By popular request (and the premiere of Unreal) it has returned! It has only been four months since I've updated this damn story it's by time so let's just jump right in!
The steady beep fills the hospital room. He's alive… They're not sure how but he survived…
There had been a head on collision after a car cut into the wrong lane. The crash only left two survivors, Andrew and the driver of the other car. Her mind aches as she studies the report of the crash. It had occurred too fast… Nobody was sure which car had been the cause but in a head on collision with one of his students… That was all she knew. Now the kid was walking off without a single scratch on him and Andrew was predicted to recover soon.
"You don't think it was an accident." A voice echoes from the back of the room. The redhead strolls up next to her standing by the chair.
"We stopped believing in accidents long ago." She states harshly. It was true. Natasha looks down at her, sympathy reflecting in her eyes.
"It wasn't your fault."
"It happened right after he left the studio. He was angry with me. I drove him away just like-"
"I swear to god if you say just like Ward said you'll be taking your own residence in this hospital."
"It doesn't change anything Nat." She frowns. "He's there and I'm here." Her phone buzzes snatching her attention. "And Stark wants me back at the studio."
"You're in no shape to go back to the studio."
"I'm fine."
"You chugged a quarter bottle of whiskey."
"And you know it takes more than half for it to even effect me." She states blatantly moving to stand.
"May." Melinda stops as she hits the door. "Just… take care of yourself." With a short nod Melinda leaves them both behind.
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"I can't protect you out there!" James shouts over the sounds of gunfire.
"Thanks Lancelot. But I've been doing this a lot longer than you have." Quinn quips. A smirk plays at her lips teasingly.
"I doubt that." He laughs. Quinn just laughs back. It was too hard not to. Especially in their situation.
"See you out there?" An eyebrow cocks. It's a challenge. Everything was almost like a game between the two of them. Constantly challenging one another.
"See you out there." A quick and easy smile is thrown before she runs out of the shot.
"Keep going!"
James waits a few beats before storming out after her. Gun fire echoes all around him. The sound of a war. Suddenly he spies one from a tower, his gun pinned on a target.
And then Quinn drops.
"No!" Her gun has dropped to the group beside her, her fingers clutched at her throat. She's gasping for air, eyes bugged. She's choking and all her can do is watch. "No!" He kneels beside her cradling her body. "Stay with my voice. Stay with me Quinn! Stay with the sound of my voice! Look at me! Right here!" He pleads, his voice breaking in utter desperation. There's too much blood. She's drowning in his arms with no water around. "Quinn?" Then the sounds stop. "Quinn I need you to breathe!" Her fingers slowly loosen, falling slack at her side as she looks up at nothing. "Please Quinn!" He's still holding on though, her blood thoroughly soaking his good hand. "Quinn look at me! Quinn breathe! Please… Just stay with me." Slowly he gives up settling back against his heels. His hands are stained with crimson, tears sliding down his dirt stained cheeks.
She's gone…
"And cut! That was beautiful you two!" Tony applauds from behind the camera.
"Yeah it only took about sixty takes." Daisy mutters under her breath.
"I have to get every angle Skye we've talked about this."
"It's Daisy." She groans.
"Yup. That's right." Melinda watches as Phil pulls Rosalind up. The two share a bloody hug and a short laugh before they make their way towards them. "A round of applause for Miss Rosalind Price!" The room erupts into cheers and applause. "You make a wonderful martyr."
"Give me a good cast and a great script and it's not hard." She laughs in return.
"You make me blush." Tony gushes placing a hand on his heart. "A round of drinks to celebrate. Tonight on me. Everyone's invited!" Again cheers erupt around the room. The room breaks into side chatter over who's riding with who, who's going to be the driver. Melinda finds herself breaking from the crowd and heading towards the door.
"Hey!" Again, she's stopped right at the door. "Getting a head start?" Phil is jogging towards her, wiping off the fake blood with a rag.
"Actually I was going to go see Andrew." She frowns. "Stark pulled me out after all."
"If you need someone to be there-"
"I'm fine." She cuts him off quickly. "But thanks."
With that she leaves him behind.
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Finally she's starting to feel the buzz. Tequila burns down her throat in the best way possible. She places her shot glass down ordering another. She was supposed to go see Andrew. She was supposed to be by his side. She was supposed to be there for him.
But she couldn't.
Instead she's at Buck's burning the memories away with burning tequila and a glass of whiskey.
"Thought you were going to be at the hospital." Fuck. She turns in her seat finding Phil standing there. He is wearing his stupid Captain America shirt and a pair of jeans. Definitely not a normal look on him but it looks… good.
"Thought you'd be at Shawarma with the rest of them." Melinda deadpans.
"I knew where you'd actually be." Phil smiles sadly gesturing to the seat beside her. "May I?" She just tips her glass of whiskey in acknowledgement before tipping back the rest of that as well. Her head is feeling lighter, that's for sure.
"You know me better that I know myself." She sighs as the bartender serves them both again.
"Want to prove that?"
"Really Phil? You want to trivia right now?" She rolls her eyes. It was a dumb thing they had done when they met one another. They asked questions until the sun rose. She found out his mother's name is Julie and she makes the world's best red velvet cupcakes. He found out that her father's name is William and he taught her Tai Chi to relax.
"Come on. We haven't done it in forever and we both need the chance to relax." He pleads giving her the same damn look he did when he asked her to go to Disney with him. He gives her this puppy dog look and she just fucking melts, every damn time.
"Fine." She relents with a sigh. "You go first."
"What's your favorite childhood memory?" He asks with a smile.
"Ice skating with my Baba. He took me out on Christmas Eve and I wanted to skate at the mall but it was too crowded. So instead he found a lake in the woods… We must have been there for hours before my mother found us."
"Lian wasn't amused I'm guessing." He laughs.
"Is she ever?" She smiles sadly sipping at her drink. "Have you ever had a pet?"
"Once. It was a ginger tabby named Cap. He was a good boy. But I gave him to Steve because my apartment doesn't take cats." She nods slightly. "I get to visit him every now and then and I know that if Steve doesn't make it home in time Nat will break in and feed Cap." He laughs. Loudly and unhibited. She can't help but get lost in the sound. It's beautiful, after all. For someone to feel so free and happy… "Hey." His hand brushes her arm softly. She hadn't even noticed he had stopped laughing. "Are you okay?"
"Just tipsy." She shakes her head slightly. "Though not nearly drunk enough."
"You got your phone?" He asks. She nods pulling out the device for clarification. "Good because we'll need a taxi." He orders five shots for the both of them.
"A drinking competition? Really?"
"Yeah!" He smiles. God he is adorable. "Loser pays the tab." Well, she couldn't pass up free drinks.
"You're on."
"Three, two, one. Go!"
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"I can't believe you beat me." Phil hiccups stumbling out of the bar.
"Twice." She giggles. She feels so light and… She laughs harder as she stumbles right into Phil. He catches her arms laughing with her.
"Careful." He's still gripping her arms. God his eyes are beautiful…
The sound of the cab horn pulls them apart quickly. "Uh, what do you say we head back to my place? Wouldn't want you stumbling up all those stairs."
"You live in an apartment too Mel." He laughs. He hasn't called her Mel in so long…
"Yeah but my elevator isn't broken down."
"Fine, fine. But I'm taking the couch." He smirks.
"Your call." Together they climb into the cab, laughing to whatever nonsense their drunken minds can babble together until they find themselves in front of her door. His eyes fall on her key smirking at the little button attached to the lanyard. "You still have the button."
A blush creeps up her neck as she laughs. "It's a good memory."
"You said you didn't like it."
"Maybe I lied." He gasps placing his hand on his chest in mock offense. Her heart leaps in her chest at his easy smile.
"Lying is bad Mel." He scolds with a forced frown. "Guess you'll have to be punished." She takes off as he runs after her. They circle around the living room letting out loud laughs that were almost sure to wake the neighbors. Suddenly he dives at her pushing her back onto the couch. With quick fingers he's tickling her causing a shriek to escape her lips.
"Phil no!" She cries struggling against him. But his body has her's pinned. She can't move. "I surrender! I surrender." Slowly their laughs dial down as they realize how close they are. His body is strewn on top of hers one thigh locked between the both of hers to keep her down. Her eyes are locked on his deep blues drowning slowly.
Suddenly they crash together, their lips smashing against each other in a heated battle. His hands trace her form, eager to feel her. Her own run up his back forcing him impossibly closer. His fingers brush her thighs as he teases the hem of her dress that cuts mid thigh. He keeps pushing it higher and higher. She feels him press harder against her and god he feels so good. With a quick swoop he lifts the dress over her head. His lips venture to her shoulder, one hand tangling in her hair while the other skims up her stomach slowly. His touch feels like it's lighting her on fire. It's so addictive. She needs more. Her tongue traces the shell of his ear as she nips softly.
"Bedroom." She whispers tugging at his belt. He just nods lifting her easily. Her legs hook around his waist so naturally. It just works. Automatically his body carries hers across the apartment pressing her against the door when he does find it. His lips burn against her throat as she pushes the door open.
"You sure about this?" He asks letting her down long enough to pull him inside by the collar of his t-shirt.
She just nods kicking the door closed behind them.
