"Supposed terrorists. Do I look like a god damn terrorist? I'm a skinny little waif trying to get tampons, cheerios and locating a non Ikea death trap crib and a mobile. Last I checked the terrorist was... released into the wild by Ultra. Killian McCrane? Ring any bells?" She rolled her eyes, his excuses were truly funny to her. "And I'll fuckin' do it again, too. As for your 'reflexes'. Okie dokie. Now you gonna let me get my damn supplies are you going to continue being more stubborn than a flea infestation in the summer?" The southern drawl was on full display, a very valid warning sign that she was not having it with him today.

"Yes, supposed terrorists. And you can play the 'skinny little waif' card all you like, but I've seen who terrorists use before; hand mortars lobbed by women. Bombs and guns in the hands of children. That said, the supposed was me not calling you a terrorist, because I don't believe you are; that's just what I've been told you are. As for Killian, considering he's dead, I'd say he's not really a threat any more." He pointed out almost dryly. "I'm not stopping you doing anything, unless it's illegal. You ask nicely and I might even help; liberating things with a no finger discount is helping them validate why they hunt you all." He replied simply, giving a shrug, before tilting his head to the side for a moment. "You know, you're cuter when you let the drawl out; it's endearing." He added with a warm smile, meaning it sincerely, though already bracing for the hit that was likely to come from saying it if it didn't shock her for the moment.

It’s a strange feeling, having a wallet. Even stranger, to have actual money and a debit card with her name on it in said wallet.

She even has a damn State ID now, driving classes later… Though she’s not used to the idea fully. She’s no longer dead on paper and her parents aren’t allowed near her.

She left an actual house with a full stomach, clean out of the dryer clothes, and even got to take a hot shower that was longer than three minutes.

And now she was walking to a store in broad daylight intending to buy items instead of stealing them.

If you had told the hopeless and lost 17 year old her that one day, she could have all this, she would have laughed in your face and scampered off. But here she was.

All because she fell in love with one single person, without knowing this could ever happen.

And he called her his princess, and his queen. She certainly felt like one.

To the common person, these things are basic human rights, but to Clarissa, who spent the better part of the last 10 years living in an abandoned subway station, trying to keep 15 other people alive day to day… this was a luxury she never let herself believe in.

It was almost funny how such a small decision of letting herself love him had so dramatically changed the trajectory of her life. Such a small decision of finding him at the party for company had led (eventually, and definitely not smoothly) to where she was today.

Hey Clari, you busy? Morgan called to her, and she hummed in question to the contact, I have some of little Roger’s things, I figured you could use them to surprise Jordan tonight… If you’re still going to. Clari smiled, Absolutely, I’ll swing by on the way back home.

There were few things that made Jordan truly happy in this world, and the fact that he'd been able to bring someone he loved so much freedom and happiness was top of the list...well, maybe second; what, or rather who, made him the happiest was her. Being able to help her be able to walk around without fear and actually pay for things she needed was simply a bonus, albeit one that made him endlessly happy.

Knowing that it was safer for her to go out, he didn't worry quite as much when she was out either, currently staying home and working on dinner for them when she got home from her shopping, completely unaware of whatever surprise she might be holding on for later.

Canon Divergent - Clarissa & Ultra

It had always been a high stakes game for Clari, and the odds had been in her favor so long it was really not surprising when they began to turn against her. Somehow, this pain in the ass agent had caught onto her absolutely chaotic methods, appearing almost every time. The first few times, they had scuffled and she utilized every ounce of her powers against him. She had even thrown a car at him, and he had surely went back to Jedikiah to report that anything that wasn’t nailed down was obviously a weapon she could use.

His appearance at the party during the chaos had led to an on foot chase through the club as she tried to get to a place to teleport, his bullets catching her in the side and in the arm. He could have killed her, she knew he could have. But he didn’t. While she appreciated that very little as Cas and her stitched her up with their handy super glue and a sewing kit, she could after the fact, and confided it to John. He had pulled Stephen into the conversation, and Stephen had come back with information that he uh he likes the way she is ‘equipped’. John, being the leader, had to keep a straight face while Clari’s had burst into a shade of red and Cas howled from the couch.

But, in a shadow war, information was quite vital. Especially when it kept their species alive. After the party, the Agent did not engage her once. Through Stephen, she knew he was Jordan Reynolds, and he had been given a different ROE… to bring her in unharmed (which, truth be told, did much more psychological warfare on her than she cared to admit, jumpy, paranoid and barely sleeping for fear he would somehow find her). It was still a high stakes game, but this was much more cat and mouse. She thought he was playing with her, since he rarely announced himself, and was only lurking out of sight. Like he could somehow find her, she could find him. But she wouldn’t let onto that fact yet. 

When Jedikiah caught a ride with Russell to the Lair, she decided to be nice enough to keep an eye on him, apparently since no one else could stand being in the room with him much. Russell was sent to get food, currently persona non grata for the epic shit storm he had dumped on all their heads. She had been polite enough, maybe hoping he would stop viewing them all as a threat (though, considering he was bound to a chair as a hostage… probably not). But she did take advantage of the chaos in the moment, asking him why the change in the Rules Of Engagement when it came to taking her into custody.

“Was I not, until just recently, a case of ‘Bring her in warm or cold’?”

“Ah, well, hoping you don’t take offense to the previous orders.”

“I do, but go on. Why was it changed?”

“There was a major change in your status. I ordered it.”

“Why? What change?”

“Did you know your mother visited New Jersey for Spring Break in 1989? Nasty fight with her husband.”

“Why the Hell would I know anything about my mother, Jedikiah? I was born in December. She’s the one who declared me dead 3 months after I went missing.”

“Well then, why do you think your brother has blue eyes like his parents… and their grandparents… and their grandparents before that while yours are hazel. I know you know about Mendel’s plants, Clarissa, basic genetics wouldn’t be lost on you. I know you’re smarter than that, despite the lack of diploma.”

“I don’t fucking know, why don’t you explain it to me like I’m 15 in science class.”

 “Well, for starters, blue eyes are the dominant gene in the Tellemanca line with very, very, few recessive mutations, and those were usually green… I checked in the course of studying your history. However, hazel eyes are in the Price family with our recessive being blue or dark brown.”

A pause as the two stared each other down, Jed’s lip in a thin almost smile. He was right, she wasn’t stupid. And she had known immediately what he was implying. Even if she hadn’t once listened to his stupid lecture series on f1 and f2 generations.

He continued at her brows furrowing, knowing he had caught her interest.

“I was the recessive blue, but still passed on the dominant gene, to you. My daughter.”

“You’re lying.” She hissed through gritted teeth. She knew he wasn’t, but by God did she want him to be. It all came crashing down in a whirlwind of sense.

“I’m not. And I think you now understand why Juan Tellemanca didn’t deserve you as his daughter. Because you were never his. I changed your ROE after registering your blood sample from the party. Half matched to Casimiro as half-sibling. And half to my own as parent and child. I may be a lot of things, but I would never hurt my own daughter.”

Jedikiah had only been so lucky that Cas was around the corner as she delivered a taste of how willing she was to hurt her own father as she snapped like a rubber band, a familial trait of inherently prone to fits of violent anger flitted through her mind. John, for Jed’s safety and for Clarissa’s sanity, sent her to get some air topside. Apparently, everyone collectively either forgot Ultra had mounted a full scale manhunt for Jedikiah, or they didn’t expect Clari to get caught with the change of ROE… Set by Jed… Who was currently their prisoner.

She had been riding the train for about 10 minutes on loop when Jordan stepped into the car. Jed’s boss, a man he referred to as “The Founder” wanted to talk to her and he was over whatever game her and Jordan had been playing.

Jordan had always been willing to harm when he needed to, the delivery of force being second nature to him, but there was something about this woman he'd been tasked with that he'd been unable to follow through on. Still, it had drawn a new RoE, and while he'd never been afraid to use force, there was something off about it that had caused him to hold back, though staying close enough that he could step in if he needed to; there were too many people in their ranks that didn't care about RoE and more wanted the excuse to just hurt someone that was different.

He'd always diverted shortly after she entered the trains, until Jed had hitched a ride with Russell and they needed to find him, stepping things up to the next level. After a few different trains to try and find the woman he was after, or any other of her friends, he finally found her, giving a soft smile and leaning against the wall by the door.

Reading over her face for a few moments, he paused for a few moments, trying to come up with an opening line that would at least try and raise a little amusement...not that he expected it would land that way regardless.

"You know, if you want to clear your head, the park's better for that...or a drink. I can take you for the latter if you want? I...kinda owe you for shooting you. I promise, no violence from me or my side, even if you decide to get revenge."

“Russell gets a lesson in hubris like 10 times a day, don’t mean he’s actually learning from it.” Snorting, Cas shook his head, though side eyeing his friend as he casually heard ‘glass jaw’ run through his head. Sometimes his telepathy didn’t even have to try to grab surface thoughts.

“You have never had the pleasure of meeting my parents… Trust me, a better pleasure would be removing your skin with a spoon over that. If I go back topside and they find out I popped up after all this time, first flight here and they will hunt me down and try to manhandle my fully grown ass back like I am some teenager.” He did pause, frowning slightly, he knew they were still looking, TIM informed him anytime one of them wrote in on a website or threw a fit on social media about him being missing. But, as fully expected by him and his experience with them, they never said anything about the daughter that they just decided must have died within three months.

If he was clever enough, he’d get Jordan to bring her back legally, but not tell anyone… then go back to Florida and dig open her gravesite for the potential hilarious disaster.

"Hence the need for repeated lessons; I stand by my point." He smirked, catching the side eye and nodding his head to the side for a moment. In my defence, if it would knock you into next year, would it be wrong? He pointed out, showing that it was all in jest and not something he actually thought the other man had.

"No, but I've got the pleasure of a law degree, and the ability to file a restraining order against them on your behalf should they try and harass you." He reminded him casually, clearly not having an issue with doing just that. "All you've got to do is say the word, and the option is all yours to take."

Dany smirked as her doctor friends finally lay him down and went to work. "I will pull my punches, just for a little while until I can beat your ass for scaring me to death like this." Dany grinned, wincing as her other friend began poking a prodding her for various injuries she sustained herself. "Just wake up in one piece will you? Then we can talk about whatever you deserve for getting hurt AND making it hard to leave you."

Jordan went down quietly, not fighting it and laying back in a way that gave the doctor any access she needed to his wounds. "Just hold off from punching me until you can punch me like you need it." He teased with a wry smile, trying to keep himself still for them to work. "I'll do my best. I'll thank you properly when I wake up too, and make it up to you for getting you hurt and making it hard for you to leave me behind." He promised softly, giving her a tired smile, and hoping he made it through to see her on the other side of this. Feeling the last of his energy leaving him for the time being, Jordan's head dropped the rest of the way while he passed out for a few hours or so.

“I don’t know. I’ve been through the building, and I didn’t see him, so one way or another, he’s not here.” Jordan replied, stopping their escape for a moment, his hand still on his pistol in case someone unexpected came around a corner, or was waiting around one for them.

Thinking for a moment, he took a breath and decided to voice something he knew she may not like, but hoped she’d at least recognise the logic; he knew she was good at seeing that kind of thing. “With all due respect, with him not being here, the best thing we can do is get out of here, regroup, and look for him when we’re all clear.” He added softly, his first duty being to work with getting her out of there as quickly as possible given the current circumstances.

An unlady-like curse is HISSED in the undercurrent of Peggy's EXHALE at his words. Tentative oaken orbs scale the building, searching, seeking with no little desperation. Deliberation wars upon her as she reloads her emptied magazine. Her heartbeat is not easily swallowed down.

"Did you see anyone LEAVE this building? Any cars going in or out?" She demands.

Her eyes ROUND with anger at his suggestion. Porcelain fingers FIST into his shirt and haul him forwards with no MERCY. "If you are suggesting we ABANDON him, you WILL reconsider your tactic. I don't know how you or your people DO IT, but it is WRONG. I have NEVER left a man behind. I do NOT intend to do so NOW."

"You can LEAVE if you wish, but I am going to get Jarvis back before the enemy can HARM a single hair upon his head." She shoves him backwards with a half-harted apology.

Hearing Peggy's reaction as he admitted that he hadn't seen him, Jordan didn't make any visible reaction to her swearing, keeping an eye out for anyone else who might come up behind them. "I don't know. I was clearing the building for friendlies on my way to get you, and there's enough exits here that even if I wasn't I couldn't cover all of them."

When she yanked him closer, he closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on not stopping her from doing so, letting her do what she wished for the moment, before opening them again. "He's not here to abandon, Carter. He's gone. I pulled the security footage when I checked the security office, if he's been taken we can find out who by. But unless he's able to turn invisible with some invisibility thing Stark's invented, or this building exists outside of physics and there's rooms that exist despite there not being physical space for them between other rooms, he's not here." He replied, rolling backwards when she shoved him back until he reached his feet again, stepping back closer to her again.

"I don't leave people behind, Peggy. But I do understand when we're in a tactically blown position with no purpose to stay." Jordan promised softly, putting his hand out to rest it gently on her shoulder. "You have my word, we'll find him, and I will help you do it. But for now we have to get you out of here and regroup."

Jordan watched as she said that, before nodding his head to the side. “You might need to give me a nudge in the direction of wherever I’m meant to collapse.” He half joked, clearly starting to lose it a little as he stood. “Am I the idiot in this situation?” He replied with a playful but tired smile, nodding quietly as she continued to talk, giving her a small squeeze or a moment. “Sounds perfect to me, looking forward to getting to work on things straight away.

"Well if you paid attention you'd realise it wasn't me but my friend holding you up to get on the damn table already." They had to keep the humor up at least otherwise she would simply cry and beg him not to die but that wouldn't help anyone, if he was going to die then he should spend his last moments how they always did, making light of the situation they had been dealt. "Just come back in one piece so i can kick your ass later on. On doctors orders of course. I might even pull my punches."

When she said that, he paused for a moment, blinking a little. "I might be a little more out of it than I realized." He admitted sheepishly, barely able to see at this point with his energy all going to staying upright for now. "Pulling your punches? I'd rather you kill me; we never pull our punches, why start now. Just because I'd have almost died? Nah. I wake up, you can try and kick my ass full power as soon as I'm able to stand up straight and throw a clean punch again."

“Mostly just that you’re standing in front of me in it. Your face is great, don’t get me wrong, I could look at that for a long time too, but that underwear on you...let’s just say it’s even more eye catching.” 

~Open to All~ Muse: Peggy Carter

"Wait?" Peggy's adrenaline SPIKES, causing a sensation as STRONG as a freight-train to rumble through her chest. "Where's JARVIS?" Oaken orbs are cast across every shadow in the forsaken garage before turning upwards towards the other.

Sucking in a breath, she asks. "You don't suppose he very well got himself hurt or kidnapped, do you?" Whilst she would rather NOT be caught dead confessing that she CARED for the Butler, she did so quite deeply hold the man in a particular place of platonic affection.

“I don’t know. I’ve been through the building, and I didn’t see him, so one way or another, he’s not here.” Jordan replied, stopping their escape for a moment, his hand still on his pistol in case someone unexpected came around a corner, or was waiting around one for them.

Thinking for a moment, he took a breath and decided to voice something he knew she may not like, but hoped she’d at least recognise the logic; he knew she was good at seeing that kind of thing. “With all due respect, with him not being here, the best thing we can do is get out of here, regroup, and look for him when we’re all clear.” He added softly, his first duty being to work with getting her out of there as quickly as possible given the current circumstances.

Daenerys looked a state, travelling days through the forest on her Silver, knowing that her brothers were doing everything they could to find her but she hoped that she gave herself a good head start away from them. She couldn't do it anymore, the constant battle for peace, fighting to stop Viserys and his wicked ways. Deeper into the forest she pulled her horse along until she saw a campfire in the distance. For a moment she debated on whether to approach them, it could be anyone, the worst of the worse and there was a chance they would march her right back to her castle walls for a price. "Please." Daenerys held onto the reigns of her horse. "Please help me."

It wasn’t uncommon for Jordan to go off for some peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere. Technically in a no mans land between kingdoms, it afforded him somewhere to think and not be disturbed when he had a difficult question to think through, much like he did tonight. Hearing the grass rustling behind him, he drew his sword and span to his feet, pointing it at the source of the noise. 

“Daenerys Targaryen...certainly not someone I’d expect to see out here.” He replied, letting the sword drop, but not sheathing it again yet, just in case she was just there to lower his guard.

“The ‘friends everywhere, lots of lesser bad guys on the payroll’ kind of bad people, or just general assholes?” He asked curiously, wanting to help her however he could and hoping he was able to convince her to let him help. While he knew most people would be put off by it, Jordan was plenty familiar with dealing with bad people, and had no hesitation of making use of that for her. 

"The former." She hated admitting what she was dealing with, only a few people knew why she was constantly moving the way she was, never staying anywhere long enough to make a real connection which was fine with her. The last thing Beth wanted was to drag someone into her mess.

“Well, you’re in luck then, because bad guys with friends everywhere and lesser bad guys on the payroll happen to be my specialty for getting rid of.” He pointed out with an almost playful smile, though he could tell she wasn’t the happiest to be admitting it. “I’m not going to force you to let me help, but the offer is there.”

“I’m pretty sure. It was last time at least.” Jordan replied, thinking it through, though part of him starting to doubt himself a little. 

timeguardians:

Watching for any hint of instability as he led them forward, he cut a path through for them as best he could, trying to reduce the amount of risk for them. “Honestly, we’re not going to make it the rest of the way before that. If you trust me, and can see well in the dark, we can keep going until we are, or we can cut a path away from the edge to make a place for us to rest until daybreak.” 

Taking a couple of steps further as he turned, he paused for her response, giving her a soft smile, until she asked how he knew about it. “It’s...let’s just say I didn’t go there by choice, and was glad to be gone...”