Freya had Britney's story and PNG; Imanu had Iqadi's story, SA, and PNG. This is Blake's time to shine. They're the holy trinity of OCs who had "love interest" as their first personality trait but became actual people who are way too cool for my idiots.

Chapter 146: The Journalist

Wagner Cove - 11:10 AM

Blake didn't think Merida would actually abandon him to the vultures but now he has so many eyes on him that he has to make the most of it. He mostly introduced himself and shook some hands. He recognized most of The Avengers and could piece together which kid was theirs. The only set he didn't were the Starks but based on all the weddings he's been to, parents of the brides were always busy. Also known as all his sisters' weddings. Nobody asked if he was with Merida because it was obvious. They came here together and maybe, based on what he knows about Merida, they doubted it or wanted to hear it from her.

Blake stops when he notices a group of four girls huddled together looking at him. He knows they're Merida's friends and they're not ashamed. He knows this moment too well. First, they looked at his face and then his shoes before making their way back up. They'll whisper questions or hopes of the six-pack under his suit. (He doesn't have a set but sure hopes they think he does. A lot of the guys here look like a handshake would kill him).

When the girls' eyes and a phone settle on him, he smiles for their photo and they swoon.

Then he sees Merida's parents (whom he only guessed as her parents because of the woman's bright red hair) and he has never wanted to meet two people more in his entire life. Those two people made and raised Merida. He had to shake their hands. But he's better off doing it later or else Merida will fire her sniper at him. No wonder she disappeared.

When he turns back to where Merida's friends were, they're gone too. The area they were in is so empty it's like they were never there. He didn't even hear them scamper off.

"I was once in your shoes."

Blake looks beside him and recognizes the man because Merida pointed him out. Prince Imanu.

-o-

Emily didn't make a schedule but if she did, she thinks she'd be on track.

Her goal today was to enhance her natural beauty. Ironically, today wasn't the day she wanted to be over the top. Aside from a light powder, her hair is lightly tousled and her makeup is simple. Her eyes are highlighted with nude and peach shadow and lined with a thin coat of eyeliner to make them pop. Instead of a dark or bright shade of lipstick, she went with a light gloss to brighten her natural lip colour.

She's in a robe but wearing her makeup and has her hair done. She looks at her reflection, seeing how dewy, fresh, and bridal she is, and almost cries. Emily stops herself because she doesn't want to smudge her look with tears. She can do that later because she knows she'll bawl when she sees Daniel (and it'll get worse when he's crying upon seeing her).

Emily waits for her mom to come back. She stepped out for a bit because her dad messaged her something. Emily asked for details since it's her wedding but her mother assured her that nothing's wrong.

She won't believe that until her mom comes back.

Instead, Angela, Sigyn, and Iqadi burst into the canopy.

"What happened?!" Emily yells, ready to run out there and fix everything. She knows it must be bad since they're out of breath despite being in beyond perfect shape.

"Merida brought her boyfriend!" Angela screams, showing her the pictures on her phone.

Emily didn't understand one word in that sentence.

Merida walks in the canopy, sees her friends looking at her excitedly, and her face drops. She regrets coming here because now she can't leave.

"Merida, I'm confused," Emily says. No wonder her mother left. Her father probably texted her that Merida brought a date and she had to see it for herself.

"Fuck," Merida states, "where's Freya?"

"I left her to spy and in case Apollo has another spaz, mostly to spy," Sigyn responds.

"Fuck."

-o-

"Oh!" Blake is unsure what to do with his hands. "You're a prince."

Imanu smiles stiffly and holds back a laugh. He knows what would happen next: Blake would turn red and start stammering, which did happen. He got a lot of that when he was engaged to Iqadi and meeting people for the first time. Back then he was more awkward than the other person and now he's entertained.

"You don't have to bow," Imanu says to calm him down, "or call me Prince. Imanu is fine."

Before Blake says anything, one of the girls scoping him out approaches them. Blake can't think of anything to say since, according to Merida, he's right in front of a real goddess. A. Real. Goddess. (And she wasn't the only deity here! The King of Asgard is over there and the prince - Apollo - is over there!) Her jawline could slice him in half and he wouldn't complain. She's the one Merida said was a secret because Apollo never told them about her for years.

"Iqadi wanted me to tell you she went to check on Emily," she tells Imanu.

Imanu nods. "I saw her run off with Angela and Sigyn."

"Probably finding Merida," Blake says. "I think she went to find an open bar. Anyways, I'm Blake Wilde."

Blake holds out both his hands and Imanu and Freya shake one each, introducing themselves. Despite meeting everyone for the first time, he feels as if he can have a coalition with these two. Merida told him that they didn't grow up with the rest of them so he feels comfortable with them.

"But yes, to confirm, yes, I'm a prince," Imanu says. "Prince Consort, actually. I don't recall if I said that or not."

"Asgardian warrior," Freya adds.

Blake pauses. Prince Consort and Asgardian warrior. " … journalist."

"Didn't expect that."

"Says the Asgardian warrior."

"They're common where I'm from."

"Makes sense."

"Princes aren't," Imanu says.

Blake looks at him. "Speaking of, I was told you were a safe bet."

Imanu raises a brow. "Thanks?"

"And me?" Freya questions with a grin.

Blake glances at her. She's taller than him without the heels and has more muscle than he can understand. And Merida said she probably has a sword on her. "No, not at all."

She makes a sound that's a cross between hmm and a laugh. "Flattering."

"So, let me ask you two this because I have two pairs of eyes burning into the back of my head. What was it like meeting your significant others' parents?"

"I met them before my wife," Imanu admits.

"Change wife for Apollo and the same applies to me," Freya adds.

Blake didn't see those answers coming and regrets asking. " … cool, okay, that doesn't help at all."

"If you two will excuse me, I have to report to the canopy."

Freya smiles as she walks past them. Blake and Imanu watch her go.

"She'll tell the girls about this conversation," Imanu says.

Blake nods. "I'm aware."

"Follow me. I'll show you around. I was once in your shoes."

"Really?"

"Before I got married, I was in the position of everyone knowing each other and not me."

"Wow. So what was it like meeting your in-laws first?"

"My wife and I have been married for eight years and my father-in-law gave me his blessing last week."

Blake keeps quiet as he follows Imanu.

-o-

Merida refused to talk despite Emily, Sigyn, Angela, and Iqadi begging. She kept her mouth shut and sat in the corner sipping a glass of sparkling cider. When Freya walks in with a bright smile, all eyes turn to her. Merida ditches her glass and drinks from the bottle since she knows she can't keep it any longer.

"He's such a gentleman," Freya says, sitting on an ottoman beside Emily's vanity. "He's so polite, social, and charming. He's also a journalist."

Merida puts the bottle down to catch their reactions. Iqadi, Angela, and Sigyn look confused. A journalist? Really? They turn to Merida who nods before facing Emily who still looks as lost as earlier.

Emily clears her throat before standing from the vanity. She holds her hands out towards Merida, palms up before pointing two fingers up. Her mind looks like it's still processing since her brows are furrowed and she's looking off to the side, as if she's seeing equations scrawled on the walls.

"Before I state the obvious, I can tell that you didn't own that pastel blue dress and you buying a dress just for my wedding makes me so happy," Emily says to Merida. "You look beautiful."

"And…?" Merida asks, waiting for the explosion after the countdown.

"I wanted a private wedding and your date is a journalist!"

Emily's hands ball into fists, her perfect manicure digging into her palms. Merida finishes the bottle before standing up and putting her hands on Emily's arms to calm her down. It doesn't help. Bridezilla's come early because Merida woke her up. Nothing like pre-wedding drama!

"Relax," Merida assures, "he won't tell anyone unless you want him to."

"How do you know? How long have you secretly been with him?"

Merida pauses to count the days. Her friends' eyes widen when she can count them on two hands. Merida isn't even sure if she counted correctly. Iqadi nods approvingly since she knew Imanu for about the same amount of time before marrying him so who was she to judge? She, like the other girls, are shocked that Merida has a date to the wedding and knew him for a bit while they were left in the dark.

"Okay," Sigyn states, "you, Merida Barton, have a lot of explaining to do."

"Before you start, I just want to say he's beautiful," Angela comments.

Freya, Sigyn, and Iqadi agree. Emily still narrows her eyes at Merida. Merida understands why. Emily wanted a private ceremony and now she thinks she can't. She wanted a secret engagement and it got leaked a few months later.

"How did you meet him?" Iqadi asks.

"He faked being with the FBI and got in my way when I had to identify a corpse," Merida responds.

The canopy is silent.

-o-

Daniel is sitting in the ceremony congregation chairs, looking at the venue and tapping a pencil against his chin as he thinks about vows. He's known Emily forever so why was this hard? She's so smart, smarter than him and it's a bonus that she's so beautiful. Then again, maybe that's why. Should he wing this? Could he wing this? Writing his dissertations were easier. Although Apollo said to write his vows like a dissertation, he's blanking.

It's stopped snowing immensely and only flurries fall but he doesn't cover himself. He won't have to since the snow evaporates the moment it contacts him.

"Um, hi."

Daniel turns around and sees the man who stole everyone's attention when he showed up. He was happy it distracted everyone since it gave him a chance to hide and think, buy him some time to come up with something.

"Don't tell my bride but I haven't written my vows," Daniel whispers.

"Your secret's safe with me," the man says, taking a seat in the row behind him.

"I don't think we've met."

"Blake Wilde." They shake hands. "Imanu ushered me here to meet you. I'm not intruding on your big day. I'm here with Merida."

Daniel pauses. He heard about that but thought he was being pranked. "Sorry, my head's all over the place."

"No worries. I understand."

Before they could continue, both men look over and see Merida walking up to them.

"I hate you for roaming around," Merida tells Blake as she stands beside him.

"You ditched me," Blake responds.

"I still hate you for talking to people."

"Again, you ditched me."

"Still hate you."

Blake shakes his head. "You don't."

"I want to hate you."

"I hope you fail." He grins at her narrowed eyes. "You know, I overheard some of the parents and this isn't as bad as you think. Apparently, Angela or Xavier - one of their parents -"

"Same parents."

"Sure. Anyways, their father brought their mother to the wedding as their first meet everyone situation. Apparently they were only together for around two months."

Merida crosses her arms and shifts her weight to one hip. "Those are my godparents."

"Of course they were."

"Do you know the wedding they were at? Emily's parents."

Blake nods fascinated. "Your godparents making their debut at a wedding for two people whose kid's wedding we're at. We're coming full circle."

Merida glares at him and his smile. Blake winks at her and Daniel can tell that Merida wants to chuck him into the river past the gazebo.

Despite seeing that interaction and hearing their casual bickering, Daniel has never been so confused in his life (and he's heard Apollo put his version of logic on situations).

"What's happening?" Daniel asks.

"We do this a lot," Blake responds.

"I can count the times on one hand," Merida says. "Now, let's go. Bridezilla wants to meet you."

"Bridezilla?" Daniel asks. "Pepper told me Emily was fine. What did you do?"

Blake covers a laugh as he looks at Merida. "Leave it to you to anger the bride."

Merida ignores him and keeps her eyes on Daniel to get his reaction. "Blake's a journalist."

Daniel's eyes widen as he breaks the pencil in his hand. "Merida!"

Blake quickly stands and gets behind Merida. "Nice meeting you."

-o-

Blake was so relieved that Merida got him out of there until he realized that he left a vow-less groomzilla and is about to enter a canopy with bridezilla. And to think he hasn't even met Merida's parents yet. At least Merida told her friends everything from San Francesco to Manhattan. Or maybe not everything. Still, he's having fun and hopes Merida doesn't abandon him again. Seeing her reactions as these meetings play out will make this wedding worth it.

Before they walk inside, Merida peeks inside to see if everyone's decent. When she looks back out, she nods and he follows her.

Blake walks in and sees Emily Stark in her bridal bathrobe standing beside the girls he saw earlier and posed for. They act casual and regal, smiling politely but he can tell but their tight faces that they want to scream for joy or start talking to him.

Merida stands between them and starts the introductions. Blake already knows Freya and then there's the other Asgardian goddess whose eyes are greener than he thought green could be. Princess Iqadi, Imanu's wife who would kill Blake for him and he believes it. Angela, Xavier's twin and Merida's Academy roommate. And, of course, Blake knows Emily. When he looks at her, Emily recognizes him.

"You wanted a car," Emily says, thinking back to the press conference. The other girls are confused. Emily looks at Merida. "No wonder you were at the press conference. How didn't I see you two together?"

"How were you here for a week and we knew nothing?" Sigyn asks him. "Oh wait." She smirks at Merida who sneers.

"Is anyone here giving you a hard time?" Angela asks. "If so, tell me and we'll handle them, especially if it's James."

"I haven't met James yet," Blake says. "Only said hello to some of your parents, Imanu, and Daniel."

"No wonder you're still here," Merida mutters. She looks at the other girls. "Would you give us a moment?"

"Sure," Iqadi says, ushering herself, Freya, Sigyn, and Angela out. The four of them chatter about Merida and Blake on the way out while not being subtle about getting photos of them together. It's even better that Blake smiled for them. He knows they'll be standing outside the canopy eavesdropping.

"Do you plan on writing an article or do I have to draft up an NDA?" Emily asks Blake once they're alone. "I have the time."

"Merida asked me to come with her by saying I could write one," Blake says. "An article, that is."

"She did?" Emily asks, giving Merida a face. Merida shrugs although Emily can tell Merida did because she knows her.

"I would've come anyways," Blake continues. "She listed many reasons, actually, and writing an article never crossed my mind but she said you'd be interested in one to avoid false publications from tabloids. I'll only include what you want but, Miss. Stark, if you don't want me to write anything, I won't."

Emily looks at Merida for a second before Blake again. Her scowl turns into a smile. "You can write something on two conditions."

"Anything."

"One, call me Emily. Two, my husband-by-then and I will proofread it first. We'll even provide some photos and I'll put out a statement confirming its validity."

"Wow, of course." Blake smiles. "I thought I'd get the NDA anyways."

Emily shakes her head. "You're Merida's date so that says enough and more."

"I've gotten that reaction all day."

Merida rolls her eyes. "Let's go so she can finish getting ready."

"Right." Blake shakes Emily's hand again. "Thank you, Emily, I'll get back to you on the article and you look beautiful."

Emily smiles. "My girls think you're beautiful too."

"Thank you." He glances at Merida who's scowling at Emily.

"Have you met Clint and Natasha yet?"

Blake looks at Merida. "Your parents?"

"Yup," Merida says.

"Then no, but they've been staring at me since I arrived. Lead the way, Agent Mer."

As he opens an arm to let her out of the canopy first, they hear squeals coming from Emily and the rest of the girls who were, as expected, eavesdropping outside. The excitement isn't from Blake about to meet Merida's parents but because he gave Merida a nickname she isn't opposing.

-o-

Blake hoped for a quick rundown on Merida's parents because, like everyone else on site, they're intimidating at first sight (especially since they made Merida). He saw them when he arrived and knew where they were whenever he moved because it was like they wanted him to know their location. Blake wasn't crept out or surprised. He got it. He's the boyfriend or date of their daughter nobody's known about until they showed up. As much as he wanted to talk to them, he didn't feel right doing so without Merida and was glad they didn't start the conversation.

On their way over there, all Merida told him was that her parents were SHIELD agents. Not helpful information but it told him enough: don't fuck this up. But Blake knows how to work a conversation.

"I'm Blake Wilde," he introduces since Merida went mute the moment her parents greeted themselves. She just stood beside him, watching this interaction go down. "Merida's told me … not a lot about you."

"That's more than she's told us about you," Clint responds.

"I've noticed." Blake smiles.

"Have you been making moves on her?" Clint narrows his eyes at him, ready to kill him. Merida gives her father the same face.

But Blake doesn't falter under pressure. He doesn't even sweat. He's a journalist. "I try to flirt and she tries to scowl."

"Blink twice if she's keeping you hostage."

"Um…" Forget what he said about not faltering.

"Look, you seem like a nice guy and I'm not trying to demean my only daughter but why her?"

Blake smirks a little, laughing to himself.

"I'm right here," Merida says annoyed but everyone ignores her.

"I've never met anyone smarter," Blake tells her parents, "or scarier. Something about her scares the living crap out of me. Always has ever since I first saw her at the crime scene. She was wearing these dark sunglasses and ordered me to move like she owned the pier. Then we went day-drinking at a bar where she showed me her perfect aim and I was amazed. The way she looks at me or anyone, it's like she's staring into your soul because she wants to know what you're thinking so that she'll know what to say next."

Clint and Natasha are stunned as they look at him. Blake puts his hands in his suit jacket's pockets, waiting for them to say something but he's rendered them speechless. He looks at Merida but she has the expression he mentioned: staring to study him so she knows how to continue the conversation, but she's got nothing.

"Please have my grandkids," Clint begs.

"Dad!" Merida screams. Her face turns as red as her hair in anger and embarrassment.

Blake laughs. He didn't expect that to be in the conversation and he isn't mad. It means he's already winning her father over. He believes it even more when Clint puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Ignore her but I'm sure you know the drill," Clint tells him. "If you hurt my daughter, I'll kill you."

Blake nods. "If I hurt her, do it."

Clint pauses. He's threatened people before but never got tested like that … and he likes it. Blake smiles since he knew he'd get through this conversation, especially since Clint wants to continue this conversation after the ceremony.

"Merida, a word," Natasha says. She takes Merida's arm and pulls her two steps to the side which didn't matter since her mother started speaking Russian. "This is new for you. Care to explain yourself?"

Merida glances at Blake for a second, seeing him continue to talk with her dad as if they've known each other for a long time and not a few minutes. "He started out as a distraction from all this Ragnarök crap but he likes me? I don't know. Please don't assume I'll drop all my things -"

"He seems like he's falling in love."

Merida scoffs. "Please, Mom, we're at a wedding. Love is in the air. You haven't even spoken to him yet."

"I was watching his rapport with your father and everyone else he's met. I already know you like him. You pretend to be immune to his charms but I see you cracking."

"Yeah, well, I don't know how to do this thing."

Blake walks up to them and stands beside Merida, speaking fluent Russian to join the conversation. "If it helps, I'm winging it too."

Natasha stares at him, shocked that he knows Russian. She looks at Merida who's surprised but isn't amused.

"Of course you know Russian," Merida tells him.

Blake grins at her. "I spent a year in Russia studying the journalism tactics they use to spread their messages and its effects on the citizens."

"Of course you did."

"Wow…" Natasha mutters. "To quote my husband, please have my grandkids."

"Mom!"