Pairings: Jessica & Matt, Wanda & Vision (explicit), Steve & Loki
Explicit Content: Vaginal Sex
Jessica Drew kicks Carol beneath the table and mouths, 'Stop staring.'
Carol mouths back, 'I'm not staring.'
"So what's good here?" Matt asks. The deli doesn't have braille menus. Not surprising but still disappointing.
"They make a pretty mean burger," Carol replies. "Wait. Are you vegan?"
"No."
"You know that," Jess admonishes. She turns to Matt. "I suggest either the hot roast beef or the tuna melt. Both are fantastic here."
"I'll get whichever one you aren't having."
"That way we can both have both? I knew I liked you for more than just sex."
He reddens slightly and ducks his head.
Carol tries to help. "Don't worry. I already know all about your love life."
"All good things," Jess assures him. "Mostly."
His head turns toward her. "Mostly?" He adjusts his glasses. "I don't remember you having any complaints. And now I'm talking about it out in the open and wondering if I need to confess to this, too."
"Pretty sure you don't," Carol tells him. "Unless it's giving you unclean thoughts. We should get the fried pickles."
"Oh definitely," Jess agrees as Matt processes the quick change in topic. She orders them and the tuna melt when the waitress comes with their drinks. Carol gets a bacon cheeseburger, and Matt gets the hot roast beef.
Carol leans against the palm of her hand. "So, Matt, you're a lawyer."
"I am. And you're an Avenger. I heard about the new members. Congratulations. It sounds very global."
"Thanks. They were chosen by the U.N. Security Council. Not that we aren't glad to have them," she explains.
"Sure. You've gotta replace the ones you lost." His hands find his tea. "Iron Man is the only original Avenger left. Is that right?" He takes a sip.
"Yep."
He can hear the tightness in her voice. "Sorry. You're probably sick of talking about the Avengers."
"Well now I'm curious. As a lawyer, what do you think of the Sokovia Accords?"
He considers lying but decides the truth, even a vague truth, is better. "I think they're flawed."
"But not wrong?" she presses.
"The intention is not wrong. The execution is absolutely wrong," he replies. "Denying Due Process will inevitably lead to innocent people being jailed without cause. And it's already resulting in the poor and people of color being disproportionately incarcerated due to the increased need in those communities and the inability of them to rely on the systems that the white middle and upper class rely on. Police for example." He tilts his head. "On the other hand, when it comes to crossing international borders, I do question why people with powers or enhancements are covered but not private security contractors. Maybe if the Avengers had licensed themselves as a private security contractor and charged money for their services, maybe bid on some government contracts, there wouldn't be any Sokovia Accords."
Jess informs him, "The Avengers started out government. It was originally part of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury's baby actually. My old boss," she explains. "He originally wanted me to join. I turned 'im down. I'd had enough of S.H.I.E.L.D. by then. The Avengers became independent later on." She frowns and picks up her beer. "Right before we learned there were Hydra agents at S.H.I.E.L.D. and throughout the entire government." She takes a big gulp.
Jess was originally a member of Hydra. She was told she had always been a member of Hydra. Not remembering her childhood, she believed them. When she learned what Hydra really was, how she was being used, she left it and went to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Learning Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. had practically been one and the same gave her an existential crisis. She wouldn't have gotten through it without Carol's friendship and the few conversations she had with Natasha who had similar feelings of disgust at being used again.
"Wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. disbanded after that?" he asks.
"Yes. Kind of."
He speculates, "If they had still been part of S.H.E.I.L.D., the Avengers would've probably been disbanded or passed to another agency. I doubt the U.S. would have supported the Sokovia Accords then."
"Maybe. Maybe not," Carol says. "Either way, we live in the reality where the Accords do exist. And yes, they are flawed, but we're close to getting them modified. That should help."
"Modified how?"
"Well, we originally had a whole list of amendments, but right now we're just trying to get the Due Process you're keen on - trials and lawyers for anyone who will be sent to the Raft."
"The Raft?" He's never heard of that before. "Is that where Falcon, Hawkeye, and the others were held?"
"Yeah."
"Didn't Captain America break them out?"
"That's the rumor."
"More than a rumor," he tells her. "Foggy was telling me they rescued a girl in Brazil who had been kidnapped."
"I know. It's why we had to postpone this dinner until tonight."
"Ah."
Jess says, "Obviously they were gone by the time Carol flew over."
"It wasn't just you who went, was it?" Matt sounds concerned.
"No. Vision and a team of agents went with me. Sad thing is, we had just sent our new Avengers home. We didn't have time to bring them back."
"Sounds like maybe you need small teams in each of the locations."
"Or more jets," Jess offers. "The quinjets are super fast."
Carol asks, "Weren't we not going to talk about the Avengers?"
"Right. Sorry," Matt apologizes.
But then Jess points out, "You were the one who asked about the Sokovia Accords."
"A mistake I won't repeat," she promises.
Matt tries another topic. "Jess tells me you're a fan of baseball." He can smell the fried pickles approaching.
"That's true. Red Sox for life. You?"
"Not really," he admits. "My dad and I would watch sometimes. Usually just the World Series."
"It was practically a religion in our house," Carol tells him. "One of the few things my dad and I could agree on to be honest. So how would you decide who to root for?"
"Easy. We always rooted for the underdog."
The waitress interrupts to set the appetizer on the table and to let them know their order will be right out.
"Carol makes me watch it sometimes," Jess tells Matt.
"What she means is she's in the room when it's on, but she's mostly looking at her phone or eating."
"I prefer eating."
"Oh, I know, Ham Sandwich Woman." She blows on a pickle chip before dipping it in ranch dressing and taking a bite.
"Ham Sandwich Woman?" Matt asks.
"One of many terms of endearment Care Bear has for me," Jess explains while dipping her pickle chip in the ranch. "Not one you should use."
"I wouldn't dream of it. Is there any sport you do like?"
"I like the Olympics. I don't really watch anything else unless there's food involved."
Carol confirms, "She's a regular at my Super Bowl party. But she's usually more interested in the commercials and half-time shows than the actual game."
"Only because the game is boring," she counters.
"It's all kind of lost on me," Matt says. "Though I do enjoy the music at halftime. Foggy likes basketball. He used to fill me in on whatever the announcers missed. But it was honestly fun just to hear him react to it."
"Foggy is your law partner?" Carol asks. She remembers Jess mentioning him.
"Yes. He's the Nelson in Nelson, Murdock, and Page. Jessica has been kind enough to help Karen Page get her PI license," he tells her. "She's been a great mentor. We're very grateful."
Jess replies, "It's just a good excuse to see more of you." She grins. "And to make you feel guilty about not hiring me."
"It'd never work. You're too distracting."
"Pfft. You can't even see me."
That grin she finds irresistible appears on his lips. "You have a distinctive scent."
Carol can't help herself. "Pretty sure your boyfriend just said you smell. Did you forget to put on deodorant again?"
"I remembered. I think." She tries to discretely smell herself.
"You did," Matt assures her. "And by the way, you smell great."
"I know. Carol is just jealous." She turns his head and gives him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Eww. Get a room."
"Do you hear what I have to put up with?" Jess asks Matt.
"Sounds like a best friend," he says. "I'm starting to think I should have invited Foggy to razz me a bit. Not sure Marci would have approved though." He explains, "Marci is his fiancée."
Not knowing quite what to say to that, Carol says, "Good for them."
"Do they have a date yet?" Jess asks.
"May of next year. I forget the exact date."
"You'll need to step up your Best Man game, Mr. Murdock," she warns. "Ooh, here's our food."
The conversation lulls as they eat. Jess shares with both Matt & Carol. Matt shares some of his with Jess. They talk about food. Jess makes fun of Carol's cooking though hers isn't much better.
"My specialty is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so I can't judge," Matt tells them.
"Who needs to cook in New York City?" Carol reasons.
"Aren't you from Boston?" Jessica asks.
"Who needs to cook in Boston? Especially when you're in the military." She can tell what Jess is about to say and heads it off with, "Yes, my mom tried to teach me, but I was a poor student."
"I can make macaroni and cheese out of a box," Matt offers.
"Oh that's the best," Carol says. "Nothing like fake powdered cheese." She gestures at Jess with her soda, "Don't make that face. I've served you box mac 'n' cheese before. And you liked it."
"I wasn't making a face," she counters. "And as I recall, I was the one who actually made it. I remember stirring until the stick of butter disappeared."
"What was I doing?"
"Telling me how to do it probably."
"That's because I'm a born leader," Carol replies without missing a beat. She punctuates it by taking a bite of her burger. Her phone buzzes. After wiping her hands, she checks it.
"Is the world ending?" Jess asks.
She swallows most of the food in her mouth before answering. "Nope. Sokovia Accord amendment vote has been scheduled for Thursday."
"Is that good or bad?" Matt asks.
"Good-ish?" She shrugs. "We're not going to get everything we want. We'll be lucky to get half."
Jess swallows the food in her mouth. "Pardons?"
She looks at her burger and shakes her head before taking another bite.
"Ugh. Figures."
"I'm sorry," Matt says. "Not surprised though. No way this administration is going to support pardons for Team Cap."
"Team Cap?" Carol asks through a semi-full mouth.
"That's what some of the court reporters call them. And bailiffs. And lawyers."
"Including you apparently."
He shrugs. "It's catchy."
"So what are we getting?" Jess asks. "And will that handsome King of Wakanda be there?"
"Should I be jealous?"
"Yes, but I doubt you will be. You have no idea how angry that makes me."
"Well you hide it well," he tells her.
Carol says to Jess, "He obviously has a thing for Team Cap. You don't have a chance against that."
The inner corners of Matt's eyebrows quirk up. "That's…no."
Jess smiles. "Fairly certain most people have a thing for Team Cap. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Carol does, too."
He can hear Carol's pulse quicken and her breath catch.
"No," she says. "It was only one member, and that's done. Obviously."
"Back on the dating apps then?" Jess asks.
"I really hate those."
"I could set you up on a blind date," she offers, an evil grin on her face.
"I'll pass. Thanks."
Matt says, "I know a bunch of lawyers. I'll be sure not to introduce you." He's glad to hear her laugh. "I know a few good cops, too. But I'm sure you don't need any help."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Her voice suggests she doesn't share it.
xxx
Remy LeBeau left New York without so much as a kiss from Rogue. Not that he blames her. She did allow him to kiss her cheek when they said goodbye. He got a hug, too. Funny how that was more memorable than almost all of the kisses he's had in his life. Certainly more memorable than anything he did with Bella Donna.
That was over a week ago. In all that time since, he and Bella Donna's brother were only able to come up with one way to end the engagement. Well, two, but a duel to the death isn't really an option.
Remy stands up straight, raises his chin. Then he announces to the assembled group, "I renounce my position in the Thieves' Guild."
Everyone starts laughing.
"You funny, Remy!"
"Ain't bein' funny. I'm leavin' the Guild," he says again.
"No one leaves the Guild."
"Then I'll be the first."
"I do believe he serious," a voice says over the continuing laughter.
Jean-Luc LeBeau, King of the Thieves' Guild, raises a hand for silence. "You serious, boy? You think you can just leave the Guild?"
"I know I can't, but I'll do whatever needs to be done to get out."
"You too good for us now? That it?" his foster father presses. "You forget what we done for you?"
"Course not," Remy says. His sticks his hands in the pockets of his long coat. His fingertips slide over the edges of the deck of cards he keeps on his right side. "But there is more to life than thievin'."
"No there ain't!" several people shout back.
Jean-Luc raises a hand again, and the group quiets down. "This have to do with that filly you're keen on? If she don't think you're good enough, it ain't because of the Guild."
That sets people laughing.
"I ain't marryin' Bella Donna," Remy announces in a loud, clear voice. "So long as I'm in the Guild, you're gonna make me marry her. I know you will. So I'm gettin' out."
"So it is the filly."
"Don't call her that." There's an edge to his voice that rarely gets used. "This is about me realizin' you've had my whole life planned out for me. I want to make my own plans. I want to decide what jobs I do or don't do. I want to see what's out there beyond the bayou."
"You ungrateful ass. I gave you everything," Jean-Luc reminds him. "Took you in. You'd be dead if not for me."
That's not exactly true, but he's not going to argue the point. "I know, and I'm grateful. But I done paid my debt. Did everything you asked o' me till now."
"Your debt won't ever be paid."
His empty hand clenches into a fist. "So I'm an indentured servant, is that it?" Remy accuses.
Jean-Luc's eyes narrow. "You my son. At least you were."
The words hurt, but he damn well is not going to show it. "So be it. Find another heir to your throne, another son to pass on your name. That's all you care about, right?"
The volume of his voice lowers. "You had to do this here and now, didn't you."
He can feel the edges of the cards dig into his skin with how tight he's holding them. He nods. "I made up my mind. Wanted the others to hear it from me."
"You fool."
"Yeah. Not the first time you called me that."
"Not the first time you acted like it."
Remy keeps a firm grip on his cards. "Good thing I'm leavin' then."
"You ain't leavin'," Jean-Luc tells him. "We'll have the Assassin's Guild hunt you down if you do."
"You think they gonna do that favor for you?"
"When I tell 'em you left so's you don't have ta marry Bella Donna, they will."
Fuck. He knows Jean-Luc LeBeau would do it, too. And the assassins play dirty. It's not like they'd give him a fighting chance, not unless Bella Donna insists on looking him in the eyes as she kills him. He has one more play. "You'd rather see me dead than happy?"
"You wouldn't be happy out there," he insists. "I know you. You'd get bored of that filly within 6 months and come beggin' for us to take you back."
"Then why not let me go?" Remy asks. "If you know I'm gonna come back beggin' for you to take me back, why rob yourself of the satisfaction?"
There's a change in the energy of the room.
Jean-Luc smirks at his foster son and replies, "'Cause no one leaves the Thieves' Guild. No one."
xxx
"If I leave, they gonna have me killed," Remy tells Rogue when he calls her that night. "If it was just me, I might chance it. But if you got hurt because of it, I'd never forgive myself."
"I don't want you to chance it."
Another voice cuts in. "If they want you dead, let's kill you." It seems like an obvious solution.
Remy clears his throat. "I realize you're still mad at me, Helena, but I'd prefer to remain among the living."
She exchanges a look with Rogue. "We wouldn't actually kill you. We'd just make it look like it. My illusions aren't as good as my Da's, but I think I can pull it off."
Rogue isn't sure this is a good idea. "What if they learn he ain't really dead?"
"That could be a problem," she admits. "You couldn't go back to New Orleans."
"That was always gonna be the case," he replies as he scratches his cat under the chin, "even if they had let me walk away."
"I'm sorry," Rogue says.
"Don't be, chère. You opened my eyes, showed me what I been missin'."
"How'd I do that? We barely even know each other."
He thinks about that first time he saw her. "We may 've only met a short time ago, but I know you. And somehow you know me, better than I know myself."
Helena acts like she's throwing up and gets a push from Rogue.
"I doubt that," the mutant replies while looking at her friend.
"It's true," he insists. "You're the first, the second who thought I could be something more. I didn't believe Falcon. He didn't know me at all. But you… Also, you're prettier than he is."
Helena teases, "I'm gonna tell Sam you said that."
"I doubt he'd disagree."
"Probably not. So are we faking your death or what?"
"Let's do it. But we're gonna have to wait a bit. It'll look too fishy if it happens now. Give it a month," he decides. "That'll give us time to plan."
Helena smiles. "This should be fun."
xxx
Wanda meets Vision at a resort on the west coast of St. Lucia at the end of June. After checking in, they go out on the balcony of their oceanfront room to watch the sunset, breathing in the warm salty air.
"This is nice," he says.
"It is." She closes her eyes. It's less humid here than in the Philippines. The scents and the bird song are different, too. It is, as Vision said, nice.
"How is everyone?"
"Everyone is fine." Her eyes open to look at him in his human disguise. "How are your everyones?"
"Scattered," he tells her. "Tony and Rhodey are still in California. Carol is in New York City. She flies to the facility when needed. The newest members are in their countries. We have video chats every week."
"Sounds lonely."
"Of course it is. You aren't there."
She looks at the ocean and smiles despite her better judgment. "When did you become such a romantic?"
"I'm only speaking from my heart," he replies. He gently takes her hand. "I was wrong."
"About?"
"So many things."
"How very human of you."
He wishes she would look at him. "Only because you make me so."
"Not true," she says with a little shake of her head. "I'm barely around you. Perhaps it is Carol's influence." There's the slightest smile on her lips.
"Or perhaps Director May. I feel a need to counterbalance her extreme stoicism."
Wanda looks at their hands. "Perhaps all of them, everyone you come in contact with on a regular basis. We all learn from each other."
"What have you learned from your group?"
"Ah." Her smile widens as her eyes meet his. "Trying to get information from me, Vision?"
"No. Well, yes. But not in the way you seem to think," he promises earnestly.
"I learn many things from them – spy craft, magic, forgiveness, acceptance." She touches his cheek. "But love I am learning from you."
"I'm learning love from you as well. And forgiveness I hope."
"We both did what we thought we must. Given the same circumstances, we would probably make the same choices."
"No." There's a touch of desperation in the emphasis of the word. "I would have done things differently."
"Then you have grown more than I have." Her gaze drops. "I suppose there is one thing I would have done differently if it had been in my power to do so." The memory of that fireball breaking her containment and racing through the floor of the building in Lagos still haunts her. "But it was not." She looks up into his face once more. "Make no mistake, I would still have made you very heavy so I could leave the Avengers facility."
"That was never in doubt," he assures her.
"Good. Then we understand each other. Where should we go to dinner?"
"I thought perhaps we could order in."
Her eyes widen. "We could stay in," she agrees. "Shall we see what's on the room service menu?"
"In a moment. I'd like to stay out here a bit longer," he replies.
"Certainly." Wanda moves closer and wraps an arm around his waist. She rests her head against his chest and listens to the thumping of his mechanical heart.
"We tried to get you pardons, but the Security Council wouldn't approve it."
She watches the waves come in and the people on the beach. "Did you really think they would?"
"I hoped."
"That's not what I asked. It doesn't matter. Thank you for trying."
"We'll try again," he promises.
"I believe you."
"We just have to convince them."
She doesn't want to hear this. "You have nothing more to prove to me."
"I wasn't –"
"You were. Please stop," she says as she pulls away. "I'm not here to talk about Avengers or politics or the past or even the future." She takes his hands. "I'm here to be with you, Viz. Let's be here in the present. Can we just be here? Please?"
Though he wants this present to always be the present, something that can't happen if they don't get things sorted out in the world, he replies, "Of course," and means it.
xxx
Vision places their dirty dishes outside the room. He changed to his human form for this just in case anyone was in the hallway. Now that he's back inside, he returns to his normal magenta skin.
He notices the bathroom door is closed. Wanda must be in there. He decides to turn down the bed and fluff up the pillows. As he lays the pillows down, he hears the toilet flush. Then the sink runs, shuts off for a while, runs again, and stops.
The bathroom door opens.
Wanda steps out wearing a white flowing nightgown.
"Wow."
She smiles, a blush coming to her cheeks. "Thank you."
"I suddenly feel…" He tilts his head. "I'm not sure if it's over-dressed or under-dressed."
"Well when you decide, you should do something about that." She walks over and, after giving him a soft kiss and taking her slippers off, gets into bed.
He finds her directness wonderful. "Which would you say I am?"
"Over. Definitely over." She pats the bed for him to join her.
"Wanda."
"Yes, Vision?"
He opens his mouth. "I'm not sure what I want to say."
"You don't have to say anything," she assures him.
"But I want to."
"You just don't know the words?"
He feels helpless. All of this vocabulary in so many different languages at his disposal, and he cannot find the right words. "You make me want to be a poet."
A bright smile appears on her lips. "A poet? What kind of poetry would you write?"
"I don't know. A sonnet perhaps. Something about your beauty and your grace." His clothes disappear as he climbs into bed beside her.
"I am not beautiful. And Pietro could tell you how graceful I am. To be clear, I am not."
"But you are," he tells her. "You are," his hand gently strokes her cheek, "simply amazing."
Her hand goes over his. "I don't need words, Vision. Actions are more important than words will ever be." She waits. "That means you should kiss me now."
"Oh. Does it?"
"Yes."
"Right. Right. Here it comes." He leans in and places a gentle kiss to her lips.
"Am I going to have to guide you through everything?"
"No. No, I think I'm getting the hang of it now," he replies as he leans in for another kiss.
"Good," she says just before their lips meet again.
Vision deepens the kiss as his hand slowly moves down her neck. His fingers trace over her skin where the nightgown meets it. He pulls away to look at her. "Should we turn off the lights?"
"No. I want to see you." She touches his lips.
"As you wish." He kisses her again. His touch is reverent, stroking the skin that's exposed before slowly undressing her.
Wanda shifts as needed. Her hands slide over his chest, along his arms. She rises to meet his touch and gasps softly when his palm cups her now-exposed breast. She opens her legs to him even before he begins kissing down her body. But then he stops somewhere she wasn't expecting. "Vision?"
"Mm-hmm?"
"The inside of my elbow isn't erotic. Not for me anyway."
"No? Oh." He tries sucking on her fingers.
"Not that either. You didn't do this before."
"I thought I'd try different things to see if you enjoyed them," he admits.
"Should I be trying new things with you?"
"Perhaps later."
"Okay. You can return to my collar bone. I liked that. Just not too hard."
"Of course." His mouth returns to the place between her collar bones. Then he slowly moves left.
"Mmm yes." Her fingers stroke his back. She lifts her head to give him a bit more room. Though the kiss to her elbow didn't work, the way he's stroking her stomach and thigh is. She feels warm and loved.
He moves his kisses down to her breast and feels her nipple harden between his lips. "You're beautiful," he breathes.
"You make me believe it." She strokes the top of his head, feeling the grooves and edges in his skin. Her thumb grazes over the yellow stone on his forehead. That stone made them both what they are today, but it doesn't define them or who they are to each other. She guides his head back up to kiss his lips. She opens her mouth to him and welcomes his tongue.
Vision forgets to be gentle. He presses against her, his cock hard and wanting. It's something he only ever feels with her. "Wanda."
"Yes, Vision?"
"Tell me what you need." His electric blue eyes are so sincere.
"I need you," she replies touching his cheek. "The rest we'll feel out together."
He nods. He kisses her again while his hand travels down her body. Fingertips test to see if she is aroused.
Wanda gasps at the touch. She kisses him with more passion. "I'm ready," she breathes.
He repositions himself above her, her inner thighs brushing the outside of his legs. He lowers slowly. "If I'm hurting you…"
"I'm fine," she says in a strained voice. She claims his lips as he slides fully inside her. It's…uncomfortable, but that changes as he begins to move. Then it makes her tingle as her breath deepens. "My Vision," she sighs.
"My Wanda," he replies as his eyes drink her in. "You…are…" He struggles to find the words.
She smiles. "You are the same for me." She kisses him again.
"You'll let me know if I'm doing this wrong?"
"I promise. But I don't think you have anything to worry about."
Being mostly machine, Vision doesn't experience orgasm the way a human does. He isn't exactly a human-shaped vibrator either. He can feel the slick warmth of her like anyone with a penis could. But there is no ejaculation, no semen to disperse. There is no softening of his penis unless he wishes it. And so his focus is entirely on Wanda. Her pleasure brings him pleasure.
When Wanda comes, gasping out moans as her body spasms, he stops his thrusts and holds her through it. There is an odd feeling of pride that he was able to please her.
They smile at each other feeling almost bashful.
"Hold me?" she requests.
"Of course." He moves off her. There is no trace of an erection now. "Would you like to put your nightgown back on?"
"No," she replies with a small shake of her head. Then she cuddles against him as his arm wraps around her. She feels safe. Vision knows her and the world better now. There's no fear of being betrayed. She takes his hand, asks him what his Avengers have made him watch since they saw each other last, and kisses his fingers as he answers. That's how she learns of his new love of The Muppets, particularly Muppet Treasure Island. How appropriate that they are near a warm beach. She wonders if that's what made him choose it.
xxx
Remy can't believe this is happening. "We don't have to do this."
"You ain't marryin' my sister," Julien Boudreaux says as he adjusts the grip on his knife.
The two men are circling each other in the Thieves' Guild meeting hall. Members of the Thieves' Guild are on one side. The Assassin's Guild is on the other. They are all here to witness the duel to the death that Julien Boudreaux has called.
Bella Donna is among the assassins. She is not happy. "This is stupid, Julien!" She turns to her father. "I can't believe you let him do this."
Marius Boudreaux shrugs. "I tried to talk him out of it." Truth be told, he does not like Remy LeBeau. He only agreed to the betrothal to bring the guilds together. The thieves serve a purpose. Though to be honest he wouldn't lose any sleep if they ended up having to kill them once Julien wins.
"But I wanna marry Remy."
"We'll find you someone better to marry."
Julien's favorite black 12-inch tactical knife is comfortable in his right hand. The top is serrated. The bottom was sharpened just that morning. He lunges forward.
Remy steps aside while using his arm to deflect. "Our parents made the betrothal. They can unmake it."
"It was a blood agreement. Ain't nothin' can break that except more blood." He lunges again.
Remy steps aside, but the tip of the knife just catches the upper sleeve of his jacket. He's fairly certain the blade has poison on it. If it had nicked him, he'd be a goner. "Damn it, Julien, I don't want to hurt you!"
The young man laughs. "I'm an assassin. You ain't got no chance against me."
"The hell I don't." Remy pulls out a metal staff from its thigh holster and extends it out until it's as tall as him. He spins it around before slicing it diagonally down. "It didn't have to come to this."
"I been dreamin' about killin' you for a long time." He smiles, a maniacal gleam in his eyes.
Remy moves his staff to push the next swipe away and in one fluid movement whacks Julien in the ass. "Keep dreamin'."
The two men move like their weapons. Julien slashes and lunges, relying on the edges to do the work. Remy's staff is an extension of his body, moving swiftly, using the entire space to both defend and attack. But his weapon is blunt, and he's not allowed to use his power. Part of him wonders what would happen if he did.
"Finish it already!" the head of the Assassin's Guild yells.
Julien grabs the staff with his left hand as it comes down on him. He stabs with his right.
Remy releases the staff so he can pull Julien against him.
It happens fast. Julien sees the blade disappear into the body, sliding between the ribs that protect the heart just like he imagined. Almost like he imagined. He never imagined the body would be his own.
He hears the words, "It didn't have to be this way," said quietly in his ear.
He pulls the knife out. That's what he was trained to do. He pulls the knife out and tries one last time to kill Remy LeBeau.
Remy takes two steps back. He watches Julien hit the ground face first, blood spreading out from beneath.
The leaders of the two guilds stride into the open area as the members scream at each other.
Bella Donna runs in, too, dropping to her knees at her brother's side. "You damn fool!"
Remy picks up his staff, shortens and holsters it, then holds his hands up in the air. His right hand craves the feel of his cards. "This ain't on me. I didn't want this."
Marius looks down at his son. What a waste. Bella Donna was always the smarter one, the one with skill. Maybe this was a blessing. But he can't just accept it. He'd lose face among the members of his guild. "You still gotta answer for it."
"Careful, Marius," Jean-Luc warns. "Twas your son that called for this. I'm sorry you lost him, but he knew the stakes when he challenged Remy."
"Even so, blood has been spilt. Our blood pact is done. You want a new pact, get rid 'o that swamp rat." The words make the members of the Assassin's Guild cheer.
Jean-Luc can't afford to lose the pact, not when assassins can pick off thieves one by one. His nostrils flare when he realizes Remy is about to get what he wanted in the first place. But maybe he can save some face, too. "Fine. Let it be known that Remy LeBeau is no longer of the Thieves' Guild!" He looks at his foster son. "All our resources will be denied him. He may be living, but to us he will be as dead." He turns back to Marius and smiles. "And I will marry Bella Donna to secure our pact."
Her head jerks up and looks at him. "I ain't marryin' you."
As the groups begin shouting at each other, the volume rising and rising, Remy makes his way to the door. Once out in the open he takes a huge breath of air. He's free. And all it took was killin' a man. It's a morbid thought but true all the same. Now it's time for him to disappear before the two guild heads decide he needs to be killed to even things out.
xxx
Pietro isn't the only one that notices Wanda is smiling more. They all notice it. Clint is the only one that asks about it though.
"Can't I just be happy?"
"Sure. Absolutely. Just kinda curious what's behind it."
"I have everything I need. And I am moving on from the guilt of the past."
When Clint mentions this to Natasha, she adds, "I'm sure it doesn't hurt that's she's met someone."
"Met someone?"
"Pretty sure."
"That could be dangerous," he notes.
"She knows better than any of us what's at stake. I'm not worried."
"Yeah." He looks at Wanda pretending to sword fight with Vali. "She's still a kid though."
Natasha reminds him, "She hasn't been a kid in a very long time."
"Yeah. Still…"
A gleam comes into her eyes. "If you want to give her the sex talk, go right ahead. You can give it to Pietro, too. I'm sure they'll love it. Just tell me when it happens so I can watch."
"You aren't as funny as you think, Widow."
"I'm funnier." She gives him a wink and goes back to checking her stingers.
xxx
"Greetings, my Mischief Makers," Loki begins. His background appears to be a green velvet curtain. "As the United States celebrates its independence…" The last word is highly enunciated with more than a hint of judgement behind it. "I wanted to wish my husband Steve Rogers a happy 101st birthday*. He's a mere babe, but I do adore him. And though part of me is happy that I no longer have to share him with the entire world, I think it is good to remind this world and the United States of America in particular how quickly they were willing to abandon the ideals that Steve represents in order to trick their egos into believing they have some semblance control." He might be enjoying this a little too much.
"Loki, please tell me you're going to cut that," Steve's voice says from off camera.
With a too innocent face, he looks off where Steve is presumably standing. "Of course I'm going to cut that, Darling." They both know he's lying.
"Loki."
He sighs. "Fine. The opinions on this video are mine and do not represent those of the other former Avengers that have gone into hiding due to politics, manipulation, and egos the size of entire countries. Better?"
"It'll do."
"Come here so people can see how handsome you are and so I can wish you a proper Happy Birthday."
Steve appears on screen wearing a tight blue shirt and looking as clean-cut as he had before they went into hiding. (Thank you, Loki's magic.) "Pretty sure people don't want to see that."
"Too bad. My channel, my decision what to put on screen." He gives Steve a kiss. "Now tell the people hello."
Steve nods then turns to the camera. He's definitely not as comfortable as Loki is. "Hi, everyone. I hope you're all doing well. I know some of you aren't. I know some of you are tired and just hanging in there. I'm sorry I can't be with you, but know that I'm with you in spirit." He takes a breath. "That must sound hollow from a guy in hiding. If I thought turning myself in would help, I would. I applaud the U.N. for amending the Sokovia Accords, but it isn't enough. Disasters and invasions aren't going to wait for a decision by a committee." He shakes his head in quiet frustration. "I promised myself I wouldn't make a speech. Sorry." He turns to Loki. "Maybe cut all that out. I'll start over." He takes a breath then looks into camera again. "Hi, everyone. Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I wish I could respond to them all. Your support means the world to me. Thank you." He waves then quickly steps out of frame again.
"I'm leaving that all in," Loki says. "I'm sure there are others of you who enjoy Steve's rousing speeches as much I."
"Rousing?" Steve's voice asks.
"Your passion is always rousing, Darling. And arousing," he adds with an emphasis on the 'a'. "Maybe it's just me. Go on then, my lovelies. Go make some mischief."
FRIDAY tells Tony, "That's where the video ends."
"Any identifiable information?"
"There was no location identifier, but the IP address used to post it originated from the Fossil Bluff aircraft refueling station in Antarctica. It's only operational October through March."
"So that's a dead end," Rhodey assumes.
"Afraid so."
"Okay. Add it to the list," Tony instructs. "Maybe it'll help us find a pattern."
"Will do, Boss."
Tony and Rhodey head outside both carrying two glasses of wine. "Fireworks started yet?" Tony asks.
"Not yet. Soon," Pepper replies as she takes a glass from him.
The kids are impatient for them to start. For them, soon can't come soon enough.
A/N: *The story's current year is 2019, which is why Loki is celebrating Steve turning 101.
The "fight" between Remy & Julien was inspired by X-Men Vol 2 #8 by Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell. Their original version was not so public.
I hope you are all doing well. At the time of posting, I am half vaccinated and will be receiving my 2nd on Wednesday. I hope those of you wanting a vaccination will be able to get it soon if you haven't already. Stay safe out there. I love you all. Until next time…