#av0id

FOREWORD INCOMING   always accepting memes !!    old as sin idr   !!   written by @av0id

" i think it suits all of us, " she says as she looks in the mirror.

the lighting in the room is soft, catching on the sleek fabric as she shifts slightly, turning from side to side. it’s the costumes. a bright, striking blue, cut to move with the body, tailored to function as much as to flatter. her hands slide along the edges, fingertips smoothing over seams, checking every detail again even though she’s gone over it countless times already.

" they'll react to our powers—just like you designed them to. "

there’s pride in her voice, quiet but unmistakable. sue is proud of herself. not in the loud way. it shows in the small things—the way her shoulders settle, the ease in her posture, the glow behind her eyes as she studies the reflection.

she turns away from the mirror, smile already forming before her gaze finds him. it’s warm, a little eager, her excitement still lingering in her breath.

" will you try yours on? i want to make sure it fits. "

He’s secure.

In more ways than one.

And safe enough for Yelena to jolt from sleep, surprised to find she’d actually committed to dozing off, dark room’s only light nothing but the TV screen’s logo slowly, agonizingly, bouncing around in screensaver mode, movie they’d picked and bonded over never having seen before finished. It told Yelena she’d been asleep long enough for the streaming service to automatically shut off and TV go quiet.

Quiet, the place was. Shockingly, given her newest, rowdiest, and most unhinged roommates. With one exception, and Bob was here safely tucked against her. Yelena smiles softly at his sleeping face, absentmindedly letting nimble fingers gently reach out to brush away stray curled strands. This was the reason why she hadn’t been afraid of him. His gentleness and innocence, lost and trying to wade above suffocating darkness just like her. Felt like an electric shock when spring colored orbs met ones of slate painted teal that pierced her soul, seeing her. Knowing her. That familiar longing… and loneliness.

Yelena shifts, about to fetch him the blanket, and her movements must’ve made him stir because she stops when a soft mumble reaches her ears. Bob’s voice carries a plea, a sound similar to her own, the wish that people would stay. Just a little longer. They’re curled up on the sofa, high above the world in what used to be Avengers Tower. Newly renovated and their new home… ironic too given their title — brand — as a group. Strange, the adjustment, and Yelena didn’t do well sleeping in unfamiliar places. Hell, she didn’t do well sleeping regardless. And after seeing her past with such clarity that it was like seeing it all for the first time again? Acceptance was a road she was currently navigating.

“Yeah.” Cleared throat, rousing sleep from it. “Yeah, I’ll stay. As long as you need.” She leans back in, comfortably, rest and peace something Yelena’s chased for a long time and somehow found in the strangest way possible. Maybe Bob had found it too, which was why they’d both fallen asleep so easily in each other’s presence. “I’ve been told I make a comfy pillow, or a strong weighted blanket because of my size. I found the reason for that one offensive but for you? I might make an exception.” A natural motion, Yelena had taken Bob’s hand in comfort. A constant tether. Established when she clung to him to pull him off his alter ego. ‘I’m here.’

“You know… meeting a man fresh out of a box… not something I thought would be a first. Or maybe Captain America when my sister became an Avenger… but no, it was you.” Just before they’d been fighting for their lives to get out of Valentina’s vault, seconds from being set on fire, nothing left but melted skin and bones. “You okay? Any nightmares?”

@av0id sent: ❝ don’t go. just a little longer, okay? ❞ ( Robert ‘Bob’ Reynolds to Yelena Belova )

Emily's eyes trail every movement of her's -   maybe even a little too carefully.  She wasn't one to find a reason to hide her actions or habits. Not this far in life and not in this type of  dim light,  either.   What use was it?   Playing coy was just that -   playing.   Emily was here to work, and no part of her contract claimed  elite professionalism;   only strength and obedience.  Whatever that would mean to her contractor-   To the one  Cora Casali?   Well...

       ❝ It's eye catching. ❞   A good thing, from Emily's own opinion. It meant no matter what Cora had to say to their particular  client  tonight, not a single word should go missed nor ignored. It meant every ounce of attention in the room she'd escort her to better be on her, or even Emily might take some offense to it, and she'd only just started working for the woman. There's only a slight shift, a roll of her shoulders as she relaxes further into the wall to match the air that Cora blew into the space between them.  Oh so casually does Emily tilt her cheek and her chin like she's catching the kiss square on her blush   ( faint as it'd been ),   eyes rolling until they've fallen down her lashes towards Cora. As tempting as the interpretation was, Emily knew what'd come if the job didn't first.

       ❝ Hope that offer still stands when we're done. ❞   Ah, she  hates  how her own voice shows that shred of disappointment in herself, remiss to be the Debby Downer so soon. Up and off the wall she rolls, striding over to help Cora into her coat.   ❝ Might want to test it's durability myself with all the time we'll have left. ❞

To show she'd be effecient, if that's what Cora wanted. To keep that same interpretation just as freeform. Her own breathy laugh escapes her, arm offered to get the night really rolling.

       ❝ Ready? ❞

he's up late again, she thinks, leaning against the wall as she watches his back against the chalkboard. she wishes she didn't find him so handsome like this. crossing the cool floor on bare feet with light steps before she reaches him with an arm around his waist and stepping to his side, while she asks, " when are you going to come to bed ? what are you so worried about, dear ? "

FOREWORD INCOMING !!    couldn't be assed to look   !!   written for @av0id

he phone rests on the narrow table by the door, screen faceup and glowing faintly in the dim light. she bends to pull on her shoes, the laces tugged tight with sharp little jerks as his voice hums in her ear. she doesn’t bother with speakerphone—she never does. she doesn’t need the whole room to hear, doesn’t want the echo of his tone bouncing off the walls.

“ i ever make big deal? ” ahmya’s voice lifts with a sting of offense, sharp and quick, as though the very suggestion offends her sense of self. the irony settles thick in the air—she’s absolutely going to make a big deal out of this. the biggest deal she's ever going to make out of anything.

“ no. ” she answers honestly, because it isn’t her intention. her words come clipped, urgent, as if she’s already halfway out the door. “ give.. sixty seconds. ”

talia's hands are sure and steady as she works in the inky darkness of matthew's apartment. her slender, manicured fingers need little more than the light from the billboard outside of the large window to illuminate the silk of his tie and the crisp white of his collar. the redhead finishes the double windsor knot a moment later, smoothing it over gently before buttoning the center of his suit jacket, unable to stop herself from making a few, tiny, last minute adjustments before taking a step back to observe her work.

' you'll do. '

the widow beams, head tilting a little to the left as she watches him through curious eyes.

' though, why did you need my help getting ready at . . . '

a quick glance towards her watch causes a small quirk to find her rose tinted lips.

' nine thirty five in the evening. '

she smirks, though a second later she holds up a hand as if to both shush him and brush the comment off. he gets up to too much, and she only worries. it's probably better off that she keeps herself in the dark.

𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖓𝖆 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖎𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖎𝖉𝖉𝖑𝖊 𝖔𝖋 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖎𝖒𝖑𝖞 𝖑𝖎𝖙 𝖍𝖔𝖙𝖊𝖑 𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖒. the phone is pressed to her cheek and ear, the hand that held it there gripped the burner tight. so tight her knuckles were white. a sigh of relief escapes her lips as he speaks. her jaw is clenched at first but softens as he speaks, " thank you - thank you. . . " she repeats it, over and over.

ivana stays on the phone but walks to the windows long black curtains. she pulls back a piece of the fabric to peek outside. it was late, nearly midnight when she last checked. who knew the time now . . . she had only called james to make him aware of the chances that she was made. perhaps it was paranoia - or it was any number of her enemies. either way, the chances of being caught were overwhelming.

ivana walks the entire hotel room, checking locks and windows to ensure her safety. she puts james on speaker as she reloads her gun to prepare for any possible break-ins. the click rings through the phone as she checks the magazine. " what do you think the chances are that i am right? that they found me? "

𝖊𝖞𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖑𝖊 𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖆𝖈𝖗𝖔𝖘𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖒 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝖍𝖊𝖗 - she could only stare at him at first. . . calculating what exactly her had just told her. once she had a brief moment to process she lets her shoulders relax but her eyes continue to pierce into him like knives. jaw clenched, she puts down the weapon she was mid-cleaning on the towel she has laid across the countertop.

ivana's eyes flicker back to the weapon before she steps back. . . lips pressed into a line for a brief second before she finally has the words to speak, " who is someone? and what do they want. . . ? " her voice was drenched in caution. carefully selecting words to say in case someone was listening in on their conversation. call it a spies intuition - or perhaps paranoia?