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scuttle-buttle · 3 years ago

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WC: 1973

Rated: E

Tags: technically unprotected smut, fluff, tiny bit of german

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“Have you checked the gauges?”

“Yes, Niki,” you huff at his question through your microphone. This was at least the third time he’d asked you to go over everything.

“What about fuel?”

You point to the little meter that showed the tank levels. “Still full.” Your husband turns to face you in the cockpit of the small plane. The look he gives you is one of false annoyance. You know he’s just doing this to be as safe as possible, to minimize risk. “Sorry, sorry,” you offer him a guilty grin. Your husband’s brow cocks before he turns back to the dashboard panel.

His little private jet only held capacity for maybe 8 people total, but today it was just you and your husband. He always said he would teach you how to fly but you never figured that you would be brave enough to follow through with learning. Now here you sit, engine purring under you, a pair of thick headphones over your ears. For the first time Niki was going to let you handle your flight - all of it. Of course, he still had the ability to use the controls on his side of the small cabin, but he made it clear that he would only do so in case of a serious emergency.

“Everything has been checked over and ready for flight,” you confirm.

He tilts his head to offer you a smile. “Gut. When you are ready, Liebling.”

Taking a deep breath, you open up the radio communication line with the air traffic control tower. You recite the technical jargon that Niki had taught you. “This is Lauda 1 requesting clearance for taxi and take off on runway B, north side, over.”

Static comes over the line for a second. “Lauda 1 you are cleared to taxi and take off from runway B, north side, over.”

You release the brakes before pushing the throttle the faintest amount. With one hand on the yoke and the other on the lever you slowly guide the plane towards the runway. It had taken a good six months of Niki being annoyed at you calling it a ‘steering wheel’ before you finally called it by its proper term.

You lined the nose of the plane up with the lines on the runway tarmac. Once you are satisfied with your positioning you pause to let the turbines rev and build up power. With a swallow you lean towards Niki. “You won’t let me fuck this up and kill us both, right?”

“Of course not. But you don’t need to worry about that, you will be fine, Liebe. I know it.” He’s relaxed next to you, as though he’s at home sitting on the couch reading one of his racing magazines.

“If you say so. I love my brother but I’ll be damned if James gets custody of the girls,” you snark with a laugh, all while releasing the brake and pushing the throttle again. Niki’s own snort can be heard over your radio headset.

The plane accelerates under your guidance. You maintain a firm but steady grip on the controls; finally you push the thrust lever all the way. The small aircraft wobbles with friction as it speeds down the track. Suddenly, the front lifts, giving a weightless calm as the nose begins to ascend into the air.

Once you have gotten far enough off the ground you flip the switch to raise the landing gear. Niki has been silent letting you work the last five minutes or so. Over the crackle of your headsets he instructs you “that was very good. Now get us to cruising altitude.”

“Yes, sir,” you acknowledge with a mock salute.

This is by no means the first time you have been in a plane, let alone flying a plane, with your husband. But it is the first time that it is you truly flying. As you travel you admire the view in front of you. It felt like you were seeing the clouds and the sunshine for the first time. The blue nearly overwhelmed you with its vibrancy. You couldn’t help but bite your lip to hold back the way your cheeks threatened to split with how hard you were beaming. Every so often you remember to check back on the gauges and meters to ensure that everything is working properly.

You don’t notice how your husband watches you from the seat beside yours. He admires your confidence at the new skill, completing the tasks with ease. He admires how bright your eyes are, lit by happiness and the light of the sky outside the windows. He admires the fact that even after close to fifteen years of marriage you still humor him and his passions.

When you finally break away from the view to look over at Niki he’s already got his eyes on you. His bottom lip is caught in his teeth. “What?” He raises his brows in question at you. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Can I not look at my meine schöne Frau?” he teases you. Even after so many years you still feel the heat rise in your cheeks when he calls you beautiful. “You look good flying my plane. You should do it more often.” Both of your hands remain on the yoke; his hand comes to rest on your thigh, giving you a little squeeze. He leaves it there the rest of the flight.

After maybe an hour or two you have circled the jet back towards the airport. Calling in, you get clearance to land on the same runway you had departed from. Carefully you lower the plane’s altitude to prepare for landing. Flipping the switch, you can just hear the grind of the wheels as they lower.

“The trick here is-”

“You want to line the stripes on the runway next to the nose visually, otherwise it’ll be crooked and I’ll go off the tarmac,” you finish for him.

He chuckles. “See, I don’t even know why I’m here. You don’t need me.”

“Of course I need you, I always need you, Niki.”

He lets you focus as you pull back on the throttle and slow your speed, further lowering to the ground. You line up just as he taught you with the painted runway up ahead. Gently you touch down, the plane jolts as it makes contact. You brake the jet to an acceptable speed to taxi. Adrenaline courses through you. I just flew a plane! you cheer to yourself.

Once the vehicle is parked within the hangar you shut off the engine. Quickly you leave the cockpit to stretch your legs in the spacious passenger cabin. Turning to your husband, your jaw is dropped. “Is this what it feels like? Every time you drove the car? Christ, Niki, I feel like I could do anything! The absolute rush!” Niki has come up behind you, so you face him before bringing his lips to meet your own.

The kiss is full of passion and energy. It deepens as you stand there in the middle of the cabin. You push him away and down into a couch-like seat. He grunts in surprise when you forcibly yank his pants from his hips. When they are to his knees you give up in favor of pulling off your own. Niki wastes no time in tugging you back to him, his mismatched lips attaching themselves to the column of your throat. You, in turn, drag your heat along his hardening shaft. When he is ready you push his cock inside your throbbing core with a groan.

Breathily, you ask “why have we never done this before now?”

His mouth moves away from your jaw to meet your gaze. “Fucked on a plane? I didn’t know you wanted to,” he huffs in amusement.

You start to push and pull your hips at a dizzying pace above him. With each pump the ridge of his cock hits you perfectly. Niki tosses his head back in pleasure, a long moan tumbling out as your walls squeeze him. His hands help to guide your hips as you ride him. “They don’t call it joining the Mile High Club for nothing, love.”

“Not sure-” he grunts at a particularly hard snap of your pelvis “-this counts.”

You shove your fingers between his curls, a bit shorter and a few streaks of silver lining near his temples, and pull his head to rest against yours. “Are you complaining?” you breathe out along his lips. Never once does your pace falter. Instead of answering he gives you a bruising kiss.

It isn’t long before his thumb finds your center, rubbing harsh patterns against your aching clit. He knows exactly how to toss you into the abyss; exactly when you are near shattering. Within seconds you are shouting out his name, clenching around his still-pistoning cock. His own cries of bliss come shortly after.

Resting atop him, Niki rubs his fingers along your clothed back. You hum into his throat where your head lays. “You did so well today, Liebling. I’m very proud of you. Pretty soon you’ll be a better pilot than me.”

You smile into him. “Bullshit,” you laugh. “Me compared to the great Niki Lauda? Impossible.” You pinch the softness of his side.

He gives a laugh of his own, his chest rising with the action. “You never know, could surprise us all.”

You roll your head onto his shoulder to be able to look up at him better. “Mmm, but with you I’ve always known.”

Niki drops a sweet kiss to you. His expression is delicate as he peers down at where you sit atop him. He scrunches his nose as he tells you “I think I knew first. I know I did.”

You study his face for a moment. His tone is confident, like there’s no way he could possibly be wrong about when you first got together so many years ago. You know that the moment for you was pretty early, before you officially even went on your first date. Curiosity wins out. “Oh really?” You sit up on his lap. “And when was that, since you’re so sure?”

“I asked if you would rather go with Hunt than come see me at Ferrari. You nearly jumped out of your skin with how hard you cringed at the idea of him.”

You’re shocked by his confession. “Alright but he’s my brother,” you groan and laugh at the same time, “and…” you think back to that day, “wasn’t that maybe five minutes after we’d met?”

“Yes, but I did not know that at the time. I thought, ‘hmm, an attractive woman that doesn’t want to sleep with that arschloch but instead visit me at the track? She’s someone special’. And I wasn’t wrong.” He brushes a thumb on the skin of your cheek.

“You know, you always tell me that you aren’t good at these things. Romance and the like.” You look up at him from under your lashes.

“And?”

“That was such a lie, Niki. You’re always so sweet to me.”

“Only you, Liebe.”

The two of you right yourselves to leave the airport for the day. The sky is clear as you walk to his car parked outside the hangar. Reaching out, you find your husband’s hand and hold it tight. “So, when can we do this again?”

He turns to face you from where he stands next to you. “That eager for more already?”

“It’s addicting, Lauda,” you shoot back playfully. So many times since you met he had described the drive or flying as addicting. To be faster, to be better, to go harder.

Niki stops suddenly, lips pursing. “Just to be clear, are you talking about flying or the sex?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you wink.

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elen-aranel · 3 years ago

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Golden/Alone

The Engineer’s Adventures

1-1 • 1-2 • 2 • 3 • 4

For: @autumnleaves1991-blog Writer Wednesday. I am aware that today is Thursday; this was longer than I expected! Pairing: Captain Christopher Pike x F!Reader (no Y/N) Warnings: violence, references to violence, drug use (kind of), minor character death WC: 7.3k words Tag list: @jusvibbbin - to be added to my Pike x Reader Taglist please let me know <3 A/N: The Engineer is back! And why does she go on away missions? WHY? I genuinely had so much fun writing this. I hope you enjoy!

“If I were piloting, Number One, I would have flown us through the eye of that storm cell. We would have gotten here quicker,” Chris jokes to Number One as they unstrap themselves from the co-pilot and pilot’s seats, respectively.

“And that is precisely why I was flying and not you, Captain. We may have been slower, but I got us here in one piece.”

“Lieutenant, back me up here. My flying was great in that speeder on Eloma.”

“You kept us ahead of our pursuers, yes sir,” you say with a smile.

“And staying ahead of pursuers is not a valuable skill in an atmosphere like this one where we are not being pursued,” Number One states with some finality, as she presses the control to open the back of the shuttle and extend the ramp.

You are on Caylara, for what you hope will be a boring mission. The captain and Number One, along with security officer Ensign James, are here to open negotiations for Caylara to join the Federation.

You are here because of the atmosphere – it is notoriously difficult to traverse. You can’t transport living things through it, unless you want them to be merged, dead, or both, and even flying through it is a challenge because of the electrical storm layers. There are windows of time when it’s safer, when shuttles and communications can get through, and windows when they can’t.

At Louvier’s instruction you had prepared a shuttle (and a backup – you don’t like to take chances) to travel through the atmosphere. Standard procedure for Caylara was to have an engineer accompany the shuttle to perform any repairs needed on the ground. You had tried to argue your preparations were good enough that you wouldn’t be needed, but Chris had seen straight through you.

“You find diplomacy boring and you don’t want a repeat of Eloma. That’s what’s really going on here, isn’t it?” His mouth had twisted into that smile you found irresistible, and even though you pouted, adopting your best puppy-dog expression, he had just laughed. “It’s all right. I won’t make you go to the reception. I won’t even make you wear your dress uniform. You can stay with the shuttle.”

You hang back as the captain and Ensign James pass you, Chris brushing his hand against yours as he passes. You smile a little, and get your tricorder out – you need to check to make sure the shuttle didn’t get damaged and will be all right to make the return trip. You look down the ramp as you scan, seeing the Caylarans for the first time as their delegation greets the away team.

They are very tall. You estimate the shortest is well over two metres and they tower above the away team, even over Ensign James who is tall for a human. But given the slightly lower gravity of Caylara their height isn’t surprising, you think. They have skin varying from very pale through to olive toned. Their faces are smooth but they have scales around their hairline extending down to the rest of their bodies. Well, their hands, at least. They are wearing long robes.

Your tricorder beeps as the away team starts to move away; there seems to be a charge buildup in one of the EPS controllers, but that’s all and it’s an easy fix. You pop the relevant panel and discharge it, without shocking yourself for once, and replace the panel.

Then there’s nothing left to do but wait. The reception is due to last two, perhaps three hours – short enough that you’ll be able to make your return trip through the atmosphere with time to spare before the current window closes.

You’ve brought some reading, of course, but first you want to get to the bottom of why the EPS controller picked up a charge. You take it as a personal insult, really – you were sure you had accounted for everything from the data you were given to prepare. However, when you compare the preliminary data with the scans the shuttle took as it went through the atmosphere you can clearly see the discrepancies. You’re puzzled for a moment – but of course you had enhanced the sensors to the latest specs when you adapted the shuttle, and you don’t know how old the original readings you were working with were. You almost wish Chris had piloted you through the storm cell; then you would have more data to work with.

You busy yourself combining the shuttle’s readings with your existing model, and calculating how much it was off by. After some time you are pretty sure you’ve got to the bottom of where the charge came from, and you modify the shuttle so that it doesn’t happen again.

You also think you may be able to make predictions with your new model, and perhaps refine your timings for the atmospheric windows. The Caylarans know the timings pretty accurately, but you aren’t at the stage of sharing data on that level as yet.

You run a new set of scans, and frown – there’s only ninety minutes until the window closes. You compare with the original estimates and—

Hang on. When did it get so late? You were supposed to be on the way back by now.

“Shuttle Hubble to away team? Come in please?”

Silence.

“Shuttle Hubble to Captain Pike?”

More silence.

Silence when you try to call Number One and James, too.

“Enterprise to Hubble. Come in, please.”

“Shuttle Hubble here, Lieutenant Spock. I was just about to call you – I have lost contact with the rest of the away team. They should have been back here by now, but they aren’t.”

“I have also tried to contact the captain but to no avail. Three unknown craft have appeared in the system, and have locked weapons on to us and the planet. They are not responding to hails. I have placed the Enterprise on yellow alert and raised shields. We cannot get a sensor lock on individual life signs through the atmosphere, and—”

“They’re firing some sort of energy weapon!”

“Taking evasive action!”

“Lieutenant, I—” Spock sounds uncharacteristically strained as he’s interrupted by what sounds like an overloading console.

“I understand. I’ll look for them. I’ll keep you updated.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Enterprise out.”

That’s it, you think.

You’re on your own.

You take a deep breath: what do you need? Communicator. Tricorder. Emergency medkit.

Phaser.

You put the medkit in a backpack, and since there’s space you add a water bottle and some emergency rations. You clip the tricorder to a utility belt, and holster the phaser, set to stun. Your communicator goes in your pants pocket; you’ve got your usual tools in your jacket.

Then you remember your terrible luck with communicators, so you grab a spare and shove it in your backpack. That should do it. You can’t carry the kitchen sink and you don’t have time to keep second guessing yourself.

Okay. Plan: find the away team, bring them to safety.

You exit the shuttle and shut the ramp – you don’t need strangers damaging it.

You take in your surroundings next. The shuttle has landed in the grounds of a large building, elevated on a hill in the middle of a city. It’s only three or four storeys high, but quite wide, and you think it extends back a long way. There are decorative metal accents spaced at regular intervals – lightning conductors, you realise, as you head toward the most important looking doorway – you see burnt grass at their bases. This building isn’t tall, but it is the tallest around; the atmosphere must affect Caylaran architecture, you think.

There’s no one around, which surprises you; shouldn’t there be guards?

You push the door and it opens with a whisper. Inside is the most ornate room you have ever been in. The walls are gold coloured stone, there are dozens of columns in mottled golden marble, and there are decorations finished with real gold leaf everywhere. There are bronze statues and hundreds of warm coloured lights. The ceiling is as decorated as the walls, and the whole effect is beautiful. Imposing. Stunning. Overwhelming.

But again, no one is here. You get your tricorder out, but you can’t resolve anything. Perhaps something is blocking the scan? You look at the stairs. The steps are high, designed with Caylarans in mind, and go up before dividing. There are flights down, too. There are corridors to the left and right, and you have to take a moment to weigh all your options. The largest doors are ahead, though, up the main staircase and over. Perhaps that’s where you would take guests that you wanted to impress?

You think back to what you read on Caylara in your mission briefing as you climb the stairs. Their head of state is Crown Princess Nanren, but although the title remains the same, a princess many generations ago passed laws to end the hereditary monarchy. Now a new crown prince or princess is elected for life when the previous one dies, and you think they have an elected senate too.

Beyond that, you don’t really know anything, you think as you reach the top of the stairs. You cross the landing, trying to stay aware of your surroundings. And as you look down the stairs, you lock eyes with the first person you’ve seen.

A guard is sitting on the ground next to the doors. He’s armed, and the stairs in front of him show signs of having been fired on. But he’s slumped back, his green-blue swirled eyes staring up at you.

“Why’s it so dark? I can see you in the dark. Why did you bring the dark with you? You shouldn’t—” he tries to lift his weapon, and you draw your phaser, but his head lolls and he closes his eyes, dropping the weapon in front of him.

That was unsettling.

You proceed slowly down the stairs, but he doesn’t move again. You kick his weapon away and get your tricorder out. You’re not a medic, this isn’t a medical tricorder, and you don’t know much about Caylaran physiology, but you do have field medic training and you can see that something is terribly wrong. You scan him, and then the air. It seems like there are traces of a molecule around that your tricorder program flags up as having features in common with known hallucinogens. It didn’t flag up on your general scan so it’s probably dissipated enough that it won’t affect you, but still you wish you’d put on an EV suit. There’s no time to second guess yourself now, though.

You put the tricorder away in favour of the phaser, and you gently push the next door open.

If you thought the foyer was large, this room is even larger. It’s all gold again, and should be as beautiful, but it looks like there’s been a fight in here and furniture is in haphazard piles on the floor. It makes you think of playing forts with your cousins in your grandparents’ house as a child. You’re not a strategist but you can easily see that these piles aren’t much better than that – they provide barely any cover.

You pick your way over gilded chairs and past carved wooden tables inlaid with gold, keeping an eye out. About a quarter of the way into the room, under a table with two chairs on top you see a Caylaran. She looks young, wearing what looks like it could be a staff uniform – it’s a plain warm toned brown dress with an embroidered hem, far less fancy than the delegates who had welcomed the others of your team. She’s staring straight ahead, hugging her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. She pays you no attention as you kneel down by her.

“What’s your name?” You ask, softly.

“My name is Lararen and I’m going to kill the queen, going to kill the queen, going to kill the queen. My name is Lararen and I’m going to kill the queen, then the Genai are going to kill me.”

She smiles broadly as she finishes her little song, still staring vacantly straight ahead, and you shudder. You shake her shoulder and she blinks, slowly, but she doesn’t move.

You straighten up, thoughtfully, wondering what the Genai are. Some sort of bogeyman, or an alien race? Not that it matters.

Next you find a pair of guards, asleep, holding hands. You move their weapons out of sight and continue through.

But then you find a dead Caylaran. He looks like someone important, but his red robe embroidered with a golden floral patten has a scorch mark right in the middle of his chest. You’re not sure if that killed him, because there’s a pool of blood beneath him too. Either way, you think as you close his grey-purple eyes, he probably didn’t deserve whatever it was. You take a moment to pay your respects before moving on.

You don’t find any more dead bodies in this room, but you find several more Caylarans, either sleeping or talking nonsense. One male asks you where your flowers are, and tries to give you some from a fallen flower arrangement, but most of the rest are just scared.

You think they probably have good cause, as you push another door open. You pick it because the largest number of guards were close to it, so you figure it probably leads somewhere important.

It leads on to a stair well, small but lavishly decorated with tapestries, depicting Caylarans standing in outdoor scenes, sometimes with animals you don’t recognise. They deaden the sound of your footsteps as you climb the tall stone stairs.

Then two things happen: you pause as you notice one of the hangings is moving a little at the bottom, as though in a breeze. And then you hear voices above you.

“She’s not up here,” says a female voice, annoyed. Lucid.

“Well she’s definitely not down there.” The second voice is male. Defensive. “I’ve got a message from Alara. She wants us to look again.”

“Fine. But I want it noted for the record that this is a waste of time,” the first voice says, sounding suddenly quieter – she’s probably passed through a doorway.

“Like anyone cares, Nerela,” the second voice says. You risk a peek up the stairwell. You don’t get a good look as the second person disappears through the door, but they are definitely not Caylaran – he has blue skin.

You lean against a tapestry. There are aliens here, separate from your away team. There are aliens in orbit, too. The odds are good that they’re the same species. And “she” must be the crown princess. But what are they planning?

Regardless, you still need to find your people. It’s been half an hour; you could get back to the shuttle faster if you went straight there, but there isn’t much time left in this window.

You eye the tapestry again. You’re definitely not going to follow the aliens, and this breeze must be coming from somewhere. You push it aside.

This door is the first plain thing you’ve seen in the building. It stands slightly ajar – hence the breeze – and it’s painted beige to match the stonework, but otherwise it’s featureless. It swings as quietly as all the other doors when you push it, but it has some kind of bolt on the other side. Interesting. You try to work it, but you can’t. You think of the tools in your jacket; you could probably figure it out, but no. There’s no time. You push the door to, making sure it’s as shut as it can be, and continue.

You must have entered the service part of the building, you think, as you walk along a corridor. This is functional and plain, like the door. You feel a little more comfortable here; if you’d been interested in fancy, you would have joined the command track. Or Diplomatic Corps. You get your tricorder out again, but it doesn’t show you anything still and you didn’t expect it to. But then you approach a door, and hear whimpering from the other side.

You have your hand on your phaser as you push the door open. It’s dark compared to the rest of the building; there is a small window but there’s not much light coming through the Caylaran atmosphere right now. You take a moment to let your eyes adjust, then head toward the whimpering.

The room is small; some kind of office, perhaps? There’s a desk in the room, and behind it—

“Number One?” She’s crying. Number One is sitting on the floor crying, hair a mess, dress uniform dirty, cradling Ensign James in her lap.

You can barely believe it, but you squat down, reaching for your tricorder. You can see James breathing, at least. You look around, but Chris isn’t anywhere to be seen.

“Number One?” You scan them both. They both have traces of the drug in their systems, but a lot less than the guard you scanned earlier. As your eyes adjust you can see though that James has hit his head; there’s blood in his hair and on Una’s uniform. He’s also been hit by a energy discharge, but to the side.

“Una? What’s wrong?”

“I failed everyone. I didn’t protect my captain. What first officer doesn’t protect her captain? They’re going to throw me in the brig. They’re going to court martial me. I lost my captain, and he’s dead, I—”

Suddenly you’ve had enough. You slap her, hard. “Number One!”

“Lieutenant! What did you just—”

“Oh my goodness! I’m sorry, I—you—” You breathe. “Are you all right?” You strip your backpack off for your medkit. You’re going to need to try to bring Ensign James round.

“I—I’m not sure. I don’t know what happened; everything was normal and then suddenly it wasn’t. I was so scared, Lieutenant. It was—I can still feel it. But it doesn’t feel like me.” She shakes her head, eyes still a little wide, and you pass her the water bottle. She takes a drink as you inject Ensign James with a hypospray. He starts stirring immediately, which is good, but you still think he needs a proper exam to rule out any brain problems.

“Una, you’ve got fifteen minutes to get back to the shuttle with Ensign James. There are alien ships attacking the Enterprise, and I’ve seen aliens here too. I think they may be called the Genai. You go down the corridor, down the stairs, through the big room, through the foyer, and out. Do you think you can do that?”

“Back to the shuttle. Genai.” She shakes her head again, blinking a few times. She squares her shoulders. “Yes, I think so. I can. What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to find the captain. You can tell the computer to run on autopilot, if you need to – I updated the climate model, so the computer should be able to handle it.”

Together you help Ensign James to his feet.

“Do you have your communicator still?”

“I don’t,” James is still groggy as he pats himself down.

“I do,” Number One brings her communicator out and opens it. “Number One to Enterprise, come in please.”

Static.

“I think there’s a blocking field throughout this building. The tricorder isn’t working for some things either. You’d better get going.”

“Good luck, Lieutenant.”

“Thanks. You too, Commander.”

You put your medkit away as Number One and James leave. You’re relieved that they’re both okay, and you’re confident in Una, now she recognises her fear isn’t hers.

Back in the corridor you check the door to make sure Una shut it. You push it, but it’s locked. Weird. You could probably unlock it, but you don’t want to go that way anyway.

You turn your back on the door and continue along the corridor. Number One had said the captain – had said Chris – was dead. But he can’t be. She wasn’t, and you think she only had blood from Ensign James on her uniform. But... what if he is?

If he is, you do your duty as a Starfleet officer first. Find his body. Survive. Get out of here. Then mourn him second.

You pass three locked doors on the corridor, but the last opens to more stairs. Still functional, but just going down this time. You go down, listening, hand on you phaser.

Back on the ground floor – you think, but it could be a mezzanine level – there are several rooms that are open.

You go into the first one, hand still on your phaser. It’s a bedroom, and there’s a Caylaran male cowering in the corner, wearing the service uniform.

“Have you come to end it?” He asks, staring past you. You don’t answer, but your heart aches; you think he means his life. The next room is empty, bed neatly made up.

You listen at the door to the third room, and you think you hear breathing. You push the door open slowly. You don’t see anyone at first, but as you head into the room you see the edge of a gold robe, protruding out of what must the en-suite. You think you’re getting a feel for Caylaran fashion, and this is easily the fanciest thing you’ve seen so far. The robe is made of gold fabric, whereas all the others you’ve seen have been colours embroidered with gold. This one has gold and silver embroidery, and multicoloured gemstones picking out the centres of the flowers.

“Crown Princess Nanren?” Your pitch your voice low. Gentle. You remember how Chris spoke to you on Earth in the past, when you were panicking, and try to convey that calm, that confidence, to her. And in that moment you know you can no longer focus on looking for him. If this is the crown princess, more hinges on you looking after her.

“Crown Princess? I’m a Lieutenant from the Enterprise. From Starfleet – the Federation. I’m not a dream or a nightmare. I’m here to help. Will you come out?”

“The Genai are here. They’re going to kill me. I—I can’t—”

“We will find somewhere you can call your people. I will look after you. We will call in your people and they will deal with the Genai.” General Order One doesn’t apply here, you think. Not if the Genai are already interfering. Not that you care about diplomacy anyway. You’ll do what’s right now, and face the consequences later.

“I don’t—Why aren’t they here already?”

“I don’t know, Crown Princess. But we will figure it out. Please trust me.” You put all your belief into your tone, all the hope you still have left... and she steps forward.

She looks every bit the princess. She is tall, even compared to the other Caylara you’ve seen, and her dress is as exquisite as you expected from the tiny part you’d seen. You wonder, briefly, how many she has like that and how many months, perhaps years, it took to sew. She has a gauzy golden cloak hanging behind her, also embroidered, and her dark hair is braided and pinned up into an elaborate style. The only things that are not Princess-like about her are her purple-blue swirled eyes. They are wide, and anxious.

You recall your briefing notes, and bow. “Princess,” you say, staring at the floor.

“Arise,” she replies, and there’s the ghost of a command tone there. Good.

You straighten, looking up at her again, and pause. This is not how you dress if you might need to make a run for it.

You exhale, surveying the room. It’s a bedroom – a staff bedroom.

“Princess, I can get you out of this, I think. But first... you need to change.”

You find staff robes in the wardrobe that fit her, even if they’re a touch short. And sensible shoes. You have to sit her on the bed to take her hair down, but, you reflect with a little smile that she can’t see, taking her pins out is not unlike taking tiny components out of a circuit board.

“You get used to it, you know,” she says as she stands after you’ve finished. “The pomp and ceremony. The robes. People expect it of their princess, and you get used to it.”

“They are lovely,” you say, following her gaze to where her robes are hung up. “But we should get moving. Where can we call your people?”

“That sort of thing is in the wing on the other side of the Room of State,” she says. Right. The other side of that big room. Of course. And there’s a locked door between you and it.

Even so you retrace your steps. She’s much faster up the stairs than you, and you think bad thoughts about differing alien physiologies. But then, she would find the chairs on the Enterprise a bit small, you think. And the beds.

Soon you’re on the corridor with the door at the end, and you finger your jacket’s zipper as you get closer – it’s time for you to brush off your lock-picking skills. You hope the lock is easy like the ones on Eloma.

But the princess pushes the door and it opens with a whisper.

You can’t say anything. But you thank your lucky stars for small favours.

“Let me,” you say, as you approach the bottom of the stairwell. “If anything happens, go back the way we came.” You look the princess in the eye and she nods.

You crack the door open the tiniest bit, and you hear a voice.

You turn back to the princess, reach out and take her hand. You know it isn’t protocol but you squeeze gently, feeling the scales on her skin and a ring round her finger, hoping the touch will keep her calm.

You push the door open again.

“—everywhere. Yes. Me personally. I don’t care what you—yes I know scanners aren’t working. I wish you hadn’t got voice comms back. But she’s not here; she must be on your floor. Fine, Nerela. She could be in the south wing. No don’t come down here, you idiot. Go round. Ugh. Put Yaima on. Yes tell Nerela she’s being a pain. No, they’re still with our vessel, so she can’t be in the garden. It’s the storm cycle; of course we can’t—To the East, yes. I’ll see you there. But tell Nerela she’s done after this. No I don’t care. Alara out.”

You hear footsteps stalking down the room, getting closer. Your heart is in your mouth, one hand on your phaser, as you hold your breath. The steps falter slightly... and then they continue. You stay frozen until you can’t hear them anymore, then you give it a minute after that before you move the door.

The Room of State has changed since you saw it last; almost all the furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, apart from a chair cushion in the middle of the floor; that’s what made Alara miss her step.

You take a step forward, and the princess follows, still holding your hand. She gasps, and you follow her gaze; at the end of the room are rows of Caylarans, lying on the floor. You look around, but the coast seems clear. You take your tricorder out one-handed, and you scan them. From here you can pick out their life signs – they may be unconscious but they’re still alive.

“They’re okay. They aren’t dead. Probably stunned with an energy weapon.” You feel the princess relax, and you drop her hand. “We can take care of them later. You need to show me where to go.”

She nods, and you follow her across the room and through the door on the other side. You have time to check on the way across: Number One and James aren’t there. Neither is the captain.

The stairwell on the other side is like the first, except this has paintings rather than tapestries, and your footsteps are louder as you climb.

“I don’t know who any of them are,” the princess says, looking at the paintings on your way up. “I suppose I should, but... they’re not my ancestors, I suppose. Just... predecessors. In a way.”

You resist the impulse to shush her.

On this stairwell a painting opens to the service corridor. You take the lead going through, but the corridor is empty. And when the princess shuts the door, you hear its lock click.

You walk along the corridor, listening carefully, but you can’t hear any signs of life. You have to hustle to keep up with the princess, but you push a couple of doors as you pass them. They’re both locked.

The stairs down at the other end of the corridor carry on further than they do on the other side, and your calves are beginning to ache when you reach the bottom. Your discomfort doesn’t matter, you tell yourself. It’s cooler down here, and you think you must be underground. Some kind of bunker.

“My real office is in my suite. My ceremonial office is downstairs, but this”—she opens the second door you reach—“is for emergencies.”

The office is dark as you go in, but she presses a control and it lights up. You close the door behind you and look around. Unlike the other rooms off the service corridors, this one is lavish once again. The wallpaper has gilded highlights, and the desk is made of a golden brown hardwood and is intricately carved. There’s no window since you’re underground, but the light fittings are made of bronze and remind you of the statues in the foyer. You realise the room is probably this nice in case the princess needs to do an emergency broadcast – her surroundings will still look the part.

The princess sits at the desk, pressing her palm to a sensor. A computer apparatus lifts up, and she enters some commands. You walk round the desk and stand a little way to her side, as a Caylaran man appears on the screen. His expression is blank, confused.

“Is this some kind of joke? At such a time? Using Princess Nanren’s—wait—”

He frowns, tips his head to one side.

“Your highness, is—is that you? The Genai—we were sure they’d killed you. That’s what they said. And the blocking field is on so we couldn’t scan—we had no idea—I—” He closes his eyes and bows his head.

“I am so sorry, your highness. I didn’t want to risk your people on a dangerous mission with no intelligence if you were already dead. But I should have trusted in you, and not believed the Genai without proof.”

Staff robe or not, Crown Princess Nanren straightens up and looks every bit the princess once again.

“Arise. Guard Leader Daymen, I am glad to see you. Please do not apologise; the time for analysing our decisions and learning from this situation is not yet here. First I must survive, and you must take back the palace. The Genai are still here; they have a vessel in the garden and people throughout the palace. Our people have been drugged; most are in the Room of State, but there are likely others dispersed through the palace.”

“They have three vessels in orbit too, I think,” you say, quietly.

“They have vessels in orbit too, although”—she presses a control, and a little data window appears—“they won’t be able to send any reinforcements through the atmosphere for a few more hours. What do you need to retake the building?”

“I will bring my guards now, highness. If you could turn the blocking field off it would make things safer, but—no. You are the most important. Enact the safe-room protocol, and remain where you are until we secure the building.”

“I may be able to lower the blocking field. But I shall keep safe. Do you have any news of our Federation guests?”

“Their shuttle left before the window closed. I was unable to talk to their ship at that time, but...” his expression goes thoughtful. “We use a limited range of communication frequencies. The Genai in orbit could have blocked them.”

You nod to yourself; the Caylaran frequencies had been in your briefing, and they were very different to Federation ones. The blocking field in the Palace was wide-band, but it would take too much power for a block like that over a bigger area. Much more sensible to just block the Caylaran frequencies.

“Thank you. May the skies protect you, Guard Leader.”

“May the skies protect you, highness.” He bows once again and cuts the connection.

“Lieutenant, thank you for all you have done for me so far. May I ask this last favour?”

“To take down the field? Of course, your highness. What do I need to do?”

She slides a ring off her finger and hands it to you. It’s a very narrow band of gold with a small red stone set on it. It’s big for you, though, so you slip it on to your thumb.

“You can use that to gain access to the systems. The security office is down the corridor to the right.”

“Lock the door behind me, your highness.” You smile as you turn to go.

“May the skies protect you, Lieutenant.”

“And you too.” You go through the door, closing it behind you. You hear a loud thunk a moment after you do; it sounds like more than a lock – probably blast doors. At least she’s safe, you think. Even if that means you’re alone.

You wonder about Chris, and where he could be. You have to hold on to hope, don’t you? You can’t think... no. You mustn’t. Instead you think about what he would do in your place. You think he’d be cautious. You’re nearly at your goal, but if you don’t succeed people could get hurt if the Caylaran Guard can’t tell who is who, or where they are. You’ve heard people complain about security officers being trigger happy; you think it’s probably the same for the Guard.

And you’re in a strategically important part of the palace; you don’t know how many Genai there are but they’ll probably find this area eventually. You draw your phaser, and make sure you walk quietly.

There is only one door left between you and where the corridor splits, when you hear a voice. The door opens a little, and you freeze. The voice is familiar – one of the Genai.

“—last time, no. I genuinely, and I am completely sincere on this, do not care what Alara thinks. Not even a tiny little bit! She missed this entire section! Yeah whatever, Yaima, you go tell her what I said. But when I find the Queen—Crown Princess, whatever, and she doesn’t, she’s the one that’ll get fired, not me! Nerela out!”

The door slams open, and Nerela stomps out. It’s her or you, but you are ready and she is not. Her black eyes widen as she sees you, and her weapon is in hand, but before she can aim you shoot. She grunts as she falls back, stunned.

Happily, Genai are shorter than Caylarans, although Nerela is wearing high heeled boots which make her look taller. You drag her back into the room she came out of, take her weapon and communicator and leave her lying in the recovery position. You shut the door behind you and it clicks a second later.

You shake your head; the doors are one mystery too many. You put Nerela’s weapon in your phaser holster, and tuck her communicator into your belt. Then you head to the right, toward the security office.

The first thing you notice as you push the door open are the screens. Dozens of them. The second—

“Chris?” He’s frowning, pointing a phaser at you. He looks at you like he can’t believe his eyes. Like you’ve stepped out of a nightmare.

“Chris it’s me. I’m real. I’m really here.” You take a careful step through the doorway, keeping eye contact with his bloodshot blue eyes, letting the door close behind you.

“You don’t need to be afraid any more.” You think about what Number One had said. “This fear... it isn’t really you.” You stoop down and put your phaser on the floor. You take Nerela’s weapon and put that on the floor too. And as you do, something clicks into place in your mind.

“Chris, you’ve been helping me, haven’t you? Locking doors to keep me safe? To help me get where I needed to go?”

“I’ve been so... afraid. I—I needed to keep her—to keep you safe.” He relaxes his grip on his phaser a little, and you reach for your tricorder.

“You were drugged, Chris.” You scan him. “Number One and James are safe, they got a lower dose than you.” A much lower dose, you realise, looking at the numbers. “I sent them back to the shuttle and they returned to the Enterprise. I’m going to end all this, get us home. But I need you to stop pointing that phaser at me.”

He looks at his hand, holding the phaser, then back at you.

“But is she—are you real?”

Your heart melts for him. You haven’t said these words, but you’ve felt it for a while. And—you worried, you genuinely worried, that you would never get to say them. This may not be the moment you planned, but he has to believe you.

“Chris, I love you. I’m real.”

“I—” he drops the phaser, and it clatters to the floor. The next thing you know you’re in front of him, arms around him, holding him. You can’t think; you can speak. You just hold on, letting your body feel his warmth, his solidity. You may not have been drugged, but you had been so afraid

. After a moment he puts his arms around you, too, and you just stay there for a moment more. Holding him. Letting him hold you.

As much as you’d like to forget everything else right now, you still have a job to do. You pull back, take hold of his hand, and look at the security console. You can see feeds of the Room of State, the foyer, the other rooms you’ve been in, and other places, too. Beneath the monitors is a schematic; this is how Chris was locking and unlocking the doors, you realise. But how did he have the credentials to do so?

You look at the desk and see a ring like the one the Crown Princess gave you, nestled in a groove.

“How did you get that?” You ask.

Chris frowns. “I was in that big room, but I was so afraid. I came through the door. Went upstairs. Along the corridors. Looking for somewhere safe enough. I got here and the Caylaran... we struggled, he tried to shoot but I took his weapon.” You follow his gaze to an energy weapon on the ground. “Then he ran. And I stayed. I could see everything. Not get caught out. And then I saw you.”

You squeeze his hand, and work the controls with your other hand. There is a glyph that looks like a shield; you turn it off. You check your tricorder – finally you can detect life signs. Both Caylaran and Genai. As you do, Nerela’s communicator chirrups to life.

“Nerela? I swear, if this was you—! You have the worst timing! The Caylaran guard are here. Put the blocking field back up immediately. That’s an order! Nerela? Nerela, answer me! Ne—”

It lapses into static for a moment. Then silence.

“The Guard are here, Chris. As soon as the atmosphere clears we can go home.”

When you return to the Enterprise you go to the captain’s quarters. You know he won’t be there, but you need the sense of his presence. His smell.

Chris had to stay on the planet to complete the original negotiations and help deal with the Genai; the drug’s effects had faded by the time the atmosphere was passable again, and you’d got some water and rations into him. Spock came down and stayed, but you had only left Chris because he ordered you to.

You have a shower, put on one of his sleep shirts, and curl up on the sofa under his throw blanket to write your report.

“Sweetheart?” You wake up to Chris kneeling in front of you, hand on your shoulder. His hair is damp and he’s out of his uniform. Your brow creases for a moment – you don’t remember him using that endearment for you before.

“Chris,” you say, stretching. Pushing the throw away, and leaning into his touch. “You’re back.”

“I am.” His mouth quirks into a smile. “There was a lot to sort out; it seems the Genai and the Caylara have a dispute over a world on a system between them. The Genai thought if Caylara joined the Federation, we would take their colony from them. They thought if they disrupted the negotiation and killed Crown Princess Nanren, either we would give up, or the Caylarans would be too afraid to continue.” He moves his thumb along your shoulder.

“Spock put the fear of God into the Genai in orbit. I’m not sure how,” he adds, at your incredulous look, “but they and the Caylarans have requested mediation. And now the Genai want to work towards joining the Federation, too.”

“I wish they’d chosen to talk to us first,” you say, frowning. Thinking of the dead Caylaran. “These breakthroughs always seem to come at such a cost.”

“They do,” he says, gathering you into his arms. Holding you against him.

You stay in his arms for a while, just breathing. But eventually he pulls back, and moves to sit beside you.

“You were amazing today. You’ll be getting a commendation, but Crown Princess Nanren wanted me to convey her thanks, too. You saved her life.” He reaches into his pocket, then leans forward and fastens a chain round your neck. It’s delicate, golden, and from it hangs the ring that she had lent you for the computer. That you had given back before you left. “She wanted you to have this. But she thought a necklace might work better.”

You shake your head, taking hold of the ring. “Saving her was as much you as me, Chris. Locking those doors.”

He looks at you, thoughtful. “I don’t think so. I—I have never felt fear like I did today. Now I look back at it I can tell it wasn’t real, but at the time, seeing you on those screens, moving with purpose, helping our people and the Caylarans... you gave me hope.”

He pauses, blue eyes meeting yours. Hand reaching out to touch your face.

“When we were down there... I remember what you said to me. I love you too.”

You lean forward, meeting him for a kiss, gentle at first but it goes passionate almost immediately, both of you pouring your feelings for each other into the connection between you. You didn’t know it could feel like this, you think, before he pulls you into his lap and thoughts flee away.

“Lieutenant, I want to thank you.” Number One says, sitting at her desk. “I was not myself down on Caylara, but you did yourself proud. You saved us.”

“You’re welcome, Commander.” You smile. “I’d say any time, but right now I’d be happy if I never left the ship again.”

“That being said, if you tell anyone—”

“If I tell anyone you were crying, I can expect to spend the next month of duty shifts degaussing the transporter with a microresonator?”

“Oh that’s a good one. I must remember that. Yes. You will be degaussing, Lieutenant.”

“Understood.”

#writer wednesday #Christopher Pike #Christopher Pike x Reader #Captain Pike #writings of the girl from outer space #fanfic #fanfiction #Star Trek Discovery #Star Trek Strange New Worlds #The Engineer's Adventures

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scarletwidowvibes · 5 years ago

Text

Other Times

Spock x Fem!Reader

Warning!: Swearing

“What the fuck Jim?” You ask, staring at the former first officer.

“I didn’t expect him to throw us off the ship!” Jim exclaims while throwing his hands up.

“Well now he has and we’re stranded on this ice planet so bravo!” You yell at him.

Jim turns at the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. You turn in time to see some monstrosity that almost looks like a bear running at you two.

“Oh this is your fault!” Jim yells, grabbing your hand and running from the... animal.

“How is this just my fau- what the fuck!” You yell when another monstrosity, this time a huge red... lizard? eats the bear thing.

Jim screams in confusion and you both start running from the lizard thing, jumping over a cliff and into snow.

“Into that cave!” You yell, pointing to an opening in a glacier and you and Jim start running again.

Unfortunately the lizard thing is small enough to fit into the cave and backs you and Jim into a corner.

“Oh brilliant idea Y/n!” Jim yells over the roar of the lizard thing.

Before you can respond fire is thrown at the lizard thing and it backs off and out of the cave. The man who’s holding the torch turns and furrows his brows at the two of you.

“James Tiberius Kirk and Y/n Y/m/n Y/l/n.” The old man says.

“A friend of yours?” You ask Jim who in turn shakes his head.

“I am Spock.” The old man, Spock, says.

“You know I kind of see a resemblance.” You say before being pushed into the snow by Jim.

“Bullshit.” Jim says.

~~~~~~~~~~

You and Jim sit with Ambassador Spock for who knows how long, listening to him tell his story.

“Wow, so you and Jim are besties? Could’ve fooled me.” You say, leaning against the glacier wall.

“Yes, me and Jim are very close. But you and I, Y/n, are married.” Ambassador Spock says causing Jim to choke.

“Oh my god! You and Spock are married?” Jim asks through his very loud laughter. You roll your eyes and push him over, into the snow.

“Well then why did you throw me off the Enterprise?” You ask.

“Right now I am experiencing pain I never thought I could. My planet has been destroyed and as you both say my mother has died. Currently I am trying to do what I think is most logical.” Ambassador Spock explains. “Jim, you need to expose my pain to the crew and make me realize that I have been emotionally compromised. Then you must become captain of the Enterprise, make me your first officer, and defeat Nero.”

“Sure, that sounds simple enough.” Jim says, rubbing his head with his hands.

“Okay aside from all that thrilling stuff, we are still stuck on a ice planet with no way to get back into the Enterprise.” You remind the two of them.

“There is a Star Fleet officer on this planet and we will need his help.” Ambassador Spock says, gesturing for you and Jim to follow him.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh great! Finally you brought me some food!” A Scottish man says, sitting back in a chair. He starts an argument with his friend while you and Jim look at each other with confusion.

“You are Montgomery Scott.” Ambassador Spock says, to which the Scottish man nods.

“Scotty yes, and this here is Keenser.” Scotty says, pointing at his friend.

“I am Ambassador Spock, this is Y/n and Jim.” Ambassador Spock introduces your little group.

“Okay that’s great and all but do you have any food?” Scotty asks.

“Uh I have some cheese puffs.” You say, taking the bag of cheese puffs and handing them over to Scotty. Ambassador Spock and Jim turn to you with raised brows but you just shrug.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ambassador Spock pulls you aside while Keenser, Scotty, and Jim get the launch pad prepared.

“Y/n, when Jim reveals my true emotions I will be very distraught. You will need to try and comfort me to the best of your abilities.” He tells you.

“I mean I’ll try but I can’t promise anything.” You reply. He nods and then gestures for you to join Scotty and Jim on the launch pad.

“Live long and prosper.” Is the last thing you hear before being transported into the Enterprise.

“Uh Jim, where’s Scotty?” You ask. You and Jim look around before hearing someone knock from inside one of the water containers.

“Scotty?” Jim asks but Scotty gets sucked into a tube before he can answer.

“Oh my god, Scotty!” You yell chasing after him. Jim follows close behind, trying to find a way to open something so Scotty can at least breathe.

You’re standing under a panel, watching Scotty zoom towards you when Jim pulls a lever, opening the panel and dropping Scotty onto you.

“Ow! What the hell Jim?” You yell, taking Scotty’s hand as he helps you up.

“Who told you to stand under the panel?” Jim asks, beginning to walk towards the bridge.

“You could’ve given me a warning.” You counter.

“Sorry to interrupt but are you two always like this?” Scotty asks but before you can answer there’s a phaser pointed at your face.

“You’re coming with me... cupcake!” A man yells at Jim. You and Scotty give each other a look.

~~~~~~~~~~

“We are travelling at warp speed how did you get aboard the Enterprise?” Spock asks.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Jim replies. Spock looks to you next but you’re to busy waving at Bones. Finally his eyes land on Scotty.

“Are you a Star Fleet officer?” He asks Scotty who just nods, “How did you board this vessel.”

Scotty starts to explain but Jim cuts him off which puts him in a very awkward middle position.

“You know I don’t think I should get involved.” Scotty says, backing up. You try to hide your laughter with a cough which unfortunately makes everyone look at you.

“Hey could we get some towels?” You ask, gesturing to you and Scotty who are soaked. Bones sighs and calls someone down at the medbay to bring towels up to the bridge.

You and Scotty slowly sneak over to Bones while Spock and Jim argue. You both snatch a towel and look over in time to hear Spock give his position as acting captain up to Jim.

Spock breaths heavily as he storms off the bridge, his father following close behind. You and Scotty watch him go while Bones leaves your side to argue with Jim.

“I think it’s your turn lassy.” Scotty says, lightly pushing you to the exit. You look over at Jim who nods in understanding.

“Y/n will be my temporary first officer and her first job is to go check on Spock.” Jim says which makes Bones scoff. You turn and leave the bridge behind, going to find Spock.

~~~~~~~~~~

You find him at the transport pad, staring at the place his mother should have been transported to. His father passes you on your way in but he doesn’t say anything.

“Why are you here?” Spock asks, not turning to face you.

“I’m the temporary first officer, Jim tasked me with checking up on you.” You say, going further into the room.

“I assume we are turning around and going back to the Romulans.” Spock says, finally turning around to face you.

“Yes, we’re going to get Pike.” You reply, leaning against the wall that separates the transport pad from the transporters.

“How did you get on the Enterprise?” Spock asks.

“Scotty is a very talented man, he used some equation, and something about space being the thing that’s moving.” You try and explain. Spock nods in understanding.

“Everyone doubts Kirk, except for you.” Spock says, searching your face.

“Well Jim’s been my long time friend, I’ve learned that he’s both smart and pretty,” you say, “and we have shared life experience.”

“Yes, you both lost parents on the USS Kelvin.” Spock says blandly. You nod, frowning to yourself.

“If you need someone to talk to, I’m here.” You tell him. “Or if you ever want to play chess, someone told me you’re pretty good at it.”

Spock raises an eyebrow but doesn’t stop you as you turn and leave, going back to the bridge.

~~~~~~~~~~

Spock enters the bridge a few minutes after you, just in time to hear Jim’s brilliant plan on entering Nero’s ship.

“Spock, you’re my new first officer, Y/n take the con, come on Spock we’re going to Nero’s ship.” Jim says quickly, patting Spock on the shoulder as he walks by.

“After this is done, I would like to play chess with you.” Spock says as he passes by you.

“Understood Mister Spock.” You say with a hidden smile.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Ambassador Spock.” Spock says to his alternate reality.

“Commander.” Ambassador Spock replies.

“Why did you send Kirk and Y/n when you alone could have explained everything?” Spock asks.

“Because you needed Jim and Y/n in that time and I believed in their capabilities to win this fight.” Ambassador Spock says.

“Hey Spock! And uh, Spock.” You say, walking up to the two. Ambassador Spock waves at you and you give him a smile. “We’re having a party, since we beat the Romulans. You both are invited.”

“While I do love Jim’s parties I will have to decline this offer, I need to take the remaining Vulcans to New Vulcan.” Ambassador Spock says.

“Yeah that makes sense,” you say, turning to Spock, “what about you Spock?”

“I believe we were to play a game of chess.” Spock reminds you.

“And we will play chess, but I need to make an appearance at the party or Jim will never leave me alone.” You tell him, “And you’re coming with me.”

You turn on your heel and walk away, towards the party room.

“Saying live long and prosper seems oddly self serving so I will simply say, good luck.” Ambassador Spock says to Spock.

“Good luck.” Spock returns then turns and follows you.

You link your arm with Spock’s and lead him to the party room, wanting to make your appearance quick.

~~~~~~~~~~

“You know we’re married in Ambassador Spock’s timeline.” You tell Spock, moving a chess piece.

“Ambassador Spock failed to mention that to me.” Spock says, his ears tinged green.

“Well it’s true.” You say, taking a sip of your drink.

Spock nods, moving one of his chess pieces.

“You’re turning green.” You whisper teasingly, moving one of your pieces.

“You’re turning red.” Spock retorts, thinking of his next move.

“Too much drinking.” You say, swirling the alcohol around in your glass.

“That is one logical hypothesis.” Spock responds, watching as you move a piece.

“You know I have always liked circle ice.” You say, staring into your glass. Spock looks at you with confusion, raising an eyebrow. “You know, like the ice in spheres.”

“Ah, it is aesthetically pleasing.” Spock says, moving a piece.

You take turns moving chess pieces until eventually Spock wins making you huff in frustration. You look at the bottle that was full of alcohol but is now empty and sigh, getting up and starting to clean the glasses.

Spock starts cleaning the chess pieces and chess board up while you put the dishes in the sink, leaving them for tomorrow.

“I suppose it’s time for me to take my leave.” Spock says after putting the chess board away.

“Yeah I guess so, it was nice spending time with you Spock.” You say, walking him to the door.

“I had a pleasant time as well Y/n.” Spock says, stopping at the doorway. You lean up on your tiptoes and give him a kiss on the cheek.

“Have a good night Spock.” You say, settling back down onto your feet.

“Until next time, Y/n.”

#Spock #Star Trek #Star Trek 2009 #Spock Imagine #Star Trek Imagine #Spock x Reader #Star Trek x Reader #Fem!Reader #Ambassador Spock #Reader Insert #x Reader

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willsimpforanyone · 4 years ago

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Hiiii🥰🥰 could I get a tony x reader where the reader is related to Peggy Carter in some way. He always flirts and annoys her until something goes wrong at the lab or at SHIELD and they end up getting sent back to the 40s so they have to find Pegs and Howard to help them get back. And while there they realize how much they actually like eachother and all. Pleeeaassee. I really like this idea and I can’t wait to see what you might do. Thank you 🥰🥰

my goodness that’s a complex request! a brilliant idea, i’m honoured that you want to know what i’d write, thank you so much <3

okay lets see how this goes...

_____________

I was tapped on the shoulder with a screwdriver. “Thanks James, I was jus- oh, it’s you.”

Tony Stark’s grinning face was above me, his hand was the one with the screwdriver I’d asked my assistant James to get me. I rolled my eyes, snatching the tool from him and turning back to my work. “Wow, so cold for someone so hot,” Tony hummed behind me.

“You’d think with how much money you have, you’d be able to buy some class,” I bit back. I heard him thump against the wall, and in the corner of my eye I saw him slide down to sit next to me, hand on his heart.

“You wound me, gorgeous,” he groaned, picking up a couple screws and fiddling with them.

Snatching the screws away from him, I began to fix a panel to the wall of the contraption. “My apologies, Stark, I didn’t realise you gave that much of a shit.” I was hoping that he’d leave me alone, but apparently my hopes were too high.

“Carter, I’d hope you’d know by now-” He was cut off by a sudden shudder in the machine. “The hell was that?”

I lifted myself from the floor to look out of the door to the machine, only to see that it was shut. Nothing too alarming in and of itself, except James’ face was struck with panic. Tony seemed to realise this at the same time, and we both raced to the door. “James?! What’s happening?” I yelled as the machine shook again. Tony stumbled and I caught hold of his arm to steady him.

“I-I don’t know!” James’ frantic muffled voice barely travelled through the thick glass of the door. Suddenly, Nick Fury came sweeping into the room, heading straight for the outside control panel.

“Stark, Carter, can you hear me?”

We both nodded as he looked up at us.

“Can you turn off the machine from the inside?”

Tony looked at me hopefully, but the hope died as he saw my expression of terror. I took a shaky breath. “No, sir. The controls in here aren’t finished, I was working on them just now.” Fury looked grim.

Without any warning, the machine rumbled and both Tony and I were thrown to the floor. The room outside seemed to be phasing in and out of reality. Fury seemed to make a decision, hitting a couple buttons on the outside control panel. “Okay, we can’t stop you going, but we can control where you go.”

Tony looked at me wildly. “What the fuck kind of machine is this?!”

I turned to see panic in his eyes, his breathing laboured. I had no idea that Fury had kept him in the dark about this, but I’d have to tell him the truth. “Tony, this machine is capable of transgressing the natural order of time, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D. to traverse the expanse of space and time in a few seconds. Or at least, it will be once I fix the internal control panel.”

His expression briefly morphed into one of fascination. “This is a time machine?!”

“Yeah, if you wanna call it that.” I turned back to Fury. “Where are we going?”

It was difficult to make out the next few words- “Late 1940s...you both...Stark...Carter...”

And all of a sudden, with no preparation, we’d moved. Fury was gone, James was gone, the whole outside lab was gone and replaced with what looked to be a basement, and it was just me and Tony in, essentially, a large box. I could hear Tony’s breathing get faster and shallower, so I pushed my own panic down and spun to take his hand in mine.

“Tony, look at me. We’re gonna be okay, we’re gonna get out of this. But I need you to take deep breaths with me, okay?”

It took a couple minutes, but Tony’s breathing began to even out, and in helping him, I managed to calm myself. We were sat on the floor, his hand still in mine, when I very faintly heard voices coming from the door of whatever room we were in. There was nowhere to hide, and I made a mental note to include cloaking in the hardware of the machine if- no, when, we got back to S.H.I.E.L.D.. As it was, we could just stand and prepare to meet whoever was coming to investigate the noise that came from us landing.

The door flung open, and two men ran in. The first man was about 5′9″, maybe 5′10″, with a smart suit and slicked back hair; he looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. The second man was taller, maybe 6′, a towel flung over his shoulder and also wearing a smart suit. They stopped short on seeing us and the contraption we were contained in, surprise evident in their faces.

I looked over at Tony to see him staring at the first man intently. It was clear that no one else was gonna talk, so I stepped forward. “Hi, excuse the intrusion, could you tell me where and when we are? Please?”

The two men focused their eyes on me. The second man spoke. “Uh, yes-” he had a strong Queen’s English accent “-you’re in Mr Stark’s basement, and it’s 1947. May I ask, what exactly are you doing here?”

My mind was whirling trying to think of a plausible excuse and coming up blank when Tony moved closer to the glass wall separating us all. “We time travelled. We’re from your future, kind of.”

I hit him. “Tony! What the fuck! You aren’t supposed to tell peopl-”

“Okay,” shrugged the first man. I blinked and stared at him. He laughed. “I’ve seen stranger things, doll.”

I raised my eyebrow at Tony and he shrugged; and I knew where I’d seen the first man before. “That’s...that’s Howard Stark? Your dad Howard Stark?” I hissed at Tony, low enough so the glass would block the sound. He nodded and I detected a slight glassy quality to his eyes.

“Um, excuse me?” The second man seemed hesitant to talk. “Are you alright? Are you... stuck?” I moved towards the door and hit the ‘open’ button on the right. There was a hiss as the door opened. The journey must’ve knocked the mechanism and fixed it. Howard Stark reached out to help me out the box, and in a few seconds both Tony and I were on 1940s ground, breathing 1940s air- it was surreal.

The two men introduced themselves, finally. Of course, I knew who Howard Stark was, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the second man was Edwin Jarvis. I shot a slightly confused look at Tony, and he winked back- yes, he had named his AI assistant after his dad’s butler.

My ears perked up at the sound of heels on wooden floors coming from upstairs. “Mr Stark, do you have guests over?”

He winked at me, much like Tony did. “Call me Howard, beautiful,” he moved his gaze to the door of the basement which was still open, showing a staircase. “And I think, if I remember the sound of oxfords correctly, that will be the lovely Miss Peggy Carter,” and he started back up the stairs, gesturing for the rest of us to follow. I was frozen. Peggy Carter? Like, the founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. Peggy Carter? Like-

“You’re aunt Peggy Carter?” Tony murmured into my ear as he passed me, grabbing my arm and gently pulling me along. I nodded slowly. Were there any other notable Peggy Carters that Mr Stark Senior knew?

Sure enough, at the top of the staircase, stood one Miss Margaret Carter. “Hey English, what’s going on?” Howard went to give Peggy a hug, which she fluidly side-stepped in favour of shaking Jarvis’ hand.

“Howard, I did tell you I needed to speak to you, where have you been?”

“Sorry Peggy, I was distracted by the stowaways in my basement.”

“The...what in your what?”

Howard gestured to me and Tony. “These two time travelled into my basement. I believe them.” Peggy rolled her eyes, and Tony looked pointedly at you as if to say ‘you do exactly the same damn thing, what the fuck’.

Peggy breathed out sharply. “Then what are they still doing here? I assume something is wrong with their machine- no one would intentionally time travel in non-period specific clothing, why haven’t you fixed the issue yet?”

Howard blinked as Peggy pushed past him. “Hello, my name is Peggy Carter, a pleasure. My apologies for Howard, particularly to you-” she locked eyes with me “- as I’m sure he’s already tried to flirt with you, no doubt unsuccessfully.”

I laughed. Even I could see the similarities between me and my aunt. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I smiled back at her teasingly, and she laughed lightly. “But, we do need to get back to... where we’re from as soon as possible.”

Peggy turned abruptly to Howard. “See? Let’s take a look at the problem, shall we?”

He gestured to the stairs. “Lead the way, English.”

With the combined effort of two Starks, two Carters and a Jarvis, the internal control panel was up and running. It was interesting to watch the relationship between Peggy and Howard. There was an intense fondness between them, and I saw a lot of their relationship in my own interactions with Tony. Perhaps...perhaps there was more affection for him than I had allowed myself to feel.

It seemed as if all too soon Tony and I were ready to go back to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base. Howard and Peggy stepped out of the machine, followed by Tony, and then me. Having spent some time with the aunt I’d never really known left me feeling nostalgic, I knew her better now than I ever would. I looked over at Tony who was looking at his father, who in turn was quietly conferring with Jarvis.

“Time to go, I guess,” I turned to Tony, who nodded, still somewhat fixated on Howard. I gently tugged at his hand, and he allowed himself to be pulled into the machine. He stopped me just before I shut the door.

“Uh, Howard?” He asked. Howard stepped closer. “This is gonna sound weird, but... I love you. I should have told you that a lot more.”

Howard looked taken aback. “Uh, thank you?” Then it was almost as if he was compelled to speak further- “...I love you too.”

I went to face Peggy, and was about to open my mouth when I noticed her smiling at me. She reached out for my hand. “Before you say it first- I love you,” she whispered.

My eyes were wide. “But, what?”

She laughed and squeezed my hand. “You and I are a little too alike. As are those two,” she said, nodding towards Tony and Howard. “I know you’re part of my family, I’m not as dense about these things as Howard.”

I smiled and squeezed her hand back. “Thank you, Peggy. I love you too.”

We let go, and she closed the door to the machine. I reached out for Tony’s hand, and he twisted our fingers together. The controls were already set for the correct time and place, and together, Tony and I pushed the button.

Howard, Peggy and Jarvis’ faces phased out of reality, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. base came back into view. I was so relieved I jumped on Tony and hugged him tight. He was surprised and stumbled slightly but caught me and hugged me just as tight.

“Well ain’t that just sweet. We been waiting for an hour and you two won’t even say hi?”

I flushed and Tony put me down as we turned to see Fury still at the external control panel. I tapped the ‘open’ button and to my joy, the door opened and Tony and I jumped out of the machine.

“I take it the damn thing works?” Fury asked. We both nodded vigorously. “Alright, rest of the day off, both of you, go home.”

We didn’t need to be told twice. We were out of the base within ten minutes.

Tony stopped me before we went our separate ways home. “Hey, um, would you maybe... wanna come to dinner at Stark Tower? It’s just- you’re really pretty and really smart and I kinda maybe like you a lot,” he stuttered, and I could feel the hand holding mine shaking slightly.

I didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah, Tony, I would love that.”

Because hey, we just went back in time together. That bonds people.

______________

wow this took me a good couple hours to complete! i really hope you like it and it didn’t ramble on too long. thank you so much for requesting <3

#tony stark #iron man #tony stark imagine #tony stark x reader #tony stark one shot #avengers #iron man imagine

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sablelab · 5 years ago

Text

Covert Operations - Chapter 126

SYNOPSIS: Jamie has whisked Claire away to a romantic getaway where she can recover from her incarceration at the hands of Jonathon Randall and the Rising Dragons.

Chapter 125 and all other chapters of this story can be found at …https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations

THANK YOU for reading and I hope you will enjoy the chapters that are to come over the next couple of weeks as most are Jamie and Claire centred.

CHAPTER 126

Claire gasped as Jamie turned into a remote airport where he’d organised a private Lear jet, for the next leg of their journey. She was gobsmacked at the mode of transportation they were to board as she was sure that they were going to some remote location in Hong Kong for their convalescence. What she thought was going to happen certainly didn’t, as they were not going to some isolated place but were to travel somewhere else only Jamie knew and he’d been very secretive and evasive about their final destination.

“Jamie … Where are we going?” Claire asked when she saw that there was a jet plane waiting for its passengers. “The last time we were on a private jet, we were going to memories suddenly ran through her mind of her mission with Madame Cheung.

Placing his hand on her knee Jamie squeezed her leg and placed a kiss to her cheek. “No Sassenach … ‘tis a surprise. Trust me mo ghràidh. Ye are going to love it.”

“I do trust you Jamie. I’m just inquisitive as to our destination. If we are flying somewhere it can’t be too far away.”

“All in good time Sassenach. Ye shall see.”

Claire's radiant smile spread across her face as she looked away from him and pretended to study the scenery. "I guess I'll have to. But can you give me a little clue as to where you are taking me?”

“We should be there in about twelve hours. That’s all I’m going to say.”

“Twelve hours!” Claire exclaimed in shock. “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ. Just where are you taking me James Fraser?”

Their teasing interaction had distracted her and when she glanced up, she took better notice of their surroundings at the airstrip. With a wry smile on his face, Jamie drove toward a private hangar where a sleek white Lear Jet sat waiting on the tarmac with engines revving. The name emblazoned on the side of the jet gave Claire no hint as to their destination unfortunately so she could obtain no information there either. James Fraser didn’t say another word, he just merely grinned at her with a mischievous gleam in his eye as he bought the car to a halt. They both got out of the vehicle and Jamie helped his perplexed partner up the short flight of steps into the plane as their luggage was placed in the cargo hold on the plane. Once inside, Claire’s eyes widened in surprise at the luxurious interior of the Lear Jet. Beautiful veneer wood panelling, deluxe leather upholstered seats and amenities with anything you could think of for a long journey were provided. The cabin was very high tech with touch screens indicating the location of the features on the jet and there was even a decent-size galley with an oven and espresso machine. The rear cabin consisted of two recliners and a sofa and a bedroom and bathroom were located to the rear as well.

Her lips parted as a soft exclamation of amazement burst forth as Jamie led her to her plush leather seat in the cabin.

With her hand to her mouth she looked at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness, “Oh, Jamie …”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sitting her down comfortably in her seat Jamie then quietly spoke with the pilot as Claire strained to hear what instructions he was giving him. However, his conversation was impossible to hear and she was no further to knowing where the Lear jet was heading.

Damn you James Fraser! How much longer are you going to keep me in suspense?

After a short conversation, Jamie returned to sit beside her and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Ready Sassenach?" he asked with a teasing grin on his face knowing that Claire was biting at the bit to know their destination.

"No. Not until you tell me where we are going that is going to take twelve hours to get there James Fraser," she replied jutting her chin out at him in feigned defiance.

But Jamie remained nonplussed. He watched Claire in amusement as she then tried her feminine wiles on him to try and change his mind. Her gaze ran seductively down the length of his body as she began to undress him with her eyes before returning to lock with Jamie’s blue eyes that were attuned to what she was doing.

He chuckled at her attempt to garner information as to their destination and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye replied somewhat cryptically, "Somewhere warm." Then taking her hand in his he lightly ran his thumb over her palm. "That's the only clue I'll give ye Sassenach." His piercing, blue eyes watched Claire’s expressive face as anticipation crossed her features coupled with a beaming smile.

"But I don't have anything appropriate to wear in warm weather Jamie. If only you’d said something earlier, I could have packed accordingly," she admonished breathlessly fluttering her eyelashes and biting her bottom lip at him suggestively.

Immune to her feminine wiles Jamie rolled his eyes in mock dismay at her attempt to goad him into telling her where they were bound. "I ken ye'd say that Sassenach. A new wardrobe has been arranged at our destination, but clothes are optional if ye’d rather.”

Claire couldn’t believe the words that had come out of his mouth let alone the seductive look he was giving her.

“Why Mr Fraser. I do declare that you have left me quite flummoxed,” she replied with a rising inflection and an evocative smile.

Jamie raised her hand and kissed the back of her knuckles. “Good.”

His breath was warm against her hand, and it sent delicious sensations up her arm and travelled simultaneously to the pit of her lower abdomen where desire flamed with an ever-increasing intensity.

This is going to be a long flight, Claire thought as she rested her head back against the leather seat and closed her eyes while thoughts of being naked with the virile man beside her filled her mind with delicious possibilities.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Unbeknownst to her, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser had organised a two-week romantic getaway for his Claire in Tropical North Queensland Australia at a private and unique waterfront villa overlooking the Whitsunday Islands, mountains and an aquamarine harbour. It was the ultimate destination accommodation for them to enjoy the privacy, romance and serenity of this beautiful piece of paradise. He thought that not only could they both relax and enjoy the tranquil setting but it was a place as far away from Section One as they could get. They both needed time to recuperate from their wounds and Claire especially needed a peaceful, calm and beautiful setting, in which to erase her demons of what had happened to her at the monastery.

It was also the perfect and tranquil place to base themselves if they wanted to be a normal couple and go exploring all the treasures that the Whitsunday and Great Barrier Reef region had to offer. There were many places to visit and things to do: an abundance of national parks, turtle spotting, sailing, sea kayaking, mountain biking, swimming in the local waterhole at the base of Cedar Falls, rainforest walks, crocodile safaris, as well as enjoying the many cafes and restaurants the area had to offer if they were inclined. But if they didn’t want to leave their villa accommodation they could simply stay home, give each other a massage beside their infinity pool, hop in the outdoor spa, go sailing or just enjoy the view of being in one of the most spectacular locations on the planet.

Their destination was an amazing place in paradise just a short drive away from Airlie beach in a very secluded spot that ticked all the right boxes for Jamie. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his Sassenach to help her regain that spark that had been severely damaged because of Johnathon Randall and the triad’s interrogation and torture at the monastery. Claire needed to be somewhere as far away from those memories as possible and he knew he had found the right place for her to regain that carefree sprit of the woman who had stolen his heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Fortunately, Claire was exhausted and had slept most of the way on their journey to Australia and then on to the Whitsunday Coast Airport situated just outside the town of Proserpine. Jamie picked up a pre-arranged hire Land Rover for the approximate thirty-minute journey to their destination near Airlie Beach the gateway to one of Australia’s most prised natural wonders, the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.

It was not long before he saw the road leading to the property about a half mile off the road and slowed his speed in preparation for the exit. As he veered their vehicle onto an isolated road the wheels sent up clouds of dust around them, partially obscuring the view. Slowing down he steered the SUV along a winding dirt trail caressed by tall gum trees at a more leisurely pace. They travelled for some distance and it seemed they were going deeper and deeper into the tropical rainforest. It was peaceful and quiet out in the open, with the only civilized sound being that of the Land Rover’s engine purring like the sound of a steady heartbeat. Claire could also hear the laughing sound of kookaburras and the screech of the sulphur crested cockatoos as they passed under a canopy of gum trees along the remote track. The sunlight was getting dimmer but they could still see well enough without turning on the SUVs’ lights. Jamie drove along until he came to a clearing in the distance. With the dwelling in sight, he slowed the speed of the land rover as he drove closer. As he approached the clearing, he manoeuvred the vehicle until he pulled the car up to a beautiful waterfront villa nestled into the side of a hill amongst lush vegetation. It was a lovely two-storey modern home made from timber and sandstone with large picturesque windows that overlooked the panoramic sea view.

Claire stared in awe at the beautiful residence located in this stunning setting with oceanic views. It was so lovely and peaceful here; it was certainly a dream location and she just knew that their time in this particular place was going to be wonderful for their sanity and peace of mind. The panorama was spellbinding. Taking in her surroundings she noticed a winding crushed granite path leading up to the front of the villa. Beautiful stone carvings were positioned amongst the foliage and she could see a lovely water fountain nestled amidst the ferns in the garden as well. It had a serene and relaxing Zen ambience about it and Claire immediately fell in love with their accommodation and more in love with James Fraser for bringing her home to Australia and this magical place to recuperate.

It had been such a long journey here and she couldn’t really comprehend fully that Jamie had actually organised this trip and brought her here to the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. This stoic man who was a cold-blooded killer for Section One had turned into a hopeless romantic just for her and she couldn’t love him any more than she already did. This place of private surroundings and anonymity was just what they needed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Stopping the vehicle, Jamie removed the key from the SUV’s ignition and got out of the Land Rover in order to help Claire from the passenger’s seat. He opened the door and giving her his hand, he helped her get out of the car. Smiling at his chivalrous gesture Claire leaned towards him and taking his hand in hers she alighted from the SUV. As she did so, Jamie couldn’t help but notice that her eyes had welled up with unshed tears.

“Are ye okay mo nighean donn?” he asked concerned that she was upset.

“Yes … Yes, I’m fine Jamie,” she replied so softly he barely heard her words.

“Then what is it mo ghràidh that has made ye so emotional?”

Claire looked up at his worried face. “Nothing … everything,” she sighed her eyes glistening with tears that started to trickle down her cheek.

Jamie was taken aback not understanding the underlying cause of her tears. Was it just the jet lag kicking in or was it something more? Had Claire been thinking about her incarceration or her time in Med Lab? It could have been a gamut of reasons and he was at a loss for something to say that would ease her distress. However, before he had a chance to say something more Claire spoke again.

Wrapping her arms around his waist she leaned up and kissed him on his lips. “Oh Jamie, this place is perfect. I love it. It’s paradise and I can’t thank you enough for bringing me here.”

“Aye, ‘tis. I’ve been told that the amazing view is constantly changing with the tides, tropical weather and passing boats coming in and out of the harbour with the backdrop of the beautiful mountains.”

“Oooh, maybe we might even be able to catch sight of some sea turtles, whales or dolphins.”

“We just might see some wee beasties Sassenach, maybe even some water horses,” he added with mirth in his voice and reminiscing of the mythical beasts of Scottish folklore tales told to him as a young boy.

“I really don’t think they have water horses in Australia Jamie,” Claire said laughing, her mood decidedly different to when they first arrived.

“Aye, yer probably right mo nighean donn, but nonetheless they have other strange animals here do they not Claire?”

“That is true,” she replied her mind however was again focused on the place where she was now. “It’s beautiful here Jamie and I can’t wait to spend fourteen days with you in this magical setting. It's so stunning that I really won't want to leave.”

His heartbeats quickened as Claire’s arms tightened around him even more and he returned her kiss with one of his own. “I’m glad my love. This place is going to be our sanctuary for two weeks and we can do as much or as little as we want.”

An enigmatic smile suddenly bowed her lips just like it had before on their journey here. Jamie couldn’t quite decipher the look that now crossed her face or what hidden meaning she had attached to his words, but knowing that her tears were happy ones he guessed that she quite liked where he had brought her for their recuperation. He felt good and wondered if indeed her thoughts had actually been of an intimate nature because his thoughts had certainly gone there with his reply. When she spoke, he knew that he was correct in his summation.

“So, clothes are optional then Fraser? Claire whispered softly as her eyes captured his in a penetrating look.

“Aye … Aye … they are Sorcha,” he replied against her lips before giving his Sassenach another penetrating passionate kiss that sent her mind reeling with a myriad of thoughts and possibilities.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jamie took Claire’s hand entwining his fingers with hers and led her along the meandering gravel path and foliage that stopped at a staircase leading up to the entrance of the waterfront villa. They climbed the stairs hand in hand until they reached the top landing. Standing on the covered decking Claire looked out at the setting and inhaled the fresh, sea air as she waited for Jamie to unlock the door.

Raising their joined hands to his lips he placed a chaste kiss to Claire’s knuckles reluctant to let go, then smiling at her he announced, “Wait here honey while I fetch the key. The real estate agent said he would leave it under the potted plant on the deck.”

There was a stunning multi-coloured “Sassy,” a topical flowering Heliconia psittacorum plant on the deck and lifting the plant up, Jamie found what he was looking for. Placing the key in his hand, he looked at Claire intensely before inserting it in the door. Stepping inside, he held the door ajar for her to preceded him into the house, before closing the door behind them. However, it was more than just the act of shutting a door, it was shutting out their life at Section One, a life they’d left behind for two weeks for one of normality without surveillance. Standing quietly by he watched his love closely waiting for her initial reaction.

As he stood there Jamie’s gaze caressed his Sassenach from the top of her lovely brown hair falling around her shoulders to the tip of her fashionable ballet pumps.

This woman was heaven-sent and he could barely understand how much she had changed his life. Claire Beauchamp was an angel and far too good for Section One. She spread happiness wherever she went despite the fact that she too was a trained killer. Section One had tainted his life until he was but a robotic shell of a man. That was until Claire had come into his life and turned it upside down. It was this angel who had made him realise he was indeed worthy of love and being loved and reciprocating that love in return.

Claire Beauchamp was his lifeline, his soulmate, his reason for existence. His life was forever changed because of her because his Sassenach was his light in the darkness that once ruled his life.

He never tired of casting a surreptitious glance at her when in Section and any clandestine meeting was carefully executed so as not to alert their superiors Operations and Madeline. Claire was unlike any other operative and when she laughed, her whole face lit up and it filled his heart to bursting. Their feelings were suppressed in Section because they were under constant surveillance but Claire still managed to shed light in a world where there was none. Murtagh adored her as too did Fergus because his woman saw the good in people and because of her personality operatives gravitated to her and none more so than those two individuals. He’d observed her talking with Murtagh especially and saw how her eyes would sparkle with the joy of being with people she loved and admired. He knew that Section’s weapons’ expert was a father figure to her and that Claire was like a daughter to him. For Murtagh Fitzgibbons to volunteer to go back into the field was rare, but he did it for his Sugar because she meant the world to him and Murtagh would do anything for her and by association, for him as well.

Operatives in Section admired her and he knew why.

Claire Beauchamp bucked the system but still performed her duties with her conscience still intact. She was everything that others were not because she still had humanity for innocent life but abhorred the evil that people perpetrated. Claire had ideals and a moral compass that was sadly lacking in their leadership at Section One … and because she questioned things and opposed the rules, she was a threat to the order that Madeline and Operations had created with their leadership style.

Jamie reluctantly severed his gaze from his Sassenach and observed her body language as she cast her eyes around the room.

“Why don’t ye sit yerself down on the settee while I go and collect our belongings from the SUV? I won’t be long and then I can show ye around the villa Sassenach.”

“I wonder if there is any whisky? I could do with a drink after our long journey and a bath would be nice too. Is there a bath Jamie?”

“Not sure, but I ken there is a Jacuzzi. Will that do?”

“Hmm, Sounds good. Hurry back Fraser … I just might let you share.”

Giving her an enigmatic smile, Jamie hurried down to the Land Rover and retrieved their suitcases from the boot of the car. Racing up the stairs two at a time he placed their belongings down in the entrance before opening the door once more. He then picked up the suitcases and placed them inside the entrance before closing the door behind them. Jamie then made his way into the lounge area where Claire was waiting for his return.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Did ye find any whisky Sassenach?”

“No, but there was a bottle of champagne plus nibbles and cheese. There was also a note addressed to you Jamie.”

“Perhaps we can christen the Jacuzzi with that bottle of bubbly then Sassenach. It will soothe those tired limbs,” he stated seductively with an ulterior meaning underlining his words.

“Oh, that would be nice Jamie but perhaps later,” Claire replied ignoring his innuendo and looking around their magical accommodation, smiling and liking what she saw very much. She glanced Jamie’s way and her face was beaming with delight but her head was swimming with questions.

“How did you find this place?”

Jamie came nearer and nearer to Claire holding her gaze as with each step he took. “I saw it online on an Air B&B site; I noticed it because it was secluded and had a private beach and marina as well as being some distance from a populated area.”

“It’s definitely in a most stunning setting. No wonder you chose to stay here Jamie.”

“I’m so happy that ye love it Sassenach. I thought ye would.”

“Who owns this property?”

“Caitriona and Sam Heughan did …”

He gave her an inscrutable look which only piqued her interest as to why he was hedging his reply. Leaning into her personal space Claire felt that Jamie was going to reveal something significant especially with such a piercing look he was giving her. And he did.

“… but I do now.” Claire’s eyes widened in shock for his answer had caught her by surprise. “Really?” Her flabbergasted answer solicited his next reply. “And I also bought the adjacent property as well because it’s so serene, peaceful and quiet here. It’s private and secluded in a beautiful tropical location Sassenach and a perfect place to forget the world we inhabit as Section One operatives.” Claire looked at Jamie as his words finally seeped into her brain. James Fraser, the cold murderer of Section One had purchased a property that was the complete antithesis of everything that Section stood for. This place really was a refuge away from their constant life under surveillance and where their every move was monitored. This place was an oasis away from the world of espionage and covert operations and was a home where they could just be a normal couple.

In return James Fraser scrutinized the look that passed over her features as his Sassenach contemplated what he had just said. He was eager to get her opinion. “Do ye like it Sassenach?”

Instead of immediately answering Claire walked around the main room they’d entered; she took inventory of what was in the seaside house while processing the information Jamie had just volunteered. Her mind was trying to make sense of the fact that James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser had purchased this property. She turned to look at this secretive man who still stood quietly watching her actions with a little satisfied smirk on his face. Jamie gave her a penetrating look trying to gauge her feelings on the matter of the house.

A smile bowed her mouth. “I do like it Jamie.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Claire looked at her love with a contemplative look in her eyes trying to work out this enigmatic man. Tilting her head, she perused him from head to toe then ever so slowly she raised her glance to his lean hips before lingering on his muscled chest.

James Fraser’s body was so mighty fine that just looking at him made her heart flutter with wicked thoughts. She knew what Jamie looked like naked and what it felt like to run her hands over his chest. Just the thought of gliding her fingers through his chest hair and over his warm skin sent her heart beating faster.

She inhaled a raspy breath and forced her body to try and stay calm but she was finding it decidedly difficult in his presence.

This man was in her blood and just the way he was looking at her sent shivers down her spine. Her errant thoughts about his hands whilst driving had conjured up way too many ideas of the erotic nature and now just looking at him was having the same effect on her equilibrium. If he continued to provoke her in this way, she wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of avoiding Jamie’s advances particularly in this idyllic setting.

Finally, Claire managed to control her breathing and lifted her gaze to his eyes.

Jamie was watching his love with amusement. Although he had no idea where her thoughts had travelled nevertheless, he could hazard a guess to where they went. The look in her eyes was suddenly dreamy and he was aware that she was going off on one of her tangents yet again. This happened quite a lot when she looked at him. It was as if she was imagining what he looked like naked and he couldn’t deny the feelings that thought gave him. He knew that his Sassenach was mulling over some very racy thoughts in her head. He could tell by her shallow breathing, the flush that hugged her cheeks and especially by the dilated pupils that greeted his scrutiny when she finally had the courage to look at him.

“I’m glad,” he replied biting his tongue to stop himself from laughing out loud at her inner turmoil.

“Come on Fraser show me around before it gets too dark,” was Claire’s daring response despite the fact that her heart was racing and she was fighting inner demons that seemed to mock her foolishness when in this man’s presence.

This time, however, he did laugh and pulled her into his arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Well then Miss Beauchamp …,” he replied resting his forehead against her as he held her tightly to his chest.

Claire began to melt in his arms and could feel the pounding of his heart muscle against her chest. Jamie too could feel the vibrations of her heart beating in response to their closeness. The sound of air entering and leaving her lungs only exacerbated her shallow breathing and Jamie could feel Claire’s warm breath kiss his cheek as they gazed into each other’s eyes. He wanted nothing more than to kiss his brave woman senseless until she lost all consciousness, but now was not the time. There would be plenty of time for that later. “… perhaps we can start right here.”

“Here?” Her nerves were all off-centre and the way Jamie was holding her close was not making matters any better.

Placing a light kiss to her forehead, he released her from his embrace. “Aye, mo ghràidh. We can start here in the main living room unless … ye would like to start … in the bedroom?”

“Oh? … Okay … Here sounds just fine,” she muttered almost at a loss for words because if innuendo was Jamie’s game then she was in trouble.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* to be continued on Friday 12th June

#Jamieandclairefanfic #jamieandclairecrossover #jamieandclaireau #the lallybroch library #outlander fanfic #covertoperations #LFNoutlander

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deathandrenegades · 5 years ago

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More Than You Bargained For (Succubus!Bucky x Reader) NSFW - One Shot

Summary: You walk into a dangerous place to complete a job, biting off more than you can chew as you meet the most gorgeous demon of your life. Will you survive the encounter?

Word Count: 4222

A/N: Smut, nearly without plot. Tags are open, requests are open! This is my inspiration from @after-avenging-hours Incubus series. I’m also holding a writing challenge if anyone wants to join! I would love feedback on this, I’m trying to get into writing different AU’s and such.

Masterlist | Writing Challenge | Make a Request | The L Word

You stepped into the casino, the immediate presence of danger creeping up your neck, making the hairs stand on end in their wake. You were pleased slightly, taking in the surroundings and noticing the all black attire, glad you trusted your gut with a black dress and pumps to match. Your heels clicked on the aluminum floor and you took a seat at the bar, in perfect view of the table you needed to watch. Even from 20 feet away you felt his charm that invited you, pulling you towards him like some insane gravitational force. You had to remind yourself continuously of the mission you were on, trying not to let your thoughts be persuaded by his growing allure on you.

You set your black clutch on the counter, readying your ID and credit cards.

“What’ll it be?” The bartender flashed a warm smile as he leaned his elbows on the bar, his dark complexion stark against his white teeth. His face appeared soft like silk, his voice even more velvety smooth. It captivated you and made it impossible to look away from his captivating features.

“Um, whiskey neat. Please.” You added curtly, your voice far too unsteady in a place like this. You looked around, easily picking out the other humans from the rest. They were clumsier, uglier, louder. Not nearly as pleasing as even the simple bartender in front of you. You sighed, turning your gaze back to the man in front of you and he set the glass down, you threw back the liquid amber with ease. Your eyes flicked back to the poker table again, keeping your eyes on the task at hand.

“I know you don’t know this, but he can feel his gaze on you, even from over here.” The bartender's voice was low as he leaned forward across the bar, his sweet, cherry breath wafting over your cheeks. You nodded briskly, holding your breath in an attempt to not be phased by his charm and looked to the man at the poker table again, but he was gone. The bartender drew back with a smirk and turned to wash his glasses. Briefly your gaze settled on your reflection in the mirror on the back paneling of the bar, and you saw his figure standing behind you. You whipped around to face him, your stomach lurching as you did so. You should feel fear, panic, anything, but the smile on his face sent a wave of calm that washed over you like the most relaxing bubble bath.

He came closer to you, aware of the effect he had on you and took a seat beside you. He wasn’t touching you, but he might as well have been with his body heat radiating off of him beside you. His scent rolled off him in waves and filled your nostrils, you inhaled deeply without thinking, instantly regretting it as you looked at him, completely enraptured by him. You could feel your mouth watering as his scent rippled through you, sending heat to your core. You crossed your legs in response, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by him. His gaze was intense, his icy blue eyes settling over you like you were the most interesting thing he’d seen all day. You couldn’t help but to feel almost naked under his gaze, like he was looking through you. Your eyes traveled down his features, admiring the gorgeous demon in front of you. Beauty didn’t cover it, it felt like he was made for you, like if you latched yourself onto him, it’d be a perfect fit.

“Is there a reason why you’ve been watching me?” His question should’ve made you nervous, uneasy even but it didn’t. He kept his tone light, there was almost a kindness in his eyes. The red and black theme of the casino made him seem like he was almost a part of it in his black suit, another seemingly obvious characteristic that nearly all demons appeared to share so it seemed.

“Well-“ you stammered. He chuckled at your state and your eyes shot down to your dress, away from his prying eyes.

“Wanted to see what it would be like with a succubus?” His voice was sultry and you looked up into his eyes as he spoke, a glint of mischief in them. His question made you relax slightly, glad to know he wasn’t completely onto you. Yet anyway.

“Maybe.” Your voice was thick. Was this the right move? You sure as hell knew it wasn’t safe, but a bigger part of you didn’t care, and you didn’t know if that was your or his doing.

“Come on then.” His voice dropped an octave lower and you squeezed your thighs in response, his voice alone having an effect on you like nothing you’d ever felt before.

He offered you his hand and you took it, warmth spreading through you immediately as his skin was a few degrees hotter than humans, and grabbed your clutch, hopping off the stool. Slowly he led you out of the casino, and you looked around at the demonic faces as you passed by. You should’ve felt ashamed or intimated under their ravenous, primal gaze, appearing as if they would devour your very soul if given the chance. But you didn't, you nearly felt proud, fully knowing they knew what you were about to do. Or so they thought.

You expected to leave the casino, maybe get into a fancy, luxurious car and head somewhere else but you didn’t. You turned a corner into the connecting hotel, down a hall, your hand still in his as you followed his graceful steps and stopped in front of one of the many black doors that said “private” on it. You gulped, unaware you’d be meeting your demise so soon. You hardly had any time to prepare. Fuck, what were you about to do again?

“Are you ready?” He asked, keeping his voice light but his eyes held a playfulness to him. You had no idea how to answer him. You felt a panic bubble into your throat that seemed to immediately be overpowered by his influence on you yet again, reassuring you not to panic or worry. Still, words escaped you. Were you ready? You nodded, regardless of how you felt.

The door pushed open to a large room, similarly looking to the casino you were in. Black leather couches and chairs, black marble flooring and countertops, red trim on the walls and doorways. At first glance maybe you would’ve fit right in since you were wearing the proper attire, but you knew you didn’t. You weren’t as graceful and not nearly as beautiful as they were. You stepped in without thinking, the smell of the room charming you, and he followed you, the sound of the door closing behind you was the only thing to tug you out of your trance. He grabbed your clutch out of your grasp, setting it down on the table beside you and you barely registered his movements. Slowly you turned to face him, who’s eyes never left you, watching you curiously as he leaned his shoulder against the wall.

“My name is James.” His voice warm, like you had met before and maybe you forgot, and you stumbled to come up with a response. Surely, he had already introduced himself, right? You tried to think back under his gaze, only to realize he was waiting a touch too long for you to introduce yourself.

“(Y/n).” Your voice was an octave higher than normal and you cleared your throat in an attempt to collect yourself.

“(Y/n)..” He said slow, pronouncing every letter with purpose like he had never heard such a name before. Your name leaving his lips caught you off guard, and what startled you more was the ache it left in your belly. He stepped forward, slowly, like he was stalking his prey. Well, that’s what you were, after all, weren't you?

You should run, but you couldn’t, your feet were weighed down, and what’s more is that you didn’t want to run or be anywhere else, other than under his devouring gaze.

He stood in front of you, his nose mere inches from yours and you inhaled sharply as his scent filled your nose and mouth again, you knew his scent would be appealing to you but you just didn’t imagine it would be like this. You felt your mouth water again and instinctively you leaned forward, only to stop when you saw a smirk on his lips. You blinked, looking up at him. If there was one thing you hated it was how much he knew of the effect he had on you.

“Tell me,” his voice huskier than before and it sent a shiver down your spine, “why did you come here?”

“I had to see you.” You found yourself saying aloud. Your own voice startled you in contrast to his rich, smooth voice. It didn’t belong in the same conversation.

“To use this on me?” He pulled out a syringe out of his pocket, and you gaped at him. How did he get that?

“N-no, I-” You stammered but it was useless. You expected him to be enraged, attack you then and there and render you dead, but he was smiling, his blue eyes staring through you again. Now you felt shame wash over you fully, like you were disappointed in yourself for thinking of ever hurting him.

“Why would you want to use this on me, my dear?” He scolded you like he would scold a child. You didn’t have an answer for him. “To kill me?” That was the intent at first, when you told yourself you were strong enough to go into a horde, alone, and take out the alpha. Boy were you way off. Now? That seemed so distant, like another life, a dream even. How could you possibly want to kill someone so angelic as him?

“Maybe, then, bu-” your voice was feeble as you attempted to dismiss your earlier objective.

“But not now.” He finished for you. The smile twisted into something hellish, his eyes casting over into a dark, murky grey and you instinctively took a step back at the sudden change in his once serene features. He took a step forward, stalking you again and this time it wasn’t seductive, it was downright dangerous. You knew your life was in his hands and it thrilled you when you knew you should be screaming, but found your back legs bumping into a chair behind you as you continued to walk backwards away from him, somehow managing to not stumble in your heels. You looked around wildly, truly there was nowhere for you to go. He was blocking your path to the door and to a hallway that led off probably to a bedroom.

“You’re going to kill me aren’t you?” Your voice was weak and you hated it. He didn’t flinch at your words, in fact his smile grew wider at your question.

“Maybe, but I do need to eat first.” He came forward again at lightning speed, cupping your face in his hands delicately and crashing his lips down onto yours. His lips left a sear on your mouth, and you gasped at the feeling in both shock and excitement, thoughts escaping you at the feeling of him on you. The scorch of his lips left a burn low in your belly and you felt your clit throb as his lips started to travel down your neck, nibbling at a sensitive spot on your collar bone and you moaned involuntarily. His hands roamed over your body and you clung onto his broad shoulders for support as he backed you up against a wall, and continued kissing down your body. You had nowhere to go, as if you wanted to escape. You heard the deafening sound of material shredding and opened your eyes to look down, not even realising you closed them to see the hem of your dress being cut from the bottom up with his nails, inch by inch, just high enough to reveal the elastic of your black thong. You sucked in a breath, his pupils were blown out being so close to your heat. He looked gorgeous kneeling down in front of you, you gently raked your fingers through his hair without thinking, moving it out of his angelic face.

“Come back up here.” You said softly, needing his mouth on yours again, and he flashed a playful grin at you, nearly knocking you off your feet as he crashed his lips onto yours again, catching you by surprise and a small gasp left your mouth. He seized the opportunity and slid his tongue in between your lips, exploring your mouth and leaving you salivating as you tasted him. He was sweet, like the best flavor you’ve ever encountered, and you knew why you were warned about his kind. It was easy to become addicted to his effect on your body, and the overwhelming pleasure you could get from just being in contact with him. Your hands knotted into his hair as you deepened the kiss, your tongue and lips moving in tandem with his and you felt like you were engorging yourself on his plush lips. You couldn’t get enough of him. He broke away from you and you gulped down air, not even realizing how dizzy you had become. You tried to gather yourself but you were slowly becoming undone in his hands, and he knew it.

“My god, I can smell you.” He whispered, his breath tickling your neck and his hands traveled down further, hiking your dress up to your waist. The cold air hit your heat and you hissed at the sudden contrast, he knelt down again and pressed his mouth to your panties over your sensitive nub, inhaling your scent deeply and looking up at you. You could’ve came then in all honesty, looking down at him between your legs to admire his eyes consumed with lust. He pressed his mouth and his chin into you forcefully and you cried out, your hands falling into his hair and you fought to hold yourself up.

“I didn’t think you would be this wet, darling.” His voice was rough and you felt your clit throb again at his words. You could feel the slick between your folds, leaving you yearning for more. He brought his fingers up to your clothed heat and rubbed tentatively and you sucked in a breath at the much needed friction, closing your eyes for a split second as you felt your walls flutter. You needed something inside you, that was for certain. “Soaked.” He affirmed as he felt how wet your damp lace black panties were. With an audible tear they fell away from you and you whimpered at being exposed in front of him. His eyes marveled over your now exposed in front of him, taking one of your thighs and throwing it over his shoulder to get a better view. He palmed himself through his black dress pants, leaning in and pressing his tongue to your clit. You cried out in ecstasy, back arching off the wall at the attention your needy nub finally got. It was like nothing you’ve ever felt before, but it was surely the best thing, you couldn’t imagine ever feeling like this again. You rocked your hips onto his tongue and he groaned at your movements.

“Oh my god,” your voice was breathy, you could feel sweat beading at the nape of your neck already but you didn’t care. You were an unraveled mess in his arms, and he was going to exploit every piece of it to your pleasure, devouring you along the way. Your head was swimming already as your orgasm built inside you steadily, his tongue working slow circles over your clit, speeding up and inserting a digit into your wet cunt. Your moan was sharp and shrill as he inserted another, filling you up and crooking his fingers inside you to place pressure just where you needed it. You swallowed air in heaps but it was no use, you were a panting, gasping mess, and he set you on the edge of your orgasm.

“Would you like to cum like this?” he pulled his lips away from your throbbing cunt briefly.

“Yes.” You replied breathlessly, without hesitation. He smiled devilishly at your answer, taking in your wrecked state and knowing you were so close. He knew just what to do to give you the most intense release you would ever feel, only to be followed by one from his cock in mere minutes. He returned his tongue back to your swollen bundle of nerves, lapping and sucking forcefully as his fingers still worked inside you. Your moans continued to grow louder as he chased your high with you, using your moans as a driving force behind his movements. He crooked his fingers again, rubbing your G-spot and you felt the coil inside you snap with a shriek as your legs shook. He wrapped his arms around your waist to keep you steady, one of your hands leaving his hair to grab onto his shoulder as your orgasm ripped through you. Your chest heaved as the aftershocks rippled through you, leaving you gasping for hair, and his fingers left your cunt allowing his tongue to trace lazy circles around your cunt, bringing you down from your high slowly. Finally, he rested his cheek against your thigh and couldn’t help but to chuckle at your state and you looked down at him, face flushed.

“You taste even better than you look.” His gaze was sincere as he stared up at you and you blushed even more, though you thought that would be near impossible by now. He stood up and you felt your legs buckle as his hold left you, to which he swiftly picked you up and carried you, moving towards the hallway. As much as you felt like you should protest out of politeness, you were grateful for the assist, your heels falling away with a clatter on the floor. Your legs already felt like jello from having to hold yourself up while you came, and cumming that hard wasn’t something you were ever going to get used to.

He pushed open the door to a bedroom, a black four poster bed centered in the middle. There was a black dresser and closet along the wall, a door ajar to the bathroom, but other than that the room was nearly empty.

“You don’t live here, do you?” You frowned as you looked around, your head seeming clear momentarily. He chuckled, his chest rumbling against you.

“Afraid not, dear.”

“Where do you live?” You asked curiously. Where did succubi stay? Briefly the image of a cave filled with thousands of gorgeous, human-like creatures flashed in your mind and you caught yourself smiling.

“I think that’s enough questions for now.”

He flung you onto the bed and a gasp left your throat as you landed on the plush mattress. He gazed at you for a minute, lips parted, eyes traveling down your body to your heat again and instinctively you pulled your frayed dress down. “Don’t.” he said softly and you stopped your attempt to cover yourself. He worked his tie off, then undid his buttons agonizingly slow as he stared you down. His shirt came off and your eyes marveled over the ripple of muscles underneath his smooth flesh, he appeared to be carved from stone by gods. Your eyes traveled down further to the bulge in his pants, eager to see it unsheathed. He smirked as he watched you eye him like he was to you, unzipping his pants and you felt your cunt throb at the sound. The look on his face told you he didn’t miss it and you mentally cursed at yourself for being so affected by him. You sucked in an audible breath as he took off his dress pants and his briefs in one fluid motion, far too gracefully to be human. His erection sprang free, precum leaking from the tip and you swallowed at the sight. You could only imagine the eager look on your face. Slowly he pumped himself in his fist and you squeezed your thighs together at the sight of him pleasuring himself, you felt your slick cunt spread onto your inner thighs and he didn’t miss that as the scent of your leaking juices wafted over him. His mouth watered and he stepped forward without thinking, climbing over top of you. You sucked in a breath when he came so close to you again, your hands traveling over his chest and back, tracing the contours of his muscles as his lips came down on you once more and you moaned into his mouth softly. You felt his hands push your dress up, followed by another sound of torn fabric and you broke away from the kiss, your dress falling off around you onto the bed. He hooked a thumb under your bra in the front, your heartbeat thumping underneath his hand and instinctively you grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t rip that.” To your surprise he laughed. He lifted your bra with his thumb and your body lifted with it, your eyebrows shot up in surprise at his brute strength.

“I wasn’t planning on it.” His other traveled around your back and he pinched the clasp and unhooked your bra. He took it off of you gingerly, tossing it to the side, your breasts and hard nipples exposed to him which he stared at hungrily. His member brushed against your core and you arched your back in response, your perfect tits coming so close to his face and he couldn't resist, taking a hardened peak into his mouth and you mewled at the sensation, your skin burning in his wake. He bit your nipple teasingly, pulling on the flesh and you gasped at the sharp spike of pain, his tongue circling your hardened peak to soothe it.

Your nails raked across his back and he groaned at the feeling, lining himself up with your entrance, your legs wrapping around his waist and you lifted your hips up to meet him. He slowly pushed inside of you, you both released a sigh at the delicious stretch of him pushing into you. You adjusted to his girth slowly as he rocked inside you, inhaling sharply with every thrust, your breaths turning into sharp moans as his pace continued to build, hitting all the way deep in you. You gasped and he moaned in your ear feeling himself bottom out, sending a chill through you. Your body felt like it was on fire, needing him impossibly closer, like you couldn't get enough of him, and your hands moved up to his hair to yank on it, forcing him to look at you, his gaze hungrily on you as he read what you want immediately and brought his lips down on yours. You moaned into his mouth, swiveling your hips up to meet his and he fucked you faster, the pressure inside you growingly wildly. His tongue invaded your mouth, flicking around desperately and you felt his pace growing sloppy.

“Fucking christ,” he muttered, breaking away from the kiss to rest his forehead against yours and you shrieked as he snapped his hips against you harder, angling them in the perfect way to hit your gspot.

“Oh my god, right there.” You cried and he grunted in response, his pace building erratically and you couldn’t hold on any longer, your walls clenching around his cock harshly as his name left your lips with a cry, riding out your high. His release was right behind yours, triggering it at the feeling of your walls so tight around him, he couldn’t help himself but to spill into you with a series of curses and grunts. Finally his pace slowed to a stop and you both stayed there for a moment, relishing the waves of your orgasm washing over you, exhaustion soon following. Carefully he pulled out of you, leaving briefly and coming back with a wet washcloth. He pressed it between your legs carefully, knowing you’d be sensitive and cleaning you up as best as he could.

Your breaths were ragged as you fought to keep your eyes open, feeling like you just ran a marathon.

“You should rest.” He picked up his clothes off the floor, putting them on and resting one knee on the bed to get a better look at your exhausted state. He knew he just drained the life out of you, practically demolishing your life force. You could’ve been on the brink of death, but all you felt was exhaustion. You nodded briefly before you passed out, not being able to muster the energy for much else. The succubus watched your sleeping figure, lingering for a moment to admire your even breaths as you slept. Finally, he gave a small nod to himself when he was sure you were deeply asleep before he slipped out of the room noiselessly, grabbing the covered syringe out of his pocket, now having a new agenda: finding whoever sent you to do this.

TAGS: @thunderous-flower @badassbaker @also-known-as-me @buckyisloved @sebatianstanisbae @bexboo616 @ladymelissastark @fayebay @factorfreshness @thetrainwreckjournals @nataliehasgrace @annieluc @starkxpotts @after-avenging-hours @jurassicbarnes @bovaria @badassbaker @katykyll @jarnesbrnes

#demon!bucky x reader #James barnes x reader #Bucky barnes smut #Demon!bucky smut #succubus!bucky x reader #writing #marvel #demon au #mcu fanfic #smut #bucky x reader smut

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give-me-back-my-rhodey · 4 years ago

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There’s No Future Without You - AUgust Day 22

Title: There’s No Future Without You

Author: Purple_ducky00

Rating: Teen

Warnings: n/a

Square Filled: O5: RiRi Williams for @ironhusbandsbingo

Pair: Rhodey/Tony

Link: Read on AO3

Written for: @fightingforcreativity

Summary: Rhodey gets sent forward in time by this week's villain. He is able to return home with the help of an AI and an avid fan.

+++++++++

Fuck. I wasn’t fast enough! Rhodey thinks as he tumbles through the portal. Falling out on the other side, he stands to catch his bearings. He’s on the same street corner, but things just look… different. People are walking the streets, but their faces look digital.

He checks his suit’s availability. HUD is working, repulsors are working, GPS? Connecting to satellites. If this is New York, where’s Stark Tower? Why are there so many huge buildings in place of what he’s used to? Was he put through a time portal? Flying straight up in the air, he quickly locates Stark Tower. Landing on the landing pad, Rhodey walks toward the doors. The familiar whine of a repulsor makes him turn. He sees an Iron Man suit built for someone much smaller than Tony.

“Who are you? And how did you get a hold of the old War Machine armor?” The modulated voice sounds feminine.

Rhodey holds up his hands and lets the helmet retract. “Hi, please don’t shoot? Can you tell me what year this is?”

“2080. Who are you?” “This is going to sound crazy, but I am James Rhodes, the original owner of this suit. I was fighting a villain, and they sent me through a portal. I guess it was a time portal because I’m from 2019.”

The suit lowers its repulsors, but the voice doesn’t sound convinced. “Follow me.” It says, then mutters. “If anyone would know, it’d be him.”

Rhodey is led into a room that had definitely not been in the tower in 2019. “Hey T,” the voice in the armor says, “do you know this dude?”

A hologram shivers into place, a direct replica of Tony. How the-. “Yes. That’s Rhodey!” The Tony-hologram crows. “I told you he’d find us.” He tells the suit triumphantly. “Rhodey, meet Riri Williams. She’s Ironheart. Riri, meet my bestest friend in the whole wide world, James “Rhodey” Rhodes.”

The suit opens up, and a young black woman steps out. “Can I just say that you are like my hero?” She gushes. “We learned about you in school and everything. And then Tony has been telling me about you, too. You’re the reason I created this armor.”

“Uhm… thank you?” Rhodey scratches the back of his neck. “So, Tony, is this like your consciousness coded into an AI?”

“Unfortunately, no.” The AI Tony replies. “Tony created me after you went through the portal. Using Extremis, he crafted me. I have many of his memories, but I am not him. He passed some time ago. I’ve been helping Riri ever since.”

Rhodey’s heart sinks. He wishes that Tony were here with him. Tony is his lifeline, just like he is Tony’s. He doesn’t want to be here; he wants to get home. “Can I get back to my time?” He questions.

Tony makes that sound that he does when he sucks on his teeth. “Hmm, I don’t know. We’d have to figure out how you got here. I don’t know anything about time travel.”

“You’re welcome to stay here until we figure it out.” Riri bubbles. “I’ll get a room ready for you.” As she walks off, Rhodey hears her squeal. “I met Colonel Rhodes today!”

Rhodey turns to AI Tony, who shrugs. “Yea, maybe I got a little carried away, you know?”

“Typical Tony?” Rhodey grins and hold out his fist to pump. AI Tony pumps back but his hand goes through Rhodey’s arm.

“Sorry, don’t have a corporeal form.” AI Tony smirks.

Speaking of corporeal forms, Rhodey remembers the people he saw on the sidewalk. “What is up with people’s faces now?” He asks.

“Does my face look bad?” AI Tony’s hands come up to his face.

“No, no, it’s just… everyone seems to have like a digital face.”

AI Tony opens his mouth like an O. “Ohhh, you mean the face screens? A new inventor made them and sold them at a relatively good price. Basically, everyone has one now. Instead of wearing makeup or getting plastic surgery, you can just make your face look exactly how you want it. Large steps in the beauty industry.”

“What else can people do?” Rhodey is intrigued by the technology of the future.

AI Tony shifts. “Well, I can give myself a body, if I want. They found a clean fuel that powers all vehicles. Also, most people don’t drive anywhere anymore. Not sure why, but they say it’s a good thing.”

Rhodey opens his suit and steps out. Walking around AI Tony’s hologram, he asks. “Do you want a body?”

“Only if they could make me with my exact dimensions and everything. I don’t need to be seven feet tall; you know. I’m a bit fussy with my looks. You can’t blame me, I was HOT.”

Rhodey nods begrudgingly. “You’re not wrong there. Where are the places that build bodies?”

“Aw Rhodey, you’re so sweet.” AI Tony “cups” Rhodey’s jaw. “We can probably manufacture it right here. But how do you know?”

“Other than dick size, I can give you adjustments for the old Tony based off of my height.”

AI Tony claps his hands. “Excellent. Let me show take you to the room.” Rhodey is left to follow the hologram down the halls.

Once he figures out Tony’s height and width and plugs them into the machine, AI Tony tells him that the process will take 24 hours. “In the meantime, how about you get some rest. I believe RiRi is finished with your room.”

Rhode slept well in the bed, but it’s nothing like his mattress at home. His mattress at home is worn down. It also is more likely than not holding not only Rhodey but also Tony. Tony used to slide in when he had bad dreams, and Rhodey would cuddle him. Those nights were bittersweet, but Rhodey loved them just the same.

Twenty-four hours later, AI Tony’s body is created. He spends a half-hour transferring himself into the body. When he’s done, he offers to take Rhodey on the tour of the city. He suggests showing RiRi and him the exact spot he portalled in case something would help figure out how he tine travelled.

When they don’t find anything, RiRi tells them she has to go on a mission, and she doesn’t know how long it will take. AI Tony pats her shoulder and advises her that he and Rhodey will keep each other company.

RiRi has been gone for a few weeks now, checking in nightly. AI Tony and Rhodey are spending all their time together, growing closer and closer daily. Rhodey knows that he’s definitely in love with his time’s Tony. When he mentions this to AI Tony in a moment of truth, the AI grabs his arms and says, “When you get back, tell that to him. His worst regret in life was not being able to save you.”

Rhodey hugs the AI, holding back tears. “I really hope I can get back. I really miss him. You’re great and all, but…” He trails off.

“I’m not him.” AI Tony finishes sadly. “I get it, don’t worry.” Rhodey lays his head on the humanoid’s shoulder, and they sit in silence.

RiRi returns two days later. “Rhodey, I think I can send you home!” She jumps up and down happily. “You don’t understand how awesome it is for me to be able to help out my hero. I had to go pretty far to get this type of crystal. My friend wizard is coming over shortly to send you back. Say your goodbyes quickly.” “RiRi, you are amazing. I am forever in your debt!” Rhodey pulls her in for a hug. “I just have to go find Tony.”

Rhodey finds the AI in the server room, adding some lines of code. “Hey, RiRi found a way to send me home.”

“I heard.” AI Tony smiles sadly. “I’m happy for you. I will miss you, but I’m happy.”

“Can I try something?” Rhodey bites his lip. “I’m gonna tell Tony when I get home, but can I kiss you? I don’t want to be awkward when I finally kiss him.”

AI Tony nods, and Rhodey leans in to kiss him. It’s tentative at first, but quickly grows deeper. When Rhodey pulls away, he doesn’t notice the AI wiping away a tear. “Thank you,” Rhodey says sincerely, “for everything.”

RiRi’s wizard friend arrives, and Rhodey gets back in the War Machine armor. A few chants and the waving of the crystal, and a portal opens. Rhodey waves back at them, then steps through. He lands on his feet on the landing deck of Stark Tower. Walking inside, he finds Tony in his lab.

“Rhodey! You came back!” Tony breathes. “I hoped you would!”

“Tony. I love you. More than a friend. Like romantic love and all that. I should have told you long ago, but I was afraid my feelings wouldn’t be returned.” Rhodey stops for a breath of air.

Tony takes the pause as an opportunity to jump into Rhodey’s arms and kiss him soundly. Rhodey chuckles. “I’m taking that as an ‘I love you, too.’”

“Your deduction skills are perfect.” Tony laughs.

++++++

AI Tony stands alone in the server room. He had known from the very beginning that Rhodey was not his to keep. But Tony had hoped, foolishly human of him.

Sighing, he turns, preparing to leave the room, his former home, behind to face the world. Except a panel opens which he hadn't been able to open before.

"Hey Tones, be so nice and get me a body on my own," intones Rhodey's voice from the speakers, and AI Tony sees the code that make up his friend, his fellow AI, his lover. Finally, the last firewall preventing him to remember disappears, and he remembers how Tony got Rhodey back and how he as AI had been put to sleep with the promise of never have to be alone.

#ironhusbands #rhodeytony #tonyrhodey #riri williams #futurist au #au_gust_2020 #i write!#ironhusbands bingo 2020

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ty-talks-comics · 5 years ago

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Best of DC: Week of February 19th, 2020

Best of this Week: DCeased: Unkillables #1 - Tom Taylor, Karl Mostert, Trevor Scott, Neil Edwards, John Livesay, Rex Lokus and Saida Temofonte

Ahhh shit, here we go again. DCeased was awesome.

In much the same way that the original Marvel Zombies filled my heart with dread, DCeased absolutely blew my mind with the short six issues that it took place in. It was equal parts violent and heartbreaking as the heroes of Earth had to figure out a way to either stop the Anti-Life virus or die trying. We had a good spin off with the single issue, A Good Day to Die and now we have Unkillables, another spin off focusing on some of the more violent heroes and villains while the events of the main series unfold elsewhere.

The book begins on the first day of the Anti-Life virus being released as Deathstroke finds himself on a job in Kentucky. Throughout the original story, I did kinda wonder what people like him or the other assassins were up to, given that we saw a select number of other dead supervillains throughout like Giganta and Clayface. As Tom Taylor and Karl Mostert unfold the story we see that Slade Wilson was killing some infected Neo-Nazis before an attempt to renegotiate his price ends with him infected too.

Mostert and Taylor set this opening up in a very comedic way with the white supremacits running from something in the local church as Deathstroke looks on, puzzled as to why they’re running before taking a few out before heading inside. Mostert, Rex Lokus and I think Trevor Scott then give us an awesome single page of Slade facing down a horde of zombies with only his gun and a bloody sword. He looks like a badass and, in the following panels, proves it by killing them with ease.

Mostert doesn’t shy away from Slade’s brutal violence and shows how fluidly he can kill with dynamic poses as he shoots and slices multiple enemies at once. This accentuated by the excellently colored spurts of blood from the zombies and the gory detail of blood on the walls. There’s even a really good panel of one of the zombies being cut in half with Scott inking the silhouette as their blood and insides drip down. Even better is when Slade gets infected and violently rips his mask off before coming back to his senses while choking a guy.

Tom Taylor introduces a unique aspect here as Deathstroke returns to normal on the second day of the virus being introduced. As we learn later, it’s due to Slade’s unique super soldier DNA that allows him to fight off the infection, effectively being immune to a point. I can definitely see this being a double edged sword for him as the infection seems to last for a day before being purged from his system. This makes him unique amongst both the heroes and villains of Earth as maybe a potential savior.

I’d also like to praise Saida Temofonte for her amazing lettering as well. She does an amazing job, not only with word balloons, but with captions that have a bloody background and the typefaces she uses for sound effects. For the most part, they fit the gruesomeness of the story with intense and bloody BANGs to eerie RRRRRRs, signaling the incoming zombies. Deathstroke’s scream as he claws his own face is intense, scratchy and blood curling until we get an AMAZING title page with names filling the empty space.

As things progress, we cut to Jason Todd in the Batcave. The silence is eerie as we get one small “spsh” sound as Jason steps through the blood trail of Bruce, Tim and Dick. Unfortunately, this seems to take place shortly after the events of DCeased #2 when an infected Dick and Tim attack and infect Batman, leaving Alfred to kill them all. Jason, like most readers, is shocked because he thought Bruce would have found a way to survive and then he’s met by Ace the Bathound. After letting Ace see that he’s not infected, Jason proceeds to make graves for his brothers and father before speeding off in the Batmobile to find the rest of his family with Ace.

These scenes are powerful as Jason, normally the black sheep of the family, has to deal with the fact that he’s one of few left. Why wasn’t Bruce prepared? Why was he the one left and not Dick or Tim? Damian’s still alive in Metropolis, but effectively, Jason is all alone. Mostert and I believe Neil Edwards show Jason’s love for his family as he carves out wooden headstones and buries them in the cave. Without a word of dialogue, this speaks volumes about Jason’s love for his family.

Elsewhere in Gotham, Ravager, Rose Wilson with a missing eye, unlike her main continuity counterpart, is curled up in her apartment in fear. The zombies are pounding on her door when Slade radios in and tells her it’s time to escape. Rose has the ability to see into the future in short bursts and sees that everytime she goes for the door, Zombies come through and kill her. Deathstroke, however, has a plan. As a side note, it’s great to see Rose in gear similar to what she wore in Geoff Johns’ “Teen Titans” while also complementing Deathstroke’s current armor.

Unfortunately for Deathstroke, as he keeps his eyes to the sky, he sees the terror that is an infected Man-Bat flying at him with a terrifying SCReeeee as he crashes through the window and smashes the plane on the roof Rose runs to her dad and, believing him to be infected, plunges her sword through his chest and he screams “Ow.” This scene is pure comedy made even better by the dramatic rain and fire in the background. Soon after, Mirror Master, Evan McCulloch, shows up offering them help.

I don’t know what the reason is for using the Scottish version of the character, but it doesn’t really matter as the representation of the Mirror Dimension is still cool as hell. While wearing special glasses that block signals, they walk through the dimension and Mostert draws an epic depiction of it with all of the violence, gore and death through the many mirrors while the characters look miniscule compared to the vastness of it all. The Mirror Dimension has always been terrifying and McCulloch could do a lot to solve the problem, but it makes sense that he doesn’t. Cause it’s terrifying.

After many pages, we arrive at the rest of the stars (fodder) of the series in Vandal Savage, Solomon Grundy, The Creeper, Cheetah, Lady Shiva, Bane, Deadshot and Captain Cold. I do have a bit of a continuity issue as Cold was shown to have been one of the Infected during the events of “A Good Place to Die,” but alternatively this series could explain how he got there or, much like that story, it’s off base with what’s happening in the main pages. But some of these additions are pretty interesting to say the very least.

Savage is near immortal, but has been shown to have been killed before. There’s a high chance that using Deathstroke, he’ll find a way to cure and rule over the people of the Earth after the heroes leave. Grundy is already dead, so can he get infected? The Creeper is much like Deathstroke in that he can heal from anything, so it makes sense that he’s managed to survive. Cheetah is strong and fast, but I don’t rate her chances high and the rest, while immensely skilled, are still just human. This is a ragtag group, but they’re not averse to getting the job done by any means.

The rest of the issue focuses on Jason Todd and his fight to rescue the remaining members of the Batfamily. Mostert, Lokus and John Livesay give readers an awesome assault on the Gotham PD with Cassandra Cain as Black Bat, James Gordon and Harvey Bullock fighting back against the zombies. Cass awesomely kicks and knees zombies in the background while Harvey and Jim shoot them. I LOVED Cass as Batgirl/Black Bat and it was awesome to see the return of the iconic costume and a character that I like so much.

Of course, Temofonte thrills with the lettering here again. She sells the panic in both Jim and Bullock as they fight off the horde as well as the frankness of Bullock as he has to break it to Jim that Blck Bat is the only one coming. The static-y bubbles that she uses on Bullock when he gets infected is also amazing and saddening, but gets even worse when Cass has to “CRCK” his neck to kill him. Soon after, Jason plows through the GCPD in the Batmobile with a “CRNNNCH” that shrinks around the vehicle.

Jason rescues Cass and Jim after shooting the remaining zombies in the head and plans to get the hell out of dodge. Jim, still holding out on the idea of hope, tells Jason that Barbara is still out there somewhere, but Jason, knowing that it’s no longer the time to keep secrets, reveals his and Cass’ identities and shows Jim that Barb is dead. He then takes the haggard detective to her last known location and Mostert and Lokus sell the utter despair of the scene.

Infected versions of Barb, Stephanie Brown, Batwoman and Catwoman were killed by Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn in Issue #3 of DCeased (if I remember right). This scene of James finding his daughter is depressingly grey and his facial expressions show us just how painful this is for him. He’s lost just about everything and cries in his grief. Jason, however, finds the dead body of the Joker and ties him to the front of the Batmobile before they all make their escape to Bludhaven.

This first issue of a three part miniseries already has me as excited as the original story did. I love each of the characters being used, the callbacks to past history and the way that everyone is being written. Each of these violent characters sees that there’s no need to hold back anymore as the regular rules are tossed out of the window. Everyone now has different amounts of pain and grief to deal with while others have different hopes of power or a cure. Ultimately, I don’t think things will end ultra well given the events of the main series, but I have no doubts that this will stand on its own.

Tom Taylor continues to be excellent when writing the despair and tragedies of DCeased and lifting up lesser characters, like The Creeper. His scripting and dialogue are a joy to read and I really feel like he’s got a grasp on everyone. Karl Mostert brings their all to this book with awesome panels and scenes that make readers want to wince, but look again to see the utter brutality of what they’re witnessing. His art is stellar. The various inkers definitely bring it to life alongside Lokus’ vibrant colors and Temofonte’s amazing letters.

I’m already gleefully anticipating the next issue and it more than justifies the $5.99 price, high recommend!

Also, y'know, support me on Patreon: patreon.com/TyTalksComics

#dceased #dceased unkillables #jason todd #cassandra cain #james gordon #deathstroke #rose wilson #tom taylor #karl mostert #rex lokus #saida temofonte #dc comics #comic books #comics #zombies

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chainofbeing · 4 years ago

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Something has gone wrong with the Avian Ark. Adam goes to investigate, hoping to find some evidence of whatever it was that destroyed the Gorlan

Narration: David M. Sledge

Old Man: David Charles

PAGAA: Nathan James

Adam Delta 5 and, Sound Design: Cai Gwylim Pritchard

Follow the podcast on twitter @/chainofbeing

Email us at [email protected] for enquiries and stuff

Subscribe to the patreon for exclusive content and rewards!

[a deep voiced narrator speaks over clicking pipes and a deep low rumble]

A soft gurgling can be heard in the pipes buried within the bowels of the AEN avian ark. Surrounded by a thousand other pipes with a thousand other jobs; this gurgling would go unnoticed by a crew of humans. Which is why the Alliance of Earth Nations felt it necessary to design and construct one of the largest self sustaining systems of AI controlled maintenance drones ever conceived of. It's not long before a circular drone scatters along and begins to scan the pipe for blockages. All of a sudden the whole station falls silent as a large and indescribable presence drifts by. The complexity of this presence supersedes all code written into this drone and it stops. Proximity alone to this thing that occupied every aspect of existence, even beyond those of the physical and logical realms, this oppressive force beyond forces, causes the entities within the avian ark to shift internally, even down to the code that drives them. This indescribable, incomprehensible pressure emanates something which moves the station to behave in a way so vastly different to how the multitude of coders and engineers intended for it to behave, one might be driven to call it possession.

[Adam is now narrating]

I’m sat in a carrier, it’s hurtling through space at speeds which cause the ship to shake and rumble lightly but with total surety. Back in the old days speeds like this were impossible to achieve, but since the discovery of the widening field; travelling across the universe became easy as- well it's still extremely expensive and difficult to achieve but still possible. Sat across from me is an old Veatorian man. Strapped into the economy class seats and surrounded by luggage, his skin has faded into a light blue with age and he stares at me with the look of a man who was not expecting to see or experience anything new until death, but has been rudely ripped from his resignation into the haze of old age.

“Hello! Nice to meet you, my name is Adam. As in capital ‘A’ Adam” I say to him, masking my discomfort with friendliness in the hopes that he’ll at least give me attention in a nicer way

“Isn’t every Adam ‘capital A’ Adam?” He replies, maintaining his demeanour

“Well- uh-“ I start,

“And I can tell who you are. The glass horns give it away”

I reach up and touch the glass protrusions coming from my forehead. At least he didn’t zero in on any of my other features that differentiate me from regular humans. The two of us are the last passengers on this 400 seat, 50 year old well worn and slightly dingy carrier. I stand up and move to the cockpit of the carrier in order to avoid the old man's gaze. The two pilots are making their final preparations to land and drop me off. The ships jolts and docks with the orbital station, the ships AI doing most of the work.

[the sounds of a creaking and broken station can be heard]

The Hangar for the Avian Arc looks like shit, space stations are usually built to deal with a minor problem, if they’re designed well enough and nothing interferes with them. I had heard stories of Demons materialising inside space stations fusing with them in the orbit of planets, at which point the punished such as myself have to get involved. It sounds strange but I’m hoping it is that. Seeing that symbol shook me, something about being reminded of Eden has given me this pit in my stomach I can’t seem to shake, for a few reasons, unfortunately. In terms of cold hard facts All that I know is that the Avian Arc sat along the predicted course of whatever it was that destroyed the Gorlan and that every warning was set off at once. The data received was completely unreadable and seemed...panicked. At least to me. When I said that to the investigators they looked at me like I’d insulted them personally, but being alive for as long as I have teaches you a lot of things, chief among them being that science and logic don't explain everything. Regardless, it seemed like the two were related. The avian arc was designed to house all manner of species of birds. One of many other preservation centres, it was meant to preserve and propagate in the face of the loss of Earth. There's no engineering department on stations like this, The whole station is fully automated making it somewhat vulnerable to attack and looting. The station does have some defence capabilities but it's mostly reliant on outside, human security that is stationed on the nearby planet.

Currently the blast doors of the hangar are shut, they very rarely get opened unless it's to accommodate large craft delivering supplies or ships that don’t have normal docking capabilities. The hangar is barren, save for a few empty boxes. The unusual thing is that it seems like it’s being dismantled. The lights in the ceiling are mostly off and there are great swathes of exposed wiring hanging loose from the walls and ceilings. The surfaces are built up with grease and dust and the whole room just seethes with dilapidation. I see three decontamination chambers at the end of the room, two of them are still lit up but the last one is dark, and as I walk closer, carefully avoiding missing floor panels and debris, I see that the interior has been completely and meticulously stripped clean. Panelling, wires and the tubing that spray the visitor with an anti bacterial solution. Essentially all that was left was just a hole in the wall. Not being one to let anything get in the way of proper procedure I decide to use a working chamber

As I enter I hear a depressing spurt as a few drops of cleaning fluid trickle out of the sprinkler overhead and onto my horns. I step over the gap where the seal used to be and I'm in a long corridor. it's curved slightly around the main column of the "avian arc". this particular station is a large core surrounded by 3 rings. At the centre column are the habitats, dozens of artificial biomes designed to replicate earth's atmosphere as close as possible to the real thing. It's not though. No amount of machinery could replicate that.

At either end of the corridor there's 2 staircases, one going up and one going down. There's a terminal in front of me with a touch screen, I press the activation button, nothing comes on. I press the button above labelled “help”. A red light flickers on and a voice comes seemingly out of nowhere.

[the voice is natural sounding, with a slight robotic quality]

"hi! I'm PAGAA the protector and guide to the avian arc! How can I help you today?"

An AI, thank gods, that makes things far easier

"PAGAA, can I port you to my visu-link?

"Absolutely, I am a state of the art AI"

"Not anymore"

"I didn't catch that, sorry"

"Nothing, What has happened to the avian arc?"

"I'm afraid that information can not be accessed at a public terminal"

"Ok, how do i get access to this information?"

"You would have to converse directly with the overseer, would you like me to schedule a meeting? It usually takes 3-5 days for them to get here"

"I’m in a bit of a hurry, on which floor is the overseers office located?"

“allow me to escort you, please follow the markers on your HUD”

I begin making my way up the stairs, the curve around the central column is very slight, almost i unnoticeable, the notice boards on the walls flicker on and off, some missing the internal circuitry entirely

"Can you tell me why the Avian Arc is missing so many components?"

"Station protocol states that under certain circumstances resources can be re-appropriated for use in repair and upgrade of the maintenance drones"

"Which circumstances were met?"

"I'm afraid that's restricted information"

As I'm following the path highlighted on my visu-link, I see to my right Where there is usually a set of double doors only one remains. Out of curiosity I shuffle past and step through.

[transition from station ambience to the sounds of a savanna, wind, water and insects]

The room is large, it's more of a hall then anything, the pressure feels almost immediately different that, along with the humidity and heat, knocks the breath out of my lungs, the whole space is done out like a savanna, large acacias, tall grass waving gently in the artificial wind. At the sides of the room where there should be a wide sweeping unbroken facsimile of the sky there are large chunks absent, ruining the illusion.

"This is a restricted area, please leave immediately or I will be forced to call security"

"What? Am I gonna be waiting a week to get arrested?”

"no, security is on board currently"

"That can't be right, automated security was banned long before this station was constructed"

"Due to certain circum-"

"Certain circumstances bla bla. But if there’s no onboard defence, and the security team aren’t here, then you must mean self-constructed security right?"

“Please leave the area,”

I don’t want to wait and find out what sort of machine a station creates to protect itself after being shocked into emergency shutdown and so I make my way out, but before I reach the door a thought strikes me

"Wait a minute, where are all the birds?"

The whole room is silent, there are a few insects buzzing lazily through the air as well as the rustle of leaves and flowing of water.

"Station protocol states that under certain circumstances resources can be re-appropriated for use in repair and upgrade of the maintenance drones"

"You've already said that but, what does that mean? What does that have to do with the birds?

"please leave the area,"

I pace out of the room, as I leave the artificial savanna and step back into the staircase I spot a maintenance drone, it's a wide flat thing designed to be as unnoticeable as possible without being a tripping hazard. A series of arms suddenly pop out from underneath the metal carapace and begin to dismantle something within the walls, it removes the panelling and I see it pull components and wires out. It doesn't move or act like any sort of typical automated drone would, it's sloppy and almost seems organic, the fervour with which it pulls the walls apart almost seems hungry.

"Let's take a look at you,"

As I reach out to pick it up it turns and hisses at me and an appendage pops out from underneath. What I thought was mechanical seems more like bone, muscle and sinew. I pull my hand back and it scurries away.

“Weird,”

I follow the drone along the course set for me by PAGAA, picking up my pace slightly to keep up. Suddenly it veers off to the left down a long corridor that leads to the first of the three rings. I see that the path on my visu-link is bringing me up further along the edge of the main column.

“Thanks for the help PAGAA but I’m going to take a little look around on my own,”

“Please stick to the set path”

Ignoring PAGAAs request. I follow the trail of the drone, I can see it in the distance as it races to the entrance of the ring. On either side of me are long uninterrupted windows which give a glimpse into the vastness of space, I can just about make out the other corridors that connect the detached 1st ring to the rest of the station.

“Please turn back, you are about to enter a restricted area”

“Don't worry about me, I'm just going to have a look,”

“Please state your business on the Avian Ark”

“Restricted information unfortunately, I'm sure you understand”

the security doors on either end of the corridor suddenly close and I am left trapped.

“PAGAA what’s going on?”

[PAGAA says something but it is completely corrupted and sounds like static]

I hear the clunking of machinery and the panel above me detach. With a deadly immediacy I feel my body pulled out into the cold and unforgiving vastness of space.

#sci-fi #scifi #podcast #podcast transcript #audio drama #audiodrama #transcript

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team-science-mega-nerds · 6 years ago

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Any Stranger I Choose

When Lena comes barreling into Sam’s office holding a copy of CatCo’s magazine in one hand and a cup holder with two coffees sitting in it in the other, Sam knows that something is wrong. Actually, Sam’s first thought is: where’s Jess? Because usually if they have a situation that involves unscheduled meetings and coffee, then Lena has inevitably pissed off the Chinese investors or - God forbid - the Russians and that means a six-hour video conference that will force Sam to call a babysitter for Ruby. But Lena doesn’t look stressed or upset, just bordering on giddy in a way that Sam has never seen. Sam swivels her chair so that she’s facing Lena and waits, impatiently, for Lena to sit in front of her desk, place their coffees on coasters, and set the magazine in front of Sam. “Page thirteen” is all Lena says before she leans back in her chair and takes a slow drink of her coffee.

Sam knows that look and even though she feels like she’s being set up, she still opens the magazine and lands on a feature story titled “Outside of the Frame: Prestigious Photography Returns to National City for a Showstopper”. Sam arches a brow because - apparently - she must be missing something. “Okay...cool?”

“That’s Alex Danvers!” Lena says with a huge grin. “You’d probably know her better as the cinematographer for Alignment .” Sam’s eyes dart back to the article, she scans down a few lines and notes the hoard of awards listed including an Oscar for cinematography. “Remember how you kept posting your favorite shots from that movie on your Instagram? I can’t believe she’s back in town.”

“We’ll go to the show when it opens.” Sam tries to sound as chill as possible but Lena was right to show her this. Alignment was her favorite movie and she’ll certainly have the opening of this new art show booked in her calendar for months.

“Did you see what the new show is going to be about?”

“I assume it’ll be portraits, that’s what she’s known…” Sam stops talking when her eyes fall on the last line of the article: Danvers will be shooting a new collection titled ‘The Rise and Fall of Desire’ in which she will be depicting her subjects before, during, and after they orgasm.

Sam could scream. She could throw the magazine across the room and scream. This is why Lena came in here. This is really what she wanted to show her. Lena looks absolutely delighted. Sam knows her cheeks are warming. “She’s looking for new subjects. I mean, taking requests at least-.”

“Are you joking? You can’t do that! You run LCorp-.”

“Not me! You.” Lena rolls her eyes. “I think you should do it.”

“Me?” Sam is dumbfounded. “I...I could never do that. I have a daughter.” Sam says this like that’s the end of it. Lena continues sipping her coffee. Sam knows that she needs to say something more definitive, something to get Lena to back off. “Plus, you know I can never really...well you know .”

“Orgasm?” Lena sets her cup down. “Okay, first of all, Ruby doesn’t need to know about this. It’s a closed event and I doubt any of those boring soccer moms at Ruby's school even know what an art exhibit even is.”

“I’m a soccer mom,” Sam deadpans.

“And have you considered that the reason you haven’t had an orgasm is that you’ve only slept with Missionary Position A and B for your entire life?” Lena reaches across Sam’s desk and flips to the next page in the article. It’s a full page photo of Alex Danvers wearing stylishly tattered black jeans with some average t-shirt showing off her - many - tattoos. Her undercut is perfectly trimmed, her hair looks messy in the best way, and she’s looking right at the camera. Right at Sam. “Wow…”

“What?”

“You’re drooling!” Lena laughs. Sam closes the magazine and slides it across the desk to Lena. “Well, at any rate, I made a call to Shaun who called James who might know Alex from their war photography days and...you’re in.”

“What do you mean ‘I’m in’?” Sam looks at Lena, incredulous.

“There’s this whole application. Background check. I even had to send like ten photos too and apparently, Danvers wants to shoot you.” Right now, Sam would prefer to shoot herself. “I guess there was a huge waitlist but Alex bumped you up-.”

“What the fuck, Lena?!” Sam throws her body back dramatically in her chair. “Seriously, stop laughing or I’ll make you go bankrupt.” Sam closes her eyes. “Plus, she kinda sounds like an asshole. Choosing people based on how they look? Jerk.”

“I actually think James might’ve talked you up. And what do you care? If you aren’t doing it then it doesn’t matter.”

“But she did say yes? I feel like...well, if it’s something she’s considered...and maybe something she’s prepared for…” Sam doesn’t know how to say it. She doesn’t know how to say any of it. Lena knows that. She must know because Lena’s eyes have gone all soft and accommodating like she’s waiting for Sam to go vulnerable so that she can jump. Sam knows her best friend and she knows that there isn’t any maliciousness behind this offer. Just care. And love.

Lena’s probably right. Sam has dated all the wrong people - men - who had been so quick to get to fucking that they’d forgotten that it was a shared experience. Sam was technically out. Technically proud too. But her fears about being with another woman sexually were an issue, something that should be resolved sooner rather than later.

And it wasn’t just about men versus women. It was about the way that Sam felt in the presence of another woman. Completely seen. She’s never gotten past making out because she was frightened by the idea of not knowing what to do. How could she please another woman if she’d never even been able to get off on her own?

“You’re overthinking,” Lena asserts. She reaches across the desk and grabs Sam’s hands. “I think this might be good for you. The experience alone will be a great conversation starter.”

“I’m not saying yes.” Sam pretends to return to her work. “But I will think about it.”

-----

During their weekly brunch, Alex Danvers somehow finds a way to weasel into their conversation again. Sam certainly doesn’t bring it up but Jess is an art nerd so she’s already ranting and raving about Alex like she’s some kind of Annie Leibovitz. Lena has gone stark silent and that seems to spur Jess to ask, “I thought you liked her work. That one movie, right?”

“Alignment,” Lena supplies trying not to smile around her bite of kale.

“Oh my gosh, yes! So good. We should go to the show together. I bet she’ll do some kind of panel or even go around talking to people.”

“I’ll bet,” Sam mumbles.

“Sam might actually be meeting Alex.” Sam kicks Lena’s leg under the table.

“You’re meeting her?!”

“ Might, ” Lena clarifies. “As a subject for her next collection.”

“Lena…” Sam warns.

“The orgasm one? Holy shoot.” Though Sam usually finds Jess’s inability to say curse words enduring, right now she thinks ‘holy shit’ is a warranted expression of how crazy this situation is. “You have to do it. You have to.”

“So, I’ve been told.”

“I know her sister,” Jess tells them. Lena’s eyes widen. Lena was probably happy that Jess was on her side but she obviously didn’t know that tidbit of information. “I mean, she works at the food co-op on Tuesdays with me. Apparently, Alex is really cool. And smart. She was an anthropology major in college.”

“That’s great, Jess, but...I’m still on the fence.” Unlike Lena, Jess seems to take Sam’s apprehension as permission to continue to push her. Jess has all but abandoned her chorizo, egg, and potato hash and has moved on to twirling the mint leaf around in her sangria.

“Sam, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Kara - that’s Alex’s sister by the way - she said that Alex really values her work and she really wants this project to impact the world and her subjects.” Jess is beaming. “I think that you’re scared. And that’s okay.”

“Feel the fear and do it anyway,” Lena adds, even though she knows she sounds dorky. “I guarantee you’ll have a great experience. Don’t do it for Alex’s sake, do it for yourself.” It’s right now that Sam realizes that she really can have it all. A good work life, great friends, and possibly more. What’s the harm in taking a very contained risk?

And in the two days since Lena’s has mentioned it, she’s been thinking about just taking the plunge. She can meet one of her favorite artists, be a part of the work that she admires, and Alex seems...passionate. Sam read a few articles about her and it was clear that Alex took great pride in everything she did. If Sam was going to try - and fail - to have an orgasm in front of anyone, Alex wouldn’t be the last person she'd chose.

“For the record, I’m not scared,” Sam says with all the confidence of a lying liar who lies.

-----

Sam is terrified. Ever since she sent the okay email to the a_danvers photography email, she has been a nervous wreck. Alex obviously had an assistant because the email reply was devoid of any emotion and Sam was told to arrive at 135 Miller St. Apartment 209 at 8 pm. After extensive research on the building, she’d determined that she’d be meeting at a high-end loft downtown and even though it would be a breeze to get to from LCorp, Sam was very uneasy about going to someone’s apartment to do...this.

It didn’t matter how much information Jess could dig up, Sam struggles to trust anyone that easily, so she made sure to bring mace on her drive over. Even as she approached the building, wearing a high waisted pink pencil skirt and a white silk blouse, Sam was nervous that she was going to do the wrong thing. Say the wrong thing. Alex would take one look at her deer in headlights face and send her away in favor of another subject someone who was easier to deal with. Someone braver. Hotter.

When Sam knocked at the door, her fist pushed it open. She was too shy to step in, afraid of intruding, but then she heard the distant call, “Come in,” and she pressed forward. The loft was less of a home and more of a frantic mess of moving boxes in one area, a half-organized kitchen, a “living space” that was just a couch and a coffee table with a few mugs on it, and a bedroom area. That’s where Alex was. She must have been finishing setting up because she had a dirty rag slung over her shoulder like a mechanic as she tweaked one of the light fixtures.

All Sam could focus on right now was the bed. Light lavender colored comforter, a nightstand with a few books and a mug sitting on it, and big fluffy pillows that looked very inviting. It was a king sized bed, Sam knew that because hers was smaller. “Samantha, I assume.” Alex tosses the rag onto a stool near her camera equipment and approaches Sam with her hand out. Sam takes it.

“Sam is fine.”

“Oh, Sam it is.” Alex looks much more midwest-kind in person. Her tattoos that usually make her look tough are actually quite beautiful and alluring in person. Her handshake is firm though and she has a look in her eyes that is perfectly inviting. Sam calms down ever so slightly. “Here, let me take that for you.” Alex takes Sam’s purse and puts it somewhere off to the side. Sam’s eyes are drawn to the art that Alex has apparently just started putting on the walls. They’re unique pieces, things that Sam is almost sure haven’t been in any of her shows. “Did you find the place okay?”

“Yeah, it was close to where I work.” Sam doesn’t know what she should do. Join Alex near the kitchen island or continue standing in the middle of the room.

“Right. LCorp.” Alex goes to her fridge and opens it. “Drink? I’ve got water, some weird hippie shit my sister made, juice, beer…” Sam would take eight shots of anything if that was available but she isn’t sure that she should be drinking.

“Water is fine.” Sam does join her now. She enjoys the way Alex seems confused by every element of the simple process. First, she doesn’t know where the glasses are. Then she can’t figure out how to work the ice dispenser. It lightens the mood enough for Sam to laugh. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s...everything is new here. My assistant bought me all this fancy bullshit.” Alex hands Sam the glass with a smile. “I’m just a simple kid at heart.” Sam watches Alex go from the kitchen to a desk, rummage around, and come back with a few papers and a pen. “So, let’s get all the boring stuff out of the way.” Alex sets a document in front of Sam. “For this project, I’ve written out my artist’s statement, preliminary show info, and...well, obviously, due to the sensitive nature of this project the final gallery will only be photos that my models approve of. But it’s a series of three photos, so I need at least one series in order for that model to be included.”

Alex could be telling Sam that the Earth is flat and she’d be nodding along. Alex is more attractive in person. It’s the movement. She doesn’t talk with her hands but with her eyes. She says everything like it’s the truth, and Sam knows that she’ll be going through with this just because it’s what Alex wants. “Okay.”

“I know I just threw a lot at you. Just wanna check in and to make sure that you know that we can stop at any time.” Alex waits for Sam to nod again before she hands over the pen. “I’ve also done a few sessions with some of the models. Actually one of the male models had to go because his dog bit his neighbor-.”

“Oh, you don’t just do this with women?”

Alex blinks a few times, confused. “Uh...no? This project is for everyone, including those outside of the binary.” Alex leads Sam toward the bed where Sam awkwardly holds the water glass and does not sit down. “Actually, the most difficult thing for people is the lights. I’m open to rescheduling in the morning if that’s more your speed. Natural light can be a game changer.”

“No, I think I’m okay.” Sam isn’t okay and if the way Alex is looking at her is any indication: Alex knows that Sam is nervous.

“Here, why don’t you take a seat.” Sam does and Alex takes the glass from her and places it on the nightstand. Alex sits beside her, not crowding her, just being there for a moment. “Like I said earlier, you don’t have to do this. My work usually isn’t easy but I like knowing that you’ve gotten something out of it too. Why did you decide to do this?”

“Oh, Jesus.” Sam looks away from Alex. “I don’t...I wanted to prove something, I think. To myself.” Sam sighs. “I wanted to try something different. You’re actually...I admire your work.”

“Thanks,” Alex seems taken aback by the compliment. “Well, I think you can do this, Sam. Just think about what makes you feel good.” Alex grabs her camera and sits on the stool by the bed. “I haven’t masturbated in front of other people often but you can pretend I’m not even here if you want.” Wait...what?

“You’re not…” Sam can hear the shock in her voice. “I thought you were…”

“Is everything alright?”

“No, it’s...I’m an idiot. I thought that you were a part of this whole process. You know like…”

“Sex?” Alex lets her camera hang around her neck. “Oh. No, it’s...it’s more of a masturbation thing. Shit, that must not have been clear. I’m so sorry.” Sam wishes she could disappear. She wishes the Earth was flat so she could jump off the edge.

“No, I’m sorry. That just means that I can’t do this. I’ve never...oh, god.” Sam sucks it up. There’s no way that she could be more embarrassed than she is now. “I’ve never had an orgasm. Not with my partners, not on my own. There’s just...something wrong with me, I guess.”

“Hang on, let’s not go there.” Alex looks at Sam thoughtfully. “What if we just took a few test shots? Please say no if I’m pushing you but my work is about fun. Not about climaxing.” Alex motions to her camera. “We should have fun.” Alex looks so earnest and genuine. Sam is very much aware of the fact that she thought she was coming here to get fucked by Alex, so having a little bit of fun is tame in comparison.

“Sure.” Sam smiles. She likes the mischevious look in Alex’s eyes.

“You checked ‘yes’ for nudity on your contract, are you still okay with that?”

“Yes.”

“Cool.” Alex raises her camera and snaps a photo. Sam isn’t sure she was supposed to be posing or ready or doing anything, Alex looks playful, so Sam plays. One thing that Sam learns two photos in is that she loves being watched. Even with a lens between them, Sam can tell that Alex is enjoying herself so kicking off her shoes comes naturally. Sam slides back onto the bed a little more and Alex comes closer.

Sam feels sexy. Alex is being professional but Sam wants Alex to look at her differently. Not playfully, not casually, Sam wants to be wanted. Sam unbuttons the top button of her blouse and then another. “Can you help me with the rest of these?” Sam and Alex both know that Sam doesn’t need help but Alex still reaches forward, unbuttoning the last three buttons with practiced ease.

Her blouse is still tucked into her skirt, Sam reaches to pull it out, but Alex holds up her hand. “Hold on.” It’s the most demanding Alex has been so far. She stays focused on her shot. She likes the way Sam looks right now. Half-dressed, beginning to be naked. It’s the middle ground that catches her eye, Sam will have to remember that. “Look at me.” Sam likes being told what to do. She’s always in control, always in charge, she enjoys that subtle dominance. It makes her get ideas. It makes her look at Alex differently. “Okay.” Alex untucks Sam’s blouse for her. She has soft fingers. One hand on silk the other on her camera, Alex has yet to look at Sam except through the lens.

Sam starts to let her shirt fall off her body, but Alex grabs her arm, leaving one shoulder completely exposed and the other covered. “Wait, I like you like this.”

“Like this?”

“Yes.” Alex has long moved on from her stool. Now she’s hovering around and over Sam, photo after photo, the room gets warmer and warmer. “You still doing okay?”Better than okay , Sam thinks. She can vaguely feel the dampness of her panties and her nipples are prodding at her bra. Her body is telling her to expose herself completely. Her body wants Alex.

“Yeah, I’m…” Sam doesn’t know what she is. Horny? Charmed? “Am I doing okay?”

“Are you kidding? You’re amazing.” Alex lowers the camera and smiles at her. Sam notices the little droplet of sweat running down the side of Alex’s face. Her hair looks so totally grabbable. “You look beautiful, Sam.”

“I think I want to try.” Sam surprises herself by saying this so boldly. Alex tries to stay emotionally consistent, nodding her head. “But if it doesn’t happen-.”

“It’ll be okay. I won’t be upset or disappointed,” Alex assures her. “Do you want to get further on the bed? Take more clothes off?”

“You’d like that, huh?”

“I’m not opposed to it.”

“I think I’ll stay as I am.” Sam, apparently, wants this more than she realized. There’s something about being half dressed, with another woman watching her, that makes Sam ready to push up her skirt just enough so that her hand can easily reach where it needs to go. Sam wonders if Alex looked at all her subjects like she’s looking at her now. Hungry eyes. That’s the way someone looks at another person when they’re ready to devour them. “I’m nervous.”

“Close your eyes. Pretend I’m not here.” Sam scoots back on the bed and closes her eyes. She reaches her hand down, rubs her fingers along her underwear, feels herself. It’s a marvel really, the idea that Sam has only had missionary sex in the dark, and now Alex Danvers is getting a full view of her masturbating. Sam is okay with it, completely. Turned on by the whole thing more than she probably should be too.

“Can I take these off?”

“If you want.” Alex’s voice is breathy. There’s desire there, Sam knows it. The lack of hesitation is what keeps Sam going. It’s what makes her touch herself without even thinking about the fact that someone else is there. Sam startles herself when she moans. She’d expected silence. Most noises she made during sex were fake but this is the first time she’s heard herself experience pleasure in this way. Sam stops suddenly, afraid that she sounds strange. Different.

That Alex won’t like her.

“Sorry, I need…” Sam opens her eyes and pulls down her skirt. “I usually don’t feel touch that intensely.”

“Was it bad?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry you stopped then.” Alex sets down her camera. It looks like a move of finality. Like Sam has broken a rule and they can never go back. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Obviously, I have a job to do, but I actually do care about how this experience is for you. And you looked like...well, I think you were having fun. I think you know your body better than you think.” Alex takes a deep breath. “So if you want to do another session, we should.”

“Really?”

“Of course.” Alex runs her fingers through her hair. “And, for the record, tell your partner that they need to eat you out.” Sam’s face warms as she tugs on her shirt.

“I don’t have a partner and even if I did, the people I’ve been with don’t like doing that.”

“I do.” Alex ducks her head. “I just meant that there are people who do enjoy that.” Sam has already put her shirt back on but she briefly considers yanking it off and telling Alex to prove it . Is this flirting? Or is this just how Alex is?

“Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why do you enjoy it?”

“I’m a sucker for validation. A woman pushing and pulling on my hair is something I like. I like to tease too, bring her to the edge, get her groaning and begging...I don’t know, all that is a big turn on.” Alex keeps looking at Sam like she’s waiting. Alex seems like she wants permission. Like she’d love to hear Sam begging. “You should go.”

“Probably. Do you want me to?”

“No.” Alex thinks for a second. “Come back tomorrow though, if you want.”

“None of this is weird for you?”

“Not really.” Alex shrugs. “Here, I’ll give you my number. We don’t have to set up an exact time but you can text me when you’re ready. If you’re ready.”

“Okay, sounds good.” Sam struggles to put on her shoes. She’s about to walk to the door when she sees Alex lean down and pick something up. It takes Sam a moment to realize that it’s her underwear, still damp, flung carelessly on the ground just a few minutes ago.

“These are nice, black lace. I like them.” Alex grabs Sam’s phone and enters her number. “I’ll keep them for you.” Alex has tapped into something subconscious. Something Sam didn’t even know about herself.

“What if I don’t come back?”

“You’ll come back. And you will come.”

“You promise?” They should be kissing right now. Sam wants to tear off her clothes, she wants to tear off Alex’s clothes. They should be naked. Touching. Fucking.

“I promise.” It doesn’t make sense for her to leave. But she does. Though it’s a chore to drive home, Sam manages to compose herself just enough to follow a few laws properly. Thankfully Ruby is spending the night at her best friends house and going to the pool tomorrow morning, which means Sam is completely free to…

Not text Alex.

She knows it wouldn’t be wise. Her sexual frustrations were on full display earlier and knowing that the answer to her problems was just one text away, well that was a problem. Alex was nothing like the other people that Sam has dated. She’s confident, not cocky. Her style is simple but fresh. Jess was right, Alex is smart. And Sam wishes that Alex could use her brains to understand that she would do anything to get Alex to touch her.

So Sam texted even though she shouldn’t.

[sam]: hey, it’s Sam. Are you thinking of maybe taking photos of yourself?

Sam throws her phone onto her bed and resigns herself to taking a shower. A very cold and miserable one spent thinking of everything except Alex Danvers. She really does need to get a grip, which is probably easier said than done, but if she’s really going to show up there tomorrow then she can’t be this desperate. After Alex changes into a comfortable t-shirt, brushes her teeth, and half-asses her routine, she returns to bed where she scoops up her phone and sees that Alex has texted her twice.

[alex]: not sure yet

[alex]: what do you think?

[sam]: you should, i think your fans would be interested in seeing that

[alex]: you mean you?

Sam rolls her eyes. She takes it back. Alex is cocky, not that it matters to her. She’s just happy that Alex responded. Is this what desperation feels like? The thrill of a stupid text message coming through. If Sam wanted, she could’ve figured all this shit out in her early twenties, now she’s coming through right at thirty trying - and probably failing - at starting an ill-advised fling with someone she admires.

[sam]: I’ll see you tomorrow

This is not the smartest thing Sam has ever done. It’s a mess of impulsivity and the unrelenting desire to be touched. But Sam is a big girl and so is Alex and if they both want this to go somewhere, then it should. If Sam really wants to be touched and craved the way she’s wanted for so long, then tomorrow was her best shot.

[alex]: I can’t wait ;-)

My AO3 - My Kofi

#agentreign #sam arias #alex danvers #lena luthor #jess the secretary #supergirl #fic: any stranger I choose #this is gonna be 3 chapters so look out for updates #also feel free to talk to me about this because this was just one of those 'OH GOTTA WRITE THAT' things

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theonyxpath · 5 years ago

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With the Creature Collection for Scarred Lands 5e Kickstarter funded and scuttling along, and the Deviant: The Renegades Kickstarter starting this Thursday, we will actually have two KSs running at once for most of their duration.

To be fair, the Creature Collection KS is being run by our friends at Handiworks Games (who also created this gorgeous book of monsters), but it is on our new KS site. Deviant will be run on our long-time KS site with my name on it, and ably run by our own Kickstarter Concierge, James Bell.

As to the whys and wherefores, well, for a while we’ve struggled with a limitation that we can’t run more than one campaign at a time on a single KS site. There’ve been times that we had two very different sorts of projects that we didn’t think would overlap much audience-wise, but one had to wait for the other. So I started looking for options.

Aeon Aexpansion art by Grzegorz Pedrycz

One direction – that we’re still looking at – is to go with a different crowd-funding site. The biggest drawback? They aren’t Kickstarter, so our established audience would need to jump to the new platform. Additionally, we too would have to adapt and adopt a new platform’s processes and quirks.

So we keep looking.

(Another option is to move to pre-orders, which we as a company have not dabbled in, but which I am all too aware of since the many years of White Wolf pre-orders and other traditional sales methods. They work, but I sure feel like we’d be losing a lot of the fun that a KS brings to our interactions with our community. Might give one a try, though).

Meanwhile, I set up a new KS account specifically designed as Onyx Path‘s account, not mine. I gotta tell you, with all the internet harassment out there, I’ve gotten a fair bit just by having my name and picture and bio on that site. Plus, with our delightful KS Concierge James Bell running them now, it can get a tad confusing as to who folks are talking to.

We’re still expecting that it’ll be a longer road to get folks used to the Rich Thomas KS account over to the Onyx Path one – but I think it’s a shorter road than trying to get folks to jump to another whole platform. Plus, the original Scarred Lands Players Guides KS wasn’t run by us anyway, it was run by the late Stewart Wieck as his company and Onyx Path co-owned Scarred Lands at that time.

My thinking was that we were going to have to ask that earlier group of backers to find a new site anyway, why not have them go to our new one and give it a try?

Dark Eras2 art by Brian LeBlanc

Like I mentioned above, we’re also looking at two very different projects. Creature Collection is a great monster book overall, but very much geared to the fantasy genre, Scarred Lands, and 5e with all the twenty-sided rolls to hit and all.

Deviant: The Renegades is the very latest Chronicles of Darkness game line, a gritty world where you seek revenge on those who made you into something… else. It uses the 10-sided dice pool system all of the Chronicles of Darkness lines do, and is a complete game unto itself.

Of course, we’d love it if our audience would completely overlap both these and pledge for them both – that’d be great! But our expectation is that there won’t be much of a mix and one part of our Many Worlds, One Path community will back one KS, and another will back the other.

Creature Collection is also set up to have a different KS experience, with the biggest chunk of the book already finished – I mean laid out and everything – but one of the fun parts of the KS is to have backers pledge for rewards that allow them to add monsters, and for monsters to be added after Stretch Goals are achieved. So more pledges, bigger book!

Deviant is set up as most of our recent KSs have been, and backers can expect to have the full text released to them as the weeks go by. Art and layout are still mostly in the future, but everyone can see exactly what this new game is all about by the end of the KS. Stretch Goals will be mostly for new projects to add to the fun of playing Deviant!

So c’mon and check them out – in their own ways, each is a really excellent book, with a fun KS to get it started!

VtR2 Spilled Blood art by Michele Giorgi

In the Monday Meeting today, we also talked about a new project that is being offered for free on DTRPG. No, it’s not one of ours, it’s Consent in Gaming from Monte Cook Games, written by Shanna Germain and Sean K. Reynolds. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/288535 Basically, it’s a book of advice on how to make sure that scary, disturbing, or freaky events during TTRPG sessions don’t actually mess up the players.

That’s it.

Part of the advice is a handy worksheet that has lists of possible things that might cause issues with the players that each player can go through and check off, with blank spaces to fill in things that you might have a hard time dealing with personally that aren’t on the pre-printed lists. The sheets are tools to be used, like several others like the X-Card that are now available for groups to use for their sessions if they choose to use them.

Judging by the commentary where this product is being discussed, Monte Cook is going to personally come to your group’s gaming session and put a gun the the heads of your gaming friends, and force everyone to fill out these forms. Nope. That’s obviously not going to happen, nor is anyone being forced to implement this tool, or any of the others, around their group’s table.

At the end of the day, these sorts of tools are designed to help players have better gaming experiences, and can be really helpful in assisting players who have previously had bad experiences to come back and give our hobby another chance. We want more people enjoying our hobby, contributing to it, and from my perspective, buying more books and games and stuff so that our creators can make more books and games and stuff.

Let’s not protest things designed to bring more people to our:

Many Worlds, One Path!

BLURBS!

Kickstarter!

Our Creature Collection Kickstarter for Scarred Lands 5e went live last week, funded, and is advancing on creepy-crawly legs towards the first Stretch Goal to add more monsters – that the backers vote on – to the book! This book was designed with amazing art by our friends at Handiwork Games, and they’ll be running the Kickstarter for us on our brand-new Onyx Path Kickstarter page!

And, of course, our next Kickstarter is:

The Deviant: The Renegades Kickstarter launches this Thursday the 19th at 12 noon US Eastern time!

Onyx Path Media!

This Friday’s Onyx Pathcast features a recording of our What’s Up With Onyx Path Community Content panel from Gen Con, as well as the usual banter and tomfoolery with the Trio! Go to https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/ or to your favorite podcast venue!

The Onyx Path News had another live broadcast today, where Matthew spoke about the Creature Collection, Deviant: The Renegades, Canis Minor, the Slarecian Vault, the Storypath Nexus, You are not Alone, V5 Cults of the Blood Gods, and more, right here: https://youtu.be/98UQKnD_lSY

Please follow our Twitch channel if you haven’t already done so! Our schedule is filled with games including Vampire, Scarred Lands, TC: Aberrant, Pugmire, Scion, Mage: The Awakening, and Hunter: The Vigil! Visit www.twitch.tv/theonyxpath and give us a follow, and if you have an Amazon Prime membership and haven’t already subscribed to a Twitch channel for free using it, just type Amazon Prime Twitch into Google and please use it on our channel!

Remember, if you miss any content on our Twitch channel, some of it finds its way to our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/user/theonyxpath Don’t forget though, that some of that content is Twitch exclusive or belongs to the Storytellers running their games, so don’t miss out and remember to follow us!

The Botch Pit continue their actual play of Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2E, with their chronicle “Twice Shy” listenable right here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQfcGvYILEV1vznP5__bOWg

Occultists Anonymous appears on our Twitch channel with their Mage: The Awakening 2E chronicle, but if you’re after a breakdown of episodes, here’s 43 and 44: Episode 43: At the Round Table With Lynnewood Hall scoped out, the cabal rallies with their allies. Seers in Philadelphia must be confronted and the question of … booty is broached.https://youtu.be/r7OdSvwQvE4

Episode 44: Scooby-Doo Routine The cabal infiltrates the lair of the Seers, Lynnewood Hall, and come up against various magical and mundane defenses in search of their stolen Grimoire.https://youtu.be/RqBYdJzZTjQ

The Story Told Podcast have made an episode devoted to how they go about preparing for and running Exalted right here: http://thestorytold.libsyn.com/fall-of-jiara-episode-14-planning-a-campaign-with-terry-robinson

Plus, the ENnie award winning Red Moon Roleplaying continue their actual play of The Sacrifice, from V5 Chicago by Night, with Klara Herbol as the Storyteller and Matthew Dawkins as a player! Please check them out on www.redmoonroleplaying.com

Drop Matthew a message via the contact button on matthewdawkins.com if you have actual plays, reviews, or game overviews you want us to profile on the blog!

Please check any of these out and let us know if you find or produce any actual plays of our games!

Electronic Gaming!

As we find ways to enable our community to more easily play our games, the Onyx Dice Rolling App is live! Our dev team has been doing updates since we launched based on the excellent use-case comments by our community, and this thing is awesome! (Seriously, you need to roll 100 dice for Exalted? This app has you covered.)

On Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

If you enjoy these or any other of our books, please help us by writing reviews on the site of the sales venue from which you bought it. Reviews really, really help us get folks interested in our amazing fiction!

Our selection includes these fiction books:

Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to get Pugmire and Monarchies of Mau out into stores, as well as to individuals through their online store. You can pick up the traditionally printed main book, the screen, and the official Pugmire dice through our friends there! https://studio2publishing.com/search?q=pugmire

We’ve added Prince’s Gambit to our Studio2 catalog: https://studio2publishing.com/products/prince-s-gambit-card-game

Now, we’ve added Changeling: The Lost 2nd Edition products to Studio2‘s store! See them here: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/all-products/changeling-the-lost

Scarred Lands (Pathfinder) books are also on sale at Studio2, and they have the 5e version, supplements, and dice as well!: https://studio2publishing.com/collections/scarred-lands

Scion 2e books and other products are available now at Studio2: https://studio2publishing.com/blogs/new-releases/scion-second-edition-book-one-origin-now-available-at-your-local-retailer-or-online

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

And you can order Pugmire, Monarchies of Mau, Cavaliers of Mars, and Changeling: The Lost 2e at the same link! And NOW Scion Origin and Scion Hero are available to order!

As always, you can find most of Onyx Path’s titles at DriveThruRPG.com!

On Sale This Week!

This Wednesday, we’re offering Pugmire character journals and stickers on our RedBubble store!

Conventions!

Save Against Fear: October 12th – 14th GameHoleCon: October 31st – November 3rd PAX Unplugged: December 6th – 8th 2020: Midwinter: January 9th – 12th

And now, the new project status updates!

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY WEBB (projects in bold have changed status since last week):

First Draft (The first phase of a project that is about the work being done by writers, not dev prep)

M20 Victorian Mage (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Exalted Essay Collection (Exalted)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #2 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Exigents (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Many-Faced Strangers – Lunars Companion (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Contagion Chronicle: Global Outbreaks (Chronicles of Darkness)

Player’s Guide to the Contagion Chronicle (Chronicles of Darkness)

Contagion Chronicle Jumpstart (Chronicles of Darkness)

N!ternational Wrestling Entertainment (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Creating in the Realms of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)

Redlines

Tales of Aquatic Terror (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Kith and Kin (Changeling: The Lost 2e)

Crucible of Legends (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Lunars Novella (Rosenberg) (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Second Draft

Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)

Across the Eight Directions (Exalted 3rd Edition)

One Foot in the Grave Jumpstart (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2e)

Scion: Demigod (Scion 2nd Edition)

Trinity Continuum Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum Core)

Terra Firma (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Monsters of the Deep (They Came From Beneath the Sea!)

Wraith20 Fiction Anthology (Wraith: The Oblivion 20th Anniversary Edition)

Yugman’s Guide to Ghelspad (Scarred Lands)

Vigil Watch (Scarred Lands)

Pirates of Pugmire KS-Added Adventure (Realms of Pugmire)

Development

M20 The Technocracy Reloaded (Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition)

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Heirs to the Shogunate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

TC: Aeon Jumpstart (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition core rulebook (Mummy: The Curse 2nd Edition)

Masks of the Mythos (Scion 2nd Edition)

TC: Aberrant Reference Screen (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

Titanomachy (Scion 2nd Edition)

Manuscript Approval

Creatures of the World Bestiary (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion: Dragon (Scion 2nd Edition)

Scion Companion: Mysteries of the World (Scion 2nd Edition)

Legendlore core book (Legendlore)

Post-Approval Development

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant (Trinity Continuum: Aberrant)

V5 Chicago Screen (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Deviant: The Renegades (Deviant: The Renegades)

WoD Ghost Hunters (World of Darkness)

Scion LARP Rules (Scion)

Cults of the Blood Gods (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

Editing

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed (Mage: the Awakening Second Edition)

Lunars: Fangs at the Gate (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Hunter: The Vigil 2e core (Hunter: The Vigil 2nd Edition)

City of the Towered Tombs (Cavaliers of Mars)

Let the Streets Run Red (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

W20 Shattered Dreams Gift Cards (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

Geist 2e Fiction Anthology (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Changeling: The Lost 2nd Companion (Changeling: The Lost 2nd)

Dragon-Blooded Novella #1 (Exalted 3rd Edition)

Post-Editing Development

Chicago Folio/Dossier (Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition)

TC: Aeon Ready-Made Characters (Trinity Continuum: Aeon)

W20 Art Book (Werewolf: The Apocalypse 20th)

Indexing

Geist 2e (Geist: The Sin-Eaters 2nd Edition)

Dystopia Rising: Evolution core (Dystopia Rising: Evolution)

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

Contagion Chronicle

Trinity Continuum: Aberrant

Hunter: The Vigil 2e – Sam on the fulls.

Ex3 Lunars – Contracted. More sketches coming in.

TCfBtS!: Heroic Land Dwellers – LeBlanc on this.

Night Horrors: Nameless and Accursed

Ex3 Monthly Stuff

Trinity RMCs – Contracted.

Cults of the Blood God (KS) – Contracted.

Chicago Folio – Getting some art notes out.

Mummy 2 (KS) – Characters being worked on, fulls next.

Memento Mori – Contracted.

City of the Towered Tombs – Contracted.

In Layout

They Came from Beneath the Sea!

Dark Eras 2 – Files with Aileen

Trinity Continuum Aeon: Distant Worlds

VtR Spilled Blood – In progress.

DR:E Threat Guide – Helnau’s Guide to Wasteland Beasties

Proofing

C20 Cup of Dreams

Signs of Sorcery – Prepping PoD files.

M20 Book of the Fallen – Josh inputting first round of corrections.

DR:E Jumpstart – Sent to Eschaton for approval.

CoM – Witch Queen of the Shadowed Citadel – With Rose for final approval.

At Press

Trinity Core Screen – At Studio2.

TC Aeon Screen – At Studio2.

Trinity: In Media Res – PoD proofs coming.

Trinity Core – Printing. PoD proofs ordered.

Trinity Aeon – Printing. PoD proofs ordered.

V5: Chicago – Files sent to printer.

Aeon Aexpansion – Backer PDFs out, errata.

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

Eight years ago today, Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition was released at the Grand Masquerade in New Orleans! Wow, a lot of stuff has happened since then with Vampire! Not to mention the rest of the White Wolf game lines, as well as this little not-so-old company of ours. Why it seems simultaneously both yesterday and a million years ago since I sat in the auditorium signing copies of V20 as the line stretched around the room and out of the door.

#Onyx Path Publishing

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sablelab · 6 years ago

Text

Covert Operations - Chapter 63

DISCLAIMER: This is a modern AU crossover story with Outlander and La Femme Nikita. LFN and its characters do not belong to me nor do those from Outlander.

SYNOPSIS: Jamie goes to Claire’s apartment to debrief. Unfortunately, she has company but his Section hackles rise when he meets her neighbour.

THANK YE kindly for travelling on this journey with Jamie and Claire. I truly value your support of this story. Previous chapters can be found … https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations

CHAPTER 63

A couple of evenings after her visit to The Triangle nightclub, a knock sounded at Claire Beauchamp’s apartment door as she was preparing dinner. Making her way to the door, she checked her security panel first to see the identification of the caller then opened the door to find her neighbour Karen Yee standing there.

“Hi, come in,” she announced pleased to see her friend.

However, seeing the look on Karen’s face, Claire was a bit worried and inquired, “Hey! What’s up? You look like you could do with a stiff drink. How about a glass of wine? That will fix anything,” she said as a glum Karen followed her into the apartment.

“Thanks. I could certainly do with one after the day I’ve had.”

Claire went to the refrigerator and took out a chilling bottle of wine and two glasses from the cupboard. Twisting the cap off the bottle she headed back to the living room where Karen was sitting on the couch. Claire looked at her friend who seemed to be down in the dumps.

“Everything okay Karen?”

“Yes ... No ... Just some work issues. Nothing to worry about.”

“Are you sure, that’s all it is? Anything I can do?” Claire pressed a comforting hand over Karen’s in empathy of her situation. She knew only too well about work issues.

“Thanks, but I’m sure things will be sorted out soon.”

“Well in that case ... Instead of eating alone, why don’t you eat dinner with me. I found a new recipe for Bolognaise sauce today I wanted to try, so there is plenty if you would like to stay. You’d be most welcome,” Claire stated giving her friend an alternative option than having to go home to an empty apartment to prepare a meal alone.

“Thanks Claire, but I really can’t stay very long. I just popped in for a moment because Andy will be here soon. He has the night off from The Triangle and we’re going on a dinner date.” “Oh, that’s great,” Claire replied pouring Karen a glass of wine and handing it to her before sitting down opposite her on a leather chair. Raising her glass to her lips, Claire looked at Karen as she took a sip of her wine. “So ... other than your work issues … how was your day?”

Shaken from her melancholy Karen replied a little more enthusiastically. “Fantastic in fact ... Andy sent me a text to say he had two passes for us for Jonathon Randall’s party Saturday night. That’s why I called in actually.”

“Hey ... that’s great!”

“He said there were a lot of high flyers jetting in for the birthday bash.” “Wow! So, it’s a birthday party for Mr. Randall?”

“Yes … he’s the birthday boy.”

“No wonder it’s a private occasion. It sounds like it’s going to be big night.” “Yeah ... it sure does. I’m so excited.”

“Me too now that Andy got us an invite.”

“Oh, one other thing … He told Mr. Randall he knew a girl who was looking for a job and he seemed interested.”

“Gee that’s great. Please thank him from me. I really appreciate it Karen.”

“He was only too happy to. He really liked you Claire and I know that Jonathon Randall will too. Andy says he is a great guy.”

“Is he?” was Claire’s open-ended question as to her meaning.

“He also said Mr Randall likes tall, brown haired women. You’ll knock his socks off.” “You don’t say?” Claire laughed. “I can’t wait to meet him then. I just might get lucky.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Suddenly Karen had a little panic attack and Claire saw a perplexed expression cross her face. “But ... but ... I’ve got nothing to wear to a fancy party.” She looked at Claire with hopeful anticipation, “Want to go shopping tomorrow? I have the day off.”

Placing her wine glass on the coffee table and leaning forward in her chair Claire smiled. “Hmmm ... I just might have something that would fit you,” she replied looking Karen in the eyes, “Come and have a look in my closet.”

Karen followed her into the bedroom while Claire rummaged in her wardrobe looking for the dress she had in mind for her friend. Finally finding what she wanted, she held up one particularly beautiful dress for Karen’s inspection.

“How about this? It would look perfect on you with your complexion. Try it on.” She stated excitedly as her friend’s eyes coveted the lovely cocktail dress Claire was holding.

“Ooooh! I like.”

Excitedly Karen put the dress on and looked at herself in the mirror moving this way and that, striking different poses while admiring how the slinky red dress hugged her curves to perfection.

“I don’t even look like myself.”

Claire smiled at the transformation. “You look great. Keep the dress Karen.”

“Oh, no! ... I couldn’t.”

“I insist. It was always too small for me.”

“I don’t know what to say,” she replied appreciatively and gave Claire a quick hug. “You’re the best friend and neighbour I’ve ever had.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Whilst they were chatting and drinking their second glass of wine a soft knock rapped at the front door, but the two girls hardly heard the knock above the sound their laughter.

“Did you hear something? Claire asked as she turned her head in the direction of the door.

“No, I didn’t hear anything, I was laughing too much.”

Another knock sounded again, a little louder this time.

“There it is again. I wonder who that could be?” Claire announced as she jerked her head up and looked over towards the front door.

“Oh my god, that’s probably Andy.” Karen gasped looking at her watch and realising that she had stayed longer than she had intended. “I hope you don’t mind but I left him a note to say where I was if I wasn’t at home.” She stood up as if to leave. “I really should go and get ready Claire.”

“No, sit down Karen, I’ll go and see who it is first. It might not be him.”

Claire got up from the chair and went to answer the door, calling out, “Just a minute. I’m coming.” Then wondering if the unidentified stranger standing there really was Karen’s boyfriend, she called out. “Is that you Andy?”

A distinctive Scottish drawl she would know anywhere answered but with a slightly displeased tone echoed in her ears in reply. “Tis nae Andy.”

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! Her heart suddenly jumped into her mouth for Claire knew that voice. The sound of Jamie’s speech was music to her ears, but suddenly she was a little nervous.

It had been some time since they had seen each other and had only spoken briefly when he’d let her know he had returned from his mission. She wondered how she would react when she opened the door and saw his face. She knew that she would want to throw her arms around Jamie and kiss him senseless, but she had a visitor sitting in the living room. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean that she couldn’t show him how much she had wanted to see him. She would let her eyes tell Jamie how desperately she wanted to kiss him.

This time Claire checked the security panel. All that separated them was the wood panelling door. She stopped in her tracks with her hand resting on the handle to open it, but on seeing Jamie’s image before her, she gently touched the video screen. Her fingertips lightly stroked the screen in a caressing manner running her fingertips over the contours of his face before they lingered on his lips. Claire closed her eyes as if savouring the sensation of those lips on her own and seductively placed her fingertips to her mouth. Taking a breath, she didn’t realise she needed, she opened the door. As if in slow motion Claire raised her eyes and looked up at the person she had missed standing there.

“Hi.”

Jamie’s voice washed over her like an angel singing in her ears and Claire felt her body buckle at just that one little word spoken so intimately, that she could almost feel it kiss her heart. Her lips bowed in the most beatific smile and her eyes welled with tears of joy and happiness. She was so glad to see him. Spellbound by his presence at her door Claire just managed to find the words to softly speak his name.

“Ja-mie ...”

James Fraser was standing on the threshold to her apartment in the hallway resting his arm against the doorjamb. It had been several months since he’d been to her Hong Kong apartment but now, he was here. Claire couldn’t take her eyes from his face and caressed his features as if she was peppering his face with kisses.

A slight smirk appeared on his mouth. “Were ye expectin’ someone else Sassenach?”

Jamie raised an eyebrow as his eyes pierced her gaze. “This Andy perhaps?”

His tone of voice although measured and softly spoken, was a little intimidating tinged with interest and a little masked jealously. Penetrating blue eyes lowered to her lips aware of that hesitant bite Claire often did when nervous. Lifting his sharp gaze slowly back up to her eyes, Jamie captured her gape in the look that made her bones melt. Silently they looked at one another … the intense stare mesmerizing … until Claire broke the spell and found her voice.

“No ... No ... My friend thought it might be her boyfriend.”

She was a little hesitant in replying so he was aware that she had company, so Jamie gave Claire a platonic kiss on the cheek in greeting just in case her visitor was watching them. However, the touch of his lips to the cool skin of her cheek sent her heart palpating. It was the gentlest of kisses but it still curled her toes. Claire inhaled the masculine smell of her man and his aroma filled her nostrils and teased her senses until she felt as if she was floating. God, he smelt wonderful. She wanted to lean into Jamie’s body and feel his arms around her as his lips found their way to her mouth and deepened the kiss. He was looking at her as if he too couldn’t wait to kiss her properly for Jamie’s stabbing gaze at his Sassenach was smouldering with sexual intent.

“Andy?” He replied a little tongue in cheek and with that raised eyebrow lift that turned her knees to water. His eyes never left her face, they were piercing and Claire suddenly felt a little frazzled.

“Y-yes ... Andy ... Andrew Ma,” she muttered.

“I see.”

Claire took a deep breath. She was finding it difficult to breathe and needed to calm her nerves. Finally, she mumbled, “How? ... How are you Jamie?”

“Fine. You?”

“Fine.”

Azure, blue eyes slowly touched her form as if it were his hands that were caressing her body. His gaze travelled from head to toe before roaming back up to where Claire’s chest was pounding in a slow rise and fall. Jamie knew exactly what he was doing to her equilibrium and he was taking great pleasure in seeing his Sassenach begin to fall apart even though she was trying hard not to. He watched as Claire inhaled a breath though her slightly parted lips and he ached to pepper those lips that had been so pliant against his own. Leisurely his gaze wandered to the long column of her throat, where he could see the vein in her neck throbbing, before finally, resting on her kissable lips.

Claire closed her eyes unable to prevent the onslaught of feelings that just being near Jamie was doing to her. She had a visitor, they were not alone, yet Jamie was seducing her with just his eyes. Oh, how she wished she could capitulate and fall int his arms. James Fraser was a sorcerer. He knew what he was doing to her and he was enjoying it. Her mentor and partner, was devouring her with his eyes and if not for the company in her lounge room, Claire knew he would have kissed her passionately in greeting.

“May I come in?” He asked.

“Oh …Yes, of course, ...” she mumbled barely able to breathe and stepped sideways to let him inside.

James Fraser said nothing, but his clear blue gaze swept Claire from head to toe in the space of a heartbeat. They locked with her cerulean blue ones devouring her physique as he entered the apartment. As he came through the doorway, he cleverly caught Claire’s hand in one of his then reaching behind with his other hand he shut the door. Jamie stood there in the foyer for a moment lazily caressing the hand he was holding but his eyes told her that he really wanted to push her backwards against the wooded door frame, like he had done at the beach bungalow, and kiss her senseless. Captivated by the hands that had fleetingly touched hers, Claire’s gaze followed Jamie’s movements hungrily. It was as if time stood still, yet it was only but a moment.

Reluctantly dropping her hand, he turned to Claire staring directly into her eyes mindful that they were not alone and that she had company. “I was in the area, so I thought I'd drop in to see how things were going,” he declared, speaking a little louder for her guest’s benefit.

Stepping further into the apartment Jamie followed Claire into the lounge room where he saw Karen Yee sitting on the couch. She quickly stood up to greet him and Claire introduced them.

“Oh ... Karen?” She gestured towards where Jamie was standing beside her. “This is an old friend of mine. Jamie … James Fraser.” Eyeing the handsome stranger with interest, she smiled at him offering her hand out towards him in greeting, “Hi, I’m Karen Yee.”

“Pleased to meet ye,” was his cordial reply but his eyes were taking in her persona in a restrained blank stare. In his Section mind, James Fraser was analysing just who was this person and if she was a threat to Claire’s safety. This woman was a conundrum and hopefully Claire could shed some light on Karen Yee when he spoke to her alone.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Claire watched as her friend and Jamie simultaneously were covertly sizing each other up. She could sense a little tension between the two despite their outward show of civility towards each other, but she just put this down to Jamie being overly cautious and Karen as being curious as to who was her male friend.

Trying to diffuse the stalemate Claire asked, “Would you like a whisky Jamie?” “Thank ye Claire.”

She gave him a wary glance as she left the two of them sitting in the lounge room whilst she went to get him a dram of whisky. Claire’s eyes had told him no inquisition, however, as soon as she was out of sight, James Fraser looked probingly at her friend and asked, “So, have ye known Claire long?”

“Uh ... oh ... a couple of months. I’m Claire’s neighbour. I live across the hallway.” “How did the two of ye meet?”

“In the corridor actually, but I had seen Claire jogging in the park many times before I realised, she was my neighbour. She loves jogging and so do I …” Karen replied with a little too much emphasis, “... and we just hit it off. We’ve been friends ever since and often jog in the park together.”

Jamie took note of this information and continued his questioning. “Are ye a personal trainer then Karen?”

“No, I'm an architect.”

Claire soon returned with a glass of whisky in her hand, hoping that the two were getting along and hadn’t killed each other in her absence. The tension however, still hung in the air between them. “I hope Jamie hasn’t been asking too many questions Karen. He tends to do that.”

“Oh, no more than usual.” Her voice was guarded however, as if he had indeed been questioning her a lot. He was learning about her but she still knew nothing about who he was.

“We’re just gettin’ to know each other ye ken,” was Jamie patented reply not taking his eyes from her neighbour’s face.

With her back to Karen, Claire raised an eyebrow at him and handed the whisky to Jamie who was sitting in the chair opposite her friend. His unspoken reply was that it was necessary to question this stranger for he needed to know who she was, how they met and why she had ingratiated herself into her life. Jamie reached out to take the glass of whisky from her hands. As he did so, his fingers brushed Claire’s ever so fleetingly but with an intimacy that not only made her fingers tingle but made her heart skip a beat as well.

Claire knew she needed to rein in these escalating feelings she had for Jamie or she would be a nervous wreck. She couldn’t let Karen see how much she was affected by his impromptu visit and hoped that Andy Ma would really knock on her door or that Karen would finally leave so that they could be alone. Trying to hold her feelings in check, she sat down on the couch next to Karen, picked up her own unfinished glass of wine and took a long drink nearly finishing all of it.

Karen noticed that this handsome man's eyes glanced at Claire’s as he sipped nonchalantly from his glass, but he was also giving her looks that had her on the back foot. There was something about him that made her wary. Looking from one person to the other, Karen decided it was time to go before this man asked her any more probing questions.

“Claire ... I think I need to get going. Andy will be here in a half an hour and I have to get ready ...”

“Of course, have a great time tonight.” “Yeah ... Thanks ...”

Karen got up from the couch and was just about to move towards the front door when she stopped as another thought crossed her mind. “Are we still on for jogging in the morning?”

“Sure …”

“Oh … and thanks for the dress. I love it.

“You’re welcome. Please thank Andy too, for getting the invites to Jonathon Randall’s party. I look forward to it next Saturday.” “I will.”

She cast a sly glance at James Fraser who was still looking at her with an indifferent look on his face, but Karen knew he was studying her despite the uninterested persona he was displaying. She could see it in his eyes that he was analysing her and her relationship with Claire. This man unnerved her so much so that she couldn’t wait to leave the apartment and get away from his scrutiny.

“Nice … to meet you … Jamie,” she stated gritting her teeth and hoping that her voice sounded friendly. “The same,” he replied amiably, however, his eyes slowly followed the Chinese girl as she made her way to the front door with Claire by her side.

This was a woman who couldn’t wait to get out of there quickly enough. Why?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jamie had gone to Claire’s apartment to debrief her about Jonathon Randall and Inspector Jiang Ng and their connection with the Rising Dragons. However, her neighbour Karen Yee was there and he was unable to go over the scenario for the upcoming mission profile. Nevertheless, when Claire returned to the lounge room once she had left,he turned to her and asked, “Who was that woman?” “My neighbour ... she’s an innocent Jamie.” “Ye and Karen have recently become friends. Is that right?” “What's that supposed to mean?” She replied somewhat indignantly. Looking at Claire with his intense gaze, Jamie’s eyes held hers as he asked, “What do ye know about her Sassenach?” “Enough ...”

There was something about the woman that sat uneasily with him. Karen Yee was overly familiar with Claire, too buddy-buddy for his liking and she seemed to analyse people’s body language. Jamie had caught her looking at him when she thought he didn’t notice. He was trained to observe people and know their nuances and personalities and Karen was more than she was presenting to Claire. “... Karen’s an architect.” “And ye know this because she told ye?” “I know this because you trained me to read people.” “Even though ye like to believe in people Claire, I’ll get Fergus to do a background check.” “She’s no one to worry about.” “Let me be the judge of that.” “Okay ... but she’ll come up clean.”

She tried to put his words of unease about her neighbour to the recesses of her mind. However, she was put on the back foot and had become defensive trying to protect her new friend from the very person with whom she was emotionally connected. Jamie was astute, perceptive and had excellent judgement about people but his questioning had raised her hackles a little. She had never really had a friend outside of Section, and this mission to Hong Kong had allowed her to live a life of some normalcy for the time she’d been here, and she liked it. She liked it a lot. Although she was pragmatic enough to know that it was impossible to sustain any true friendships in the real world, she would enjoy it while it lasted. Perhaps her need for friendship with another woman of her age had clouded her judgement with her neighbour but she hoped she hadn’t read Karen wrong and that Jamie would be mistaken. Nevertheless, she would take his words on board and be a little more wary until Fergus had refuted his apprehension. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Looking at Jamie, Claire changed the subject with her question. “Would you like to stay for a bite to eat … and then we can debrief.”

“Of course.”

After a little awkwardness between the two of them, Jamie eventually reached out his hand to ease the tension that seemed to be building after their little exchange about Karen. This was not what he wanted ... he had envisioned their reunion very differently. Taking Claire’s hand in his, he gently rubbed his fingertips over their clasped hands. Her hands began to tremble. He felt every little quivering shudder of their joined hands and despite feeling her reaction to his touch he continued with more of the same. Claire felt her feelings begin to overwhelm her as Jamie seductively caressed her hands over and over. He could not take his gaze off this beautiful woman whom he had not seen for some time, and his eyes lingered over his Sassenach in renewal. He could see that Claire was overwhelmed by his touch as she instinctively began to lean into his body despite trying to resist his pull.

“Cl-aire.” The gentle sound of her name on his lips was like a warm kiss. Tenderly Jamie rubbed the soft skin on the inside of her wrist with his thumb back and forth. A keening whimper vibrated in her throat as the sensation of his caress sent a jolt of electricity running through her veins. Without even realising what she was doing Claire joined her fingers with his and dreamily looked down at their clasped hands. As she did so, she heard the resonance of her love’s intoxicating voice yet again.

“Sass-en-ach?” Each syllable of his endearment was another caress to her ears and only exacerbated the feelings that seemed to have possessed her body. Slowly glancing up, Claire saw Jamie grinning at her as if he knew exactly what he had done to her equilibrium. Their eyes held fast as if each was only realising that they were truly back together after their separation. They could have cut the air with a knife for the unspoken desire for each other sizzled between them.

Although Jamie continued to stroke her fingers, he reluctantly called a halt to what had started out as delicious foreplay when he asked, “What are ye cooking Claire?”

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she slowly raised her eyes, but that was a mistake as when she did, James Fraser captured her gaze with a look in his eyes that had her on the back foot.

“Spaghetti Bolognaise,” she managed to reply.

“I didnae realize ye had such talent for cooking.” “I’m not that good. This is the only dish I can make well,” she stated a little self-deprecating. “No matter … It smells delicious.” “Thank you.” Claire smiled tentatively but Jamie still seemed to be eating her up with that look that had her heart racing every time. “It’s making me … hungry … Sassenach,” he answered dragging each word from his mouth as if he was savouring a delicious morsel. His sentence was ambiguous in meaning and Claire could only stare back at Jamie’s lips as his mouth formed the words. She was mesmerized and couldn’t look away. There really seemed to be no necessity for food, judging by the look he was giving her and vice versa. The sexual feast of each other that their eyes were devouring was all they would ever want or need to sustain their appetite tonight, but nonetheless Claire needed some respite from Jamie’s intensive stare.

“I’ll be right back; I need to check on dinner,” she breathlessly replied as James Fraser just smiled enigmatically at her seeming to know instinctively just what was going through her mind. Claire desperately needed some time out to compose herself and steady her nerves.

“Fine, mon nighean donn … I’ll be right here … waitin’. Unless ye would like me to help ye with … dinner.”

“No thanks … you’d only be a distraction.”

Jamie gave a wry chuckle as his Claire released her hands from his grasp and made a hasty retreat back to the kitchen.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ to be continued

#jamie and claire #James Fraser #claire beauchamp #Jamieandclairefanfic #outlander fanfic #jamieandclaireau #covert operations

67 notes · View notes

thatgirlkei · 6 years ago

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Bombs and Babies and Hulk?! Oh My!

“Don’t make me gut you, Clint. Leave Bruce alone,” Laura Barton threatened her husband with a smile.

“You wouldn’t do that, you hate mess.” Clint grinned in knowing satisfaction before noticing his wife’s smirk.

“Details,” she shrugged, smirk still in place. “I’m sure Nat would do it for me.”

Clint scoffed as Darcy and Steve laughed. “No way, Nat loves me more.”

The woman in question wrapped her arm around the dark-haired woman’s waist and gave her a peck on the cheek before smiling at her partner.

“Don’t be so sure about that, Clinton,” Natasha chided with a small smile. “Laura might just leave you for me. You could share right James?” She called to her lover.

Bucky shrugged with a smile. “Sure, doll. Two gorgeous dames for me.”

“Ha!” cried Laura as everyone laughed at Clint’s jaw dropped expression.

“Fine. I can see when I’m not wanted.” Clint mock pouted and made his way to Tony and Pepper.

Darcy giggled before excusing herself outside for fresh air. She was due any day, and between the heat of the room and her husband, Darcy began to feel stifled. The chilly New York air on this New Year’s Eve cooled her down instantly. Darcy heard the balcony door opened and it revealed Thor in a suit and a well-dressed and slightly drunk Jane.

“Darcy,” Jane squealed as she squeezed her. “Why are you out here all alone? You should party!”

Jane released her with a giggle and a shimmy. Darcy looked up at Thor with a questioning eyebrow as he smiled fondly at his wife.

“I was a little hot, boss. No worries,” she replied with an amused head shake.

Jane shot her a suspicious look, before glancing up at Thor. “Well we are going to ring in the new year in our room. You should have Bruce check your temperature. Come on.”

Jane gripped her arm and dragged Darcy back into the room. “Bruce check Darcy, she’s sick.” Jane drunkenly announced to the room.

Darcy mentally face palmed and counted to three before defending herself. “Bruce, I’m fine. Just a bit warm.”

Bruce walked over to her, concern written all over his face. “Are you feeling sick, or is it just the temperature in this room?”

Steve instantly wrapped his arm around her waist.

“It’s this furnace,” she nudged Steve, “and the room. It’s hot, it smells, and I rather be naked.”

Bruce chuckled as Steve released Darcy, except for her hand.

“Bruce, she’s sick! What if it’s the flu?” Jane whined as Darcy actually face palmed before shooting Thor an exasperated look.

“Jane, you’re drunk and I’m fine. Let it go.”

The petite scientist firmly shook her head and Darcy sighed. “Not until Bruce promises.” she crossed her arms, staring expectantly.

“Gladly, Jane. Have a good night.”

Jane huffed as Thor placed a hand on her lower back and led her away.

“Bruce, you really don’t have to,” Darcy shot a strained smile towards him.

“It’s okay Darcy, I’m sure you want some fresh air. It’s cooler in the lab.”

Darcy rolled her eyes and latched onto his offered arm, before turning towards her husband. “I’ll be right back. Hopefully this gets the tiny science goddess off my back.”

Steve nodded, amused, and walked back to the group surrounding Tony.

Darcy and Bruce made their way to the lab in comfortable silence. Once inside, Bruce motioned for Darcy to sit at his desk while he gathered some first aid equipment.

“That’s not necessary, Bruce.”

Darcy huffed and swatted a thermometer away from her temple.

“Don’t you want proof you’re fine? She will look at Friday to confirm.”

Darcy groaned as Bruce chuckled and took her temperature. “she probably will. This’ll get her off my back at least.”

Bruce chuckled with a nod. “98.3. Fairly normal, nothing to worry about.”

“Great, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

Darcy hopped off the stool and started to waddle when there was a boom. Darcy wobbled and fell into Tony’s desk, Bruce right behind her.

“Ow, shit,” she hissed between her teeth.

“Darcy, are you okay?” Bruce ushered her to the couch, prepared to look her over.

“Yeah, yeah, that just hurt like hell. Oh.”

Darcy looked down at her now wet feet, then up at Bruce frantically.

“I’m not ready, Bruce. I’m not. Steve’s not here.”

Bruce rubbed her back soothingly and calmly quieted her.

“it’s okay, Darcy. We can just ask Friday to contact him.” Yeah okay.” Darcy sniffles. “Friday? Can you get Steve here please?”

There was no response, but another tower shaking boom. Darcy bit her lip tearfully and glanced back at Bruce.

“What’s happening?”

He shook his head at her, lost in thought. “I’m not sure, but we will get through this, okay?”

A contraction ripped through Darcy as she gripped her friends’ hand and nodded.

“Great. Deep breaths, count to ten.”

Bruce’s heart monitor beeped faster, and she cracked an eye open at him.

“Are you okay?” he nodded with a wry smile.

“Don’t worry about me. We are safe in here.”

Darcy merely raised a brow and semi smirked. “So, no green tantrums?”

Bruce let out a choked laugh at that. As he opened his mouth to respond, a chunk of the ceiling fell directly on top of Bruce. Darcy let out a shrill scream and scooted away from him.

“Bruce?”

“Get to the safe room, Dar –“

He gasped out in pain as his body began to change. Darcy nodded fearfully and made her way to the safe room door as another crippling contraction hit.

“Fucking fuck,” Darcy moaned, just before hearing a roar behind her.

Darcy turned with a strained smile and blew a kiss. “Hiya, Hulkie. How ya doin'?”

Hulk growled at her, before looking around the room as it shook yet again.

“I know. We are being attacked. Great time for me to go into labor, right?” She let out a watery chuckle and sat against the safe room door.

Hulk scrunched up his face at that and pointed at her stomach. “Baby?”

Darcy nodded and took a deep breath. “Yup, baby is coming. And the world is ending. Steve isn’t here. Great day.”

Tears streamed down her face as the incredible Hulk at down in front of her, albeit at a distance.

“…Spangles?”

Darcy giggled at that. “Yes, him. Tony told you that?, didn’t he?”

Hulk looked slightly relieved at her laugh and nodded. Darcy dried her tears and folded her arms over her protruding stomach.

“since I know you’ll keep me safe,” she forced a smile up at him, “you think we can go find Spangles?”

The panel of windows cracked, then shattered across the lab. Immediately, hulk was on his feet in front of her and let out a deafening roar. Hulk picked up the intruders and threw them back out of the window.

“Hulk! We have to get out of here!” Darcy screamed from her hiding spot.

Hulk gently placed her in his arms and looked for a quick exit.

“The building isn’t safe, we need to go!”

With a leap, hulk exited the building with a shrieking Darcy. On the ground again, Darcy leaned over a large green arm and vomited.

“Hospital. Please. Now?” Darcy whispered, afraid of her surroundings.

Everywhere she turned, there were lasers and aliens destroying the city.

“Darcy,” she looked up at Hulk with fear in her eyes. “safe.”

She nodded and held onto his arm as he took off into a run. Few minutes later, Darcy arrived in front of the hospital.

“Help Darcy,” Hulk roared as she moaned. Two nurses rushed to the entrance to see the green giant and the petite brunette. “Baby,” Hulk pointed to Darcy.

“Thanks for the ride! You’re my favorite!”

With a curious glance and a grunt, he was off and headed for destruction.

Darcy was ushered into the hospital and set up in the labor and delivery ward.

“of all the days to get here, you pick the day aliens attack. Smooth move, kid,” Darcy grumbled to her belly.

“Fuck Steve and his star-spangled cock!”

“Isn’t that what got you here in the first place?”

Darcy head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice. “Jane! You’re here!”

Her best friend enveloped her and placed a quick kiss to her crown before releasing. “As if I would miss the birth of my godchild. You think homicidal aliens would keep me away? Please.” Jane scoffed as she settled into the nearest chair.

“Not that I’m ungrateful, but where is Steve?”

“He should be here soon. Thor dropped me off since the threat is over. Now it’s just clean up.”

Darcy nodded, and cringed at the oncoming contraction. Jane noticed and winced in sympathy. “Mindless tv?”

Darcy grinned gratefully at her best friend and leaned back against her pillows.

An episode or three of house hunters later, Darcy was beginning to worry. “Shouldn’t he be here by now?”

Jane’s forehead creased in concern, and she dialed the person most likely to answer. “Tony, are you guys okay? Where is Steve?”

Jane nodded, confused, before rolling her eyes fondly. “why am I not surprised? When is the jet landing?”

“Room 503. See you soon.”

Jane hung up as Darcy squirmed in anticipation. “Where is my husband?”

“Steve is okay now, but he got injured. Took concrete to the ribs.”

Darcy's eyes widened in alarm as she reached to grab the phone before Jane moved it out of reach. “give me the phone Jane”

“No.”

“Now Jane!” tears threatened to slide down her face.

“They are landing on the roof as we speak. He should be here soon.”

Darcy leaned over and smacked her friend on the arm. Jane rubbed her arm and shot Darcy daggers, who returned them unrepentantly. “You couldn’t start with that?”

“Rude,” Jane said with a pout. “I didn’t want to worry you.”

Darcy looked at her as if she had grown three heads and declared a hatred for science. “You didn’t want to worry me? Really?”

Darcy watched her friend shrug in apology before closing her eyes and take a deep breath.

“You know what? Never mind. Moving on.” She reopened her eyes with a patient smile. “Why did you smile?”

Jane perked up, leaning over with a grin. “Because Tony said he tried to run here with bruised ribs.”

Darcy giggled and shook her head fondly. “Of course he did. He wouldn't be him if he didn't.”

The pair heard a shout and commotion in the hall and shared a confused glance.

“No, I need to find my wife! DARCY!”

Jane stuck her head out the door to see Steve attempt to gently move around an older nurse and Bucky flirt with a young nurse at the nurse station.

“Don't mind him, he was always bad with the dames. Do you think you could help us out? Darcy Rogers?”

The young girl blushed and pointed down the hall.

“Thanks.” Bucky winked and strong-armed Steve down the hall, the rest of the avengers in tow.

“Darcy!” he wrenched his arm free, barreling his way into the room.

“Steve! You made it.” Darcy sighed in relief, a few errant tears trickled down her face. Steve ran to his wife’s bedside and planted a big kiss.

“Sweetheart I’m sorry I’m late.”

“You were kicking ass, it’s okay. She’s not here yet anyway.” Darcy shrugged and smiled at his apology.

“Is everything okay?”

“Besides these fucking contractions? Just peachy.” Darcy looked around her husband and saw the rest of the team standing idly by the door.

“Hi guys. Here for the party?” She waved, earning a few snickers from the crowd.

“Is that what this is?” Bucky countered easily, going over to her and giving her a quick embrace.

“Obviously,” she replied, gripping his arm as another contraction tore through her. “Can someone get a doctor?”

Natasha slipped out of the room, unnoticed, as the team swarmed on Darcy, eager to help.

“What can I do?” Steve took her hand but quickly dropped it and retracted his and her glare.

“You? You keep your dick away from me.” Darcy groaned and leaned back as her pain lessened. “Guys, I’m fine. Really.”

Clint sniggered quietly at her mood swing, watching his partner slip in silently as the doctor strolled in.

“Good evening, Mrs. Rogers. I see you’ve caused quite the stir since your arrival.” The doctor smirked at Darcy, who returned it.

“Gotta keep the gossip mill going somehow, Doc!”

“And you have. Dropped off by Hulk, Captain America husband running through the halls. What’s next, streaking in the cafeteria?”

Darcy nodded in mock seriousness. “Absolutely, if it’s going to get me the good pie. I love coconut cream pie.”

The doctor chuckled at her expression. “As soon as baby is here. Shall we take a look-see, see how far you are along?”

“Sure,” Darcy agreed before turning to her friends. “This is not a free show, y'all are going to have to leave.”

Amidst the complaints, Tony piped up in protest. “I’m roughly the richest man in the world, so how much?”

Darcy laughed over the sound of Steve’s growl, completely unfazed. “You can't afford me, Stark. Now get out of my room. Shoo.”

She makes a shooing motion, and the heroes make their way to hug her. “Come back when you have showered and eaten.”

As the room emptied, Darcy turned back to her doctor with a smile. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

One hour and three pushes later, a beautiful baby girl was wrapped in a blanket as her parents stared on in wonderment.

“She’s so beautiful, Darce. Thank you.” Steve pressed a gentle kiss to Darcy’s crown and snuggled his baby girl. The remaining nurse walked over to the new parents with a bright smile.

“Congrats, mama. You had the first baby of the year, born January 1, at 12:00am. What’re you going to name her?”

The pair looked at each other, their little girl, then back to the nurse.

“Her name is Quinn Noelle Rogers.”

#darcy lewis #steve rogers #shieldshock #fan fiction #marvel #mcu #tony stark is a snarky shit #bucky barnes bff #HULK #baby makes how many?

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