NON-STOP

every day you fight, like you're running out of time. keep on fighting in the meantime; non-stop. why do you always say what you believe? will rivkin. 46 years old. captain kick. they're asking me to lead. what would be enough?

[captaiinkick]

* BETH / retiredmonarch​

beth never expected will to return to headquarters. there were some people, like him and zia, who were perfectly capable of making their own lives outside of the team. but beth failed in doing so the first time and she wasn’t interested in trying an failing again. it was difficult for beth to admit she had nothing else besides the bureau and the exemplars, but it was the truth. and when she really thought about it, her time at the bureau wasn’t a small accomplishment. 

despite how much beth craved approval, she was never very good at taking compliments. especially not from will. she still had trouble believing them even if she knew they were well-deserved. she shrugged, “it’s not really that incredible. i’m just rebuilding what was there and letting the mutants out of their cages. it doesn’t feel like a revolution, it feels like basic decency.” she smiles in return, “busy. but in a good way. how about you? does teaching suit you the way you thought it would?” 

will listened to beth speak, practically feeling shivers at her conviction and level-headedness. he looked at her, genuine appreciation -- coated with awe, still -- flashing in his eyes. part of him wanted to believe moira would be proud. but he didn’t quite want to indulge in this line of thought: this was beth’s own breakthrough. the changes had clearly been instated under her leadership, and what had resulted wasn’t some form of patrimony. 

     “c’mon, beth -- all that was left from the headquarters were debris. it would’ve been easy to rebuild that and resume the old ways. look at what you’ve done, what you’ve achieved...” he meant every word of it, not eager to let brunch end without beth realizing the impact she was making. “you’re right, it is basic decency. but then that must mean the world to them... i think you’re doing more than you give yourself credit for.” 

    “busy. but in a good way,” will repeated, smiling at her. “it does. teaching... it’s incredible. the students, they’re so brilliant, and you can see how they’ve makings of greatness in them. you feel like the luckiest person in the world for getting to guide them, even if only for a few years before they graduate. if you’d ever consider attending the careers day, i’m sure they’d love to hear a few words from the bureau director herself.” 

[captaiinkick]

* TANGO / thecreatvre​

Tango, in deference to humans and their easily breakable bones, does slow his momentum somewhat when he gets close to Will – he still rams into Will’s knees with considerable force, though, hooking a paw around the back of Will’s leg so that he doesn’t topple over. In the absence of a tail to wag, his entire back half is wiggling, so pleased he’s practically vibrating on the spot.

“ON MISSION. TANGO GET… BAD MAN.” The memory of Arthur Klein is still nasty. “TANGO THROW… IN WINDOW. TO WILL. BAD MAN… DROP KNIFE,” he explains. “PORTAL-MAKE KNIFE. TANGO EAT. HAHA.” He hadn’t thought of anything beyond that at the time, just to get rid of the knife. And it had looked tasty. “TANGO GO… IN PORTAL. BAD AIR. BREATHE HARD. TANGO… COUGH. KNIFE… COME BACK. TANGO USE.”

The explanation is a little tiring, to use so many words. But he wants everyone to know!

“TANGO IN… CUBAS. LOST… LONG TIME. WALK HERE. BACK NOW.”

part of will was naturally curious to know how it was tango had survived. but if he were being honest, this was a merely childish whim to know. he was, above all else, glad to know tango was safe. and that he was here. 

    the man smiled widely, keeping his balance against tango’s weight as he scratched him in the head. he didn’t let his smile falter at the mention of klein, even when thinking of him meant thinking about addy and benji too. of course the whole night played over and over in his head. to this day, he couldn’t find it in himself to consider it a victory, not entirely. but he didn’t want to spend time thinking about it now. now he was thankful they were allowed more time with tango. 

   “damn, you must’ve gotten out of that pretty quick: eve said the air was too toxic to stand for long. and then walking back all the way from cuba... that’s... that’s so impressive, and i’m so happy to have you back, tango.” 

    another smile. he couldn’t remember the last time he’d grinned for this long. “you know, if the plates weren’t damien’s parents’, i’d let you have a couple to munch on. i think you deserve all the snacks you get your paws on, you know, for everything you did to get back here.” 

[captaiinkick]

* DAMIEN / valentiincs​

“Huge leap—but I gotta say, teaching suits you. Like you’ve come into your own for some reason; no whip needed.” Damien thinks for a second and grins wickedly, “Maybe a whip needed, if you don’t. If I could just rent it for a weekend—I think I can do something fun with it. You can babysit.”

“And sure, Cassie’s going to love the video calls; I’m not good at, uh, math, myself. So at least I got you to help with homework. Personal tutoring works too, you know—got the guest set up with a mattress for you two, so both of you can see the apartment.”

“you think?” will just asked, but not precisely needing any clarification. h just liked seeing damien in a good mood, as well as being there to share it. “it’s so different from subbing, but then again, griffith is nothing like d.c. they’re totally different settings, and now with zia... for once, change doesn’t seem so scary.” 

  then he laughed, and it felt good to do so with that weight gone from his heart. uncertainties about the future still gnawed at him, but they became more bearable in the presence of a friend.... even when the jokes of said friend half-went over his head. “damien, what d’you-- oh,” there it was. a hearty laugh, and he even blushed. “you’ll keep the whip forever, man. just tell me when and i’ll come watch over cassie. then you can focus on having a well-deserved good time.”

   “yeah, i’ll come help her with homework anytime. though, i’m sure she’ll get through her courses with flying colors -- she’s wicked smart. you guys are welcome to visit us in d.c too -- you know that, right?”

[captaiinkick]

* ZIA / ziadewans​

“A grill sounds great, Will…maybe we could go all out and get some outdoor patio furniture too,” Zia replies with a grin. “I really think we could make a great entertaining space out of that backyard,” she smiles, her mind already going through a million different possibilities. More than anything, she loved having a space they could call their own– the house was already full of personal touches but a nice backyard seemed like it would be the perfect final touch. 

“Why don’t we make an Ikea trip when we get back?” she suggests, “I’ll bet we can find you a grill and do a little furniture browsing along the way…I can even pick up some new drapes for the guest bedroom…”

“a pair of fancy deck chairs would look great,” will smiled, almost able to picture it already. he didn’t care for specificities nor for the layout, but just creating a home together. besides, he loved hearing zia’s ideas and seeing her so excited about the prospect. "i think so too. we’ll be hosting our own brunches soon enough.”

    “an ikea trip...” he repeats, nodding and smiling at the idea at the same time he gently put his arm around her. “we’ll make as many trips to ikea as you want. and to any other furniture store too. i’m sure we’ll keep coming up with things to get along the way -- a new sifter, new pillowcases, more plants... oh, now that you mention guests, how about we call your dad and  have him visit? i’d love to show him the rooms once they’re finished.” 

[captaiinkick]

* EDIE / callededie​

      a hero should be someone with heart ,      edie had always been just a soldier. at least until recently. for years, decades, edie had been envious of the way will connected with others, and pilfered the way he acted to try and get people to connect with him. he had wanted so desperately to be human, and will rivkin was so perfectly human; he became edie’s blueprint, his guidelines. it was true before the team was disbanded, and after all those years in isolation, it was likely even more so when they were reinstated. when will says hello his smile is matched with an almost identical one from edie, faint and polite. if that’s what will believes fits the moment, then he will follow his lead.

        once the smile fades, edie’s face returns to it’s more expressionless standard; his focus on listening to what will has to say rather than keeping up appearances. he nods when will thanks him, but he finds the gesture unnecessary. they all helped people.  ‘  you do not have to thank me, will,  ’  he manages to stay, but stops when the other continues. he takes in the words carefully. there’s a beat, a pause while edie thinks of what he is supposed to do.  an awkward, bigger smile is placed on his features.  ‘  i think i am supposed to laugh, will. this is funny.  ’

        ‘  you know i have struggled with appearing human  ?  ’  he asks. edie had never spoken with will directly about it, but he was sure most people noticed. it had been something he was so self conscious about for his whole time on earth.  ‘  my home … we communicated differently. verbal still, but we did not have the somatic component that is present on earth.  ’  he doesn’t speak about home often, and there’s a quiet sadness in his tone.  ‘  you could just show someone how you felt. it was more efficient.  ’

       ‘  well i tried to learn, to express better, so people would be less uncomfortable around me. i saw the way people liked you so much …  ’  a feeling of embarrassment rises inside of him as he comes so close to admitting the truth, that he had spent the last two decades on earth basing all of his mannerisms on the other.  ‘  i am not perfect, and i spent those years trying to be you, will.  ’

will didn’t know what to say. he had expected a very sensible, clear answer from edie, but not the revelation that followed. he couldn’t even bring himself to feel flattered. there was a certain numbness to it. will found himself thinking back to their first missions and the subsequent press conferences, to the debriefings and meetings. right there, sitting inside the helicopter waiting to be dropped off into the turmoil, will constantly thought of edie -- of what he might do, what he might accomplish with unparalleled ease. his mind had naturally gravitated toward comparison and self-hatred, despite knowing they shared a purpose and a team. 

    edie had been the kind of person will had wanted to be since he was a kid. edie was the kind of individual about whom stories, coated with praise and spoken in awe, were written. and reasonably so -- the man deserved every owe there was to his name, and countless more. a child born in a broken world and turned into savior of the world; a man with an innate ability to protect & defend so many who continuously did not seem to notice what was so grand about his presence within the team. fiction was written about characters like edward turner, and it was that which had precisely inspired will to so much as show up to the initiative audition. 

   will knew he could be instinctively annoyed at edie, mistaking his natural selflessness for obliviousness. hell, edie could probably carry the weight of the heavens on his shoulder and there he stood, claiming to have looked at him for guidance. of course will was speechless -- this was his hero speaking. instead, he listened attentively, trying his best to conceal how moved he was. 

   “edie, i-- i don’t know what to say. at the same time, i just tried to be like you. because i struggled with being too human. we’ve been taking after each other and we just didn’t know.” he wanted to laugh, and he did, though mostly out of astonishment. there was heat in his cheeks. 

    “one thing is putting on a suit and taking in the make-believe. you call yourself a hero, and others do too so eventually there seems to be no doubt about it, right? but that’s not enough: the other thing is devoting a power like yours to something that matters. people will look at someone flashy who makes them feel inspired and reassured, but that person means nothing if they can’t save them: a hero isn’t a hero just ‘cause others tell him he is.” will spoke earnestly, looking at edie with an understanding expression. he thought every word through, not wanting to leave room for unsaid feelings or vagueness.

   “i know how difficult it must’ve been feeling out of place among us humans -- you said it yourself, we... communicate differently; we’re loud and clueless and beat around the bush. but if you ask me, i don’t think you should tailor yourself to us at all. what mattered wasn’t how ‘palatable’ or ‘humane’ you were, but how disposed AND WILLING you were to save the world. being a man of the people isn’t about wide smiles or polite small talk, it’s about your HEART, edie. and we might not even call our organs the same way, but man, you’ve got one of the biggest hearts i’ve ever come across.” 

[captaiinkick]

WHEN & WHERE: brunch at valentine residence; september 4th, 2004 WHO: edie ( @callededie​ ) 

one would think that, with arthur klein gone and the portal closed, the exemplar’s old forerunner would find himself now almost entirely at ease. while not entirely wrong, the burdens seemed to be turning more bearable each passing day. it still ached -- the could have’s and what if’s, each like a silent dagger grazing him unexpectedly. he doubted those feelings would ever go away -- the guilt and the regret, mainly. 

 yeah, regret and guilt were bitter things. and they were there, even now when they’d earned their ending and overcome the hardships. they were there when will looked at edie. edward turner, the golden man. edie, with stardust in himself and wisdom one couldn’t even fathom ( even if he didn’t realize it ). in all honesty, will kept far too many thoughts and feelings about edie to himself. the cover-up used was that he didn’t want to cause turmoil within the team by voicing them, but that was a lie. the truth was that will felt, in equal parts, envious of and intimidated by edie. mission after mission, with his diligence and level-headedness, proved him to be a hero in all senses. will feared edie because he saw it: edie had the makings of a hero in himself from the beginning, whereas will, a mere mortal from butt-fuck nowhere, had to earn it. 

  his hands ever so shaky as he finally approached edie, a clear intention driving him for the first time in ages. will didn’t want to see a ghost when he looked at edie, not anymore. the world was wide enough for the both of them -- it was just a shame it’d taken him years to own up to it. 

  “hey, edie--” will began, smiling faintly and politely at the other. inside him felt like a battle, with him simultaneously grasping for the appropriate words and gathering the courage to express them-- “i- i don’t think i ever thanked you for everything you did for the team. i know that was always the goal, but you were always great out there.”

   “i think i haven't been 100% truthful with you these past years--” a sigh-- “you know, during the earlier missions, i would just see you and i’d feel so... so afraid and apprehensive over the team, because no matter what happened, you seemed to have everything under control. you were amazing, you were perfect... and the team didn’t need someone charming like captain kick. who they deserved was someone perfect... someone like you.”  

[captaiinkick]

WHEN & WHERE: brunch at valentine residence; september 4th, 2004 WHO: eve ( @retiredeve ) 

while he hadn’t foreseen eve to retreat to her own ranch, he couldn’t say he didn’t understand it. while there was no impulse or desire left in him to return to indiana, there was something innately peaceful about the rural setting. maybe sometime in the future, he’d take zia on a spontaneous road trip to that corner of the world, just for the fun of it. 

    “how’s it been at the ranch? have any coyotes bothered you yet?” this last part was obviously a joke; as lackluster of a quip as it’d been, he smiled at it, like a fool. 

[captaiinkick]

WHEN & WHERE: brunch at valentine residence; september 4th, 2004 WHO: beth ( @retiredmonarch ) 

while he had actively chosen to distance himself from the initiative, he had received news about its reformation and the subsequent breakthroughs under the new director’s leadership. he had paid the new headquarters a visit, but only once, in the past ten months; the sight, while still bare-bones at the time of his visit, had left him speechless.

    “everything you, laura and keller have been doing at the bureau is incredible, beth. really. i guess all i can say is... thanks for taking a step toward making it what it should’ve been a long time ago,” he said, offering her a smile. “though, i can imagine you must be busy with rebuilding and all.” 

[captaiinkick]

WHEN & WHERE: brunch at valentine residence; september 4th, 2004 WHO: zia ( @ziadewans ) 

will was beyond thrilled to visit damien’s family and get together with the exemplars after the last couple of months -- however, he’d been having a great time back in d.c. the house-hunting had been fun, and even unpacking had gone by a breeze; moving had been nowhere near as stressful as it was made out to be. he attributed the entirety of it to zia’s company. while their home was still getting put together and being broken out, he could already picture years of wonderful times and memories to come. 

   “i’ve looking at their grill for a while -- what would you say about getting one for the new house?” will asked zia, as he had indeed admittedly been looking at cole valentine cook away for a while. the man’s ease with cooking astounded will-- “we could use it to for some nice cooking during the summer.”

[captaiinkick]

* TANGO / thecreatvre​

[ open ]

It almost seems strange, being truly back in civilization. Tango has spent months in wilderness, lost, and then more months trying to find his way home. But as much as he liked the forest, with the small animals and the big animals and the waterfalls and the freedom, he is happy to be back in the city. It’s the only home he’s ever known.

The team is the only home he’s ever known.

Some of them, he’s seen already. Beth, obviously. Damien. But he doesn’t think the others have been informed. Maybe they wanted to keep it as a surprise, when Tango comes to the barbecue party? Tango likes surprises too, so he will do his best to oblige.

“SUR–PRISE,” he roars, running full-tilt at the first person he sees at the party. He hopes they recognize him – he’s been told he’s gone a bit more grey, which might be very confusing for them! “TANGO BACK. HAHA.”

will hadn’t stopped thinking about the last mission, not even months after its file had been closed and archived, and the memorials had been built. he tried not to dwell on it, thought these attempts all failed. every day, will would stumble upon different sights he thought benji, addy and tango would enjoy. the three, along with cesare, naturally, would always feel like a part of the team, of the family -- for that reason, it’d been impossible to fully let go of their memories, almost a year after their passing.

   as he helped set the table, will even noticed himself counting three extra sets of cutlery and plates ( yes, even one for tango -- for crunchiness’ sake ). but he disregarded the mistake as he forced himself to be present for the ones who were still around. 

   that being said, he almost cost the valentines’  a set of glasses, avoiding dropping them by the smallest bit. he could’ve sworn his heart skipped at beat at such familiar voice. 

   “tango!” will smiled, not even questioning whether this could merely be a hallucination. he didn’t need to: tango was here, alive and breathing. “i can’t believe that... that you’re here! how--? the portal closed behind you, and there was no time.... how did you make it back?”

[captaiinkick]

* DAMIEN / valentiincs​

@captaiinkick​

“I still can’t believe you’re a teacher now—you think I can persuade you to move to New York and teach there? I’m sure Cassie would love Mr. Rivkin as her math teacher.”

“yeah, full-time,” will added, letting out a chuckle. “i almost can’t believe it either. big jump from the initiative, isn’t it?” a can of pop loosely held by his hand, he took a small sip. he liked vermont, especially at this time of the year and even when all he’d gotten to see was damien’s parents’ house the few times he’d visited.

    “-- and i’d be honored to be her teacher. sadly, as much as i like new york, i think a fresh start was very much overdue. but if she ever needs help with functions and algebra, you can always give me a call. what’s this video call thing that launched last year -- skype?”

[captaiinkick]

꧁   𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐊𝐈𝐍   ꧂

𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃 

𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝟑𝟎𝐓𝐇, 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟕 - 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟒𝐓𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔

‹  A DUSTY SMALL TOWN, NOW SOMEWHAT OF A NICHE TOURIST DESTINATION AS THE HOMETOWN OF CAPTAIN KICK  ›

griffith, stuck in time and quaint as ever, stood still. it greeted him when he returned, half of the bruises now gone and the other still stubbornly permeating his skin, yet fading. his right ear was still giving him trouble, and the occasional headache was no longer out of the ordinary. but some days were better than others. some days, getting out of bed was easier. he was now permanently tired, noticing himself run out of breath more easily. 

improving his certification went by in a flash. tasks now seemed more forgiving, less demanding than before, when the problem at hand was stopping large-scale threats. he embraced all the coffee-binging and all-nighter-taking with joy. experiencing that felt so unlike living through the initiative. it was a different kind of difficult, but it was worth it. 

the house is sold to a lovely young couple: first-time parents to twins and owners of three labrador pups. will liked them, and quite a lot. they were well-mannered and incredibly sociable. they thanked him for the place, and promised to take care of it. he didn’t doubt they would - this house was meant for a family, not for just for one man. he’d felt so guilty letting such cozy place go to waste inhabited by only will himself. as he walked out, the moving van parked in the driveway awaiting him, he couldn’t help but smile at the doorframe of what was once his room: “will, age 4: 1.07 cm. will, age 7: 121 cm. will, age 15: 160 cm.” 

‹  RECORDS FILLED WITH LOVE SONGS, INHERITED AND PLACED ON THE SHELF OF A NEW HOME ›

the d.c suburbs don’t take long to feel like home. well, in fact, everything instantaneously feels like home as long as zia was around. and she was. 

domestic life suited him, and he embraced this new kind of ease. with the missions over and more time on their hands, will and zia took their tame making sure each room was decorated just the way they liked it. he kept a stash of memorabilia in a shoe box under his bed, leaving it there to surprise him years into the future rather than be placed somewhere visible around the house. a high school teacher spot opened up at an almost-miraculous timing, and he accepted. 

as he learned how to cook, he thought of beth -- he didn’t blame her for the failed casserole attempts. both cooking and baking proved to be harder than he expected: he has little burns and knife cuts-turned-scars to prove it, like those of the other battles. but the apple crumble and brisket turned out almost perfect every time, and he gave himself the credit. for once. 

  ‹  A SMALL ROOM, FILLED WITH FAMILIAR FACES  ›

his face hurt from so much smiling. zia and will’s wedding went by as a small-scale event, exclusive to family and friends. beth officiated and will laughed and blushed throughout hers and other speeches. it felt surreal -- even after the vows had been long-spoken, he still glanced over at zia, continuously, wondering if he was dreaming. it felt like a kind of heaven on earth, just being by her side. 

they danced at impromptu candlelit dinners and took out an rv to drive around the country. it remained unused for a while, especially during the school year. that didn’t keep him from collecting useless maps or setting up a jar labeled “travel plans” where he’d drop spare change every time he came home. they brought in an adopted puppy too, and will could spend afternoons running around the backyard under the glaring july sun playing with it. 

the realization that this is the place he had always dreamed of being in didn’t come overnight. it just dawned on him, after waking up to the woman he loved every single day, after corny jokes and cheesy anniversary presents exchanged. it had all finally come together so perfectly that will was now only realizing how guilty he was of taking it for granted. 

but it was all idyllic. he hadn’t realized how lonely he’d felt in the past, but now, for obvious reason, there was no incentive in him to even pay mind to that realization. now, he was fortunate enough to be a part of zia’s life, and to see her, their friends and himself finally allowed to exist as people. 

   ‹ A JOYOUS WELCOME, THEN MANY MORE LIKE IT  ›

he was old, and he knew. zia was radiant as ever, but time didn’t forgive either of them. the rooms had begun feeling a bit different -- soon enough, will had come to realize the countless pillow forts put up in the vacant rooms of the house had ceased making it feel less… well, empty. 

he thought of damien and cassie, and his talk with the former about fatherhood. his words echoed in will’s head all throughout the process, from the meetings, to the assessment and orientation and the paperwork. and when the first child came to them, will couldn’t help but agree with damien. it’d all been worth it - all the effort, all the preparation. 

throughout their lives, a group of kids -- mostly teens -- come and go. some stay longer than others before they go to a permanent home. that doesn’t mean seeing them leave is any painless, but will always made sure to write them a postcard. some of them stay. he loved them all the same. he’d learned all of their birthdays, memorized the allergies and the uncomfortable topics that ought to never be brought up at dinner. he didn’t mind eating sprinkled-covered pancakes for breakfast every morning, so long as the kids liked them. every friday, he took some time to make someone’s favorite dish for dinner - zia’s went first, obviously, then the children’s, and then his. when they fostered a girl named adelaide, will cried as he hugged her upon her arrival. he and zia never missed a parent meeting, or a recital - not even a science fair.

he was aging, and so was zia, but that didn’t mean they had to miss out on parenthood. they are there for kids who need them, not as heroes, but just as understanding parents. 

   ‹  DEEPENING LAUGHTER LINES  ›

there was always a very particular sensation that coursed through him when the topic of the other team members came up. it was a mixture of pride and contentment. he couldn’t have asked for a better crew, and simply seeing or hearing of their achievements moved him. 

will always smiled fondly when hearing of eve’s time at her ranch, finding amusement in the switch of their places. he missed edie, a lot, housing so many unsaid things and finding himself clutching the inherited set of keychains a bit tighter when thinking about them. he felt happy for damien and carlos, and marveled at beth and laura’s commitment to groundbreaking changes to the initiative. and of course, it went without saying that he was glad to see tango make it back to them. his return had had will foolishly thinking they’d be allowed a lot more time together, the team reunited and thriving as they deserved. the aftermath of his passing wasn’t merciful, at least not to will. tango’s old age didn’t make his loss easier to bear, but wherever he was this time around - perhaps with cesare, benji and addy -, will hoped he was at peace. 

 ‹  THE SMELL OF STERILIZED HOSPITAL HALLS  ›

will had never really felt at ease in a hospital, but he was no stranger to them now -- they’d seen everything, from dreadfully-scratched knees to broken arms, all side-effects of rough-housing. he put on a stoic face for the children, for calmness’ sake. 

but that time was different. his hair was grey by then, and he had to miss out on all the overly-sugary foods. shame, really - the animal cookie-m&m-sprinkled ice cream was growing on him. many kids had grown up and moved out too, their high school degrees hanging on the living room wall and the cap and gown pictures evenly distributed too. 

he’d lost track of the times he’d had to say “i’ll sit this one out”. he’d also had to take time off from the high school, getting light-headed from standing for too long. 

he saw his father in himself, feeling older than he actually was. will was thankful he at least was granted some leverage, that there were no signs of the disease on the outside. it was a silent passing, nothing that couldn’t be forgotten with an insistent-enough “i’m okay” and a smile. 

he’d been doing surprisingly well til then, calling carlos and damien first thing in the morning of their anniversary, recording vhs-tapes and sending them to edie as he hoped they reached him, checking in on laura, beth and keller and thanking them for revolutionizing the bureau. the man had visited, yes, but he could rarely bring himself to stay for long: the memories still hurt, almost fresh and brand-new when he eyed the addy and benji’s memorial or envisioned glimpses of the old structure in flames, the sight of cesare’s body vivid as if it had all happened yesterday. 

“what did the doctor say?” zia asked.

“oh, nothing - the usual. i’ve still a couple years left in me.”

that last night, he checked the calendar before he headed upstairs. there was a scheduled get-together with the team a week from now - he’d remember, he always did. the kitchen lights were turned off, and he could hear zia having just gone to bed. his vision blurred two thirds of the staircase in. 

the last thing on his mind, was that he regretted not having cherished their last goodnight-kiss enough. 

   ‹  TO FEEL AT HOME  ›

it took a while, though it didn’t feel like it. maybe this was the way edie experienced it, with time going by so differently for him. will regretted not ever extending any of them a proper farewell, and that little, nagging bit of selfishness appreciated that he wasn’t there to see them pass away, for he knows he wouldn’t have been able to bear it. 

he did feel incredibly guilty toward zia for forcing her through such pain ( had he had it his way, he would’ve taken all of her grief and made it his own. she didn’t deserve such suffocating emotions, not when she’d only shown him kindness and understanding ).

but the familiar faces arrived one by one. he could finally have impromptu candlelit dances with zia again, talk to beth about the perils of cooking and to eve about those regarding farming, and have another glass of scotch with damien. hey, maybe they’d even manage to have tango finally meet his cheeseburger-loving cat friend - who knew. 

in a moment of quiet, he thinks of himself, still able to wield the shield yet only lowering it to the ground. he leaves behind the whip and pistol, and the costume. he lets out a breath, and smiles to himself, before thanking captain kick for the last couple of years.

[captaiinkick]

* DAMIEN / valentiincs‌

“I’ve been giving the guy with the scar eyes, but I think he’s taking it the—uh, the wrong way.” Damien’s eyes darted over to the guy at the other end of the party, quickly regretting it and drinking half of his champagne. “I hate these parties. Gives me the willies.”

The leads were solid, and while he would have wanted to look for more things, the Ice Mouth was their only, if not best lead right now. Thank God for Tango. It was an event, and there were several high ranking members of a covert operation in Russia, so there was at least something to be gained here, and if not, there were at least some faces they could give Interpol. Or beat the hell out of. Someone still had to pay for HQ.

“Aren’t there supposed to be speeches to these things?” Damien was smiling, a little forced, just enough to allay suspicion. “Like, mua-ha-ha-ha speeches for bad guys?”

“as they should. i don’t think i could trust anyone in here, of course, except for the team. i feel like we’ve entered the lions’ den,” will shrugged, grimacing slightly. damien was right. but will was already impatient to see the portal -- maybe he was being too confident. maybe it wasn’t going to be as straightforward as he thought it would. this tunnel vision was damning, but he didn’t entirely realize he’d fallen victim to it. what would he do when it was time to face cesare and moira’s killers? what would happen if there were no answers concerning benji and keller’s whereabouts? what if they were outnumbered, with everyone around them turning to be a foe in disguise? what would happen then? 

   will had overlooked these and other nuances. now he stood there, resorting to forcing himself to finding familiarity in places where there was none. 

  “should we do the honors?” will joked, though his voice was monotone. still, he forced a smile for damien. “maybe once we break the ice, they’ll feel more comfortable stepping onto the podium. if there’s anyone who knows how to entertain a crowd, it’s us, right?”

[captaiinkick]

* TANGO / thecreatvre‌

Halfway through Will’s orders, Tango tilts his head, confusion clear. Jump in there? Jump in… the portal? Or jump in… to help fight the monsters?

As Will keeps talking, it seems he means the latter. What Tango did last time was what he does best: smashing the monsters. But what if Will does want him to jump into the portal? Tango can do that! Tango is stronger than fur-less, fang-less humans! But maybe he would be more help if he stayed and fought the monsters? Hmm. This is why he needs Will to do the planning-ahead. It is very confusing. Too many options.

“YES. TANGO READY,” he rumbles, gnashing his teeth as if to confirm the fact. Given the fact that he’s still buried up to his nose in snow, it probably doesn’t look as fearsome as he wants it to. “TANGO TRY… KEEP MONSTER. INSIDE. TEAM… FIGHT BAD. IN SNOW. NEED WARM.” He can only imagine how disastrous it would be if they tried to fight out here. They’d all freeze first! “TANGO SMASH… MANY MONSTER. FOR PROTECT. WHILE TEAM… CLOSE PORTAL.” He pauses. “HOW… CLOSE PORTAL? CAP KNOW?”

will had always liked tango’s questions, even if he hated answering some of them. the thing was, that he was often able to point out observations will missed. he was prone to doubting his confident speech around tango the most out of the team. now, when tango asked about closing the portal, will fell ever so speechless.

   he didn’t know why he was feeling heat in his face. press conferences went fine, mostly, but maybe they did because will always had a speech to fall back onto if all else failed. there was always a teleprompter or cue cards for him to read off of. now, with cesare and moira gone, and the team having long ventured into unknown territory, he knew he had to be more careful with his words. 

  “you’re right. i’m hoping the adrenaline and the fighting will keep us warm. but i’m sure they wouldn’t leave the portal unattended -- if they really unveil it inside, they’ll guard it and stay within the mansion all throughout,” will nodded. he rubbed his hands again, feeling some cold seep through the layers anyway. “if only benji and keller were here to help us with that. i.. honestly don’t know for sure. we’re expecting the portal to be connected to some sort of main system -- likely a computer or device. if we can effectively turn that off and keep it from restarting, i’d hope the portal would close.” 

   “i don’t even know what to expect in there. we don’t want to miss anything that might be important come time for the big reveal. if anything remotely suspicious happens out here, you’ll call out to us, ‘kay?” 

[captaiinkick]

* ZIA / ziadewans‌

“Well, I suppose there’s nothing like defeating a giant squid that gets you in the mood for seafood,” Zia laughs recalling the mission. Somehow those times felt so much simpler, so much less complicated, and yet, there’s a part of her that can’t help but wonder if she’s only come to see the past through rose-colored glasses. 

Sipping from the glass, Zia nods in agreement, “I know…it’s crazy how everything ended up– I just can’t shake the feeling that something is off…these people somehow seem more frigid than the usual gala crowd…”

will laughed along with zia, suddenly realizing the old weight on his chest was no longer there. he’d gotten used to carrying it around, like an albatross around the neck. the circumstances had been, as of late, so dire that he’d taken this recent lightness almost for granted. 

    “you’re right to feel weird. i’m not entirely comfortable either -- and it’s not just because of our current company. i guess i’m worried about us ending up like last time.. or worse.” 

    after drinking again, he looked around. the man would make sure to smile, though not genuinely but convincingly enough, for it not to be suspicious how his eyes swept the room. he whispered, playing it safe: “do you think these people are somehow undercover affiliates of theirs, then?” 

[captaiinkick]

* ZIA / ziadewans‌

Zia follows Will’s lead, scanning the crowd carefully for any signs of a familiar face. Their effort seemed futile given the sheer number of people that surrounded them, but Zia was hopeful that between the two of them, they might catch a lucky break. It felt good to be working with Will again– there was a certain ease and comfort she had found with him that she was in no hurry to let go of.

“What’s can I say? I guess we were long overdue mission for a mission with some perks,” Zia chuckles warmly, “But I’m okay…all of this is just so strange…I just hope we’re not too late…”

“But how are you doing? Seeing anyone or anything that’s catching your attention?”

will took a sip of champagne, ceasing to look at the crowd and turning to zia instead. every now and then, he’d swiftly gaze over her shoulder. still, no faces had struck him as seeming somewhat familiar, despite scanning the room god-knows-how-many times. 

   “you’re right,” he smiled genuinely, internally laughing to himself-- “i think the closest we came was that time we stopped kraken from crushing that one small restaurant and the owner gave us free food as a thank you.” for a moment, he couldn’t help but feel slightly nostalgic when thinking of past missions.

   “i’m sure we’re not. everyone seems on edge, which makes me think we haven’t missed anything big,” will assured, lifting the flute up to his mouth again. “i’m... okay too. i wouldn’t have imagined we’d end up here. but all that aside, no. it looks like your average gala in that sense. what about you?”

[captaiinkick]

* BETH / retiredmonarch‌

“jesus christ, will,” she breathed, surprised by his response, “you aren’t talking about murdering someone just because they recognize me? and how exactly do you expect us to discreetly take someone out in a crowded room?” 

“that’s a good question, but maybe not for right now,” a nervous laugh played under her breath, “i’ll have proper answer at the end of the night.” 

“of course not, beth,” the brunet chuckled, though lightly. the gesture seemed innocent enough -- to any outsider currently staring in their direction, it would seem as though he were merely reacting to a joke of hers. “i was thinking about getting him out of here -- lock him in a bathroom or some room inside. shouldn’t be too hard finding one - this place looks massive.” 

   but then, he sighed. “to be honest, i don’t know -- you’d be better off asking damien or laura how to carry out an effective stealth attack. at the end of the day, being quick and silent is key. how about we figure once it happens?” 

   “that’s a decent response.” if he had a glass in hand at that moment, he’d raise it to her answer. “we’ll be fine, i’m sure. we know to brace ourselves this time around.”