Jaycee Strong hates waking up not remembering the night before.
Make no mistake, she's no drinker and even if she was she wouldn't be a light-weight. At least she hopes she wouldn't be. But she has a history of waking up and not knowing what's going on and it's always been the worst case scenario. She wakes up with that flash of adrenaline and tears through wherever she is like the Tasmanian Devil. It's almost become her mode of operation.
Except when she wakes up this time she doesn't move, just opens her eyes and waits for the memories to return. It's not because she wants to; but this time she forces herself not to react, forces herself to breathe. She can't really afford to have another adrenal attack right now; only Barton knows about her condition and for the time being she wants to keep it that way. Jay tries her best to take deep calming breaths, to let the memories come instead of speeding off to go find someone to beat up.
She's really not all that good at this meditative, Zen thing. How do yoga people do it?
She sits up slowly and the feel of dried salt at the corners of her eyes brings all the memories flashing back to her. She hasn't cried that hard in a very long time. Normally that would make her feel disgusted with herself, for being weak, for giving up but this time it doesn't feel that way. It doesn't feel bad; it feels like someone cleansed her out on the inside. There is bewildering relief there was well and she realizes that she has made a decision, almost unconsciously when it comes to this situation and to the mad trickster god messing around with her life. As good as she feels though, she's not quite sure she can face that decision yet even though she knows that it is the right one to have made.
Idly she looks at the clock on the wall. Seven in the morning. She smiles despite herself; she's finally back on a regular schedule. And it's Monday. Oh goddess she's going to be late for school!
Who thought that such a mundane thing as being late for school could inspire more panic in her than facing down goblins and trolls on a rainbow bridge in space. Man, she is seriously screwed up.
Jay throws the covers away and forces herself to take one more deep breath. Class doesn't start for an hour and she has a thirty minute commute which means with time allocated for bus stops, she has roughly seven point two five minutes to look presentable and pack her bag. Plenty of time.
Jeans on, tank top, then long sleeved shirt. Sneakers? Oh wait those are little more than scraps. Boots? It's cold enough for it. Workouts clothes, notebooks, highlighters, pens all in backpack. Check. Hair? Haha, Jay, that's hilarious.
She rushes out her door, mind and body still out of sync as her backpack slams against the wall leaving a nice scrape on the wall. Her bag bangs into her hip on the rebound and she curses in French as it hits her bruised hip. She's just reaching the top of the stairs when she hears a door open behind her. Not bothering to glance behind her, she yells over her shoulder, "Sorry, Thor, late for school, can't talk, gotta run!" While she may be saying those words, anyone listening would only hear "sorrythorlateforschoolcanttalkgottarun."
Her boot is on the top step when the reply slides across her, "Poison class today?"
Several things happen all at once. Jay turns to look over her shoulder with wide eyes to glimpse Loki standing, hip against the door of the guest room, arms crossed, regarding her with a smirk. At the same time, her clumsiness kicks in, the weight of her backpack shifts, her boots slide on the stairs and with the grace of a bull in a china shop, Jaycee Strong tumbles headfirst down the stairs.
By the time she reaches the bottom of the stairs she has exhausted every curse word she knows in every language she knows with some made up ones thrown in and the entire household has been awoken by her klutziness.
At the bottom of the stairs she looks back and up at Loki in surprise as Barton and Romanoff run in from the kitchen, wondering what had caused the infernal din that sounded like a herd of elephants falling off a waterfall. Jay splutters a bit, her pencil case jabbing into her back as Barton pulls her to her feet. "You, you… you let him out?" She practically shrieks.
"We thought it the better situation," Barton says, almost meekly, cowed by the half-crazed school-girl, secret agent persona Jay is throwing off.
"Well, jeez, that proved very good for my health!" Jay rants. "Not even awake seven point two five minutes and he's caused me to fall down the stairs and added to my bruise collection!"
"Seven, point two five…?" Barton asks, but Jay cuts him off.
"Arrrrgggh! Now I'm going to be late for school!"
She takes off towards the kitchen to get to the front door. Barton looks at Natasha. "She's worried about missing school? Most kids love to miss school."
Jay almost makes it to the door before Tony blocks her path. "Whoa, sexy schoolgirl, cool your jets. It's Christmas break from school."
Jay looks at him in confusion. "I don't follow."
Tony gives an exaggerated sigh. "What have we raised, people, a hick town girl?"
"Jay, honey, there are no classes over Christmas break," Jane says, coming around the corner and gently pulling a bewildered Jay away from Tony. "Remember, you get a few weeks off after finals?"
"I do?" Jay asks.
"Seriously, did you raise her in the barn?" Tony complains. Jane shoots him a glare that snaps his mouth shut comically.
"She's a good student, back off Stark," Jane snaps and Tony puts his hands up in mock surrender. She turns back to Jay, whose brain is slowly catching back up to the present day. "You've got three weeks off, remember? And we've got that party to attend. The Astrophysics Banquet?"
It all comes rushing back to Jay and she groans. "The one you told me I have to dress up for?"
"That's the one," Jane says cheerfully and Jay wants to run out the door and go to the lab even though school is on break. Anything to get out of this banquet.
"A banquet?" Tony says, enthusiasm coming off him in sickening waves. "Astrophysics? Ooooh that sounds perfect, I'll just-"
"NO!" Jay cuts him off. He pouts at her. "No, you are not inviting yourself. This is for Jane and Selvig's work."
"And yours," Jane reminds her and Jay flushes. She mumbles something under her breath.
"Don't mumble, it's unseemly," Tony says, playing the part of etiquette mistress. Jay glares at him. "Speak up dear," he grins at her.
Jaycee sticks her tongue out at him. "I don't need to go, Jane, really, you and Darcy and Selvig can go with out me."
"Oh, no, you aren't weaseling your way out of this," Jane says, dragging Jay back into the living room where all of the Avengers have been eavesdropping. "You are getting dressed up and helping us present our work."
Jay grumbles and curses under her breath. "I'd rather chain myself to a brick and jump into the ocean."
"What a waste that would be," Loki says from the stair well in the same pose as he was at the top of the stairs. Eight scowls turn his way, one for each Avenger, plus Jane and Jay. "Okay, my opinion is not needed. Duly noted."
"And what is the meaning of this?" Jay asks, rounding on the Avengers. "You unchained him after yesterday? Isn't that a lot like rewarding bad behavior?"
"Turns out he's a good counterbalance to Dr. Morose," Tony says, nodding a head at Bruce who looks put upon at being called Dr. Morose. "That and to be honest, he's right in the fact that he's not the biggest threat to you. Tyr is."
The angry color drains out of Jay's face. "You've heard something about Tyr?" Her voice is quiet, not quite fearful, but definitely cautious and guarded. Charged with keeping an eye on Loki, Barton notes that the god's eyes sharpen at the mention of Tyr.
"We got word from Fury two days ago before the basement exploded with activity yesterday and you went ultrarunner on us," Tony says and Jay flushes in embarrassment. "Tyr has been spotted in numerous confirmed reports all of a sudden in the past weeks, once on Earth, and twice by Fury's agent on Vanaheim."
"Fury has an agent in Vanaheim?" Jay asks incredulously. "Bastards got his hands everywhere," she mutters to herself. "Why now?"
Stark gestures to Barton who unwillingly picks up the story. "Seems that there is some kind of insurgency happening on Vanaheim. A local guerilla group has been terrorizing the capital city and trading posts across the realm. They claim… they claim to be supporters of the royal family. Tyr showed up right after they hit a trade depot near the palace."
Jay's breath stills for a moment. Barton watches Loki's face but not a flicker of emotion crosses his features. "We don't' know if…," Barton starts but Jay holds up a hand.
"This seems like it's going to be a lot to take in, I just ran over forty miles last night, I fell down the stairs and I have not yet had my morning espresso. I'm getting coffee and then we can chat." Without a backward glance, Jay drops her backpack and makes a beeline for the kitchen.
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There is a moment of silence in the living room before Tony looks at Jane and asks, "She really didn't know about Christmas vacation?"
Jane rolls her eyes at him.
"I'll go make sure she doesn't cut herself on the Keurig machine," Barton says and heads off to the kitchen to talk to Jay. "Knowing her she'll find a way to open an artery with a K-cup."
"So what's this about Vanaheim?" Loki asks nonchalantly when Barton is gone.
"Why so eager to know?" Steve shoots back, distrust creasing his face.
"Hey, Testosterone, cool it," Stark says. "We agreed to let him go knowing that Tyr was spotted. We all agreed that Loki wasn't in league with Tyr since he's been enjoying our hospitality for the two weeks."
Loki snorts at the use of the word "hospitality." Rogers gives him a filthy look and Banner looks at Loki disapprovingly. "So defensive," Loki admonishes.
"Don't make this harder on yourself than it needs to be," Natasha warns the trickster god. "We unchained you because we knew that a sighting of Tyr on Vanaheim means that he's ready to make another play that will most likely involved Jay. We haven't had time to brief her on the full situation so she has no right to trust you in any way right now. We know you have no love for Tyr."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Loki inquires, eyebrows raised.
"There abouts," Tony says, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Now, Spitfire and Birdboy will be back shortly and she's going to want to deal with a full debriefing so she can get her feet back under herself. So I suggest we discuss other pressing matter."
"Such as?" Rogers asks.
Tony gives a gleeful grin and the Avengers brace themselves for his newest quip.
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Unholy mother of Samarkand, it never ever slows down. Jay may have given them the excuse that she needed coffee but what she really needed was air and a moment to calm down. She could feel her blood pressure rising and knew without a doubt that she had to get out of there and get herself pulled back together before she has to deal with this new situation and the fact that Loki is walking around her home seemingly unfettered. Ugh. That and she really really does actually need coffee.
Jay slams the Keurig machine around, cursing gods and manipulative friends and the fact that this stupid, cursed machine won't brew her much needed espresso faster!
"Whoa, dude, don't go all She-Hulk smash on it, I want a cup too," Barton says as Jay raises a fist to hammer down on the machine. She scowls at him but lowers her fist and glowers at him.
"Don't go telling me what to do Feathers, I'm not in the mood," she broods. "Zip it while my coffee brews or I might have to rearrange your nose."
Barton mimes zipping his lips shut and shrugs his shoulders up and down, pretending to try and talk which earns him a semi-smile from Jay. She relents, "Okay, okay, sorry that's the caffeine addiction talking."
"No worries, kiddo, just make sure you make mine strong too," Barton grins.
Jaycee pours her cup and inserts another K-cup for Barton, switching the mugs as she does so.
"So are you going to tell them?" Barton asks after a long silence as the coffee maker chugs away.
Jay sighs heavily through her mouth in frustration. "Can't I have a cup of coffee first?!" She implores the invisible gods in the ceiling, arms wide. She looks at Clint. "You know why I don't want to. It might be fine, curable even and I don't want to worry the rest of them needlessly."
"Kid, this is your life we're talking about and if you don't tell the rest of them about this adrenal disease, they won't know how to help you if you have another episode."
Jay looks at him. "They are great about helping me with anything I need. But, Clint, I'm not helpless. I don't need to run to the Avengers every time something isn't working for me. I will tell them at some point but I want to try and figure this out myself first. I know they'd want to help but I don't want to have to rely on that all the time."
Barton gives her a wry look. "You're too damn stubborn for your own good."
"Wonder who taught me that," she retorts with a pointed look.
Barton leans back against the counter in defeat. "Well if you refuse to tell them at least talk to Bruce," Clint requests.
Jay's brow creases a bit in confusion. "He seems to really have a lid on the whole Hulk thing. He might be able to help you control your emotional responses." Barton takes the mug of coffee Jay offers him. "You know you can trust Bruce to keep it to himself, he's a good guy like that."
"I know," Jay admits. "But he worries the most, ya know? I just don't want to be the Avengers Charity Case forever."
"You won't be," he says, bumping his elbow against her shoulder in a companionable gesture. "We require Avengers to pull their weight, wear ridiculous costumes and have funny nicknames."
Jay snorts. "Those the only requirements?" She asks drily.
"Yep," Barton says, slinging an arm around her shoulder. She winces when it hits her new bruises from her stair adventure this morning. "Come on, let's go discuss what's going on with the rest of our Avenger pals."
Jay pulls out from under his arm and gives him a very critical look. "No withholding information, Agent Barton," she says a serious expression on her face. "You try and protect me from anything and I'll make sure Darcy knows every dirty little secret you have."
"You wound me," Barton says, falling backwards mockingly, a hand on his chest. He is slightly worried that she'll carry out that threat and if there's anyone who scares him more than Jay herself, it's when Darcy and Jay collude. "Duly noted, ma'am."
"Don't ma'am me," Jay punches him in the arm.
"Yes ma'am," Barton says.
"You looking for another round with the oranges?" Jay asks, eyebrows going high, a challenging look in her eye. He can almost see her considering how to best humiliate him with kitchen implements.
"Come on kid," Barton says, weaseling out of answering by taking her wrist and towing her back into the living room to meet with the rest of the Avengers about this new development.
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"Finally!" Tony crows when Barton and Strong finally reenter the living room. "We were having a very intense conversation-argument and we need the Hawk's professional opinion."
"Shoot," says Clint, dropping onto the couch next to Bruce.
"Well," Stark says, the dramatic flair winding up in his voice. "Miss Political Science Major and I have been having a major disagreement."
"It's not a disagreement if I'm right," Darcy interrupts from the floor where she's lounging on her back, knees in the air.
"Ahem," Stark says, peeved at being interrupted mid-presentation. "Anyways….," he drawls, drawing out the suspense. "I argue that Steve is Edward and Loki is Jacob obviously since Steve is mister perfect and Horns has that bad boy vibe but Knit-Hat-Intern says that Steve is Jacob and Loki is Edward since Steve is clearly what is good for Jay while Loki as Edward is totally not."
Barton scoffs. "Darcy is totally right; Steve's Jacob and Loki is Edward!"
"Thank you!" Darcy says from the floor, throwing her arms up in the air.
"Wait, wait, wait, you can't be that stupid," Tony says.
Jay looks at Jane who shrugs. "I'm just as lost as you."
"They're discussing Twilight," Natasha says dismissively. When Jay and Jane continue to keep looking at her like she's not speaking English Nat rolls her eyes. "Don't worry it's trivial."
"Trivial!" Stark, Barton and Darcy squawk indignantly at the same time.
"I am beyond confused," Bruce says, scratching his head.
"Avengers movie night!" Tony says excitedly.
Everyone else groans. Tony now looks put upon. "Well I see how it is," he says dismissively.
"Can we focus, please," Natasha asks. Everyone settles down to discuss the situation on Vanaheim and the new appearances of Tyr.
"Does he really need to be here?" Steve says, angrily motioning with his head towards Loki. "We agreed to let him out but I see no need to get him involved with this new situation."
"He stays," Jay says calmly before anyone can interject. "Whatever is going on is bigger than me and he bears just as big of a grudge towards Tyr as any one of us. He also is one of the only ones here who has actually been on Vanaheim. He'll be able to give us a better idea of what the situation is on the ground because he'll know locations and names we don't."
Rogers catches her eye and begrudgingly nods. They look at each other for a tension-filled moment before Jay breaks eye contact and turns to Barton and Natasha.
"What's been going on? No leaving anything out," she says and she sounds like a military strategist waiting to be briefed on the situation by her advisors. Clint, always keeping on eye on the trickster, notes that this makes Loki smile a small smile to himself.
Natasha takes up the job of explaining. "We received word that Tyr had been spotted two days ago on Vanaheim. It seems that there is an insurgency brewing on Vanaheim, not funded or aided by Tyr. In fact they seem to have up there attacks since Tyr's appearance so it seems unlikely they are in league with him." She looks up at Jaycee. "The insurgents are rebelling in the name of the royal family. They claim to have proof that the heir to the Vanir throne is alive. They know about you Jay, some way or another and might make a move at you soon. They,.. they are saying they want to put you on the throne as the rightful Queen of Vanaheim."
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"Down!" Njordon yells.
He roughly pulls one of his operatives down underneath him as the beams above give way, flames crackling above them in the street as flaming arrows bombard them. The two men roll out of the way as the tavern sign above them gives way and crashes to the ground.
Njordon gets up quickly, hauling his comrade to his feet. "Move!" he yells. "Get the rest of them out of here!" The man runs away, quickly pulling fallen comrades to their feet.
Njordon spots Syvlk, his lieutenant helping one of the woman warriors out from under a stack of flaming crates and moves to help him. "What are your commands, general?" Syvlk yells over the burning inferno sweeping the city around them.
Njordon looks around, a quick peripheral sweep. "Call them back," he orders through gritted teeth. "We need to keep our people safe until…,"
"Do you really think Bjern and Kaiton will succeed?" Syvlk asks, hauling the woman up and across his back. They take off away from the source of the flaming arrows. "You know this will all be for nothing if they can't bring her home."
Njordon's eyes bely his anxiety and distress even if his tone is confident. "We'll send them reinforcements to back them up. Yourself, Filon, and Remorag will set out as soon as possible to aid them. They have a potential match but are waiting to confirm before their approach." He pushes Syvlk ahead of him with the wounded woman and takes a look back at the remains of the city the resistance once called their base. "They'll succeed. They have to."
