#v:tbn

“I recognized you instantly. All of our lives flashed through my mind in a split second. I felt a pull so strongly toward you that I almost couldn’t stop it.” -- J. Sterling.

Love is one of the most painful experiences souls can go through, but what is worse is when two souls are destined to spend all eternity together only to lose each other time and time again. Lee had watched Katerina die too many times to count, cried and screamed until there was nothing left to do except hold her with the promise of seeing her again in the next life. Each death worse than their last---which seemed to be a theme once they’d joined the Brotherhood.

A group that centuries later they still could not escape. It didn’t matter what the two star crossed lovers did; they came back, found each other, were forced back into the brotherhood, did their missions, died horrifically though sometimes with honor and always together. A cycle that haunted Lee everytime she was reawakened in a new body. This time was supposed to be different. This time when her memories were triggered, Lee had run the opposite way from Katerina--something that if her lover ever realized would cause a wrath worse than Zeus’ himself.

Years ago Lee had been pumping gas in some deadbeat town in Virginia when a car caught her attention pulling in. Watching as the brunette stepped out of the car, every hair on Lee’s body stood on end. Her body feeling so drawn to this person she didn’t know what was happening until a second later---thousands of years of life with this woman played as a movie in her mind. A single tear fell down her cheek, “I’m sorry, my love. Not this time.” Lee whispered between them even if the woman wouldn’t hear.

Lee had gotten in her car and driven away, far away--isolating herself in a cabin on the west coast. She wanted Katerina to live a life that didn’t end with a death of sorrow, to live as a mere mortal and not the demi-god she truly was. She deserved one lifetime of happiness, even if it meant Lee had to live with the pain of their separation. All the woman could hope for was that the brotherhood never found either one of them and that nothing ever triggered Katerina’s memories.

It appeared that self restraint was for naught now. The brotherhood had found them, separately, but still found them. This wasn’t just a group of assassin’s anymore though. It was a huge industry that had technology. Technology that could put someone into the memories of past assassin’s Someone had caught on to the existence of the demi-gods, apparently not who they were completely, but enough to know those two figures in time---that kept repeating--were important. The issue? No one was able to access their memories. The Animus, as Lee had been told, was unable to allow anyone into those memories. The machine threw codes left and right each time someone tried.

The company with its hundreds of research teams had finally realized it had to be someone of that particular bloodline to open them. Even then, there had to be a certain percentage of DNA matching to do so. Lee knew their children of the lifetimes they’d had them had survived. It was one bonus of all the technology in the world these days. But none of them had the right match. So here they were, asking Lee to ‘serve’ her country. The brunette had argued, refused, and threatened lawsuits until they had told her they already had agreement from one Katherine Pierce. Katherine--her Katerina--had unknowingly re-signed their deal with the devil. Knowing Katerina was about to be thrown into their old memories, Lee knew what would come next. The triggered memories, the powers, everything.

Lee couldn’t leave Katerina alone in this situation. No, her wife would die alone this time if she did. Her death would be worse than any they’d had before because this time? She’d be a science project until she took her last breath. So the demi-god had done the only thing she could, agreed as one Lee Salvatore a descendent of several assassin’s to help ‘save and serve’ her country.

----

The brunette slipped her aviators on top of her head, hair already pulled up into a messy bun that somehow still looked stylish as she walked into Abstergo Industries. A security guard walked beside her holding her temporary badge, scanning her through the doors she needed until she was back far into the building where the lab was located.

Eyes scanned the area, there were only two beds set up--this was its own special project it seemed. Their curiosity about Lee and Katerina’s past too much to look over or deny. It made the younger demi-god smirk. She could enjoy their attempts that would fail, Katerina would probably find this whole thing to be humorous, if not annoyed by the digging into their private lives.

His presence was solid and warm behind her- safe. She felt so cowardly holed up here but knew deep down that at the moment it was for the best. Didn’t stop her from being angry though. The pair of them so young yet and they had all been forced to grow up rather quickly. Childhood had been so quick and not so long ago and though it felt like ages since they had been laughing in his parent’s back yard.

Her hand came up and covered his, fingers wrapping into his palm and giving a squeeze as she leaned back into him and let her eyes close.

I promise

[continued from here]

He gave a small frown when he was brushed off. Normally his spirits were hard break. The Wen would never be able to do it. To hear Jiang speak he would be digging his own grave. The fact that he would happily cross blades with any of them if they gave him the opportunity did nothing to banish this concept. His brother had all but rolled his eyes and stormed off. It was common, it was how they seemed to always be with each other.

Wei Ying didn't know any other way to be with someone he was fond of. He would tease them, he would share with them. He would do what ever he could to show them he was their friend. Not to the point of some of the other boys. Though everyone told him to avoid the Second Jade of Lan, that he clearly hated him. They didn't know. They had not been in that cave. It was just another secret that none of their age mates would ever hear from him.

So when he reach out to help and was spurned it shocked him for a moment. He dismissed the sensation. His sense of doing what he should, over took his desire to give Lan Wanji a piece of his mind. Some would say his tongue was sharper than his sword.  Though the composed and regal man would likely just look at him with that same cold expression.

Ridiculous.

It was almost a pet name for him at this point. He motioned at loss with his hands. He was going to seriously hurt himself at this rate. How long did it take a bone to heal. His brain ran over that. Anywhere from one month to three, that was the answer. It was not a good answer. How long had his leg been like that ?

Wei Wuxian was not about to allow the Second Jade of Lan to simply ignore him that easily. He reach out and grabbed an arm in passing and braced his own feet in a slightly wide stance to halt him. If he was able. "You forgot to add Shameless, Unteachable and umm I am sure there are several others --such---endearing pet names for me." he countered with a quirk of his lips.

He refused to be ignored especially about this. "Call me what you like, you don't even have to ever look at me or speak to me again--" the thought of that brought an ache but he lifted his chin and shook it off. While he did not have the height of the other. His chin was set and gray eyes were almost challenging. "Lan Zhan, you can't keep doing this--how long---how long have you been hurt." those words were breathed in a whisper they sounded pained because it hurt to see someone he cared for in pain. it was all but echoed on his own face.

___There was only a small hum that escaped him at her answer. “Or they learn to be more alert. Though how that will be with a concussion...is anyone’s guess.” he shook his head “It is the perils of training.” 

Nebula, as it turns out, was a beautiful creation. Despite the pain she was caused and the amount of twisting that had been done to her mind, the mechanics of it all were pristine. And she was able to help him get home- or at least to Wakanda and home was a relatively short trip from there. Or at least closer to where he had been previously.

But Stella-- she was also there. And Tony hadn’t had the balls to pick up the phone after she’d sent it. And if she was here than someone had called her and knowing both Rhodes and Banner word probably got around that Tony went hurdling through space to stop a giant purple grape.

The girl, the young one that was fucking smarter than he was-- nearly, had patched him up good and now he was knocking at what he was told her door, lip between his teeth and heart racing. Fear. Love. Anxiety. A trio of things that he couldn’t shake.

“And who exactly would I tell, darlin’? Sebby? It’s not as if I have a gossip gang puttering around.” A network, yes, but Jim was never one for idle chit chat. Not even with Sebastian.

A pause and he relocated the laptop to rest beside her head, flipping it back open and pulling up the browser. He’d let her pick, it was only fair, though he would make sure they would go and have a look first. If he was going to sleep there, he needed to make sure security wasn’t going to be an issue. Especially if it was remote. “Viva l'Italia-- pull it up, then. Lets see this Italian paradise of yours and I’ll have Sebastian book a flight.

          ALL  OF  THIS  shrieking  through  her  mind,  her  blue  gaze  suddenly  snapped  open  and  she  BOLTED,  disappearing  around  a  corner  before  her  mother  and  governess  could  notice,  their  now  agreeing  voices  demanding  her  return.    Skirt  riding  up  as  she  scurried,  she  quickly  found  herself  a  little  lost,  but  if  she  was,  surely  anyone  chasing  would  be  so  as  well.    But,  she  would  not  take  a  chance  on  that,  determined  to  grasp  a  few  minutes  on  her  own.    Spotting  an  open  door,  hatch?  she  wouldn’t  know,  she  darted  inside,  closing  it  with  all  urgency.

          TURNING  TO  CATCH  her  breath,  leaning  against  the  door,  her  eyes  widened  when  she  spotted  the  officer,  a  finger  snapping  up  to  stop  any  words  that  might  spill  from  him.    ❝  If  you-  you  speak  a  word  of  this,  I  will  personally  shove  you  into-  into  the  Channel!  ❞

“Stop that!”

The hammock swayed lightly in the breeze, thick wool blanket tossed over them and if you listened you could hear the shouts of the crew below deck. But this was their time. Mostly alone save for the man at the helm and Killian and Milah tucked away in their own little private sanctuary under the stars. An almost nightly routine when the conditions were right and the skies were clear. Many a nights spent with him murmuring the names of stars into her ear while one hand got a little frisky and the other held her close. Trying her best to be quiet and keep their intimacies... private to say the least. Boyish and playful that was her Killian.

The same man that had taught her how to wield a blade and tie knots. The same man that told her stories in a tavern, what seemed near a century ago. And perhaps it was; she found time seemed to stand still upon the deck of The Jolly Roger. The magic of the ship itself was something to behold, with Killian at the helm it was mesmerizing to say the least.

Milah swatted his hand away-- slowly creeping up her skirts (the rare occasion she decided to wear one) and tickling with roughened finger tips. The way his laugh was a low rumble in her ear and she squirmed and damn near flipped them both out of the bloody thing.

“What shall your crew think, hm? Should they come up here and find us both sprawled out in a state of undress.” She knew that he didn’t very well care and honestly it only added fuel to her fire. Turning to face him, she pressed lips to his. Sweet and slow, same as the pace they were currently keeping on the sea. Wistfully drifting towards a new destination that they would discover together.