sammy: Hi, Reverend Hawthorne… and Deacon Reggie.

Hawthorne: Reggie can’t hear ya, he’s going back to his bunk on the bus. He’s got the gift of God though, don’t he?

Ben: That he does! How are you doing this evening, Reverend?

Reverend: Blessed to be here, Benjamin, Samuel. Gentlemen, how are you doing tonight? I said, how are you doing?

Ben: We’re… we’re well.

Sammy: (Laughing) Not too shabby. H-how are you?

Reverend: Very well, very well indeed. I’m sorry it took so long to get this calling to happen. I’ve been a busy, busy man of God these days.

Ben: Indeed you have, Reverend. Is the tent revival business still going well?

Reverend: Where there are sinners there is always a need for salvation. And where there is salvation, there is Reverend Xavier get right with God Hawthorne’s stomping out the devil revival. You got to stomp out that nasty devil! Just stomp him out!

Sammy: You know, you should have that on t-shirts.

Reverend: Already do! Nineteen ninety-nine each or two for forty dollars. You have a keen eye for marketing, Samuel, a keen eye.

Sammy: Reverend Hawthorne, there was mention of you in the King Falls Gazette a week or two back about you possibly settling down in King Falls. Is there any merit to that claim?

Reverend: Now Samuel, I hate to speak out of turn, but let me just say that good things come to those who wait. And good old Xavier has been a waiting a long time to find a parish to call his own. And glory be I think we might have struck a deal at the King Falls First Old Baptist Church!

Ben: Oh wow, so that would-

Reverend: Can I get an amen, brothers?

Ben: A...men?

Reverend: Our prayers have been answered! Just as soon as the check clears the bank…

Sammy: So you signed a deal that would keep the road show-

Reverend: Ah! Stomping out the devil revival!

Sammy: Stomping out the devil revival with a permanent home in King Falls?

Reverend: Well, we’d still tour. That sneaky devil is always popping his head up where he shouldn’t. The ultimate game of wack-a-mole. And you’d better believe we’ll be there to whack him down every time! Every time, devil! Whack-whack-whack!

Sammy: But…

Reverend: But yes, we will have the church as our home base. Praise be!

Ben: Isn’t the First Old Baptist Church a little… what’s a good way to say this…

Reverend: Oh it’s a sinkhole waiting to happen! But that’s where we come in, Benjamin. We’re going to raise some money from the good folks of King Falls, and we’re going to build that cheeple steeple into the megachurch that the Holy Trinity, that the town of King Falls, and Xavier Hawthorne deserves!

Sammy: Huh.

Ben: A megachurch? Those are like stadium size churches, right? How will that ever fit on the corner lot First Baptist is on now?

Reverend: Where there is a God’s will, well don’t you know, there's an entrepreneurial way. Eclesiastes 1, 5 through 7.

Sammy: Now Reverend, for those residents who don’t go to church, but would still like to know that they’re helping an institution that will help out their fellow man-

Reverend: I hear the doubt in you, Samuel! And it is strong. And it is scary. I don’t want to go Yoda on you, but you don’t want none of the dark side funk on your everlasting soul, son!

Sammy: Right. Back to the question, I’m assuming that the church will be actively putting money and good will back into the town. Is that correct?

Reverend: You’d better believe it, Sammy. But there’s no other reason to do it than to help out all of God’s children.

Sammy: Some more than others?

Reverend: We’ll be doing outreach programs, food for the needy, clothes for the poor. We’re working on a deal to rent out the old dilapidated putt-putt place right next to the church as well.

Ben: Oh man! Sir Putts-a-Lot? That was the place to go back when I was in middle school!

Reverend: Sadly, I don’t think it’s seen many good years since then. But we’re going to try to refurbish and reopen as a money making venture for the folks, like you’re speaking of, Sammy, that don’t do church. Now, we’ll be Christian themed, but it’ll still be fun for the non-believers.

Ben: Oh man, I can’t wait. Sammy, the eight hole at Sir Putts-a-Lot was-

Reverend: (Loudly) Glory Holes!

Ben and Sammy: What?!

Reverend: Glory Holes- mini golf for a mighty God. We opened one in Tuscaloosa back in 2013. It’s a proverbial gold mine for God.

Ben: Okay, well that’s… that’s an interesting choice of words.

Sammy: (laughing) I can’t wait to go to Glory Holes! Do you have an approximate grand opening date? You know, that’s something that should be marked on every calendar in town. I’d like to mark it on every calendar in town, actually.

Reverend: As I’ve said, checks have to clear, hands need to be shaken, and prayers need to be answered. We’ll see, but it should be sooner than later, boys.

Sammy: I had questions, but you know what… I can’t follow that.

Ben: Reverend, would you mind sticking around and taking some calls with us?

Reverend: Absolutely! Anything to spread the good word and the gospel.

Sammy: You heard Xavier’s story, kids, now let’s hear yours. Give us a call at the studio, (424)279-358.

Ben: Uh, before we go to the phone lines! Does God ever, like, intervene in matters of the… heart?

Sammy: Ben.

Ben: You know what I mean. Rev, like, if a boy likes a girl, but the boy made a real righteous ass- excuse my language- out of himself to save the girl from another boy’s affections… creepy, creepy affections?

Sammy: This sounds familiar, Ben. Is this anybody we know?

Ben: I’m asking for a friend.

Sammy: Right.

Ben: So, Reverend, I- I don’t really know how this works, like, if my friend, uh, prays really hard will he-

Sammy: Tilt the odds in his favor.

Ben: Exactly!

Reverend: You know, Benjamin, I think it starts with having a personal relationship with your lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and then feeling it out from there.

Sammy: I think it works for wars and football teams all the time. Give it a shot, Ben.

Ben: Can’t hurt, right?

Sammy: The phone lines are lit up, Buddy.

Ben: Right, uh, right. Heh, we can talk about that later, Rev.

Sammy: Lucky line one, you’re on King Falls AM with the Reverend Xavier get right with God Hawthorne.

Caller: Hey, Sammy. Hey, Ben. Hey, Rev.

Sammy: Ron Begley! How are you doing, sir? Long time no talk!

Ron: Doing just fine, Sammy! Just fine!

Ben: Do you have a question for Reverend Hawthorne?

Ron: Sure thing. Now, Reverend Hawthorne, what would the going rate be to rent old Glory Holes for a private putting party? I got an ex-life partner Bruce looking for a place to get hitched to his fiance, Larry, who happens to be a golf pro.

Reverend: Whoa, now!

Ron: Hello?

Reverend: I’m sorry, Bruce and Larry?

Ron: Yeah! Do you know ‘em? They’re all kinds of religious.

Reverend: You know, I have to get with our finance manager. There’s a lot of moving pieces and- what was it- do y’all hear that? It’s God. He’s a calling me. I got him on the spiritual speed dial. I think I’m losing you, fellas. Let’s chat about-

[The sound of a phone hanging up cuts off the rest of what the Reverend is saying.]

Ron: Hahaha, works every time.

Sammy: I’m guessing there is no Bruce or Larry.

Ron: Hell yeah there is! And I really wanna rent out a putt-putt place named Glory Holes for the reception, but I didn’t figure that stuffed pudgery would talk about it.

Sammy: I think you’re correct.

Ben: How’ve you been, Ron?

Ron: Uh I can’t complain. But I do anyway. All’s well at the bait shop.

Sammy: And how is, uh… you know.

Ben: Just say it, Sammy!

Ron: You can do it, Sammy! How is who?

Sammy: Oh fine! How is Kingsey the lake monster doing?

Ron: All right! That’s what I’m talking about.

Ben: You did it, buddy. I’m proud of you!

Sammy: Oh, whatever. Saying is not believing, guys.

Ron: One important step closer. She’s doing just fine, by the way. But I gotta tell you, I’ve seen Kingsie more now than I ever have before. Seems like anytime I’m on the lake Kingsie comes right on up. No fear in her at all. It’s the damnedest thing.

Ben: That’s strange, Ron. Wasn’t it just a few months back that you had people out on the lake hunting her almost?

Ron: Yeah I don’t get it. You’d think she’d be more scared of the boat and the people but I’ve seen her visiting boats with my own eyes! I don’t like it.

Sammy: So no more trouble with trespassers, then?

Ron: Not a lick of trouble! I fixed those lousy poaching' sons of whores good!

Sammy: Do we even want to know?

Ron: Let’s just say I might have put some buckshot to some behinds!

Sammy: I’m not touching that one.

Ron: (laughs) That’s what he said.

Sammy: I don’t know if…

Ron: It works, Sammy! Trust me.

Sammy: I’ll just make a mental note not to be out on the lake looking for trouble.

Ben: So uh if you didn’t have a question for the Reverend, what’s going on then, Ron?

Ron: What, a guy can’t call his radio buddies to chat? Isn’t this talk radio?

Ben: Of course! I’m just-

Ron: I’m just messing with you, Ben! I actually do have a topic of discussion for both of you. A bone to pick, if you will.

Sammy: Oh wow, let’s hear it!

Ron: Well it seems that damn near every time I turn on 660 AM you two ruffians are fighting with somebody or getting tossed out of public places. I’d be proud you boys are about to level up your man cards! But I’m a little offended you didn’t come to me for help.

Sammy: With the fighting and getting kicked out of places.

Ron: I’m only partially busting balls here, but it’s partially serious too. You fellas with your fighting, as hot as it may be, ain’t the best for you or us who like listening.

Ben: Let it be known, I was not fighting! I am not a fighter.

Sammy: No, you were sabatoshing and throwing hush puppies!

Ben: Whatever, it still wasn’t a fight!

Ron: Hell, I wouldn’t classify what Sammy the mirror was doing as fighting either, you have to land some strikes and grapples to be a fight! You gotta actually make your hand into a fist to be a fight! Looked like a springtime, fully clothed, roll in the hay! I’ve had dates rougher than that quote unquote fight.

Sammy: Well, uh, obviously, you know I let my emotions get the better of me and it went arye.

Ron: Oh, whatever, Sammy! Not everyone’s meant to be a warrior. What I’m trying to tell you both is you fellas just need to do your fighting over the radio airwaves. You keep the physicalities to the professionals! You’re a bright spot in a lot of people’s nights around here and we can’t have you getting thrown of the air for rabble rousing and half-assed MMAing the jackass mayor.

Sammy: I think I get what you’re saying and we appreciate it, Ron. Believe me we will keep fighting the good fight the only way we know how.

Ron: With your sweet little mouths.

Sammy: I was going to say minds, but sure.

Ron: Alright, fellas. I can hear my radio going off like a son of a b-(beep) in the shop. Better go see what kind of damn fool would be trying to get me in the middle of the night. Take it easy fellas.

[The phone hangs up]

Ben: He’s a trip.

Sammy: He’s something. Line nine you’re on with Sammy and Ben.

[Magical twinkling music starts]

Ben: Oh no, hang it up, Sammy!

Sammy: Wait, what is this?

Ben: Seriously dude, this is bad news. Just push the button and-

Sammy: Hello?

Caller: Oh hello!

Sammy: Hello? We’re here, you’re live with Sammy and Ben.

Ben: Come on!

Caller: Oh splendid! I do love listening to you two!

Ben: Oooh, hi, Gwendolyn.

Sammy: (Amused) You know this lady?

Ben: Unfortunately.

Gwendolyn: It’s Gwendolyn! You’re such a smart cookie, Ben Arnold. So unlike your trailer trash friend Troy!

Sammy: Whoa, ma’am! If you could please not address anybody like that, we’d appreciate it. Sorry, Troy.

Ben: Remember when I asked you to hang up?

Gwendolyn: (Sarcastically) Oh I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to offend your liberal sensibility! I’ll do my best to shackle my first amendment right to freedom of speech. We wouldn’t want to offend, now would we?

Sammy: Gwendolyn, was it?

Gwendolyn: Oh, it is, darling.

Ben: There’s more to her name, Sammy.

Gwendolyn: My, my, Ben I didn’t realize we were bringing proper titles into this conversation! How fancy.

Sammy: Oh, like a duchess of York or a princess situation?

Gwendolyn: Well, you could say that.

Ben: (Clearing his throat) Gwendolyn the Racist Witch.

Gwendolyn: It’s like a choir of purebred school children singing when you say it like that, Ben. Now I do prefer Gwendolyn the Hateful, but…

Ben: But one shoe fits better than the other.

Sammy: Gwendolyn, if I may be so bold-

Gwendolyn: You may.

Sammy: Obviously I’m grasping most, if not all of your title, but I’m finding myself a little… hmm.

Ben: Sammy doesn’t believe in witches.

Sammy: That is correct.

Gwendolyn: How very sad! Were you an underprivileged child, Sammy? You sound at the very least like white middle class. Do you not know what a witch is?

Ben: Uh, no, he knows what witches are, he just doesn’t believe in them.

Gwendolyn: Well I don’t believe in Muslim presidents, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have one!

Ben: Ooh, told you to hang up, Sammy!

Sammy: Ma’am, I’m sorry, but if you don’t have a topic that isn’t-

Ben: Racist.

Sammy: Right. Then we’re going to have to let you go.

Gwendolyn: Oh, but I do have a topic, Sammy. I would never call in just to waste your resources like welfare on those-

Sammy: Gwendolyn! I’m not going to let you use this as a forum to spew venom and hatred! There are plenty of other AM radio stations that will let you do that, but we certainly will not.

Gwendolyn: Oooh, strong! Forceful! I like it! You have some aryan in you-

[The phone hangs up with another twinkling sound.]

Sammy: Nope! I tried, I just can’t do it.

Ben: Try living with that your entire childhood! She lived a block over from my mom. You should’ve heard the stuff she’d yell out at little league games!

Sammy: Is that where you learned most of your large vocabulary?

Ben: (Coughing) Hardly! No, uh, line two you’re on with Sammy and Ben.

[The sound of outside night noises (crickets and wind and frogs) begin]

Caller: Oh hiya, Ben. It’s Mr. Sheffield.

Ben: Hey, Mr. Sheffield, how are you doing this evening?

Cecil: Oh I’m just swell. It’s just so good to hear a friendly voice. Let me ask you something, have you heard from Esther lately? I’ve been putting in those booty-calls but I haven't heard a thing back!

Ben: He isn’t talking about Esther Rollins, is he?

Sammy: Hi, Cecil, are you talking about Esther Rollins from Esther’s Sewing Corner?

Cecil: Ah, you betcha, bud!

Ben: We… I mean, he’s gotta know, right? She passed six months ago or so.

Another person in the background on the line: Damn it, can you hear me?

Sammy: I hate to be the one to tell you this-

Ben: Is that Herschel in the background?

Herschel: Hello!

Cecil: Oh, I know she passed, fellas! But she was still answering her secret number and moseying on over for the longest time!

Sammy: I- I’m sorry… what’s that, Cecil?

Herschel: Did you get those butternut f-(beep) on the phone yet, Cecil? Stop talking about banging a ghost! Is that the dumbass duo? Give me that!

Ben: Are you guys out together… looking for Esther?

Cecil: Oh no, I was just wondering about her and thought you boys were in the know and could help. Me and my best friend are out on the lake tonight and we’re fishing-

Herschel: Don’t tell ‘em, you no good penis wrinkle! This is Herschel F. Bomgardener’s find! Tryna take all my glory. Son of a (beep).

Cecil: I’m sorry. Hersch really wants to tell you guys something. Can you call me back though? About sweet old Esther...

Herschel: Oh Jesus, not one damn person in this town who wants to hear about Cecil Sheffield laying the old ghost post. I’m tired of hearing about it my damn self! You listening King Falls AM?

Sammy: Hi, Herschel.

Herschel: Well don’t sound so excited, Stevens. I’m just dropping the biggest old breaking news money shot all over your face.

Ben: That’s an image! Uh, what can we do for you?

Herschel: Well for starters, how’s about kissing my ass? And don’t you take a tone!

Ben: There wasn’t a tone! I swear!

Herschel: I’ll never understand your generation. If I talked like that to my elders I’d never have made it past nine years of age! The damn factory foreman would have skinned my hide.

Sammy: It sounded like Cecil was about to tell us something, and you mentioned breaking news? Is that correct?

Herschel: I’m getting to it! Damn it to hell, boys! Like I used to tell Edna; slow and steady wins the race. Better hurry up, though I’m about to fall asleep.

Cecil: Hey, Herschel, I don’t think this is Kingsie...

Ben: Kingsie? Is something wrong with her?

Herschel: Do I look like doctor f-(beep) lake monster to you, Ben?

Sammy: What’s going on out there? I assume you two are out on Lake Hatchenaw?

Herschel: That we are. Me and Cecil are out tonight trying out some new lewers. Real fancy stuff.

Cecil: Hey, I’m sure this thing ain’t Kingsie, Hersch.

Herschel: I f-(beep) heard you the first time, Cecil! Jesus Christ! Can’t you see I’m talking on the radio!

Cecil: Sorry, buddy.

Herschel: Ah if I had my gun I’d put that brain-dead dumbass out to pasture. Anywho… goddamn it, what the f-(beep) are we talking about?

Ben: (Annoyed) You’re on the lake, testing lures.

Herschel: Right, uh, so we hit secret spots, and then, erm try to feel the Cecils out. And wouldn’t you know it, we found that old serpenty b-(beep) Kingsie, belly up.

Ben: What?!

Herschel: Deader than Rock Hutchson’s affections for the ladies.

Ben: Oh man, I cannot believe that. This- This hurt. I gotta call Ron back.

Herschel: Ain’t no use calling that son of a b-(beep)! I was radioing on his bait shop the last twenty minutes to no avail! Figured he’d want to go out and say his goodbyes before Ray Chin comes out here and suzies her up real good.

Sammy: Ben, give Ron a call so he doesn’t hear about Kingsie like this.

Herschel: Ah she was a damn fine lake monster.

Cecil: (In the background) Herschel this ain’t Kingsie!

Herschel: Didn’t really mess with me and hecklewood, stayed out of my spots. I won’t miss her, but damn if I don’t salute her for knowing some boundaries.

Cecil: Turn on your damn hearing aid! It’s not Kingsie!

Herschel: Oh, what now? I ain’t too old to dump you wrinkled ass right off the side of this boat.

Cecil: No! Give me the phone!

Sammy: Hey Ben, hold on a second.

Cecil: Hello? Is this Ben Arnold and his buddy?

Herschel: (From the background) I let you have it you fardknocking old cuss.

Sammy: You’re live, Cecil. Is what you found on the lake not Kingsie?

Herschel: Let me get a good look at this thing. Hey, shine the light over here, Cecil. Get a little closer.

Cecil: That light fell overboard in Kettleton Cove.

Herschel: G-(beep)-damn it! Watch your dirty cheating crumb catcher! You don’t know what kind of eavesdropping satellites are listening in to scout bots or the bass tourney. Mother f-(beep)!

Cecil: The light is gone, Herschel! Sorry.

Sammy: Fellas?

Herschel: Hey, this may not be Kingsie. Quit whistling f-(beep)-ing dixie and get us closer!

Sammy: It’s not Kingsie, Ben.

Ben: Ohhh thank goodness! What is it?

Herschel: Jesus, I think this is a dead body!

Sammy: It’s a dead body.

Ben: That’s much better than Kingsie… so young… WHAT?! Wait, what?! Again?!

Herschel: It’s all wrapped up in something. But it smells human to me. Pull over closer, Cecil. Jesus Christ, do I have to give you a haunted hanty to get closer to the g-(beep)-damn body?

Cecil: We’re going to go closer.

Sammy: Why don’t we let you guys go so you can call the sheriff’s office.

Herschel: Eh, it’s so damn dark! Where’s my million candle lamp, you dumbass.

Ben: I’ll call the sheriff’s office. Where are you guys at on the lake?

Cecil: You know I can’t rightly tell you, Ben. Shhh, it’s a secret!

Ben: This is a little more important than the bass tournament, Mr. Sheffield!

Herschel: Don’t you tell ‘em! Tell those pansies to send the coppers to Begley’s. We’ll meet them there. Your big mouth has already broadcasted too much!

Ben: To Ron’s, got it. I’ll make the call, guys.

Cecil: Hey, what’s that noise? Do you hear that, Herschel?

Herschel: Sounds like they’re right over the treeline. We could shine the light if you hadn’t tossed it in the lake!

Cecil: Oh hush!

Herschel: Fifty nine ninety-nine at Sears and Roebuck. Don’t think you won’t replace it-

[There is a loud crashing sound like thunder]

Cecil: What the heck is that?!

Herschel: Well Charlie f-(beep)-ing foxtrot!

Sammy: What’s wrong, guys?

Cecil: Look at those lights… Oh, pretty colors… beautiful…

Sammy: Lights? Is it the UFOs?

Herschel: Gosh, those damn rainbow lights again. We’re not going to catch nary a f-(beep)-ing fish tonight. Son of a buttered up, biscuit eating b-(beep)!

[King Falls outro music and credits begin]

References:

Yoda: a fictional character from Star Wars known for his wisdom and fighting against the ‘dark side’

Glory holes: I’m sorry I’m not going to explain this one… If you’re over 18 feel free to look it up, if you are not please don’t.

MMA: Mixed martial arts

Rock Hutchson: A gay actor

Sears and Roebuck: department stores

Charlie foxtrot: military slang for a chaotic situation

Characters:

Sammy Stevens, Ben Arnold, Leland Hill, Deacon Reggie, Reverend Xavier Hawthorne, Ron Begley, Gwendolyn the Racist Witch, Cecil Sheffield, Herschel F. Bomgardener.

#king falls am #king falls am podcast #king falls am transcript #king falls transcript #king falls podcast #podcast #podcast transcript #transcript

3 notes · View notes

theexistentialistdancer · 4 years ago

Text

A Baladi “Wedding”

We approached the turnoff for the event. It was a dirt road off the highway, with no signs other than a string of flashing purple string lights showing the way into an unfinished compound. There was gate for the area as if it was a secure compound, but the security detail sat drinking tea and nonchalantly motioned for us to enter and follow the dozens of cars entering and parking anywhere there was space. The parking “assistants” were rushed to help, making tip money for every car that parked in the stretch of street they had claimed as their own. We tried to find a spot that didn’t include the compulsory tips, but failed and gave up.

Our group approached the event, which was across the street from the area mosque and was surrounded by a high concrete wall and had sounds of the live musicians and the emcee on the microphone pulsing out and into the gravel street. We were a group made up of four Egyptian men and myself, the lone female “guest” at the event. It is against social norms for respectable women to attend these events; the only women inside would be the vendors selling snacks and packs of tissues and the hired dancers who would work on stage. As we entered, we were greeted by men working as ushers, who immediately asked if we were German (meaning they were guessing at us being tourists). “la3 la3 masry,” my group responded. We walked down a long red carpet inside the courtyard that had white floral archways every 2 meters. On the left was a tea and coffee stand with some small catering options, and straight ahead was the main party: a huge structure covered in hanging fake flowers, teeming with male guests, workers serving them, and at one end, the stage with singers, a large band, and one lone female dancer sitting bored on a chair smoking cigarettes. She was wearing a red belted coat over shorts and was playing on her phone in between smoking. Stage lights flashed and the event was filled with men wearing galabeyas sitting and drinking tea.

The event workers rushed to bring us a table; rather than seat us at one that was already set up, they brought an entire table into the party, complete with a tablecloth. We were ushered to our seats and along came the parade of “services:” foam plates of fresh fruit, bags of chips, wax paper containing various substances, a shisha guy, tissue packs, children offering sunflower seeds, sodas, and a man who was a professional “cigarette” roller. Each person walked by and put their wares on the table, and for the things that were from the event, we could take whatever we wanted for free (with the expectation that we would contribute). The children selling sunflower seeds dropped them on the table and if you said no, they grabbed them back up just as quickly.

I settled in to survey the chaos.This was like a cabaret but with less rules, and more forward about money. The cabaret is all about getting you to spend money for fun, but this event, although it is normally called a “wedding,” is actually a gama3a (gamaya), or a type of community fundraiser. There is no marriage or groom, and the sole purpose is to crowdfund money.

There is more than one kind of gama3a, but at its simplest, it is a community saving program. You can go into normal gama3as where each person commits to paying in 1000le every month, and every month someone takes the whole amount. Each person in the gama3a has a number and the length of time of the gama3a determines how much money will be in the amount you take. It may seem like you could just take the money and run, but these are community-led and a bit like a mafia, so you can’t just back out after taking your money. The more trusted you are in the community, the sooner you will take your money.

In a “wedding” type gama3a, things are a little bit different. The way it works is that each person who is part of it has a day for their event. On that day, they are the host and they will take all the money that is thrown and they have the emcee who records everything and also pushes the next events. The emcee will take his own personal payment for the service and has a book that has every single name and amount given, plus they typically record the entire event on cameras as well so if there is any mistake, they can double check it.

So, say that imaginary Ahmed has his event today. At the event, Mohammed throws 500le. When it comes time for Mohammed’s event, Ahmed can come and give him the 500le back, and now they are even. Ahmed can also give him more than 500le, and then when it’s Ahmed’s event again, Mohammed will have to either give him back the equal amount to be even, or he could give more. You can also join a bunch of gama3a circuits. Each area has their own groups, but you can cross-join different ones and the emcee will notify whoever has given money or owes money to attend the correct event. The emcee/organizer is really impressive here, I am amazed at their ability to keep everything straight.

If Mohammed has his event and Ahmed (who owes 500le) doesn’t go to it, then the emcee will arrange someone to go to Ahmed’s house and take the money back in person. There’s no getting out of paying in this type of situation.

As outside guests of this event, we had a few options. We could not offer any money (thus staying outside the gama3a AND being rude), or we could give money “by love,” meaning that we don’t need it back later, or we could give money to enter the circuit. One of the men in our group, who works as a singer at some of these events, gave some money “by love” so that way we are not just free-loaders but also aren’t entering into the event circuit. To enter, you see how much money you have given at other events, then you talk to the emcee and they will give you a date for your own event when you can take it back. If you don’t want to attend enough to have your own event, you can ask the emcee to get your money back at a later date on its own. In essence, a gama3a event is way to have a fun time and also save money in a way that you don’t “feel” it. It’s easy to spend 100le on entertainment but if many of the people don’t put it into a gama3a of some kind, then they find that they will spend that 100le on something else, so this way it actually saves them the money for the future rather than just being spent. The party adds to the appeal, with live singers and musicians covering classic and current shaabi songs for the guests who love live music. The dancers that are there are separately booked and also add encouragement for the men to attend, as they are otherwise not normally able to see women who are scantily-clad up close in public.

As I sat at this event, listening to the emcee promote the next event (March 6, March 6, March 6 he rattled off over and over) while the band played pieces of shaabi improvisation music to accent the words and add to the enthusiasm, a video camera came by and panned over our table. As the only female and a foreigner, I quickly checked my mask was in place - better to be incognito and a nameless observer at at event like this. More dancers arrived, joining the one sitting nonchalantly on stage, all pulling each other up to the stair-less stage while laughing. They ranged in makeup style and dress, but most had on the similar jackets with shorts. One climbed on stage and after finding her chair, expertly took off her sweatpants to reveal a mini dress. It was cold so they huddled together, waiting for the emcee to finish his promotional part and start the party.

A woman wearing hijab and selling tissues climbed awkwardly up on stage and offered the dancers tissues. The main dancer joked with her, gesturing to all the dancers and then biting her thumb at the tissue vendor before breaking into a belly laugh. The tissue vendor sat on a dancer’s lap and joined their jokes before moving on to the next potential customers.

I asked my group if the emcee would be long with his announcements because I wanted to see the flow of the event, however the emcee was long-winded and our table abruptly decided we shouldn’t overstay our welcome; the longer we sat, the harder it would be socially to leave without giving more money “by love.” As group we all got up and quickly walked out, back through the flower arches and down the long red carpet and back to our car, to give the parking man 5le for his assistance. We drove away from the road lined with flashing purple lights and back out to the highway, as if we had never been at the event at all.

#egypt #egyptian #cairo #culture #experience #travel #explore #locallife #baladi #event #wedding #egyptianwedding #gamaya #gama3a

1 note · View note

avengerscompound · 5 years ago

Text

The Right Partner

The Right Partner - A Captain America Fanfic

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing: Steve Rogers x F!Reader

Word Count: 3559

Warnings: Smut (MF, viring!reader, virgin!Steve, virginity loss, oral sex, vaginal sex)

Synopsis: You and Steve feel like you’re the only two people in the tower not having sex. When you find out that it’s because neither of you has ever have had sex, you decide to change it.

The Right Partner

And there goes Bucky and Natasha. You sigh and take a sip of your hot chocolate. At least there was Steve. You could count on that. When everyone else had paired off and gone to their bedrooms Steve was always out here with you. You look at him and he smiles at you.

“You have whip cream on your cheek.” He says.

You sigh and wipe your cheek. That’s exactly what you wanted. No wonder you were still single. Can’t even drink without making a mess of yourself.

“No… nope… you keep missing it.” Steve says. He reaches forward and wipes his thumb over the corner of your lip. “There you go.”

“God, I’m a mess. Sorry, Steve.” You say, frowning.

Steve looks at you, his head tilted to the side. “It was just some cream. What’s wrong?”

You sigh and look away from him. “Do you ever get the feeling that we’re the only two people in this compound not having sex?”

Steve starts sitting a little straighter and he turns from you too. “Yeah… I do think that. If it helps, I’d say you’re beating me on that front too.”

You laugh, but it comes out sounding way more sarcastic than you’d intended. “I doubt it.”

Steve laughs too and it sounds genuine. “Does it help if I tell you I’ve never had sex? Not ever?”

You look at him, eyes wide. “Really?” You ask completely dumbfounded. You can not for the life of you understand, how Steve Rogers could still be a virgin. “But you have a fan club.”

Steve sighs and runs his hands through this hair. “Please don’t make fun of me. I get enough of that from Tony.”

“No. Oh god no, Steve. I’m just surprised. I’d never make fun of you for that.” You turn to him and put your hand on his. “I’ve never had sex either.”

Steve raises his eyebrow at you. “Really? Or are you just trying to make me feel better?”

You laugh. “Why would I lie about being a virgin to make you feel better?”

Steve shrugs. “I don’t know.” He looks at you. “Waiting for the right partner?”

You sigh and take another sip of your hot chocolate. The sweet creamy flavor warming you from the inside out. “I thought it should be this perfect magical thing with the perfect magical person. The longer I waited the more I built it up. Now I’m in my thirties and I’ve never had that connection and I’m starting to think I missed my chance.”

Steve chuckles and raises his eyebrow. “I’m a hundred years old. I’ve got you beat there.”

You laugh and nudge him with your elbow.

“Before the serum, no one really looked twice at me. I’d be either ignored or flat out ridiculed by women. I kept telling myself when I had the right partner they wouldn’t be that way I’d know. I’d just wait until that happened. I thought I found her, but then I went into the ice and woke up and everything is different.” He shakes his head and looks at you like he really needs you to understand him. “In the forties, it wasn’t as if people weren’t having sex. We were. Did you know they gave us prophylactics when we enlisted?”

You shake your head.

“But it was all buried. We didn’t talk about it. You were supposed to wait until you were married. If you had sex before you were married well that girl was not the kind you married. If women got pregnant unmarried they disappeared for 9 months. Or they had backyard abortions and more than likely died. Now, everyone’s having sex all the time. People talk about it all the time. And even though women still get called … sluts…” He whispers the word ‘slut’ like it’s the worst curse word he knows. “They are still much more forward than I’m used to. Not that it’s bad. It’s better it’s not buried. Not lying about that stuff is better.”

He’s babbling and you’re not sure if he is even sure he knows where this story is taking him anymore. You take his hand and give it a squeeze. “What are you trying to say? That forward women scare you?”

He shakes his head. “No. No. I like that. I always have. But now I look like this. I went from living in a world where women wanted to be seen as this thing they weren’t to be marriageable. And on top of that being a completely unmarriageable person myself. To this world where sex is just a thing people do and being … well…” He gestures to his body. You laugh and lean against his arm. He leans his head on top of yours. “Women approach me all the time now and I have no idea how to tell what their intentions are.”

You squeeze his hand. “Well, I don’t even have that excuse. I just can’t read men. They always go right to the sex. Is it wrong to want the romance too?”

He takes your hand in his and just holds it. “No. It’s not wrong.”

You sigh. “At this point, I’d just like to not lose it to someone I don’t know and I feel confident I won’t end up hating. Who I know for sure won’t make me feel like shit about myself after.”

“I just want to trust they like me and not Captain America,” Steve says.

You sit like that for a moment just holding hands and leaning into each other. Neither of you brave enough to suggest the thing you had just both hinted at.

You sit up and take a long drink of your now lukewarm chocolate. When you put it down Steve laughs. “You have a cream mustache.” He says and reaches over and wipes the cream off your lip with his thumb. You part your lips and it dips into your mouth. Your breath catches and you flick your tongue out and brush it over the pad of his thumb.

Steve breathes your name, cradling your jaw in his large hand. You nod, still not quite able to breathe properly and you both lean into each other.

He tilts his head right and you tilt yours left so you end up squashing noses together. You go to correct but so does he and you both end up laughing. Steve’s hands go to each side of your face and hold you in place as he tilts his head and brings his lips to yours. It feels so good. Way better than you could have imagined considering it was Steve and you’d never even considered this as a possibility.

His lips are soft and he caresses them against yours. You open your mouth and your tongue flicks over his top lip. He grants you access to his mouth, meeting your tongue with his. He feels so hot. Like he’s running a fever and he tastes like cinnamon sugar.

You pull back just a fraction and look at him. “What have you been eating?” You ask.

“Nat had pumpkin pie. I had a slice. Why?” He replies. Instead of answering you just kiss him again.

He tilts you back onto the couch and climbs on top of you. As he positions himself between your legs he ends up leaning on your hair, pulling it rather painfully. “Ow, ow, ow.” You chant, trying to pull it free.

He sits up letting your hair go. “Sorry. Are you okay?”

You nod. “Yeah. Uhh… maybe we should take this to the bedroom?”

Steve gets up and helps you to your feet. “Yours or mine?” He asks.

You opt for his. He has a bigger bed. When he closes the door behind you, you both just stand and stare at each other for a moment. The atmosphere feels heavy and full of expectation.

“Are you sure you want this?” He asks.

You nod. “Absolutely. Are you?”

He answers you by pulling you into another deep kiss. You start trying to tug at his t-shirt, to pull it up off his head. He pulls back and you somehow get it stuck halfway over his head. “Steve, buy shirts that fit you, for god’s sake.” You curse.

He laughs and pulls it off the rest of the way. You run your fingertips over his pecs and down his abs. “Fuck… no wonder women keep throwing themselves at you.” You lean forward and circle the point of your tongue over one of his nipples. He hums in response and you bite it gently.

“Fuck…” He growls and fists his hand into your hair. “Let me see you.”

You smile up at him. “Sure.” You agree. You pull off your t-shirt first. You were just wearing a black sports bra on underneath. The hungry look Steve gave you made it feel like it was the sexiest lingerie in the world. You pulled the bra off next and he stepped forward.

His hands slid up your waist and cupped the underside of your breast like he was weighing it. “What are you doing?” You ask.

“I don’t actually know,” Steve says. “I uh… I really want to suck on them.”

You snort laugh and then cover your face in embarrassment. “You can. It’s okay.”

He guides you back to his bed and you sit on the edge. He kneels in front of you and starts kissing and sucking on your breasts. You wrap your arms around the back of his neck. Your hands in his hair. He suckles, rolling his tongue over your nipple. Sending jolts radiating out through you. He palms your other breast, pinching your nipple, before switching breasts.

You moan and feel your cunt flood. You have never been wetter than you are right this very second. “Oh god!” You moan. Your fists tighten in his hair and you pull it. “Steve! Oh my god!”

His pulls off your breast dragging his teeth over your nipple as he does he fumbles with the hem of your yoga pants. He finally manages to get the grip he wants and nearly yanks you onto the floor with him. You yelp, somehow managing to stay on the bed and he pulls your pants and underwear off in one go, tossing them to the side.

He spreads your legs and starts kissing up the inside of your thighs. “Can I?” He asks and nods in the direction of your pussy.

“Really? Why?” You ask, feeling a little embarrassed. All the stigma of how it should smell or taste rushing into your head at once.

“I just… I really want to.” Steve says.

You squirm a little and he runs his finger up your folds. You hum at the first really intimate touch you’ve received there from anyone other than yourself. “Okay. But you don’t have to. If you don’t like it.”

His mouth is on you before you’ve even finished talking. He starts by placing large open mouth kisses on your folds before moving on to licking. He needs some direction. His tongue slithers inside you early on, which really just feels weird rather than good. “Not like that. You say. Higher. The little nub.”

Steve follows your directions and learns quickly. Soon keying into the subtle ways your body reacts, letting him know you’re enjoying it too. Soon the reactions aren’t subtle at all. You’ve fallen back on the bed. He’s put your legs over his broad shoulders and you’re coming apart under his mouth. You can’t keep quiet a all. And when your first orgasm crashes over you it is more intense than any you have ever brought on yourself. Even when you used toys.

“Holy shit!” You pant when he finally comes up for air. His mouth glistening and a look on his face like a puppy that just learned a new trick. “Let me do you.”

He stands and you fumble with his fly before he brushes your hands away and just unfastens it himself. He drops his pants and steps out of them, leaving you facing his cock. He is fully erect, and it stand almost upright, reaching his belly button. You blink up at him, not even sure what you’re supposed to do with such a behemoth.

“It’s big I know.” He says, sounding a little proud of himself.

You swallow and look from it and to his face. “When we get to the sex part, you’re gonna need to go really slow.” You say.

He nods. “Of course.”

You take him into your hand and run your tongue flat over his shaft and lap over the head. He moans and keeps his eyes fixed on you. You start to suck. Just the head first, pumping his shaft in your fist. You then try and take him as deep as you can possibly fit.

Steve gasps and his hips snap forward, pushing him a little further down and making you gag and pull back, drool running down your chin. You slowly find your rhythm, and Steve mimics it, gently rocking his hips with your mouth. His hands go to your hair and he pulls. Not hard enough to hurt, but with a definite force. It makes you moan around his cock.

Steve starts to moan and you can see his chest start to rise and fall rapidly as he pants. He pulls back from you gently, his hand still in your hair. “Better stop or that’s gonna be all that we do tonight.”

You smirk up at him and start moving back on the bed. He follows after you. He kisses his way up your legs and over your stomach. He once again teases at your nipples with his teeth before continuing his journey up. When he finally brings his lips to yours, the salty-sweet flavor of your cunt filling your mouth, you feel the press of his cock on your entrance.

“Steve. Do you have protection?” You ask.

“Shit!” He curses. “No! I mean, why would I?”

He climbs off you sitting up. “Shit. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. Maybe another night we can … I don’t know … go out to dinner and try again?”

You climb off the bed and scoop his t-shirt off the floor. “Give me a couple of minutes.” You say, pulling his shirt on and creeping out into the compound.

You go straight to the bathroom you share with Natasha and the other women and start digging around in it.

“What are you looking for?” A bleary-eyed looking Natasha asks you. You spin around to face her. She’s wearing the shirt Bucky had on earlier and she yawns loudly, rubbing her eyes.

“Nothing. Just go back to bed.” You whisper.

“I would if a herd of water buffalo wasn’t currently occupying my bathroom. Just tell me.” Natasha says.

“I just need some condoms okay?” You snap.

Natasha eyes you. “Why? Who are you having sex with?”

“No one. I just want to make a water balloon and drop it from the roof.” You answer.

“Then why are you wearing Steve’s shirt?” Natasha asks. “Besides that’s stupid, it wouldn’t even break.”

“That’s why I want to do it. Because it not breaking would look cool.” You finally find a stash and take a couple out.

Natasha puts her hand on yours. “Not those ones. They’d never fit Steve.” She opens another drawer and grabs a couple from there. She hands them to you. She then pulls out a bottle of lube and presses it in your hand. “Take this too. If he’s anything like James, you’re gonna want that as well.”

You don’t even have a chance to say thank you when she disappears back into her room.

“What’s going on?” You hear Bucky ask.

“Your best friends about to get laid. Go back to sleep.” Natasha answers.

“About fuckin’ time,” Bucky grumbles.

You shake your head not sure if you should laugh or feel mortified. You dash back to Steve’s room. He’s sitting against the headboard, hand resting on his erection. You fly in and jump into his lap. “Got some.” You say triumphantly, tearing his shirt off your body again and throwing it across the room.

Steve takes one and no matter how hard he tries he can’t get the pack to open. He even tries using his teeth. You take it off him and tear it open easily, handing the now open packet back.

“What the hell kind of voodoo was that?” Steve asks, taking the condom out and rolling it down over his cock.

“You totally loosened it up for me.” You laugh. He pulls you into a hard kiss and you straddle his lap and start grinding your pussy over his cock. When he breaks the kiss you squeeze the gel into your hand and start slicking his cock. Steve moans as you apply the substance. You use a ludicrous amount. It coats him fully and drips down between his legs.

“I think that’s probably enough.” Steve groans, nuzzling into your neck.

“It’s just - You’re really big, Steve.” You whine.

You take his cock into your hand and start guiding him into you. Steve is infinitely patient with you as you take your time letting your body adjust to him. You allow for the burn as your entrance stretches and becomes used to the new shape it’s being pushed into. Eventually, you bottom out and you stop and just sit with him inside you, eyes closed and relaxing.

“Are you okay?” Steve asks gently.

You nod. “Just give me a second.”

Steve cups your jaw and kisses you. You give yourself to it and slowly start to rock.

Having him inside you is so much different than anything you’ve experienced before. Yes, you’d used toys before. Yes, they felt good, and in some ways even better than this. Toys were designed specifically to get you off after all. Fucking Steve was so much more than a toy could ever be. He was hard but supple. He moved in ways you didn’t expect and couldn’t predict. He filled you and stretched you but his flesh had give letting you squeeze and pulse around it. When you did he reacted by moaning and clenching his body. He was running hot and that heat passed into you, making you both sweat.

The feedback was the bit you liked best. When he kissed and bit at you. The way he moaned. The way his cock pulsed inside you and his fingers bit into your flesh.

“Oh god. Damn it feels so good inside you. Why did I wait so long?” He moans and starts thrusting up into you.

You start moving faster trying to bring an orgasm along with the one that seems to be coming nearer and nearer for Steve. You bring your fingers to your clit and start to rub. Steve leans you back a little and latches onto one of your breasts. It’s the three things in tandem that do it. You come. It’s not the most intense orgasm you’ve ever had, but it’s good. It rolls over you and you cling to Steve as your pussy pulses around him.

It’s what send him over. He bucks up into you and releases. You can feel the throbbing of his cock as he spills into the condom.

You still sitting face to face resting your forehead against his. “Holy shit.” You sigh, when you finally regain some control over yourself.

“That was amazing. You’re amazing.” Steve murmurs. You both start kissing again. As you do you, let him slip from within you. Eventually, you break apart and climb off his lap. He removes the condom and ties it off throwing it in the trash.

“I guess I should go back to my room.” You whisper, not exactly sure what you should do with yourself.

“I’d like it if you stayed,” Steve says. He runs his palm down your back. It feels strong and soothing.

You turn to look at him. “Are you sure? Everyone will talk.”

“I’m used to them talking.” He says.

“What about Tony?”

Steve laughs. “Tony probably has FRIDAY programmed to tell him if I ever have anyone in here. Tony’s going to be Tony no matter what.” He sighs and runs his fingers down your arm. “If you don’t want to stay that’s fine. But I want you to. So please don’t leave because you think that just because we aren’t a couple I am finished with you now it’s over. You aren’t disposable.”

You smile and peck him on the cheek. “Won’t it be weird waking up with your friend in your bed?”

He shakes his head. “Not when I love her as much as I do.”

He lies down and pats the spot beside him. You snuggle down into him pulling the covers over you both. “You’re a bit of a sweet talker you know that?”

He laughs. “Can’t say I’ve ever been accused of that before.” His arms wrap around you, engulfing you almost completely. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

You lean up and kiss the corner of his jaw. “Thank you too. You’re a good person Steve Rogers. You deserve a happy ending. More than anyone else I know.”

“Who knows. Maybe one day we can both get that.”

#steve rogers #steve rogers x reader #captain america #captain america fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #smut #the right partner

625 notes · View notes

hopelessromanticspoonie · 5 years ago

Text

To Keep You Safe

Title: All the good girls go to hell

Chapter: 12/?

Author: hopeless_romantic_spoonie

Summary: Life as the assistant to Tony Stark was busy, but boring. All of that changed when I touched something I shouldn’t have and woke up with strange new abilities. If I thought that trying to figure out my new place in life as an Avenger was tough, I had no idea what was in store for me once I ran into the frustrating God of Mischief, Loki.

Rating: E

Notes: Friendly reminder that this is un-Beta’d, so please excuse any typos or grammatical errors I no doubt missed during revisions!

Also on Ao3 here :)

Warnings: Blood, violence, torture, language, needles

~~~

The next two days were some of the most physically demanding of my life thus far. Loki and Nat worked me to the bone, both spurred on by the fear that this mission was going to go sideways and that I was going to be collateral damage. I didn’t blame them; that same fear did all it could to keep me up at night. Loki had taken to sleeping in my bed with me. It was easier to cut out the moments wasted by him running to my room when I had a nightmare, and he would hold me in his arms and whisper stories of his childhood–always about his mother–until I drifted off with the worries and whims of a child to chase away my more pressing and looming concerns.

I talked to Wanda and she got Vision to reluctantly agree not to spill the beans on Loki and I’s relationship. She wasn’t happy about it, but she understood our desire for secrecy with all the controversy around him, and that was all I asked. I was more concerned about Nat blowing our cover with all of the suggestive comments she made whenever we were within five feet of each other. For an assassin, she wouldn’t know subtle if it hit her over the head. And I’d know; I’d tried. The others shot us some questioning looks whenever he would station himself at my side around the Compound, or get a little more hands on with adjusting my stance in training, but nobody asked either of us about it. Maybe they saw it as a natural progression of his haunting me. Just a step up from being the ghost in the corner to a new, more touchy bodyguard. Or they were all too preoccupied with the upcoming mission to give it a lot of thought. Whatever it was, I was grateful for it.

So by the time the morning of the mission came, I was ready for it–if only to get a break from the punishing training sessions. I’d never experienced anything more surreal in my life than sitting on the Quinjet, surrounded by the Avengers, getting mission plans from Tony Stark. Looking around the room to see the people I’d begun to think of as my family suited up and looking lethal as hell was a bit intimidating. I still felt like an imposter, just some PA who had stumbled onto the jet and was given a suit. The usual crew from around the house, plus Loki, were all present and accounted for. He had made it abundantly clear that he was going wherever I was, which turned some heads, and it was agreed upon by everyone else that I wasn’t going to be left at the Compound. So, they got two bonus tagalongs for the job. At least we were useful tagalongs.

My nerves made themselves known as a lead ball in my stomach, and I kept twisting my fingers together in front of me from all the anxious energy threatening to make me explode if I didn’t do something. I stood next to Loki, trying very hard not to be distracted by him in his green and black leather armor, and focus on getting my head in the game.

“Intel says that there shouldn’t be more than 50 in there. Wanda says that this is just a surveillance base, so we shouldn’t be worried about anybody too big and bad. Now, that being said, somebody,” Tony snapped his fingers until I made eye contact with him, “needs to do everything by the book. Nobody runs off, nobody does some dumb hero shit, nobody gets separated from the group.

“Pebbles, you’re sticking with Nat and Loki. Do not leave them. You’ll be looking for their main server so we can get more info on their other bases. Again, you stick to them like glue. This isn't the first rodeo for those two, so do what they say. Just in case any funny business happens in there we want everybody to have someone watching their six.”

Tony pointed to the screen next to him on the wall, gesturing at a blueprint of the building Hydra had commandeered. “Rock of Ages, Widow and Pebbles will go in through here after we land. Loki, stick to her but do your Invisible Man schtick. We don’t think they know you’re with us, and what they don’t know will hopefully hurt them. Cap, myself, Wanda, Vision, and Thor are going in to take as many out as we can on the front end and distract them so that you all,” he pointed to Loki, myself, and Natasha, “can slip in as undetected as possible. Bruce and Sam, you guys are going to stick to the outside of the building in case they call for back-up. We’ll be in Washington D.C. in one hour.” He nodded to each of us in dismissal before turning off the screen and heading up front to sit in the cockpit.

The serious expressions were wiped away from my friends’ faces as soon after Tony finished his spiel. They began talking and laughing with one another; even Steve looked calm and collected as he joked with Sam.

I didn’t know how they could be so calm about everything. I felt like I was going to be sick. In one hour I was going to be sneaking my way through a building full of people who want to take me and make me some superweapon. And if they attacked us, I wouldn’t have a choice but to fight back. Could I do what I needed to do to protect myself, or Loki? My head swam at the troubling thoughts. I must have looked a little green to Loki, who put his hand on my arm to get my attention. “Are you feeling well?” he asked quietly, searching my face for any signs of weakness or illness.

Nope. Freaking out, actually. But he didn’t need to know that. He needed to focus as much as I did, maybe more, to pick up my newbie slack. Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands over the smooth dark green leather of my suit. It felt more like a costume standing next to such professional badasses, but it would protect me better than what I had worn the last two times I’d been forced to fight Hydra. That was something, at least. “Yeah, yeah. Totally fine. Just heading into a building full of men who want to kidnap me and wipe my brain to turn me into the next Winter Soldier. And I can only manipulate natural shit, so unless these people are really into indoor gardening I’m useless. Super calm and in control,” I rambled, inwardly cringing with each word that tumbled from my lips. So believable.

Loki reached down and pulled one of my new, lethal-looking obsidian daggers that he had gifted me after I Hulked out on the last one. It was longer and more lethal-looking than the one from Tony with a stained black wooden handle and slightly curved blade. They both fit easily into the holsters that Tony had put onto the outer thighs of my suit. He spun it expertly on his palm before holding it out to me handle-first with a serious look furrowing his brow. “If nothing else, you have these. And I will not leave your side. I will protect you."

I took the dagger from him and slipped it back onto my thigh, tapping my fingers against the handle as I looked around the jet. Just because I had new pretty knives didn’t mean that I wanted to have to use them. But they did offer some small form of comfort in potential protection, as did Loki pressing his hand onto the small of my back, rubbing small circles over the supple leather unseen by everyone else with my back to the wall of the jet. He had seen so many fights and battles and wars, I just had to trust that he knew what he was doing. He had been fought in actual wars before, so hopefully, this was nothing to him. He was at least acting like it was a walk in the park.

Trusting sucks.

~~~

“Okay everybody, touchdown in 30 seconds. Comm’s in and game faces on,” Tony called.

I took my earpiece out from my pocket and shoved it in my ear, secretly hoping that the pencil eraser sized piece of tech wouldn’t get fall out of my ear. If it did, at least I still had my watch on me as a backup. Everyone’s murmured voices were now amplified in my head, including Tony’s after Nat easily landed the jet in the middle of a park, “We got your back, kid. Head out.”

I glanced at everyone one last time, trying to absorb some of the courage and bravado that they now readily displayed. Steve winked at me before tilting his head for me to leave, pulling his shield off of the floor and slipping it over his arm.

“Let’s go, girl,” Nat called into my ear, and I turned and jogged down the open hatch behind her.

I couldn’t see Loki, but I felt his hand in between my shoulder blades as we both caught up to her outside the building we’d identified as housing Hydra. The three of us pressed against the outer wall, sticking to the shadows as we waited for the others to make their move.

“Honey, I’m home!” Tony shouted, and explosions vibrated through the building against my back. Always so dramatic.

That was our signal. We rounded the side of the building and Loki, now visible, stepped ahead of us and used his magic to silently open the locked cellar door protruding from the ground. Natasha moved in first, pulling out a gun and holding it before her. Loki then disappeared once again, and he nudged me down the stairs in front of him. Being touched by an invisible man was way too weird, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Steve said, his voice sounding small in my ear, the explosions having died down. He was right. It was too quiet on their end.

We continued on our way, forming a silent line as we three snuck from room to room to reach where the brains of the team, AKA Tony and Bruce, decided the computers might be kept. If that intel was correct. And if there weren’t a million guards in our way. And if this wasn’t a trap. If, if, if. I was practically vibrating with nerves as I trailed Nat, who looked cool as a cucumber. All in a day’s work for a Russian super spy.

“I agree, Solo. Nobody’s here,” Tony replied skeptically.

“Should we abort or...?” Natasha asked as we walked into a large empty room with several doors leading off of it. The servers should be in the room farthest from where we entered. Almost there and then I could breathe.

But I agreed with the others. Everything just felt wrong. My skin crawled with unease. If this was a Hydra base then we would’ve run into someone by now. Somebody would’ve responded to us blowing down their door and storming the castle with so much firepower. And if this building wasn’t being used by Hydra, why hadn’t anybody at least called the cops about our blowing things up inside the very populated city? They hadn’t exactly been subtle about it.

A flashing red light caught my eye as it slid by us into the middle of the room.

“Bomb!” Natasha shouted.

A heavy, invisible body knocked into me, cradling my head to cool leather and throwing me to the ground beneath it seconds before an explosion rang out through the room. Smoke and fire and light filled the space instantly, disorienting me. I barely heard Loki shouting my name as he appeared on top of me, looking unharmed but alert as he pulled me to my feet and shoved me into the closest dark doorway after doing a quick scan to check me for any obvious injuries. Bullets peppered the wall across from me, forcing me to move away from the door until I could get my bearings.

“Found ‘em!” Natasha shouted into the comms, and I heard her grunting as she did her best to handle whoever had thrown that grenade. She was more than likely responsible for some of the gunshots that echoed loudly throughout the enclosed space. Loki’s sounds of struggle sounded in my ear, and I couldn’t ignore the urge I had to help them.

I made to get up and leave the dark room--heck if I was going to cower in the corner while they fought--when I felt a hand around my mouth and my waist, effectively trapping my arms to my sides and silencing me. I bit down on the hand covering my mouth, tasting copper and sweat. Out of nowhere, a fist collided with my jaw, making me groan from the explosive force behind it. My fingers twisted by my side, and one of my daggers went into my waiting hand. The man holding me grunted in pain as I stabbed down into his thigh. Just because they had me restrained didn’t mean that I was helpless. I left it there when he fell, twisting around to strain to see in the darkness for any more attackers coming my way.

“We’ve got some big black bad-guy looking cars rolling in!” Sam shouted.

“Kid, get out of there!” Tony screamed desperately.

“I’m a little busy!” I cursed, another set of arms yanking me back and restraining me against a large body. There was a pinch in my neck that spread ice through my veins, and I felt my limbs instantly get heavy. Not good.

I struggled, swinging at them the best I could with my remaining blade, but one man handily took it from my hand and tossed it to the floor. Fingers dug into my ear and ripped out the earpiece, which was instantly lost in the darkness. Another punch landed in my stomach and I doubled over, coughing and spitting up a mouth full of blood that I’d earned from the earlier punch to my jaw. My feet were kicked out from beneath me, and I told myself to get up from where I was sprawled heavily on the floor. Just gotta put one foot beneath me, then the other.But my arms and legs were so heavy. And I was so tired. I tried to push through the haze fogging over my mind, but my fingers only twitched uselessly in response to my commands.

“Loki!” I cried weakly, using my last bit of strength to call out to him as desperation and reality sank in. It was an ambush, these men were taking me, and I needed him to fulfill the promise he refused to make just three days earlier. I lost the battle against my heavy eyelids just as I felt someone grab my hands and drag me across the floor.

~~~

White-hot electricity surged through my body and ripped me out of blissful unconsciousness. A scream tried to force its way out of my mouth, but it couldn’t get around my clenched teeth and something rubber wedged between my jaws. When I tried to thrash my head around to escape the agony coursing through me I was stopped by something metal covering the left side of my face and wrapping around my skull, holding my head absolutely still. My hands clenched the armrests beneath me as I did everything I could to just ride out the pain that battered my body. It was the only choice I had.

After the torment stopped I slumped forward, my head fully supported by the restraint around my neck and the metal around my head. I pried my eyes open to look around at my surroundings, trying to get my bearings. An older man in a white lab coat with stark-white thinning hair and hard eyes pulled the weird contraption off my face. Behind him were five men holding rifles pointed in my direction. We were stuck in a concrete, windowless room with iron bars over the only visible doorway. Underground, maybe? Either way, they didn’t want to be found. Wouldn’t blame them. Torturing a woman isn’t a good look for anybody and tends to raise alarm.

Either I was too exhausted or there wasn’t anything around for me to manipulate, because when I tried to reach out with my powers I could barely feel them humming beneath my skin, let alone find something to use as a weapon against them. It was a foolish thought. I was still strapped to the chair even if I could move my head around now. Needed to get my arms and legs free before I tried to think of any heroic escape plans.

Still, I trained my glare on the middle-aged man who strolled into the room flanked by an extra four guards, looking far too pleased with himself with his cheap suit and ugly thin black cane. As he got closer I could make out a design etched onto the cane of a skull with tentacles coming out of it. Hydra.

“Jennifer, I heard you were awake. We’re so happy that you could join us today,” he sneered, voice sickly sweet as he stopped an arm’s length in front of me.

I tried to lunge out at him, feeling my sweaty, grimy skin peel away from the cold metal chair beneath me as my back bowed against the restraints. Looking down quickly, I could just see my bare knees at the edge of my vision. A quick wiggle check confirmed that I was just in my sports bra and boy short underwear, so at least they had only taken my suit, boots, and watch--ruining any hopes I had of Tony using it to track me. Oh well. I could kick their asses in my undies, no problem.

“We here at Hydra are so excited to get you going on the right path. Tony Stark and his Avengers were not good for you. They held you back. They coddled you,” he droned, circling my chair slowly. “But we want you to be the very best version of yourself. To reach your full potential. We need your help to make the world as it should be. Isn’t that what you want, too?” he asked, stopping in front of me.

Get me out of these restraints and I’ll show you what I want, asshole.

He shook his head and walked away, waving his hand dismissively at the man in the lab coat. “Give her the serum, Wood. They’re looking for her and we need to have her camera ready.”

Serum? I followed the maybe-doctor--Wood, I guess--with my eyes, watching him warily as he took a syringe full of green liquid from a metal table next to me. He looked nervous as he approached me, and I growled deep in my throat when his hand came towards my arm; I couldn’t do much more with the rubber bite guard still in my mouth. The cold metal tip of a gun pressed against my temple, digging into my skin threateningly. I froze against the threat of death, silently seething as I felt the bite of the needle into my upper arm.

My blood boiled inside of me starting from the injection site. I’ve never felt my heart beat so fast in my life, and I would’ve sworn that all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. I knew my eyes were open, but I could only see blackness as I screamed around the bite guard. Whatever they had stuck me with felt like it was dissolving all of my muscles in acid, and it was too much for my body to handle after being hooked up to what felt like an entire power grid earlier. My rigid body went limp as I gave in to the sweet relief of oblivion.

~~~

I was unceremoniously dropped onto a hard concrete floor, the force of it knocking my head into the ground and rousing me. Someone hauled me up until I was kneeling and held in that position by a collar wrapped around my throat attached to the wall, if the chains clinking behind me were any indication of my current restraint situation.

I kept my eyes closed as I knelt on the cold floor, doing my best to get as much information as I could from my surroundings without letting Hydra know that I was paying attention. It seemed like something Nat would do, and she would know how to get out of this situation. Why hadn’t I listened to her more? I could feel warm air blowing against my exposed skin, so I was still in my underwear. My hands were tied up behind my back with very thick handcuffs, and I felt cold metal around my ankles as I sat on them. So all of that needed to be handled before I could do anything else.

Try as I might, I couldn’t access my powers. I felt them, barely pulsing inside of me. It was like there was a sheet covering them; I could feel them stirring and working within me, but when I tried to pull them to the surface something was in the way. Which meant if I did manage to get out of these chains I was going to have to fistfight my way out. Not the best option, considering all the guns I'd seen, but it was all I had to work with.

That wasn’t going to go so well, judging by the aches and pains riddling me. Maybe adrenaline would kick in and keep the worst of it at bay until I could get out of here. But I didn’t even know where here was, or how many people there were between me and the exit, or how to get to that exit. I just had to wait. Wait for more information to present itself to me or for my team to come in and get me out of here. Hopefully either one would happen sooner rather than later.

“Get her up.” It was the voice of the man in the suit from earlier. Great, Malfoy was back.

A fist slammed into my nose and hot blood gushed from it into my mouth and down my chin. I coughed, opening my eyes in shock and pain as I tried to lean forward to keep from choking. The cuff around my neck stopped me, forcing me to lean back and tilt my head to the side instead, ignoring the sting in my jaw as the metal collar dug into the bone.

“Morning, princess. We’re going to make a movie for your friends, and you’re going to sit there and be a good girl. Or else we’ll make life exceptionally hard for you,” I looked up at the suited man to see him gesturing to a large muscled man next to him, “and you don’t want your Avengers to see that.”

I spat out the blood that had pooled into my mouth on the floor at his feet, shoving back every ounce of pain wracking my body as I glared daggers at him. He looked like a cheesy movie villain, with his three-piece suit and tacky cane that was just for show. He only smirked at my attitude, moving to stand beside me and revealing the video camera and men set up behind him. I kept my eyes on it, breathing heavily as I tried to ignore the extreme discomfort working against me. One man went up and turned the camera on. After some fiddling and adjusting of the equipment, the cameraman gave Malfoy next to me the thumbs up to begin.

“Tony Stark. We know that you and your team are out looking for this young woman. As you can see, she is in our care-”

I spat more blood at his feet, earning me a hard smack on my exposed back with his cane that was definitely not just for show. I did my best not to reveal how much it hurt, especially if this video was going to be sent to Tony and the gang, but I couldn’t help the hiss of pain that slipped out between my clenched teeth.

“As I was saying, she is in our care. If you do not stop now, we will have to take it out on her. Each man that you take,” another blow slammed down on my back, “each man that you kill,” another into my ribs, “will cause her more pain.”

“Fuck them up!” I burst out, permitting them to do what they needed to do. I knew that they weren’t going to stop trying to find me. Tony and Loki would not let them just keep me. Especially not after this cinematic masterpiece, showcasing just how much care they had put into keeping me prisoner. I probably looked like death warmed over, kneeling in my dirty underwear, covered in grime, bruises, and blood, my hair tangled and disgusting. But I would rather be brutally tortured with the hope of rescue than face the idea that they may choose not to come for me ‘for my own good’ or some heroic bullshit like saving me a couple of bruises. I could take it. And if I couldn’t, I needed to fake it, pretend that I was okay and still fighting, or they wouldn’t be able to focus enough to get me out of this hell hole.

Brawny man hit me like a freight train, and I swear I heard something crack as my eye exploded in my skull. My cry echoed throughout the barren room, ringing in my ears along with my heartbeat. It was immediately too painful for me to open that eye, so I just stared in a pained daze into the pitch-black lens in front of me with the good one, trying to force down nausea that roiled in my stomach and still look unfazed. Judging from the sorry sight I made in the flipped viewfinder, it wasn’t working so well.

“By the time you get to her, she won’t be yours any longer. She’ll be Hydra’s,” Malfoy-that nickname was growing on me-said gleefully and with promise.

“Oh, shu-”

My snark was cut off with Brawny’s boot in my ribs. It sent me coughing again. I writhed around on my knees as I tried to lean forward to breathe but the collar around my neck stopped me from seeking that relief. I lost count of how many times Malfoy whipped the cane against my back, again and again, the pain radiating through my body until it became all I was. Just waves and explosions of pain storming through me, setting my nerve endings on fire and stealing my breath away. Hot tears streamed down my face, mixing with dirt and drying blood in a sticky mess, but I was powerless to stop them.

I wasn’t going to break. I wasn’t going to break. I wasn’t going to break.

I’m stronger than this.

I clenched my eyes shut against it and, unable to take any more after an untold number of hits on my now bleeding and raw flesh, let out a pained scream that felt like it was tearing my throat in two.

“Good girl,” the man whispered, and the beating mercifully stopped.

I slumped as much as I could with the various chains holding me in a kneeling position, panting and crying silently through the pain. The telltale bite of a needle registered in my upper arm and I passed out seconds later.

~~~

“Tony Stark is your enemy. Wanda Maximoff is your enemy. Vision is your enemy. Steve Rogers is your enemy. Samuel Wilson is your enemy. Natasha Romanoff is your enemy. Thor of Asgard is your enemy. Bruce Banner is your enemy. Tony Stark is your enemy-”

It kept repeating nonstop. I sat there, half-naked in a pitch-black room with what felt like concrete floors and walls and an iron door, listening to it. I could repeat every change of inflection and pitch in the recorded voice after having listened to it for who knows how long. I wasn’t sure how much time had gone by; I hadn’t seen the sun or a clock since they kidnapped me, but I had fitfully slept in this dingy room twice without them stabbing me full of knock-out drugs. Did two sleeps equal two days? Hell if I knew.

They were trying to break me. Between this insane mantra, no food or water, the beatings when I would get lippy on my way to the electrocution sessions, and the electrocution sessions themselves, I was already so worn down. My mind and body were spent. It was harder and harder to listen to the voice in my head denying everything I heard when I was just struggling to keep the pain and hunger and sleep-deprivation at bay. My mouth was dry, my head was constantly pounding to the steady drum of my heartbeat, and I couldn’t stop shaking as I sat there curled up around myself. To say I wasn’t in the best shape would be an understatement.

I didn’t even have the dignity of clothing to comfort me. Keeping me in my disgusting underwear and taking away my necklace, Michael’s necklace, must have been another way to try to tear me down. I would lie and say it wasn’t bothering me, but I kept reaching for it, the desire to smooth my thumb over the worn whorls ingrained in me over the years. Instead, when I reached for it, I felt the cold metal of the collar they used to restrain me when I left my cell. It rubbed against my shoulders and jaw with each movement I made, and I could add that layer of raw skin to my list of injuries.

But the one person they didn’t manipulate me against was Loki. His name wasn’t on repeat from the speakers above me. His face wasn’t in the videos I was forced to watch, listing all of the negative deeds the Avengers had done. I guess Tony was right, after all, when he said that they didn’t know that he had been on our side. With me. He wouldn’t hurt me. He wasn’t my enemy. I just needed to hold onto that and the tiny sliver of hope that he was working tirelessly to find me, rip these assholes to pieces, and take what was his. He had promised that he wasn’t going to leave me. He’d broken that promise, too…

“Up and at ‘em, sunshine. Boss wants ya,” a gruff voice broke through my thoughts as blinding light filled my cell from the door yanking open.

I blinked against the sudden brightness, stumbling to my bare feet when I was yanked up by a meaty hand wrapped around my upper arm. My ribs, which were at least dislocated if not broken, protested and forced me into taking shallow breaths as I was dragged through the gray stone walls of my new hell. My eye--one was still much too swollen to open--darted around as I tried to find a way out or a weapon I could use or anything that would help me as I walked the almost familiar route to the room where the scientist, Wood, seemed to always be lurking. Dude needed a new hobby other than waiting around to inject me with mystery concoctions.

This time Malfoy was waiting for me with Wood and his typical entourage of armed guards. I kept my gaze on cane-man as I was slammed into the chair, the restraints instantly sliding around my throat, ankles, and wrists. It wasn’t worth it to fight against them anymore. I needed to save my strength and not reopen the wounds rubbed into my ankles and wrists so that I could beat this man senseless once I figured out how to get out of here.

“We have a new test for you, Jennifer. It won’t take long, and then we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming, so to speak. Wood, if you please,” cane-man smiled menacingly, waving the scientist over to me.

I clenched my teeth as he plunged yet another needle into my arm, pumping a cool liquid into my veins that instantly settled over my mind and body like a fog. Damn it, everything was so heavy.

My body relaxed into the steel chair beneath me despite the twinge of pain the action brought to the open cuts and bruises on my back. I lazily looked up to the man with the cane, head lolling in my restraints, watching him thoughtlessly as he grinned down at me.

“There, that’s better. All nice and relaxed.” He patted my cheek harshly, forcing pain to shoot through my system as it jostled my swollen eye socket. “Now, Jennifer, will you try something for me? I want you to take that chair,” he pointed to a metal folding chair in an iron cage in the corner that I hadn’t noticed when I walked in, “and crush it for me. That’s all. And then you can get some food and water and some sleep. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

It did sound nice. My stomach gnawed at my backbone painfully at the mere thought of food, which I hadn’t had since I’d gotten here. And my parched mouth couldn’t even salivate at the thought of water. Probably a bad sign. But I couldn’t bend metal. There were some natural bits in there, but not nearly enough for me to manipulate.

“I can’t,” I whispered in defeat, leaning my head back against the headrest with a sigh. I was just so tired…

“You can. Just try,” he urged, patting my hand.

I groaned, lifting my heavy head and looked at the chair. I reached for my abilities beneath my skin, and I was shocked when they responded more strongly than they ever have. It was like a barely controlled inferno raged within me, aching to be let out. It felt like power. My bloodshot eye focused on the box, and I felt its presence in my mind just as I did a stone or a fallen log. I could feel it taking up space in the world even with my eyes closed. My right hand clenched into a fist, and with a loud bang and screech of metal, the cage twisted into itself until there only a gnarled mess of iron in its place.

I shouldn’t have been able to do that. Is this what they had been doing to me with the injections?

“How?” I asked wearily, looking up to the triumphant man next to me.

He smiled--not even an evil smile this time--and nodded to Wood, who busied himself behind me. “I told you that we would unlock your full potential, Jennifer. Now lie back, and we’ll get you the help you need.”

My good eye was obscured as the electro-shock mask slipped back onto my head, but I didn’t have the energy to struggle even as the rubber bite-guard was shoved into my mouth and thousands of volts were surging through my system.

It’d end soon enough.

#to keep you safe #blood tw #violence tw #torture tw #language tw #needles tw #loki #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki friggason #loki fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #marvel

44 notes · View notes

michaeldempsey · 5 years ago

Text

Serendipity in Venture Capital is BS...(and other views on the seed VC landscape)

Disclaimer: I believe that unless you are one of a few firms, there is no possible claim that there is a “correct” way to do venture, only to treat people with respect along the way.

Venture capital started as a network heavy business and arguably still is to many. I don’t think that is dominant anymore.

The Early Days: VC was the ultimate network business

Venture capital started as the ultimate network business, with a tight-knit web of humans for decades. It looked like this:

After the web 1.0 bubble, there was not an abundance of capital, and thus power swung back towards VCs as the market cooled. Those VCs, based on 2008 data, were an average age of 46, 79% were men, 87% were white, and 53% had MBAs (of which 60% went to Harvard or Stanford). Based on demographics like that, it’d be pretty difficult to not be a tight-knit, network-driven industry.

Then, 2-7 years before the 2012 Facebook IPO, came the first wave of elite seed firms like Baseline, First Round Capital, Floodgate, Foundry Group, SV Angel, True Ventures, SoftTech, and others.

As company formation costs fell due to a variety of technological drivers, paired with startups being “hot” again, we saw institutional capital want more exposure to private market technology risk. Partners spun out, founders started funds, and angels institutionalized.

The Birth of Seed & Verticalized Funds

“In angel investing, you don’t really have competitors. You go ahead and do your thing…I don’t look at Internet or Internet investing as competitive, generally.” — Ken Lerer, 2010

We all know this trend accelerated, with some seed funds graduating to series A+ firms, and quickly everyone (especially non-GPs who were stuck underneath partners unwilling to give up meaningful carry) wanted their own seed fund. The issue was, LPs had been hit up with the seed pitch now for the past 5+ years. And in the same time period, re-ups had come more and more often as fund deployment periods went from 5 years to 3 years.

These newer seed firms needed to differentiate as the “seed” story was played out.

This led to a wave of vertical-centric seed firms. Lemnos (2012 incubation fund I) and Root Ventures (2015 Fund 1) became known for hardware, Forerunner (2012 fund I) became known for consumer, Lerer Hippeau become known for NYC/Web (2010 Fund 1) and on and on it went.

The Venture Capital Explosion

Between 2003 to 2010, an average of 58 seed funds were raised each year but in the past 7 years, that average spiked to 137 (or a 2.3x increase). - Eric Feng,

And now it’s 2019. The deployment periods for some funds have collapsed to as short as 18 months, there is a seed fund for everything, and series A+ firms have grown into full-stack financing machines with $1B+ funds designed to take companies from A to IPO, and many with scout programs to build the top of the funnel.

This hyper-crowded market has swung the pendulum back to old times, with LPs being sold either more explicit networks, or similar economics as the 70s.

The former manifests itself as unicorn-mafia funds (ex-uber employee fund, ex-airbnb employee fund, etc.) built around the idea that people want to raise money from their ex-coworkers and/or access will be materially better because of this relationship. The latter manifests itself as startup studios that have outsized ownership economics.

So we’ve got a ton of seed funds, plenty of post-seed capital, and some moderate differentiation. We also have a 7x increase in $1B+ outcomes from a decade ago.

But when I look around at seed stage venture, where the universe of companies is truly unknown, I still believe firms are relying on serendipity. And there are many firms that are trying to engineer serendipity at a high rate by sending analysts (and the partners themselves) to events 3–4x/week, actively trying to setup deal flow catch up calls, or aggressively stalking demo day lists, all born out of the fear that they will miss the next Stripe/Uber/etc.

And how do they scale up these teams to chase these competitive deals in an ever-expanding seed stage funnel? They raise more money.

As their seed fund gets bigger, they now need to write a $1.5-$2M check to get the proper ownership to 3–4x their $100M+ seed fund. At the same time it’s become more likely that interesting deals don’t get sent to them because…well the math doesn’t work for other investors to hit their ownership targets.

Or as Rob Go astutely points out, “firms that have built their models around aggressive deal trading will struggle.”

Now we have:

1) Larger seed funds, that are hyper-competitive (and often generalists due to fund size and scope creep).

2) Which means that seed funds need to tell founders that it is best for their business to only have them and no other meaningful checks in the round, so they can write $1.5M+ and get ~15%-20% ownership.

3) But unless you’re a top tier firm, your capital could be viewed as a commodity, and thus it’s clearly not dominant for a generalist firm to be the only investor (which is ok because...we’re humans, and we can’t be everything for everyone), and thus you are at massive risk of being pushed down in ownership and allocation.

4) And then in order to make the math work you’re reliant on multiple $1B+ outcomes, despite a large % of VC-backed M&A transactions happening below $300M.

5) So we now have some seed VCs telling investors that they will be able to increase ownership from seed to A/B or at worse do full pro-rata to maintain. The problem is that in reality, pro rata allocations from Series A+ remain increasingly difficult to maintain, as those $1B+ funds, that have infrastructure (and fees) to in theory actually be everything for everyone, need to put more money to work in their rounds. So you don’t get to defend ownership nearly as efficiently as even 5 years ago. And often any pre-empted offer for a pre-series A round could just turn into a pre-empted full series A process.

All of these things boil down to the core truth that most Seed stage firms today have to be small (either ridealong checks or non-hyper competitive leads), early, and/or different enough to be one top-priority thing for a subset of founders.

I recognize that I just doomsday scenario’d a bunch of components of seed stage venture capital, so I figured it’d only be fair for me to share my own (highly biased) view on what does work at some >1 firm scale at the seed stage.

First, forward looking macro-factors that I strongly believe in:

VC returns have been persistent, but with each new innovation cycle turn (infrastructure to personal computing to web to mobile and onward) new successful VCs have been birthed that have become part of the persistence. The power law of venture will remain, but will be slightly more distributed.

Private markets are going to continue to capture the returns in many sectors, and thus it will be attractive for LPs to be invested in a larger subset of tier 1, tier 2, and maybe even tier 3 VC firms from a returns perspective. This will be even more evident as we potentially enter tumultuous public market performance that shows lower yield over the next decade than the prior decade+ bull-run we’ve had.

The compounding effects of venture as an industry are unique vs. any other industry. Brand flywheels are strong absent of results due to opacity of quantitative measures (i.e. we both bury the dead slowly and quietly on failed startups, and cheer the good loudly on less-than-incredible fund exits/performance).

Brand signaling can create unfair advantages. I.e. If Sequoia invests in a company, statistically that company is more likely to raise money than if another investor does. Building a lasting brand matters.

More specifically the seed fund strategy that I believe in:

Keep fund size small — Leading a round today is rarer than we think, and just means conviction and ability to put down a term sheet (and large check), but not necessarily 60%+ of the round. There has never been more follow-along capital at the seed stage and rallying investors around your conviction and lead check is a powerful thing that solves for some disadvantages of smaller funds.

Remove noise and keep focused — Small fund size enables myself (and other similar funds) to not care about missing the next billion-dollar marketplace business. The funnel has widened (as seen above) , and only looking at a piece of the funnel is scalable/realistic. Yes, hit rate needs to be better, but I’d argue that while it’s gotten statistically harder to identify a fund returning company, it’s become exponentially harder to win meaningful allocation in that deal.

Build an informed view of the world - This allows investors to compete on the axis of both having a deeper understanding of a space versus the average investor, theoretically have an ability to know what they are looking for at a faster pace (and thus move faster), find/track things earlier due to focus, and meaningfully compete via outbound deal flow by using ammunition that they’ve built up in research.

These last two points specifically are the only way in which I feel I am able to advantageously do venture. However, as I said before, it’s not immediately clear to me that one strategy in seed stage venture is dominant.

Small funds have dominant return profiles for today’s fundraising dynamics, high velocity funds have dominant statistics for today’s outcome distributions, full-stack funds have dominant funnel building for today’s growing prices, and concentrated funds have dominant return distributions if you can pick.

What is clear to me is that venture is changing rapidly and if you aren’t thinking about these things in real-time, you’re not doing your job.

#venture capital #VC #Tech #technology #startups

5 notes · View notes

fluffy-marshmallow-heart · 6 years ago

Text

Drake's Diary ch.20 -The Games of Men

The Royal Romance from Drake's POV

Drake x MC (Emma Rose)

Words: 4983

Emma crashes Liam's bachelor party, and after tensions run high, heads out to play 'Never Have I Ever'

The day after finding Savannah, Maxwell takes Drake to the boutique. “Maxwell, I don’t need a suit.”

“It’s Liam’s bachelor party!! Of course you need a suit!”

“I already have a suit.”

“Yeah, an old suit. We need to get you a new one.” Maxwell starts sorting through the racks and pulling things out for Drake to try on.

Drake rolled his eyes. He could tell Maxwell is trying to butter him up, but Drake is still pretty angry. Hiding his own sister from him. Drake’s not sure he’ll ever be able to forgive him for that. Finally, he ends up in a blue suit, with a green shirt. Ordinarily, those colors would clash, but even Drake had to admit he looked pretty good. And he knew Emma liked him in a suit, so he figures at least there’s that.

“Come on, let’s go! Let’s show you off!” Maxwell exclaimed, pulling Drake to Emma’ s car. He knocks fervently until she finally opens the door.

“Emma! There you are!”

“Good morning to you too.”

“Oh trust me, it’s a very good one.” He shoves Drake forward. “Ta-daaa! Look upon my masterpiece!”

Drake watched in amusement as Emma rakes her eyes up and down his body. I love when she checks me out. Makes everything worth it.

Emma smiled. “Drake, you look good.”

Maxwell clapped him on the shoulder. “Pretty great, huh? Drake, I told you the compliments would be rolling in!”

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the suit.” He mumbled, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

“Only the best for my good buddy, Drake. We’re still buddies, right?”

Drake narrowed his eyes. “Don’t push it.”

“So, is that the plan for tonight? Dazzle and distract everyone with Drake’s new suit?” Emma broke in, sensing the tension.

Drake turned his attention to her. “Ha ha. Actually, Maxwell will create a distraction for us while we confront Bastien.”

“Easy. Distraction is my middle name.”

“Sound good?” Drake asked her.

“Well…actually, I’m wondering why Liam is having a second bachelor party. He already had one in New York.”

“Liam wanted to give me and Maxwell the chance to plan something before the press got wind of all this.”

Maxwell nodded. “Yeah, now we’re in the spotlight, so there’ll be the full security detail and all the men of the royal court and everything. So. Are we ready to go?”

Oh no. I am not the only fancy one going. “Wait a second. If I’ve got to get dressed up, shouldn’t Rose have to put on something frilly or sparkly?”

She rose an eyebrow at him. “I was about to, before you two showed up.”

“Then we’re just in time to get you ready to paaaaarty!”

The guys walk her to the train’s boutique. Maxwell starts looking through racks of clothes again while Drake waits in the doorway, a bit uncomfortable. He dresses me, he dresses Rose…she better not change in front of him or I swear to god…

“Any fashion advice?” Her voice interrupted his thoughts.

“The bachelor party’s gonna be at a classy speakeasy, so…” Maxwell pulls out a sleek, black dress and hands it to her. “Ooh, this is a good one. I think.”

Drake’s jaw dropped at the sight of it. I cannot be around her wearing that. That is…that’s too much for me to handle. “Maxwell, isn’t that a little…uh…revealing?”

“Emma can pull it off!”

Well I know that, but I don’t want her to. Every guy will be checking her out, and I should be the only one doing that.

Providing him some relief, she stepped into the changing room. But a few minutes later she steps out in her new ensemble, which was a little sparkly black dress, with a mesh deep V revealing the center sides of her breasts.

“So…what do you guys think?”

“You look perfect!” Maxwell exclaimed.

Drake gulped. “It’s really…uh…wow…” Fuck. Now all I’m going to think about all night is how much I want to rip it off. Fuck!

“Let’s go, gentlemen!” Emma reached to take both their arms.

Drake bit his lip, trying to contain himself. “Er. Yeah. Let’s get out of here.”

“Wooooo!” She cheered

At least she’s excited to show off that dress. Nobody better be checking her out.

A short ride later, the limo pulls up to the entrance gate of a compound. “Okay, here comes the guard inspection. Be cool.” Drake told them.

Maxwell throws his feet up on the minibar. “I never stop being cool.”

Drake rolls down the window and hands his invitation to a member of the king’s guard. The guard eyes Emma suspiciously.

She holds her head high. “I’m a dancer at the speakeasy, and you’re holding up the show! Do you want to explain to the King of Cordonia why the speakeasy was missing its star performer? Let us go through now, and we’ll still make it on time!”

“Yeah! Diva coming through!” Maxwell scolded.

The guard hands back the papers to Drake and clears the limo to enter.

“Smooth work, team.” Maxwell high fived Emma.

“I’m glad that worked.” She agreed.

The limo rolls to a stop, and Maxwell looks at Drake and Emma. “Alright, I’ll head inside first and make a show of being fashionably on time. Nobody will suspect Drake if he’s late.”

Ugh. So glad he gives me credit for everything I do for him.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t lose yourself at the snack table.”

“No worries. I’m a professional.” Maxwell adjusts his tie.

“I’m still worried.”

“Agent Breakdance, breaching the perimeter.” He stealthily steps out of the limo.

Drake sighs. “That guy.”

He looked at Emma, who had a sly look on her face. “Are you thinking of a codename? You could be like a King’s guard agent!”

Drake bit his lip to keep from laughing. “I guess we’ve got some time to kill. What do you think my codename should be?”

“Grumpy.” She said immediately.

He rolled his eyes. “Come on, I want it to be something cool like ‘Danger’ or ‘Thunderstorm’.”

“How about ‘Marshmallow’?”

He stared at her moment, until he realized she was being serious. “Oh, no…Don’t do this to me, Rose.”

“Too late. Your codename is Marshmallow.” She sang

“Fine, if I’m Agent Marshmallow, you’re Agent…”

“Perfect.” She suggested.

“Agent Bossypants.” He corrected.

“That’s Queen Bossypants to you.”

He shook his head in amusement. “I’m ready to go inside. Let’s go inside.”

“You’re on point, Agent marshmallow.”

What did I get myself into? Why did I let her choose my codename? Why did I even go for a codename in the first place?

Emma and Drake enter the speakeasy where a bunch of finely dressed noblemen sit around socializing, eating steaks and drinking. The light odor of cigar floating through the air.

“Wow…” Drake gasped, looking around the room.

“Drake…This must be everything you’ve ever wanted.” Emma laughed.

“Well, not everything, but we’re checking a lot of boxes.”

“Sorry I’m keeping you from this.”

Her voice was quiet now and when he looked back at her, she was looking at him sadly.

He took her elbow and guided her to his side. “Don’t sweat it. It’s usually the company that makes the party, and you’re better company than almost everyone here. But…wouldn’t it help us blend in if we get a couple glasses of whiskey?”

She nodded. “Fair enough.”

Drake grabs a glass for both of them and takes a sip, savoring the sweet and smoky taste. “I think this whiskey is older than I am. And probably costs more than everything I own.”

“What do you think?” He asked, after she took a sip.

“It’s amazing!”

He grinned. “Enjoy it. Whiskey like this comes along once in a lifetime.”

How did I get so lucky to meet a woman who likes whiskey like this?

Across the room, Maxwell is chowing down a steak with another noble. “Mmmmm! Man, this steak is so good.”

“There he is. I’ll go remind Agent Breakdance that he has a job to do.” Emma ducks into a shadowy corner and Drake strides across the room to grab Maxwell.

“Maxwell.”

Maxwell looks up at him in shock. “Drake! Oh!”

“Yeah. Oh. Did you forget you have job to do?” Drake huffed.

“No, no! Let’s do this! I just needed a bite, that’s all. It just smelled so good!”

Drake turns towards Emma and frowns when he sees her surrounded by men. Rashad, Neville, and Liam were all flanked at her side.

I knew that would happen if she wore that dress. He waves her over, sees her telling the men goodnight…then sighs in frustration as now Liam has leaned into her and whispers something.

God, Liam, give it a rest already. Can’t you see…

Drake immediately felt terrible about what he was about to start thinking. She originally came here for Liam, after all, and it was no secret that Liam is smitten with her. But then again, so am I. And I’m single.

Emma makes her way to Drake as Maxwell hurries to the center of the room with his drink. He clears his throat.

“Ladies and gentlemen…Except that there are no ladies here. Nope. None at all.” The other men turn their attention to Maxwell. “I would like to propose a toast to our wonderful King.”

“That’s kind of you, Lord Maxwell.” Liam says, ever the picture of poise.

“I am nothing if not kind, except dashingly handsome.”

Emma and Drake quietly move along the back wall while Maxwell continues his speech.

“Let’s all take the time out of our celebrations to honor those who made these exquisite festivities possible, starting with the janitorial staff…”

“So far, so good.” Drake murmurs.

“I’d also like to thank my tailor for creating the most comfortable pair of underwear, which I am giving you this speech in.”

“That’s…an interesting way to toast.” Emma’s eyebrows were raised.

“He’s giving it his all.” Drake told her

“And lastly, let us enjoy our manly things…in harmony…or fisticuffs. To steak and whiskey!”

As everyone toasts, Bastien pulls Emma and Drake aside.

“Drake, I see you’ve brought a security breach with you. I know you two are close, but I’m afraid Lady Emma will have to leave.”

“We need to talk to you.” Emma said sternly

Bastien shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s leave, or I’ll escort you out. Talking isn’t an option.”

“We mean talk.” Drake responded, getting angry. He better not brush us off.

Bastien levels him with his gaze. “Drake, I’ll escort you out too, if I have to.”

“Bastien…We know it was you.” Emma continued

“Yes, you know it was me who removed you from the party. Now, come along.” Bastien went to grab them, but Drake shook free from his grasp.

“We know you were the one who paid Penelope to sabotage Emma. I bet you were behind Olivia leaving court too.”

Bastien hesitates for a second. “This isn’t the time or the place for games.”

“Penelope confessed. There’s no reason to play dumb.” How dare he try to act like he knows nothing?

“I’m a servant of the crown. Why would I care who Liam chooses?” Bastien asked.

“That’s what we want to know.” Emma glared.

Drake nodded. “I keep asking myself why you’d do something like this, and it doesn’t make any sense, unless…Someone else must’ve had a hand in it. I want to know who.”

Bastien sighed. “Drake, you don’t want to do this.”

“Please help us out here. I know…I know you’re a good guy. You wouldn’t…”

“Dammit, Drake! I can’t!”

“Bastien, answer us!” Emma pleaded.

He gently takes her by the arm. “I’m sorry, Lady Emma. I truly am, but it’s time to go.”

Don’t fucking touch her. Drake grabs Bastien’s arm. “Fine. We’ll leave. But take your hands off her.”

Bastien lets her go. “Drake…I’m sorry…I didn’t want…This wasn’t personal, I swear.”

Drake narrows his eyes. “It feels pretty damn personal from where I’m standing.”

Before they can leave, they hear an indignant voice from behind. “I step out for ten minutes and come back to chaos. What is the meaning of this prolonged disturbance? …Lady Emma?”

Drake froze, then slowly turned to face him. “You.” Drake storms up to Bertrand. “I found my sister.”

“Lady Savannah?” Bertrand clears his throat. “That’s splendid news. She is well, yes?”

“Like you’d care.” Drake growled.

“We all do. Her disappearance was quite a mystery.”

“She told me everything that happened between you two.”

“I…”

Drake’s hands were balling into fists. All this time. All this fucking time she was missing, and it’s this asshole’s fault! “She was in love with you! How could you let her leave with her heart broken?”

“I tried to reach her, but she disappeared from everyone, including me” Bertrand explained.

“Not everyone. Maxwell knew.”

“He…what?” Bertrand rounds on Maxwell, catching him in the process of slinking off toward an empty booth.

“I…uhh”

“Maxwell Percival Beaumont. Tell me this man is lying.”

“Er…well…”

Drake scoffed. “Maxwell actually had the heart to support her, which is more than you ever did.”

“The envelope of cash you gave me…the address.” Bertrand mused, clearly surprised.

“So that’s where that missing envelope went.” Maxwell snapped his fingers, then froze as everyone stared at him.

Drake turned back to Bertrand. “Now you know where that extra money was going.”

Bertrand gasped. “I didn’t know she was in distress…what happened?”

“I don’t know, maybe she needed help raising your kid!” Drake was fuming. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this. But the damn broke, and all his emotions since his sister disappeared were now flooding out.

Bertrand gaped at him. “A…A child…? When did…? Savannah…was she pregnant? I didn’t know. You have to believe me. I didn’t know.”

“Savannah told me you gave a nice long speech about how you two could never be together.”

“You don’t understand…The last time I saw her…What I said…she misunderstood.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit!” He grabs Bertrand by the collar.

“Unhand me.” He said angrily.

“You broke my sister’s heart! You nobles this you can just play with us commoners and throw us away when you’re done. Well, this time, you’re going to have to answer for it!” Drake’s hand clenches in white knuckled fury. He cocks his fist.

“Stop!” Maxwell jumps in front of Bertrand.

“Out of the way!” Drake roared.

“Guys…Is this what Savannah would want? All of you fighting each other?”

Drake paused, looking at Emma, who was watching them with concern written all over her face. He lowered his fist. What am I doing?

“No…” Maxwell managed to answer sadly.

Bastien steps in between Drake and Maxwell. “That’s enough. All of you out.”

“Thank you, Bastien. It’s about time you restored order here.” Bertrand straightened out his collar.

“Including you.”

“What? I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Bastien glared at him. “This incident has already caused enough of a disturbance. Do you really need to embarrass yourselves further in front of half the court?”

“I…No. Come, Maxwell. We’re leaving.”

Maxwell glanced at Emma and Drake apologetically. “I’ll, uh, catch up with you guys later.” He walked with Bertrand out the door.

“Come on, let’s go.” Drake and Emma leave the speakeasy and return to the limo, where he falls back in his seat. That was awful. She must hate me now. “Damn, Rose, I’m sorry…I was such an idiot.”

“Drake, I’ve never seen you so worked up.”

“I don’t know what happened. I need to get myself under control.” His shoulders rise and fall with a quiet sigh before he turns to face her. “First the Beaumont’s, now Bastien…Can we trust anyone here? I need to get away…away from this two-face world and all its damned lies.”

Away from everything and everyone. I hate it here.

“Where are you going to go?”

He shrugged. “I saw a dive bar on the way over that should have plenty of drinks and zero nobles.”

“Count me in. A dive bar sounds like the perfect cure for all this drama.”

He looked at her in surprise. “Really?” She…wants to come? Even after seeing me so angry? His expression brightens slightly. “Then let’s get out of here.”

A little later, Drake and Emma walk into a dive bar. “Now this is more like it.” He told her, looking around.

“I didn’t expect an American theme in Paris.”

“Hey, I’ll take it. First round’s on me.”

Emma smirked. “You mean you didn’t pick this place just for the ambiance?”

“Hah” He walks over to the bartender and gestures at a bottle of whiskey on a shelf. In a few moments, he returns with two tumblers and a bottle in hand. “Here you go.”

She smiled. “Easier than ordering pasta in Italian?”

“Hey, drinks are an even more universal language than food. Just point at what you want, and they’ll pour it.”

Emma took the drink from him and looked around herself. “How on earth did you spot this place? I didn’t even see it when we drove to the speakeasy.”

“It’s a gift. Drop me in any country and I can find you a dive bar.” He told her.

“Did you learn that on more solo expeditions while Liam was stuck in fancy parties?”

He shrugged. “I’ve gotten used to being on my own.”

She looked at him intently. “I wish I could’ve been there to keep you company.”

The corners of Drake’s mouth turned up. “You know what? Me too.” That would have been amazing, knowing you my whole life.

“Well, I’m here now, and you’re going to have a hard time getting rid of me.”

“Get rid of you, Rose? Never.” He stares at her a moment, then looks away. And I mean never.

“So…should we talk about what happened back there? I’m sorry we never really got a chance to talk about everything after we left Savannah’s place. Judging from what happened with Bertrand, I guess you’ve been thinking about it.”

Drake nodded. “Believe me, I wish I could stop thinking about it. I’ve worried about Savannah every single day since she ran away. I never stopped looking for her. I don’t know what’s worse. The fact that Maxwell knew where she was and didn’t tell me, or the fact that my own sister didn’t want me to find her.”

“Hey…he was just trying to respect Savannah’s wishes. I know it sucks, but it’s what she asked him to do. He was trying to protect her. Isn’t that what you would’ve done in his shoes?” She asked lightly.

Drake ran his hand through his hair. “Maybe you’re right. I just hate the fact that she thought she needed protecting from me. I know I’m not always the easiest person to get along with…”

“True.”

“…But I like to think I could be been there for her in some way. After tonight, I’m starting to feel like I can’t trust anyone.”

She looked at him sympathetically. “Oh, Drake. I know Bastien was like family to you.”

“Yeah. It wasn’t just that he was around for us when we were kids. When my father died…Bastien was the one who looked out for us. He drove us to the funeral. Told us old stories about dad.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Me too, Rose. Me too. I learned a long time ago that I couldn’t trust any nobles, but at least we had Bastien looking out for us from the inside. And now…I thought I knew him. Now he’s involved in the plot against you, Maxwell helped hide Savannah from me, and Bertrand’s a father.”

Everything I knew was turned upside down.

“Drake…I know this is hard, but I’m here for you. You can count on that. No matter what else happens.”

He met her gaze. “You promise, Rose?”

“I promise. Why do you think I’m here?” She asked softly.

So wonderful. You are so wonderful. And literally the only person I trust. “You…you mean a lot to me, Rose. I’m glad you’re still on my side, at least.”

She shrugged. “Someone has to be. Besides, I wasn’t going to let you spend tonight moping by yourself. I officially declare all courtly drama off limits until tomorrow. This is a dive bar, and we’re not gonna let it go to waste.”

“Does that mean…more drinks?” He asked, hopefully.

“Very much so. And it means it’s time for…A drinking game!”

“Oh boy.” Shoulda known.

“You don’t even know what the game is yet!” She laughed.

“I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.”

“This one’s called ‘Never Have I Ever. You say something you’ve never done, and if the other person has done it…”

“They take a drink?” He guessed.

“See? You’re a natural. Whoever’s had the least drinks after three rounds wins.”

“I don’t know about this. You sure you want to go up against me in a drinking game?”

She looked at him slyly. “Drake…that sounds like a challenge. And I accept!”

What? But I… “It wasn’t…No, nevermind. You’re on, Rose. Alright, it’s your game, so you get to start.” He refills both their glasses and looks at her expectantly.

“I guess I better make this first question count. Never have I ever…Been a prince’s handsome best friend.”

She doesn’t seriously think that’s all I am after everything we’ve been through. I’m so…offended.

“Hey! There’s more to me than just being Liam’s best friend.”

“So you admit that you’re handsome?”

His jaw dropped. “You…I…I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“By being flattered. And taking a drink.”

Sighing, Drake takes a drink from his tumbler of whiskey. Yup, walked right into that one. “Never have I ever…been set up with someone.”

“Really? You haven’t?”

“Not even once.”

“I guess Maxwell and Liam aren’t the kind of friends who go around setting you up, huh?”

He shook his head. “They’ve usually got their own things going on. Drink up.”

She drinks, not breaking eye contact.

“One to one. That’s more like it.” He tells her.

“Not for long. Never have I ever…Imagined someone in this room naked!”

What???

He practically has to pick his jaw up off the floor, then takes a log drink of his whiskey. “You never go easy on me, do you, Rose?”

“Never.” She grinned.

He chuckled. “Don’t look so smug. How do you know that this has anything to do with you? Maybe I’m thinking of the bartender.”

They both look over at the burly, tattooed man behind the bar.

“I guess I’ll never really know.” She told him.

“Exactly. Ahem. Now it’s my turn. Never have I ever…Taken advantage of a barn raising to stare at someone with their shirt off.”

“Hey!”

“Am I wrong?” He asked innocently. Two can play this game.

“You know, you could’ve kept your shirt on that day.”

“Maybe I wanted you to look.” He challenged.

She tries and fails to hide a smile behind a sip of whiskey, and Drake leans back in his chair. I won.

“Don’t get too comfortable. We’ve still got one more round!” She exclaimed.

“You’re on.” Feeling more confident, he refills both glasses of whiskey. “Alright, Rose. Let’s see what you got.”

“Never have I ever…” A mischievous look crossed her face and Drake grimaced. I know that look. I don’t even want to know what’s coming.

“…had a scandalous dream about the two of us in bed together.” She finished.

He felt his face flush. “You really play for keeps, Rose. I’m kind of impressed.” Be cool, be cool.

“A rare compliment from Drake Walker. And the answer?”

He locks eyes with her and takes a drink of his whiskey. Dreams, plural.

“I knew it.” She gloated.

“Don’t get too cocky. I’ve still got one chance left. But before I take it…” He trailed off a moment, deciding if he really wanted to go there. Well why not. We’re drinking anyway, I can blame the booze.

“Yes?” She asked curiously.

“I thought the rules of this game were to say things you’ve never actually done, in hopes the other has.”

“Yes that’s right. I’m glad this far into the game you finally know the rules, Drake.” She joked.

“So then, am I the only one that should be drinking right now?” He asked, watching her carefully.

A surprised look crossed her face. “Uh…”

“I mean, a rule’s a rule, Rose. So what’s your answer?” He challenged, holding his breath.

She bit her lip, causing his gaze to follow, before bringing her glass to her lips and taking a drink, running her tongue over her bottom lip for any drop of whiskey remaining.

I bet that tongue would feel amazing on my…

“Final shot.”

He cleared his throat. I gotta get this conversation on something else. Now. He wracked is brain trying to think of something non-sexual. “Never have I ever…Eaten a deep-dish pizza.”

“Nice try, but that makes two of us.” She told him.

“What? You’ve gotta be honest with me, Rose.”

“I am! You’re talking to a New Yorker, remember? Deep-dish is a Chicago thing.” She laughed.

He sighed. “Let me guess. There are no do-overs in this game.”

“Nope. You have to live with your mistakes.”

“Alright, that brings the score to…three points to two. Looks like you won this one, Rose.”

She tilted her head to the side. “That’s it? You aren’t going to give me a hard time?”

He shook his head. “Not right now, anyways. You were right. This was way less terrible than thinking about everything back at court.”

“So what did I win?” She asked triumphantly.

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Win? I didn’t know we were playing for stakes.”

“House rules. You owe me something. The stakes are…a kiss.”

She didn’t even think about it…which means she already knew what she wanted.

“Rose…Are you sure about this?” Because there officially will be no going back after this one.

“Oh, well…I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want. But after tonight and everything that’s happened, I…”

Good enough for me.

He pulls her close to him, his lips finding hers in a longing kiss. When they finally part, both of them are a little breathless.

“You don’t make this easy.” He murmured.

“I dunno, it felt pretty easy to me…” She returned.

He let out a soft chuckle. “Very funny. I mean, trying to control how I feel about you. I can’t.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.” He reaches out to brush a strand of hair out of her face, then catches himself. He pulls his hand back. “I’d be lying if I said I regretted it, though.”

“So would I.”

They sat for a minute just looking at each other, before the bartender swings by their table to pick up the glasses. Looking around, Drake realizes that they’re the last two patrons left in the bar.

“He probably wants to close up.” She told him.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. We should get going.” She moves to stand up, but Drake holds up a hand. “I just wanted to say…thanks. For coming with me. I’m glad I didn’t end up drinking alone tonight.”

She gave him a strange look. “Drake…you have to know that I care about you. I could never leave you to deal with all of this alone. You’re important to me.”

His heart soared. “I won’t pretend to understand why. But I’m glad.” His gaze lingers on her face until, after a few moments. He forces himself to look away. “We should get going, or we’ll both be asleep on our feet tomorrow.”

“You’re probably right.” She agreed.

She and Drake stroll out of the bar while holding hands, and slowly make their way toward their train cars.

Laying in bed that night, Drake replays their evening over and over in his head. There’s definitely no going back to ‘just friends’ now. He let his feelings…ugh, since when do I have feelings…get too deep for her. He wanted to say he hated himself for it, he hated her for making him feel this way, that he would stop immediately…but he can’t. Something that feels this good…it can’t be wrong…right? The way she loses herself in my kisses…how can that possibly be wrong? We just fit together so perfectly. We make sense. She gets me. It can’t be wrong.

Eventually his thoughts turned back to Bastien. He said it wasn’t personal, that he was sorry, he’s a servant of the crown and he didn’t want to…wait. A servant of the crown.

Drake’s heart beat furiously as he came to the realization of what those statements meant. Liam wasn’t the crown at that time. That means…this goes a lot further than they thought it did.

The following morning, Drake knocks on Emma’s door.

“Drake?” She answered.

“Rose, I had a realization. There’s a very short list of people that Bastien would feel compelled to obey, no matter what the order.

“What are you suggesting?” She asked slowly.

He hesitates a moment before continuing. “This runs all the way to the top. We need to investigate the former King and Queen.”

She gapes at him. “But…they’re still powerful royalty. How do we question them?”

“I checked the itinerary. You’re due for a tea party with Queen Mother Regina tomorrow. That’s as good a place as any.”

She looked at him nervously now. “What if it is her? Then what do we do? She’s still a powerful woman. How can I stand a chance against her?”

She looked so defeated, Drake stepped forward and wrapped her in his arms. “You’ll have me…I’m always here for you, and more importantly, Liam. We’ll figure something out. He’s the king now. You just have to be careful Emma. If the former king and queen are involved…then you’re in more danger than ever.”

She buried her face in his chest. “Okay. We’ll do this together.”

“Together.” He murmured.

@flowerpowell @agent-bossypants @annekebbphotography @gardeningourmet @zigortega4life @eileendannie @dancetothestoriesinyoursoul @thequeenofcronuts @carabeth @alesana45

@hrhdes @drakewalkerisreal @akrenich @feartheendlesssummer @moonlightgem7 @i-miss-trr @noey718-blog @i-only-signed-up-for-fanfiction @i-miss-trr @crookedslimecreatorpasta @notoriouscs

#drake's diary #drake walker fanfic #the royal romance fanfic #drake x emma #drake walker #drake x mc #the royal romance #choices the royal romance #playchoices #fluffy-marshmallow-heart

110 notes · View notes

shotsbyshae · 5 years ago

Text

Unfinished Business

A Lexi Wilson Story. A training weekend turns into Lexi's first official mission: just a simple arms bust. After all, what can go wrong with Iron Man and Captain America...almost as much as with Sam and Dean Winchester, especially when someone from Lexi's past has other plans for the witch.

Characters: Lexi Wilson-Chloe Bennet; Greyson Moore-Charlie Hunnam

Word count: 5325

This is a continuation of an ongoing Lexi Wilson storyline, you can find others in my Masterlist and the complete collection here on fanfiction.net under the name Shae07.

Wilson wanders down the hallway peeking in various rooms as she passes. She’s only been to the compound a handful of times, but it’s usually not this quiet. She reaches the end of the hallway and sees a familiar face moving around in the open kitchen area.

“Hey,” She greets Stark as she walks closer, “Where is everyone?”

“Hey, you,” he smiles to her, “Um…let’s see, Barton, Romanoff, Barnes, and Wilson are in Chechnya. Vision and Wanda have the weekend off and Banner is working on a project.”

“So, I’m here for nothing?” She questions him, picking up an apple from the bowl on the bar.

Stark had suggested she start coming to the compound on the first weekend of every month for training and this was her third trip.

“Not nothing,” he replies, “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You’re going to train me?” She lifts an eyebrow suspiciously.

“I haven’t planned our agenda yet, but,” he shrugs his shoulders as she takes a bite from the apple, “we might skip the gym this weekend.”

“Are you scared of me?” She questions him playfully.

“No,” he remarks with a smirk, “maybe a little.”

“Boss,” F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice comes through the sound system, “Captain Roger’s is requesting your presence in his office.”

“On my way,” Stark responds to the AI, then tilts his head for Lexi to follow him.

Steve is standing behind his desk when Stark and Lexi enter the room and he looks surprised by the hunter’s presence, “Wilson.”

She gives a wave of her hand before she takes another bite from her apple and he continues, “Tony, we just received word on a shipment of vibranium coming into Boston.”

“When?” Stark questions him, taking the file folder Rogers offers.

“Tonight,” he replies.

“Ooohhh,” Lexi sounds intrigued as she leans over to peek at the contents of the folder Stark’s flipping through, “a mission?”

“No,” Steve says sternly.

“Okay then,” she responds curtly, patting Tony on the shoulder, “See you next month.”

“Hang on,” he begins, looking at Steve with a raised eyebrow, “I mean, it’s just an arms deal, we can practically do those with our eyes closed.”

“Tony,” Steve begins.

“You’ve been saying you wanted to get me in the field,” Lexi adds a little too enthusiastically, the idea of going on a mission instead of being stuck in the compound sounds more appealing to her.

“I have,” Stark says.

“And who better to be in the field with than Iron Man,” she smiles, go for the egos, “and Captain America. I mean, you are the best of the best, right?”

The two men share a glance and Steve sighs visibly, knowing he’s lost this fight and gives Stark a nod of approval. Tony looks over at Lexi with a half-smile, “Well Kimmy…suit up.”

“You do know that’s not my name,” she takes another small bite from her apple, then looks down at the dark ripped jeans and the faded purple Rolling Stones t-shirt she’s in, “and I’ll stick with what I’m wearing.”

“I don’t think so,” Stark replies.

“Well I’m not wearing a bright blue spangled outfit like Captain Fabulous,” Lexi retorts glancing over at Rogers.

The laugh Tony chokes on causes Steve to give them both an unimpressed look as Tony states, “No, I’m sure I have something…black…bad ass…just your size.”

She rolls her eyes as she turns to exit the office, “Of course you do.”

Lexi has her backpack slung over her shoulder as she makes her way down the hall. She had to give Stark some credit on the suit design though, whatever the material was looked like hard canvas, but it was actually quite breathable and flexible. It was solid black and came all the way up to her collarbone, giving her shoulders a very squared-off appearance, which was in her mind, very intimidating. Her fingerless tactical gloves were a deep shade of purple, which matched some of the stitching in the rest of the suit. It definitely wasn’t a superhero costume to be mimicked by kids at Halloween, but it was far from her normal look.

She sees Rogers a few feet in front of her approaching the door leading outside, he’s wearing a dark navy suit with touches of brown in it, his shield on his back and helmet in one hand. It’s definitely not the type of suit she’s ever seen him in before and she can’t hold back the smirk that works its way across her face.

“Look at you,” she says, as she closes the distance between them, “that suit isn’t spangled at all.”

“Nope,” Rogers replies, pushing open the glass door for her to walk through, “sure isn’t, Miss ‘I’m not wearing a suit’.”

“Shut up.”

They start to walk across the open pavement to the awaiting quinjet and Steve glances down at the girl walking alongside him, “Feels good though doesn’t it?”

“I’m no hero,” she replies quietly without looking at him.

A sharp whistle draws their attention to the rear of the quinjet where Tony stands with sunglasses on. He begins to clap slowly, watching the two of them walk towards him, their strides in unison.

“You two look like you’re about to kick some ass,” he says with a boyish grin, “makes me feel all tingly inside.”

“You did good by the way,” Lexi remarks, indicating the suit with her hand, “you’re not getting this back.”

“I know,” Stark smiles, then turns on his heel as they reach him and he continues, “Let’s go get some bad guys, shall we?”

A simple arms deal. That’s what they had been expecting, not an all-out fire fight, much less the familiar face the dark-haired hunter had found herself staring across the dimly lit lot at. The smile he wore suggested he was happy to see her, but given their last encounter, she doubted that was true.

“What are you doing here Greyson?” Lexi yells across the container she and Tony are using for cover at the man.

“You know him?” Stark glances to the girl.

“Here for you love,” Greyson voice carries across the dark lot, “Did you miss me?”

Lexi drops her head while Stark gives her a disapproving glare as Steve’s voice comes across their coms, “What does he want with you Wilson?”

“Unfinished business,” she replies vaguely.

“Arms dealer…really?” Stark says, the look of a displeased father crossing his face.

“He’s not an arms dealer,” she corrects him, “he’s a hunter…or a Men of Letters, I don’t even know anymore.”

“Men of what now?” Tony questions.

“Lexi, you’re outnumbered,” Greyson yells, “just come with us and we’ll let your friends go.”

“Do they know who they’re dealing with,” the black-haired man smirks, “Okay, I’m going to get you to higher ground…” Tony glances around and then up, “Cap, how’s that crane platform above you look?”

“All clear,” he replies from his position on the container dangling between the two gantry cranes.

“I’m fine down here,” Lexi begins to protest as the metal facemask closes shut on Tony’s helmet.

“I know,” Stark responds, “I’ll feel better though if you’re up there playing with magic. Rogers, cover me.”

He scoops an arm around the girl, and she hears the familiar sound of the repulsor tech as they propel upward toward the top of the crane. Gunfire erupts but they move fast enough no one is able to make a shot on them. Stark drops her at the top of the crane and she can see Rogers below her, firing off rounds at various bad guys.

“Stay,” Stark instructs, pointing a metal finger at her.

“I can handle myself,” she retorts angrily.

“I know,” he says with a grin, “do some magic tricks, take out the bad guys.”

She nods her head before Stark flies off and she turns to use her powers on the two men who are rushing up the stairs of the crane, flinging them over the side of the rail.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Greyson spots Lexi atop the crane and raises the walkie talkie to his mouth, “She’s alone. Take the shot, don’t miss.”

A man lying on top of one of the containers sights the girl in through his scope, aiming at the side of her head, before traveling down to the side of her neck and he inhales slightly before he pulls the trigger.

Lexi hears the shot, then a burning sensation on her neck, and she reaches up quickly, expecting to feel blood flowing from the source of biting pain. Instead, she feels a small round metal disc, and she tries to pry it off with her fingers, but it won’t budge. She tries to slip her fingernail under the edge of the disc, but it’s as if it latches tighter to her skin and the pain intensifies.

“Wilson,” Steve comes through her com, “you okay?”

“Yea,” she replies, “they hit me with something though. It’s on my neck, I can’t get it off.”

“What it is?” Stark questions.

She tries to use her powers to pull it off, but she doesn’t feel the familiar flow of energy through her veins, similar to when she would wear the pendant Rowena had made, which could only mean one thing.

“It’s a dampener of some sort, I think,” she answers, a little more frantic than she would like to sound, “my powers are gone.”

“I think we’ve been set up,” Rogers voice is angry, “Wilson, get out of here.”

Lexi glances down at the man whose orders she usually defies and gives him a quick nod before she turns to run down the length of the crane to the staircase. Another shot rings out and the impact to her left shoulder knocks her off balance. The next few moments happen in slow motion as she tumbles over the railing, grasping at the metal bars but failing to grab ahold of anything. Her breath catches in her throat as she free falls backward, staring up at the night sky as Tony’s voice yells into her ear, “Lexi!”

He just said my name, she thinks to herself, I really am going to die. Normally the sight of millions of stars was a comfort to her, but in this fleeting moment it’s bittersweet as she whispers, “I’m sorry.”

Steve glances up as he hears the second shot and watches as Lexi tumbles over the side of the railing. Instinctively, he moves as far back on the container as he can in order to get a running start and he leaps from the edge, diving after the hunter.

The throbbing pain in her shoulder is excruciating as a brute force hits her from the left and her eyes clench shut pain, but she’s no longer falling alone. Lexi can feel the shield strapped to the arm that’s around her back as she hears Steve voice not only beside her, but echoing in her ear, “I’ve got her. Hold on.”

She knows the first statement was for Tony and the second was meant for her, impulsively, she balls up like a kitten beside him as he positions himself to take the brunt of the impact from the fall. They hit the ground, while the sound of the vibranium connecting with the concrete echoes around them, jarring their bodies and she’s certain she feels the ground crack underneath them.

“Shit,” Tony’s voice comes across their coms before the sound of metal crashing close to them causes both Lexi and Steve to glance in the direction of the noise to see the red and gold metal man skid to a stop on the ground.

Someone jerks Lexi up by her left arm and she inhales sharply from the pain in her shoulder as she clutches it with her right hand. Seeing blood on her glove as she pulls her hand away confirms it was a gunshot which knocked her from the crane. Rogers moves quickly but stops just as suddenly when the man points his gun at Wilson’s temple.

“Make a move,” the man says coldly, “I’ll put a bullet in her skull.”

“Thank you,” Greyson remarks as he passes by Stark whose helmet is back and his dark eyes are glaring at the hunter menacingly.

“So, what’s your deal?” Stark questions him angrily, “She said ‘no’ to a third date?”

Moore glances from Lexi to Tony, raising a curious eyebrow, “Oh, you don’t know, you’re little hero…she murdered my sister.”

The look on Stark’s face causes an ache in her chest and she clenches her jaw as she seethes, “You know that was Laura, I didn’t have control, she did.”

“But it was you who killed her,” Greyson snaps and Lexi’s jaw trembles as she clutches her shoulder while the man continues as two dark SUV’s pull close to them, “Well as much fun as this was, we should be going. Thanks again.”

The man holding the gun on Lexi grabs her and shoves her toward one of the SUV’s. As the vehicles begin to pull away Tony says quietly, “F.R.I.D.A.Y. get a tracker on them now.”

“Yes boss.”

“What just happened?” Steve is trying to wrap his mind around the events as he approaches Stark.

“You said it, looks like we were set up,” Tony explains simply.

Rogers casts an annoyed glance down at the man, “I mean, what happened to you.”

“They hit me with an EMP,” Stark replies, “the suit shut down before it went off, so at least it’s not fried.

“What kind of technology would wipe out Wilson’s powers?” Rogers questions him as he helps him to his feet.

“The disc on her neck,” Stark begins, looking away from his friend as his mind races, “It has to be the source, but how did they…no one knew…”

“Tony...what?”

“I don’t know how they got their hands on it,” Starks says to himself, “it was only on my laptop…no shared servers…unless…”

“Tony!” Steve says his name louder, pulling the man out of his thoughts, “What was?”

“That tech,” Stark glances to him reservedly, “it was my design.”

Steve’s shoulders drop as he stares at the man in the metal suit with disappointment and he shakes his head before turning to walk away.

Rogers doesn’t speak to Tony while they board the quinjet. Once in the air, Tony turns the controls over to F.R.I.D.A.Y. after switching them to stealth mode, and he turns to around to face the man standing behind.

“I’ll never understand you?” Steve gives Tony an icy stare, “You practically begged her to come to New York because of her abilities, and all the while you were developing tech to take it all away.”

Stark folds his arms across his chest, frustration evident on his face, “I don’t know…I have to know how things work. I’ve always taken things apart and put them back together… ever since I was a kid. It wasn’t meant for her, just others like her.”

“She trusted you Tony,” the man responds, “from what I understand, she doesn’t do that often.”

Stark stands up, his face inches away from his friend’s, and he clenches his jaw, “What can I say Cap? I worship at the altar of self-sabotage.”

“What are we going to do?” Steve turns to question Tony as he paces the length of the quinjet.

“We get her back,” he states quickly.

“They’ll be expecting us.”

Stark contemplates his words for a moment and his lips turn up in a small smirk, “We need someone they won’t expect…someone they might underestimate.”

Rogers tilts his head in confusion as Stark’s dark eyes gleam mischievously and he continues, “I have an idea.”

Lexi sits in an open conference room, her wounded shoulder freshly bandaged and her wrists are bound in black zip ties in front of her. There’s an armed guard at the door watching her and she taps the toe of her boot against the leg of the table in a consistent rhythm, unsure of how long she’s been contained in the room, but knowing it’s been over an hour or more if she had to guess.

Faintly she hears a commotion from another part of the building and at first, she thinks she’s hearing things, but the noise grows louder and closer. There is shouting, loud crashing noises, and she’s been in enough fights to know what a fist fight sounds like, and that is definitely what is taking place outside. The guard looks a bit concerned by the hubbub, but he holds his position and raises his weapon, aiming at the door in case anyone tries to come through it uninvited.

The noise dies down and the door to the room flies open and Greyson enters, his nose bleeding profusely as he drags someone else into the room. He shoves the man to the floor as another guard tosses another man to the floor before slamming the door shut behind him.

“Tie them up,” Greyson orders, gingerly touching his nose.

The man closest to her rolls onto his back with a sly smile on his face at, the adrenaline rush from the fight still present on his face, and Lexi drops to her knees from the chair.

“Dean,” she shakes her head in confusion, “how?”

“Surprise,” the green-eyed man replies, his eyes fixating on her as he props up on an elbow, while the armed guard roughly grabs Sam up placing a set of zip ties on his wrists.

Maybe it was from being shot earlier, or the near-death experience from falling nearly twenty stories to the ground, or maybe it was just being in Greyson’s menacing presence, but she’s never been happier to see the green-eyed man before her. Wilson gives him a small smile of relief before she leans in, placing her lips to his. She can sense his whole body tense up at the action for just a brief moment, before he relaxes, bringing one hand up to her neck and kissing her back hungrily.

“Dean,” Sam’s tone sounds like a warning before the guard jerks the green-eyed hunter away from the girl.

Lexi inhales slowly, as she watches the man slip zip ties on Dean’s wrists. She raises her hands to her mouth, her lips and tongue are tingling and cool feeling, as if she just had a breath mint, but she also feels the familiar surge of power through her veins. Lexi tilts her head curiously at the green-eyed hunter who gives her a sly smile and a wink as he turns away from the guard, revealing the small metal disc in between his fingers, the one from her neck. He had managed to take it during their little kiss, but how? She’d tried pulling it off herself, there was no removing it.

She glances to the youngest Winchester who quickly moves his hands to his mouth, holding a finger over his lips, indicating for her to keep her new freedom secret, and she moves to sit back down in the chair she had been occupying.

“So, you’re with him now,” Greyson remarks as he cuts his eyes to the man beside him, “makes sense, the two of you pretending to be the good guys.”

“And what are you pretending to be?” Dean questions with a smirk, “Jealous ex…or pathetic excuse of man?”

Moore’s fist lands hard into the hunter’s abdomen and Dean doubles over from the impact causing Lexi to jump up from the chair while Sam holds up a hand to stop her. She catches herself before she does anything reckless. “If you hurt him,” she snarls at the man she once considered a friend.

“You’ll what?” He questions her with an icy stare, “Kill me, just like Logan…she trusted you.”

“And I trusted you!” She yells back, as she clenches her jaw before glancing past Greyson to the green-eyed man behind him.

“You should have listened to us. You screwed me,” Greyson sneers, “in more ways than one.”

“HEY!” Dean’s voice booms from behind him and he jerks harshly against the man holding him by the arms, “That’s enough!”

Greyson cuts his gaze back to the hunter for a moment before turning his attention back to Lexi, “Well, now your little boyfriend can be insurance, to make sure you cooperate.”

“I thought you tagged me for that,” she remarks.

“That only took away your enhanced abilities,” Greyson narrows his eyes at her, “I’m not stupid.”

Lexi’s lips twitch in a sly smile at his remark before she questions, “Insurance for what?”

“The buyers, who should be here soon, see you’re a weapon,” the man states, “one that is about to make me very rich.”

“You sold me?!”

“Death was an option,” he replies, “but knowing you’re being used, in every way that you despise, sounded much better.”

Anger flashes across her face as realization sinks in and she can’t hide the fearful expression on her face as she glances over to Dean.

Greyson gives her one last smirk before he exits the room and she carefully sits back down at the conference table.

“Hey,” Dean says to gain her attention, concern present on his face, “are you alright?”

“Aces,” she replies, then looks at the two of them curiously, “How did you get here? I thought you were in Texas?”

Neither brother responds, they only smile mischievously at her. After a few moments Sam glances over at his brother who meets his gaze with a smirk.

“You have the buyer,” Sam says, almost to himself, “Good, we have Possible.”

Lexi watches as the youngest Winchester gives his brother a quick nod of his head and Dean turns to Wilson and says, “We’re up, little witch.”

The green-eyed hunter morphs from Dean to Loki before her eyes, while Thor stands where Sam had just been and the two of them quickly take out the two-armed guards watching them.

Lexi easily snaps the zip ties from her wrists with a little magical help and she stands up staring at them in disbelief, “What the hell?”

“It was Stark’s idea,” Thor says as Lexi stalks towards the God of Mischief. She slams her right fist into his shoulder with only as much human force as possible.

“You ass!” She yells at him.

“Technically,” he begins, not trying to hide the playful smirk on his face, “you kissed me, and I had to sell it in order to get this off without anyone noticing.”

Wilson keeps her eyes narrowed at him as he offers her the small metal disc, which she plucks from between his two fingers and shoves into her pocket.

“Bad Loki,” she reprimands him like a puppy, “bad!”

Lexi turns on her heel and heads for the door as Thor playfully mocks his brother as he passes him.

Greyson stares at Lexi from across the open foyer of the building. She had split off from Thor and Loki upon seeing the man she knew trying to escape and chased him downstairs.

“You going to kill me with your powers too?” He snarls.

“I don’t need them to kick your ass,” she smirks, “we both know that, but I don’t want to fight you.”

“That makes one of us,” he replies.

“We were friends Grey,” she says quietly as he approaches her.

“We were more than that,” he adds, his jaw clenching.

“I’m sorry.”

“I should have seen you for the animal you really are…” Greyson says before taking a swing at her.

Lexi ducks and the two engage in a series of punches, blocks, and kicks, until Greyson sweeps her legs out from under her and pins Lexi to the floor, pulling a knife from the back of his waist band. He rears back with his right arm and before he can plunge the blade into her chest, Lexi flings him off of her and against the wall.

“There she is,” Greyson sneers at her from the wall as Lexi stands up from the floor, “there’s the monster I’ve been after.”

Wilson walks slowly towards him, keeping him pinned against the wall, she flings a dagger into her right hand as she moves, while Moore continues to jab at her, “See, I’ve been with you Wilson, I know things others don’t…I know you like what you do.”

She stops moving and narrows her eyes at him as he continues, “You didn’t have to tell me, I could see it in your eyes…how much you enjoyed the hunt…having that power over something, being able to take away it’s life…you love that control, you crave it. Face it, Lexi, you were a sadistic monster long before you had powers, they only…”

His speech is cut off by a bright blast of energy hitting him in the chest and knocking him through the layers of sheetrock into the room on the other side of the wall.

Lexi glances over her shoulder to see Stark standing there, helmet up, palm outstretched. Rogers is a few feet behind him, both having heard the exchange between Moore and Wilson.

“I’m sorry,” Stark says sarcastically, “were you going to stab him, because it didn’t look like it.”

“Tony,” Steve reprimands him.

“Seriously Possible,” Stark says as he approaches the girl, laying a metal hand on her shoulder, “we’re here to take out the bad guys, not be lectured by them. Capeesh?”

She gives him a nod of her head; however, Greyson’s words still echo in the back of her mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You called Loki for help?” She questions Stark once they’re all back on the quinjet, and she glances over to where the trickster sits opposite of his brother.

“I figured magic was our best bet at getting that thing off of you,” Stark replies, “and they would underestimate a couple of hunters like Chip and Dale who aren’t magically inclined.”

Lexi contemplates his statement and gives him a nod, “You have a point…it did work.”

“Fooled you,” Stark gives her a half smile and she knows he overheard her conversation with Loki through their coms.

She gives him an unimpressed look at his comment before she pulls the disc from her pocket and presents it to Stark, who looks at it with shame, “That thing took all your powers away?”

“Yea,” she confirms, “I thought you might want to run some tests, see where it came from.”

The dark-haired man drops his gaze as he runs a hand across his face roughly before saying quietly, “I know where it came from.”

“Where?”

“Me.”

There’s a long moment of silence as Steve slowly approaches the conversation.

“You made this?” She questions almost inaudibly as she turns the disk over in her fingers.

“I’m sorry…” Tony begins, “I never meant…”

“It was my idea,” Rogers interrupts him and Stark glances at him in surprise, “In case we ever encounter anyone like you, who isn’t on our side.”

Lexi looks from Steve to Tony with disapproval before she tosses the disc at the man with the star on his chest and states, “Dick move Rogers.”

She turns, walking away from the two of them and Tony looks over to his friend, waiting until Lexi’s out of earshot before saying, “You didn’t have to do that.”

“She respects you,” Steve begins harshly, “and it was a stupid mistake, don’t let it happen again.”

Lexi’s leaning forward, her head in her hands as she sits in one of the empty seats towards the back of the quinjet, away from everyone else. She senses someone sit down next to her, but she doesn’t look up, she just simply waits for whoever it is to speak.

“If you’re mad, be mad at me,” Rogers says quietly so only the two of them can hear, “not at Stark.”

“I’m not mad,” she replies without looking up, “I mean…a little, yea…but I get it. Just do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“Hold on to that design,” Lexi responds looking over at him, confusion and concern in her eyes, “just in case.”

He gives her a sympathetic nod of understanding before he stands up to leave her with her thoughts.

“Hey Cap.”

Rogers glances back at her as she continues, “Thanks for the save today.”

“We’re a team Wilson,” he replies with a small smile, “we look out for each other.”

Later that evening

Lexi quietly makes her way into the kitchen area of the compound and isn’t surprised to see the dark-haired man standing at the counter, eating ice cream from a pint container.

“Can’t sleep?” She questions as she walks over and carefully hops up to sit on the counter, keeping the weight off her left shoulder.

He shakes his head as he grabs another spoon from the drawer and offers it to her, “What about you little witch?”

She just gives him a small shrug of her shoulders as she takes a small scoop of the salted caramel blondie ice cream and shoves it in her mouth.

“Please tell me it’s not because of that dip shit from earlier?” He questions, looking at a notification on his phone.

“Well, you heard what he said,” she says quietly as he leans against the counter beside her, “I’m not exactly hero material.”

Stark laughs to himself, “And you think I am?” Lexi eases another spoonful of the ice cream into her mouth as he continues, “We all have a dark side, it’s what makes us human…I dare say, it’s what makes us heroes.” He’s trying to make her feel better and she appreciates the effort, but it’s not the same.

“Did you practice that?”

“Maybe,” he smirks, “and I got you a surprise.”

She furrows her brow at him in confusion and he points his spoon toward the hallway. She turns her head to see what he’s indicating and she’s sure her heart stops for a moment. Lexi cuts her eyes back to Tony as she whispers threateningly, “If that’s Loki…”

“No,” Stark reassures her as he takes the spoon from her and sets the pint of ice cream down, before gingerly helping her slide off the counter, keeping as much pressure off her left shoulder as possible. He places a quick, comforting kiss in her hair before he says, “he’s the real deal.”

Dean closes the distance between them, and Lexi smiles sadly at him, “Hey.”

“Rough day?” He questions as he pulls her into a hug.

She nods her head against his chest and winces against the pain in her shoulder, “Ow.”

The green-eyed man pulls back and looks at her in concern, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just a graze,” she responds as Dean pulls the collar of her t-shirt to the side to see the large white bandage just inside her shoulder.

“You were shot?!” Dean looks exasperated.

“And kidnapped,” Lexi says sheepishly.

“Are you freakin’ kidding me?” the hunter glares across to Stark who has resumed eating his ice cream.

“What?” The dark-haired man shrugs his shoulders, “We got her back.”

“With a hole in her,” Dean retorts.

“Oh, don’t be dramatic,” Tony gives him a wave of his hand, “it’s just one hole, she’s fine.”

“Come on,” Lexi grabs Dean by the arm, “I’ll catch you up.”

Steve passes the two of them as he makes his way into the kitchen area, giving them both a small smile and a nod as they make their way back to Lexi’s room. He stops abruptly as he notices Tony eating the ice cream and he gives him an annoyed glare, “Do you have to eat it straight from the pint?”

“I pay for it,” Stark remarks.

Rogers rolls his eyes as he grabs a bottle of water from the refrigerator, “I see you called in the cavalry.”

“She seemed a little shaken up,” the dark-haired man responds, “figured she could use a familiar face.”

“Good call,” Steve says with a smile, “you’re a pretty good mentor Tony.”

“Let’s not go around telling everyone okay?” Stark says sarcastically, “Training the children is your and Romanoff’s job, not mine.”

#supernatural #supernatural fanfiction #supernatural/avenger fanfiction #avengers fanfiction #avengers #tony stark #steve rogers #dean winchester

9 notes · View notes

hellfireprince · 6 years ago

Text

@bornhybrid - Part 1 of 3 because this practically wrote itself and it was way too long for one post...

"I left you two alone for five minutes! You cannot be this bad all the time! Are you really that incapable of being civil with each other for a short time?!"

He and Aryan had only been stopping in at the compound on their way to lunch. Toren had wanted to grab a few things from his grandfather's place that he had left behind last time, so he'd left his father talking to Klaus while he quickly went up to his old room to get them. He should have known better. He'd heard the crashing, and had hurried back down to find his father and grandfather trying to rip each other apart. Toren wouldn't say it was unheard of for Klaus and Aryan to go for each other, but this had escalated much quicker than usual. He was now glaring between them as he magically forced them to sit at opposite ends of the room, glowering at each other.

"What happened?"

"The vermin that you call a father suggested some very unsavoury things about myself and your aunt. I was merely correcting him," Klaus sneered.

Toren's magical ability was tested as Aryan tried to leap across the room at Klaus for being called vermin, but his power held strong, and he scowled at his father, looking for his explanation.

"Sir High and Mighty over there deserved what he got," Aryan spat, choosing not to tell his son what Klaus had said to get such a rise out of him. He didn't need to know just how little his grandfather thought of his father. "Let me go Toren!"

Toren massaged his temples with a sigh, silently wishing he'd been born into a family that actually liked each other. He had to deal with more than enough of this with his pack, he really didn't want to be playing peacekeeper with his family too right now.

"Does mum know you two are so petty?"

"...Yes," both men answered grudgingly.

"So do you think perhaps it would be a nice surprise for her if you two could actually get along?"

"We're not children Little Wolf, you won't get us to play nice just because it would make mummy smile," Klaus huffed.

"Oh you're not children? Could have fooled me!"

"You know, we wouldn't be in this mess if you had cleaned the dirt of your face," Aryan grumbled.

"How is it my beard's fault that you goaded grandad into a fight?"

"I would have been in a better mood to take his bullocks," Aryan said simply, inspecting the bite marks on his arm with a grimace. "Feral mutt."

"Don't make me add more, boy," Klaus growled threateningly as Toren crossed the room to drain a cut on his hand into a glass for the Original. Aryan had left him with a few nasty burns and gashes. "Thank you, Little Wolf."

"I'm bigger than all of you," Toren grumbled at the nickname his mother and grandfather had so lovingly redesignated to him, moving to his father to deal with his dislocated shoulder. "Physically and moralistically apparently. Ready?"

Aryan groaned in pain as his son, perhaps rougher than necessary, popped his shoulder back into place before heading over to the dining table and sitting down.

"Right. I'm going to let you both go now. You are not going to attack each other. You are both going to apologise and shake hands. You are then going to sit down next to each other, and I, as the only adult in the room, am going to mediate your conversation as you talk about what's upsetting you so that next time you see each other, this doesn't happen. Got it?"

"We don't need marriage counselling Toren," Aryan muttered.

"What? You scared of something?" Klaus challenged, immediately lighting Aryan's eyes up with gold.

"Enough," Toren growled, lifting his magic from them both. "Come on. Shake hands."

"Do you always let your son push you around?" Klaus asked Aryan as they shook hands. From the way both their knuckles were turning white, and the distinct sounds of cracking, Toren was fairly certain they were each trying to crush the other's hand. No, definitely not children.

"Would you like to test him?" Aryan grumbled pointedly. Toren had definitely filled out since his teenage years. He was quite the hulking figure these days, and with Aryan and Hope both doing their best to make sure their kids knew how to use the full extent of their powers, Toren wasn't one to screw with. Not when he was annoyed at least.

"That's not an apology, Grandpa."

"You're right, Little Wolf. Norman, I'm sorry... that I didn't kill you when I had the chance."

Banging his head on the table was far less painful than trying to deal with Aryan and Klaus' ridiculous feud right now. To Aryan's credit, he managed not to get physically violent at the old nickname, so that was something at least, though Toren wondered if he'd have been so controlled if Aryan actually understood the reference... Best not to let him know.

"Grandpa please..."

"Fine. I'm sorry I bit you, and tried to rip off your arm, and... everything else I did," Klaus said, his tone suggesting apologising was causing him more pain than the injuries Aryan had delivered upon him.

"I'm sorry I burned you... and stabbed you," Aryan muttered through gritted teeth.

"That was so much harder than it should have been," Toren sighed. "Sit."

When they let go of each other's hands, Toren could see the way they were bent out of shape.

"Really? Do you feel better now that your hand's broken?" he asked waspishly.

"I feel better now that his hand's broken," Aryan clarified, shifting the bones back into place like he did it every day.

"This is ridiculous! What's wrong with you two?! You've been family for a century! How have you not put your arguments aside yet?!" Because they were both as stubborn, possessive and paranoid as each other, no doubt. "You can't keep doing this."

"It's not like we haven't tried before Toren. It just doesn't work."

"You haven't tried! All you've both ever done is agreed to put your arguments on hold for mum. That's not actually trying to get along, that's just ignoring the problem. I am not going to let you ignore it any more. The doctor is in."

"Oh, no. No, Toren, if I wanted to talk to a psych, a real one, I'd have done it already. We're not doing-"

"I do not feel that your father respects me as the father of his wife," Klaus declared, leaning back in his seat with a smug smirk on his face as he watched Aryan flounder for an excuse not to start sharing with the class.

"Are you kidding me?!" Aryan snapped. "All I ever used to do was show you respect! I got nothing back! So yeah, I don't show you much any more, because I've never seen it from you!"

"Why would I show you respect? The Prince of Hell swoops in, steals my daughter, sods off and breaks her heart, then appears again years later to knock her up. Would you show that kid respect?"

"I. Didn't. Have. A. Choice," Aryan asserted through gritted teeth. "And I didn't steal your daughter. I became her friend. Then I became her boyfriend. And by the way, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have known she was having trouble at school, she wouldn't have had anyone she could relate to through all her magic troubles, and you know, I seem to recall me being the one to convince her to show her face again after her car accident. I do regret the pregnancy though, because if it hadn't happened, we wouldn't be here!"

"Well I feel loved," Toren muttered sarcastically.

"All I have ever done is tried to make Hope happy. I don't understand why you refuse to see that. I have given her everything!"

"I don't understand why you refuse to see that no matter what you do, you won't be good enough for her," Klaus replied simply. "You've got kids. Haven't you felt that for them?"

"Wow. I finally see what Elijah means," Toren mused as he watched the two of them bicker. "It's uncanny. You're practically twins."

"Shut up Toren!" Aryan huffed.

"He's not wrong. I've said it for a long time."

"You too!" Aryan snapped, pushing himself to his feet. "I'm not doing this."

"Why don't you like being like grandad? He's strong, and powerful, and all the things you seem to value."

“It’s not that simple Toren. It’s just not,” Aryan snapped. “You want to know what else your grandfather is? He's a dictator, he's paranoid, he's short tempered, and he's a bloody coward!"

"And now the gloves come off," Klaus growled, rising to his feet and advancing on Aryan again. "I'll allow you a few last words to say goodbye to your son."

"Take one more step and I will boil you from the inside," Aryan said, deathly calm. "Listen, you ego-inflated nut job, your first reaction to any problem that ever presents itself is to run away from it. Your bark is a thousand times worse than your bite, because you never just bloody well go for it. You hide behind 'mastermind plans' or whatever to hide the fact you're still a scared little boy still afraid of being hit by daddy."

Klaus snarled, eyes turning yellow and growing dark veins beneath as he bared his fangs, but Toren was in between them again before he could touch Aryan.

"Oh my, did I hit a nerve?" Aryan asked, innocent tone dripping in condescension as Toren struggled with Klaus. "Thank you for proving my point."

"Dad! How is that helping?!"

"Oh, no, you're right, it's definitely not." There was a distinct air of satisfaction in Aryan's voice.

"Right, you know what? I'm done with you both."

In the blink of an eye, Toren had flashed behind Klaus to break his neck. Aryan jumped in shock, watching with some amount of amusement as Klaus dropped to the ground.

"Toren, it's good to see you're taking my-"

"Sorry Dad."

Aryan yelled as pain split across his head, dropping him to his knees before he pitched forward, the pain blacking him out.

"I'm sick of you too."

#bornhybrid #v; family is everything #c; thing one (toren)#drabbles

1 note · View note

marvelousbunchposts-blog · 6 years ago

Text

The Popcorn (Rogers x reader)

"Listen, Steve, before you meet her, I just want you to know she can come off a bit of a douchebag at first."

"No wonder you both are siblings."

Sam scoffed at his comment and knocked on the door to your apartment. Steve and Sam were both out on their usual run this morning and Sam (being the loving brother he is) decided to stop by your house to see how you were doing. The team knew the bird-man had a sister and they wanted to meet you, but you didn't want to meet them.

"When was the last time you talked t-"

Steve was interrupted by the sound of your door opening.

He was staring at you and how beautiful you were to him. He had never met anyone else so appealing.

Sam barely talked about you at the compound so Steve didn't even know your name.

"Samuel!"

Gosh.

Your voice was so charming. It was like music to his ears.

You wrapped your arms around your older brother and he gave you a kiss on your forehead. You had the biggest smile on your face and Steve was completely astonished by how stunning it looked.

He made a promise to himself that one day, he would make you smile like that.

"Hey baby bear, me and Steve were strolling around the street and I decided to stop by and see how you were doing." Sam also had that huge smile on his face. It was obvious you two loved each other so much.

"Wait, Steve?"

You glanced over at the man that was standing next to your brother. You didn't even notice someone was standing there nor that someone was none other than Steve Rogers. You were so focused on meeting your brother.

He was just staring at you. He had a sparkle in his eyes and it looked like he was staring at a goddess.

To him, he was staring at one.

"Sam, why did you invite Captain freaking America to my apartment!"

"Umm, because he also wanted to come over?"

You were so mad that your brother had invited someone over to your apartment without even telling you first. He knew you hated meeting new people. The fact that he brought Captain Rogers made it much worse.

But you had to admit, you already started to develop a crush on the super soldier and this was your first time meeting him.

"You both can come in, I'm making breakfast so I'll share some with you guys 'cause I'm feeling generous."

You moved out of the way so the two men could walk inside your apartment. It wasn't to big and it wasn't to small since you lived alone.

Steve didn't even realize he was being invited to your apartment until Sam nudged him to walk inside.

This wasn't the first time Sam came over so the first thing he did when he came in was plop down on your couch and turn on the TV. Steve didn't know what to do so he did what Sam did and sat next to him on the couch.

"Alright, you boys can make yourselves cozy while I make some breakfast for you both."

"Do you need any help?" It was just an innocent question Steve asked you but it seemed like you took it the wrong way.

"I'm capable of making breakfast alone, Captain," you said sounding annoyed.

You walked over to the kitchen making the breakfast.

Steve was again staring at you while you walked. Even something as simple as walking, you still had his attention.

"You know, at first I thought it was cute, but now it's getting kind of creepy," Sam said nudging Steve's arm trying to get his attention.

"I'm sorry, what?" Steve furrowed his eyebrows.

"I'm talking about you having a crush on my little sister. You're making me feel awkward," Sam said. He already knew Steve had a crush on you by the second you opened the door. The look he was giving you was the only evidence he needed to prove it.

"Sam, that's not true."

"Oh right, let me correct myself. You're in love with her," Sam said matter-of-factly.

But how could that be possible? This was Steve's first time meeting you and he was already in love?

"Wait, you're okay with me liking your sister?"

"First of all, it's 'loving' and second of all, why wouldn't I be? I mean heck Steve you're the only one I trust with her," Sam was whispering now so you couldn't hear him, "you've seen her Steve, she needs someone to talk to, besides me."

Ever since you were young, you didn't have many friends, or any at all. You were a hostile-typed person. The only person you talked to was your brother which was why you both were so close.

Steve didn't get a chance to reply because you walked into the room and nudged your head into the kitchen indicating that breakfast was ready.

After you three ate breakfast, Sam said he had to use the bathroom before he and Steve left. During breakfast, Steve learned some things about you.

So now here you were, washing the dishes with Steve Rogers sitting quietly in your kitchen. The only thing you were hearing was his breathing and you felt so awkward standing in front of him just washing the dishes.

"So, (Y/N) what do you do for a living?"

"Why do you ask, Captain?"

"A man can't a normal conversation with a girl?"

"I'm just wondering Captain, why do you wanna know more about me?" You turned off the sink and turned around so now you were fully facing him.

"There's tons of other people out there that's worth your time talking to, and I think I made it pretty clear that I don't wanna talk to you."

Steve stood up and walked towards you.

"(Y/N), you're worth talking to."

You were surprised that those words came out of his mouth. You just looked at him with your mouth slightly opened.

"I sing, dance, and act for musicals at a theatre," you mumbled slowly.

Steve smiled at you for finally opening up to him.

"I mean, it's nothing compared to saving the world from complete destruction, but it pays well," you giggled trying to make the situation not awkward.

Steve couldn't help it and he started to laugh too.

He started to move closer to you.

"Sam never really talks about you at the compound."

"Good. I told him to do that for me."

"Why would you do that?"

You didn't answer his question. You didn't even say anything. You were debating if you should tell him. The real reason why you didn't want anyone to know about you. Thankfully, he changed the subject.

"Staring."

"What?"

"You're staring at me and not saying anything."

"Sorry, is it creeping you out?"

"It's actually quite flattering," Steve said with a grin on his face. Gosh that grin. He could attract so many people with just smiling, it didn't even have to be a real genuine one and people would still find it captivating.

"I just don't want people to know about me, Captain."

"Call me Steve."

"I think it's disrespectful of me to not call you 'Captain'."

"If I'm gonna be calling you by your first name, then I want you to call me by my first name."

Steve had his arms crossed on his toned chest and he was towering you with his height. He was standing so close you could practically smell his deodorant.

"It's just, I feel like if people start to get to know me, they're gonna be disappointed with who I am."

The only other person who knew this was Sam. He tried his best to let you know that you were perfect just the way you are. He loved you for your personality and insisted other people would think the same.

"(Y/N), you need to stop thinking about what others think about you. Their negative thoughts about you don't matter."

"Well, I'm not disappointed at all for who you are," Steve whispered out. He already knew that it was love at first sight for you and him.

Steve was absolutely smitten with you. When you reached up to tuck a stray of hair behind your ear, he couldn't help but want to have done it himself, and to be to close to you to see the spirit that rested behind your eyes.

"You're just saying that so I could feel better about myself. I mean," you took a deep breath, "you don't even know anything about me Steve."

"Well, maybe we can change that with a date."

"Is this your way of making me say yes?"

"Is it working?"

You giggled. Steve had that smile on his face again and you couldn't reject him. Not only because he was smiling but also because he was just him. Steve Rogers. Any person out there would be crazy to say no to him.

"I get out of rehearsal at around 5:30 everyday, so that's the only time when I'm free."

"It's a date then."

You were still looking up at him. His eyes were still looking back at yours. You were leaning against the kitchen counter trying to back up even though there wasn't any space. He put his arms on either side of you and rested them on the counter, so now you were trapped. He leaned his head closer to yours but he was going slowly, as if silently asking you if you were okay with this. You didn't even know that you also moved your head closer to his and you were slightly pouting your lips. Your lips were a mere inches away from his and before your lips even touched, a loud Sam interrupted you two.

"(Y/N), please don't be mad but I think I accidently clogged your toilet!"

"Steve! What are you doing here?"

"If I remember correctly, you said about three weeks ago that you get off of work at around 5:30."

"Yeah, but it's 5:50 now, and it's freezing cold out here. You've been waiting out here for twenty minutes?"

"(Y/N), you're talking to a guy who's been frozen for at least seventy-years, and plus you know me by now."

"Sadly, I do."

You both laughed at your comment while you were trying to find your keys in your purse. You found them and before you could open the door, Steve had beat you to it with your spare key.

"Wait, I never gave you a spare key."

"I might've stolen them from you the first time we met."

It was true. The second before he left your door, he saw a key under a flower pot that was outside of your apartment. He was already in love with you and stole it just in case he felt like you were in danger.

"Steve, why couldn't you just come inside before I came?"

You walked inside your apartment so that you both wouldn't be out in the cold. Steve was already out there for long enough so you decided to make some hot cocoa for him.

"Well, I didn't want to come in and just invade your privacy (Y/N)."

"Steve we've been together for a while, you're welcome to come inside when I'm not home yet."

Ever since that first date three weeks ago, you both have been taking your relationship slow, you didn't want to rush into things and Steve (being the wonderful person that he is) agreed.

You both still haven't kissed.

People would think that at least three weeks into a relationship, the couple would kiss, but the two were just too shy to do it.

"So, what do you wanna do now that I'm here?"

"I don't know, maybe we could watch a movie-,"

"And cuddle?" Steve interrupted you.

You giggled and nodded your head. Cuddling was Steve's favorite thing to do, besides staring at you.

"I'll make the popcorn and you can make the hot cocoa."

"Deal."

While Steve was waiting for the popcorn to finish popping, he couldn't help but stare at you while you were making the hot cocoa. You were pretty short so when you tried to reach up on your cabinet trying to get two cups, you couldn't reach it. Steve, of course, saw this and went over to you and helped you. His chest was to your back and you could practically feel him breathing down your neck.

He grabbed the two cups and put them on the kitchen counter in front of you. He still didn't move even when the microwave was beeping, meaning that the popcorn was done.

"Umm, Steve? The popcorn is done."

"I know, doll."

"So are you gonna just stand there, or are you gonna get it?"

Steve was silent and the next words he said had completely shocked you both.

"I love you."

You were silent. You turned around so now your back wasn't to his chest anymore. It was the first time you guys ever used the three words in your relationship. You both have been dating for at least three weeks now, and you had told him you wanted to take things slow at first. The 'L' word was a huge step into your relationship.

"You mean that?"

"Why wouldn't I (Y/N)? You make me so happy and I'm the only person you opened up to."

"You should feel honored. I don't open up to just anyone you know."

"I do feel honored."

You were smiling, and it was that smile that Steve promised himself that he would make you. It was so beautiful that he was staring at you again being speechless. He didn't even listen to the words you were saying to him because it was the only thing he was focusing on.

"Uhh, Steve?"

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

"I said you're staring again."

"Sorry (Y/N), I just can't take my eyes off you."

You giggled and while you were giggling, Steve caught his lips in yours by surprise. For a second you didn't even react because you had no idea what was going on. It felt like magic, his lips were so soft and it felt so amazing. It was so gentle and he poured all of his love into it. You kissed back and felt Steve smile. Steve was your first kiss and your first ever boyfriend so you hoped that you weren't much of a bad kisser.

"Steve, you should probably get the popcorn out of the microwave."

"Later, let's just stay in this position for a while, okay?"

And that's exactly what you both did.

#marvel #steve rogers #captainamerica #steve rogers x reader #chris evans #mcu

1 note · View note

cryallaloneblog-blog · 5 years ago

Text

Is Church Advertising and marketing Evil

Some individuals believe that the church might be simpler by making use of procedures mostly and effectively used in organization today, like marketing. In actual fact there are firms that exclusively support churches build a logo, a slogan, a web site, brochures, as well as a multi-faceted internet marketing marketing campaign much the same way other companies establish these elements to start a whole new business.

On the flip side, a lot of people abhor these practices and Consider the church need to stay as much far from them as feasible. They believe advertising is deceptive, manipulative, superficial, worldly, and Of course - evil.

And afterwards there's the middle ground where by I think The majority of us locate ourselves. We would like our churches to reach more and more people in our communities. We wish to Convey the passion and love we have for God and people. If men and women would just come to a Sunday support, we know God would show up and contact their hearts and clearly show them the wonderful everyday living they could have with Him in it. We want to Enable people understand about the prospects God has for them, but it's so hard to get people's consideration Within this media-saturated tradition. We wish to get to out, but we don't want resort to hoopla, gimmicks, or starkly company strategies.

youtube

Is marketing and advertising just how to try this, or is internet marketing evil?

Objections to church internet marketing usually slide into 1 of four types.

one) Marketing and advertising is manipulative.

Lots of people think that internet marketing is inherently manipulative, that advertising is about overselling optimistic and concealing the unfavorable, or that promoting needs to Engage in to folks's fears or feelings for being helpful.

Now should you be a corporation providing something that is terrible for individuals like tabloid magazines or junk foods, manipulation is pretty much your only option. But should you offer a thing that is truly advantageous to men and women, then there is not any purpose to be manipulative or disingenuous. Churches assist people hook up with God, and through that relationship people uncover unconditional love, peace, every day steerage, goal for their lives, community, and eternal lifetime. No other Firm on earth can match that.

2) Promoting is superficial.

Other people declare that advertising encourages design and style over material. You sell the sizzle not the steak, appropriate? You notify men and women what they want to hear, correct?

Sad to say, I feel lots of churches truly are responsible of advertising and marketing superficial elements of who They're SEO in order to attract people today. I have found quite a few church buildings talk about acquiring the rockin'est worship band, the funnest Children system, The good youth rec making, or most inspiring messages. You will find almost nothing Mistaken with staying rockin', entertaining, great, and inspiring, but when Individuals are the reasons you might be telling individuals they need to attend your church, then That is what men and women are going to be expecting. At that point You should either keep things superficial, which defeats The entire intent of aiding persons to connect with God, or You should "bait and swap" In regards to the really hard aspects of subsequent Christ.

But in this article yet again churches have a benefit In relation to advertising since they Will not ought to be superficial. A church does not have to claim to provide the rockin'est worship band when it can provide a worship knowledge the place people can hook up with God through new music and terms they will relate to and signify with all their hearts. It does not have to hold the funnest Little ones system when it can provide small children a spiritual and ethical Basis in a very placing they'll enjoy and bear in mind.

In fact, churches that marketplace themselves on style are lacking a large opportunity since the church has so much substance to provide, and deep down individuals definitely do want compound.

three) Promoting sucks.

A further objection individuals have to church advertising and marketing in particular is that It is really just flat out embarrassingly poor. Lots of church advertising and marketing is not only unoriginal but it really's beating a dead horse which was lifeless a decade in the past. I can't describe how much I cringe anytime I see a church indication which has a tacky Christian cliché on it. And when I see One more "Received Jesus?" t-shirt, I might not be capable of preserve myself from chasing right after the individual which has a lighter.

The reality is a lot of church promoting is embarrassingly lousy, nevertheless it doesn't have to be. That's why the Center for Church Communications started off the Church Marketing and advertising Sucks blog. Church buildings are led via the Creator in the universe, and so church buildings really should direct the world in creativeness, originality, and inspiration. Executing marketing very well is not really an hard work to "out-amazing" other church buildings or sustain with secular advertising and marketing traits, but alternatively to express exactly what the church is centered on in ways that expose our Artistic, inspiring God.

four) Internet marketing is troublesome.

Most of us despise commercials that interrupt our favourite TV demonstrate, suitable? (I thank God for my DVR!) We hate unsolicited mail. We despise the unlimited promos firstly of the movie. We dislike it when someone rings our doorbell all through supper to provide us Publications. The very last thing church buildings ought to be undertaking is irritating people today, correct?

Effectively, Certainly, but I have not run into a church nonetheless that wants to harass individuals. Internet marketing does not have to become bothersome. Would you at any time seem in the ads from the Sunday paper? Ever save that $five off coupon that came during the mail? Advertising and marketing is bothersome when it is actually for some thing you're not interested in or It is at a nasty time, but once we're considering one thing and also the timing is right, we actually enjoy it. The real key is receiving information to the ideal folks at the proper time.

That is why it is so crucial that the church have a great Web page and that it's featured prominently in serps. If The important thing is obtaining information and facts to the ideal persons at the ideal time, what can be a lot better than obtaining information regarding your church to somebody that is hunting for a church once they're searching?

What exactly is Marketing and advertising?

Eventually, I feel Element of The main reason why some Christians Imagine internet marketing is evil is as they affiliate internet marketing with promotion. But marketing and advertising is far broader than promotion. Here are a few definitions of marketing I have come across...

"Advertising and marketing is basically sharing your like. Your passion. Your belief."

"Advertising and marketing is solely the transfer of enthusiasm from just one particular person to a different."

youtube

Who won't desire to share their appreciate, enthusiasm and belief for God and their church?

Not surprisingly church internet marketing attempts are certainly not a substitute for private evangelism. In truth, individual evangelism might be significantly Increased by rendering it a Section of the overall church promoting system. A church that develops a terrific Web-site and supplies printed brochures, invitation playing cards, and outreach situations might make individual evangelism initiatives much easier and more practical.

Kurt Steinbrueck could be the writer of the Church Marketing Online weblog. He continues to be Director of selling Companies with Ourchurch.Com for over five several years giving Christian seo expert services which include providers unique for church advertising remedies and private college promoting. Kurt is also a Deacon at his church.

#seo #search engine #marketing #digital #internet

0 notes

understarlitskies · 6 years ago

Text

The last week has seen my Facebook feed inundated with posts about gender inequality and rape culture after a shocking incident in Melbourne, Australia. But I’ve noticed how quiet men have been on the issue (unless, of course, they are invalidating the experiences of women). As if this doesn’t concern them and they are just waiting for the storm to pass. Let the angry feminists complain for a bit then let the fuss die down. How absolutely intolerable it must be for you! That even though women are harassed, assaulted, raped, and murdered every day you are forced to come face to face with it once every couple of months! You have the privilege and the luxury to ignore this issue; we don’t. I’m tired of these conversations that peter out because only one half of the population is trying to make a change, the very half of the population that is conveniently silenced and devalued. I thought perhaps the lack of action on their part is because they don’t know what to say or because they don’t understand, but I think it may have more to do with ignorance. So that there is no longer any confusion or excuses for passive bystanding, here is a list of things you can do to stop oppressing women:

· If you’re on Tumblr, then I’ll make the grand assumption you have a basic grasp on the human language. No means no. And if a woman does not positively, unequivocally, and freely affirm that she wants sexual contact, LEAVE HER ALONE.

· Sit down, shut up, be quiet and not only listen to women speak truth to their lived experiences within a patriarchal society, but hear them and believe them.

· When women speak up about gender inequality, they are ridiculed, shame, distrusted, harassed. Our voices are not valued. We need you to stand with us, to speak up with us, to speak back against those who are against us.

· You look at any single video, picture, or article online that brings light to the silenced topic of women’s oppression, and you’ll find spiteful comments that question the existence of this inequality, that legitimise rape and harassment, or that actually threaten assault. Challenge this dismissive and hateful behaviour wherever you see it and whoever you see initiating it.

· Remain a sustained engagement in fighting for equality. Every now and then a high profile case will dominate media and cause uproars and intentions for change. But then we all slip back into the comfortable normalisation of gender-based injustice and violence. Or rather, you do. We live every day painfully conscious of how we must live our lives in order to avoid being victimised. This world is not comfortable for us. Keep the conversation going. Remain informed, aware, and vigilant.

· Here’s a hard truth - Our bodies weren’t created simply for your viewing pleasure. I’m sick to death of going running and having men leer at me from their car, honk their horns, and cat-call. Stop sexualising and objectifying women in your behaviours, attitudes, language, and thoughts and challenge those who do.

· We must always take into account and address the unique and compounding considerations of intersectionality (that is, the intersections between gender and race, class, religion, age, sexual orientation, etc.) as well as gender-diverse and non-binary individuals. Gender inequality is prolific and affects different women in different ways, and we need to start with an understanding of these different ways, not just relegate them to footnotes.

· Boys will not be boys. To be predatory creatures is not in your biology. It is a choice. Take responsibility and make sure your language reflects it. Stop victim-blaming, stop saying rape ‘jokes’. Refer to Women’s Health West “Speaking publicly about preventing men’s violence against women: Curly questions and language considerations” for some handy tips on correcting your language.

· Talk to your male friends and family. Is this an awkward conversation? An uncomfortable one? Tough. Your inability to stand up for inequality and your comfortable complicity is directly tied to our discomfort, our assault, our harassment, our death. What do you currently do to perpetuate inequality? How do you do better?

· We don’t need you to shake your heads at the next news story about a rape and murder and think “that’s terrible”. Get angry. DO something. Advocate, speak up, protest, report, lobby. Don’t say you’re one of the ‘good ones’ if the only thing you’re doing is not raping someone. That bar is so low you could step over it.

· Realise that inciting violence on someone who has been violent to another, is perpetuating the violent narrative. And that scares us. You’re still not one of the “good ones” if your answer to someone assaulting a woman is to wish and/or inflict violence on them. See the circle based on a culture that normalises male violence?

· Take a gendered lens to your life – where are women missing? From workspaces, politics, the media you consume. And be critical – are you inadvertently supporting men who harass and abuse women in the music you listen to, the books you read, the movies you watch?

· Question toxic masculinity and take a critical eye to the way romantic relationships are presented in music, books, tv, and movies. Misogyny and inequality are learned. Take it upon yourself to unlearn them.

I refuse to continue to placate the fragile little egos of men who refuse to bear responsibility for stopping gender inequality. Know that unless you are actively engaged in ways to help achieve equality, you are activity complicit in maintaining it. Does it sound like I’m angry? Because I am. I am furious that myself and anyone identifying as a woman is treated as a second-class citizen. If you’re a man reading this and you’re feeling a bit angry right now and feel like writing some sort of rebuttal, I STRONGLY recommend that you refrain from doing so and either begin to acknowledge and deal with your gendered privileges or remove yourself from my contacts. I am forced to deal with enough disrespectful, vulgar, sleazy, and entitled men on a daily basis and will no longer stand for it on Facebook too. If you’re uncomfortable, good. The whole world is built around accommodating your comfort and safety at the expense of women’s. This isn’t an either/or, zero-sum equation. I’m not advocating for a flipping of circumstance and the rise of a matriarchal society; I just want a society where people can feel safe and valued. And at the moment, men are standing in the way of that vision.

“It's hard not to feel humourless, as a woman and a feminist, to recognise misogyny in so many forms, some great some small, and know you're not imagining things. It's hard to be told to lighten up because if you lighten up any more, you're going to float the f**k away” (Roxanne Gay, ‘Bad Feminist’)

Educate Yourself

https://www.ted.com/talks/jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue#t-648811

https://mashable.com/2017/10/16/how-men-should-respond-to-sexual-assault-me-too/#M9hjWfTO3aqR

https://www.adventurouskate.com/how-men-can-fight-toxic-masculinity-and-rape-culture/

https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/stop-violence-against-women/dont-just-stand-by/

http://www.whattosay.org.au/

https://www.theline.org.au/how-to-guide-to-stepping-up-against-sexist-behaviour

http://everydaysexism.com/country/au

https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/understand-domestic-violence/facts-violence-women/factsheets/

https://www.thenation.com/article/ten-things-end-rape-culture/

https://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/1106959/rape-culture

#sexism #equality #genderequality #australia #women #female

0 notes

sumner250-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Why Lifting Heavy Weights Scares Most Women – Here’s What You’ll Actually Look Like

“How much can you bench? How much can you deadlift? How much can you squat?”

“Nah, I don’t go too heavy or do those exercises… I don’t want to get too big” Most women assume that weightlifting is only for men. Why? Because they don’t want to get “bulky” like the hulk! But surprise, even the female version of the strongest green Marvel character on earth She-hulk is hot and she can lift ridiculous amounts of weight without getting “bulky”!

The gif above, as a guy, is my reaction. Lifting heavy will lead you to getting really sexy and curvy! You won’t accidentally turn into what men have spent countless years trying to look like! “Woops, I think I got too much muscle”

Hold on to me with this if you are one of the women who are afraid to lift to heavy. You’re going to want to go heavy with your weight lifting sessions (with good form!) after reading this article!

Common Misconception #1: Lifting Heavy Will Make You Look Like A Female Arnold Schwarzenegger

Unless you take steroids, there’s no way in the world, no matter how often you train or perfect your diet, will you ever look like an overly-muscular cute girl like above! Women are genetically unable to build that much muscle in their upper body

Women are unable to get massive unless they use steroids. No surprise there!

We humans have this genetic “wall” to how much muscle a female can build related to your body size. Your genetic “wall” is called Myostatin prevents your body from gaining too much muscle.

Steroids break this genetic “wall” which will allow the body to keep on building muscle

Women have way less testosterone (15 times less!) than men making it difficult to get “bulky” (as if it was hard enough for us men to build muscle!) and unable to grow muscle quickly.

Correction: Lifting Heavy Weights Will Build a Thick, Curvy, Aesthetic Physique.

True, lifting heavy weights will not get you skinny like a Victoria’s Secret model but let’s be honest, is it worth eating a 1000 calories a day to look like one? If I were you I would eat whatever I want.

Mind you, female bodybuilders can easily eat a lot of food. Around 2,400 calories a day and still lose weight in a deficit. Why? Because maintaining muscle mass demands energy. The more muscle you have (for female bodybuilders, mostly on their legs and butt), the more calories you burn just by doing nothing!

The bigger the booty, the more calories are burnt? Seems like a great deal to me!

Common Misconception #2: Cardio Will Tone My Body

Yes, cardio is great for building cardiovascular endurance AKA stamina for those everyday enduring tasks but it has been proven that exercise has very little effect on weight loss. Toned?? What do you exactly mean by toned?

I’m not bashing cardio but I would like to set your goals in the right direction.

Steady-paced cardio will not have great effects on your body as it can decrease your muscle mass which to an extent, can lead to a saggy butt or a small butt along with skinny legs. When females perform most exercises, their hips, glutes, and legs grow the most. They actually grow better than men when exposed to stress AKA weight training.

Women recover from lower body exercises easily hence the reason why men tend to avoid leg days while women prefer leg day 8 times a week!

Correction: Weight Training Will Tone Your Body

I would very much like to be buried in these leggings because I am literally deceased at how pretty the colour is, DECEASED. I wear these in XS because I have very short leggies (5ft 3) 🙋🏽🐳. Also wearing the @womensbest hoodie in XS which I cropped myself! If you wanna nab it they have an easter sale running currently! Easter15 for 15% off woooooo! 🐰🐰🐰

A post shared by Bethany Tomlinson (@beth_fitnessuk) on Apr 16, 2017 at 8:57am PDT

The concept of bodybuilding is to build that well-rounded, aesthetic physique. Bodybuilding is made out of seasons of careful bulking and cutting.

You bulk to gain more muscle at the cost of a bit of fat by eating more than your body burns while training well.

Then you cut by keeping the muscle and lose the fat through a high-protein diet while being in a caloric deficit.

If you want a bigger butt, you’ll have to expose it to a certain stimulus so you body will need to grow. Put lots of stress into your glutes through heavy weights and you body will tell itself “you need to grow because we can’t handle this weight too often!”

Go for a challenging weight that will allow you to do 8-10 reps for 3 sets for each exercise.

🏋🏼‍♀️ THE ULTIMATE LEG DAY 🏋🏼‍♀️ As requested from yesterday, here is my fave workout to do when I either don't want to workout or have no idea what to do. I strip it back to basics – lifting heavy & getting a full body (with some heavy booty concentration) sweat on 💦 Perfecting these compound lifts will do wonders for your training in general, so as fun as all those fancy instagram workouts are, I thoroughly advise whippin' this out every so often! Plus, your core will thank you for it #helloabs 👋🏼 [for more workouts, click the link in my bio!] The workout: Activation (still worth activating those glutes to build dat bubble butt 🍑): A) RB Clams x10 per side B) RB Crab Walks x20 Repeat x3 1. Sumo Deadlifts 5×5 I only started deadlifting this year due to messing up my back in an accident when I was 13. I have to alter the form slightly but am currently doing 5×5 at 70-80kg (154lb-176lb), which I'm super proud of 🌟 2. Squats 5×5 Again due to my back these aren't always an option for me but I'm currently performing them at around 70kg (154lb), concentrating on form rather than weight. (A few months ago I could squat 120kg (265lb) 😭) If you're having trouble with squatting, head over to @amandabuccifit's YouTube channel where she's just done a fab squat tutorial 🍑 3. Hip Thrusts 5×5 The ultimate booty move 🙌🏼 make sure you use a mat or barbell pad over your hips! I perform these at 100-110kg (220-242lb). Booty burning finisher: A) RB Raised Glute Bridges x15 B) RB Hip Thrusts C) RB Crab Walks Repeat x3 🔥🔥🔥 (RB stands for resistance band) I LOVE working on strength & I honestly think that while getting a good isolated burn is amazing, compound lifts will always have my heart 💕 I find lifting as heavy as I can super empowering & these lifts are what made me fall in love with weightlifting 🤗 How about trying this killer workout & engaging your whole body (especially da booty!!) for the perfect start to your week 🙌🏼 Text/tag yo gym partner, let's goooo 🏋🏼‍♀️🏋🏼‍♀️🏋🏼‍♀️ #GFG #GraceFitGuide **video is at double speed I am not the usain bolt of squats** Wearing the new @gymsharkwomen cropped hoodies releasing this Friday! #gymshark #gymsharkwomen

A post shared by G R A 🌙 E | #GFG (@gracefituk) on Mar 19, 2017 at 12:22pm PDT

How Heavy Should I Lift?

When going for those weights, aim for a challenging weight that will stimulate your body to grow. Aim for 7-10 reps for 3 sets per exercise.

Try to get 1-2 minutes rest per set.

If you’re going for barbell squats, a good example would be 50% of your bodyweight for 8 reps and 3 sets for a beginner. As you progress try to aim for that milestone of 80% of your body weight squat for 8 reps.

Once you reach that certain milestone, you’re butt in proportion to your whole body will have already been plump and curvy!

youtube

Workout Routine For Women

Beginner:

Barbell Squats – 50% of your bodyweight for 8 reps – 3 sets

Hip Thrusts – With no weights for 10 reps – 3 sets

Barbell Lunges – 30% of your bodyweight for 8 long strides – 3 sets

Intermediate:

Barbell Squats – 80% of your bodyweight for 8 reps – 3 sets

Hip Thrusts – With 5kg plate for 10 reps – 3 sets

Barbell Lunges – 60% of your bodyweight for 8 long strides – 3 sets

Leg Press Machine – 80% of your bodyweight for 8 reps

Bulgarian Squats with Dumbells – 20% of your bodyweight for 10 reps

By the time you reach advanced-level then you will have a well-defined glute goal!

Advanced:

Barbell Squats – 100% of your bodyweight for 8 reps – 3 sets

Hip Thrusts – With 10kg plate for 10 reps – 3 sets

Barbell Lunges – 70% of your bodyweight for 8 long strides – 3 sets

Leg Press Machine – 100% of your bodyweight for 8 reps

Bulgarian Squats with Dumbells – 40% of your bodyweight for 10 reps

Deadlifts – 100% of your bodyweight for 6 reps

These workout plans are based on weights relative to your bodyweight so reaching advanced level is guaranteed to have amazing results!

The post Why Lifting Heavy Weights Scares Most Women – Here’s What You’ll Actually Look Like appeared first on MyoAbility.

from Why Lifting Heavy Weights Scares Most Women – Here’s What You’ll Actually Look Like

#Why Lifting Heavy Weights Scares Most Women – Here’s What You’ll Actually Look Like

1 note · View note