Chapter 37: Therapy That FliesNotes:I love Sam Wilson, and I know he doesn't fit much into any of the plotlines in this. But just throwing out I'm super excited for the Winter Solider and Falcon tv show or is The Falcon and Winter Soldier? Either way I'm supes excited.
Chapter TextSteve felt jittery as he tightened his tie. "Are you ready?"
"Punk I've been ready. Would you stop vibrating? You're going to wear a hole in the floor." Bucky snarked as he dutifully let Darcy inspect his coal grey suit that was styled to be as military looking as possible without being an actual uniform. His hair was neatly styled and pulled back into what they'd been informed was a 'sexy man bun, but professional'.
Steve gave Darcy a thankful nod while forcing himself to still. "Sorry, it's just a big day."
"Dude chill pill. Take one." Darcy stepped over and slapped his hands away and straightened his tie. "It's the first day. Lots of boring mumbo jumbo, some opening arguments and then we get milkshakes and doom scroll the internet to see how people are reacting initially. It'll help shape our media campaign."
Natasha popped a bubble from where she was lounging in an easy chair, chewing gum and pretending to read a magazine. "Listen to the Doctor."
"I know, I just." Steve looked at his best friend. The person he'd loved for most of his life. Not that he was going to tell that to anyone, about how they very much hadn't been strictly platonic since they were teenagers back in Brooklyn. Honestly people saw what they wanted to see and once they'd started stepping out with Peggy everybody just assumed things. Not that they'd been wrong, he'd loved Peggy. They just missed the part where it hadn't just been him and Peggy.
Of course there was the disaster of him stepping out with Sharon. Which by the end had been more out of habit than anything else. It was a bit jarring how Darcy Lewis had spotted the very real, core of feelings between him and Buck. Of course she assumed closeted pining not the trauma that was actually keeping anything from progressing. Honestly as if he was going to bring up how things used to be when Bucky was barely holding onto a sense of self. Once Buck was better they could deal with what they were to each other. All that mattered now was that he was with him till the end of the line. Period.
Which is why this trial was so important. Steve needed Bucky as much as Bucky needed him. He couldn't let his best friend end up in jail. It would be wrong. So now he was letting himself be dressed up like a performing monkey once again. As always. At least Darcy had a sense of subtlety that Tony did not, which was weird. But the subdued navy suit with a maroon vest, tie, white shirt, and freshly re-dyed blonde hair wasn't obviously a subdued american flag, but it clearly was that.
"Dude, stop staring into space." Darcy snapped her fingers in front of him. "It's going to be fine. Today is all cameras, legal shit and then milkshakes. Chill out."
Bucky clasped his shoulder. "What's going to happen is going to happen."
"Alright boys, time to head out." Natasha easily slid to her feet. She glanced at them and smirked. "Don't look so uptight, Daisy's hiding in the security detail and can disintegrate any bullets so really the rest of us are there to look pretty.
Steve let out a deep breath. "Right, let's do this."
"That's the spirit. And know I'm there in spirit even if I'm not there in person." Darcy grinned at them, a sparkle in her eye. "And I'm watching you like a bird in the sky. Or a creepy basement dwelling hacker. Whichever you prefer. There's a camera in all the sunglasses for security and FRIDAY, Hill and I will be monitoring."
He looked at the woman. She owed him nothing, wasn't even doing this for him or Bucky. But she was still doing it. He would never be able to tell her how grateful he was even if this didn't go well. She'd still done more than he could have asked for. "Thank you, for everything."
"Duh, I'm awesome like that. You can thank me when I get Bucky Bear off with just some community service or something." Darcy winked and then trounced off.
Steve shook his head fondly, looking over at Bucky. It was time.
////
Daisy was amused by looking like an MIB. Honestly, black suit, sunglasses, weird obvious ear comm, standard issue law enforcement piece prominently placed on her hip. It was ridiculous, she belonged next to Will Smith in the next MIB. It was sad real aliens had caused the sequel to be delayed. That movie had been a riot. She knew she blended in with the rest of the private security as she opened the door. "Game face on boys."
Steve shot her a look as he climbed out, Bucky and Natasha on his heels. The lawyers who'd been waiting were instantly there shaking hands and directing everyone into the courthouse.
The reporters were shoving, there were crowds of yelling people, cameras flashing everywhere.
Daisy used herself to physically help elbow a hole for the group to move through. The lights were actually blinding, most of her concentration was on parsing out the vibrations all around. She could pick up the distinctive vibrations of guns. It had taken so long to learn to do that. But mapping out the locations of every armed individual was difficult. Frowning she focused entirely on what she felt, mostly letting the other security do the majority of the work creating a path.
Getting inside was a relief. So many fewer vibrations to have to pay attention to. Also thick marble walls to muffle some of the outside vibrations. Her eyes opened for the first time since the initial crush. She breathed out.
"You ok kid?" Sam asked softly by her elbow.
She just moved carefully, trusting him to stand at her back. "Seeing with vibrations just takes a lot."
"You're doing good." Sam let their elbows brush against each other.
Daisy was bored as she leaned against the outer wall of the courtroom. She kept her voice low lest anyone important hear her voice. "Tv court conditioned me to think this would be far more interesting."
"Right? And we're the idiots who volunteered for this." Sam chuckled. "At least it's not everyday."
"Do you think we're over guarding this? I mean super soldier, Inhuman, super spy, eight former SHIELD agents, and we've hooked up every camera for four square miles up to FRIDAY." Daisy crossed her arms. Dear god, how was a case about a brainwashed super soldier turned into an assassin for the Russians this boring? It was bizarre.
He made a sound in the back of his throat. "I don't know, I think the paranoia is pretty grounded in this situation."
There was a clicking sound over the comms. -"Right, I switched us to a private channel, don't worry you're still hooked to the main channel just muted. But holy shit your therapist is the fucking Falcon?!"- Darcy's voice blared into their ears.
Daisy winced slightly. "Volume, and yeah? How did you not know that? You live out of the tower a third of the time."
-"No really, the only therapist you could find is an Avenger? How does that conversation even happen?"-
"She bought me a coffee and asked." Sam looked bemused.
Darcy made a spluttering sound. -"Betrayal! Is this why Sam avoided the the paint slick trap?!"-
"You betrayed team Stark first." Daisy replied dryly while reaching up and fist bumping Sam as discreetly as possible.
Maria Hill's voice cut through. -"I don't know what is so important you made a secondary channel for it but close it down Lewis."-
Daisy gave Sam an amused look, and then focused back on the court. She eyed the reporters who'd been allowed in suspiciously. "I'm gonna have to talk to a reporter soon aren't I?"
"Most likely." Sam agreed. "Want a lift to Queens after this?"
She gave a slight nod. "Sounds good, gonna carry me like a pretty princess Flyboy?"
"And get fried by our Witchy friend? No thank you." He snorted outright.
Daisy raised a brow. "Bet I can get you to change your mind."
"Not taking that bet. I have learned to never bet against someone who can kick my ass." Sam gave her a look. "You're not really going to get me to carry you?"
"What? Let me live my teenage dream of a Superhero dramatically flying me someplace." Her lips twitched up in amusement.
-"For the love of god could you show some professionalism?"- Hill's voice snapped across the comms. Several muffled snickers from the other security agents there in the background.
Sam and Daisy's backs both automatically straightened as they replied simultaneously. "Sorry Ma'am."
"This is awesome!" Daisy whooped as they swooped through the sky above the city! "HOLY SHIT YOUR WINGS ARE SWEET!"
////
Darcy clapped her hands as she examined the room of everyone gathered together. "First day over with!"
There were some amused cheers and half hearted claps from the half dozen or so people roped into post trial milkshakes.
She grinned and dropped down next to Daisy on the couch and turned on the news. Which, this was a bit of a wild card. You couldn't 100% predict this shit. Especially with just...everything. So she watched with rapt curiosity like everyone else.
-"And the biggest story of today is the Trial of James Barnes otherwise known as the Hydra assassin the Winter Soldier."- The news anchor straightened the papers in front of him. -"For more on this historic case we're going to Walters. So what can you tell us?"-
The screen changed to a painfully cookie cutter looking woman. "Thank you Brian. Today was a monumental day but you have to keep in mind it was just opening statements. The mood was tense outside the courthouse. But the prosecution said they are confident of a guilty verdict as they find that 'there is no doubt in their minds that Mr Barnes committed these acts'. The defence stated that they are 'sure the court will come to the correct decision. That Mr Barnes was not responsible for the actions his body took.' Which is in line with the defence's strategy."-
-"And what is that strategy?"-
The reporter nodded at the question. -"The Defence is arguing that due to brainwashing Mr Barnes was not capable of choosing to take or not take the actions he did. They are going to be citing the recent events surrounding the Kilgrave case from here in New York as well as bringing in Government officials to testify about other allegedly classified cases of mind control. We'll also be hearing a lot about torture, brain damage, and the application of legal duress."-
Darcy rolled her eyes. "Boo! Get to the good stuff."
"Really? You've been living for this." Wanda zapped her lightly from where she was curled into Daisy's other side.
Steve spoke up from the other couch. "Why aren't they talking about how awful the prosecution is!"
"Because the prosecution are a bunch of jacked up neanderthals." Hill drawled from where she was working on her caramel milkshake.
Darcy made finger guns towards Hill. "Preach." She straightened slightly. "Oooo! It's up to one of our pundits here to argue with the squirrely one about the opening arguments."
"I don't know why this has to be so complicated." Steve's eyes narrowed as the introductions continued on screen.
Bucky shifted awkwardly from where he was perched on the edge of the farthest couch from the group. "It really is, I killed those people."
"You didn't choose to." Wanda argued, her face sharp while her grip on Daisy tightened slightly. "It is not the same."
Darcy shot Wanda an approving look. "Well said, mind control is fucked up."
"Crass, but true." Steve agreed with all the self righteous conviction he possessed in his body.
Finally one of the pundits started actually saying something of consequence. -"Look, the heart of this case is whether the court finds that Mr Barnes was under duress and or coerced to a degree that he is not responsible for his own actions. There is legal precedent for that, the issue is can a super soldier with those kinds of abilities be controlled like that? I mean let's be honest it's not like they had his family hostage, or anyone held hostage to be used against him. And then once Captain America was awake why not go to him? Let's face it Mr Barnes had options for getting out."-
-"And look at it further, we're supposed to believe that the deadliest assassin in the history of the world was unable to run away? To disappear? Escape? I find that pretty hard to swallow. That he attacked Captain America, his supposed best friend, actively attempting to stop his own rescue? And what does he do once Hydra is gone? He runs. Finally when he's supposedly 'free' he goes on the run. Then months later he pops up asking us to believe he's been the victim all along. We're supposed to buy that? Cap might believe his best friend is what is sitting in Stark Tower right now but I think what's in the Tower right now is a monster."-
The other pundit had been shaking his head. -"That's purposely reductive! He was a POW for seventy years! Subjected to from what information has been realeased, was clearly horrific torture, the scale of we still don't know. And we know mind control is a part of our world now!"-
Steve sounded growly. "Change the channel."
"Sure, FRIDAY switch us up!" Darcy slurped at her milkshake, not that she was surprised. "Ya know this is about what I was expecting. Lots of arguing."
Steve's head snapped to her. "What?"
"Dude, on the first day, we're just making sure the arguing isn't falling more to one side or the other." She shrugged. "As the lawyers start dropping the deets on the court the media will eat that shit up."
He stared. "What?"
"Did PR not talk to you about what to expect from this Captain?" Hill, bless her, raised a brow while turning her full attention to the man.
Darcy cranked the volume down. "Hill you want to fall on this sword or should I?"
"I've got it." Hill pinched the bridge of her nose. "This entire case is based on whether or not Barnes was in his right mind and whether he was able to act against orders. By pleading brainwashing, the defence has admitted Barnes here is guilty of the actus reus of the crimes he's accused of. Or in simpler terms he physically committed them. What is in contention is the mens rea, or whether he is mentally guilty of the crime. The focus of our legal defense is that due to the chair, trauma, and brainwashing from his time with Hydra and the KGB he was unable mentally to be held responsible for his actions. Which would make him mentally unable to understand what he was doing fully and more importantly was unable not to. Most of it is modeled after previous cases involving kidnappings and consent laws. Applying them to premeditated murder though hasn't been done to this degree before. It's legally tenuous, but will set a lot of legal precedent so it's being allowed."
Steve stared at her. "I got that, why does this affect the media?"
"Because normal people don't accept brainwashing as a thing. Not how those of us in this room do. Hell Wanda here could have us all dancing around like ballerinas if she wanted to. But we're not civilians. What we're watching for is whether civilians are dismissive of the defense's stated strategy or not. The fact the pundits are genuinely arguing already is good. Once we start dropping the evidence it's going to change the tone. But right now the fact anyone is even seriously considering it as a possibility that he isn't fully guilty is a good sign that the evidence is going to change enough minds that we'll win this case both legally and in the court of public opinion."
Darcy chimed in. "I care more about the public opinion thing. Gotta keep my peeps safe." She leaned over and pressed a very gross kiss to Daisy's cheek.
"Oh come on." Daisy's nose scrunched up as she wiped at her cheek with her sleeve. "Really?"
She just grinned. "You know I love you dude." Darcy looked back up at Steve. "And opinion actually seems pretty split which is good. That's split opinion just based on your social capital. It's not fact based at all. So once we dump facts, it's gonna be awesome. Tis a good sign my hot Dorito."
"FRIDAY turn up the volume." Sam cut in as the screen changed to show a short video clip of him and Daisy landing in Queens. "What the fuck?"
-"And in other news it may be the end of Spiderquake. Earlier today this video was taken of Quake looking cozy with the Avenger's Falcon and Spiderman nowhere in sight."-
Darcy couldn't help it, she cackled.
////
May snagged the cellphone out of Darcy's hands. "No phones at the dinner table. You can check your campaign against the world after dinner." She set the bowl of steamed rice down on the table as she spoke. "And Peter grab the silverware please."
"Got it Aunt May!" He called as he came swinging around a corner. At least he wasn't trying to use webs in the house again. That had been a necessary ban. The stuff took hours to clean up.
Daisy's face was alight with mirth as she carried the giant bowl of stir fry over. "Yeah Darcy, no phones at the table."
"Shut it hypocrite." Darcy stuck her tongue out at her sister.
May pretended she didn't see the exchange, as the siblings had started pushing each other's buttons for fun, the chaos had increased. It reminded her of her and Mary a bit. She reached out pulling Peter close enough to kiss the crown of his head. "Darcy did you get the soy sauce out yet?"
"On the table." Darcy hollered back at her.
She grabbed the napkins. "Inside voices please."
"Oooo." Daisy wiggled her eyebrows at Darcy as she slid into her seat at the table.
May just huffed slightly as she took her own seat. Which, it was funny, they all had a seat that was 'their' seat. Her own was the head of the table, a seat a few years ago would have been Ben's. "Alright everyone, dinner."
Peter happily started dumping rice onto his plate. "MJ, Ned and I have another group project. Think you can get us an in? It's on a legal case of our choosing and we want to do it on Barnes's."
"I see how it is, use me for my contacts." Darcy winked at Peter. "But yeah I got you baby bro."
Peter pouted. "I'm not a baby."
"Who thought fighting a werewolf by themself was a good idea?" Darcy stole the rice bowl from him.
He looked torn between protesting and accepting the dig. "At least I'm not the one whose big plan was to throw our sister, who can't swim, at the kraken."
Daisy interjected dryly. "I'm getting better at swimming." Both of her siblings ignored her.
"It worked didn't it." Darcy replied smugly as she passed the bowl off. "I seem to remember someone almost ending up with their own doggy gear for full moons."
Peter's face twitched slightly. "Daisy almost drowned."
"I didn't drown."
He kept going. "And I seem to have noticed Ian's been mooning after you at the lab more than usual. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?"
Darcy's face actually flushed slightly, which point to Peter for that. "I don't know what you're talking about." Her eyes narrowed.
"It's because our dearest sister here takes after our dad sometimes." Daisy smirked slightly as she took a bite of dinner.
Peter's face scrunched up. "Gross."
"Hey, I'm a single and attractive woman. No judging sprout." Darcy pointed her fork at him.
May cleared her throat. "Daisy, how was working security for the trial?"
"Boring, so boring." Daisy rolled her eyes. "I'm just glad I only volunteered to work security at high risk stages of the trail. I think if I had to stand around doing nothing during actual court proceedings again, I'd fall asleep with my eyes open."
Darcy perked up. "Get this, Daisy's therapist is Sam Wilson. She hunted down birdboy."
"Wait really!?" Peter looked at Daisy excitedly. "Do you think you get him to fly us up really high? I've been wanting to practice air control more."
Daisy hummed. "Yeah I could ask. It'd probably be good for both of us."
"Please say you're not discussing getting the Falcon to fly you two up as high as he can and then dropping you?" May asked, feeling slightly exhausted just thinking about it. Because that was totally something they would do.
Two equally guilty looks aimed at her answered that question.
She sighed. "Do I need to be worried?"
"We'll be fine. I'll make sure Wanda or someone is there to catch us if something goes wrong." Daisy offered, clearly trying to be reassuring...it was not that reassuring.
Darcy snickered. "You think you can do anything productive while that girlfriend of yours is around?"
"Which one of us slept with our ex?" Daisy challenged.
May spotted Peter's fork whacking him in the chin. "Daisy no powers at the table."
"Ha!" Peter stuck his tongue out at Daisy.
May leaned back in her chair as the kids devolved into more bickering. It filled her heart with a warmth that felt consuming. This was her family, and it was good. She loved these kids more than she'd have thought a person could love another. She couldn't have cared more if she'd brought them into the world. At least she missed the diaper stage, she heard it wasn't fun.
"No kicking at the table, and don't think I didn't see you stealing from your sister's plate."
Chapter 38: Bucky Gets a Job...SomehowNotes:I am snowed in at the moment. So four day weekend for me, I wrote an entire chapter yesterday. It's been nice, other than having to dig the cars out.
Chapter TextDaisy really should have expected it when she spotted the reporter loitering by the entrance to Kyle's ninja gym. Of course the media would know she was working with Kyle for the charity run. It was probably the easiest way to nab her. She should probably talk to him about temporary security. Like yesterday. Or mention to Yuri that the police should probably drive their patrols through the block more often. Probably.
She considered her options, well Darcy had said she'd need to at some point. With a muttered curse she hopped off the roof and softened her landing enough not to break anything as she hit the sidewalk. She blinked as the reporter practically shoved her phone into her face. "Quake!"
"Uh...hi?" Daisy wasn't actually sure what to do with a reporter this enthusiastic. The part of her that had been trained by May catalogued the age, eagerness, and slightly manic energy marking the reporter down as junior, trying to make a name for herself, and very far down the totem pole. Also based on the look in her eyes a fangirl. Which...shit she had fans now didn't she?
The reporter actually flushed slightly. "I'm Betty with Columbia University's Student Paper and I was hoping you could answer some questions our readers have for you?"
Daisy realized that Betty was probably actually the same age as her. Which wasn't that bizarre to see someone well adjusted and the same age. "Sure, though if I get a call I might need to leave early."
"Right, so Joanna S. wants to know who would win in a fight, you or Hulk?" Betty was clearly reading from a list of student questions. It was rather charming.
She dropped a hand onto her hip and let herself smile slightly. "I'm not sure, I've never fought him." Her head cocked to one side. "Probably him? My powers don't come with super strength or stamina or anything and his definitely do. And he heals so even if I could hurt him he'd probably outlast me despite it. So probably Hulk."
"Cool, so Jason P wants to know if you're going to be joining the Avengers?" Betty was so desperately trying to be serious. It was kind of hilarious how she was clearly completely star struck at the same time.
Daisy shook her head. "Not really. I mean if they needed my particular abilities I'm more than willing to help out. And I know if I asked they'd help me and Spiderman out. But I'm here to protect New York. And the occasional SHIELD job."
"But you and Spiderman have been spotted with several members of the Avengers. Particularly Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver and the Falcon." She pressed, her stance surprisingly resolute.
Daisy brushed some of her hair out of her face. "Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are around the same age as Spiderman and I. We're friends."
"So my next question is a bit of a follow up to the last. Bong-Cha wants to know if you broke up with Spiderman for the Falcon?" Betty was vibrating, she was clearly invested.
The sound of disbelief that came out of Daisy's throat wasn't one she knew she could make. It was silly too because she'd known it was coming. But god the whole thing was so beyond ridiculous she couldn't help it. "No, I'm definitely not in any way romantically involved with the Falcon. Dude's forty something. I don't mind older guys but not by twenty years. The flying is just super cool. Tell me you wouldn't ask for a flight if you had the chance?"
"You didn't say whether you'd broken up with Spiderman, and you haven't been spotted together in a week." Betty pushed.
Daisy snorted. "A friend called in a favor and I've been kinda busy. Spiderman can more than handle the neighborhood without me. It doesn't mean we're fighting. He's way too excited about the 'lone patrol' thing anyways."
"So you're still seeing each other outside of hero-ing?"
"It's kinda hard to completely miss someone you live with." Daisy faked a freeze, Darcy owed her for doing this. She raised an open hand to her face. "We can't pretend I didn't say that can we?"
Betty stared at her, there were practically stars in her eyes. "OMG, you live together!?"
"Fine, yes we live together. And if he doesn't stop leaving legos on the ground where I end up stepping on them I'm going to throttle him." Daisy let out a long resigned sigh. It was kinda fun to pretend to have been caught out. "He's more of a dork than his videos make him out to be, he blubbers during Pride and Prejudice, has a terrible sense of his own limits, will eat nothing but junk food if left to his own devices, and is constantly hanging from the ceiling because he thinks it's funny. But he's also the single best guy I've ever met."
Betty looked like she might actually keel over from sheer joy. It took her a solid five minutes to calm down enough to keep talking. Finally the girl cleared her throat. "Right, um.. So Aaron V wants to know what you think of the Barnes trial."
"Barnes needs like an army of therapists, a vacation and to be left alone to heal. I met him, Darcy needed someone as security who could subdue him if he got triggered or something a couple months ago. Dude just feels tired. Like I've never met anyone that bone weary before in my life. He mostly just knits scarves and hats while hiding in the Hulk containment room with his cats."
Betty blinked. "Cats?"
"Huh? Oh right. Spiderman and I got him these two rescue cats. I mean the guy's lonely and basically in a self imposed solitary confinement. We thought it'd be good for him. I mean Steve, the therapist, and the lawyers are the only ones who really talk to him."
The poor student reporter actually seemed kind of stumped at that. Like the idea of The Winter Soldier having a cat and being lonely was bizarre. But she clearly rallied. "Right, moving on, Katie V has a long question for you. Last week you escorted two drag queens safely back to their apartment after a performance. Does this mean you support gay rights?"
Daisy smiled at that. "They were hilarious, I think I almost cracked a rib laughing so hard." She really needed to drop by and say hi again. "But yes I support gay rights. It'd be kinda ridiculous if I didn't all things considered."
"All things?" Betty seemed slightly confused, but a certain light in her eye said she'd picked up the implied subtext.
Well Darcy was going to kill her, but whatever. "I'm bi, also an inhuman who grew up in the system. My answers are always going to be in support of a minority. Like just feel free to mark that one off. Judging people for who they are is ridiculous."
"Right." Betty swallowed, she looked fairly baffled and definitely overwhelmed. But she kept going. "So Nanami W want's to know what's it like to be a superhero?"
Daisy paused at that one. "It's not...it's not for me to judge whether I'm a hero or not. I wouldn't say I am one. I'm not here in New York because I decided to come be a hero. I'm here because Spiderman is. He's the one you should ask about the hero stuff. I've never been a person to watch injustice and not do something. But I'm not…" She shrugged. "It's complicated and really I'm not the one to ask. Rogers, Spiderman, even Stark are the ones you should ask about that sort of thing. Or Thor maybe. But it's not as clean of an answer for people like me."
"But you save people?" Betty pointed out like it was obvious.
She rocked back on her heels. "There's a lot of people who save others. EMTs, firemen, doctors, I mean just because I run around looking like this and punch people doesn't make me better than anyone else. Working with SHIELD I met some of the most heroic people imaginable. I mean I wouldn't even be here if the poor biochemist on our team hadn't done everything to save us despite not being a medical doctor. Or Fitz going on a mission behind enemy lines to deactivate a sonic weapon of mass destruction, despite not having even passed his field assessment. Which check out those files from the dump. There's lots of people who are heros, a mask and being part alien aren't what do that."
"Trent P wants to know who would win in a fight, you or Black Widow?" Betty scrolled further through the list of questions.
Daisy accepted she was going to be here for a while. "Without powers her, with powers me but that's in a fair fight. I'd probably bet on her in any sort of combat situation outside of a spar."
////
Jane sipped at her coffee. She was bleary eyed, still in her pajamas, and trying to find her new pen. It had little galaxies on it and Erik had found it for her. Sorting through the stacks of papers on her desk she was quite intent on finding her pen. Damn it. Humming she accepted the poptart shoved into her hand.
Munching on her poptart she paused as she saw a sheet of calculations that were… "Darcy, did I do sleep math again?"
"Who knows Janey." Darcy was elbow deep in the guts of something. "FRIDAY, did the Janey do the sleep math again?"
"Last instance of math while sleeping was nine days ago." FRIDAY replied.
Jane stared at the math. Huh… "Ian didn't you organize my notes before we left?"
"Dr Selvig, you and Dr Lewis all wanted me to organize your notes? I'm working on it." Ian replied from where he was...working on a desk with paper towers higher than his head.
She blinked and looked around the lab. It had been deteriorating from Darcy's usual chaotic organization since Darcy had been more involved with the science and whatever she was doing outside of the lab. "Do we need another assistant?"
"Intern! Do you need help?" Darcy looked up from the guts of..honestly what on earth was that?
Ian's cheeks turned a bright red at Darcy's full attention being on him. "What? No I can do it!"
Darcy rolled her eyes. "I didn't say replace you, I meant get a minion of your own for coffee and shit, so you have more time for notes."
"Oh." Ian blinked, his mouth slightly too open as he stared at Darcy. "Then uh..yeah?" He nodded seemingly coming out of whatever fugue state he was in. "Yes that sounds good."
Darcy nodded. "Cool, Janey you don't mind if the new minion has a dark and stormy past? Cause I think I know someone."
Jane stared at Ian who was pretending not to be eagerly listening in. She looked at Darcy who was pointedly ignoring the intern. "I'm doing the interview."
"You never do the interviews? I showed up at your office and interviewed you before I started working for you." Darcy stared at her in confusion. "You hate interviews. They give you like science flashbacks to the doctoral boards and funding presentations."
This was all completely true. Jane may not register everything around her, but she had registered the painful awkwardness around the lab though. No. Not even for the sake of avoiding an interview would she let Darcy add more drama to the lab. No. "I'm doing the interview."
"I'm wounded boss lady." Darcy pouted at her.
Erik patted Darcy on the head. "There there."
Jane bustled into the apartment of Darcy's pick for the new lab assistant. She'd put on actual pants and showered. No sense scaring the new minion before he'd even seen the lab. Her eyes caught the startled looking man on the couch. "You!"
"Me?" Bucky Barnes pointed at his own chest. He blinked. "How did you get in here? You shouldn't be in here."
Jane ignored most of that. "I hear you like science and technology and need a job?"
"Huh?" He stared at her. "Sorta?"
She nodded, crossing her arms while looking at him. "Have you ever slept with Darcy Lewis?"
"No!" He actually blanched in the appropriate level of horror for someone who knew what a hurricane of a person Darcy was.
Jane gave a relieved sigh at that, her eyes stayed narrowed though. "And you can swear to never sleep with her? Because I cannot deal with some lab triangle or trail of broken hearts or whatever productivity sucking drama she inspires in the intern multiplying."
"I can promise not to do that? I think Tony might actually kill me if I even thought of it." Bucky looked fairly amused as if pieces of a puzzle were beginning to make sense.
She eyed him, he didn't look stupid and he was already involved in their weird world of crazy. He'd do. "In that case you start tomorrow. You can work weekends and file paperwork in the evenings after you get back from your trail. Ian will send the paperwork."
"Um...what?" Bucky blinked.
Jane rolled her eyes. "You got the job, if you could work on a lab technician certificate that would be useful as well."
".....I didn't apply for a job though?"
////
Wanda stared at what she'd thought was an empty drawer. These Stark apartments were massive to a degree no one could possibly use all of the space. So she'd expected the drawer to be empty...it had very familiar flannel and black tank tops in it. And familiar underwear she was also quite familiar with.
Her cheeks heated as she closed the drawer sharply. When had that happened? She looked at the second bedside table next to her bed. There was a glass of water, a Starkpad, and a spare Quake face mask. She turned and made her way into the main room of the apartment.
"Pietro….how long has Daisy been living here?"
He looked up from where he'd been studying fire accelerants. A faint tingle of amusement accompanying his smirk. "From a different perspective how long have you been living at the Parker house?"
"I…" Wanda processed that. Well that was something wasn't it. "I don't think Daisy knows." She finally settled on. Which she was actually unsure of how that was going to go. "Do you think...I mean….Daisy is not good with…"
Pietro snorted. "You'll be fine."
"She doesn't...slow?" She wasn't sure how to explain the slight fear she felt from Daisy when it came to them. Fear which Daisy responded to with panic, fleeing or punching the thing in the face that had caused that.
Her brother stared at her, his emotions were vibrating with amusement. "Wanda, she's in love with you. We both know that. And she's a spy, she'll catch on eventually."
"I'm being silly." Wanda slowly and deliberately breathed in and then out. She was going to have to talk to Daisy about it though. Which...they really hadn't spoken much about the particulars of their relationship. Her powers were a bit of a crutch there really.
Pietro seemed to follow her thought process. "Or, you could just not mention it to our favorite inhuman till she realizes you two are basically moved in together? It will be hilarious."
"I would never." Her eyes narrowed. "You and Darcy made a bet about this didn't you?"
He just grinned unrepentantly. "Can you blame us?"
"Yes I can." Wanda swept out of the apartment. She was sure Peter and Daisy would be happy to help make their siblings' lives miserable for betting on something that personal.
Wanda lowered her feet on the edge of the building, her powers fading as they no longer were needed to hold her aloft. Her lips twitched as she spotted Spiderman, complete with a christmas sweater over the suit, swinging down the street after a car that was swerving as it squealed down the street. Hot on his heels were police cars, sirens blaring.
She considered joining in only to smirk. It would seem she wasn't needed.
Quake dropped down straight in front of the fleeing vehicle, her vibrations acting like a brick wall stopping the car in a terrific crunch. She stood there like an immovable object while Peter swung in ripping the door off and pulling the criminal out. It would be cool if they weren't wearing matching Christmas sweaters over their suits.The siblings high fived as the cops came squealing to stops as they arrived at the scene.
Her powers lit up as she stepped off the side of the building. She glided gently down to the pavement where Daisy had just shoved the remains of the car out of the way of traffic. Wanda smiled in greeting as she landed. "I see you two have things handled."
"Hey Wanda!" Peter waved while hopping over. "Something up other than a concussed bank robber?"
Wanda smiled at the kid. "I was going to ask if you two wanted to get ice-cream. But I can see I'm interrupting your afternoon."
"I don't know, unless something else comes up I think we could be available." Daisy winked at her while stepping away from the police officer she'd been speaking with. "Whatcha think Spiderman?"
"Supes chill!" The eyes on Peter's mask moved with his facial expressions giving a pleased expression.
Wanda let a thread of her power touch Daisy, just enough the questioning on whether they could talk later would be understood.
Daisy looked at her curiously, while nodding slightly. "So thoughts on the sweaters?"
"Is that a santa spider?" She looked at the design on Peter's chest.
He was clearly grinning. "If I have to wear a sweater we have to wear ones with style."
"Style?" Wanda couldn't help her amused lilt to her voice.
Daisy dropped her arm over Peter's shoulders. "Tis the season. Don't think you're getting out of one of these for christmas dinner. We already got enough for everyone." And there was genuine affection and excitement there. Even without feeling much from Daisy without her powers connecting them, she could feel that.
Wanda had a feeling the sweaters were Daisy's idea. She accepted ridiculous Christmas sweaters were in her future. Also Pietro's. If she had to wear that so did he. "This will be our first Christmas you know, we never celebrated it."
"Do we need to hunt down a dreidel or something for you guys?" Daisy asked, seeming to realize why that would be immediately. "Or uh..the candle thing?"
She couldn't help her laugh at that. "Maybe next year, but we haven't celebrated since we were children. I'm not sure we'd even remember what to do."
Daisy had an expression under that mask of hers that meant Wanda should probably be expecting at the least, traditionally jewish food at christmas dinner.
"So ice cream?" Peter interjected excitedly.
Wanda felt peaceful, her head on Daisy's shoulder as they sat on a shipping container. Peter slinging himself through the training gauntlet. She hadn't had roots, real roots like this since before. Just before. Before Ultron, before Hydra, before the bombs.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Daisy shifted.
She sighed, straightening so she could turn and look at her girlfriend. "I noticed something in the apartment this morning."
"What? Did Pietro bring home a girl again?" There was laughter in her voice, a light to her eyes that said she was happy and relaxed.
Wanda really hated that there was a chance this would change that. "No, he's been spending most of his time in the labs bothering Darcy." She had accepted her brother was going to come home with green hair or without eyebrows or something someday soon. "I realized you have a couple drawers in my room. And a lockbox for your guns, and there is a very hideous zombie coffee mug."
"Yeah?" Daisy's head cocked to the side slightly, her brow furrowed ever so slightly. "And you're using more of my closet than I am and we have those weird crackers you like in the pantry. I mean you've got a seat at the table that's just your seat?"
Wanda resisted reaching out to touch Daisy with her powers. It wasn't...she needed words for this. "You're aware we essentially live together?"
"The agreement to stop trying shower sex because even with powers one of us was going to get a concussion was a sign?" Daisy's lips twitched upwards in amusement only for her to still unnaturally, the very air stilling around them as well. "You did know that right?"
Wanda reached out taking Daisy's hand and squeezing firmly. "I hadn't but I was unsure how you'd react to it. We haven't been dating long enough that it would be typical for us to be doing so." She watched her girlfriend's face. "I'm not upset, slightly confused at how we ended up moving this quickly when we started...slow."
Understanding dawned on Daisy's face, her emotions flowing easily instead of being tightly held in. She laughed. "I think that may be my fault. I've always crammed relationships into down time and admittedly now it's sort of almost all down time."
"That...no that doesn't make sense. What?" Wanda relaxed though, it wasn't the response she'd been expecting but that was a good thing. Still baffling.
Daisy grinned. "Wanda think about my past relationships, I mean Miles and I were probably good? I mean we were fairly stable for cyber terrorists who traveled a lot and only really spent a dozen weekends holed up in shitty hotels. Most of our relationship was via the web. Before that what, fooling around in high school? Then Ward who I just flirted with between missions. Really, typical SHIELD relationships burn hot for short periods of time."
Shifting, Daisy closed off ever so slightly, but not all the way. The pain was palpable even to Wanda without her powers.
"Lincoln and I..it was so busy. We were barely friends and then at war with each other and then I spent so long convincing him to come in. Then we had so little time together. And what we did was crushed into training and evenings afterwards. It wasn't that long between us starting and Hive." Daisy looked away.
Wanda considered what she knew of typical relationships, frankly she hadn't had the time herself back in Sokovia. But it made sense. Inside SHIELD everyone lived in tight quarters. The only privacy to be found was the bunks, and even then only senior agents had private quarters. A relationship for an agent would have to be typically passionate, but brief. Missions or death ending things, and everyone knowing the likely end. "I am sorry you lost him."
"So am I." Daisy looked back at her, smile tight. "Not that.."
"I know." Wanda knew that Daisy loved her. It wasn't a contest, and even if it was Daisy loved so completely once she let herself it would be foolish to ask. "I love you, and I am sorry you lost him."
Daisy leaned in kissing her chastely. Her emotions slammed against Wanda like a freight train though.
Gasping Wanda pulled back, her eyes burning with tears that were not her own. "Daisy?"
"I love you." Daisy reached up cupping the side of her face. "I am so, so grateful for this, what we have."
Wanda reached grabbing Daisy's shoulders, pulling her so close her breath whispered past Daisy's face. "Always. I'm not going anywhere."
She felt like she was burning as Daisy pulled their mouths back together. Her powers boiled with it as they connected. She felt the stars and the earth, their powers merging as they burned. Pain, and love and loss and hope all mixing, turning between and within them.
Daisy pressed as Wanda pulled. Wanda barely noticed as her back hit the top of the container they'd been sitting on. She was too caught up in the feedback loop they'd created to care, she just needed Daisy closer. It ached and consumed.
All things considered it was probably a good thing they were too caught up to properly start ripping clothing off. Definitely a very good thing.
"OH MY GOD MY EYES! THAT'S MY SISTER!"
Chapter 39: Red Nose's and Robin Sees the FutureNotes:Sup! Guys uh...so hey I'm mostly not sorry. That uh angst tag guys, it's been waiting to be relevant. And uh...next few chapters are uh...oops.
Chapter TextPeter dropped onto the top of the cop car. "Hey!"
"Spiderman!" The police officer spun on his heel in surprise, but seemed pleased. "I almost thought Detective Watanabe had to be going on when she said you'd be here for this."
He blinked. "You mean Yuri right? Cause she doesn't like being called Detective Watanabe."
"She almost used a stapler on Peterson's head when he tried to call her Yuriko…" The officer stared at him in disbelief. "How are you alive?"
Peter felt a thrill of delight. "Ha! I knew she liked me." He bounced off the top of the car holding out his hand. "Nice to meetcha! I'm Spiderman."
"Jefferson Davis." Davis shook his hand, his face doing a slight twitch of disbelief.
He pretended to look around like he hadn't done a quick circuit to ensure everything was secure before dropping down. "So everything looking good?"
"We're not expecting much of that to change." Davis crossed his arms looking at the building and several dozen police cruisers sitting around as they all waited.
Peter kinda wished he'd been sent as backup with Daisy against the enhanced Mafia Don. But earning trust back. Also best to be on the scene for the three who had a meeting here today. He got why he was here. "So we just wait while everyone gets arrested right?"
"Basically. This isn't the dangerous bit." Davis settled back into leaning against the cruiser. "It's good to know we've got you and Quake watching our backs. The ones we don't arrest today are going to be looking for vengeance." His face turned serious. "And it's going to create a power vacuum."
His shoulders tightened the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He felt danger there. Peter brushed it off. They could handle it. "We've got this."
"Good to know." Davis looked at him oddly. "I do have to ask, do you need the sweaters?"
His cheeks flushed under his mask. "They're spider-ific."
Peter pouted as he poked at his dinner. "But that was so anti-climatic! I only got to web that one guy's arm who tried to go for a gun."
"Yeah I shot my Don in the face with a dendrotoxin round and that was just kind of it." Daisy agreed, her nose wrinkling. "I mean usually there's more violence before we get to the arresting part...but we did good getting evidence." She held up a hand for him.
He high fived her. "Hero-ing is..way more boring than advertised….like 80% is like...waiting."
"No complaining the mafia didn't shoot at you." May chided while grabbing a diner roll. "I'm just glad it's all settled now."
Daisy winked at him. "We'll just need to spend more time visibly there to keep an eye out for reprisals."
"Everyone ready for tomorrow?" Darcy cut in before Aunt May could protest again.
May smiled at Darcy. "I've got the day off, and I already called the school for you Peter."
He perked up. "I'm so jealous." Peter looked at Darcy. "Do you think they'd let me run it just for fun?"
"You can ask." Darcy snorted. "But it's a total cheat."
Which...Peter sighed. "You're right. I couldn't do it before so I shouldn't do it now."
"I'm sure you can run it before the cameras turn on." May offered. "Which Natasha, Maria, Melinda and I will be watching live at the tower."
Peter paused. "Wait, you're friends with the Black Widow!?"
"She's friends with Maria." May explained like that just made sense.
Darcy snickered. "Supes cool crowd there May. You've even got Daisy's May there. Which we'll stop by afterwards."
"Thank you." May's smile was amused but slightly proud. "I'm not completely uncool."
Peter grinned. "You're the coolest."
"And don't you forget it." May teased gently while passing him the salad. "And eat more greens. I don't care if you're a superhero you still have to eat salad."
Daisy cleared her throat slightly. "So uh...I wanted to ask. It's fine how often Wanda is here?"
"Of course." May reached out and squeezed Daisy's hand.
Peter frowned slightly, he was missing something important. He cringed at the mention of Wanda. He liked her, he really did. Apparently he was very lucky his sister was a spy with vibration powers. Once was enough as far as walking in on them. Or swinging in because shipping containers were not bedrooms. He could feel his face heating. Just so gross. "She's coming tomorrow right?"
"Pietro has a test day after tomorrow so he won't be there." Darcy chimed in.
Daisy's shoulders relaxed further, which Peter really had missed something there. "Wanda's coming. She'll keep you two company."
"You mean cheer you on and enjoy seeing you in a crop top?" Darcy snarked before popping a bite of potato into her mouth.
Peter shivered. "So gross."
////
Kyle was ecstatic, it was time and his Red Nose partner was going to kick ass! And she could, literally and figuratively. He elbowed Mindy Williams in the side. "We're going to kick your team's ass."
"You got a superhero." She rolled her eyes, though she bounced on her toes as excited as he was for the event. "I got an actor with muscles that are for show."
He gave a slightly critical glance at where her actor was currently texting on his phone. Mindy was right, man would have almost no endurance once he was on the obstacles. "How many do you think he'll manage?"
"He'll get three, maybe four of them." She rolled her shoulders. "I can cover for the rest. What about you, Quake as impressive as she looks on tv?"
"More." Kyle wasn't worried she hadn't popped up yet. If he knew her, she was deftly avoiding the camera crew till the last minute. "She's good, really good. If this was for real, in our normal season I wouldn't bet against her making one of the top times. If she subs me in for any of these it's cause she's hiding an injury."
His friend and fellow ninja competitor stared at him. "Seriously?"
"Yup. She's gonna blow through the course." He bounced on the balls of his feet. "We've been doing rock climbing mostly and some aerial work. For all the flying all over the place she does, it's obviously new to her. We spent two hours on the trampolines last week just for fun."
Mindy slapped his shoulder. "That's just not fair. I like my guy but he's not as fit as he thinks he is. Was hilarious to watch him fall off the obstacles the first time he tried them all." She snickered.
"Good for the ego though." Kyle chuckled as he saw the cameras being set up as everyone continued preparing. He spotted Quake sitting in the rafters. Stepping forward he cupped his hands around his mouth. "HOW YA DOING UP THERE?"
There was an audible groan. And then Quake dropped from the rafters only to land easily. The ground barely rattled beneath his feet. She was getting freakishly better at that. She raised a brow at him. "Really?"
"Like I was going to let you hide up there." He clapped her on the shoulder. "Come on and meet everyone."
She sighed, but easily let him pull her towards the other professional ninjas and various famous individuals participating in the charity run. "Fine, but think you can let Spiderman run the course afterwards? He's kind of a big fan and disappointed his abilities would make it unfair to let him compete."
Kyle looked at her and then laughed. "I'm sure they'd be thrilled." He gave a second glance at her outfit. It was...well damn. She was wearing a comfortable and reasonably modest black sports bra with a yellow crop top over the top. Her skintight work out three quarter length pants were black, but the panels on the sides were red and blue with black spider webbing. "Oh wow you're really going for the Spiderquake thing aren't you?"
"Eh, I accidently traumatized him the other day and kinda owed him one." Quake shrugged easily. The usual fond and blatantly affectionate tone to her voice when she spoke of him was easy to hear. "So who all am I meeting?"
He beamed, slinging his arm over her shoulders. Hopefully the others wouldn't stare at the many, frankly concerningly many, scars that littered her exposed skin. He'd had weeks of gym time to adjust to four visible bullet scars, stabbing scars and a lot of what he was pretty sure were knife or glass inflicted injuries. "Mindy! Come meet our own resident superhero!"
Kyle felt like everything was electric. The announcer's commentary was filling the stands, people cheering, his friends and fellow ninjas eagerly grouped up together. He quickly checked Quake hadn't tried to disappear anywhere again.
"Not going anywhere." She whispered into his ear.
He lept straight up a solid two feet with a yelp while spinning around. "Don't do that!" Kyle clasped his hand to his heart. "You're going to end up running this on your own if you keep that up."
"But so amusing." Quake grinned.
One of the actors, Jake, spoke up. "Ok it's been bothering me. Why don't you swing around on webs like Spiderman?"
"The centrifical force would rip my arms out of my sockets." Quake snorted while dropping her hands on her hips. "Spiderman's almost as sturdy as Cap. I may have the least controlled method of flight ever but it's certainly better than risking my shoulders like that."
Mindy whistled. "Damn, makes sense though. No spiderweb slinging for us normal people someday then."
"Sadly no." Quake laughed easily, everyone seemed to be treating her as just another one of them. It was funny seeing it from this perspective. She did slide into the group easily. "Monkey bars do still exist."
Kyle shook his head. "Not as cool as webs."
Darcy Stark made a sound of surprise as she elbowed her way in. "Adrenaline junkies the lot of you. But travel by web is the worst. Almost as bad as if this one tries to fly you somewhere. Feels like your teeth are going to rattle out of your head."
"Oh you've gotten to travel via hero?" Jake gave the woman an appreciative look. "How'd you manage that?"
Darcy just met his gaze without blinking. "Who do you think made the high tech bullet proof suits? Rescue from the paps is a fringe benefit." She turned her gaze on Quake. "You, kick the course's ass. I'm off to cheer with the others."
"I got it, make sure SI has to donate as much as possible." Quake had an amused smirk on her face.
Darcy gave them all a lazy salute before trotting off back to where the other family and friends here to cheer their favorite ninjas on were sitting.
Kyle gave a whistle. "So, chances of you getting me her number as thanks for being the bestest ninja trainer ever?"
"You can ask her yourself." Quake patted his shoulder. "If you do, be on your best behavior. Spiderman might just show you exactly how his webs work if you're not."
Kyle ignored the snickers from the others. Because he knew Quake wasn't dating Spiderman. If they weren't together….oh yeah no he wasn't going to hit on Spiderman's possible girlfriend. Just no. He liked life. Thank you very much. And possible shovel talk by Ironman sounded awful if he was wrong. Either way, bad idea. "I think I'm good."
"Smart choice." Quake turned towards Jake. "What are you guys using for fake blood on your sets? Because it looks startlingly realistic."
Jake looked slightly surprised. "I have no idea, you'd have to ask the prop department. But I think I'm up."
"Come on snazzy pants." Jake's trainer hooked his arm through Jakes and pulled him towards the stage.
Kyle was half vibrating as the clock started. He hopped and then jogged along the side as Quake took off for the course.
////
Daisy felt like laughing. Darcy, Peter and Wanda were on the sidelines happily cheering. Someone, and it had to have been Darcy had made a 'Quake' sign. Kyle looked like he was going to bounce out of his skin from excitement and adrenaline. And to be quite frank the energy and mood of the crowd was infectious. As soon as the timer started she took off at a comfortable jog.
The floating steps, or giant steps standing out of the water were easy enough. Her pace didn't slow at all as she hit the first step easily pushing herself to the next. It was satisfying. As she hit the last step she launched herself forward, catching the hanging rope. Her momentum swung her forward to the platform.
She stopped to wave at the crowd. Daisy stepped to the next obstacle and grabbed onto the red cannonball hanging from a chain. Once she was on it was just a matter of hanging on till it had slid her down the rail. Hanging onto Peter was far more terrifying, also there weren't convenient pools of water underneath when it was Peter. She made sure it wasn't damp, and then swung herself forward and held on.
There was a lurch halfway down the rail and then she was sliding the last few feet. Releasing her grip she landed lightly on her feet. Daisy didn't stop to wave though, she felt like showing off. It was so rare to be free to do so. And this next one was honestly one she'd had to work to learn.
Jumping off the platform she caught the first of the wheels. The Fly Wheels were a series of rotating wheels that had to be swung from. Extreme monkey bars in a way. She caught the narrow, inch wide hand holds of the first wheel. Using her momentum she sent herself flying to the next one.
Daisy could hear the commentators yelling, Kyle was cheering from the side, shouting reminders to control her body. It was invigorating. This, no danger just getting to do this for the fun of it! She took a swing to rebuild momentum before releasing.
Flying through the air she caught the third wheel. Two forward and back swings and she released, arching through the air for the platform. And damn, she was feeling it now. She jogged towards the next one, controlling her breathing. Besides, Block run had to be taken at speed. The faster you went the less the unsteady steps could send you toppling into the water.
Her feet barely hit the rotating blocks before she was taking her next step. She ran straight through it without a fumble. It was like combat, sometimes stopping to breathe was to lose. And she was going to crush this. It felt important to win now...or go as far as possible. Besides, Jake of the tv star fame had made it all the way past the Salmon Ladder, even if his trainer had subbed in for him on a few obstacles.
She didn't pause, just leaping up into the Battering Ram. Her arms locked around the red grip. Her momentum carried her and the battering ram forward a foot down the pole. Daisy was breathing heavy as she hung in the air. But this was doable. Using her core she propelled herself and the battering ram down the pole. As soon as she was close enough she swung herself forward, releasing the first one and grabbing the second battering ram to the second.
"YOU GOT THIS!" Kyle shouted from the side where he was running along with her progress. He'd been punching the air for every obstacle she got past.
Daisy grinned, and then propelled herself forward. Two sliding umpfs of the battering ram and she was able to swing off to the next platform. Shaking her arms out she stepped off the steps to the ground, looking up at the Warped Wall. It was a vertical run up to an overhanging lip. If she failed this one May would have her head.
Leaning back she looked up the wall. Breathing in she exhaled, forcing her heart rate to slow. And then she sprinted the handful of feet she had to build momentum and ran up the wall till she was forced to push off, jumping towards the lip. Her hands both easily caught the lip. A victorious grin on her face she pulled herself up and over the wall.
"Hey, think I can get further than Jake?" She grinned at the commenters in their box.
Daisy laughed, her hair still slightly damp as she followed Kyle backstage to grab her bag. It was cold enough and she wasn't going home while still wet. And she liked him enough to want to ensure he made it safely back to his car. "Well I almost did it."
"Hey, you made it further than most of us do. The Flying Dragon is killer." Kyle tossed her a second towel. "You made it to the second to the last obstacle. With your time you'd have qualified if you'd just run as a competitor."
She grinned, bumping their shoulders together. "I don't think your judges would let me run for real. I might not be enhanced like Spiderman but I'm not exactly human either."
"Eh you just make things shake." He started to raise his water bottle towards his mouth.
Daisy caught his arm. She raised an eyebrow and glanced pointedly at his water bottle.
He frowned slightly but held it out towards her. "What?"
"I can do more than just make things shake." She touched the plastic of the bottle and concentrated. Her eyes closed. It was hard, and honestly she was still getting the hang of it. The complete control necessary was...it was slow going. But she slowed the vibrations in the bottle.
Opening her eyes she pulled her hand away from the frozen water, her breath coming out in a cloud of mist. "I'm still working on it."
Kyle's eyes widened. "Holy shit."
"Yup." Daisy rolled her shoulders, the small area of cold air she'd accidently created fading to just the ambient temperature. Which to be fair wasn't exactly warm. "It's not earthquakes or shockwaves that I control. It's the vibrations between molecules. Still, I kinda suck at using it like that right now."
He blinked. "That is so awesome. But wait, what does that have to do with you not being able to run the course for real?"
Which, she laughed. "I guess nothing." Daisy considered it. "Who knows, I'll mention it to Darcy. If I do it'll be fun to run against you."
"Hey now you got further than me tonight, then I did in qualifying this year." He groaned. "I've made it harder for myself."
Daisy patted his shoulder as they walked towards his car. It was late, they'd had to hang back to finish up paperwork for the whole thing leaving most of the crowds from the event long gone. "It'd be fun." She considered him. "You do know now that I've done this at least a couple of the field agents are going to want to try. I wasn't kidding about us watching the show between missions."
"I'm both excited and terrified." Kyle slung his arm around her shoulders hauling her into a slightly awkward side hug. "You're kinda the best celebrity I could have gotten."
Her nose scrunched up in distaste. "I really don't think of myself as a celebrity. I'm just doing my job."
"Huh, huh. Who was it who signed like a hundred autographs tonight?" His voice was full of good natured humor. "You were cute with the kids."
"Thanks." She brushed some of her hair behind one ear. "It's weird, before SHIELD I would have loved to be a hero. The whole public and in the media thing. But now it just feels...like an itch I can't reach."
Kyle looked at her curiously. "I mean, I don't know a lot but you were like a spy right? I'd think being noticed was probably bad."
"So bad." Daisy snickered. "Although I was part of one op where we were investigating corruption, Hydra and a possible alien artifact inside a Chinese music company. I got sent in as a prospective pop star. God they even released a single with me in it before we finished the op. I don't think the team ever let me or will ever let me live that one down."
He froze staring at her with wide eyes, a delighted smile on his face. "Are you saying there is a video of you as a popstar somewhere?"
"You'll never find it." She grinned, and he wouldn't. After the op she'd purposely fucked with the algorithms on every music site to make it so her song did not come up if you looked for it. You'd have to really scroll while knowing the title to find it. Or have way too much time on your hands. Obscure had been the key there.
His eyes were bright as he looked at her. "Oh I'm going to find it."
"Good luck with that." She turned on her heel continuing the walk towards his car. "Which, how far out did you park?"
Kyle rolled his eyes. "We're in good shape, no need to get snippy. And you're the one insisting to walk me back to my car like some kind of damsel in distress."
"Damsel in distress?" Daisy gave him a playful up down flick of her eyes. "We'd have to get you a dress."
Kyle tipped his chin up. "I'll have you know I'd be gorgeous in a dress."
Daisy laughed, that man had far too much frat boy energy for that to be anything short of comical. She spotted his shitty coup as they reached the parking lot he'd used. Her laughter didn't so much as hitch as she noted an inconsistency.
Standing in the lot, looking straight at them, was a man in a business suit. He wasn't dressed for the weather, no sweater, no jacket, just a plain black suit, black tie, and white shirt. Nothing about him was too nice, nor was it cheap. Exactly, perfectly forgettable. It was like looking at Coulson, your eyes just naturally slid over him. Which meant everything in Daisy went on alert.
She let herself check the surrounding rooftops out of the corners of her eyes, no obvious snipers, but that didn't mean much. Slowly she started to take control of the very vibrations in the air around them. This man was waiting for her, and he'd known to wait by Kyle's car. "Kyle, do exactly what I tell you." Her voice had turned sharp, commanding.
"Wait, what?" He looked at her in confusion but she felt more than saw his metaphorical hackles rising.
Daisy didn't dare stop clocking in every person, and sign of this being a trap. There were security cameras, and a shop's cameras that would cover the lot. Which made it far less likely this was a hit. CIA intimidation tactic possibly? Government was likely, it may be late but this was the city, and a financially prosperous section of it. Terrible spot for a fight economically, or if you wanted any privacy. There were people around after all, no matter how late. Still, she could protect Kyle better if he was close. "Stay behind me, if I tell you to run, run. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, right, I can do that." Kyle's vibrations tightened. "It's creepy business dude who's looking at us?"
She kept herself loose. "This is a terrible spot for an ambush, I believe he just wants to talk. But if something happens you run to the grocery store back there. Do you understand?"
"And call the cops." Kyle carefully fell just behind her shoulder.
Daisy mentally braced herself as they got closer. It was the best she could do. As they came close enough to speak comfortably to the man she hit her beacon to alert Peter and Darcy something was wrong. "You're not particularly subtle are you?"
"I was not attempting to avoid your notice Daisy Johnson." The man's expression was wrong, blank in a way that rang as just...empty. "I did not mean to startle you. I am Noah."
She narrowed her eyes, her name certainly wasn't a secret, very hard to find and unconfirmed, but not impossible. Especially if you were in the intelligence community. Yuri having a friend/contact who could tell her was one thing, this was another. "Who are you with, CIA?"
"I am not with anyone. I am an anthropologist." He stepped forward. "The prophet indicated I should find you."
Daisy could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. His vibrations were wrong, so wrong. It was like feeling the LMDs or the Ironsuits not a person. "Prophet?"
"The father gave you the vision of what once would have been your death." Noah replied blandly.
Robin. He was talking about Robin. Her eyes narrowed. "I'm sure you understand if harm has come to her you won't like what will happen."
"I do not intervene." Noah pulled a wooden robin from his pocket. "This token was willingly surrendered that you would not harm me." He held it out easily.
Daisy recognized it, the wooden toy she'd delivered to Robin once before. If the Hintons needed help she owed it to them. And if they'd interacted with the man before her they needed her. "Right, I'm sure you'll understand I'll need to confirm that."
"That is expected." He replied.
She eyed him warily but took the toy. Sudden ice spread from her fingers up her arm. She had a fraction of a second to recognize the feeling of dendrotoxin before the world went black.