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#This was gonna be a double pager
ineruditehills · 10 months
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another double pager, 19-20 of Chapter Four - A Story Together!!
Comicfury | Tapas | Webtoons
how these two gonna get out of this situation? with some help?
The Inerudite Hills web comic updates post at 2:10 PM EST on MONDAYS!!
Support via Ko-fi for sketch requests or Patreon, the latter of which has HD & Textless downloads, misc. art + other benefits! Temporarily without early access.
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cheapcourses · 1 year
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paperbaghero · 4 years
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Couple months, wowzers!!!
I won't swear to heaven, here’s page 7!
Read Chapter 1
Read Chapter 2
Chapter 3 index
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nnightskiess · 3 years
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𝐫𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐝
₊° 𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐱 𝐟𝐞𝐦!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫
𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐝𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 (𝐲/𝐧), 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬. 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝. 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐜, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥...
𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐱
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
for my great friend lux @redhairedwolfwitch ♡ thank you for everything.
"Hey, you paged us?"
Cristina tilted her head, curious, while you stood behind her, wondering if you were in trouble if the Chief needed you.
"I know you're both most interested in cardio, so..." He motioned the two of you two follow him until your pager went off.
"Shit," You mumbled under your breath, staying slightly behind as you heard Cristina gush about the cardiac trauma Hunt showed her, "I gotta run, Robbins needs me, a complication in the NICU."
"Come on?! Cardiac trauma!" Cristina turned to you, the look on her face saying enough. But you had already started to walk away, putting a spanner in the works of the plan the universe had in store for you.
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"Doctor Bailey!" You rushed after her, wanting to catch up with her and show her the results of the CT she needed, until Cristina appeared out of nowhere, seeming frustrated.
"The new attending doesn't even know how to put in a temporary pacemaker!"
They came to a halt at the nurse's station as you hovered next to Cristina, waiting your turn.
You tilted your head, "Wait- we have a new attending?"
"Did you or did you not ask this man for a new cardio attending?"
"Yes."
"And did he or did he not bring in attending after attending, none of them who seem to please you and all of whom you ran off?" Bailey gave Cristina a look, one that made you have to bite your lip so you wouldn't laugh. Doctor Bailey had her cornered, and rightly so.
"That is not a fair assessment." Cristina bluntly replied.
"Doctor Yang, has it ever occurred to you that you might be the problem? Right, leave this man alone. Go torture the new attending. (Y/S/N), you got the results?"
You passed the results over, leaving as soon as Bailey waved you off, so you could go on your way to pester Cristina.
"So... why is the new cardio attending not to your liking this time?" Cristina rolled her eyes and groaned as she heard the teasing in your voice. You followed her, ignoring the annoyed look on her face, "Let me guess... weird hairdo that keeps distracting you? Bad breath? Silly walk? Or are they just not at your level?" You air quoted, making Cristina stop to stare at you before she continued her walk, but you knew she would talk after that.
"She might have been it once, but oh no, not anymore. She made me put in a temporary transvenous pacemaker because she hadn't done it in ages."
You grimace, having to admit how bad it sounded that a cardio attending didn't know how to., "At least she admitted it?"
Your comment went completely over Cristina's head, who was still fed up with the situation, "She's inexperienced, inadequate and is definitely not a cardio goddess. She's a desert storm barbie, who hasn't seen the inside of an OR in like 10 years. Owen was wrong to bring her here."
"Well... you've used up your three wishes and Webber and Bailey are done with your complaints... so I think you're gonna be stuck with her."
Cristina let her head fall back and let out the biggest groan before turning into another hallway, leaving you to shake your head as you walked to the lifts.
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"So, what do you think of the new cardio attending? Excited to learn from her?" Arizona draped her stethoscope around her neck, following you out of the room.
"I can't say, haven't met her yet... but Cristina seems to be really happy with her."
Arizona raised an eyebrow before she saw the look on your face.
"Oh, yeah, I heard. Wait-" Arizona looked at her pager, "Hm... speaking of the devil, Yang paged me. Walk with me?" She squeezed your arm, hoping you'd follow her.
You briefly caught up with your friend as you walked through the hospital. Jackson and Cristina were standing around a hospital bed, but before the two of you could approach, Arizona's pager went off once more,
"Hm... can you inform the parents of one of our preemie babies of his vitals? They're going home and would like to hear everything's still alright before they leave. Check his vitals with them in the room or they're not going to want to leave. They're persistent, but they're good parents. " Arizona gave you a soft smile as you nodded and grinned, doing as she told, not seeing the other blonde approaching Arizona behind you as you walked away.
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You were leaning against the wall, waiting for Arizona to finish up since she was your ride home, when a happy Cristina all but skidded out of the resident's lounge.
"You're being weird. What's gotten you so happy?" You noted as Cristina's frown from that morning had turned into a wide grin.
"Guess who did a Takeuchi repair today?"
"You did not!?" You gasped and stood up straight, your full attention now on Cristina.
"Uh, not all by myself. But she did let me do the coronary artery anastomosis."
You raised your eyebrows, still surprised. Cristina was a great resident, but that was a big shot surgery, even for her. "Damn, are you taking back your words about her now?"
"Yeah, probably. Which means-" She turned serious again, pointing a finger at you, "The games have begun." She let out another ecstatic laugh before walking off, letting you know you would have to step up and fight to get hours on cardio with the new attending.
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
You walked into the lifts the next morning, the coffee Arizona had gotten you in one hand, the charts of the nightshift in the other. You only had five minutes to read them all and then inform your attending of the day of any changes. But with the coffee in your system, you knew you could do this.
You skimmed the first few pages of one of the charts as other people hurried into the lift right as the doors closed. A few floors later, you knew it was your turn to step out when the doors opened. Not wanting to waste any time, you kept your head low to read the charts, but you had to look up and stop when someone crossed your path- quite literally.
A woman hurried by, apologising to people left and right as she rushed through them. Though she had been fast, you had not failed to catch a glimpse of the face that you once so adored.
Teddy Altman.
She hadn't seen you, probably because your nose had been buried in the charts, or because she had been in a rush. You watched her disappear through the double doors towards the OR's and that's when it clicked. Teddy, your old friend from back in New York, the same Teddy that was in love with cardio, was the new cardio attending Cristina suddenly seemed to be gushing about.
You ditched your coffee somewhere, your body suddenly being filled with nerves and stress. It had been years seen you'd seen her. Ever since your mutual friend Allison had passed away on that damned day, you had lost contact with Teddy. Almost as if she had disappeared. Just like that. No note, no phone call, no goodbye. Maybe it had been for the best. The abrupt ending to your friendship had helped you get rid of the wish that it would ever become something more. Teddy was gone, and so were the feelings you had secretly been harbouring inside. But seeing her now... It overwhelmed you how only a glimpse of her could bring back the crapload of memories the two of you had shared. You slipped into one of the vacant seats in the waiting room, clutching the charts against your chest.
"No sitting, (Y/S/N), you've only just started your day. Let's go! We've got jobs to do. Chop-chop!" Bailey walked by, gesturing for you to get up and go.
You stood up, took the deepest breath and made a promise to yourself-
It's been years. You changed. You were no longer the EMT Teddy used to know. You took great pride in the fact you had grown, as a person and as a doctor. You were a resident now. Besides, for all you knew, Teddy didn't want anything to do with you anymore. She must have changed too. Besides, who knows what happened to her after you lost each other.
Teddy might be back, but your feelings were long gone.
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
You walked into the cafeteria, talking with some of the Mercy West residents as you grabbed your lunch, placing it on the tray in front of you. You rolled your eyes as they started to gossip, happy you had your food so you could walk away from that. Shaking your head, you turned around to scan the cafeteria, your eyes landing on Arizona's, who waved you over. You froze in your spot as you saw the back of Teddy's head, who was seated at the same table. Without thinking, you turned around and left the cafeteria in a hurry, the tray still in your hands. You hoped you had been fast enough before Teddy could have seen who Arizona had waved to.
Facing Teddy was not on your to-do list any time soon.
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
You had successfully managed to avoid running into your old friend all day, rather doing scut or helping out in the clinic than scrubbing in or helping with consults. Anything to stay out of Teddy's way.
"So, will you tell me why you ran like a chicken earlier today?" Arizona wore a playful smile as she from the doorway how you were grabbing your things.
"Um-" You shuffled some things around in your locker, trying to stall coming up with an answer. Arizona was one of your best friends and already knew whatever you would say would be a complete lie, "Stomach ache. Needed a toilet."
Arizona nodded her head, her playful grin not disappearing, "Yeah... I usually like my lunch with some nice sound effects and extra stench too."
"Wha-," You stopped to turn around, "I did not eat my lunch in a toilet."
Arizona shrugged noncommittally, going to the next topic, "Had fun removing haemorrhoids at the clinic today?"
You sighed defeatedly and pushed your jacket in your bag, glaring at Arizona, who was having way too much fun with this.
"Fine. I ate lunch in a toilet cubicle and helped out at the clinic today. What's wrong with that? They need all the help they can get."
"Meanwhile you could've scrubbed in with Doctor Altman and I. She let Yang fix the kid's Alcapa. Could've been you." She shrugged.
She patted your back as you passed her out of the lounge, letting out a groan at the missed opportunity. You clung your bag over your shoulder, greeting colleagues left and right, trying to play it off, but knowing Arizona was following close behind.
"Nice try," Arizona whispered in your ear as you waited for the lifts to arrive.
You sighed and turned around, about to shoot back a witty reply to wash the grin away from your friend's face, until you saw Teddy round the corner into the hallway, coming your way while she talked to an intern. The lifts dinged behind you, but you quickly pulled Arizona away, pushing her into the door that led to the staircases.
"Okay- wait, what just happened?" Arizona let out a breathy chuckle, her eyebrows raised as she tried to decipher what was going on in your head.
"We're taking the stairs down today! Let's go, I haven't reached my 10k steps yet!" You were already walking down, leaving Arizona to look back, thinking she might have missed something, until she eventually followed.
"Okay, tell me what's going on because you've been incredibly weird, all day long." Arizona stopped you when you were about to walk out of the hospital. You looked her in the eyes, seeing the genuine concern.
"Doctor Robbins!" You shut your eyes at the familiar voice and quickly turned around, slipping into the gift store unnoticed, still in hearing distance,
"I wanted to give you this for the follow-up surgery but you left so quickly." Teddy smiled softly, watching how Arizona looked around, noticing you had dipped, "Just read through it at home and we can discuss tomorrow."
"Oh, yeah! Sure! Thanks." Arizona's eyes fell on the back of your head as you tried to distract yourself by looking at the many different postcards of Seattle.
Teddy furrowed her eyebrows slightly, "Um... okay, well, we'll talk tomorrow."
"Sure thing!"
You waited until Teddy had disappeared into the lift again before stepping out from behind the rack, Arizona immediately pulling you out of the gift shop, her mouth agape as she watched with excitement, "You are crushing on Doctor Altman!"
"What? No!"
"What else can it be? That's why you've been avoiding every place she's at like the plague. I knew you would like her, but I didn't know you would like her this much." She raised her eyebrows suggestively, the grin on her face only widening as you sighed and walked out of the hospital.
"I'm not crushing on her. I haven't even met her yet. I'm just... shy... to meet new people. I need more time."
Arizona snorted as she followed you to her car, "Yeah, sure, that's it." But she grew serious when she saw the conflict in your eyes, "You know you can tell me, right? Anything. I don't judge."
You turned in your seat, it was clear you were battling thoughts in your head. You let yourself fall back against the seat as you sighed,
"I don't want Teddy to see me. Not yet, at least."
Arizona rose an eyebrow, silently telling you she needed more information if you wanted her to understand.
"We knew each other. Back in New York."
Arizona nodded slowly, knowing about your life as an EMT in the Big Apple, "Did you fall out? Did you fight? What happened?"
"That's the thing- I don't know. One day we were friends, the next... she was gone? This is the first time I've seen her since 2001 and... I don't know, it threw me off. I don't know what to do or say now."
"She hasn't seen you yet?"
You shrugged, "No, I don't think so. Not that I know."
"Well, were you great friends before she left?"
"You could say that. I just-" You stopped yourself, sneaking a glance at Arizona, who looked back at you with an encouraging smile, "Oh God- okay... I just always feared I might have scared her away?"
Arizona pursed her lips before hearing what you rambled out next, "I had like, the biggest crush on her and for a while, I thought she had one on me too until I realised she was like that with our mutual friend Allison too and-"
"Doctor Altman likes girls?!" Arizona gasped, intrigue written on her face. You quickly shut her down, not wanting to start the spread of another rumour in the hospital,
"No?! I don't know! I don't think so. No."
You sat in silence for a while until Arizona opened her mouth, "Well, I think it would be best if you just rip the band-aid off tomorrow. I don't think she'd appreciate finding out you avoided her for as long as you could. It's probably going to be awkward either way."
You nodded softly, knowing Arizona was right, "Will you help me?"
"Pfff, of course! I got your back." She smiled at you as she drove out of the car park.
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You kept yourself busy by alternating between buttoning and unbuttoning your lab coat and fixing your hair, wanting to look presentable since Teddy hadn't seen you in years. It was silly, how you hadn't been able to let go of the nervous habits you had whenever you'd be around her. But the worry Teddy would be disappointed to see you again made it worse this time.
"Stop that, you look great." Arizona smiled encouragingly and fixed your collar as you started to play with your fingers instead, needing something to try and keep your nerves under control.
"Ready?" She asked you as she stopped in front of the room Teddy had paged her to. You gave her a curt nod and took in a breath as she opened the door, revealing Teddy who was looking at the whiteboard in front of her.
"Doctor Altman, I brought a resident who's gonna help me with this case. Hope you don't mind."
"Not at all! I went ahead and-" She stopped midsentence when she turned around, her eyes locking with yours. Sure, you had changed over the years, but you knew Teddy would recognize you in an instant.
"(Y/N)?" She breathed out, her face going from confusion to shock to excitement in just a few seconds.
"Oh my God, it's really you?" She walked up to you, her arms open to welcome you in a hug. Teddy let out an awkward chuckle as she noticed you didn't move a muscle, but she slowly and unsurely wrapped her arms around you when you took a hesitant step forward.
"It's so good to see you again! How- I- What?!" She smiled and rubbed her cheeks, trying to wrap her head around the fact you were standing in front of her, and trying to stop herself from panicking. "You left New York? When? You're a resident now!?"
"It's been years, a lot can happen." You squeezed your fingers behind your back, realising how harsh it sounded, no matter how much she deserved the cold shoulder. You just wanted to get this over with.
Teddy's smile faltered, but only momentarily, before her eyes filled with glee again, "So- what's happening? What's new? How did you get here? Are you.... third year? Or-"
"I love this little reunion but maybe it's best we focus on the surgery now...We've got little time." Arizona butted in with an apologetic smile, seeing you needed a breather.
"Yes! Of course, apologies." Teddy turned back to you, her face unreadable, but her gut wrenched with the guilt she suddenly felt. Your eyes said it all.
"We...um, should catch up later." She spoke before she quickly turned to face the whiteboard again, muttering something under her breath, hoping to be able to mask her panic in the next few hours of you two working together.
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
"Go!" Arizona mumbled out, bumping your hip when you stopped, seeing she was gesturing to Teddy waiting in line. "Go break the ice!"
"I thought I already did that this morning?!" You whisper-yelled back but was pushed forward by your friend.
"Oh- hi!" You shot her a wry smile, albeit awkwardly, as Teddy turned around. "Want to...um... eat lunch outside with me? Catch up? It snowed last night and uh, I know you used to love-"
But you stopped as you saw Teddy nod and smile, "I'd like that."
"So, Seattle, huh?" Teddy started once you had found a vacant bench outside the hospital. "I thought you said you could never see yourself leaving New York?"
"Yeah, well, I got the opportunity to do my residency here... I wanted to start fresh, and New York isn't what it's been after-" You stopped, noticing how Teddy tensed. She took her time eating her sandwich, stalling an answer before she eventually had to speak.
"It's good to see you ended up where you wanted to be. Seems like all those times I helped you study for med school weren't in vain." She smiled with her eyes as she took another quick bite of her lunch. She tried so hard to read your energy, but you seemed closed off.
"Don't get me wrong, I loved being an EMT, but this is good. This is great. I'm happy now. This is the right path for me."
Teddy gave you a soft smile as she truly took you in for the first time, daring to stare at your side profile now that you were focused on your own lunch. You wore your hair differently now, your face looked a bit more mature and you also seemed more reserved, but maybe that just had to do with the awkward tension still floating between you two. Your eyes though, still gave her the same comfort, even if she had lost the ability to read them, apparently.
"What's it going to be? You got your eyes set on a specialty already?"
You nodded while taking a sip of your drink, "Cardio or peds... though I sometimes like to dabble in neuro."
Teddy let out a breathy chuckle, "Ha! Knew it! I recognized the light in your eyes every time I helped you study cardio cases."
"Well, you made it fun. It was hard not to like it by the way you explained it. You seemed passionate about it so of course, I would try to feel the same way."
She nodded to herself, the corner of her lip curling up slightly before she changed the subject, "Where were you on Monday? Doctor Robbins and I did an alcapa surgery together, you would have loved that. Would have been the perfect match for you."
"Oh, um, I don't know, I think I was helping in the pit all day? It was a busy day." Deciding to change the subject once more, you opened your mouth again, "Where did you end up? You left but never said anything, I was worried for weeks until I eventually had to let it go."
Teddy stopped and put her lunch down, "I joined the army..." she watched closely as you raised your eyebrows in surprise, "Almost immediately after... That's were I met Hunt and that's how I got here."
You nodded softly, trying to put it all into place in your head. She obviously gave you the short explanation, as she had left out years of details. But you figured she did so for a reason, and you respected her decision.
"Wasn't I worth a goodbye though?" You chuckled dryly, half joking, half serious.
"God- no, I mean yes! Of course! You deserved an explanation, that's on me, I just... had to go. I couldn't breathe. I hadn't been in a right state of mind for a while, especially after my parents passed away... and then Allison..."
You put your hand on her leg, "Teddy, it's alright, you don't have to explain further. Sorry... I just- All I actually needed to know was if you were still alive. I was dying inside not knowing if you were alright-" You bit the insides of your cheek as Teddy's hand was placed over yours. She sighed and looked out in front of her, her fingers tangling with yours as she squeezed your hand.
"I am so sorry. You deserved a proper farewell."
You nodded, agreeing, but decided to stay silent, sensing that Teddy already knew how bad she had messed up.
"So um, are you staying here? This is not a temporary thing?"
She squeezed your hand again, just to reassure you, even if she felt tortured by all the lost memories and feelings resurfacing,
"Yeah, I plan on staying." She cleared her throat, "Which is why I'm glad we worked this out right now? I mean, we're good, right?"
Thoughts circled through your head while you felt your chest tighten. Having to be around Teddy again would be a challenge, especially seeing how you left things. But you could manage. You were a surgical resident, for heaven's sake, and you were not going to let an old friend from the past ruin anything.
☾ ⋆*·゚:⋆*·゚:⠀ *⋆.*:·゚ .: ⋆*·゚: .⋆
268 notes · View notes
d-targaryenshoe · 3 years
Text
Departure Of Love • Jackson Avery
Word count: 1061
Summary: Your boyfriend's leaving a part of his life, are you willing to go there too?
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"Are you alright?" You frowned, holding the sheets to your chest as you leaned on your elbow while Jackson ruffled through the drawers. "You're not are you?"
Jackson halted his actions not even meeting your eyes, shrugging his shoulders. "Of course, I'm okay, I'm always okay."
"That's Harriet's drawer, since when do you like to wear hair ties?" You snorted, pulling on a shirt as you frowned. "Are you gonna tell me what's on your mind?"
"There's nothing on my mind, okay?!" Jackson grabbed a bag with clothes before placing it next to you on the bed. "I'm leaving to Boston for the family foundation in a bid to help combat the Inequalities in medicine, and I want you to go with me."
Your breath slightly got stuck in your throat, staring back at the two blue eyes of your boyfriend, letting out a shocked scoff. "I- are you serious, I need to think that through."
"Think it through? I love you, I need you and Harriet with me." He answered, placing his hand on yours. "y/n?"
"I have my life here, my career, and my family, I need to think, Jack." You kissed his cheek in a hurry, getting out of the bed and walking towards the bathroom.
As you stood in the shower, you heard the front door closing itself, knowing he had left, feeling taken back by your words a few minutes ago, and you couldn't blame him for it either.
Although the car ride towards the hospital didn't give you more than double thoughts on what you said this morning, thinking you were too fast forward.
You saw a call coming in on your dashboard as you touched the green icon, accepting the call. "Mer, are you okay?"
"Schmitt came in late and there's a nasty wound in E.R 2 that just came in, you'll need to let him stitch it up, you up for it?" Meredith sounded sarcastic, knowing Levi could be a bit...much? "Y/n?"
"Uh- yeah, yeah sure, I'm- uh, I'm on it, tell Glasses to prepare for it." You started to drive up the parking lot, parking next to Jackson's car, pulling up your break.
Grabbing your bag, you started to walk up the double doors, strolling in and walking towards the E.R Meredith told you about.
"Hi sir, I'm y/n y/l/n, this is Levi Schmitt, he's my resident, he's gonna stitch up your wound, you'll be fine." You smiled, giving Levi's shoulder a little nudge. "Levi?"
"What? Oh! Yeah, I will." Levi nodded as he went to wash his hands while you placed all his materials on the sterile tray.
"He's new to this thing, isn't he? Trust me kiddo, I'm a tough lad, you won't kill me anytime yet." the man chuckled, waving his hand dismissively in the air. "I'll get through it."
You slightly laughed while placing the needle driver, tissue forceps, scissors and the sterilized needle and thread on the sterile tray.
Levi sat down on the small chair, preparing the wound for suturing by cleaning out any debris with water, noticing you staring at the hallway where Jackson stood talking to Link. "Doctor y/l/n, is something wrong?"
Turning your head back to Levi you noticed he was pulling on a pair of latex gloves. "Jackson is leaving for Boston and he- he wants me to come along."
"And why won't you?" Levi frowned as he used the needle driver to grab the needle, making sure the needle clamp locked in its place, pulling all the thread out of the suture kit. "Are you afraid?"
You scoffed, crossing your arms as the man also stared at you. "The Jackson guy, he's your fella?"
You nodded your head, smiling softly at the patient. "Yeah, he is, luckily."
"And what's the matter then?" The man asked while Levi lined up the edges of the wound as much as he could. "What you scared of eh?"
"What if things go wrong, what then? Do I just get over it or do I suck it up?" You shrugged, helping Levi to push the needle through the skin at a 90-degree angle about a centimeter to the right of the wound. "Never too far, Glasses."
"Look, I'm a man that got married three times, the first one cheated, the second ran with some money and the third is the love of my life, but I never got scared of love, I fought for it, together." The man patted your hand, slightly squeezing it as he gave you a kind smile. "Go with your fella."
You sighed to yourself, noticing Levi giving you a nod as well, mouthing you a yes. "Go with him, I'll beg Doctor Grey to put up with me, we'll be fine."
"And you trust him with your wound?" You asked the man that looked up to you. "Hmm?"
"The boy hasn't stabbed on a bone yet, I'll be good won't I?" The man joked, chuckling at Levi. "Go."
You nodded your head as you walked up to the roof, standing on the helicopter landing pad, pressing your pager, paging Jackson. "Please don't be stubborn."
Waiting for a good four minutes you stared out on the late-night city of Seattle, your hands on the railing, the fresh wind bringing you back to sanity.
"Is there someone dying? No. Are you dying? No. Is my mother pulling an embarrassing disaster? No. So what do you want, y/n? I have a travel to plan." He rambled when walking up to you before you placed your finger on his lips.
"If we start again, then we'll start with the two of us, I love you, Jackson Avery, in these six years I've realized that you are my life, that you are my only family, and that every single stupid thing you do, makes me fall in love with you, even more, so yes, I'll go with you." You finished your words.
He opened his mouth but before he could you placed your lips on his while placing your hand on his cheek.
"You need to learn when to shut it." You chuckled, leaning your forehead against his.
"We're going to Boston?" He asked, smiling down at you.
"We're going to Boston." You nodded, squealing when your boyfriend picked you up ad spun you around.
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kaimelia · 3 years
Note
atticus lincoln x reader pls
unworthy of your love
a/n: hi! first of all, a huge thanks and dedication to a ton of people. this fic would not be possible without all of you!
@wordsxstars @hurricanery @herrera-n-hayes @somegreysfics @dakotasgreenkitchen @oboevallis @thedefinitionofendgame @greys-for-days
disclaimer: this is a joke and I am sorry
"Good morning, y/n," Link whispers beside you, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of your hair behind your ear.
He smiles, and for a moment, the alarm clock blaring beside you seems irrelevant, because he looks so incredible in the dim light peeking through the blinds.
"We have work," you groan, pulling the pillow from under your head and slapping it against his face. He laughs.
"We could call in sick." You shake your head and stand up, pulling the sheet around your body, and walk toward the dresser.
"We were sick last week and the week before. Not believable anymore." Link groans dramatically and flops back on the bed, and you throw a shirt at him. "Get dressed. You have surgery, and Nico's plenty pissed at me for the last time you were late."
"Do I have to?" He pouts his lip out like a begging child and pulls the shirt over his head. You walk to the closet, pulling out a sweater and pairing it with jeans, buttoning them as Link walks up behind you and wraps his arms around your waist. His lips press against your ear, and you both laugh. "There's no way I can convince you to stay home?"
"Link," you turn around to face him, your hands cupping his face and your thumb lightly rubbing against his cheek. "If we leave now, we can stop for coffee on the way."
"Deal." He drops his hands and grabs yours, tugging you to the doorway. You grab your bag from the couch and chase him down the stairs of the apartment complex and to his car, where he holds the door open. "M'lady," he gestures, grinning as you get inside.
"So chivalrous," you mutter as he rounds the car and hops into the driver's seat, reversing the car and placing his hand over yours on the console, your voices both lightly humming along to the songs on the radio as you pass through the drive-through of the coffee shop, where Link recites your order by heart.
"So, I'll find you at lunch?" His hand lingers in yours for a moment in the hallway, and he's smiling as you both tug away from each other and your arms stretch farther.
"Sure." Link drops your hand and blows a kiss before running down the hallway as he usually does, the people around him staring in some mix of horror and shock as he passes.
"Y/n!" Amelia calls out, dropping Richard's hand and throwing her arms around you. "Are we still on for tonight?"
"You're sure it's not awkward? With Link?"
"Y/n, Link, and I are old history," she shakes her head. "I'm with Richard now, and I'm happier than I've ever been."
"I know, it's just, weird?"
"When have our lives ever been normal?" She waves a quick goodbye to Richard, who smiles at her like you've never seen him smile before. "Besides. Going on double dates always makes things less awkward. Link and Richard can watch whatever sports game is on, and you and I don't have to pretend to be interested in it. It's fantastic."
"Okay, okay. You've convinced me."
"Yay!" Amelia nearly squeals, clapping her hands together. "I'm so excited! I'll see you later!" She runs off, and your pager buzzes.
"Seriously?"
---------------
"Okay, so remind me how you two got together?" Amelia smiles, and the dimple on her cheek catches a shadow from the light above.
"We go to A.A. meetings together, and we would talk after, and one day Richard asked me to get coffee," she interlocks their hands, twirling their fingers around, "and that's where it started."
"Turns out we have a lot more in common than we thought," Richard added, quickly leaning over and kissing Amelia's head. "Sometimes, you just need to forget about whatever the world thinks is right."
"I think it's beautiful," Link grins and raises his eyebrows. "I'm glad we could all find the one we're meant to be with." He places his hand on your back, his thumb lightly rubbing up and down in a soothing pattern. "And, we can all be friends through it."
"Sometimes love comes from where you least expect it," Amelia whispers, looking up at Richard and her eyes glimmering with the reflection of the restaurant lights above them. "I mean, y/n, you and Link barely knew each other before this past year."
"Yeah, well, I didn't work at the hospital before this year," you laugh softly, and Link smiles at you.
"Top of her intern class, what can I say? Caught my attention."
"Although, you need to keep your distance because otherwise, everyone's gonna think I'm all for ortho."
"That wouldn't be the worst thing, getting to spend all day with each other, would it?" You shrug and playfully shove his arm away.
"Hey, I'm neuro, and we barely get to work with each other, but I think it's for the best. It makes coming home to each other so much better each evening. Plus, there's no messy work interaction."
"Yeah, well, I'm interested in trauma," you mutter, stirring the straw in your water around. "So, I think we'll see each other a lot."
"You know, when I was an intern," Richard leaned forward, "we weren't allowed to pick a specialty in our first year."
"Yeah, well, things have changed since the 1600s," you shrug, and Amelia bats her hand out towards you.
"Rude."
"I'm not that old," Richard holds his hands up in defense.
"You're old enough to be my Dad," you mutter.
"And mine," Link adds, shrugging. Amelia narrows her gaze at him. "What? It's true!"
"And if you were a teen Dad," she points at Link, "you could be her Dad." She moves her finger to you. "You could call him Daddy."
"Please stop," Link shakes in disgust, and his hand drops away from your back. "New topic. Find your new neuro prodigy yet?"
---------------
"Here, take my coat," Richard speaks quietly, dropping his jacket around his girlfriend's shoulders. She smiles as it hangs over her figure.
"Thank you," she whispers, and their fingers intertwine as the group walks down the sidewalk, Link's hand in yours. "So, y/n, how are you not dead from the intern workload?"
"It helps when you've got an attending who likes you and is nicer on you," you smile and shove Link lightly. "No, but in all honestly, Link helps me study, he helps me with patients, I have no idea what I'd do without him." You can see Link beaming proudly out of the corner of your eye, and he drops your hand to wrap his arm around your waist.
"We've just gotta get Owen to like you so you can stick here for a fellowship," he raises his eyebrows at you.
"I've got plenty of time until then, babe; I'm sure we'll figure it out when the time comes. Besides, who knows if you'll even still be at Grey-Sloan?" He shrugs.
"You never know," Amelia interjects. "Richard been there for how long, exactly?"
"The number doesn't matter. But, my whole life."
"I think the number does matter," you mutter under your breath, and Link squeezes your waist gently.
"Well, this is where we leave you," Link turned to the street beside them. "We should do this again sometime." You smile and lean your head against his shoulder, waving goodbye to Amelia and Richard as they walk away and speak drawn-out goodbyes.
"Well," you sigh, "that wasn't nearly as awkward as I expected."
"Dinner with three of your bosses, one of whom you're dating, another who is your boyfriend's ex, and the last, who is his ex's new boyfriend, but also old enough to be our Dad? Why would that be awkward?" You chuckle, and Link grins. He wraps his arm around your waist tighter and guides you down the street. "But seriously, I'm glad you're getting along with everyone at the hospital."
"Certainly get along with you." He pulls his keys from his pocket.
"You know, I was thinking."
"I do that sometimes."
"Move in with me." You raised your eyebrows at him.
"Link, don't you think it's a bit soon? Plus, is it really the best idea for me to move in with my boss?"
"Y/n," he turns to you, his hands on your waist. "It's not too soon if it's the one thing that feels right."
"Okay," you whisper, feeling your back press against the wall of the staircase. "I'll move in with you." He beams widely and grabs your hands, pulling you up the stairs and into his apartment. No, not his apartment, your apartment. You smile as he pulls out a bottle of champagne, not even bothering to ask why he had it, and pulls out two flutes, clinking your glasses together and celebrating the new start to your life together.
THIS IS A JOKE IM SORRY DONT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
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starcrossedkaiju · 3 years
Text
Kingslayer AU: Chapter Six
Finally. Onto the newer chapters. These’ll have a lot more character development and bonding. I wrote this about two days ago. So it’s hot off the presses.
I’m actually kinda proud of this one. Also I’m trying to make these shorter because I don’t wanna be writing a single chapter for three days straight anymore; it was burning me the hell out.
Tango readjusted his scarf, throwing the end of it behind him. It hit Scott in the face on the way down.
“Watch it,” Scott smacked the man in front of him on the shoulder.
“You’re annoying,” Tango replied from in front of him.
“Guys,” Impulse scolded.
They were approaching the end of the tree line, which would lead them right to the gates of Dogwarts. Scott had been looking at his feet for most of the journey, which is why he ran into Tango when he stopped suddenly.
Tango turned around and pushed him away, “Watch it,” he said with sarcasm.
The group chose to stop just inside the trees. Impulse drew a cloth from his pocket and wrapped it over Scott’s eyes. If he was the one making the plan he wouldn’t have himself as a kidnapping victim, it was a bit on the nose. Tango said it was just for looks.
Scott’s weapons were taken and stashed in Impulse’s Ender Chest, as well as his pager.
Scott sighed, “I still don’t understand why we can’t just get in there and…” he made a stabbing gesture to the air.
Impulse made a sarcastic attempt at looking shocked, “okay, first off, there’s six of them and three of us,” he pointed out.
“Second, that would be impulsive and stupid. They would all come back and hunt us for sport,” he said.
“Says you,” Scott said in the wrong direction, because he was blindfolded. Impulse rolled his eyes at the jape.
“Okay, you ready?” Tango put a hand on Scott’s shoulder. Eager to get a move on.
“As ever,” Scott replied. Then he was lifted off his feet by his accomplices, both of which were taller than him. A hand under each arm.
The trio left the trees and trudged up the mountain towards Dogwarts. Scott went over his life choices in his head while Tango and Impulse quietly argued over not dropping him.
Apparently someone was waiting for them, because Tango began exchanging words with a person standing in front of the gates. It was Etho, no doubt. They discussed the elephant in the room, Scott stuck to the plan and said nothing. Even when Etho asked him how it felt.
He did flip him the bird though.
When Scott was re-introduced to the ground he was on a set of wooden steps. Tango had gone inside, presumably to alert the boss of the situation. Impulse kept a firm grip on Scott’s forearm.
“You know what to do right?” Impulse asked.
Scott nodded. Hoping his acting skills weren’t too rough around the edges.
The door clicked open and a pair of hands dragged him into the main base, pushed him down in a chair, and pulled his blindfold off.
Across from Scott, standing over the opened book on the enchantment table was the Red King. A shiny new pair of sunglasses rested on his face, on top of a purple-tinted nose, and his arm was in a sling. The sight almost brought a smile to Scott’s face.
Ren clapped the book shut and stood to assess his guest.
“Well, what a pleasant surprise,” he greeted without a smile.
Tango put a hand on Scott’s back, “I think you’d be pleased to know he came to us,” he said.
An eyebrow raised from under Ren’s sunglasses. He reached out and pulled a chair from a table near the wall, positioning it in front of Scott.
Ren sighed and sat down, crossing his legs, “is that so?” he asked. Scott started getting uncomfortable.
Impulse made to speak up but was silenced by a hand.
“Let the man speak for himself,” Ren ordered, “come on now dude. Don’t tell me you’ve lost your voice,” he teased.
Scott cleared his throat, “I came to them. Yes,” he confirmed.
“Why,” Ren asked sternly.
Scott did his best not to squirm.
“I changed my mind,” he said, “I want except your offer. To join the Red Army,” Scott explained.
Ren laughed out loud. He threw his head back and leaned backwards. Scott bit the inside of his lip and looked away. Tango shifted on his feet.
“Really?” Ren asked, he was almost crying.
“Ren…” Impulse attempted to calm the king down but was silenced.
“No, no, by all means I want to hear what Major has to say,” Ren said with encouragement.
Scott grimaced, “Although I do not agree that kidnapping me was the best way to go about gaining my interest,” he started.
“Well it certainly gained some interest,” Ren said under his breath.
“I was already considering leaving my agreement with the Red Desert; and do not get me wrong I don’t appreciate anything you and your men have put me or my husband through,” Scott raised his voice. Assertiveness taking over, he stood up.
“I can see an opportunity when it holds an axe above my head,” Scott crossed his arms.
“I am willing to come to an agreement with you. I will join your army, I will act as a double agent, I will act under your orders, on one condition,” he held up a finger.
Ren slowly stood to meet his gaze, although he was a lot taller.
“Jimmy will not be involved,” Scott said explicitly.
The Red King turned away and went back to the enchantment table, he gazed into the book absently. Then tossed it back on the table.
“You’re on thin Ice Major,” Ren concluded and quickly left.
Scott expected a handshake at least.
“I’d say that went pretty well,” Tango said after the door slammed.
“He agreed?” Scott asked.
“Well he didn’t reject. So I’d say you’re hired,” Impulse provided.
“He thinks you’re a valuable asset. I don’t think he could afford to refuse your offer,” Tango leaned down and reassured.
Scott slouched down in the chair and rubbed his eyes. This was a bad idea.
His first orders came two days later. He was put in charge of the “chores”. Which essentially meant he was doing everything nobody else wanted to do.
Tango assured him that the Red Army was just sizing him up to see if he was actually serious. It was precaution, considering Scott had sort of blindsided them by joining forces. Nobody would look him in the eyes unless they were ordering him around. He knew he wasn’t meant to feel welcome there.
“They’ll come around, although I’m not sure why it bothers you,” he said.
“It’s just awkward,” Scott excused, “they act like I’m gonna pull a knife on them whenever there’s only two of us on the room,” he said.
“Well, after you showed them the door two weeks ago they’ve been a bit jumpy,” Tango replied.
Being the supply runner meant the sacrifice of his sleep schedule, except for his three “off days”. In order to operate effectively he had to do most of his chores at night when his husband was sleeping; and thank god he did that most of the time.
Most of the time.
The other times Scott packed a bag full of iron or wood and said he was running errands under the guise of not being able to sleep. It didn’t feel good to lie, but as far as Jimmy was concerned Scott only left the house on the nights they were both awake.
At the next meeting Scott complained to Tango over a bottle of mystery alcohol, “I may as well be an indentured servant,” he poured himself another glass.
“You know, Scott, you’re actually doing something pretty important,” Tango said from where he was lounging on a pile of pillows.
“Indentured servant,” Scott repeated.
“You’re the one in charge of all their resources. I mean they even have you doing farm work right? So you know like, everything about them,” Tango pointed out.
Scott put his head down on the table, “to the last stack of paper,” he deadpanned.
Tango sighed, he got up and pat his teammate on the back.
“At least you’re not on Nether duty,” he said.
“I’m leading a double life! I’m lying to my husband, I’m lying to my friends, I’m lying to the whole Red Army! Who am I?,” Scott shouted; and he meant it more than he’d like to under the alcohol.
“Okay, that’s deeper than I wanna go,” Tango replied. He sat back down and chugged the last of his drink.
“I mean I’m just sitting here, letting other people write my life for me!” Scott continued.
“Okay calm down,” Tango said.
“No! I won’t. You have no idea what I’ve been through,” Scott stood up, his chair slammed on the ground.
Tango shot to his feet, “then enlighten me, Scott. Enlighten me on how hard your life has been while you ignored the rest of the server,” he yelled.
“While you sat back and did nothing, watching the world fall apart around you?” he provided.
“You don’t know me,” Scott said with disgust.
“And who does, Scott?” Tango replied.
The other couldn’t answer, because Tango was right. Scott nodded curtly, picked up his drink, and left the room.
He finished his drink on the way out and threw the glass against the rock face next to the abandoned cow farm.
The shards exploded and scattered in the snow.
Impulse found him sitting on a bolder an hour later, sharpening a stick with a rock.
“I heard you had a disagreement,” he said without warning.
Scott turned around, then resumed his sulking.
“We had an argument, you may as well call it what it is,” he replied.
“Hm,” Impulse responded.
“He insulted me,” Scott complained.
“Does “insulted” mean he said something true that you don’t like?” Impulse asked.
Scott didn’t respond.
Impulse leaned on the side of the bolder and looked into the distance, thinking about his next sentences. Chips of wood fell near his feet.
“You know it would be a lot easier if you two could just get along,” he said.
“Okay dad,” Scott deadpanned.
“Don’t start with me now. I’m trying to help you,” Impulse cautioned.
“Sorry,” Scott apologized. He felt worse when he insulted Impulse than when he insulted Tango.
“I know he’s a bit of a handful, but so are you. I want to make this as easy as possible, and I know you’re not looking to make friends right now, but I think you would feel better-“ Impulse started, Scott rolled his eyes and scoffed.
“You would feel better if you just,” he gestured with his hands between himself and Scott, “let us in,” Impulse finished a bit dejected.
Scott stopped sharpening his dwindling stick. He sighed and dropped it in his lap, putting his head on his knees.
“Who else can it be Scott? Don’t shut down on us like this,” Impulse begged.
“Leave me alone,” Scott said without hesitation.
Impulse lingered next to him, then pat his hand on the rock and nodded. He walked away.
Scott raised his head and watched him until his head disappeared under the hill.
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hoe-imaginess · 4 years
Note
Ohhh box finally open!!! Please write about Hawks with a pregnant s/o whose having a rough pregnancy. Telling him up to birth maybe???
OH YES
Hawks 
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⤰⤰⤰
He’d be a good dad but honestly when you get pregnant he’s like lmaooooooooo oops 
Probably not planned, sorry it be like that. He’s busy and focused on hero work. Really did not plan on having kids, and if at all, definitely not until much much later in his life, probably when he was retired from hero work (and who knows when that would be)
Definitely the dad whose kid comes up to him ten years later like “Dad... was I a mistake?”
Hawks is like “Of course not!!! You were... a surprise!!! A very pleasant surprise!!!” and he’s sweating nervously because hell yes this little shit was a mistake. But a beautiful one. He loves his little perfect mistake
Anyways so yeah, after finding out that you’re pregnant, there’s like a two-week period where Hawks is in a state of shock/evasion/anxiety okay
He NEEDS time to process it. He’s very sorry that he goes kind of quiet for a bit, but it’s just because he’s trying to figure out how he’s going to keep up with work and also give you all the support you need. It’s a little angsty for a hot minute
Like, he’s already going through the Deadbeat Dad Blues because he knows he can’t be the father this kid is gonna deserve and ugh... he’s really goin through it
But then he comes to his senses, he’s like OH... right. YOU’RE the one with the entire ass little human growing inside of you. He needs to be there for you, regardless of his daddy-to-be anxieties. Because if he’s having some anxieties, you might be too. And he can’t have that
So it all straightens out at some point. It’s still difficult to be there for you, but Hawks makes sure you have everything you need when he’s not around: groceries, comfy clothes, his emergency pager number, his sidekicks’ numbers too, just in case
A rough pregnancy might mean a lot of hospital visits and yikes!! Hawks is an anxious FIENDDD because of it. He’s already going 400 mph daily to get rid of as much crime as possible, but now he’s trying to go double that pace because he wants to be at all of your appointments with you
You’ll often find him just zooming in through the hospital window mid-appointment when he barely makes it on time. It nearly gives your doctor a heart attack every time
On days he just can’t make the appointments, Hawks calls you for updates (or has someone from his agency call) 
He tries to keep positive, but he admits, he’s a little too worried about you sometimes
At night, when he’s sleeping beside you, he glances over and just watches you, watches your growing belly, and hopes everything is going to turn out okay. And he promises himself that he’s going to do everything he can to make sure of that
At the hospital, when you’re giving birth, it’s so hard for Hawks, because it’s hard for you
He gets up on the birthing bed with you, sits behind you, holds you and lets you squeeze and squeeze his arms as much as you need, rubs your shoulders when the contractions are too much
The whole time, he’s repeating words of encouragement and telling you that you can do it, and that it’ll all be okay
He may or may not cry when the baby comes... but maybe he’ll wait to cry in private. It’s about you and the baby right now; he’s just happy you’re both safe
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inkribbon796 · 3 years
Text
My Favorite Human Ch. 1: Blood and Fears
Summary: When Henrik gets in trouble someone unexpected comes to his rescue.
Chapters: 1, 2, 3
It’s rare that Henrik is ever grateful for Anti presence, or even his mere existence. These days he had resigned himself to Anti’s almost unceasing stalking and nothing coming from it.
Half of the time, Henrik wondered if this was some long von to pull him into a false sense of security. It had been going on for so long, however Henrik seriously doubted he wanted anything that dangerous because Anti had done anything more than startle him for months now.
Today, Henrik was very grateful, but Anti had pissed off a lot of the wrong people this week, and because the universe hated him four thugs ambushed him outside the hospital instead of Anti. Usually Henrik had his lunch in the hospital cafe, but today he wanted a change of pace and paid for it. He was heading through the parking lot to grab something from one of the nearby food trucks.
A man in a hood walked up to Henrik as he was heading out, double checking his pager. He noticed how suspicious the man was, right before he decked Henrik right across the face. The hit broke his nose and almost knocked his glasses off his face.
In anger, Henrik started cursing at him before the man tried to punch him again. Henrik was quicker to dodge. Both Henrik and Iplier had been taught self defense, so Henrik was able to defend himself until three other people walked up and one of them pulled out a gun.
Henrik pulled up his arms in surrender as he was punched again. The German doctor braced to get shot but before he could Anti came out of nowhere and slashed his claws across the gunman’s arm. He was glitching and screaming in fury.
The gun fired, slicing through only the empty air before the gunman screamed and dropped it. It caused the doctor and another thug to scramble for the gun but eventually Henrik had punched him and kicked the gun away.
After the gunman went down, the glitch jumped to another assailant and began slashing out another one while Henrik was just trying to disarm and knock out opponent.
By the end the four men were on the ground and Henrik was gasping to calm his racing heart and pull air back into his lungs. Adrenaline coursed through his veins.
Unfortunately for the doctor, Anti was still pent up from the fight and turned to the only other thing still standing: Henrik.
Henrik was starting to get his breathing back to normal before he was thrown again the side of a nearby car and a pair of clawed hands gripped around his throat.
It wasn’t enough to cut open his throat . . . yet! But Henrik could feel all ten points of Anti’s claws on his delicate human throat.
“HGHKKK!” Henrik choked out in alarm as Anti’s eyes locked with his and Henrik felt a shiver of paralysis start to come over him. Like some primitive vestige of his brain was trying to compel him to play dead.
There was a low, almost inaudible growl coming from Anti. Henrik felt it, instead of hearing it.
“Fook yeh,”[1] Anti told Henrik, Henrik’s neck starting to tilt at an awkward angle. “I could snap yer[2] neck. It’d be easy. Yah’d[3] be dead. Just . . . like . . . that.” At the last bit of his threat, his hand gripped onto his neck just a little tighter.
Henrik waited, for the snapping of bone and slicing of flesh.
But after a beat, Anti let go and air returned to Henrik’s lungs all at once. Henrik gasped and coughed as his brain and lungs fought for air again. His body sagging slightly against the car.
As Henrik coughed, Anti was just glaring at the wall next to the doctor in frustration.
“Vhy[4] did you do zat[5]?” Henrik coughed, his voice ragged.
“It should be fookin’[6] easy ta kill yah[7],” Anti told him instead. “I almost did it before. Yer[8] as human as they come.”
“Ja,”[9] Henrik agreed, massaging his neck. He dug around in his pockets for something to help the blood coming from his nose. “Zank you fer ze reminders. But vhy let me go?”[10]
“I like the idea ‘a yeh bein’ alive,”[11] Anti admitted, naturally getting back in Henrik’s personal space. He was looking for fear or for the doctor to flinch. He didn’t. “The others are so fookin’ borin’, but yer not.”[12]
“Me?” Henrik pointed to himself, confused.
“Yeah,” Anti scowled. “Yer[8] not afraid ‘a[13] me anymore.”
Henrik wasn’t sure if Anti wanted reassurance that he was someone that Henrik thought was absolutely terrifying, or if he should try and show the least amount of fear possible. “Vell, if you vere going to do some’zing to me, you vould have done it by now.”[14]
“Watch it, still got time ta[15] make yah[7] scared ‘a[13] me,” Anti threatened.
“Vell, it better be some’zing drastic zen, mine glitch,”[16] Henrik boasted, adjusting his glasses. The lack of attacks making Henrik brave and careless.
Anti had a plan, to really bring fear back into his eyes, but at the personalized nickname, his brain short circuited. He was just staring at Henrik’s smug face and he froze, forgetting what he was doing for a second it . . . needed to be drastic . . .
The glitch demon leaned in, and Henrik’s confidence wavered for a bit, sure that Anti was going to bite him. But instead, impulse crossed with some distant memory.
And for the second time that day, Anti stole Henrik’s breath away when their lips met.
Henrik froze and Anti quickly realized what he’d done, pulling away first. Henrik and the glitch just staring at each other.
“Uhhh,” Anti stalled.
“Scheiße,”[17] Henrik hissed, mostly to himself, before yanking Anti back in for a proper kiss before the glitch could think to disappear and not have to face Henrik directly after kissing him.
Anti glitched in surprise, causing a funny feeling along Henrik’s lips.
At first, Anti didn’t know how he felt about what was going on around him. This was sparking something in him. Some distant, time destroyed memory. Of lips against his and trouble on his heels.
While that memory was tickling his brain, it made Anti feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. A feeling that was slowly building until Anti couldn’t take it anymore.
“. . . Someone’s gonna[18] see . . .” There was phantom breath against his neck. Henrik’s lips were still against his, and the dual sensations were confusing his brain.
“. . . No one’s gonna[18] see if we’re quick, pretty boy . . .”
It was too much!
Anti grabbed Henrik by the front of his coat, pulling away and breathing heavily. His form glitched erratically.
“Anti?” Henrik asked in concern, noticing the wild and almost scared look in the demon’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
The demon met Henrik’s eyes before he shoved the doctor away. His form finally broke apart into pixels and disappeared into the night, Henrik left standing next to the unconscious, probably dead, thugs. Henrik quickly sent a text to Abe and waited long enough for a couple officers to show up.
Then Henrik went back into the hospital, mostly because he expected someone else to get hurt from one of the city’s many literal demons again.
He was right, but the day wasn’t nearly as busy as he feared it would be. Henrik even got to go back to the base on time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Post A/N: I might have just lost a bet with the Host. Anti made the first move, did not expect that. (No Host! That does not mean we’re canceling next week’s short! That’s not what we agreed on!)
Accessibility Translations:
1. Fuck you
2. your
3. You’d
4. Why
5. that
6. fucking
7. you
8. You’re
9. Yes
10. Thank you for the reminders. But why let me go?
11. I like the idea of you being alive
12. The others are so fucking boring, but you’re not.
13. of
14. Well, if you were going to do something to me, you would have done it by now.
15. to
16. Well, it better be something drastic then, my glitch
17. Shit
18. going to
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pythagoreanwhump · 3 years
Text
Eyes Closed, By My Side
AO3 link
After helping Anastasia vivisect a rebel spy, Kai has to make sure they survive the resulting infection long enough to confess. They didn't want to think about any other reason they were being so gentle, not when their head was still cloudy with emotions they weren't ready to face yet.
Thank you to @sopwithwhump for helping me with the idea and making it happen!
CW: Aftermath of torture (vivisection, but not explicitly mentioned), intimate whumper, dissociation (again not explicitly mentioned), very very brief (like half a sentence) mention of compulsive handwashing and what could be read as denial of that
Kai wasn’t one to startle easily, something to be expected given the nature of their job, unless there was something on their mind that bothered them deeply. Today wasn’t the type of day where they would admit to themself what they were thinking about when the phone rang, though.
They were rarely phoned for anything important, most of their superiors opting to use a pager in case Anastasia had them out of the office, but it would be undisciplined for them to not answer the phone immediately. The voice on the other end was one that they have heard before, but not familiar enough to recognize over a call.
“Lieutenant Waykes?” They heard the voice ask. They must’ve mumbled something in affirmation, though they couldn’t quite realize what they said. The voice continued. “The prisoner needs surgery. We just need a confirmation that you want them alive.”
This time, they distinctly heard themself say yes, but they didn’t think they knew what it was supposed to be about. They found themself pacing to the door of their office, an open file still clutched in their hand, before they stopped themself from rushing out without even knowing where they wanted to go. They set the file down, pressing with their thumb and smoothing out the corner where their grip had left a crease, and anxiously adjusted the position of everything on their desk, and then their uniform, before heading toward the med wing.
The place was empty, a large room set aside for prisoners with a couple of cots along the back wall next to windows covered with grey curtains. A small desk sat in the corner with a locked shelf next to it, and inside sat a few bottles with their labels obscured with the thick plastic screens of the doors. Certainly, it would be better for a prisoner to be brought here for help than to be in the cells being tortured everyday, but the place was no less gloomy. Swallowing thickly, they tried the door that they knew connected this room to the main medical office. It didn’t budge, and it was clear from the uniformly dull copper knob that it hadn’t been touched in a long while, but there was a tint of dark red hidden behind it, and a splotch on the old yellow paint of the door that looked faintly orange, brown even.
They left through the front door again, pulling it shut behind them, and somehow it felt like the hallway had brightened up as they did. The outside of it was painted a shade of green only slightly lighter than the walls, and with a few more steps down the hall, it was easy to forget the room even existed. The next room had double doors, propped open with two battered pieces of triangular wood, and the sunlight spilled through the tall windows, but the lights were still on overhead, buzzing with their harsh white glow.
“Can I help you?” The nurse sitting by the door barely looked up only to glance at the small silver bar on their shoulder. Kai stared back, scanning over the table and the pile of papers, more organized than their own desk ever had been even on their first day, and the nurse’s neat uniform, an ironed crease down the middle of the red cross printed on a clean white armband sitting right below the sewn-on double chevrons of his rank.
“Hm?” Kai responded, hoping they hadn’t zoned out long enough for it to be weird. “Right. I’m looking for a prisoner I sent over there yesterday.” They gestured toward the other room, and there was a shelf where they remembered the door being. “There’s no one there.”
“They’re in surgery,” The nurse replied. “It’s all hands on deck over there. There’s not much staff assigned to prisoners in the first place. It’ll take a few hours.”
Kai thanked him with a nod, asking him to tell the others to give them a call when it was done, and walked out, making the trip back to their office. They hoped no one would stop them and assign them some other task, walking close to the walls with their eyes down, their finger skimming against the rough chalky paint as they moved, feeling the friction that soon turned from grounding into numbness.
They sat in front of their desk and picked up the same file as before, laying it in the center of their desk so the spine aligned with the knob on the drawer right in the middle. The crease from their grip before was still there, sharper on the left than the right, and they smoothed it out with the side of their left wrist while they picked up their pen with their right hand.
The same grey walls that they had usually felt secure within suddenly felt too close, too tight, and they knew they needed a change of scenery. They would never admit how often they felt like this in their officer after they came back from the cells, how the walls were painted the same color and how they could very well end up in the other type of room with a single misstep. They found themself thinking that they would prefer even the gloom of a storage room that had been converted to heal only to prolong suffering.
They tucked a stack of files under their arm and once again walked to the med wing, opening the door to find the room as empty as before. They found a chair by the window, setting their stuff down on it and reaching to draw open the curtains. They expected to find dust floating in the rays of light that spilled in, but there was nothing. They didn’t know if they should be glad that the place was at least clean or hate it for how dead it seemed.  They spread their things out on the windowsill, trying to ignore now the peeling paint making crinkling noises as they wrote. Leaning against the side of the window and pushing their work into the sunlight to see better, they almost felt like a young student posing for an aesthetic photo of themself studying.
The thought occurred to them that they still had no idea where the operating rooms were when they heard a bed being wheeled down the hallway toward them. It can’t be far, but they never bothered to look for them. They had little time to wonder, anyway, the doctor seeing them in the room and directing the others to push the bed right to them, rolling the rebel, still unconscious, onto the closest cot.
“Here,” She tossed them a pair of cuffs, grabbing the rebel’s hand on her side and attaching it to the railing of the bed. “Get them cuffed up. They’ll be waking soon. And close the curtains. They always try to look out and plan to escape if they can see through the windows. Every one of them.”
“This one definitely would,” Kai looked down at the rebel who looked defiant even while unconscious. “I’m sorry for the trouble, ma’am. Captain Kolettis didn’t tell me it would be this bad.”
The doctor sighed, stepping aside to let a nurse put in a new IV. “You know, we don’t usually expend so many resources for prisoners. We had to pull staff from the normal care team today. I’m a doctor, and I will save their lives when I need to, but they don’t deserve to take up medicine and manpower that are meant for our own soldiers. This one lost their right to it when they decided to betray us. Next time you want someone alive, make some effort yourself instead of dumping all the work on us.”
“Captain Kolettis doesn’t care about what Captain Ridley would do if she killed the rebel, but I would prefer not to cross her after she made me promise I would get a confession from her prisoner.” Kai moved away from the bed, following the doctor to her desk. “I’ll get them out of your hair as soon as they’re good to go back to a cell.”
The doctor looked at them in silence, wariness showing on her face. “They’ll have to be here for a while. If you want a confession from them, you’re gonna have to wait. They’ll be too delirious to say anything for a day or two.”
Kai hummed, rushing back to the prisoner’s bedside when they heard the cuffs clanging against the railings of the bed as they started waking up. “Do you want me around or would I just get in your way?” It seemed like in the movies, people always tried to rip their IV out as they were half-aware, waking up in a hospital, but the rebel just struggled, the edge of the cuffs digging into their wrists.
“Sure,” She scribbled something at the bottom of a document that looked too messy to be a signature, even for a doctor’s handwriting. She pushed it under a clip and snapped it closed, looking around as if looking for something. “I’ll leave one nurse here, then, so it doesn’t get too crowded. Do whatever you want. I don’t care, as long as you don’t damage them up too much and then need me to fix it again.”
“Yes ma’am,” Kai muttered, not looking up at her as she left the room. They cupped the struggling rebel’s face, pressing them down into the bed and whispered against their forehead. “Hey. I know you can’t really understand me right now, but you know I don’t like so much struggling.” They weren’t able to tell before from the fleeting touches on their wrist, but now that they were close, they could feel how hot their skin burned. “I’ll have to punish you later if you keep struggling like this, okay?”
Kai didn’t know if it were the threat or the cool touch of their hand on the rebel’s forehead, although they doubted either would be really effective. They stilled, arms falling limp, but they jerked their head to the side, trying to escape Kai’s touch. They mumbled something, but Kai shushed them, thumb brushing over their lips as they leaned in to whisper another threat in their ear. “It’s okay, you’re alright,” Kai said when they’ve quieted again. “They just had to do surgery to clean you up so you wouldn’t die on me. Anastasia should’ve been more careful with you, you’re too beautiful to be killed like that.”
“No Kai please-” The word “surgery” seemed to have sent them into a frenzy. They arched off the bed, then collapsed down and tried to turn onto their side and curl up. Kai grabbed their shoulders and shoved the point of an elbow into their chest to force them down. Their eyes were open, but they were more feral than clear. “You can’t, please, don’t let them cut me open again, Kai.”
That seemed to take all the strength they had in them in their current state. Their eyes slipped closed and their shoulders trembled with quiet almost-sobs, but there was nothing left in them to struggle anymore. Kai ran their hand through their sweat-soaked hair, picking away the tangles. A whimper escaped their tightly pressed-together lips when Kai placed the back of their hand on their forehead, but soon their both hands were warm and the rebel was still burning hot.
“Private,” Kai waved at the nurse where he sat, probably just catching up on paperwork like everyone else. “Is there something I could use to cool them down a bit? I might as well while I’m here.”
“Yes sir. You probably should if you want them to recover fast so you can ask them questions.” They pointed to the sink. “Would you be alright grabbing it yourself? There’s rags in the top cabinet, and get one wet with cold water.”
“Thank you, private,” They nodded, and they didn’t remember themself getting up and walking over, just that the next moment they had the rough fabric in their hands, held under the running water. They stayed there for much longer than they had to, feeling their fingertips go numb under the cold water. They knew people maladapted to this job for whom washing their hands all the time was the only way to chase away the feeling of invisible blood forever sticking to their hands, but for them it was simply easier to let go of their thoughts while they felt the flowing water take it away from them. They glanced at the nurse again, but he paid them no mind, hopefully not nothing how long they stood by the sink.
They wrung out the cloth and used it to wipe their hands, folding it into a neat rectangle and laying it on the rebel’s forehead. They mumbled something incoherent and Kai hummed as if agreeing, taking hold of the rebel’s hand with their own, rubbing their cold fingers into their palm. “Does that feel better? Just relax and sleep now, you won’t be hurting so much when you wake up.”
“Promise?” Their eyelids cracked open a bit, but Kai doubted they could see the reassuring smile they flashed them. “I don’t… wanna hurt anymore…”
“Mhmm,” Kai nodded, squeezing their hand and feeling them squeeze back gently. They couldn’t promise them no more pain, but at least nothing would be as bad as what Anastasia had done. What they had helped to do. Flipping over the wet cloth, they muttered a quiet apology, but the rebel was already unconscious again. They bore witness to their suffering, and now they will stay by their side in their vulnerability. It wasn’t much, but at least they could convince themself they did what they could.
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justreckin · 3 years
Text
When Maria calls with the news, Carol actually laughs.  “There’s no way, Fury would’ve called if things were actually that bad.”  
“I don’t know Carol, things happened pretty fast, he might not have had time.”
Carol shift, already programing Earth’s coordinates into the ship’s nav as she asks, “Did you see his body?”
“No.  They buried him in--”
“You didn’t go to the funeral?” Carol cringed, she’d pay for cutting her wife off when she got home.
“No.”
“Then there’s no way Fury’s actually dead.”  
Maria sighed, “Babe, just come home.”
“Already on my way.”
Usually, when she came to Earth, nothing could stop Carol from checking in on her family before attending whatever other business might’ve brought her back.  But since it’d been Maria that called her this time, Carol figured she could probably check things first.  Just this once.
She left her ship in wide orbit to avoid any satellites and made her own way down to the surface.  The tracking system on Fury’s pager led her to upstate New York, not quite the middle of nowhere she’d been expecting, but far enough off the beaten path it wasn’t a bad hiding spot.  
The house, however, that was a surprise.  A cabin in the middle of the woods, not quite what she’d expected of Fury.  Still, since the man was supposedly dead...
Carol wasted no time scanning the house and floating around to the window nearest the pager’s signal.
Sure enough, there was Fury, sunglasses on, wearing a beanie, feet kicked up on the desk.  Smirking, Carol tapped the window. 
Fury just about fell off the chair.
By the time the man righted himself and stormed his way over to the window, Carol had nearly recovered from the hysterics that had her doubled over, floating before the window.
“The fuck, Danvers?” Fury snapped, flinging the window open.
“Maria called, said you were dead.”
“Ma-- well clearly I’m not.  No thanks to you.”
Carol hummed, “You gonna let me in?”
“Let me in, damn near killed me again woman,” Fury grumbled.  But since he was already working at getting the screen off the window, Carol figured he probably wasn’t too mad.
Fury dropped the screen to the ground and Carol slipped inside, “So were you actually dead or--”
The door crashed open and a dark haired woman barreled through, weapon at the ready, “Nick!”
Delight burst across Carol’s face, “Nick?”  She waggled her eyebrows at Fury, grinning so hard her cheeks were already burning.
“Dammit Danvers,” Fury snapped, “Hill, put that away.”
“Nick,” Carol repeated in absolute delight.  The other woman, Hill, holstered her gun at Fury’s command, but eyed Carol warily.
“Danvers,” Fury growled.
“I thought even your kids were gonna call you Fury,” Carol said, hurrying toward the newcomer.  When Hill backed off, Carol immediately slowed her approach, offering a hand instead.  “Hi, I’m your Auntie Carol.  Sorry I haven’t been around much--”
“Danvers!” Fury yelled, Carol’s mouth snapped shut.
“Auntie Carol?” the woman blinked at Carol a moment, before turning her incredulous gaze on Fury.
The man sighed, “Maria, this is Carol Danvers.  She’s... an old friend.  Carol, Maria Hill.  My deputy.”
“Uh huh, whatever you say, Nick.”  This time when Carol offered her hand, Maria took it.
“Auntie?” Maria peered at Carol in such a way that had definitely sent some greener agents cowering in their boots.
It just made Carol grin all the wider, “You bet.  I’m gonna be the best aunt you’ve ever had kid.  Count on it.”
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wyofabdoms · 3 years
Text
Ten Days - Day Six
Characters: Javier Peña x female reader
Summary: Javier is shot and refuses to take his antibiotic while recuperating. You get creative and make him a deal that ensures he will take his medicine everyday: one kiss for one pill. It's gonna be a long 10 days.
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Major character injury, slow burn, mutually unrequited, mild choking, swearing, dry humping
Word Count: 1944
Note: Steamy times...hand around the neck...pressed up against a door...oh yeah!! =-0)
Read the full series on Ao3
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The next day proved to be a long one.  You were woken up in the early hours of the morning with a pager from the embassy: there had been movement at one of the labs under watch, but it wasn’t the usual players that were doing the transporting.  The confusion and introduction of new players meant that you and the rest of your DEA colleagues would need to proceed with caution.  You had reached out to several of your informants first thing in the morning, but it took  most of the anxious day to hear from any of them.  A few leads, but nothing particularly enlightening that you didn’t already know.  
You found yourself at the bar of Hotel Tequendama that evening chatting up the cocky punk tending to the hotel bar.  You had confirmed that he had been working several nights ago when a group of sicarios had held a birthday party in a back room and this guy was full enough of himself that he was happy to mention that he had served them...perfect!  You worked him as you nursed a few drinks, sweet talking and flirting with him. By the time his shift ended, he had taken a few shots with you and was sufficiently plied with alcohol to take you up on your suggestion that he see you home safely. 
When you arrived, you had reached across the center console and rubbed along the front of his pants, suckling his neck and ear, whispering to him that you’d love to hear more of his stories over another drink in your apartment. He was just a bit too eager, though and he babbled stories (some useful, some not, some clearly made up) as you gave him a quick hand job there in his car on the dark street in front of your building.  It didn’t take long at all.  He grinned at you after as though he had given you something to really love.  And, in a way, perhaps he had.  You logged away the information he had spewed, making a quick exit from his vehicle and heading up the steps of the building.  You glance up as you ascend the steps and stop, thinking for a brief moment that you had seen the curtains move in the dark window of Javier’s front facing street window.  Probably just the air, you think as you hauled yourself up the stairs, swinging by your apartment to drop off your bag, collect leftovers from your fridge and pull out the carton of cigarettes you’d picked up for him.
You find him sitting at the kitchen table as you had several days ago, this time a sulky, dark expression on his face.  He’s shirtless again and there’s a bottle of whiskey and nearly empty glass on the table in front of him, a pill sitting on the table next to the glass.  He makes sure you’ve spotted the medicine before snatching it up and swallowing it, chasing it with the rest of the amber liquid in his glass.
“You shouldn’t be drinking while you’re on that medication, Peña,” you say offhandedly as you drop the carton of smokes on the table in front of him and move to reheat the leftovers in your hand.  Before you can move away from the table, he grabs your arm.
“You got yourself a side job, now?” He snarls, holding up your hand between the two of you accusingly.  You feel your face flush with rage at his insinuation and attempt to pull your arm out of his grasp, but he grips tighter, refusing to let you go.
“Fuck you, Peña!” You spit out at him in response.  “That’s a real shitty thing for YOU of all people to say.”  You pull your arm harder, but still aren’t successful in wrenching it from his grasp.  He uses your backward motion of pulling yourself away to pull himself to his feet, pulling your closer towards him by the arm.  “Don’t you DARE try to lecture me...take that fuckin’ double standard and shove it up your ass.”  You feel tears starting to prick behind your eyes and you pull harder on your arm, desperate to get out of the apartment before you start crying in front of him.  You hated that he knew what you had been doing in that car.  You hated the ease with which you had been able to complete the dubious action with the bartender...and you hated the fact that it had been made easier by imagining that it had been your partner that you had been pleasuring in that car.  You use your other hand to grab at Peña’s clutch on your forearm and dig your nails into the soft skin of his wrist and twist hard, causing him to release your arm and his, ripping his hand away from you.  He pauses for a moment, dark anger boiling in his eyes, his lip curled in a snarl before he snatches out his hand again, grabbing for your attacking hand.  You parry his reach and slap the hand away, pushing his chest roughly with your other hand and stepping back from him.  
He’s thrown off balance slightly, but rights himself almost instantly, his rage now white hot across his face.  You aren’t sure that you’ve  ever seen him look so angry, much less at you.  You spin around and move quickly to the door, refusing to speak one more word to him until he has apologized.  You’ve just opened the door a crack when Javier’s arm reaches past your shoulder to smack the door closed, the knob tearing out of your grip.  In a split second before you can turn and push him away to get the door open again, he has both of your shoulders in his hands.  He roughly spins you around and pushes you forcefully back against the door, putting his weight into you to keep you from moving your arms.
“Don’t do it again.”  He growls, his voice dangerous and dark. 
“Get. Off.  Of me.”  You hiss at him, shoving your knee up and pushing your midsection forward to add more weight behind the jab, but he forces your leg back down by slamming his pelvis into your lower body and pressing his full weight into you, pinning you to the door.  You’re so startled by the sudden full body contact that you stop fighting to get free from him for a moment.  Seeming to take your pause as some sign of resignation, he lowers his head closer to you and hisses quietly.
“Don’t. Do it. Again.”  
“Fuck you, Peña.” You have never cursed someone with more venom in your life.  If only your words could inflict as much pain as you wanted to cause him right now.  Rather than respond back to you, though, he just stares at you.  And then the look in his eyes shifts...and suddenly you realize that this isn’t about you giving a handie to the guy in the car.  You start to open your mouth again but he cuts you off. 
“That shit last night?  Thought that was real fuckin’ funny, didn’t you?”  You say nothing, just stare at him with a steely look.  He lowers his head closer…
...You whip your head forward to head butt him away from you but he pulls back a split second before you make contact and you merely succeed in glancing off his jaw.  You use his backwards motion to push yourself into him and away from the door.  Your arms loosened, you grapple with his hands, trying to get them off of you but, infuriatingly, he’s stronger than you and though you were loose for a moment, he quickly slams you back into the door once more, pressing even harder into you this time, wrenching both hands above your head and gripping them in a vise grip with one hand, grasping his other hand firmly around your neck, pressing the pads of his fingers into the soft skin there, squeezing.  It makes you stop, waiting for him to add more pressure, your eyes suddenly wide; you knew Javi had a temper, you’d seen it.  But you never in a million years thought he would hurt you.  
He stares into your eyes for a few moments, searching, both of you panting.  Then he adds an instant of more pressure to your neck before releasing it, but keeps his hand placed there.  His gaze flicks down to your lips then rakes up to your eyes.  He swallows hard, licks his lips.  
You feel your eyes filling with angry tears again.  Dammit!  Why couldn’t you keep your shit together?  All you could do was spit out another soft “fuck you!” into his face.
His kiss this time is hard and brimming on violent.  It’s furious and hot, both of you tangling your tongues together immediately, teeth clicking, lips sliding over lips; it was messy and wet and desperate, too and you descend into the passion of it as long moments stretch past.  You dimly become aware of his pelvis mindlessly rocking into yours, the hardness in his jeans rubbing into you, making you gasp into his mouth.  He grinds his hips into yours roughly once, pinning your lower body to the door and thrusting the outline of his dick between your legs.  A small cry escapes against his lips and disappears down his throat and he releases your hands, bringing his down to grip your ass, pulling you impossibly closer.  Your arms drop around his shoulders and you card your fingers through his hair roughly, hearing him sigh softly.  You hitch a leg from beneath him where he had held them and wrap it around his hip, opening yourself for better access for his groin.
You're unsure how long the kiss lasts, but he finally breaks the kiss and you’re both panting frantically.  As he pulls back he takes your lower lip between his teeth, biting it gently for a moment before releasing it and pulling back slightly to look into your eyes again.  There was no dark anger in his eyes this time, though.  Only a question.  He presses his forehead to yours, blowing out a puff of breath and closing his eyes, lowering his mouth to yours again and  hovering just over your lips. He whispers:
“We can do this without kissing…” he let’s the suggestion settle between you.  It’s a question; an out.  A chance for you to say yes, to give him permission.
It’s your turn to swallow hard now.  You lick your own lips and let out a heavy sigh, sliding your hands out of his hair and onto his shoulders, steadying yourself for a moment as you place your foot back firmly on the floor.  You push on his shoulders, gently but firmly.  Your foreheads are still pressed together, but he pulls away now, looking at you, eyes full of disappointment, of longing.  You can barely meet his gaze.  
He says nothing, drops his hand from your neck, steps away from you and reaches around you and opens the door, resting his arm high on the door jamb.  You have to duck under his arm slightly to get past him and despite the space he’s put between you, he is still close enough that you brush against his body as you bob low to get beneath his arm.  Without another word or glance back, you walk out of his apartment.  
Your breath seems to cut through you like a knife when you hear his door shut quietly behind you and the tears you had kept at bay earlier start to fall.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Day Seven
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xvnqsb · 3 years
Text
soulmates pt. 1
A/N: ahhhh finally posting the first chapter. i have about the first five or six chapters written, so i will have them scheduled for different days while i focus on school! hopefully you all enjoy!
of stardust and space. masterlist
chapter one. soulmates pt. 1
✧・゚: *✧・゚:* *:・゚✧*:・゚✧
"I'm pregnant." The words fell from the blonde's lips so effortlessly, as if they were casual words that are said in casual conversation. But they were definitely not words that were casual. These were life-altering words that could be the make or break of anyone.
"You're...pregnant?" His jaw dropped. "H-how?"
She rolled her eyes, sighing, and picking at her nails as if she was bored. "Well, T., when we fucked, somehow, our protection didn't work because here I am, knocked up with your child."
No shit. "I know that, but how? I've always used protection. This can't be real. Take another test."
"I took three. You think I want to be pregnant?" She stared at him accusingly.
How was this his fault? It takes two to create a child.
"So-uh-are we keeping it?" He didn't know what to think. Was he really ready for a baby?
"Do you want to?" Her voice had become a whisper, afraid of what might happen in the next few moments.
He paused, before smiling and nodding as he brought her in for a hug. "Yes."
She wrapped her arms around him, squealing excitedly. "Then yes."
He couldn't believe it. He, Tony Stark, was going to be a father.
"What do you mean 'you're going to be a father'?" Jason asked.
Tony had the telephone between his shoulder and ear, working on one of his latest inventions. He exhaled happily, putting down the tool in his hand as he adjusted the block phone.
"I mean, I'm going to be a father! Jasmin'e's pregnant," He heard a disappointed sigh from his best friend down the line. Knowing what the conversation was going to lead to, he sat down on the closest chair. "What?"
"Jasmine? Are you sure you want her to be the mother of your children?"
"Jason-"
"No, I know what you're going to say. I know you love her and everything, but Tony, what did your parents say?"
"I haven't told them," he mumbled, clearing his throat as he continued. "Besides, it doesn't matter what they think or say because it's my child and my life. And, I would like to point out that you got Vivie pregnant first!"
"You're right, but with a child, you're going to have a tie to Jasmine for the rest of your life."
"And?"
"She's insane-"
"No, she's not!" Tony scoffed, shaking his head at the thoughts of the man on the other end of the line. "She's not crazy."
There was rustling on the other end of the line, and then Vivie's voice was heard.
"Congrats, Tony! Jas just told me the news! I can't believe we're all going to be parents!" She squealed.
"Baby, give me the phone," Jason asked, and she complied. "Look, I got to go. I'm glad you're having a kid, Stark, just don't do anything else before you know what you really want."
"Fine, I won't." He picked up a pack of blueberries from his workstation, popping some in his mouth before speaking again. "Do you think our kids are gonna hate each other?"
He's never been this nervous. Well, that's a lie. He hasn't been this nervous in years.
But this time, he's sitting in front of his parents, figuring out how he's going to tell them he got Jasmine pregnant. His father was staring him down, almost annoyed at how long it was taking his son to speak.
"Mom, Dad-" He couldn't even finish his sentence, because his father jumped up, slamming his hand down on the table. Tony flinched, taken aback by the sudden movement.
"You knocked her up, didn't you?" He spat, disappointment evident in his facial features.
How'd he know?
"Y-Yes. Jasmine is pregnant, with my child."
His mom put her hand on his father's shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"I always knew this would happen. I can't believe this. I can't believe you." Tony didn't move or say a word, allowing his father to get out his anger. After what felt like an eternity, his father sighed. He sat down, rubbing his face. "How much?"
"Oh, my god." Tony scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "We're keeping the baby."
"What?" His mother gasped, obviously shocked at the decision of her son.
"You're not serious, are you?" Howard questioned, laughing as if this was all a sick joke. "You're throwing your life away, Anthony."
"I am not."
"If you have this child, it will be one of your biggest regrets."
"No, they won't."
"This child will ruin your life! You will have the greatest opportunities turned down because you will be a father-"
"Those won't change!"
"This will be the biggest mistake of your life!"
"Then it is my mistake to make!" Tony stood, angrily shoving the chair back. He felt tears threaten to spill, and his face grew hot with anger and frustration. "And it is not a mistake, because they are going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me."
Apples, bananas, carrots...lettuce? No. Watermelon.
"Babe, are you almost done?" Jasmine called from the living room.
"Yes!" He picked up the plate of fruit he had arranged and carried it to her. Her face lit up as she saw the food, squealing excitedly. "Healthy snacks for a healthy baby."
"Yum," She moaned as she bit into a watermelon slice, chewing and swallowing before continuing. "I did not understand why this child wants such healthy food but now I know! Watermelon is so good."
He grabbed an apple slice, chewing it as he picked up the book he was reading. TThey sat in silence as she finished her afternoon snack, the book in her hand closing once she was finished.
"Honey," she called sweetly, and Tony hummed in reply. "Do you want a boy or a girl?"
"What?" He looked up from his book, confused at the sudden question.
"I'm just curious."
"Well, uh," He cleared his throat, closing the book in his hand. "I'd, uh, I want a girl."
"Really? Why?" She looked at him so intently, so lovingly that his heart stopped.
"Because she'd be the best big sister in the world. And, I'm going to teach her how to kick ass!"
"You could barely kick-ass yourself! How are you gonna show her?"
"Well, Ms. Vonz, I know some martial arts."
"What if it was a boy?"
"I would love him all the same! I get to pass down my knowledge to another ruggedly handsome Stark!"
"And you can't do that with a girl?"
"Well, yeah. My kid would be smart and a badass."
"WhatifIalreadyknowthegenderandtoldyouitwasagirl?" She said the words so quickly, Tony could not process them.
"What?"
"What if," she gulped, sitting up. The blanket fell off of her stomach, revealing the small bump. "I already know the gender, and I told you it was a girl?"
"W-what? Oh my god," Tony shot up, a smile on his face as he repeated the words in his head. "It's a- We're- It's a girl? We're having a girl?"
"Yes."
Later that night, as they counted down from ten, Tony couldn't help the smile etched onto his face. He looked between Jason and Jasmine, incredibly happy about the recent events. The clock struck twelve, and Tony pulled her in for a kiss.
"Happy New Year to you and our baby girl."
"Have fun with Jason!" Jasmine whispered as she watched the man double-check himself.
"Thanks, Jas. I promise you can give me my birthday present when I get back." He leaned down and kissed her forehead, before going down to her big belly. He placed a kiss on where he hoped his kid's head was. "Even though she's already giving me the biggest and best gift already."
"Stop being all gushy," She pushed him towards the door, blowing him a kiss. "Have fun. Be safe."
When Tony arrived at Jason's apartment, he was greeted by the sight of Vivie bouncing a sleepy Jonah in her arms.
"Hey V. Jonah," he brushed a knuckle gently against his godson, the five-month-old reaching for his hand. "Is Jason ready to go?"
"Yes!" Jason came then, kissing his fiance and son goodbye before leading his best friend towards the elevator. "How's it feel to be 21, Stark?"
"Same as being 20, Mullem." They took it down to the lobby, and as they walked out the doors, Tony stopped in his tracks. "Are you serious?"
Jason had a huge grin on his face, nodding as he slapped his best friend on his back. "All this for you, Tony."
"I fucking love you." He mumbled as he entered the limo.
"I fucking love you too."
Tony's pager beeps for the seventh time that night. 911. His father insists that he pick it up, so he leaves the dinner table and calls the number.
"Bellevue Hospital Center."
"Hi, yes, this is Tony Stark. I got a 911 to my pager?"
"Mr. Stark?" A male's voice came from the end of the line.
"Yeah, that's me," He rolled his eyes at the man on the other end.
"Yes, Mr. Stark, I'm Dr. Jones from Bellevue Hospital Center. Your wife has gone into labor."
"My-My wife?"
"Jasmine Vonz, sir."
Oh, God, it's happening.
"Y-yes! Sorry, it's just...unexpected." He turned to look into his dining room, his mother and father in conversation. "I'll be there soon."
He hung up, feeling sick.
"Anthony, is everything alright?" His mom called.
"Y-Yea-" He didn't finish his sentence, running to the bathroom and vomiting his entire dinner. When he was sure he was done, he got cleaned up before heading back out to the dining room. He grabbed his keys, wallet, and jacket, looking at his parents. "Jasmine went into labor."
"Oh, honey!"
"I-I gotta go. I'll let you know when she's born!" He called out as he ran out of his house.
The ride to the hospital, he was jittery. His cab driver kept giving him dirty looks, looking relieved as they finally pulled up to the hospital. Tony gave him more than enough cash before stumbling out of the cab and into the hospital. He went up to the nurses' station, having trouble finding words.
"Can I help you, sir?" One of the nurses asked.
"Ye-Yes. My girlfriend went into labor, uh, not so long ago."
"What's her name?"
"Jasmine Vonz."
She looked for her information, nodding when she found it. She gave him directions towards the room, saying a quick 'see you soon'. When he entered the room, Jasmine was pale and sweaty, gasping as she saw Tony.
"This baby will not stay in." She clutched at his hand as another contraction came. "I'm scared. I don't think this is how it's supposed to feel."
"I'm sure it's fine, honey." Tony pressed a quick kiss to her head, whimpering quietly as she crushed his hand. "My hand, not so much."
"I'm Dr. Jastin, " The doctor said as he came in moments later, his team right behind him. "Alright, Mom, Dad, are you ready?"
"We're doing this in here?" He asked, looking at the nurses setting up the baby stuff. "Isn't there, like, a labor room or something?"
"Yes sir, but it seems your daughter does not want to wait," the doctor answered as he snapped on his gloves, putting on a mask before setting himself in between his girlfriend's legs. "This baby is coming here and now."
The delivery was a painful process, and he was pretty sure a couple of his fingers were broken. After the final push, he heard the cries of his baby girl throughout the room. He sighed a 'Thank God' as his hand was released.
The doctor handed her over to one of his nurses, working on closing Jasmine. The nurses worked on the baby, wrapping her in a blanket and doing other...nurse/baby stuff.
"You did so well," he muttered in her ear, kissing the side of her head. "Gave us a beautiful baby."
"Where is she?" she whispered, gulping and trying to locate her kid. "Tony, where is she, is she okay?"
"Yeah, honey, she's with the nurses."
Tony looked up at the team of nurses working on his newborn baby. They seemed to be taking longer than necessary.
"Dr. Jastin?" One of the nurses called as he finished up.
"What's going on? What's wrong?" Tony asked, finding Jasmine's hand and squeezing it.
"It's fine," the doctor told the nurse before lifting up his baby and carrying her over to them. "Who wants to see mommy and daddy?"
Jasmine shook her head, looking away from the doctor and baby.
"Ms. Vonz?"
"Jas, what's wrong?" Tony whispered, moving her hair behind her ear. "You don't want to hold our baby?"
"No," She mumbled. "I don't want the baby."
Tony reached out for his daughter and was oblivious to the words that were muttered by his girlfriend. His face lit up with a smile, his heart pounding at the feeling of holding such a small life in his hands. He rubbed his finger against her cheek, a happy sigh escaping his lips.
"Can't believe you're here," he whispered, leaning down to press a kiss against her forehead. She cooed, reaching up, and beginning to cry. "It's safe to say that you're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Besides your mom, of course."
The next day, Tony took his parents to the nursery. There were at least 25 babies, some being days old, while others were mere hours. He pointed her out, his parents smiling at the small infant.
"Doctor said that we could take her home tomorrow," he said, nodding as the nurse indicated if he wanted her to take the baby up to the window. "I can't wait."
"Me neither," Howard whispered, subtly wiping at the tears building on his waterline. "Where's Jasmine?"
"She's resting in the room," he replied, suddenly remembering his duties. "Do you guys mind waiting here while I set up the car seat and crib? It'll only be an hour."
His parents agreed, waving him off as he raced to begin his new life.
Lilah was in the carrier, gladly sucking on a binky, as she and Tony walked up the stairs to her mother's apartment. It's the third day they've been home, and Jasmine has refused to see her child. He figured she was probably struggling with postpartum depression and wanted to help. He had found a great support group and some counselor's that focused on such things.
"Ready to see mama?" he asked her, taking the garbled sounds as a yes. "Me too. I miss her. And I can't wait to take more pictures of the two girls in my life."
Finally arriving at the door, Tony unlocked it and stepped inside. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of the barren apartment, looking around in shock. Knowing it was worthless, he put the carrier on the counter and looked for his girlfriend. All he found were two envelopes taped to the mirror of the bathroom.
He grabbed them in disbelief before grabbing his daughter and leaving the apartment in anger and hurt. The drive home he blamed himself for her leaving, muttering insults to himself.
The envelopes sat at the bottom of his drawer for years, refusing to be read. As he fell, his parents helped take care of their granddaughter. They fed her and changed her when she woke them screaming in the night, while their son laid in bed with no will to live. He ignored his daughter, refusing to hold her and look at her. He didn't want a memory of her, leaving the house after a week. Howard called Jason, asking him to take care of Tony. For the first month of Lilah's life, she was raised by her grandparents, who had grown quite fond of her.
"I'm glad Tony had her," Howard whispered to Maria one night as they rocked her to sleep. "She's going to save his life."
Maria smiled, rocking her granddaughter back and forth as she thought of her next words carefully. "Will you ever tell him?"
He exhaled deeply, rubbing his face and sitting down on his son's bed. "Yes, just not right now. He's already dealing with her leaving."
"I know but-" Howard looked up to see Maria staring at the door, and followed her line of vision.
Tony stood in the doorway, watching his daughter. She had been falling asleep until her head fell to the side and she caught sight of her father. At the realization of who it was, she began to cry and kick at the woman, attempting to reach out to him. Without hesitation Tony crossed the room, taking her into his arms and beginning to rock her back and forth. She calmed, relaxing at the feeling of being in her dad's arms.
"Let's go," Maria told Howard, shooing him out of the room and closing the door behind them.
That night, Tony got up to care for his crying daughter.
"Is the table set?" Maria called from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mom," He called from the dining room, finishing the silverware on the last plate.
He went up to his room and checked up on Lilah, who was just waking up from her nap. She reached out for him, giggling as he sniffed her diaper and exaggerated a gag.
"Someone's not ashamed," He muttered, changing her before taking her downstairs. "Guess who's up?"
"Where's my girl?" Howard called out, coming in from the living room. He reached for her, kissing her cheek as Tony handed her to him. "There she is."
A twinge of jealousy shot through Tony, but he quickly shook it off as the doorbell rang. He opened the door, taking Jonah from Vivie's arms and pressing a kiss to his cheek. The Mullem's greeted his parents, seating both children in high chairs before gathering around the table. They held hands and prayed.
"What are you thankful for, Stark?" Jason asked, looking across the table at his best friend.
Tony looked at his daughter, pinching her cheek. "The best thing in my life."
"Did she wake you?" Tony asked quietly, looking towards his father who stood at the door.
"No, I've, uh, been in the study." Tony nodded, returning his attention to his tired daughter. "How's she doing?"
He turned her towards him, eyes slowly closing and mouth open. "Almost there."
They stood in silence for a few minutes before Howard turned to go to his room.
"She's the best thing that has ever happened to me, Dad."
Howard looked towards his son, and it seemed like there were tears in his eyes. "I know."
Lilah had officially turned six months yesterday, and everything had been normal. He lacked attention from his father but witnessed him give it to his daughter. His mother gave him the same love she gave his daughter. They were a happy, content family.
Until hours ago, police showed up at the door to inform him of the news.
He didn't believe it. He thought it was some sick joke. But it wasn't.
Howard and Maria Stark were dead.
Car crash.
They weren't the only things they said, it was just what he could make out.
They were involved in an accident.
Didn't make it.
The pain was all too much. The mother of his child leaving him. His parents dying. He wasn't going to make it.
The funeral was rough. He doesn't remember much, just giving the eulogies and greeting old family friends. Accepting condolences. Hiding his kid away from those who began to pry too much, it was a funeral, why were they more interested in his kid?
After that is when it got worse.
He began to fall again. Scarce meals, drinking, bad hygiene. He didn't answer the door for anyone.
He simply lived and breathed for his daughter. He didn't want her to grow up an orphan. He changed her and bathed her and fed her. everything he was avoiding on himself he did to her.
"Baby, please, stop crying," He begged for the millionth time. Lilah was refusing to take a bath. She kicked and screamed bloody murder when he tried to lower her in the water. "What is it? Do you want me to shower with you?"
Hoping it was just that, he let the water go and turned on the showerhead. He undressed before picking her up and stepping into the water. She didn't cry or scream or throw a tantrum, just began pulling at his hair as the water hit it.
His body relaxed, soaking in the feeling of showering. He sighed in content, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.
After the shower, he put them both into comfortable clothes before deciding to take a nap.
Tony had put Lilah in her crib and had just laid on his bed when she began to cry. He left her alone, hoping she would put herself to sleep.
He gave up after fifteen minutes.
"What is it, sweetheart?" He picked her up, rocking her gently. He sat on the bed, and her crying seized. He chuckled at his realization. "I get it. Do you want to sleep with daddy? Is that it, my girl?"
Lilah cooed, swinging her arms.
Tony laid back, allowing her to rest on his chest. She put her ear against his chest, falling asleep to the rhythm of his heart.
Lilah was turning one and Tony was freaking out.
Sure, he thought about it. But he never realized how old she was turning. Much less realized how fast the past year has gone.
"You need to calm down," Jason told him, helping the 22-year-old father wrap his daughter's presents.
"Were you calm when Jonah turned one?" Tony asked, looking at his best friend.
"No." He sighed.
"Then you can't come bitching at me about it!"
"Watch the language boys." They looked up to see Vivie enter with both kids in the double stroller, dropping the diaper bag on the table. "Why did I have to take them out again?"
"Because the party is a surprise?" Jason responded in a 'duh' tone.
"They're babies. They don't even know what's going on." Vivie set both children down onto the ground.
Tony walked over to pick up his daughter, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Jonah lifted his arms at his godfather, and he complied. Tony held both children in his arms, attempting to avoid their grabbing hands at his ears.
"What if Lilah has a photographic memory? What if she remembers her first birthday years into the future and hates me because we didn't surprise her?"
Jason groaned, shutting his eyes. "Again Tony?"
"Yes! My child can be a super genius."
"That's not possibl-"
"Okay, boys." Vivie interrupted them, grabbing Jonah from him. "Let's finish decorating, get ready, and enjoy the party!"
"Yeah." Jason agreed, raising his eyebrows at Tony. "Enjoy the party."
Tony held Lilah all night long, only passing her to her godparents when he went to the bathroom. The party was over. Jonah was asleep in his crib, Jason and Vivie were cleaning up, and Tony was in the living room with Lilah on his hip. He was swaying them back and forth gently, humming softly to the song that played. She was falling asleep, brown eyes watching him before shutting for a few seconds then opening again.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead before whispering, "Happy birthday, baby."
"Don't move! Let me get the camera!" He ran to the kitchen, grabbing the video camera. He turned it on as he raced back to the living room, placing the phone back between his shoulder and ear. He began recording Lilah, who stood holding onto the sofa. "I told you, Mullem, my kid's going to walk first."
"No, my kid is gonna walk first," Jason said through the phone, causing Tony to roll his eyes. "You're just upset because Jonah started talking first."
"He hasn't even said a word!"
"Yes, he has!"
"What? 'Bajdkfs'? Those are baby sounds."
"He spoke first, and he's going to walk first."
Lilah let go of the sofa, and Tony perked up. "My kid's going for it."
"Mine let go of the sofa."
"So did mine."
They stayed silent, each urging their kid to make the first move. Lilah looked at her dad and smiled, taking a wobbly step towards him.
"Ohmygod, I won! She took her first step!"
"No!"
"Good job sweetheart! Take another." he encouraged her. She took another wobbly step before falling onto her bottom, giggling at her father's happy expression. "Yes!"
"No! Jonah just took his first steps! It's a communication error."
"Nuh-uh, Jason. Your kid got speaking first, mine gets first steps."
"He didn't even say a real word."
"Aha! I knew it!"
"Whatever. I got to go, Vivie is furious that we're competing."
"I bet. Did you tell her you lost?"
"Screw you, Stark."
They hung up, Tony picking up his daughter and setting down the video camera. He kissed her head, smiling and bouncing her. "You wanna speak first too? Give Jonah a run for his money?"
She babbled nonsense.
"I agree."
He sat her back on the ground, sitting across from her.
"Say 'Dada'. Da-da. Easiest word in the book, kid." She crawled to him, standing with the help of his legs. "Daddy would be good too. Dad. Pops. Anything."
She babbled once again, stepping onto his legs and reaching up to support herself against his chest.
"Really? Quite interesting."
She laughed, leaning forward and pressing her nose against his. He scrunched it in confusion, a smile gracing his lips. "What are you doing kid?"
"Dada." She said before pressing a kiss to his nose.
"Yeah, I'm your da-Wait what?" He picked her up, shock and disbelief running through him. "What did you say?"
She babbled, dancing in his arms.
"You cannot do this to me. I need proof that my kid is the best." he stretched his arms slightly. "Dada. Say it again, baby, please."
Nothing.
"Por favor?"
Nada.
"Please, for me?"
She smiled. "Dada."
It wasn't perfect, but it was real. An actual word.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you," He kissed her head once more, sitting her in his lap. "Jonah may be older, but he has his dad's brain."
His eyes landed on the video camera, hope filling him.
"Please be recording."
"Daddy," Lilah gently pushed his arm. "Daddy."
His eyes open slowly, taking in the sight of his tired four-year-old. He sighed, reaching his hand up to cup his daughter's face. "What's wrong-what the hell?"
Shooting up, he brought her onto his lap, back of his hand pressing all over her face. She was sweaty and sticky and her skin was burning.
"I don't feel good." She mumbled, a whine leaving her and she grabbed his hand. "My tummy hurts."
He picked her up, putting on his shoes before heading downstairs. She rested her head against his shoulder, her stomach rumbling. She was asleep the whole ride, waking when they got to the small 24-hour store. She whined and cried silently as they moved about the store, gripping onto him so tight her knuckles turned white.
"Ooh, fever?" The clerk asked, scanning the box of medicine.
"Yup. She was fine when she went to sleep but she woke me with a fever." Tony replied, taking out some bills to pay for the items.
"Weird. They usually exhibit signs."
"Yeah, last time I could tell. But this time was a surprise."
The clerk handed him his bag and took the bills. "If she's not better in a few days, you should take her to the doctor."
"If I can't have the fever down by tomorrow, I might have to." He took the change from the man, stuffing it into his wallet. "Thank you. Have a good night."
"You too, man. Hope she gets better soon."
"Thank you."
Tony soothed her on the way to the car, rubbing her back and telling her she was going to be okay. He buckled her into her car seat, dropping the bag by her feet when she burped. Eyes wide, he emptied the plastic bag and put it under her mouth in time for her to throw up into the bag. He rubbed her back once more, wiping vomit off of her mouth with his sleeve before starting the car. He made sure she held onto the bag, trying to get home as quickly and safely as possible. She puked once more on the drive home, crying and calling for him.
"I know, princess, just hold on."
They were in the driveway and he was turning off the car when she began heaving and climbed into the backseat to help her. He quickly took them inside, struggling to carry his sick daughter, the get-well items, and her puke bag. They eventually made it to the room, where he changed her into a new set of pajamas. He had her rinse her mouth before giving her the dose suggested on the box. She drank it, unwillingly, and cuddled up to his side when he laid them down.
Tony was gently massaging her head, slowly falling asleep himself when her small voice filled his ears.
"I love you, my pretty boy." She whispered, voice drowsy from the medicine.
"Your pretty boy?" He questioned, curious of the sudden nickname.
"Mhm, my pretty boy. You're my pretty boy, Daddy."
He smiled, pressing a kiss to her head. "Guess that makes you my pretty girl."
"Guess so," she muttered, finally drifting off
"I love you, my pretty girl."
"Kindergarten was so fun Daddy!" Her voice screeched through the phone, Tony smiling at her voice. God, he misses her.
"Really?"
"Mhm! We made a nametag and got to color it and draw on it and-"
"Whoa there, sweetheart," Jason interrupted his daughter. "You're talking too fast for your old man's ears."
"Hey, I'm not old," He spoke into the phone, her giggles coming down the line. "You're old."
"Yeah, Tio Jay, you're older than Daddy." She started screaming with laughter, a sad smile on his face. "Daddy! He's-stop!-tickling me!"
"Better stop tickling my daughter Jason, before I have to kick your ass."
Her laughter slowly stopped, her breathing heavy. "Ooh, you said a bad word."
"Uh-oh, don't tell Aunt Vivie or she'll kick my ass."
They laughed, shuffling heard slightly on the other side. "I'm gonna make dinner, you can finish talking to Tony, baby."
"Mhm," He could hear her moving around. "What are you doing, Daddy?"
"Well," He cleared his throat, moving to get comfortable on the hotel bed. "I'm in my hotel room talking to a very pretty girl."
"Really? What's her name?"
"Tokyo."
"Hey, that's my name!" He waited for a moment, and she gasped in realization. "Ohhh, you're talking about me."
"Of course I am. What other pretty girl do I know named Tokyo? I think you're spending too much time with Uncle Jay." She giggled, and he could almost imagine the smile on her face. "Sorry I couldn't be there for your second day of school."
"It's okay. You were here for my first day," She grunted quietly. "Are you still coming home on Saturday?"
"Of course. I promised to get us ice cream, didn't I?"
"Yup," she popped the 'p', the smile widening on his face. She let out a quiet sigh, and he could tell her mood shifted. "I miss you, Daddy."
He sighed. "I know. I miss you more."
They were both silent for a few minutes, her breathing slowing slightly.
"Hey, baby?"
"Hm?"
"Wanna tell me about school?"
She gasped, excitedly. "Yeah!"
"Do you want to stop and get her a cheeseburger?" Happy asked from the front of the car. Tony shook his head, sighing.
"I don't want to give her happy food and then tell her the bad news."
"But it's not bad news."
"For her, it is," He ran a hand down his face. He can't believe he's doing this. "This is her life! Her world. I wanted her to grow up here like I did. She already struggles with the fact that I'm on a business trip almost always, she's gonna hate me because of this."
Happy drummed his fingers on the wheel, pulling over in front of Jason's house. He honked, and Tony looked out the window to watch the door. "What has Vivie said?"
"We thought she was getting better. But, uh, Jason heard her crying in her room the other night." The door opened, and she gave her aunt and uncle a kiss on the cheek. She began to run to the car, backpack swinging back and forth on her back, the metal bracelets on her arm bouncing with her every step. "Maybe we should get her a milkshake."
Tony opened the door, and she jumped in, landing on top of him.
"Hi, Daddy!" She placed a kiss on his cheek, moving to sit on the other seat. She shrugged off her backpack and threw it below her feet before buckling herself. "Hi, Happy!"
"Hi, Tokyo. You buckled?" He asked her, looking at Tony through the rearview mirror. She nodded, looking out the window. "I was thinking of getting a milkshake, want one?"
Her face lit up, and she turned to her dad. Tony smiled, nodding at her.
"Yes please!" They began their drive, and she was watching him. He didn't realize it until he glanced at her and she quickly looked away.
"Why are you watching me, creepy lady?" Her face reddened, embarrassed from being caught. "I'm too handsome for you not to look at, is that it?"
She rolled her eyes, smiling at his comment. "Of course, Daddy. You're the handsomest man in the world."
"Whoa, wait up," Happy spoke from the front, feigning shock. "Last week you said I was the handsomest man in the world."
"Well," She stopped, thinking. "You both are."
"Mhm," Tony raised an eyebrow, causing her to give a shy smile. "Nice save."
They sat in silence for a few moments before she spoke up. "What's wrong?"
"Hm?" He looked at her, but she was looking out the window. "What do you mean?"
"You're sad."
"I'm not sad." He made eye contact with Happy once more.
"See? You and Happy are looking at each other And I know when you're sad, just like you know when I'm sad."
"You know when I'm sad?"
"Mhm. I know when you're happy, sad, mad. I know what you're feeling all the time."
"All the time? How?"
"You're deflecting, Dad."
Dad? He was definitely screwed.
"That's a big word for a first-grader." She gave him a look, "Okay, fine. We have to talk."
"Okay. Are you going somewhere?"
"Y-Well, yes." He cleared his throat, nervous. He didn't know how she was going to react. Will she cry? Be angry? Shut down? "But it's different this time."
She shrugged "I think I'll be okay."
He took a deep breath and watched her, gauging her reaction. "We're moving. To California."
She opened her mouth but hesitated.
"Are you mad?" He asked quietly.
"No. Never at you, Daddy." Big brown eyes looked into his, and he smiled slightly. "Is that all?"
"Yeah," He gave a relieved sigh, ruffling her hair.
"Cool. Are we still getting a milkshake, Happy?"
Tokyo handled the move amazingly well. Tony thought she would cry, throw a tantrum, be angry at him for having to leave her life. She seemed unfazed. It's been two years, and she's still doing great.
"Stark Industries." Pepper answered the phone. Tony was resting his eyes, worn out from the meeting. "Oh, well, he's right here."
"Tony," He opened his eyes as Pepper nudged him, hand covering the receiver of the phone. "It's Tokyo's school."
"Oh shit," He sat up, taking the phone from her hands. "Hello?"
"Mr. Stark? It's Mrs. Forman. I'm calling because there was an incident. We tried to call your personal phone but you weren't picking up."
"Yes, I apologize, I left it in the hotel room this morning. What happened? Is To-Lilah okay?"
"As of right now, she's fine."
"What do you mean, 'as of right now'? What happened?"
"We already contacted Mr. Hogan and he's on his way to the hospital with her."
"The hospital? Why is my daughter on the way to the hospital?" He muttered, waving off Pepper and running a hand down his face. "What did she do?"
"It's not something she did, per se, but she did break her wrist."
"Whoa, wait. What? What do you mean she sprained her wrist?" He covered the microphone, turning to Pepper. "Book me the next flight home. Now."
"And she sprained her ankle, Mr. Stark."
"What the hell happened to my daughter, Mrs. Forman?"
"She was on the monkey bars and slipped off. She landed on her wrist, and another kid fell on her foot."
"I can't believe this." He mumbled, hanging up the phone. He looked over at Pepper, worry on her face. He shook his head, before looking back out the window.
He landed in LA two hours later and arrived home an hour later. The car was in the driveway, and he practically barged into the house. Tokyo and Happy were sitting on the couch, eating pizza and hot wings. They froze as soon as they saw Tony, Happy slowly standing and exiting the room. Tokyo set her food down, not looking at him.
"I got a call from the school." He said, slowly walking towards her.
"I know." She tried to move over, but he stopped her.
He sat down on the other side of her, examining her injuries. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"I fell off the monkey bars." She was watching the TV, but she wasn't focused on it. He turned it off, pulling her attention back to him.
"How so?"
"I don't know. I was climbing them with Alex, and then I heard Jonah's voice in my head, and I was looking for him but he wasn't there. And then when I had gotten to the next monkey bar, there was a zap and I fell."
"And Alex? Did he feel it too?"
"Yeah, but he was a little behind me."
"How behind?"
"Like two."
"Can I see your cast?" She lifted it, and he grabbed it slowly. Her fingers were purple and blue in some spots. "Those are some nasty bruises."
"Mhm," She tried to move them around, but winced at the pain. "I can't write with my left hand, so I don't know how I'm gonna do my schoolwork, Daddy."
"Don't worry about that, hm? I'll talk to the principal and your teacher. Okay?"
"Okay."
He turned the tv back on, laying back. "So, what were we watching?"
"Anastasia."
"Again?" She nodded, face turning red. "Alright, let's do this."
"Wait!" She turned her head slightly, hand on his to stop him from pressing play. "Happy!"
"Uh, Dad?" Tony looked up from his lab station, Tokyo standing at the entrance. She looked nervous and...embarrassed? "Um, something happened."
"What?" He put down his tools, moving towards her. "Are you okay?"
"I kinda started..." She trailed off, looking at him in hopes that he picked up what she was putting down. He was clueless.
"You kinda started what? A fire?"
"N-no, I, uh, my, uh..." She covered her ears. "JARVIS help."
"It appears Ms. Stark has started her menstrual cycle," JARVIS answered.
The color drained from his face. "Oh."
"I, uh, asked Pepper if she could bring me some, uh, you know."
"Pads, sir." JARVIS clarified.
"I know, JARVIS." He looked at her, not knowing what to say.
"I'm going back upstairs." She turned, but he stopped her.
"Next time, tell me. I'll get them for you." He felt awkward, but she was his responsibility. His parenting classes had informed him of the situation and how to handle it, but he didn't realize it would be so soon. "I'm your dad. Don't be embarrassed."
"Okay."
"Do you need anything else?" She thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Okay. I'll be up to make dinner in a bit."
"Okay." And with that, she sprinted up the stairs.
Tony was fuming. He felt as if smoke was coming out of his ears. He doesn't think he's been this angry before. Let alone at Tokyo. Not even when she broke his prototype.
He didn't say a word the whole way home. He gripped the steering wheel, glancing at her from time to time. She was avoiding him, staring out the window the whole ride home.
He had pulled up to the driveway, parking the car. She jumped out, racing to the front door. By the time he got to the door, she was heading inside. "Where do you think you're going?"
She stopped her beeline to her room, standing still and facing away from him.
"Look at me." She turned, backpack hanging from her shoulder. It was then that he realized she was different. He just couldn't place it. "You're not getting out of this."
"I'm not trying to." She raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me what happened." He crossed his arms over his chest, foot tapping impatiently. She looked away from him, picking at her fingernails. "Now, Lilah."
"What's going on?" Pepper came out from the office, followed by Happy. She looked worried.
"Nothing that concerns you."
"Watch yourself!" His jaw clenched, and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Lilah punched a kid at school."
"What?" Pepper looked at her, stepping forward slightly. "Why, Tokyo?"
The young girl huffed, looking down at her hands. "He wouldn't stop grabbing me, even after I told him to stop."
"He grabbed you?"
"You can't just hit someone every time they touch you!" Tony exclaimed, shocked at what he was hearing.
"I don't! It was just this one time!"
The energy in the room was high, Tony thought he could hear static.
"It doesn't make it okay!"
"Stop!" Pepper yelled, holding up a hand to quiet Tony. She walked forward to where she could talk to her. "What do you mean that he grabbed you?"
"I wasn't paying attention to him, so he kept on grabbing my wrist. I told him to stop and he grabbed my waist and turned me to face him. And I punched him in the face."
It was at that moment that he realized what had happened. She was standing up for herself. Defending herself.
"He's done this before?" Tony asked, quieter.
"It's okay, it doesn't bother me anymore I don't know why I-"
"It's not okay," Pepper interrupted her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm glad you punched him."
"Did you explain this to the principal?"
"Yes, but he didn't care." She looked towards Happy, who hadn't spoken. "It's my fault. If I paid attention to him he wouldn't have grabbed me the way he did and it's my fault."
"No, it's not." Pepper turned to him, anger evident in her eyes. "Tony, you have to do something."
"There's no point!" She cried out, obviously frustrated with the whole ordeal. "Can we please just drop it? I'm already suspended, so there's no point."
"I can call the principal and-"
"Just drop it!" She threw her hands up, the power cutting for a second before turning back on. She turned and sprinted up the stairs to her room.
Happy followed her after a few moments, leaving Pepper and Tony alone.
"You need to call the school and sort this out."
"I will. I just, I need a moment to process what she just told me." He sat down on the couch, head in hands. "I was hoping, that she would never have to deal with this."
"I think we all did. It's not something we want to happen."
"No, it's not." Sighing, he looked at her. "She's fourteen. How long do you think this has been going on?"
"I-I'm not sure, Tony. Honestly."
"She's come home a few times with bruises on her arms. You could tell that someone had grabbed her but I..." He trailed off, disappointment in himself setting in. "I brushed it off."
"You couldn't have known."
"I did." They turned as Happy walked down the last few steps, a sad look on his face. "She told me that this boy was bothering her, grabbing her to get her attention. She gets uncomfortable every time she's around him. I told her, 'next time he grabs you, sock that fucker in the face.'"
"Guess she took your advice." Tony looked down at his hands, picking at his fingernails. "She won't even talk to me."
"She's scared of approaching you." He looked regretful as soon as the words slipped out. "Says she doesn't want you to be angry at her."
"Why would I be angry?"
"I think you should talk to her. Let her tell you. Let her know that you're there."
"Take her an ice pack, and talk to her while you're up there," Pepper told him, leaving no room for argument.
Nodding, he followed her advice. He went up after the sun had gone down, assuming it was enough time to allow her to cool down. When he entered her room, she was curled up on her bed, facing the window. Her room was dark, the only light coming from the moon. Lilah was watching the waves crash against the shore before pulling back into the ocean.
Much like her.
"I'm sorry for punching that kid." She mumbled, voice hoarse.
"I'm not." He sat on her bed, waiting until she was facing him to hand her the ice pack. "You did the right thing."
"It's just, he creeps me out." She started, and Tony felt a tiny bit of happiness at her opening up to him.
"Maybe you should be rude. Let him know that you mean business."
"I was at first, but he wouldn't go away. So I just gave up."
He felt helpless. So he talked slowly, hoping it would come to him.
"I'm going to call the principal, and tell him about what happened-no arguing." She nodded, closing her mouth. She twirled the bracelet around her wrist, the red star in the middle glimmering every time it hit the moonlight. "But you're already suspended, and I'm not going to try and revoke that."
"So I have to stay here with Happy for the rest of the week?"
"No," He spoke before he could think. "I'm taking the rest of the week off. I miss spending time with you. Feel like I never see you anymore."
"Me too." She sat up, adjusting the ice pack. "I didn't do this for attention, just so you know."
"Oh, I know." The idea came to him, right then and there. "I hope you'll tell me the next time this kid bothers you though."
"I will." She stood up, stretching out her hand. "I have to go apologize to Pepper. I was mean."
He chuckled. "Yeah. I don't think she cares about that. I think she's worried more about you. But still, apologize."
"I am."
"Okay, go say you're sorry and then start making dinner. I need to make a phone call."
"How'd it go?" Happy asked as soon as they walked in the door. Tokyo shrugged her shoulders, sighing. "Uh oh."
"Yeah, I-" She took out her license, a smile taking over her face. "Passed!"
"Congratulations!" He pulled her in for a hug, placing a kiss on her head. "Who taught you better? Me or your old man over there?"
"Hey, I'm not old," Tony spoke up, placing the keys on their hangar. "Second, I taught her better."
"You both taught me amazingly well." She began towards the stairs. "I'm gonna go call Jonah, give him the good news."
A scream came from up top, Jonah's laughter filling the air. Tony was about to run up the stairs when Happy stopped him.
"Jonah's up there," Happy told him. "Wanted to surprise her."
"More like scare her," Tony added, heading into the kitchen.
"Do you think she's doing better with him here?"
"I mean, she's happier."
"But not better."
"Look, I love Jonah. He's my godson and her best friend," He lowered his voice, not wanting anyone else to hear. "But I think he's making her worse."
"How?"
"I could feel it. It's not right." He sighed, making his way to the fridge. "Plus, she was crying the other night. Couldn't sleep. She was having nightmares."
"Like, the ones in New York?"
"Exactly like those. She said that these were worse. Scarier. They seemed more real."
"Tio Tony!" Jonah called. He turned to find both teenagers climbing down the stairs, his godson outstretching his hands. "How are you?"
He hugged the boy, an uneasy feeling clawing at his stomach. "Hey Jonah, what are you guys doing?"
"She told me about her license. Sucks she got it the day before we graduate."
"You have your license," Tokyo interjected, narrowing her eyes at him. "You've made it quite clear."
The environment got very hostile. Not physically, but emotionally. Mentally. Tony felt the air around him thicken and felt as if there were static.
Jonah laughed it off, hugging the girl. She hugged him back, hesitantly. "Alright, well. I've got to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
They bid their goodbyes. Tokyo ran upstairs to get ready for tomorrow.
"Did you feel that?" Happy asked, eyes wide.
"What did I say?" He leaned in closer.
"Do you think something happened?"
"I fucking hope not."
"She's two people down from this side." Pepper pointed out Toyko, who waved at her family.
"Can't believe she's already graduating. I feel like she just went into kindergarten yesterday." Happy spoke up, having been there since she was a toddler.
"I know. This is it. Besides college." Tony said, watching as she quickly became next in line.
The purple gown and cap were on every female student, the males in white. She was wearing the white dress she wore to her father's parties, white flats as well. The silver bracelets she never took off were on her wrists, and she wore silver hoops as well. Who knew he would have focused on her outfit this much?
"Lilah Stark." The teacher called.
They cheered her on, watching as she shook hands with the principal and took the photo with her diploma. She was smiling the whole way back to her seat, speaking to the girls in front of her.
Tony didn't realize it until he was outside, but he was crying. She came out of the stadium, eyes searching for her dad. When they made eye contact, she practically ran at them.
"Congratulations baby," Tony muttered into her hair, arms wrapping around her as she hugged him tightly. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you, Daddy." She let go of him, hugging Pepper and Happy. "Where's Uncle Jason, and Jonah, and Aunt Vivie?"
"I'm not sure." He looked around, not spotting them anywhere. They didn't sit together at graduation. "Maybe we'll see them at the house later."
At the house, Tokyo rid herself of the cap and gown. They threw a small party, just the four of them. Tony was telling stories of her childhood, drunk and tears streaming down his face.
"Okay, Dad, I kinda have a surprise for you." She spoke up, and he turned his attention to her. She lowered the music that was currently playing, pulling out a letter from one of the books.
"Oh, Tony, you might want tissues handy." Pepper nudged him.
"Okay so, Daddy, I have to let you know that I wrote this a few years ago. And then some more at like 3 am."
"I feel special." He chuckled, sipping on his whiskey.
"Yeah," she nervously laughed, straightening the paper. "Dear Daddy, if you're listening to this, it means that I've finally graduated. I made it through senior year, and am now on my way to college. I'm writing this early because you never know what could happen. I might graduate earlier than expected, or I might graduate on time.
"I know you're upset that I didn't go to MIT at 14 as you did. But I did apply to MIT and I got a full-ride scholarship for civil engineering. I began thinking of your stories. You spent your teenage years in college and less at home with grandma and grandpa. I wanted to do that too, but I couldn't bring myself to leave you. I wanted to spend the rest of my adolescent life with you in every way I could. I didn't want to leave you sooner than I had to. You are my soulmate. You understand me in a way no one else does. Happy once said that we were more alike than different. If I remember correctly he said, 'Stop finishing each other's thoughts. You guys are creeping me the fuck out.' We were talking about getting a sandwich from Subway and had gone for the same sub.
"Moving on, I want you to know that I love you, so much."
Her voice cracked, and she fanned her face with her hand.
"I know I worried you a lot when you went on business trips. I told you it was because I was afraid you would leave and never come back. At the time, I thought it was because you had the choice to leave me. As I got older, I realized that wasn't the reason. I feared you would leave me, but not by choice. I can't imagine what it's like raising a child, let alone raising a daughter. You did a great fucking job, Dad. I know you have moments of self-doubt. But believe me, you're the greatest fucking person on Earth."
"Those are a lot of curse words, young lady." Pepper jokes, causing the group to laugh lightly.
"I owe you the world. You are the reason I was able to graduate. You encouraged me and battered me into becoming a great student. I really couldn't have done this without you. I graduated because of you, Daddy."
She was in tears, and so was he. They all were. Tony stood, hugging her tightly.
"I love you, you know that?' He kissed the side of her head.
"I love you more, my pretty boy."
Tony woke with a start.
He couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. He felt it. It was just that feeling. Getting out of bed, he went to check on Tokyo. She wasn't in her bed.
"Tokyo? Baby?" He called out as he walked downstairs. She wasn't there, and nothing was out of place. Running back to his room, he grabbed his phone and dialed Jason.
"Tony." He sounded panicked.
"Jason, is Tokyo there?"
"No, I was gonna ask if Jonah was at yours."
"He's not. And neither is Tokyo." He ran a hand over his face, suddenly remembering JARVIS. "Maybe JARVIS saw them."
Covering the microphone, he called out for the AI. No answer.
"What the fuck?"
"What?" Jason asked, worry evident in his voice.
"He's not answering." He walked over to his emergency computer, trying to find out the problem. "Oh, God."
'What, Tony? Did you find them?"
"No, J-JARVIS was disabled. Someone took Tokyo."
"Calm down. Are you sure it wasn't Tokyo who disabled it?"
"It-it wasn't her."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm watching the person who disabled him."
"Right now?"
"No, from five minutes ago."
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d-targaryenshoe · 4 years
Text
Falling, Fallen • Jackson Avery
Notes: I'm a huge softie for Jackson Avery. Don't @ me. And I had this idea since forever 🥺
Summary: Y/N is Jackson Avery's wife and decides to ignore her husband's good advice.
Warnings: needles, medical terms
Word Count: 1891
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Jackson Avery. Someone who gave you a lot of heartache back in the days. Watching him love a few woman.
Then seeing him gave one of your best friends a love speech and running away with her from her own wedding.
Those moments were the most hurting times, but when the both of them needed help it was you who would be there for them. Because you knew in the end they were still your friends.
Although your feelings never went away. You still secretly loved him, but your mouth was muted. You didn't want to ruin what they had.
But a single talk together with Alex Karev made words fly around in the O.R and into the ears of Jackson Avery. Which made your secret not so much of a secret anymore.
After 6 months You were living together. Then a year after the two of you got married but now a year and a half you were waiting for the worst pain ever. Called labor.
Pregnancy. Something you thought you were not going to experience anytime soon. But yet you were experiencing it. Anytime as you were sitting on the couch in April Kepner's couch.
"You're all round and almost popping, you should be in laying bed, not sitting in my couch Y/N." The ginger female sighed, placing a pillow behind your back. "Pregnancy is not a joke."
April was the most worried friend you had. Although you never expected her to be this okay with you and Jackson being together. Because you knew how much he meant to her.
"I'm going crazy in that penthouse just waiting for a single sound to make me feel alive." Caressing your belly, you leaned your head back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.
"Says the 40 week far pregnant woman, who's most likely to have a baby today or tomorrow." April raised an eyebrow at you while she placed both of her hands on your belly. "It's moving down."
Giving her an deadpanned stare you tried to get up from the couch as you leaned on your hands. Walking over to the female her fridge.
"Did you just spill my bottle of water?" April asked, knowing you were clumsy at times, or all the time.
Hearing the footsteps come closer to you as you just stared down to your feet, a small pool of water on the floor and no way to get out.
"Oh my- okay, stay calm. You're gonna be fine okay? I'll take care of you. My car keys." The ginger haired woman rambled, grabbing the black keys off the hanger on the wall.
Running a hand through her ginger colored locks April held open the door as you walked through and fresh air met your skin.
Opening the door of the car and getting in, you noticed April's nervous state as she quickly got around and sat down next to you, twisting her keys in the contact.
"Just keep breathing and don't die, okay?" April squeaked, placing her hand on yours as she gave you a much saying face. "That was dark wasn't it?"
Releasing a slight breath through your nose, you nodded at your friend as she drove out of her parking spot, not exactly slowly. "A little too dark."
"Jackson is going to freak out when he knows I didn't ignore your attempts to get out." Spinning her steering wheel towards left, she bit the inside of her cheek.
"If I didn't come to you. I'd be in that penthouse going into labor all by myself, Apes." Placing your hand on the dashboard, you leaned over while holding the bottom of your belly. "Constraction."
Coming to a halt you saw the light of April's phonescreen as she tapped her stopwatch app and she passed her phone to you. "Tap it every time you get one."
Tapping the icon, you breathed out, watching the stop lights turn green as April started driving again, giving you a quick glance.
"We're almost there, I just need a damn parking spot, okay?" At this moment the only thing you were able to do was throwing all your trust in April's hands but also in yourself.
Leaning your head back, you closed your eyes in pain but also in hope that all of this would be over soon. But the sound of a car door slamming shut made you opened your eyes again.
"Come on, take my hand." April took a hold of your hand as she pushed the door closed behind you with her free hand. "Y/N Y/L/N you're not having this baby in this parking lot."
Releasing her hand, you ignored her rambling and walked up to the double doors of the hospital with a fast tempo.
"Hey, I wasn't done talking!" The female retorted, pushing the door open before you walked through, placing your hand on top of your belly, breathing out.
"In and out, good job." April answered as she breathed in and out together with you. "Just like that."
"Oh god! Is it this far? Am I becoming a grandma?" Your eyes moved up as Catherine Avery strolled over to you with a nervous smile covering her lips before her eyes fell on April. "Oh and April, I've got her."
April frowned at the older woman, fiddling with her car keys as she placed her hand on your back, trying to release the pain somehow." But I just-"
Knowing Catherine Avery wasn't one of the easiest person the two of you have known, things didn't make it any easier.
"I've. Got. Her. You're free to go." Catherine pointed out, placing her one arm around your waist and the other holding your hand, leading you towards somewhere else. "Thank you for taking care of her, though."
You just assumed April nodded at her, knowing somewhere deep inside herself she was grateful for everything April did for you. And so where you.
Pulling open the blue curtains, the only thing you did was opening the cabinets and grabbing a patient gown, walking into the bathroom to change yourself.
"Take your time okay, sweetie?" A soft knock was sounded on your door what made you sigh slightly, the woman had no patience at this moment. "There's no need to hurry, okay?"
Opening the door with a fast pull, you threw a single glare in the female Avery her way, being frustrated with pain and a watermelon sized child inside of you.
"April told me someone is having a-" Arizona Robbins her words were cut off as she noticed the long browned haired woman sitting on chair. "Baby."
"Yes and please as fast as i can, I'm dying." You snapped, placing your hands on the hospital bed, moving your hips around, trying to soothe the pain. "Give me an epidural and enough lidocaine."
You heard a slight snort in the room, knowing Catherine couldn't handle herself in bringing out her own opinion as she walked out of the room.
"We can do that, let me page Jackson first, yeah?" Arizona placed a hand on your shoulder, giving you one of her toothy smiles when grabbing her pager. "Let me check your dilation?"
Grunting, you slightly layed back on the bed, placing your feet apart from each other, placing your arm over your eyes, scared for the pain you'd feel.
"Just relax, I know it's not comfortable but I need to do this." Arizona comforted, hearing you take a deep breath in, feeling the pressure. "You're 5 centimeters dilated, so an epidural is an option, I'll need Jackson to keep your back arched, okay?"
Nodding your head in silence, you lay your feet back down, covering them with the white blanket.
"I told you to stay home, why are you so stubborn?" And this was the moment you didn't wait for. A preach by your husband, who would freak out. "You're unbelievable."
"Well I'm carrying a human watermelon inside of me, maybe you should just be quiet and let me do my job?" You snapped back, sitting up, noticing Arizona held back a smile.
"I need to place a epidural, could you move up your hospital gown?" Arizona smiled, gathering her supplies to release you from the pain.
Moving the hospital gown away from your back, you could feel the cold disinfectant being wiped on your back with a cotton ball.
"I will give you a local anesthetic, just a little sting." Looking at the man in front of you, you slightly shook your head as he bit the inside of his cheek.
"I need you to lay on your side now, Jackson I need you to hold her hands as I insert the epidural." Arizona lectured, giving him a small shove in his back, breaking his stubbornness.
Shuffling back on your bed, you turned to the left, taking a hold of Jackson's hands as you felt Arizona inserting a needle into the lower section of spine. "Oh, this is the last and only baby I'm ever having."
"And in two years time we'll be here again." Jackson muttered, releasing your hands, giving you a smile that said a lot. "You know I'm right."
"You wish." The sentence left your mouth and Arizona snorted at the words, removing the needle of the Epidural.
"Let me see how far we're standing." The paediatrician mumbled, motioning for you to place your feet away from each other. "And Avery one more cocky remark, I'll hit you."
Jackson opened his mouth but nothing came out, instead he sighed and crossed his arms at the blonde female.
"You're 9 centimetres, Jackson I need you to sit behind her, and Y/N, I need you to be badass, okay?" The blonde female explained, placing her gloved hand on your knee, with trust.
"I can do that." You nodded, leaning back in your husband's chest, sweat already covering your forehead, wanting to be done with this. "I'm freaking Y/N Avery, I can do this."
Arizona shrugged and smiled slightly sitting down on the chair at your feet. "See? Just like that, If you have enough power, I need you to push."
Leaning back on Jackson's shoulder, you placed your hands on your knees, as a pain struck your abdomen, leaning forward you placed all your power on your core.
"Push push, you're doing great." Arizona spoke up, giving you a single spark of hope. "If you have the power, you can push again."
Not giving a single answer, you placed your chin on your chest and pushed once again.
"Head is out, one more firm push, and you're almost done." The blonde surgeon spoke up, giving you courage, knowing it was almost over.
Getting al your power together and sweatdrops covering your forehead, you placed pressure on your body for the last time as a loud cry was sounded across the room and made you lean your head back on Jackson's shoulder.
Seeing Arizona stand up with a bundle wrapped in a white towel, you held out your hands toward your friend. "It's a baby boy."
"Well aren’t you the cutest little thing?” Jackson whispered, caressing his son's cheek.
"I carried that for 9 months, you better call me cute AND badass." You retorted, gazing up at your husband. "Because I am."
"Yes you are, and I'm proud." He answered, kissing you sweaty forehead. "You are."
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1/3 of the Reality Stone fragments remained with its host, Ripley Ryan, in the hospital. Determined to finish what they started, the Black Widow and Winter Soldier headed to the Intensive Care Unit along with a team of mutants who were sent by Wanda Maximoff to cast a reality binding spell. Once their goal was achieved, there was nothing standing between them and Zemo at the Town Hall.
These events come AFTER the INN and MUSEUM and before the TOWN HALL.
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL CHAT LOG COVERAGE OF THE IC
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky pushed through the hospital doors with both hands, metal clinking against the acrylic outer shell and double paned panels. He was hot on Natasha's heels, having made a pitstop for the both of them at the museum before the rest of the crew could cause too much of an issue. When he caught up to her just before she hit the stairwell, he slid her a twin set of guns and then readjusted the strap to his AR. "Sure we can't just shoot first and ask questions later?"
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Although not in her suit, Natasha had clicked on the two Widow’s Bites that Barnes had taken from the Museum. The two guns were a gift from a poor S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was now weaponless, but Natasha accepted them from James all the same. “You want to risk shooting the wrong person?” Checking how much ammo she had, the Widow shook her head. “Personal mission. Maybe bad form, but family first.” Knowing that Taskmaster was in the building - and still sore from their last run in  - Natasha quietly pushed the door open and raised her gun while she rounded the corner, coming face to face with a crying girl in scrubs. “Too easy.”
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky clicked his tongue at that. "Fuck form. I would've taken more, but I know how much Barton is attached to his bow." he was only mildly joking, using it as a way to fill the space so he didn't spiral into his own mind. "Think we should've accepted back up?" And now he really was joking, mirroring Nat with his own weapon. He stopped short when they came around the corner and he instinctively tightened his grip on his gun. "It's never that easy."
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Eyes rolling, Natasha quickly checked over her shoulder. “Easy to say when it fits the situation,” she hummed. “We do have back-up. Bobbi’s here and changing. She’s got the codes. Psylocke is somewhere looking for her friends. Apparently, Wanda is helping the mutants.” Whatever helped them through. Lowering her gun slightly, Natasha glanced from the sniffling young adult to the name tag she wore. “Hey, Astrid. Sad day at the hospital?”
YELENA BELOVA: Caught up in her own moping, ‘Astrid’ started at the sound of the woman’s voice and sat up as she quickly wiped at her eyes. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. No. I mean -- yes. It’s a hospital. But our patients usually are cured. Just bad dating experiences. Dumb, I know.” She nudged her magazine closed. “Are you here to visit someone?”
BUCKY BARNES: "Bad dating experiences?" he couldn't keep the question out of his tone, the laughable disbelief. He cocked the gun single handedly before dropping it back in his grip. "In fact we are. Wanna tell me who it is you're crying over?"
YELENA BELOVA: Although his tone was a little snide, the brunette didn’t notice. It was lonely at the front desk if she wasn’t making rounds and her friends were fine but the recent dumping had taken a toll. “His name is Jim. He’s a nice guy. Was a nice guy. We went on a few dates and he went all two-faced. Completely ghosted me. That was three days ago.”
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Natasha wracked her brain. “Helmut,” she swore under her breath. “Astrid, have you talked to ‘Jim’ since?”
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky just...blinked at her. Then, all of a sudden he barked a laugh, shaking his head. "How mad would you be if I took out all of S.H.I.E.L.D.?" he asked, voice lower, only for Nat to hear. "Yeah, 'Strid, we just wanna talk to him. He's like family, you get it."
YELENA BELOVA: Finally really taking the guns in consideration, Astrid slowly stood and reached around her scrubs for her buzzer. “I should call Chris. He’s head of Hospital security and he can help you figure out where you’re headed.”
BUCKY BARNES: That wasn’t really part of the plan. “Yel-Astrid, Jim’s a little more important right now.” With a sigh, Bucky aimed the AR, barrel directed at ‘Astrid’. “We don’t need head of security.” A red dot appeared at the center of her scrubs, the buzz of the scope a sound only he could hear. “Just give Jim a call, yeah?”
YELENA BELOVA: “He’s not gonna answer,” she huffed as her eyes welled up again. “I just told you -- he’s not interested in me. I think it’s my thighs. It has to be.” Nearly crosseyed, she stared at the light on her scrubs and the demanding man. Fumbling for her phone, Astrid dialed with shaking fingers. Ring. Ring. Voicemail. “See? Thighs.”
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky clicked off the scope, the red light disappearing before he lowered his gun. ”I’m just gonna hit her. You good with that?” he asked Natasha.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Watching the entire exchange, Natasha had shouldered past Yelena at one point to rummage through the cabinets behind the desk. They needed as much info about the Database as possible, and there a possibility some of Ripley’s medical records were there. At Bucky’s question, she glanced up. Yelena would be pissed, but the two of them had come for a reason. “Only if you’re done hearing about Jim.”
BUCKY BARNES: “Ha ha.” Bucky came over, keeping Astrid’s eyes on him as he came around the desk. “Hey, ‘Strid-“ he employed the same method he had used on the Wyngarde sister, slamming the side of his gun into her temple just hard enough to shake around some loose change. “You have great thighs.”
NATASHA ROMANOFF: “Oof.” Natasha exhaled as the gun connected with her sisters temple. Deftly moving to catch Yelena and ease her to the ground, the spy crouched down and inspected the welt that was already growing. It still didn’t look like Yelena, but she had stopped crying. “You could have been a little bit more graceful, but I’ll take it. Grab her.” Natasha rose. “We’re not leaving her for Taskmaster to find.” Best to let him think ‘Astrid’ had just abandoned her post or was doing her rounds. The S.H.I.EL.D. pager Bobbi had given her buzzed in her hand and Natasha pocketed it. “We’ve got a room. Intensive care unit, Room 8-1. You know, I always said Clint married up.” Grabbing Astrid’s badge for good measure, Natasha clicked the safety off on her gun. “Let’s go.”
KWANNON: Elsewhere, Psylocke and Laura had waited quietly in the shade of the building. The telepathic signal being emitted led the newly arrived X-Men to the hospital. Raven head tipped to the side, Psylocke held a hand out to gesture that Magik, Synch and Nico should enter the hospital. The door swung closed between them, faces flushing from recycled air. “Intensive Care Unit is the top floor. You know what to do?”
BUCKY BARNES: "Graceful?" it came out more as a scoff and Bucky crouched down, adjusting the AR to lay flat against his back again so he could sling Yelena's fake body over his shoulder. She hung limply, swaying back and forth when he stood. "When have you ever known me to be graceful." he said just as he twisted around, narrowly clipping Yelena's head on the edge of the counter. "ICU? What are the chances he'll be in a coma and I can just smother him."
EVERETT THOMAS: Synch followed Magik and the other witch into the hospital, trying his best not to let himself get too wrapped up in everything around him. This whole thing was pretty messed up of SHIELD, but his main focus was Laura. Even if she didn’t remember any of it, he still felt bonded to her in ways he could barely describe. And making sure she was safe was definitely high on his priorities. “Yeah, we’ve got it.” He responded to Kwannon, making sure to keep on high alert as he scanned their surroundings.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: The sneakers that she had worn as Lulu Gordon were more for show than actual practical use, and the treads were nearly nonexistent. Nat couldn’t actually remember working out in Pleasant Hill, just posing on her yoga mat for selfies instead. It was hard not to slide around with no traction but she pushed open a door to another stairwell and held it open for Bucky, watching to make sure he didn’t smack Yelena’s head into the wall. “You would have failed the Red Room,” she hummed. Presentation begets perfection, after all. Natasha had been the best. Yelena had been better. “Zemo’s at Town Hall. That’s not why we’re here. Ripley’s intubated upstairs. They’re making a play for the Infinity Stone. Did you read your file?” Stopping abruptly, Natasha flattened herself against the wall by the doorway of the next level. She could hear footsteps in the hall, and that felt deliberate in the quiet hospital. Gesturing with her chin towards the door, Nat pushed it open and raised her gun. She moved quickly to turn but still found her face connecting with a fist.
BUCKY BARNES: "I didn't care to read pages and pages of documents beyond who was who and what they were capable of." Which was a delicate way of saying, 'did you really think I would?'. Somewhere along the way of climbing flights, Bucky stashed Yelena's unconscious body in a medical supplies closet, knowing that she wouldn't wake up for a while and that he needed both hands. As soon as they both went into alert, hands moved too fast for Nat to dodge and him to barely skid to a stop and back up, gun immediately raising. He fired off a few rounds, the spray of bullets disoriented in the ambush.
NATASHA ROMANOFF: Wiping blood off her nose, Natasha dropped her gun and kicked it to the side. Bullets never tended to work with Taskmaster. She’d keep it for backup. He had his shield and a collapsed bow. Claws in his gloves. Basically, he was as tricked out as ever. “Still sore about last time?” The ( former ) redhead squared her shoulders back. “Zemo can’t be offering you enough for this.” But he was silent, like always, and a moment later the two were locked in hand to hand combat.
ILLYANA RASPUTINA: Sword pulled off of her back, Illyana cast a wary look around the hall. “I hate hospitals,” she muttered. Wanda’s spell was complicated but she had drilled it into the sorceress and witch. “It would be easier if we could teleport out after, but apparently we have to walk. No mutant left behind.” Lorna, Gabby, Rogue.
LAURA KINNEY: As the mutants made their way through the hospital, Laura paused and narrowed her eyes. There were more people in the hospital than their should have been. “Take the back.” She instructed Kwannon. “James Barnes is moving to the southern wing.”
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky dropped the gun, the strap catching on his shoulder before it banged against his hip. It was only Taskmaster, the asshole with the psuedo copycat style and a piss poor attitude. "Less talking-" he kicked at Taskmaster, just hard enough to diverge his attention and have him focused on both of them. "Glad I dropped our nice office secretary off, huh."
NATASHA ROMANOFF: He had got in three good hits but Natasha was at four. “Nursing student,” she huffed as she dodged a kick. “This is a dead end. He won’t quit. It’s called a distraction.”
EVERETT THOMAS: Everett followed closely behind, trying his best to keep close to Laura without making her feel like he was suffocating her. He didn’t want to make things weird in any way, but God was it hard. “Hey uh, are you okay?”
BUCKY BARNES: "So in all those times you've fought him, you never figured out a way to beat him?" They parried some more, moving this way and that. "I'm not going to leave you here to get your pretty yoga instructor face punched in."
BOBBI MORSE: One of the doctor’s personal offices had always been stocked for agents -- as a safety precaution. It was working well in their favor. Her locker held a spare uniform and set of staves that she gratefully hooked into their holsters before grabbing three disruptors. One went onto her own neck and her body shuddered in relief as her appearance twisted back to its regular self. She broke out in a sprint until she found Barnes and Romanoff, and Bobbi tossed them each a chip before kicking off the wall to strike Taskmaster with a baton. As she should have predicted, his bow separated into staves of his own. “What’re you guys still doing down here?”
NATASHA ROMANOFF: If she hadn’t been focused on not getting slashed in half with a sword, Natasha would have rolled her eyes. “It keeps evolving. More new heroes, more moves. We haven’t killed each other yet.” The elastic she had tied her hair up with was falling out, but then Bobbi was there. Nat caught the small chip and quickly fastened it on the back of her neck. There was a second before her body was her own once more, clothed in the uniform she had entered the town with. Even though she was lacking any of her weapons other than the Widow’s Bite, it felt good to see her own hands again. “How about my normal face getting punched in?”
BUCKY BARNES: "That isn't obvious?" Bucky said, arms coming up to cover his face when Taskmaster slammed a fist down. Jumping back, he caught the chip, using what he knew from the file to revert his appearance back into something a little bulkier, steadier, familiar. "It's not exactly easy to get to the reality stone harboring mad woman when there's 600 tons of body armor in the way."
LAURA KINNEY: Lips twitching, Laura pivoted on one heel. “I look like a cheerleader.” She had gone to pep rallies with pom-poms and enthusiasm. The whole nine yards. The worst part was that she had fun, on some level. That pretty much summed up how she was. “I want them to cast the spell so we can get out of here. No more Vaults, no more Pleasant Hill’s.”
BOBBI MORSE: “I have complete and total faith in this woman.” Bobbi held a hand to her temple to  stop her vision from swimming after a hit. “But we need to keep moving. Nat, you said you’re old friends. I don’t want to ruin the reunion.” When the redhead nodded, Bobbi arched a brow at Bucky before running into the nearest stairwell and taking the stairs two at a time.
EVERETT THOMAS: Everett couldn’t help his soft chuckle at the cheerleader comment as he nodded at her. “I mean, it’s not a bad look. Definitely not you, though.” He pointed out, nodding solemnly at her next words. But unfortunately, they were X-Men and this was probably not going to be the last Pleasant Hill. Or Vault. Before he could say much else, a scalpel flew through the air and stuck onto the wall next to them, revealing Bullseye standing down the hall. “Shit..”
VIVIAN VISION: Vivian followed alongside the mutants as they made their way through the hospital, careful to be attentive to their surroundings. As they all rounded the corner, a scalpel was flung through the air, nearly hitting Viv in the face as it struck the wall and they were face to face with Bullseye. “We need to divide. We can’t let him keep us from the stone. Magik, Nico, I can phase us into her room? I think we’re close.”
BUCKY BARNES: "Shitty reunion." he looked over at Nat, only falling back from Taskmaster when he saw the confirmation in her steady gaze. Breaking off, he followed Bobbi up the stairs, finding no other obstacles before hitting a floor with double doors that read: Authorized Personnel Only: Intensive Care Unit. He slowed, weapon coming back around to rest in his grip. "They powered a whole town by putting a girl into a coma." he said it with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't exactly convincing me they shouldn't become a government section lost to time." The room was empty when they entered, the doors clattering behind them. He wasn't sure keeping quiet had any point anymore. Gun poised, he scanned the empty beds, not even noticing the low beep of the monitor and the occupied bed because his eyes landed on Yelena, seated and scanning through...something. "Didn't I leave you in a broom closet?" he said a little breathlessly, grip tightening on the weapon.
YELENA BELOVA: Was she mad? Yes. At Bucky and Natasha? No. At S.H.I.EL.D.? Of course. At Zemo, at the situation. Yelena had been pissed when she came to in a broom closet, tossed to the side like a basic cleaning supply. She remembered Astrid Massey, but her face wasn’t her own. Bullseye had met her in the hallway. He had given her the device Zemo was passing around to his teammates, the disrupter returning her to her former form. As Benjamin headed down the  hallway to meet the ‘heroes’, Yelena moved to the ICU and found the Database. The codes were already unlocked from whatever doctor had run away mid scan from the intruders, and when the door opened Yelena glanced back over her shoulder. “Seemed more fun out here. I saw Taskmaster downstairs, but this was a better opportunity. They never let me up here. Now I know why.”
BUCKY BARNES: “Natasha is handling it.” Bucky remarked, lowering his weapon just a little bit. “I know what you’re doing, and it sucks to say this, but it isn’t helping. We can handle the database later, we need to deal with Ripley now.” he spoke pointedly at her, knowing that any form of coddling or soft spoken words didn’t apply here. Not that it ever did. Bucky could never imagine babying Yelena in any situation. “Just trust me on this.”
VIVIAN VISION: Vivian quickly grabbed onto Magik and Nico, not wasting any time as she phased the three of them past Bullseye and through to Ripley’s hospital room.
LAURA KINNEY: At his comment, the arch of a brow broke Laura’s deadpan. “Debatable taste.” She commented offhandedly. At the sight of Bullseye she crouched, lunging towards him without claws. Kwannon could follow Viv and the spellcasters. Laura had no problem being a distraction.
YELENA BELOVA: “Natasha is getting her ass handed to her. Again.” The sisters had a messy history with Taskmaster. She hit a key and the code flashed red, the page turning to a simple box for an access code. “We have to shut down the Database.” Yelena straightened up to look at him, her own gun holstered. “We can’t let them do this anymore.”
BUCKY BARNES: Bucky worked through the tic in his jaw, leveling his voice. By now, his nerves were frayed. “Do you Yelena?” he lowered the gun even more until the barrel was pointed at the floor. “Do you trust me?”
YELENA BELOVA: For a long moment, she just stared. Did she? It wasn’t easily answered. “I want to.” Yelena replied honestly. A finger hovered above the key before she moved, body tightening and constricting as she fell.
BOBBI MORSE: Running behind due to having to disable to alarms on the floor, Bobbi skidded to a stop as she lowered her stun gun. “--She was going to hit the key, right?”
YELENA BELOVA: “Fuck. You.” Yelena hissed from the ground, fingers digging into the tile as she tried to pull herself up. She wasn’t going to hit the key.
BUCKY BARNES: “Seriously?” he hissed, the metal plates clamping into place audibly as he tightened his grip. “Seriously, Bobbi?” he was pissed, clearly. “No wonder you’re a fucking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.” Bucky snatched the stun gun from Bobbi’s grip on his way past her, throwing it to the ground and stomping on it until it was in a bunch of little pieces before he finished his walk to Yelena. “She wasn’t going to hit the fucking key.” he crouched down, helping Yelena back to her feet. “What’s next? You want to hit Ripley too? Do you more good.”
BOBBI MORSE: “Oh, c’mon.” Bobbi muttered as she had the stun gun ripped away and trampled. It wasn’t like that would have been helpful for defense or anything. “Tell me she’s not a flight risk.” Dark eyes narrowed. “I’d love to hit Ripley. Hopefully wake her up. That goddamn stone is fragmenting and destabilizing the town. If it collapses we all may be written out off reality. No happy reunion with your girlfriend then, huh?”
YELENA BELOVA: Yelena just spit towards Bobbi’s feet as James help her up, holding on to his arm even when she was upright.
BUCKY BARNES: “You think you’re the one to call that?” he shot over his shoulder, fully standing now. “Being written out of reality wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to me this year.” he turned his attention to Yelena, looking her over but he didn’t ask her if she were okay. “You make an awful nurse, you know that?”
ILLYANA RASPUTINA: Phasing in along with Viv and Nico, Illyana stepped around the broken black shards of a weapon. “Now this is where the party is.” She laughed slightly. Making her way to the bed, dark lined eyes narrowed at the woman. Tugging the hospital gown to the side, the red glow of the Stone was flickering under the white bandages. “They said you would have another fragment. We need two.”
BOBBI MORSE: “I think I’m deepest in the shit and have used the Database before, so I made a snap judgement call. It’s not like I shot her. We talked it out.” Bobbi didn’t flinch at the spit. “Maybe not for you, but there’s a lot of other people here.”
YELENA BELOVA: “Nursing student.” Yelena muttered. “The scrubs were ugly.”
RIRI WILLIAMS: She had smashed in the window of the wrong room during her entry, but Riri found the right one after checking for heat signatures. “You have a second fragment now.” The suit’s chamber opened to expose the Reality Stone shard. “Zemo’s got the third.”
BUCKY BARNES: “They were pretty ugly.” he agreed quietly, face pinched lightly at the edges. His head whipped sharply around at Riri’s entrance, completely ignoring Bobbi at this point. “So we go get Zemo.” he took a breath. “Finally.”
ILLYANA RASPUTIN: As the armored teen guided the Stone back to its host, Magik looked to Nico. “Are you ready?” It wasn’t really a question. With eyes glowing blue, she held a hand out over the chest of Ripley. “I’m going to be very unhappy if she chooses to smite us.”
NICO MINORU: Nico looked down at the incubated woman, trying her best not to be intimidated by the thought of all that could go wrong as she adjusted her grip on her staff and nodded. She looked towards Riri as she entered the room and smiled in relief at the sight of another stone. “Okay, yeah. Ready.” She agreed as she gripped her staff and held her other hand over Ripley to follow Magik. “Stabilize.” The staff emitted a glow as she focused herself onto the spell.
YELENA BELOVA: “Jim. What a nice young man.” Yelena scoffed. She paused, softening slightly as she turned to face Bucky fully. “Thank you.” Her tone was composed of genuine relief. Rising up to reach his face, Yelena pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “I do trust you.”
BOBBI MORSE: Determined to focus on the spell, Bobbi’s face twitched at Yelena and Bucky. Worse than high schoolers.
ILLYANA RASPUTIN: Drawing on Limbo, Illyana closed her eyes when she heard Nico’s staff and began chanting. Confirma. Stabiliendum. Solidatur. Est una tribus, tribus fit unum. Dormammu limbo ex angulis eminebant de profundis et frugibus suis circum nos, ut tecum una. As she repeated Wanda’s words, the red began to glow and overtake the room. It burned so brightly that it overtook the space and ate everything else out entirely.
BUCKY BARNES: With his ungloved hand, bucky cupped the side of Yelena’s face. “I know.” he heard Illyana and Nico behind him but he didn’t look. He had a gut feeling where this was going and he was just…relieved to see Yelena again. It tugged somewhere deep in his chest, making him oddly angry all over again. He was exhausted, frustrated, but relieved. “Also, please don’t ever mention Jim again.” he said on what sounded like a breathy laugh. “C’mere.” Even though they didn’t do this, Bucky pulled Yelena in close, arms wrapping around her small frame.
NICO MINORU: Confirma. Stabiliendum. Solidatur. Est una tribus, tribus fit unum. Dormanmu limbo ex angulis emine ant de profundis et frugibus suis circum nos, ut tecum una. Nico repeated alongside Magik, closing her eyes as the red glow overtook the entire room. Based on that, she hoped it was working. And she also hoped that they wouldn’t kill Ripley in the process.
YELENA BELOVA: Folding into him, Yelena stared at the two spellcasters. She hated magic. She hated how small it made her feel. She didn’t like Ripley either, but they all deserved better than this. “He was a victim too, at first.” The light was too bright then and Yelena had no choice but to avert her eyes.
RIPLEY RYAN: Every memory. Every life. Every backstory. The Town Database was comprehensive and the woman whose energy fueled it remembered every detail. For the first time since they had managed to restrain her, the stirrings of magic gave way to an elevated form of consciousness. Eyes and mouth open, red poured from them until reality was rattled by a burst of energy. Across the town, those left reverted to how they had looked before being changed. Faces returned and scarlet gave way to familiar bodies and clothes. When the wave washed over the hospital, it faded to reveal a blonde in a hospital gown standing in front of the mangled computer system. “I’m going to kill someone.”
LAURA KINNEY: The fight with Bullseye had ended, but Laura followed the scent of blood towards where the Black Widow and Taskmaster had fought. Natasha was fine, her adversary fleeing towards Zemo and the Town hall. When the redhead said she would follow him, Laura had left her to get to the ICU. Without her claws the fight had been a little different than she preferred, but not all of the blood on her was her own. By the time she got there, the room was awash in red. The force of the energy impact threw Laura against the wall, but when she straightened and came to, her cheerleading uniform was gone. The yellow and blue of her Wolverine suit had returned and when she flexed her hands she felt the adamantium.
BOBBI MORSE: Ripley looked mad, but Bobbi couldn’t blame her. She had every right to be. “That’s valid.” She limbed to her feet. “But can we raincheck? Your Stone -- it fractured. From what was being done. We got you a piece on it, but Zemo has a shard at Town Hall. Do I need to tell you how badly this could go?”
RIPLEY RYAN: Of course she didn’t need to. Ripley could feel Pleasant Hill destabilizing and reality growing thin. It Zemo accomplished his goals, he’d be taking her down. It was hard to live with a stone in your chest. it would be impossible to be fragmented. Even then, she could feel the other part calling out. Raising a hand, Ripley looked at the group. TOWN HALL. With that, the hospital was empty as they vanished in a flash of crimson.
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