Sorry it took so long guys. I've been dealing with a lot of stress lately. That and life got busy for me so I hadn't had time to focus on this. But here it is. The long awaited Chapter 13.
Disclaimers: I don't own anything what so ever in relation to Avengers or Marvel. I own Lex, Tora, Jas, and Via.
Chapter 13 - Ins and Outs and In-betweens
Living our lives to the fullest ain't easy but then again, no one ever said it's supposed to be either. After all, the things one says and does doesn't define who they are, it merely defines the path they've chosen thus far. A path that'll lead one down a dark and lonely road, only to find oneself in the heart of something completely surreal. A place where the impossible is quite possible, a place where the shadows of the past make one stronger. It's here that Clint finds himself in the mitts of chaos, surrounded by darkness. Where a light shines above it all, a light that tells him even when all seems lost there's always hope. It's this light, in the form of his now fiancé that has him smiling as he watches her leave, the swaying of her hips as she walks out the door before turning his attention back towards Tasha. Glaring, he furiously states, "Just that the hell does that mean?"
Tasha just smiles deviously before replying in the sweetest, most caring tone she can summon. "You bought that ring months ago, Clint," she says in a singsong voice with just a hint of a sarcastic undertone to it. Which Clint knows to mean he took his sweet ass time, equaling out to be that he took too damn long in the first place. He just smiles and shakes his head, not sure how to explain to her just how he feels about all this. "Tash, I know. I just hadn't found the right time until now. I mean it's a bit hard to do when you're possessed," he states again but this time, he looks away, frowning. Tasha knows what this means and merely shakes her head. He's doing it again; he's blaming himself for things that are and were beyond his control.
"Damn it, Clint. You need to stop blaming yourself for all this. It wasn't your fault but then again, you're just too thick headed to see that. You're too damn stubborn to see what's right in front of you. I get it now. You're just scared, too damn scared to admit that maybe, just for once, you might actually be in love," she growls at him, knowing this is one of the few ways to get through that pigheaded head of his. Clint just glares in shock at her before replying, "I wasn't scared. Why would I be? I have no reason too. None at all," he states in a determined voice, only to falter at the end.
He looks at her and sees her shrug which causes him to sigh in response. He knows she's right, she always is when it comes to Lex but it's just hard to admit what with his kind of past and all. After all, losing one's parents then losing the love of his life would cause issues for anyone but Clint's learning. Little by little, with the help of Tasha and Lex, he's learning how to commit and to trust. That's why the thought of how close he came to losing Lex scared him into taking the next step. He knows Tasha knows, he knows she can relate to this. How terrifying it can be, how fearful it is to come so close to losing the one person that means the world to them. That's Lex to him and Bruce to her, not that she'll admit to that crush just yet.
This is why he took his chance to show Lex that he truly cares, that she's become his world. By placing that ring upon her finger, he took that next step in their relationship. "Okay, so I was but can you blame me? I mean with everything that's happened, I've realized just how easily I could've lost her," he states as his voice shakes. Though, it's because to him, the reality of it all is a little too close to home. He looks at her and sighs. He looks down until he feels her hand upon his shoulders.
Looking up, their eyes meet, speaking more than words ever could. She knows, she knows how one recklessly clever girl wormed her way into his heart. How her kidnapping nearly broke him. How she became his world before Clint even realized it but the thing he hasn't realize yet is that he's become her's as well. After all, Lex did turn her back on SHIELD, on them for him. She stood by his side throughout all of it, did everything she could to save him. Yeah, Tasha knows Clint's Lex' everything by now. Of course, her friends and family mean the world to her, they always will. It's just that Clint, well Clint's on a whole other level.
A soft tapping on the door brings Tasha out of her thoughts and back to reality. She looks around noticing that Clint's nowhere to be seen, having made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. Again there's a soft knock and Tasha makes her way over. Hand on the handle, the bathroom door opens revealing a freshly showered Clint with a concerned look in his eyes. Their eyes lock and she nods slightly, answering his unspoken question. Tasha's attention is drawn back to the door by another gentle knock before she's opens it.
Meanwhile, the moment Lex leaves the room, she lends against the door thinking everything over. Everything that's happened up until now. After all, the gorgeous ring on her finger is proof everything's going to be alright. Looking at her ring, she smiles and makes her way towards Steve's quarters, where she knows Raine to be. It's on the way that she runs into an old friend she hasn't seen in several years. The smile on her face brightens at this, causing Lex to run over to her. "Oh my god, Via, it's been a long time. Geez, I haven't seen you since I joined up with Tasha and Clint. When the hell did you get back? Last I heard, you were off in Italy taking on Crossfire," Lex goes a mile a minute before stopping, blushing in embarrassment. "Sorry!"
"No, no, don't be, Lex. I mean, you are right. I was until I got called in for the whole Loki thing. How is Clint by the way? I heard about what happened to him," she says calmly. Only to laugh slightly at the twinkle in Lex' eyes at the mention of Clint's name. Though, that's when she notices the ring and she breaks out into a full blown smile. "Well, then, I guess he's doing better if he's proposed. Though, I'm shocked that Clint Barton, mister hides from his problems finally got the balls to do it. Well, then again, I shouldn't be all that surprised. He's dating you, after all," she says before Lex can get a word in. She continues once again, saying" Well, I got to get going. Hill needs me on the bridge."
Via takes her leave and is out of sight before Lex has a chance to say a word. "Same old Via. She hasn't changed a bit. Still doesn't let me get a word in edge wise," Lex mutters to herself. She smiles and shakes her head before continuing on her way. She finally gets to Steve's quarters only to see Tony standing in the doorway. "Tony, what the hell are you doing?" she questions, startling him into awareness. "Take a look for yourself! It's rather amusing actually," Tony states in a thrilled tone as he steps aside to let her see.
Giving Tony a skeptical look, she steps into room, only to stop and stare at the sight before her. "Oh my god, what the hell?" she mutters in shock. Anyone would be if they were to see the sight before her. What with every object in the room flying around, she sees poor the Captain cowering in the corner. Now, when her eyes land on Raine's tossing form, everything clicks . How could she forget that Raine's a telekinetic. With that thought in mind, she walks in, making her way over to Steve. Ducking and dodging, she gets to Steve, kneeling in front of him.
"Just what in the hell are you doing? Are you hiding? In a corner?" she questions in astonishment. Ducking yet another object, she sighs, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not hiding from her. I'm just not crazy enough to try and move closer just yet. Though, how did you do that? You duck and dodge like you know their coming long before they do," he questions in curiosity. Lex just smirks at him and nods. "That's because I do, kind of. I'm an elementalist," she pauses. Though at he's confused expression, continues on.
"It's like this. For me, I feel everything that goes on around me, so to speak." Lex notices Steve looks even more baffled than before. "What I mean is I feel the elemental energy. I know what each of the elements feel like when no one's around verse what they feel like when something or someone is there. Like right now, there's a shift in the way the air feels. That shift becomes greater when the objects come closer to me. I also know where every object is at any given moment. This is really the only way I know how to explain it," she whispers, smiling sadly because she knows Steve's not really going to get it, no one ever does.
Though, Steve's response does come at quite a shock to her. "I get it. You have a connection to the elements in a way that very few can understand. I get it, really. She's just like you, you know. She has this great power that those with an evil heart seem to be drawn to. It seems to be the same for you. You both have a connection to things around you that make you a target more than the rest of us. Oh!" he pauses but before he can continue Tony interrupts.
"I get it too. You're just like Jas as well. The way she has a connection to every mind around her, it's just like the connection you have to the elements," he says softly causing Lex to smile once again. "Tony, Steve, thanks. It's nice to know that besides Luci and Clint, I have a few others that know what it's like for me. Though, Luci would understand like no one else," she pauses at their confused looks.
"Luci is a SHIELD agent, who happens to be like a brother to me. His ability is much like my own but differs greatly," she says quietly causing a small smile to grace her face as Tony and Steve try hide their growing grins. Though before Tony can say anything further, he notices a certain ring upon a certain finger that has him smiling mischievously.
"Tony, before you say a word, lets take this conversation into the hall," she whispers and turns to Steve, nodding at him and taking her leave. "Lex, wait. Thank you for saving her. You brought her back to me and for that I'm forever in your debt," he speaks so sincerely that she can't help but smile in return. "It was no trouble at all but all I did was merely bring her here. You're the one who freed her from…" she stops at the sound of every object crushing to the floor.
Steve goes running to Raine's side, whose gray blue eyes are open and she quietly slips out, giving them some privacy. She smiles as she watches Raine's eyes brighten at the something Steve tells her but a voice from behind causes her to squeak in surprise. "Geez, Tony warn a girl next time," she glares trying to hide her embarrassment at being surprised.
"Sorry, Lex but who's the lucky guy?" he asks. "What? Oh, you mean this?" motioning to the ring on her finger. She laughs as Tony's nod, before explaining. "Clint proposed to me. Now, before you ask, yes he's the one who was possessed and attacked the helicarrier," Tony's eyes go wide before softening once again, shaking his head.
"Interesting turn of events. You're marrying bird boy, huh? Mind telling me why I'm just now hearing about you having a boyfriend? Let alone that he have someone else you think of as a brother besides me?" his questions Lex, smirking. "Well, for one, you didn't need to know. Secondly, my private life is just that, private. Lastly, I wanted to see the look on your face when you found out," she says sweetly.
"Tell him if he hurts you, death will be the least of his worries. I've known you for a long time, you're like a little sister to me and no one hurts my family. I'm the one with my name for the world to see," he smirks before his eyes go wide. "That's it. That's where Loki is. He's at Stark Tower. Lex, get the others. I'll get Rogers and his girl."
She nods and heads off but not before giving Tony a quick hug. With a smile, he shakes his head. He's known her since the day he met Jas. He still remembers that Jas was the one who had found him in the desert after his kidnapping, Lex being there as her back up. Tony smiles at the memory before turning back to the matters at hand. Tony knocks softly on the door to gain Rogers' attention.
"You've been holding out on me, Cap. I can't believe you've kept her from us. Good old stars and stripes does have a secretive side but we'll have time for that later. I know where Loki is and we've got to move quickly," he states as Lex has finally reached Clint's room. She knocks a few times and Tasha finally opens the door. "You two ready to go?" she states cryptically with a wicked grin and a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Please read and review. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I promise to not take nearly as long with the nest update. The final battle is near as is the end of this story. Anyway, until next time, Later and enjoy.