#ax starter

[readytxcxmply-blog]

Finally Ready | Bucky & Steve

He knew this was a bad idea. He wasn’t on hundred percent. He was still struggling. He and Wiccan needed more sessions, more time to sort out their thoughts from the mess that HYDRA left his brain in. But hearing where he’d be...hearing that Steve was so close and in a place so full of memories he could almost taste it...he couldn’t resist. 

He found that small apartment so easily and it wasn’t hard to dredge up the memory of where the spare key was hidden, under the rock. He bent to pick it up, feeling it over in his flesh hand. He had a moment of hesitation, not sure if he should do this. But he had to see Steve and waiting felt wrong somehow, like he could do this. He unlocked the door, wandering into the home like he belonged. 

He closed the door behind him, looking around the apartment. He was hit with a rush of memory, seeing everything like it was years and years old, rather than modern. He could barely breathe. “Stevie...” He whispered out, brushing his metal hand over a counter, a cabinet, a couch. It was all too much and he stood, dazed as he took everything in. He wasn’t sure if Steve was somewhere nearby or not, he could barely process anything. 

@idontlike-bullies

[photographyandwebshooters-blog]

Take Me Under Your Wing | Peter & Clint

Peter made his way into Avenger’s tower, his breath catching in his throat. This was a lot. This was...amazing. Everything was almost overwhelming. There were so many things to see, people to talk to. One day, he hoped to be here more permanently. He wanted to be an Avenger. He hoped that one day he could be a full on Avenger, rather than just the kid that worked for Tony Stark and occasionally swung around on a web. He couldn’t just spend all his time with Deadpool. As much as Deadpool would love that. And so he made his way through the tower, deciding right then that he would be one. An Avenger. He would make it happen. Now how did he go about signing up? 

He sighed, feeling awkward as he stood at the bottom floor of the tower and waited. He had come to drop off something for Mr. Stark and now he didn’t want to leave. He looked like some star struck kid and he knew it. 

@hawkeye616 

[ch4mb3r-blog]

Fourth Rule of Fight Club // Jubes & Jono

@short-fuse-long-jacket

/Like I’ve said, it’s… nothing terribly special,/ Jono reminded her as they stepped into the kind of dive bar that was common around college campuses: dim, smelled of beer and stale cigarettes, and had a comfortable layer of grime that made you feel okay to put your feet on something but probably wasn’t a health code violation. It wasn’t crowded but it wasn’t empty, either, conversations kept to a comfortable background hum. /But it’s close enough to campus that they’re accustomed to the odd mutant, and far enough that we probably won’t run into anyone to get us in trouble./

Jono tugged off his gloves and pushed a hand through his hair to try and sort it out after the motorcycle helmet, then offered a casual wave to the bartender as he gestured for Jubilee to lead the way and grab a stool, following after. /This is Ed. Ed, Jubilee. She’s a good friend of mine./

The man behind the bar looked like he’d been recruited straight from the local biker gang, all bald head and long grey beard, and he gave Jubilee an up-down look before grunting. “What’ll ya have?”

[short-fuse-long-jacket]

Finding Home || Ororo and Jubes ( 8 years ago)

None of them had cell phones but they had their ways of getting the word around that something was going on today. J, a blonde who kept details about her past as brief as her name, had seen the guards gathering towards the front entrance of the mall rather than doing their usual rounds. Sean was the newest resident and so the guards didn't know his face yet, so he was able to get close enough to overhear, someone was coming. The smart thing would have been to clear out for a couple days. LA had more than enough abandoned buildings to go around, but few tended to be climate controlled or free of used needles. Anyway, they'd all tried that at one time or another and something brought them back here every time. Maybe it was that in the mall they could pretend for short stretches at a time that they were just normal kids. Maybe it was the unending supply of food from the food court if you weren't picky about who hate the first half of it. Mostly it was stupidity and a feeling of ownership over this place. It was their home and they weren't leaving, no matter who was coming to get them out.

[youbutfaster]

A Walk in the Park || Kate and Tommy

@itsjusthawkeye

Hey, Kate, can we talk? usual place in central park at midday? I can shout lunch.

Tommy had been wishing he just called ever since he sent the text. It would have been much easier, but he’d decided it was best this way. This way, she had an easy way to get out of it without actually saying no. 

It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her since it happened. He had to make sure she was okay, but they hadn’t been alone together, and not for any length of time. 

At the very least, he’d been keeping himself busy. Leaking the data they’d stolen to the press had been gratifying, but it put him into the public eye, at least to a certain degree. He no longer had to keep looking over his shoulder, though...that was really something. It was an incredible feeling. 

With that in mind, he should have felt better than he currently did, but lately, his mind was in shambles. He thought about Kate almost constantly. And about Stark, and about what Pietro had said, and Billy...it was hard to think about anything else. He hadn’t been out patrolling much, either. With Kate incapacitated and Billy and Teddy newly engaged, the Young Avengers were currently on an unofficial hiatus, at least when they could afford to be.

They’d had a warm spell in the last few days, although the December chill was well and truly setting in. Tommy had brought Daisy along on her leash, wearing that hideous Hanukkah pet sweater he’d impulse bought for her last week. He stopped alongside one of the benches near the food stand the Young Avengers used to frequent after training, taking a seat and lifting the dog up next to him. 

[foriammighty-blog]

Worry Not, I’ve Returned [Romanoff + Odinson]

The universe was a very different place for Thor now that he was no longer anxious to take over for his Father as the King in Asgard. He admired the Allfather for his strength, but now he realized it wasn’t his destiny to follow in those steps. He’d learned in his own time on Midgard and through his time spent alongside the Avengers that a lifetime of protecting and serving not only Asgard, but all the Nine Realms is what he was meant to do. It was what he wanted to do. 

That being said, it was a life that took adjusting to. It wasn’t the act of protecting, no. Thor had a warrior’s heart. He’d always loved the thrill of battle, the satisfaction of winning, the fulfillment of knowing he’d saved the day. That was no concern of his. But it was new, knowing he would not one day rule. Knowing that this was his course now. 

In some ways it was certainly less lonely. There would only be one King in Asgard’s Halls. But out in the universe? He had comrades. Brothers and sisters in arms. He valued Lady Sif and the Warriors Three just as he valued the Avengers. The bonds he’d forged alongside each of them in battle meant a great deal to Thor. 

That was what brought him back to Midgard, right in New York seeking out those he called friends and allies. For all he was not home in Asgard, things were off in the golden realm. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something was amiss. There were whispers in the stars. Rumors, though nothing concrete. Still, narrow as the universal view of his friends was here on Midgard, he trusted few others to help him fully understand. 

And Thor was determined to do just that - to understand and to fix. And there was little that was going to stop him. Well, perhaps the security guard at the door might stop him. 

Thor frowned, looking down at the uniformed man at his desk. He did not wear his full battle armor - that was unnecessary. He’d donned regular attire for Midgardians so he wouldn’t stick out - jeans, a hooded sweat shirt, his hair in a ponytail. Perhaps he fit in so well he was not recognizable.

In frustration he held up his hammer to the security guard. “Look, friend, I see you have this task at hand and you do it well, but I am who I say I am.” He insisted. “I am Thor, Odin’s son and protector of Midgard. I require entry. Immediately.” 

“Nice prop.” The guard said, unconvinced. “Show me ID or leave.”

[goodisathingthatyoudo-blog]

Internal Affairs || Kamala and Tony

@headofrnd

It had been a little over two weeks since Kamala started her internship at Stark Industries. It was different from what she’d expected—although not bad. Mostly, she and the other interns just worked alongside their project supervisors, but they’d had the opportunity to see some of the other research that Stark’s scientists were working on, and...it was hard not to be blown away.

She did miss working with Bruno like they had at school, but he was at MIT now, and the rest of their old science fair team were still studying in Jersey. It wasn’t so bad, though...the researchers here were pretty welcoming, and she hadn’t been asked to make anyone coffee yet, which was always nice. Part of her had been hoping for the opportunity to meet Tony Stark himself, but according to her supervisor he didn’t come by in person all that often. That made sense, of course.

She did get to meet Pepper Potts once, which frankly was just as good, although Kamala was fairly certain she made a complete fool of herself by dropping a rack of test tubes in surprise when Potts had called her by name. It was all a bit overwhelming.

That being said, she wouldn’t have given it up for anything. 

It was getting fairly late; she’d have to finish for the day and go home soon. Kamala was just leaning on the bench by the 3D printer right now, holding a coffee from the cafe outside while she waited for their materials to finish. Yawning, Kamala sipped the coffee while she went to check the printer’s progress—giving a start when she noticed another face behind her reflected in the shiny side of the machine, turning around so quickly she accidentally spilt some of the coffee. “Oh, wow, I’m so sorry—” she began, sounding flustered. 

[ch4mb3r-blog]

Gangs of New York & Co. // Darcy & Jono

@darcyfuckinglewis

Jono Starsmore was at the mall, and instantly regretting his life choices.

His venue selection was his first mistake -- Jefferson Valley was probably the yuppiest option within a reasonable distance from the academy, and while he wasn’t poorly dressed Jono still stuck out like a sore thumb with his black and leather. His timing was worse, forcing him to face crowds which he tried to weave through by touching as few people as possible, his hand self-consciously resting against the scarf that draped over his bandages.

Further regrets included not waiting until Jubilee could come with him, since they’d had their fair share of mall trolling whenever Emma and Sean had let the Gen X kids loose on holidays. Those times Jono remembered with actual fondness, and while he nearly considered turning right back around, he reminded himself that no, he’d burned through another shirt this morning, and it was time to bite the bullet.

Not particularly paying attention to where he was ending up, Jono ducked into the first clothing store that seemed like a good enough candidate, i.e. one that had a sizeable section of black clothing on the men’s side as well as a women’s section. They always had the fluffier scarves for hiding behind.

It also seemed to be mostly empty, which was of course Jono’s first choice. The last time he’d been here -- maybe a month or two ago? -- he’d had one of the bizarrest run-ins with a human who, for reasons he was beyond figuring out, wouldn’t stop badgering him. And it wasn’t even the usual staring or offhanded unkind remarks, this was a woman who seemed to want to… be his friend, or so it had seemed. It was difficult for Jono to tell what was genuine anymore, so even as he started to sift through one of the racks of dark shirts he only marginally let his guard down.