"Let's just be happy no one was hurt," Carol says, shaking off the spoon and setting it aside before reaching for a head of lettuce on the counter. "Peter, in the future, please advise us if dinner might have – ah, unexpected consequences."
"Yeah, that," Scott agrees, with a slight roll of his eyes. "I'm having a drink. Anyone else?"
"Can someone please pass me a knife?" Carol asks. A flash of steel flies past her face and there's a dull thud. Carol blinks. The hilt of a large knife quivers an inch from her face, its tip buried in the wall.
"You're welcome," Lucy's voice says sweetly.
Carol takes a deep breath. "Lucy; conference room. Now."
She doesn't have to ask twice. Lucy turns and heads out of the room as Carol switches off the stove.
"Carol - " Peter begins awkwardly.
"I got this."
...
"Please don't make me do this again," she says.
"I'll try to do better," Lucy promises, handing her a box of some sort.
"I hope you mean that," Carol mutters fervently. A distracted glance at the box has her realizing it's Kleenex. She shoots her a reproachful look before setting it on the conference table. Then, "You know, during a war, the things you guard and protect – they're not always your weakest points, or even strategic." Carol taps her fingers on her knee, hoping she's saying this right. "Sometimes they're just the things you love best."
Lucy's stoic features soften for a moment, a tentative smile touching her lips. "Thanks, Cap."
Carol returns the smile. "I'd say anytime, but - "
—
WHAT LUCY DON'T KNOW"Lucy! What in the…" Peter's horrified gasp greeted his limping girlfriend as she slowly hobbled into the group area of what had become the Avenger's living quarters. Carol was only a few steps behind her, ready to reach out and grab the shorter woman if she looked like she was going to go down - so far sheer determination and stubbornness had kept the injured Phoenix upright and on her feet.
Of course, while determination and stubbornness were helping her out currently- they were also the culprits behind her being hurt in the first place. Lucy gave Peter a grimacing smile.
"We had a little run-in with some robots. It was nothing that couldn't be handled- eventually. Just took a little longer than planned, is all."
Carol narrowed her eyes and spoke for the first time since entering the building, her voice soft but full of indignant anger.
"What she means is she decided that following orders and waiting for Scott and Wanda to get into position to ambush was taking too much time- plus she figured there weren't that many and she could take them on all by himself."
Lucy shot the Captain an irritated look before looking back at Peter, already forming an excuse for what she was sure would be a furious expression. Oddly enough, Peter's face wasn't furious. Oh. He was worried. She'd likely be lectured numerous times in the next few weeks about not taking unnecessary chances and working with the team instead of solo…but he didn't look furious. She frowned, what she was planning to say slipping right out of her mind as she tried to figure out why he would be staring at Carol with such an odd expression. And then Carol nodded at him and he was smiling…what the heck?
"Peter, I…" Lucy began, only to be cut off by her erstwhile boyfriend.
"It's ok Lucy. You have obviously made it out alive- and I know that Carol has things well in control, so you don't need to make excuses to me and try and calm me down. I'm fine. And…I'm late to a very important meeting and won't be back till next week. Remember, I told you? So I will see you when I return for our date- although I don't think we should go out given you probably won't be able to walk straight."
Quickly, Peter leaned in and gave her a peck on the mouth, pulling away again before she could make the kiss really interesting.
Lucy pouted as she watched him go. "Yeah, my leg might be a little stiff…but that's no reason for us not to go somewhere. It won't take THAT long to heal. I'll be able to walk just fine." She muttered in confusion, before jumping slightly, startled when Carol placed one hand on her shoulder.
"I don't think it's your leg that will hinder you walking," her team leader said ominously. Lucy paled.
###
In retrospect, Lucy couldn't honestly say why she had done what she'd done. The plan Carol had laid out for them all was a good plan- and had Lucy followed it, no one would have been hurt. As it stood, she was lucky she'd not been hurt more seriously. Her leg had been badly sprained on top of a rather nasty cut.
After Peter had left, Carol had maneuvered her into the lab and hovered over her, making certain that she cooperated when Strange cleaned and dressed the cut; immobilized her leg as much as possible so that the sprain wouldn't be irritated; and then had literally held her in place when the good Doc gave her a tetanus shot. Lucy hated needles and had let some rather colorful language fly when she realized that she wasn't going to be allowed to leave without it.
It had only taken a raised eyebrow from Carol for her to bite her tongue and cooperate - even if she did have to turn her head and look the other way when Strange pushed the needle into her arm. She supposed she was lucky they put it there and not a more embarrassing part of her anatomy.
After Strange was satisfied that she'd been taken care of to the best of their abilities, Carol had trundled her off to the kitchen to eat. She would have complained about being treated like a child, but the rest of the team was there and she didn't want to give Carol an excuse to begin her dressing down in public. She knew she'd screwed up. Royally. Again.
Sighing, she picked up the sandwich that Wanda had placed in front of her and murmuring a quick thank you, took a big bite. She was honestly surprised when she managed to finish the entire sandwich. She hadn't really felt hungry.
"Ok. Bed for you." Carol stated firmly.
Lucy blinked in astonishment, noting the quickly hidden grins of the rest of her team as they tried to hide their amusement at her expense. She narrowed her eyes at Carol. "I'm not tired."
"Too bad, because you're going to bed." Carol calmly answered back. If there had been any ridicule in the woman's tone, Lucy would have balked. If there had been any hint of Carol attempting to dominate her, she would have fought her about it. Instead Carol stood calmly by the kitchen door, giving her order in a matter of fact tone with no challenge in it at all. She expected to be obeyed; she expected to be obeyed now; she did not expect Lucy to argue.
Lucy didn't argue. Sighing, she stood and hobbled her way to the captain's side, not surprised when the other woman started walking beside her, ready to catch her if her leg gave out and she fell. Lucy didn't say anything when Carol waited outside her bathroom door while she changed and got ready for bed. She didn't say anything when Carol helped her into the bed and made sure she was able to prop her leg up in a comfortable position. When Carol turned to leave the room, after a sincerely offered good night and the admonishment to have ZORA get her if Lucy needed anything, Lucy finally said something.
"Aren't you going to yell at me?" she asked in a confused voice.
Carol turned back to face her, her own face confused. "Why would I yell at you?"
Lucy winced, looking at her hands. "Because I disobeyed orders and screwed up everything so badly that I'm lucky I'm the only one that was hurt?" she answered back, confusion still in her voice.
"You know what you did wrong." Carol shrugged. "You'll be disciplined for it- but not until I'm convinced your leg is better."
"So you're going to…" Lucy's voice faltered and she finally looked back up into Carol's knowing eyes.
Carol had to smile at the look on Lucy's face. "Yes. I am. And you know you deserve it- even asked for it in a way."
Lucy sighed. "Yeah. I don't suppose it will help if I say I already learned my lesson? …. Didn't think so…" she gave a chagrined smile to Carol's shaking head.
"Get some rest Lucy." Carol softly ordered, giving her another smile before turning and leaving the room.
Sighing softly, Lucy sunk back into her pillows, thinking about what she'd done and asking himself for the hundredth time why she'd done it.
###
Carol was true to her word that she wouldn't do anything until she was positive that Lucy's leg was better. Of course, Lucy hadn't realized that Carol had also meant that she would personally be making sure that Lucy's leg had a chance to get better. Lucy might have enjoyed the attention she was getting and the fact that Carol- and really everyone on the team- was going out of their way to do things to help her and make things easier for her. She would have enjoyed it had she not felt so guilty.
For her part, Lucy did everything she could to be the model patient, taking whatever medicine Strange said she needed, cooperating with the regular check-ups of her leg, eating, taking naps, and in general doing whatever she was told without fuss. She'd overheard Wanda tell Scott that it was probably because she didn't want more of a butt-roasting than she already had coming. Lucy couldn't have argued that point- even if she was willing to let them know that she'd overheard Wanda; but she also felt like it was more than that. She just felt so guilty about what she'd done.
She'd done a lot of thinking the night they'd gotten back from their assignment. She'd been trying to figure out what would have made her behave in such a reckless and foolhardy manner- but she had yet to come up with a reason. She didn't like the fact that she had apparently done something so dangerous- to herself and to her team- without having at least a semi-thought out reason for doing it. It made her feel like she wasn't in control of herself. Despite her genius reputation and the appearance that she was frequently out-of-control, Lucy prided herself on fact that she was in complete control of herself. It may not always be the best reason- but Lucy always had a reason for what she did, and she knew what that reason was. Normally.
She hadn't been able to say what her reason for disobeying Carol was or why she'd taken such a chance in attacking the robots. Did she even have a reason? It was confusing to the genius and she didn't like feeling confused. She liked feeling guilty even less.
It had been three days since she'd FUBARed the mission. Her leg was healing nicely. The sprain didn't bother her nearly at all so she was able to walk normally- and the cut was well on its way to mending. Lucy was still on her best behavior- although she was finding it difficult not to argue and dig in her little barbs or fire off her quips. After three days, it was more than impossible.
An argument had escalated. Lucy had said something biting to Wanda and the next thing she knew Scott was physically keeping Wanda from giving her a busted lip; Peter and Strange were shaking their heads at her like she'd stepped over some line; and Carol was quickly walking into the room and taking her arm to lead her out of the kitchen. Lucy honestly couldn't even remember what she'd said to set her off. She hadn't actually been paying that much attention to the conversation. She blushed in chagrin and more than a little shame. "I…" she glanced at Carol as the taller woman led her to her bed room, closing the door firmly behind her before physically moving Lucy into the corner and pressing her nose to the wall.
"You're obviously feeling more like yourself if you're able to pick fights with SHIELD's number one witch." Lucy couldn't tell- since she refused to move from the position Carol had placed her in- but it sounded as if the Captain was slightly amused. Hesitantly Lucy raised her hand in the age-old symbol of school-aged children everywhere. Carol swallowed a snort of laughter. "Yes, Lucy?"
"I…I don't remember what I said to her," Lucy admitted hesitantly. "I know I need to apologize, but I don't know what I said…" the Phoenix sighed softly, letting her head fall forward against the wall with a thump.
Carol frowned slightly. "Doing things without thinking again?" she asked quietly.
Lucy slumped. "I've tried to come up with the reason I went against your orders, but I don't have one. I don't know why I did it," she said softly. "I don't like that I don't have a reason…I…I'm normally more in control of what I do- even if it isn't wisest thing to be doing."
"Well," Carol said seriously. "I'll just have to help you figure it out then, won't I? It's a lot easier to avoid making the same mistake twice if you know why you did it in the first place. Come here Lucy."
Swallowing hard, Lucy turned from the corner and faced her team leader. Carol was sitting on the bed. Closing her eyes tightly, Lucy forced herself to walk to the other woman - stopping only when she was next to her knee. She wanted to argue- going over Carol's lap was such a childish position to be in! At the same time, she knew she deserved the punishment and if she was honest with herself, she knew that she needed it if she ever wanted to be able to move past her mistake.
Sniffling- and wasn't that humiliating to be crying already when she hadn't even been smacked once- Lucy quickly unbuttoned her jeans then pushed them and her briefs down to her knees before quickly draping herself over her commander's lap. Carol quickly put one arm around her waist, pulling her in tight against her so that her upper-torso was resting on the bed then lay her other hand against Lucy's bottom.
"Tell me what you did wrong Lucy." Carol demanded gently.
Closing her eyes tightly Lucy answered, "I disregarded your orders, went after the target by myself, and endangered myself and the entire team because I was impatient and didn't want to obey orders."
"Correct," with that one word Carol raised her hand up then let it fall with a resounding smack against Lucy's bare backside. Lucy barely bit back a yelp. Carol liberally covered Lucy's butt with firm hard smacks until it was entirely red from the tops of her cheeks to a few inches above her knees. Lucy had begun crying half-way through.
"Tell me why you chose to disobey me, Lucy." Carol's voice was gentle again.
"I…I don't know." Lucy admitted. Her voice caught. "I thought and thought and couldn't come up with any good reason…"
Carol gave her five harsh smacks, causing Lucy to devolve from silent tears to more vocal ones.
"Is it because you don't respect me and don't think I should be leading the team?" Carol asked, although she doubted that was the reason.
"NO!" Lucy said vehemently, horrified that Carol would even consider that as a possible reason.
"I'm glad to hear that…" Carol said softly before giving her another five harsh smacks.
Lucy slumped, gripping the covers in her fingers tightly. Her arse was on fire and Carol wasn't going to stop the punishment until she could give her the reason why she'd disobeyed? She'd never survive!
"Did you think my plan was bad?" Carol continued.
"No…your plan was very good- I wish I'd followed it!" Lucy cried, knowing what was coming.
"I wish you had too…" Carol sadly stated before landing five more blistering smacks on the already scarlet backside.
"You don't trust me…" Carol admonished quietly.
Lucy blinked in consternation, choking back sobs as she tried to answer. "I... I do trust you. More than I have ever… ever trusted anyone in my life. Ever. More even than…" Lucy stopped. She stiffened as she suddenly realized why she'd done what she did. She swallowed hard before slumping down again and just sobbing.
"Lucy?" Carol looked down on her repentant friend, knowing that Lucy needed to admit what she'd just discovered.
"More than my own mother…" Lucy finally choked out. "I…I was testing you? That…that's the most childish, asinine…." Lucy spluttered, rubbing at her eyes furious at herself and still crying because- damn her butt hurt!
Carol smiled softly before tilting Lucy forward just enough to expose her sit spots. Lucy whimpered when she realized what was about to occur- but didn't argue it. At least this meant it was almost done. Carol quickly turned the sensitive area the same scarlet color as the rest of the backside in front of her before gently rubbing Lucy's back. When the smaller woman's sobs finally died down into quiet hiccups and sniffles, she helped Lucy stand and gently replaced her clothing- ignoring the hiss that escaped Lucy's lips as the rough material rubbed against a very hot and sore bottom.
"I still don't know why I'd feel the need to test you," Lucy looked at the ground, pouting as she clenched her hands tightly in an attempt not to rub her butt.
"I suspect I know why- and I think you know deep down, you just don't want to admit it to yourself." Carol shrugged, not too worried about the fact.
Lucy looked at her askance, reaching up and rubbing an errant tear from her face. Carol had to smile at how young Lucy looked when she was uncertain and looking to someone else for guidance.
"So I might screw up again?" Lucy asked in genuine worry.
Carol shook her head. "It's possible, but if you do it won't be for the same reason. I think that now that I know what was going on, I can keep a handle on you when needed." She smiled to take any sting out of her words and Lucy felt herself relaxing.
"If you know that you need to keep a handle on me…" she muttered with her own smile. Carol chuckled. "Oh…I'll pretty much always have to keep a handle on you. But at least now I know why." She smirked at the indignant look on Lucy's face before wrapping an arm around the shorter woman's shoulder.
"Come on, Phoenix- time to face the witch and say your apologies." She nearly tripped when Lucy stopped abruptly, a look of abject terror on her face. Shaking her head, Carol drug Lucy from the room. "Come on- I promise I won't let her kill you," she muttered, amusement clear in her voice.