#trouble!

[reinstarnation]

so trouble went to the vet and HES A BOY!

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: West Coast Avengers #12: THE ATTRACTION BETWEEN TWO BODIES!

September, 1986

Zzzax!

Quantum!

Halflife!

TROUBLE!

Oh ho, ah ha! I see we’re still doing random super goons for the West Coast Avengers to fight.

I won’t lie, I kinda like it.

Considering the meta plot is ‘Tigra needs to kill Master Pandemonium so the cat king will make her less horny,’ this string of random tricky goobers for the team to fight is entertaining. The wheels sure are spinning on the meta plot but we’ve got some good, dumb fights. It feels like a throwback to the simpler storytelling of the silver age Avengers.

Meanwhile, Stern’s Avengers is killing it on the more serialized style.

I know Zzzax as ‘when an electricity guy is needed but Electro is busy’ but the other two are new to me. Although Quantum looks like he should fight Captain Mar-Vell. He has the look of the kind of guy Mar-Vell would punch.

Halflife is clearly a bride of Frankenstein.

So let’s get into it.

Last times in West Coast Avengers: The Thing almost joined the team but then didn’t. The team fought Griffin and Headlok. Then, Mockingbird and co went to visit Nick Fury so she could give her sympathies for the poor, maligned intelligence community which was even then being compromised as hell. Then the team fought Shockwave, Zaran the Weapons Master, and Razorfist. And now, this:

I take back every nice thing I’ve ever said about Simon Williams.

That costume is an abomination.

The fact that the rest of the team repeatedly reassure him that it’s a great change proves that the West Coast Avengers have no taste whatsoever.

Shame on all of you.

Shame.

This isn’t a situation where I’m going to go ‘lol jk’ under the fold.

That costume bad.

Apparently one of the designers (costume designers? Set designers?) for Bladerunner (legally distinct from Blade Runner?) designed this outfit for Simon.

Bladerunner is probably a shit movie if this is what unnamed designer came up with.

I do like that Simon is just flaunting his Hollywood connections though. He wanted a new costume, he just went up to a guy who worked in movies and told him to design him one.

I hope you paid the man for his eyesore, Simon.

There’s some other bits that go in this discussion of his new costume.

Simon was letting his hair gray without much complaint. Now he’s dyeing it black again. He claims that his hair is prematurely gray because of that time he spent dead and anyway, he’s in movies now. Its an industry of vanity.

He also ditched the goggles or glasses because he’s not going to hide his eyes anymore.

Wonder Man: “I’m not Cyclops of the X-Men! The ionic energy in me isn’t dangerous! And once I decided to make that change, I figured -- why shouldn’t I look my age?”

... What IS your age though? You were the CEO of your own company before you drove it into the ground by being less good than Tony Stark and also embezzlement.

How old are you, Simon? How old are ANY of you??

Actually, my favorite part in this parade of bad taste is Tigra asking if moving the jets up to his shoulders will toast his buns.

Tigra: “But won’t the jet-flames shoot down your back and burn your, uh ---”

Wonder Man: “Not if your ‘uh’ is invulnerable!”

Fair point, fair point ipreferredthebeltjetspersonally but fair point.

Is the ass of your pants fire-proof?

I guess we’ll find out one way or another soon.

Mockingbird tells everyone to hold that thought and runs off.

Because Simon isn’t the only one that has a new costume to show off.

God. I don’t like, love, or tolerate Wonder Man’s new costume but I kinda love all these idiots just proudly showing off their fashion disasters to each other.

Anyway, Hawkeye points out that he and Mockingbird have been using the costumes they wore in New York but whoops New York climate is not L.A. climate.

So Hawkeye removed the sleeves from his costume to rock the sun’s out, guns out look.

Wonder Man: “Yes, and we’re glad you stopped there!”

Iron Man: “Just as we’re glad Tigra didn’t!”

Iron Man, please. If you make the West Coast Avengers need an HR department, you know its just going to be Hank Pym and that’s going to be awkward for everyone.

Also, I can’t prove it but I’m like 52% sure that somehow Wonder Man found out about that time Hawkeye’s costume had no pants and he’s been waiting to bust his chops about it.

Speaking of no pants,

Mockingbird’s new costume doesn’t have any pants.

Her fighting style requires the long, wide sleeves, I think. So, yeah, off go the pants.

Also, she’s letting her hair grow out a little. The never ending drama of her haircut continues.

Iron Man refuses to change his armor because this is his new iconic armor dammit. This isn’t the modern age where he can just slap on a new suit every time there’s a new run. The Silver Centurion has to last a while!

Speaking of looks, Iron Man says changing the subject, Tigra has a magical amulet that lets her look like her old human self that she never uses.

Why is that?

Tigra, looking confused at the question: “Huh!”

It’s something she hasn’t thought about lately! She’s just super comfortable in her Tigra skin.

Wonder Man asks if she’s changing her mind on which of her two souls she’s going to keep.

Tigra: “Me? Don’t be silly! But with all this glorious sun, I can’t stop with uncovering just one part of my glorious bod! Might as well be comfortable, right? Changing my mind -- ? No... I’ve made my decision...”

Good for you, Tigra?

It might be an empowering affirmation but this book is gonna be a creep about it.

Also, this creep is gonna be a creep about it.

Using mysterious superpowers to bend reflected light so you can creep from a distance is sure putting a lot of effort into being a creep, mysterious creep.

Mysterious creep is so horny that he decides “I can wait no longer! I must have her, and I must have her now! The plan begins at once!”

So, that’s going somewhere.

Back at the West Coast Avengers Compound, Mockingbird asks to speak to Tigra who agrees “just so long as we stay outdoors!”

Mockingbird reminds that Tigra asked her to help with her two-soul problem however long ago but recently she seems pretty contented sooooo....

Tigra yells at Mockingbird to get off her back about it.

Which is an interesting reaction considering Mockingbird hadn’t even gotten around to asking her question yet.

Tigra: “Everything’s okay with me, Mockingbird! The cat-people promised they’d cure me, no strings attached!”

And then she storms off.

Leaving Mockingbird suspicious that Tigra mentioned strings unprompted. Using her keen intelligence work training, she now suspects that Tigra isn’t telling them everything!

Very insightful, Bobbi.

But Tigra is sure that the Avengers may suspect that there is a string attached but they’ll never guess that she has to do a murder on Master Pandemonium.

Tigra: Not that killing a crook like Master Pandemonium is anything to be ashamed of -- he’s tried to kill us twice -- but they might not understand! They don’t share my sense of the hunt -- for prey, or for passion!

So Tigra goes to try to make out with Wonder Man.

Tigra: “Long time no petting, big man!”

Whoa!

Pretty forward!

But Wonder Man tells her that though he really enjoyed making out with her on the beach, there can be no more casual petting between them.

He thinks that he might have a chance with Christy, from the movie set. Since they’ve been working pretty closely.

And Wonder Man was under the impression that Tigra was with Hank...?

Tigra: “What about me and Hank? We’re not an item, if that’s what you mean!”

Wonder Man: “He thinks you are -- !”

Tigra: “Pfui on what he thinks! NOBODY OWNS ME!”

And she storms off again, yelling that women with glasses aren’t attractive.

It’s a matter of opinion, really.

So, Tigra finds Iron Man instead.

He wanted to relax in the sun as much as everyone else but the most he could muster is... just taking the helmet off.

I don’t remember whether Tony has a secret identity here or not. I know that Tigra knows who he is. And he was walking around with Hawkeye and Mockingbird out of costume so they could visit Fury.

Okay, so probably the team knows.

Don’t know why he’s only taking off his helmet. Because he says he wanted to duck into his personal bungalow so he could take off his helmet. Like he’s hiding his identity.

Whatever.

Anyway, Tigra tries to hit on him too.

But despite all of Tony’s light inappropriate comments during his time on this team with Tigra, he was just being friendly.

Apparently Tony is one of those people who is just always flirty.

But he still feels too guilty over dating Jan after she divorced Hank. He could never do anything with Tigra while she’s with Hank or while Hank thinks she is (because of her making out with him). Especially when Hank is still messed up over losing his robot son.

Since Tony tried to soften the blow by saying he’d be all over Tigra if Hank weren’t involved, Tigra storms off to break up with Hank.

Geez.

She finds Hank inside the main compound building talking to Joachin, apparently the manager of the grounds crew.

Huh! The West Coast Avengers have a support staff!

Anyway, Tigra basically yells ‘beat it nerd!’ and Joachin excuses himself.

Tigra doesn’t get the chance to give Hank a piece of her mind because Hank “aware of what women are thinking” Pym sees her mad face, assumes that it’s because he hasn’t been paying enough attention to her, and asks if she wants to kiss.

And she does.

Tigra: “Sure! Who could turn down a kiss...?”

Tigra, this is just kicking the problem down the road...

Anyway, IN SPACE

Near THE SUN

That Quantum dude from the cover who looks like he should fight Captain Mar-Vell pops out of the Sun and heads for Earth.

In fairness, the Earth shot first.

He’s not the only introduction.

At Horesham Nuclear Plant, alarms suddenly go off, signaling a meltdown or maybe a meltout.

Does that make any sense? No? Too bad.

The bride of Frankenstein like lady melts out of the reactor and kills the nuclear technicians with a touch as she strolls out of the plant.

As she’s on her way out, the high-voltage lines leading from the plant snap, revealing Zzzax, the man-shaped electromagnetic energy field. He was introduced in the Hulk book and has apparently died at the end of his every appearance.

Doesn’t seem to have slowed him down.

Anyway, he joins bride of Frankenstein (Halflife) and the two hike south towards Los Angeles.

Huh. Weird.

Seems like some kind of gathering of some kind of group.

But whyyyy?

Also, according to marvel wiki, this group is sometimes called Trouble, as on the cover, and that’s a stupendously stupid name.

Back at the West Coast Avengers Compound, Hank Pym briefs Hawkeye on his findings on the deed book that was mysteriously burned.

Annnd he doesn’t have a lot to report. There were heavy sulfur compounds and evidence of extremely high heat which didn’t singe the adjacent pages. So its obviously magic nonsense.

Hawkeye: “Sounds like Master Pandabear, all right!”

But Hank has some other ideas.

Since Master Pandemonium was a movie star, Wonder Man could ask around the studios to see if anyone knows anything. And Hank can pick up where Firebird left off and check with any local occult bookstores.

Business out of the way, Hawkeye asks how Hank and Tigra are doing.

Hank, a poor dolt, thinks things are going just great!

Unaware that elsewhere, Tigra is kicking herself “why do I melt any time any man wants me?”

Cat soul, probably.

Maybe you should see about having that looked at?

But she suddenly decides that she doesn’t care about self-control (which is saying no, self-control is saying that’s enough) and that when she kills Master P and gets one of her souls yanked out, she’s going to stick with being Tigra and just Tigra. Goodbye human worries and inhibitions.

And then while jumping around the trees, she comes up short and painfully bellyflops to the ground.

Tigra, if you’re still alive, I want to ask what good is a cat soul if you can’t even reliably land on your feet?

... I’m pretty sure she’s still alive.

She has so many more degrading plot points to be part of.

=|

Anyway, Quantum appears above the city yelling in an alien language and blasting out heat.

The goofy bystanders guess that what he’s yelling is probably a challenge and probably for the (West Coast) Avengers since they’re the only superhero team “this so-called town’s got!”

Oh, and Zzzax and Halflife show up too.

Unlike Quantum, they can speak.

Zzzax apparently wants to eat the electrical energy in people! That’s distressing!

The LAPD calls the (West Coast) Avengers (and gets Hank since he answers the phones) because “this is what you’re supposed to be for!” and Hank summons the (West Coast) Avengers.

Tigra doesn’t show up, due to her probably non-fatal bellyflop but Hank says there’s no time to wait for her.

Hank Pym, non-superhero: “There are three major menaces on Sunset Boulevard!”

Iron Man: “Sounds like a set-up for a punchline -- but I still don’t know L.A. well enough to know what it is!”

... Hah.

Anyway, the West Coast Avengers minus Tigra pile into the Quinjet and about seven minutes later, Iron Man and Wonder Man are jumping out of the Quinjet over Sunset Boulevard.

Wonder Man: “Every time I go into action, I get to be a real, live Wonder Man! What could be better than that?”

He punches Quantum and whoops now there’s lots of Quantum.

Wonder Man assumes that lots of Quantum won’t be strong but whoops, he made an ass out of him and him.

Iron Man: “I think that was the set-up to a punch line, Wondy!”

Wonder Man: “I know! I know!”

With Iron Man and Wonder Man dealing with excessive Quantums, Mockingbird squares up against Halflife (designated girl fight?) and Hawkeye against Zzzax.

In fairness to that last one, Hawkeye has fought and beat Zzzax before. He’s pretty sure he can beat him in no time flat just by shooting an arrow with a wire through him into a water source.

Except... Hawkeye doesn’t know where to find water in Los Angeles.

I think there’s an ocean somewhere westward. Does that help, Hawkeye?

Mockingbird similarly thinks she’ll be done with her opponent “this refugee from Frederick’s of Hollywood” pretty quickly and then she’ll come help Hawkeye find water.

Halflife: “Quiet, woman! Your raucous bravado disturbs the tranquility of -- Halflife!”

Huh, so that’s what she do.

That answers one question about this bridge of Frankenstein. But her statement here raises more questions.

Why is she getting involved in superhero fights if she doesn’t like raucous bravado and would prefer the tranquility of living in a nuclear reactor? Also, why was she living in a nuclear reactor??

(For the tranquility, probably)

Anyway. She makes people age. Probably halves their life, if I had to guess.

A Quantum knocks Wonder Man to the road and Hawkeye asks if he’ll find (and break) a water main while he’s at it.

Wonder Man rips up a water main and sprays the water all over. Hawkeye shoots a wired arrow and shorts out Zzzax just like he said he would.

Wow, Zzzax lasted no time and got to do zero things.

That’s why when villains with a super easy way to beat them come back, they’ve usually made some personal changes so that super easy way doesn’t work anymore.

Otherwise you wind up like Zzzax here.

With Zzzax there taken care of, Hawkeye runs to help Mockingbird who has aged terribly but Iron Man lands between Halflife and Mockingbird and Hawkeye, figuring he’s better suited to take her on.

Halflife: “And you think Halflife cannot speed the process of decay within you, metal man? My touch takes you halfway to your death  -- and each subsequent touch takes you half the remaining distance!”

That makes me curious whether she can age Iron Man’s armor or not but probably not but it doesn’t matter, even touching Iron Man’s armor is aging the man inside.

Iron Man still has a point that he’s better suited to fight Halflife though because he can up the power of his armor to compensate as the man inside ages.

But he’s not actually... doing anything with keeping his power up. He’s not fighting back because he’s spending all his effort adjusting the armor’s power.

So now three Avengers are tied up with Halflife which is fairly non-ideal when the other villain in the fight is a lot of guys.

Wonder Man actually realizes this. That Quantum is strong and numerous but that Halflife is taking Avengers out of the fight.

So he just swoops down and whisks her away from his three teammates.

She threatens that she’ll just age him the same she did his teammates but whoops. Can’t age energy.

Wonder Man: “I’m not flesh and blood! I’m ionic energy -- I don’t ever have to age or die -- and you can’t take me halfway to nowhere!”

And then he knocks her out in one punch. I guess she doesn’t have a lot going for her other than that aging trick.

Wonder Man: All those years of fearing death -- and all the time, I was essentially immortal!

Irony!

Anyway, there’s no ontological inertia here. As soon as Halflife was knocked out, the aging effects vanished from Mockingbird and Iron Man.

Speaking of easy victories once you figure out their deal...

Hawkeye just pulls a theory out his butt that Quantum is solar-powered and uses a smokescreen arrow to make him take a beddy-bye.

I seriously have no idea how he came to this conclusion but I guess I shouldn’t discount the archer.

Remember, he’s the scientific genius who invented anti-gravity just for fun.

With all three Troubles down for the count, Hawkey congratulates the team for good teamwork.

They did a less obvious CHANGE PLACES “and fought what would have seemed the other guys’ enemies!”

I mean. Kinda.

Wonder Man fought the girl who had been designated for the girl fight. And Hawkeye fought the flying brick enemy. But Hawkeye also took out the electrical guy which was his opponent at the start. Mockingbird got olded and then didn’t get to do anything. And Iron Man didn’t do much at all except buy time.

Geez, I keep getting the feeling that Iron Man doesn’t do a lot in this book.

Hawkeye: “We really are what I’ve always wanted us to be -- a team!”

He says as Tigra is missing.

‘Wow, we’re really clicking today for some reason!’

I joke. But its a weird thing to pat yourself on the back for when the team isn’t all there, isn’t it?

With all the back patting accomplished, Iron Man realizes something is poking his brain about the specific guys that they just fought. Poking his SCIENCE brain.

And as waves of gravity bring the team to their knees and then flat on their asses, Iron Man realizes too late what the group theme was.

THE FOUR FUNDAMENTAL FORCES!

Graviton, you giant nerd.

... And he was the one creeping on Tigra and now has her on a leash. Graviton, you consistent creep.

Now, I’m not a very science person, unlike Tony Science-Brain Stark.

But the four fundamental forces are gravity, the weak atomic force, the strong nuclear force, and electromagnetism.

I don’t think Zzzax was very magnetic but was very electric. But he’s dispersed so this group never got to be all four forces together.

Do Halflife and Quantum represent the weak and strong forces?

The weak force is responsible for particle decay and Halflife talked about decay a lot but it was more aging decay so... did Graviton just go ‘wtfe close enough’?

And the strong force is what holds an atom’s nucleus together. Does it make sense that the guy that represents it splits like an RPG slime if hit?

Science side of my audience, let me know.

The important thing though is that Graviton is back even though the last time he tangled with the West Coast Avengers, they drugged his drink and then kicked his ass.

Can’t wait for them to kick his ass again and I hope Tigra doesn’t make out with him.

Follow @essential-avengers​ because. Like and reblog too. Going minimalist this time.

[thepathtoyou]

Visit Original Link

[juno-dearborn]

Stay put. Don’t be stupid. Everett’s instructions were clear, but after hours and hours of waiting past sundown, he must have gotten lost. There was no way he hadn’t- he had no sense of direction, no real survival skills to establish one, and he’d promised he’d be in and out, one hour, tops. So she set off downstream, hugging the treeline and eyeing the rolling steppes for something human-like, maybe Everett shaped, whatever that meant. If he were to get disoriented, he’d likely head south, where it was warmer and the river was easier to find, the land sloped downward that way too.

She walked for a long while. It occurred to her after some time that she should stop, go back, but if they were both truly separated, would it do much more good? She may as well keep looking for him, and once the sun rose, she’d be able to more accurately find her way back to their meeting place just south of the mountain ranges. Lost in thought and head craned toward the steppes, Delta didn’t notice the campfire until it was too late. She wasn’t walking particularly quietly, hadn’t been paying enough attention too, and stopped just short of the flickering shadows cast from the figures hunched around it. She sucked in a breath and ducked behind a tree, pressing her back to it. As she was strategizing how to get away, something nudged at her foot. She bit back a disgusted gasp as some flabby, naked... creature nosed at her boots and leggings, snuffling and whining at her like a starving cat. “No! Bad- thing! Shh!” she urged under her breath, trying to shake it off of her. What the hell did it want? 

@marinobyssus​ @memphisxshiloh​

[renee-writer]

Songs of An Outlander Chapter 3 Trouble!

“So lad,” Jamie had watched until they were out of sight before heading back in,” Do you wish for a song or are you hungry?” He just looks up at him with his beautiful brown eyes. Jamie tries to think of the song Claire was singing the other day, something about bears, was it?

He clears his throat and, in an off key tuneless voice starts. “Look for the bear necessities. The simple.” The bairn places his wee hands on Jamie’s face and squeezes, stopping the song in mid note. Jamie laughs. “I ken lad. It isna the same. Food then? We shall find Miss Anna and see if she has time to feed you. Then it is off to Lady Mackenzie as I must work.” At his puckered face, Jamie adds,” No worries lad, I will come back for you.”

It takes two days to reach the fort. Claire is bone weary and missing her son, and Jamie if she is being honest. Murtagh helps her down. “Be verra careful here Mistress.”

“I will. I wish to return to Fergus.”

Sir Graham come out, bowed low, and escorted then inside.

Jamie carries Fergus into the kitchen where he finds Mrs. Fitz and her granddaughter among the other kitchen workers. Ignoring Leery, he turns to Mrs. Fitz.

“Do you ken where Anna Mackenzie is? The lad here needs a feed.”

“Oh aye. She is in the Great Room with some other lasses. They are sewing.”

“Thank you.”

“I can take him to her for you Jamie.”

“No thank you Leery. I've him.” He turns and hurries out leaving a furious Leery behind.

“That Sassanech witch stole his heart and now her bastard has stolen his attention. It is not to be born!”

Claire is hurried to Lt. Grey. “He is bad off mistress. I am so glad you were able to come.”

She finds her patient, cold, clammy, and with quite an edematous leg. It is swelled to twice it's normal size. Signs of a bad infection are also present.

“This is no bite wound. I can feel the bullet under the skin.”

Jamie finds Anna and asks her if she has time to feed the lad. “Aye. Give him here. Such a fine brawl laddie he is.”

“Aye. I will return to take him to Lady Mackenzie presently.”

“That will do just fine.”

He has decided to move temporary into the surgery, so as not to disrupt the lad. So, as he has his breakfast, Jamie moves his things into there. He then returns to get him. He takes him to the Lady Mackenzie.

“You sure you dinna mind doing this?”

“Ach, not at all. Tis' pleasant to have a wee one about again and Hamish adores him.”

“Mrs. Fitz has a bottle for him and the fine ground porridge. He can take it from a spoon. Anna has just feed him so he should be fine for a bit. Ahh.”

“Go Jamie. I swear he will be just fine.” He nods, kisses the baby's head, thanks her again, and hurries out.

She has to work the bullet out so she doses him wit. Ludlum. She request boiling water. Dipping a clean cloth in it, she cleans his skin before dipping her scalpel into the boiling water. She cleans the pus out and gently pushes the bullet up and out. She cleans the wound completely out and then closes it. He is still very sick but will get better now.

Jamie misses Claire and wee Fergus. Badly. The work day, usually enjoyable, drags on. He tries to recall the song she was first singing. Something about rainbows. “Once upon a dream.” He whispers under his breath. He isn’t paying attention and hits his thumb with the hammer. “Iffrin!” That is said a bit louder.

“Who are you?” her patient asks. He was just waking up.

“Claire, the healer from Castle Leoch. I removed a bullet from your leg. You will get better now.”

“Thank you. But why is an English woman a healer at a Scottish castle.”

“It is a long story. I will tell you later.”

“No, you will tell us now.” A familiar voice says. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps as she turns around.

Jamie hurries to the kitchen to get Fergus' bottle before heading to him. He sees Leery being drug away by two castle guards.

“What?” he turns to a sobbing Mrs. Fitz.

“I~ I am so sorry Jamie. I ne' ken'd.” He stands and stares at her, waiting. “She tried to harm the wee bairn. Placed something in his porridge. Ye ken how Claire has me make up a fine powered type for him? Well I had mixed it up. Was going to send Lori up with it. Leery offered. I should have ne'..”

“Fergus! The lad~ is he alright?” He wanted to shake her but knows she is very upset. He restrains himself.

“Oh aye. He is a smart one. He ken'd. Wouldn’t take a bite. So Herself, she smelled it. Smelled almonds. Pushed it to the side and sent for Himself, myself and Leery. She confessed to~ having tried to poison him!” She breaks into tears again as Jamie sprints out.

“Lt. Randall.” She manages to stand on weak knees. He nods before coming up to kiss Lt. Grey on the lips.

“Thank you for seeing to his leg.” She simply nods as bile raises up. She recalls their first meeting and the almost rape in the forest. If Murtagh hadn't. “Now, answer my lovers question. What is an English lass doing working as a healer in Castle Leoch.

He runs breathlessly into Herself's chamber. He skids to a stop at the sight of him seating on the floor, laughing as Hamish tickles him with a feather.

“Jamie, he is just fine, as you can see “

“Aye. Thank you for~ I canna believe she..”

“Sit lad. Take a breath. Hamish, give the bairn to Jamie.” Once he has Fergus in his arms, he is able to finally draw a deep breath.

“Tell me all.”

“I ken'd ye and Claire's warning about keeping the lad away from Leery. She wants ye, ye ken?”

“Aye, but not I, her. She tried to kiss me once but I pushed her away.” He holds the lad close and carefully rocks him.

“She has said you gave in,” he starts to respond but she holds up her hand,” No one believes her. We see how ye look at his mam.” Jamie blushes.

“Today. What happened today?”

“Aye. Seems she sprinkled some ground almonds, cyanide, in his porridge. If he would have taken even one bite..”

“Holy God!”

“But he didn't. A smart lad he is. Leery will not be back. We have overlooked a lot for the sake of Mrs. Fitz. We will not overlook this. She is locked away and will remain so.”

“Good.”

“Take the lad back to his room. He really is alright.”

“Thank you. There really are no words.”

“Also kindly explain how you have an infant son. You had no sign of pregnancy when I first rang into you.”

Claire frantically thinks. If she was to say that he was an orphan, this evil man might take him away from her. She recalls Frank's words about interrogations, to stick as close as possible to the truth.

“He was but a newborn at our first meeting sir. My husband had died. My maid had the baby. We meet up again after our ‘ meeting'. The good Laird of Castle Leoch has put us up until I can get back to England. We can.”

“I do not believe you madam. Until you tell me the truth you will remain my guest.” He had her taken away and locked in a room beside the one Murtagh was locked in. Now what?

“So, my smart lad outsmarted the Leery witch. Thank God you did.” He has bathed him, feed him his bottle, dressed him in his night shirt. He now holds him on his bent knee and speaks to him in Gaelic. “So, what will it be. A tale of the water horse or the silkies?” The lad grins at the end. “Silkies it is. “ He tells him of the creatures that are said to take on human traits. “They say my own da was one. That after my mam died he slipped back into the sea. But, can you keep a secret? He is really in Paris with my cousin Jarrod. He needed some time, you see.” He finds him asleep and lifts him to his chest. He lays across Claire’s bed and they both sleep, surrounded by her scent, unaware of the danger she is in.

[nauticalboyfriend]

Everytime I see a boft bearded redhead I just 😳🤯🤤😫😍👀🍆💦

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Potential spoilers, potential seizure trigger, violence

Title: Trouble!

Editor: AMV Strat

Dedicated to: DinAniC

Song: Trouble

Artist: Iggy Azalea feat. Jennifer Hudson

Anime: Noragami

Category: Romance