Awakening

Well lookie here, it looks like I might be getting back into the habit of updating daily…how many of you are happy about that? ^.~

Anyway, did a disclaimer last chapter so I think I'm good for a while.


Penny's POV

"They're like children at a sleep over."

I glanced over as my Bonded stepped out of my shadow and nodded. It was about two hours after the repairs had been done to both my father's and my own Arc and right now, it was only Mortem and I awake.

Everyone else was laying in numerous positions around the large movie center that Dad and I had designed into the Tower. It was on the same floor as the lounge we had been in earlier, just had comfier couches and chairs, and also had a giant projector screen. No lights were on, the room simply being lit from the soft, almost blue glow of the two Arcs in the room.

Dad had claimed the couch in the middle of the room, which happened to be the largest, saying that because of his leg that it was his. He had also claimed it on the grounds that it was his Tower.

Rogers was half sitting half lying in a large squishy armchair next to one of the many snack tables, and was snoring as drool dribbled down his chin.

Bruce had claimed the loveseat, and was stretched out comfortably. No one had tried to take the spot from him, as one thinly veiled glare had shut anyone up. No one wanted to mess with a ticked Bruce, fear of the Hulk or not.

Barton had unsurprisingly scaled the wall with a pillow and curled up in the cubby hole where the extensive holographic and 3D projector sat. Thankfully for him, it was retractable.

Even I was slightly at a loss as to how and why everyone was crashed in the movie room, as I had sort of zoned out after returning from the lab. My head had been constantly throbbing and I could feel the wall crumbling ever since Dad repaired my baseplate.

So I've mostly been out of it.

Mortem's arm snaking its way around my shoulders snapped me out of my thought and I glanced up at him to see his silver eyes bright with worry.

"The wall's almost gone."

It wasn't a question, just a simple statement of fact. Even Mortem could feel it through our Bond.

"Yes," I replied softly leaning into his side and watching the peaceful scene in front of me.

"You should get some sleep too," Mortem said softly as he combed his fingers through my hair.

"Hmm," I hummed in response, not truly giving him an answer.

The truth was, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to sleep. The wall was slowly crumbling, and I knew that with it all of my memories would come flooding back through my mind; and I wasn't sure if I was ready to deal with that.

Sure, I had been living with my memoires for thousands of years, but some of them…something in my gut was telling me that this time would be different. Something about this Awakening was different, it felt different.

It felt…final.

"You'll be alright," Mortem soothed me both verbally and through the Bond, and I closed my eyes.

"How do you know that?" I asked softly, how did he know I could handle the memories? How did he know I could handle my past?

"Because," Mortem said as he turned me around to face him. "You are the most stubborn person I know."

His lips twitched into a fond smile as his silver eyes shone. "If there's one thing I've learned about you in all of these millennia, it's that you never let anything keep you down."

Resting my head on his chest I sighed, "Didn't do so well with Fati, and I don't even remember the majority of it."

"You've dealt with Fati magnificently,"

I glanced up at Mortem in surprise as he wrapped his arms tighter around me. How on earth could he think that? I could barely remember anything and yet I could see the way I've been played.

"Oh don't look so surprised." Mortem rolled his eyes before giving me a fond if exasperated look. "You've manage to annoy Fati and avoid the majority of her webs for lifetimes. Sure, you fell victim to many a manipulation but many of our Siblings have as well.

"You, Aequivalere, have been the one person who has been able to play this game with Fati, and succeed for almost longer than most of our family can remember. You love, who was thrust into Immortality and the many responsibilities that come along with it, have survived with a jealous being of Fate out for your blood for way too long. You've survived, without any real training, and no one to truly help you."

I blushed at Mortem's words and squirmed in his arms. I wanted to believe what he was saying, but how could I know if what he said was true, when I couldn't even remember what had happened myself?

"I know you don't believe me now," Mortem continued on softly, "but you will. You'll be able to handle your memories, just like you've handled everything else."

I gave him a small smile, but didn't say a word. Although for his kind words, a worm of doubt still squirmed in my gut. Insania had to put up a mental wall so I didn't go insane from my memories. If I could handle them, why did I need the wall in the first place?

"I don't know about all of that," I said softly as I picked at a piece of fuzz on my Bonded's shirt. "But I do know one thing."

"Oh?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and a questioning look. "And what's that?"

I gave Mortem a soft, teasing smirk as I replied, "I can't remember the last time you were so mushy."

"Oh, you." Mortem sighed as he rolled his eyes again. "Only you would tease about things you can't even recall…though, actually I can see your father doing the same."

As one, we looked over at Dad who was sleeping deeply on the couch, his mind clear of nightmares for once. The last few days had been long and hard, so it was the least we could do.

None of the Avengers would be visited by nightmares tonight.

Well, besides Romanoff.

But she wasn't even in the Tower right now, so I didn't really care.

"Yeah," I agreed softly as I gazed at the Arc shining through his shirt. "He would do something like that."

Mortem chuckled as I snuggled contently into his chest.

Neither of us moved for quite a while, even when I sensed a familiar aura moving around the Tower, and the elevator down the hall opening.

I didn't have to say a word, aloud or mental, as Mortem's shadows wrapped around us. Instantly we were invisible to mortal eyes, just as Pepper walked back into the room.

She seemed tired, and considering it was after ten I didn't blame her. She hadn't changed since the last time I saw her, though her face was definitely less red and puffy, and she carried herself proudly.

I couldn't wait to see Jarvis' tape of Nick's and Romanoff's stripping down; it was sure to be pure gold.

Pepper smiled softly at everyone in the room before laying down on the couch besides my father, a small smile on her lips.

"I love my family." I muttered to myself, knowing that Pepper wouldn't be able to hear us no matter how loud I spoke.

It was a simple truth. I loved my father, Pepper, Phil, Jane, and everyone else in this world who I considered my family; and of course, I loved my Immortal one just as much. Even if it was thirty times larger and I hadn't even met all of the members.

"I love you too," Mortem whispered into my ear, a teasing undertone that wasn't completely masked.

This time I rolled my eyes and slowly shook my head.

"It'd be rather bad if you didn't." I mused, thinking about the Bond and how much he had been there for me in this lifetime.

Not to mention all of the times I couldn't remember yet.

"Yes," Mortem agreed quietly, "I suppose it would."

We fell into silence again, quiet content with just being in each other's arms after the hellish day that it had been. Mortem had barely left my side since the incident with Fati, and I had a feeling the only reason he hadn't been clinging to me since I had gotten my soul back was because of our own Duties.

Now though, now nothing was calling us away, nothing was demanding our attention. We could just be content with each other.

Of course, that was if I ignored the rattling of the wall in my mind.

"You really should sleep," Mortem told me with a sigh. "You're tired, and still partially human. Besides, if you sleep, you'll have more of a chance of organizing and controlling the flood of memories."

He was right, like usual. Sleeping was probably the best idea right now…but at the same time, I didn't want to go to sleep. I didn't want to close my eyes and drift off.

Because in-between my conscious mind and my subconscious memories, was the wide vast of mental space where dreams manifested.

And I seriously didn't feel like facing any more demons tonight.

"Sleep love, I'll keep any nightmares at bay." Mortem whispered as he kissed my forehead softly.

I gave him a small thankful smile as Mortem's shadows vanished, leaving us quite visible again.

With a wave of his hand another couch, about the same size of Dad's, appeared out of thin air and he pulled me down onto the soft and fluffy piece of furniture.

I blinked slowly as I curled up next to my Bonded, his arm draping over me.

My eyes wandered back over to Dad and Pepper, who were sleeping in a position very similar to my own. I smiled softly at the light of his Arc, before I blinked and everyone in the room was covered with soft blankets.

Mortem chuckled softly as he saw what I did and I had to squish the urge to poke him in response.

"I thought I told you to sleep love." Mortem whispered in my mind and so I closed my eyes and nestled down closer to him.

"I am; I am." I responded as I yawed.

Maybe the day had taken more out of me than I thought.

"Night Mortem," I whispered softly.

"Night love." Mortem whispered back just as softly, and as I drifted off, I didn't even feel the wall in my mind crumbling into nothing.


Third POV
Cor

Infinitas smiled softly from her palace balcony. To quote one of her favorite Adiutores:

Everything was as it should be.

(Pretend there is a page break here, it doesn't want to insert *frustrated pout*)

Sooooo much Pen/Mortem fluff! ^.^ I greatly enjoyed writing this, and you all can come up with your own explanations for why the Avengers are all (besides Romanoff) sleeping in that room.

Add's a bit of spice to that story I think.

For those of you who don't remember from Book I, an Adiutore is an Immortal's assistant or representative in a certain dimension, and they can, at times, have others who work under them.

Ex: In this world, Hel is Mortem's Adiutore.

Yeah, just thought some of you might be wondering.
Next chapter we get to take a peek inside of Pen's head, so get ready! :)

R&R everyone, you rock!
Cp