#vvingsofchange

Okay so he should have stayed home, should be resting, should have asked someone to help and all that, but Owen hadn't wanted to trouble his assistant who was already taking over his Masses. Again.

He knew it had been months, but it didn't feel like it since he had last taken time off; first after the incident with the stranger in the church and then the holiday he had taken a few weeks after.

SHIELD Research and Development base

[redacted], Washington state, USA

Getting into the base had been simpler than expected; perhaps a little too simple. They had spotted a scientist returning to the location after a supply run and it had simply required Grant to ambush the young man. It had turned out that they had known each other during Ward’s time with SHIELD and the scientist had heard what the man had done during the Fall. A few vague threats later and he was timidly leading Grant and Carlyle inside.

But the Hydra head didn’t trust that the scientist was giving them access so easily. No, he suspected that they were hoping to trap or incapacitate the unwelcome guests as soon as an opportunity to do so arose. Even a wimpy scientist could do so after all, with so much tech around - if they knew what they were doing.

Grant kept a close eye on the scientist at first as they followed along, but soon he seemed to grow uneasy. Almost distracted from their task. There was a hint of tension in his neck muscles and the occasional twitch of his fingers in response to sounds and even as they reached the tech room Ward had wanted, he seemed to be looking around for something else.

Still, he turned to the scientist, though Grant wondered if it would be simpler to just ask Carlyle to puppet the younger man. They’d have access then, without the concern that the scientist would raise an alarm.

He shrugged and turned to the scientist first, to gauge his reaction. “I want access to the weapons,” Grant said, pointing towards a keycode locked cabinet.

“I don’t think- I probably shouldn’t do that…” the scientist mumbled, shifting nervously.

Carlyle frowned. They didn’t know how else to answer Ward’s question and dividing their attention between piloting while keeping Hartell semi-conscious, and talking with Ward, all while injured was starting to wear on them.

Who thought up this stupid idea?

Carly almost fumbled their concentration when Hartell abruptly turned and looked directly at them.

‘...you’re doing fine sweetie-just concentrate on walking and we’ll get you out of here....just relax. don’t worry about a thing.’

They had slowed a bit more to give Hartell further instructions and catch their breath, one arm still wrapped around their ribs. Carlyle glanced back at Ward with a shrug.

“Don’t know-not a doctor.” they said.

drzachariahlawrence Rage bubbled to the surface again - and if he hadn’t worked his entire life to chain and muzzle that beast, it would have devoured the man standing in front of him.

“You really don’t know it at all. What happens when you find out that drugged, or artificially placid isn’t going to get you anything? What happens when you have to let him off his leash to get what you want? That dog will bite the hand that ‘feeds’. You are a fool of the highest caliber.”

Zachariah shook his head and threw his hands up in defeat. His father had never heard reason. Had never understood people. His sight was far too short and focused entirely on himself. “I hope you choke on that iron fist you so desperately cling to.” It was in that moment he sensed a familiar emotional aura - Ray’s ‘whitenoise’ bled out into the world on his worst days and the edges of it brushed against Zach’s own senses. It felt ... wrong... though. Something wasn’t right.

But it hurts Ray thought, absentmindedly putting a hand over his own ribs. A phantom pain. It wasn’t his own, but what he was reading from Carlyle, but in his current state he didn’t have enough awareness to work that out.

He could feel something familiar nearby. No, two familiar readings, though one was filled with a rage that wasn’t normally there. If he wasn’t currently so detached -even without Carlyle’s influence- then Ray would have quickly been overwhelmed by it. In his current state, he was able to unintentionally read the emotion, but it felt like it was on the other side of a thick fog.

The other reading was a familiar darkness; anger and a strong sense of disappointment that had so many times been directed at himself...

No.

Nonononono, stop walking, stupid legs. Not to him. Anywhere but Bancroft.

The other voice had told him to relax, but how could he, when that darkness was there? How could he when he could feel it clearly even through the fog?

He didn’t want to go over there, not like when he’d tried to attack the man and nearly got zapped as a result. Ray wanted to run, but he couldn’t.

“I don’t need to use the powered control long enough for that to happen, just long enough to get him back to the base!“ Bancroft was shouting. “And how dare you- you disrespect me?”

”Alright, fine,” Ray heard Ward mutter in response to the one who still seemed to be tightly gripping his wrist.

It didn’t matter to Ray though. Not once he heard the familiar crackle of electricity building. He may not have the strength to pull away from Carlyle to run like he wanted, but he did stop short.

NO. I’m not going over there.

@drzachariahlawrence

[text:unknown] it's Car. I'm bored in Madripoor.

@vvingsofchange

Grant nearly deleted the first message, until the second one followed up with an identification. He almost assumed it was spam, considering how few people had his direct number.

[text] research.

[text] What business do you have in THAT place?

There is a moment of confusion where Grant has to double check who sent the image before it sinks in that this is Carlyle.

[text: pilot] What's the occasion? Causing trouble?

Hopefully they picked it up as the intended friendly teasing.

He was glad at least they hadn't called.

[text: pilot] It looks nice.

Yeah, that was an understatement.