We've finally made it to the final chapter of this season and the end of my weekly updates. Perfect timing on my part since it's also the anniversary of when I first published the old and crappy version of PNG.
There will be more information at the end, as per usual.
Chapter 215: Pins & Knees Part Five
United Shades of Electric Romance
Iqadi and Merida scream as they try to control their quinjet from both the pilot and co-pilot seats. They disembark the docked quinjet to reduce weight on their part and try to make flying easier. They circle the chaos while trying to get a read on Xavier, Angela, Apollo, and Sigyn.
"My earpiece isn't working now, dammit!" Merida screams, smacking the controls.
Lightning strikes and something strikes them from outside. It felt stronger than any of the debris as if it sliced through their bird. Emily raises her repulsor, James a bio-blast, and Merida turns in her seat with a loaded bow.
"It's me!" Apollo screams from outside.
"Help us fly this damn thing!" Merida yells.
Their quinjet veers to the side and they're not sure if it was Apollo's doing. Merida holds on to her seat to avoid falling on Iqadi who grips the seat with her Panther claws. The Hulk still has his grip on Emily and James as they hold on to their unpredictable predicament.
"I have a location on Xavier and Angela but not Sigyn," Emily says.
"That's fine," Apollo responds.
"Angela's with my girl. Xavier's directly on the other side. Sigyn's … somewhere."
"Again, fine. Let's get the Rogers and she'll manage."
"We need to slow the wind down," Merida says, glaring at Iqadi who caused their tornado situation.
Iqadi ignores her. "If we do that, then everything including Xavier and maybe Sigyn free fall. The Matriarch and Angela could get hit with a chunk of a helicarrier."
"We have Apollo out there now."
"And two other people. I'm not counting Sigyn. She'll be fine."
"That's what I said!" Apollo yells.
Emily groans. "We're wasting time!"
"Fuck this knee," James said. "I have a plan."
James shrinks out of the Hulk's grasp and blasts their putty door to fly out. He can no longer hear his friends screaming once the wind fills his ears. The suction grabs him and it takes him a second to build flight as he follows the wind. Once he gains momentum, his knee throbs but he ignores it as he flies out of the way and shrinks debris with Pym discs.
He spots Xavier first and Angela is further away with the Matriarch and the shield. James speeds and once he's close enough with enough force on his side, he tackles Xavier and they spin forward a few times closer to Angela. After a few loops, James whips a Pym disc at the Matriarch. When she shrinks to the size of a toy and is in Angela's hand, James and Xavier collide into her.
"My knee crashing into your ribs fucking hurt," James mutters.
"James, you shouldn't be here!" Angela yells.
"He said the same thing."
"I thought your knee was fucked!" Xavier adds.
James almost considers dropping them. "You two are seriously going to yell at me now?"
"Yes!" Angela and Xavier scream.
James rolls his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake"…
Sigyn appears, falling beside them. She's on her back, hands folded behind her head to hold back her hair. Her legs are up as if she's relaxing like a cartoon character jumping without a parachute.
"You shrank the debris I was lying on!" Sigyn reprimands James.
James narrows his eyes at her. He's done with these blonds and their shit. Apollo's his favourite now while Thor and Steve are tied for second place.
"My bad," James says sarcastically.
"All forgiven," Sigyn smiles as she glows her hands. "Group hug!"
Sigyn opens her arms and grabs them. She creates a portal below her and they fall through, landing on the quinjet. They're not even standing before Sigyn opens another portal above their heads so Apollo and his axe fall through.
Merida takes her icer out of her holster and fires it at Apollo who just looks at her.
Merida grins. "Didn't miss; that was for earlier when you nearly blew me up on the helicarrier. I meant this."
She fires at James until he passes out in the Hulk's arms.
"No more stupid shit from him," Merida says.
Xavier nods. "We're done here. Get us home."
-o-
SHIELD Headquarters - 21:03 PM
James doesn't know for how long he was spaced out, but it was long enough for him to skip out on a debriefing and wake up hours later in his doctor's office. He doesn't remember much of the mission except for Xavier and Angela yelling and Merida shooting him, but that applies to nearly every mission they've been on together.
Maybe he saw doubles of Sigyn and Emily and some firework show. There was definitely a tornado.
His doctor was trying to talk to him and James was just nodding despite his focus being on the stupid knee brace he woke with. He preferred Merida's makeshift arrow splint.
He can walk fine much to his doctor's shock. Just a small limp but he can manage. It's advised that he doesn't shift sizes or fly until further notice. He's not in much pain probably because he was given meds in his sleep and slept the rest off.
Kinda derails his plans but the night is young.
Once he's dismissed, he was sitting and waiting for Angela who eventually shows up following her debriefing. He spent the time texting and calling people to alert them that he was fine and had a knee brace. She's showered and freshened up, makeup-free face and messy bun, leggings and a sweatshirt. She looks more like she came from a gym session than a mission in the air.
James stands but sits down when she takes a seat next to him.
"Give me your keys," she orders. Her face is sharp and stern as she looks at him.
James doesn't argue as he fishes them out of his pocket. There's no way she'd let him drive home and he doesn't think he's in a good enough state of mind to operate a car. Flying quinjets is different.
Then her face softens as she leans in closer to him. "Why didn't you tell me that your knee has been hurting this whole time?"
James sighs, knowing he'd be having this conversation eventually. He thought it'd be after his two weeks, but might as well rip the bandage.
"It's been hurting for ages," James mutters to her, avoiding her eyes at first and crossing his arms as he slouches back. "I thought the pins were adjusting because that was expected but they were adjusting forever. And, honestly, they were fine for a bit but then got worse. I didn't want to worry anyone or myself, especially you."
"Forget worrying me because you scared me out there," Angela says.
James looks at her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close. "I'm sorry."
"I know. I love you because I would've done the same. Well, at least you're now resigned." Angela grins as she nodded him playfully. "I'm proud of you, by the way, for finally taking that step. You wanna head home now? It's been a long day."
"I thought we were going out." His plan is being rewritten in his head as he speaks.
Angela lingers on the thought, remembering what they've been saying this whole time on this long day.
"Rain cheque," she states. "I promise. You, Dr. Pym, are in no condition."
"Says who?"
"Literally everyone except you."
James pauses. " … fair, but I had plans. We were going to go to some fancy place and celebrate my leave of absence that I get on top of my two weeks."
Angela raises a brow. "Doing what?"
"Convince you to reconsider meat. Steak is good."
She laughs. "Not a chance. What next?"
James shrugs to throw her off. "Wing it. I'll have a final draft of the plan by the time we get home."
"We'll do that tomorrow, I promise."
Angela pats his shoulder and they both stand to head out, but James stops halfway. He bends over and Angela looks down at him, her hand resting on his back.
"Rain cheque tomorrow," James says.
The pain hit him like a missile, blowing up like the helicarrier earlier. He screams as his knee buckles below him. Angela yells his name and catches him before he hits the ground. He holds onto her tight, leaning against her as he hollers in pain because it's all he could do. Her heart pounds against his temple until she touches his face.
Angela's hands are cold as they guide his face to look at her. Strands of her bun fall out of their tie and her face is streaked with tears. Her lips tremble as they move. She's talking to him but he can't hear what she's saying. Words blur into explosions from the mission.
James blinks and he sees her face mid-mission when his knee acted up the first time and she caught him mid-air. The promise they made to go out after this was over. The plans he had once he got his Ph.D. and handed in that resignation letter.
"I love you…" she muttered back then. "We'll be okay."
A comforting scene to replay in his head as he blacks out.
Oh man, what a cliffhanger to leave you all on.
So here is where I announce going on hiatus after over a year of weekly updates. I have to plan the next season of PNG but, in the meantime, SA is currently having its share of weekly updates.
Thank you all so much for reading up until now. The latest I will be back with an update will be the story's next anniversary: July 2, 2023.