Revamped!
Chapter 61: A Few Drinks Later
SHIELD Training Centre - 10:24 AM
"Dodge left," Xavier instructs.
Emily stands parallel to Angela in a fighting stance. After hearing Xavier's command, Emily jumps to the side only to be knocked over by Angela in mere seconds.
"He meant your other left," Daniel corrects.
"That hurt," Emily complains from the ground.
James puts an ice pack on her head and the coldness of it makes her jump up. He can't do anything strenuous to his knee since it's still healing from the battle against the Hulk. He's wearing a brace and can walk, but he can't do anything that will further damage it. Daniel stands with James to the side. He can't help the training either since he's not as qualified in combat compared to Angela and Xavier.
Angela and Xavier healed fast because of their enhanced bodies. Merida's injuries weren't as serious as James's. Daniel's glad James could still walk after. Every time he looks at the brace, he hears James's knee cracking from when his Hulk leaped at it.
Emily huffs from the ground. "I could really use a drink right about now."
-o-
Sweeties - San Francisco - 7:26 AM
After all the alarming confessions, Merida and Blake decide that they need something to cut their unexpected tensions and nothing does that better than booze. Blake points out the next upcoming bar and Merida parks right outside of it. To their surprise, it's more crowded than it should be with drunkards and it's not even 8 AM.
"I'll be back," Blake says.
Merida nods as she sits at the counter. The bartender meets her eye and smiles at her.
"Manhattan," she orders and receives moments later.
Merida takes a sip of hers and sees Blake come back with a drink of his own. She takes a sip of her drink and sets it back on the bar as he sits on the stool next to her, legs turned so he could face her.
"If you were a gentleman, you would've offered to buy me a drink," Merida says.
"If you were a lady, you would've waited for me to make the offer," Blake replies.
Merida smirks, realizing that he has a point. Out of all the boys she's met and known, Blake seems to be the only one who could keep up with her wits which also impresses her. Not even her friends could do that as well as him. She notices that he's ditched his suit jacket and has rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. On his arm, he sees something written. Without asking, Merida grabs his arm, slightly spilling his drink on the counter. She unbuttons his sleeve and rolls it up to reveal a tattoo as he grabs some napkins. Merida tilts his arm, spilling his drink more, just to read the typewriter font.
"'Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath,'" Merida reads.
Blake looks at it and smiles a little as he cleans her mess. Seeing Merida curious and interested in something excites him since from what he's seen about her so far, she seems to not care about anything.
"I liked Macbeth," Merida says, knowing where the source of his tattoo came from. "It was a play about people who fucked up their own lives and there was little to zero romances. But was getting a quote tattooed worth it?"
Blake orders a refill on his bourbon. "The idea of getting a tattoo always scared me because it's permanent but that's the whole point. Besides, being able to treat our bodies like canvas, they also have the power to keep us grounded, even when we're constantly moving. It's like bringing home with you."
"Having that quote on your arm is home?"
"I grew up as the middle child of four other girls without a father. He didn't leave, he died a while after my youngest sister was born. My mother was a strong woman who often told us to -" he gestures to his tattoo.
"Sorry about your dad." Merida nods, understanding. "So, your mom basically told you not to take shit from anyone."
Blake scoffs. "Basically."
"So, where is home?"
"Here because of work, but I'm originally in Switzerland. Some of my sisters stayed there but if they left for school like me, they stayed out. You?"
"New York."
"Obviously." He gestures to her drink. Manhattan. "Do you have a tattoo?"
Merida nods. "An arrow on the back of my neck. I got it as a hasty decision as a teenager to save my friends' asses since they're morons but it grew on me. My parents got mad about it since I already have a ton of piercings but since my dad and I are archers, they have grown to like it."
Blake looks at her tenderly, nodding. She glances at him and takes a sip of her drink. He clears his throat as he squares his shoulders.
"I don't get you," Blake states. "You come off as someone who's apathetic but your explanation of that tattoo alone shows that you care about people."
"I do care about people," Merida argues even though Blake has such a strong point. "Here, I'll show you."
-o-
SHIELD Training Centre - 10:45 AM
Xavier and Angela spar to be an example for Emily who's looking at them but whether or not she's actually paying attention is questionable. Her face says that she's focused but her eyes wonder when this will be over. To be fair, everyone wants this horrible day to end and it barely started.
"What is this?" Emily asks them.
"Training," Angela responds.
"For what? The circus?"
Angela takes a breath. "It's called martial arts."
"Fancy weapons won't always protect you," Xavier adds.
"Remember that the next time you use something I made to protect yourself," Emily tells them.
Angela and Xavier glare at her with the most hateful expression they could ever make with their faces. Emily, on the other hand, beams at her response.
"She has a point," Daniel mutters.
"Stop siding with her!" Angela yells at him.
"I'm her fiancé!"
"I don't care!"
Daniel raises his hands in surrender as Emily blows him a quick kiss.
"Emily, do you get it?" Xavier asks her.
"If I say no, will you hurt me?" Emily asks.
"No."
"Then no."
As Xavier groans for the hundredth time this morning, Daniel and James get a text from Merida in their personal group chat.
Merida: You idiots better be alive by the time I get back.
Daniel and James look at Angela and Xavier who are currently giving Emily death glares. Out of that scene alone, they're not sure which ones will be coming out alive.
-o-
Sweeties - San Francisco - 7:45 AM
After more refills and questions, Merida and Blake have really gotten to know each other in the 75 minutes they've known each other. At this point, it could be the alcohol talking, but they've just been spilling their guts out to each other since they figure that since they're technically strangers with a possible interest in one another, what do they really have to lose?
"What do you hate about dating?" Blake asks her.
"I have zero experience with dating but maybe that's because I'm avoiding the beginning of it," Merida admits. "It's just so awkward and forcibly mushy and weird. I hate being uncomfortable and romance makes me uncomfortable."
"I get that."
"I just don't do relationships."
"Then why do you want one with me?"
Merida chokes on her drink, spills the rest, and starts coughing. She calls the bartender over for a refill while Blake sits there, cleaning up her mess with some napkins and smirking at her.
"I can't believe I just caught you off guard," he says proudly, "but you didn't answer my question."
If opposites really do attract, then Blake Wilde might as well be her soulmate. And the longer Merida looks at him, the more he becomes a soulmate she's not answering. She only raises an eyebrow as a response which could mean many things.
"Would you count this as a date?" Blake asks her.
"Sure, why the hell not?" Merida says in a tone that could be interpreted as sarcastic even if she doesn't mean it like that. "I've already embarrassed myself and poured out my deepest secrets."
"Would this be your first date?"
"Shut the hell up."
"That answered my question."
[Not gonna lie, Merida and Blake are super cute. I love writing them].
