#muffled cursing and crashes from logan in the background

[thesandersinitiative]

How big is the chance of getting blown up in this career path?

Patton steels himself, and for a moment, it's impossible to tell whether he's about to refuse Remus or indulge him.

Then, overhead, a muffled curse that sounds distinctly like Doctor Storm as several things crash loudly in the background, as if someone swiped them off the table in alarm. Remus raises an intrigued eyebrow, while Logan's upper lip curls. "It seems Dr. Storm has finally learned what helicarrier means. It's a testament to the decline of academia that he's earned one doctorate, let alone three."

"Wait, Virgil--" Thomas's voice comes through clear as he rises in with the microphone. "Hey, calm down, it's just the engine--"

"This thing flies?!" Virgil demands, so incredulously loud that it's as if he were in the bay of the plane himself, "I'm on an air craft carrier that mans over 5,000 people and it fucking flies?!"

His breathing is harsh and ragged and close to the microphone, as if Thomas has placed a hand on his back and is delicately attempting to guide him to sit. At Virgil's tone--panicked instead of snarky--Logan stands rapidly, as if Virgil's lack of control over his breathing is a sign of his sudden lack of ability to control something else.

"There's a reason Dee never invited you to visit," Thomas says sheepishly, "We're probably just meeting them midair. Sit, okay? Joan, put the gun down and go get Virgil a pair of earbuds for the noise."

"I'm not leaving you when he's about to go nuclear on base--"

"He's not going to go nuclear." Thomas says firmly, "And even if he was, violence has never subdued him before, and it won't now. You've read his file. It'll just make things worse."

"I'm in the room you know," Virgil says, voice clenched, "I'm fine--fucking--he doesn't need--I'm not made of glass it was just. A surprise. Another thing to make my day worse. Tell Ackroyd to stand down," Virgil snorts in laughter, but it's shaky, "He's not getting his fight today."

"I don't want a fight," Logan snarls, forcefully sitting back down and responsibility re buckling himself into his seat, "You're a powder keg, Storm. Of course I'm ready for when someone strikes a light."

"Rats," Remus snaps his finger, "You Midgardians owe me a meal but here I thought I was getting a show to go with it for free! The knight in iron armor slays the horrid dragon! Boring, of course, but dear Roman likes to call that shit classic."

"A dragon to be slain?" Roman scoffs, "Midgardians have nothing of the sort, and I doubt one with such an unstained soul as the Captain would associate himself with such a creature. You've already imposed your dreadfulness on these people, Remus, don't go making other demands."

Patton shifts uncomfortably at the comment, but turns his stare down to his intertwined hands, as if he wants to protest, but can't quite bring himself to. Logan looks sour, but doesn't interrupt.

"I've read the laws of this land, Ro," Remus says casually, "They treat prisoners with accommodations as plush as my ass. Why do you think I surrendered to them, and not you?"

"You're a coward--" Roman hisses, leaning down into Remus's face.

"And the God of Bravery!" Remus beams up at him, but there's a sharp, cruel edge to it, as if the irony isn't his alone to share "Ain't it ironic, my oh, so honorable brother? Kill any more diplomats lately?"

Thunder booms as the plane's front glass panes burn white with lightning.

"Stop it, Roman!" Patton snaps, rising to his feet and glaring at both brothers with a sharp ferocity. "Stop rising to his bait already! Plug your ears, sit down, and don't talk to him until we land! I already have one god acting like an overgrown, immortal child, I do not need two!"

"I--" Roman sputters for a second, as if trying to stop himself from declaring he started it in a whiny, childish tone. His reverence for Patton seems to win over, though, because after a moment he steps back from his brother and sits down across the aisle, gaze almost shamefully averted, while Remus stares at him, head titled to the side.

Previous Ask || Rules || Chapter 5 Start || Masterlist || Next Ask