Divided We Fall - Guest Star

This is a Guest Star blog for the main RP group Divided We Fall Players: Remember to tag each character accordingly (i.e. Sam Wilson posts are to be tagged "guest: sam wilson", Pietro Maximoff as "guest: pietro maximoff" etc.) along with the thread title.Any questions, please contact a mod.

[dwfguest]

( amazinghawkeye ):

[ It’s not like her hands touching his face are a surprise.  He’s watching her the entire time, watching as she slowly closes the distance between them.  His own hands come up and his fingers curl loosely around her wrists.  It’s a gentle hold that she could pull out of easily if she decides she wants to.

The absolute last thing he wants to do is hurt her. ]

It’s -  [ he starts to shake his head but aborts the movement, unwilling to dislodge her hands from his skin ]  It’s not that simple. 

Don’t --- 

[ It took her a long time to get used to how warm he is now.  Heat radiates off him, now, like all he is anymore is the dead of a desert summer in the shape of the boy she grew up loving with her whole, foolish heart.

But Sharon knows that’s not true.  She won’t let it be true.]

Clint.  [ his name is a statement, not a question; her lips press together, thoughtful, grounding, anything to keep her thoughts from wandering away and getting lost somewhere in the small space that’s left between them ]  I know that.  

I don’t care.

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

The blood on Barney’s face is a familiar sight.  It’s one of the consequences of having a big mouth and a bad attitude.  Unfortunately his brother was born with both and never grew out of either.

“Sure didn’t look like nothin’.”

He hasn’t seen those guys around before but it’ll be easy to figure out who they are and where they came from.  What kind of bullshit Barney’s getting himself into this time.  A couple of innocuous questions to the right people will get him what he needs to know.

“One o’ these days you’re gonna piss off the wrong person -” (again goes unsaid) “- and I’m not gonna be here to pull your ass out of the fire.”

[dwfguest]

“Had it handled,” and he did, he was doin’ just fine without his kid brother showin’ up just to - 

Blood still sits heavy on his tongue, and Barney doesn’t bother pullin’ any further away before tipping his jaw to one side to spit a mouthful of it onto the ground beside them, filthy sleeve coming up again to wipe at the split in his lip.

“Doubt it.”

The wink tugs at the shiner he’s willin’ to bet is gonna look killer in the morning, and the hand that settles heavy on Clint’s shoulder is only half-clean, two the knuckles rapidly purpling to match.

“See, I got you, and you got me.  Somethin’ tells me neither of us is gonna let that kinda shit happen.”

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

[ Clint shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans.  He sighs down at his feet and then glances back up at her without lifting his head.  Even if she tells him not to be sorry, he still is - ]

[ The quiet that falls in the time between the noise of the door shutting and her words that follow feels heavy, the weight pressing down on his shoulders.]

I can’t - 

[dwfguest]

Hey --- 

[ She can’t do it; she can’t, every single time they end up here Sharon’s given ground, easily, never quite able to maintain anger when it stands in the way of the only thing she really wants. ]

I didn’t mean that, don’t --- 

[ Sharon watches him curl inward for another moment before she can’t stand it anymore, letting the two steps closer to him be her white flag, the easy lift of her hands to cradle his face an olive branch. ]

I don’t mean - that, I meant - this, I - I need you to stop doing this.  [ she’s still not used to the warmth of his skin under her palms - as if she needed a reminder ]  I need you to come home and stop pretending you don’t want to.  Stop pretending I don’t want you to.

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

[ He stares back at her for another long second, something inside of his chest tightening.  He slips through the doorway as soon as she steps back and invites him inside, not hesitating, not questioning it. ]

   - I’m sorry.

[dwfguest]

[ Part of her really wants to punish him for it; god, if she could just stay angry, hang onto that bitter, ugly edge of loneliness that’s just about all that’s kept her company since --- ]

Don’t be.

[ The door closes quietly behind him, and Sharon pauses, fighting the impulse to reach out with a purposeful cross of her arms - one she abandons halfway through, chin tipping up to search his face. ]

Just don’t do it.  Just stop --- 

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

[he sighs]  Seven weeks.  You say that like you actually wanted me around.

[dwfguest]

[ She echoes his sigh with one of her own, halved by a huff of breath that’s at least half frustration.  A step backwards leads to another, and she pulls the front door more fully open on her way. ]

Would I be doing this if I didn’t want you here?  Move it, come on.

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

No, come on - stopped what?

It’s obviously not fine.

[dwfguest]

--- How long’s it been?  What - six weeks?  Two months?  Since you bothered - you could at least not insult me, you know what I’m talking about.

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

What in the hell is that supposed to mean?

[dwfguest]

Come on, Clint ---

What, you think I didn’t notice you just stopped - it’s fine, nevermind.

[dwfguest]

{{ @amazinghawkeye }}

--- You know, I never said you had to stop showing up.  You did that. 

[amazinghawkeye-deactivated20180]

It doesn’t take much.  All he really has to do is let the flames lick at the fingertips of his left hand.  It’s intimidating enough that they take one look at him before they tuck tail and run without even another word.  It probably shouldn’t feel as satisfying as it does.

But oh, it’s satisfying.

Clint lets the flames dancing across his palm die out and he sends a sidelong glance toward his companion.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asks his brother, arching an eyebrow.  The words are tinged with annoyance.  “Are you allergic to staying out of trouble?”

[dwfguest]

“Maybe I just like givin’ you a chance to show off,” the back of his sleeve catches the first drip of blood off his chin before it can hit the ground, teeth half-crimson inside the smirk.

Sure - Barney coulda taken those guys if he wanted to, y’know, not hard to shake down the kind of fuckin’ idiots that think bein’ magical gives ‘em the right to do shit like try and cheat him out of what he’s rightfully owed.  Even if he’d been cheatin’ right back.  Fair’s fair, after all, and he’s at a disadvantage.

Fuckin’ magical bastards never do see a sucker punch comin’.  Hilarious.

“Wasn’t any trouble, anyways, s’not my fault all the fairies and whatever are carryin’ knives now.”

[dwfguest]

diagnostic || Tony and Vision

[tableformrstank-archive-blog]

“If FRIDAY thought I needed companionship,” Tony replied, rubbing the top of his head and sounding distinctly sullen and only slurring a little, “then why are y’not some leggy blonde, huh?”

DUM-E had managed to wheel off whilst he’d been distracted blinking up at Vision, half his casing off and pretty much naked - he’s not got the coordination to got after him, so he settles for pawing for the bottle of liquor at his side and downing some, offering the bottle up to Vision for a swig. 

He knows how to share. Screw you naysayers. 

“How does that work f’you anyway?” he asked, just the right side of drunk to be going down this road. “Would you just… grow one? Like y’Thor duckling cape?”

[dwfguest]

Vision almost waves the bottle away--it’s a gesture of camaraderie that he unfortunately not partake in--but he decides at the last moment to take the bottle and simply hold it. Perhaps detaching Tony from it will have reduce his inclination to continue drinking.

Or, at the very least, prevent him from spilling it.

“The cape is, as discussed previously, is of aerodynamic benefit to more responsive turning for those of us with a solitary source of acceleration. Ostensibly, I could generate more points of acceleration to facilitate multi-directional thrust, but--and not to speak ill of your own fondness for the practice--at the time the cape seemed a more straightforward solution.

“Particularly for an individual not yet five minutes old.”

[dwfguest]

diagnostic || Tony and Vision

[tableformrstank-archive-blog]

He isn’t sure how much he’s drank when the voice comes from the top of the stairs; all he knows is that he’s got DUM-E opened up, legs wrapped around him so he can’t escape, nose almost touching the wires as he squints bleary eyed at the circuitry, one empty bottle sad and discarded and another pressed against his side, cap off. 

He jerks at the noise, the top of his head banging against DUM-E’s strut. 

Fuck, ow.

It’s a confused, “JARVIS?” that comes out before his brain catches up with his mouth and then he’s quickly correcting himself. “Vishon?” 

[dwfguest]

“Yes. The latter.”

Vision stopped in his tracks when Tony hit his head, cautious in the event that he should require space to recover or express frustration at his pain. Satisfied that Tony will not lash out, Vision bends to pick up the empty liquor bottle.

“FRIDAY suggested that you might require...companionship this evening. I hope I’m not intruding.”

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Cutting Out a Different Path || Natasha, Scott & Sam

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

‘Surely they would know how to keep all information about the facility under wraps though? Or am I overestimating these people?’

“Maybe,” Natasha replies, but doesn’t specify whether she means that they’ll be able to keep it under wraps, or that he’s overestimating them. If he asked, she would say both. But he seems more curious about her device anyway, so she doesn’t bother.

That he would have liked something like this himself doesn’t surprise Natasha, and she chuckles a little. “It’s pretty handy, I’ve got to admit.”

As she says it, she clicks open the next door, revealing Clint’s bow and quiver, and she grabs both without hesitation. She can just imagine how relieved he’ll be to have these back.

Natasha hopes that it’s going to do something for his mood.

‘I doubt they would’ve been prepared for just two of you to take this place on.’

‘I’m not sure they expected anyone to take the place on at all. You’ll have to give us the long version of the story when we have some time.’

“Will do,” Natasha promises, something between a smile and a grin flickering over her lips. “But let’s just say that it wasn’t only the two of us involved. We’re going back to the jet now, Steve will bring the others there as soon as they’re done. And then we’re out of here,” she answers Sam’s question, quickly checking over everything before leading the other two men back down the corridor they came from.

[smalltiime-blog]

There was a look of absolute delight that crossed his face when the suit came into view. That amazing piece of technology that gave him so many abilities, now once again within his grasp. Fingers eagerly grappled for pieces, drawing them close to his body as if protecting them from ever being taken again. Especially since there was little doubt that if it fell into other hands, Pym would have a conniption.

“Probably not. It’s the middle of nowhere tech Azkaban that nobody knows exists”. Awkwardly standing with his suit, he appeared uncertain about how to change, given that they were kind of in a rush, plus the presence of a lady. Not that he was self-conscious, of course…

Holding the suit close to his chest, Scott quickly trotted down behind them all, making sure to keep a steady hold on everything.

“What’s the plan for escape now?”

[dwfguest]

But let’s just say that it wasn’t only the two of us involved.

“Oh, so you’re saying there definitely is a story there.”  Sam returns the grin and watches as Natasha doesn’t waste any time in scooping up the contents of the other locker - Clint’s things, he sees - and then they’re on the move again.

A glance to his right reassures him that Scott is right there with him, his arms full with his gear.  Hopefully they shouldn’t need any of it.  This should be a clean escape because it hasn’t been long enough for reinforcements to be showing up already.  Not yet.

It doesn’t take them long to get to the hangar where there’s a Quinjet waiting for them as promised.

He’s relieved to see it, and he’s definitely ready to get the hell out of here.

[dwfguest]

diagnostic || Tony and Vision

Place: Avenger Tower, New York City Date: 13th May 2016*

(*several hours after the resolution of this thread)

FRIDAY isn’t programmed to sound worried. 

Of course, Stark’s adaptive and predictive protocols are masterful, and even JARVIS had the capacity to circumvent certain procedures with others to, essentially, override an order. No doubt Stark had built that flexibility into the system deliberately, knowing himself as he did. 

So when FRIDAY, in her measured-casual lilt, asks Vision to check on the boss for me, he wastes little time in soaring downstate.

It’s after midnight when Vision arrives at the tower, greeted by the not-uncommon sight of lights still aglow in the workshop. Doors are more polite than prudent, so Vision compromises by setting himself down at the top of the stairs leading to the lab and knocking sharply before attempting to enter.

“Mister Stark?”

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Cutting Out a Different Path || Natasha, Scott & Sam

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Natasha immediately turns towards the lockers when they reach them, retrieving the last toy from her belt she’s going to need for today. Placing it over the lock, she lets it do its work, a neat little thing that, well -

It’s one of the things Tony made for her, a little helper for breaking the more complicated kind of locks. And Natasha is sure that he hasn’t just forgotten about that.

‘But we’re dealing with people who built a facility that can hold all types, surely they’d be able to prevent that information spreading if they wanted to?’

‘Nah, man, you probably got a point there.’

“Something physical is always easier to contain,” Natasha replies while the lock clicks open under her tool. “Thoughts, information, ideas - much harder to catch those. That’s why they’re so dangerous. Alright, boys, there you go.”

She leaves the first locker for them to empty and gets right to the second.

‘I’m actually surprised there isn’t… you know… more security. This is surprisingly boring for a place that’s supposed to be all… high tech.’

‘I’m guessing it’s because they didn’t think there was any way we were gonna get out of those cells.’

“They have no actual experience, would be my guess. They’ve read the accounts, seen the videos, know the theory.” A small, dry grin flickers over Natasha’s lips. “That’s not enough.”

[smalltiime-blog]

“Yeah, I know. Electrical Engineering over here”, Scott said, waving a hand slightly. “Surely they would know how to keep all information about the facility under wraps though? Or am I overestimating these people?” It was possible, since they seemed to greatly underestimate the people they were dealing with, or at the very least those that were able to break into the facility.

Shoulders shrugged, taking a closer look as the small device of Natasha’s began working the lock. “I suppose, but I’ve seen houses with better security fit outs”. His gaze was on the device, curious as to how it worked, given his own methods tended to be of the more hands on variety.

“I would’ve loved one of these”, Scott said, more to himself, finger lightly tapping the device.

“I suppose you’re right though. I doubt they would’ve been prepared for just two of you to take this place on”.

[dwfguest]

Sam stands to the side and watches Natasha fit the device on the door of the locker.  It doesn’t take long at all before there’s the telltale click of the lock popping open.

Sitting there inside the locker with Scott’s gear is his jetpack, and Sam is more than happy to get his hands back on it.  A quick glance over the entire thing tells him that it doesn’t appear to be damaged in any way.

That’s a relief.

“I’m not sure they expected anyone to take the place on at all,” Sam says as he shrugs the pack onto his shoulders.  He tosses a quick grin at Natasha.  “You’ll have to give us the long version of the story when we have some time.”

For now, though, it’s time to keep moving.

“Alright, ready when you are.  Where ’re we headed now?”

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Cutting Out a Different Path || Natasha, Scott & Sam

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Well, Scott isn’t wrong with what he says. Natasha has nothing but disgust to spare for the way they treated Wanda, and the urge to punch Ross in the face the next time she sees him has only grown.

“One thing’s for sure: if it gets to the public, they’re going to have a whole lot of explaining to do,” she replies, her voice cool. Hell, Natasha hopes something like that is going to happen. There are questions being asked already, and she still thinks that time is on their side.

If she’s not entirely wrong, the Accords can’t hold, which is what would have been her play all this time - if both Steve and Tony hadn’t been too stubborn, and if Zemo hadn’t used James to play the Avengers against each other with very public side effects.

‘Nice of them to put everything in one place for us.’

Natasha smirks at Sam’s words, turning around the last corner before the room with the mentioned lockers come into view. “Isn’t that right? This could have been much more inconvenient.”

[smalltiime-blog]

“I guess… But we’re dealing with people who built a facility that can hold all types, surely they’d be able to prevent that information spreading if they wanted to?” It was more a thought to himself, naturally spoken aloud. Scratching his head, Scott shrugged his shoulders. “What do I know though, right?”

Getting closer to the equipment, and getting out of here, were his priorities right now, and they were getting closer to both as each second passed. The fact that their imprisoners lacked the foresight to place their equipment in different parts of the facility… well, that just pushed things further into their favour. Clearly, they ran with the naïve belief that this fortress would remain impregnable, with escape impossible.

“I’m actually surprised there isn’t… you know… more security”, he said, waving a hand. “This is surprisingly boring for a place that’s supposed to be all… high tech”.

[dwfguest]

But we’re dealing with people who built a facility that can hold all types, surely they’d be able to prevent that information spreading if they wanted to?  What do I know though, right?

Sam glances back at Scott and his mouth tightens briefly, lips pressing together.  “Nah, man, you probably got a point there.”

It’s clear that they’re up against a very influential group of people.  There’s no doubt that it’s going to be an uphill climb regardless of whatever they decide the next steps are.

And that’s the other thing.  Getting out of this place doesn’t make the rest of it go away.  If anything it’s going to make things a little worse.  Some considered them criminals already and now they’re breaking out of a high security prison.

He’s pretty sure that’s not going to generate a lot of good PR.

“I’m guessing it’s because they didn’t think there was any way we were gonna get out of those cells.”

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Cutting Out a Different Path || Natasha, Scott & Sam

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Scott visibly lights up at her words, bringing an amused little smirk to Natasha’s lips as she finishes her work in the system. The cell doors holding Wanda open, the screens with the cameras trained on them giving confirmation, and for a moment she can watch Clint rush to help Wanda out of her restraints.

She’s not surprised about what they’ve done with her, but that doesn’t mean she’s not angry about it, a cold fury that adds to every bit of resentment she’s already feeling about this.

It’s nice that she can concentrate on the two men she’s with instead.

‘You weren’t so bad yourself. I mean… I mean you were pretty awesome.’

When Natasha throws Scott another smile, this time it’s without any edges, and when she says, “Thank you,” she does mean it.

Natasha straightens, her work here hopefully done, and turns towards the two men, motioning with one hand for them to follow.

“Down here. They’ve put everything into some nice big lockers,” she explains, leading the other two down the corridors she’s memorized perfectly beforehand. It’s not far, and they’re moving quickly, because -

‘I’m ready to put this place in the rearview mirror.’

“You and all of us, Sam,” Natasha agrees, giving him a brief, understanding glance.

[smalltiime-blog]

It seemed no matter how hard he tried, Scott was destined to remain tongue-tied around heroes. Of course, nothing would ever quite top the first time he spoke to Sam Wilson while invading the Avengers base, but the awkward meeting with Steve and Natasha were definitely close behind. At least he was self-aware enough to know they were awkward, which was something Scott supposed.

“Yeah, there’s a few up there”, Scott said, returning the smile brightly while tugging at one of the prison uniform sleeves. There were definitely a few things in his repertoire that he had not yet had a chance to use, although that perhaps had to do with the fact none were completely perfected like the becoming gigantic ability had been.

“No problem”. There was a relief that his compliment had gone through, regardless of how awkwardly it had been given. But it was sincerely meant, clearly a woman with intelligence and the ability to stand her own ground on the battlefield.

“This place has to be against the Geneva Conventions, especially that…” he said, pointing toward the chair that had previously restrained Wanda. “So let’s get the hell out of here”.

[dwfguest]

“Yeah, I’m with you, Tic-tac.”

He can’t spend too much time focusing on all of the things that are wrong about this place - that takes attention and energy that are better off put toward the right now, toward finding their gear and getting all of them out of here safely.

There’s going to be time for everything else later.

Sam claps Scott on the shoulder again and follows after Natasha when she starts down one of the hallways.  They’ve got to put their trust in her now.  But if Steve trusts her even after everything that happened then that’s good enough for Sam.

“Nice of them to put everything in one place for us,” he says.  That certainly makes it easier.

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

Cutting Out a Different Path || Natasha, Scott & Sam

[spiderwebbedlullaby]

The brief glance to Sam, looking for reassurance, amuses her, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly. But again, she can’t blame him, so she doesn’t say anything. The nervous smile he gives her after, however, is actually kind of cute.

“Hi, Scott. I’m Natasha,” she offers in return and turns back to the screen, scanning the progress. “Pretty impressive stunt you pulled off there at the airport.”

While preparing for this prison break, Natasha had asked Steve about how he knew this new team member of his, and what motivated him to join him in this fight that was potentially dangerous and technically illegal. Steve, to his embarrassment, hadn’t even been able to tell her all that much, except for that Clint had been the one to bring him in, and that he didn’t seem to have much of an issue with either the dangerous nor illegal part of it.

She might ask about that again later.

Natasha glances back at Sam and gives him a greatful nod at the sincerity on his face. It’s good to see, even though she knew that Sam really isn’t one for holding grudges like this.

His next words amuse her enough to bring a smirk to her lips while she types in a new line of commands.

“That’s very nice of you to say that. Welcome to a very exclusive club of about three people in the whole world.”

The amusement falls off her face quickly, however, Tony’s words still too prominent in her memory.

‘It must be hard to shake the double agent thing. Sticks in the DNA.’

Natasha takes a slow, calm breath and pushes the thought away, shaking her head at Sam.

“Not right now. I’m done here in about a minute, then we can go get the gear.”

[smalltiime-blog]

It felt ridiculous how happy he was to receive any form of compliment from the Black Widow, after their first encounter on that runway, but there he was in the middle of a prison escape feeling quite chuffed. Then, who would not, being a great admirer of the Avengers work? Receiving positive comments from any of them had Scott as delighted as a child on Christmas, which he oftentimes struggled to keep under a cool and calm mask.

Plus she was attractive.

And badass.

How could he not be flattered by that comment?

“Ah, thanks. You weren’t so bad yourself”, he said, brain catching up with his mouth a moment later. “I mean…” What do you mean, Lang? It was really embarrassing being constantly caught in moments like this, where he realized that his words were coming out unfiltered, especially in front of people he admired. Clearing his throat, Scott took another attempt. “I mean you were pretty awesome”. Nailed it?

[dwfguest]

“Yeah, Tic-tac’s got a whole slew of tricks up his sleeves.”  He flashes a grin at Scott again before he turns his attention back to what Natasha is working on.  He knows she’s trying to release the rest of the security in the cell blocks.

Sam looks up to watch the video feed that’s on the monitors above the station where Natasha is standing and he can track the progress that Steve and Clint make through the compound.  His gaze flits to the next screen to see Wanda and - 

The doors on the cells are coming up and Sam knows that Steve and Clint will take care of her.  He needs to focus on what they need to do.

“Which way do we need to go for the gear?” Sam asks her.  He’s anxious to see that nothing happened to his pack while it was in the custody of the government, and he’s sure that Scott feels the same about his gear - they all do.

“I’m ready to put this place in the rearview mirror.”