The Mary Sue Virus: Avengers Assemble
May. 21st, 2011 09:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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marysuevirusTitle: The Mary Sue Virus: Avengers Assemble
Chapter Two: Asgard
Fandom: something like the Marvel Universe, leaning mostly toward the Avengers branch
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: lots of sex and violence, language, anything else i can toss in. a grown woman behaving like a five year old. probably some drinking.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. the Sues are the sole property of their originators,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dazzledfirestar , nanaea , mistress_o_muse , samuraiter , strawberispring and ladydeathfaerie . the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from Dazzledfirestar.
The Mary Sue Virus: Avengers Assemble - The Index
"Thor is sure that Loki's got something cooking?" Frankie asked, staring idly at her fingernails. There was a bit of dirt caught under one, no doubt left over from her scouting mission to check the borders of Asgard. The white headed man heading up their recon mission turned and flashed her a deep frown. Pietro was in a fine temper, his attitude harsher than usual. Guess who wasn't getting laid tonight? "You saw the borders as clearly as I did. There's nothing threatening Asgard. If there's anything out there, its hidden from view."
"Just because you didn't see anything," Pietro began. Frankie snorted and shook her head, cutting off whatever else he'd been about to say.
"You might have the speed of a cheetah on crack, Pietro, but I was using the eyes of a wolf. Much better vision than a mere human," Frankie informed him. She'd been able to cover more ground as a wolf and she'd made use of the wolf's keen eye sight to scan Asgard's border. She'd also used the animal's heightened sense of smell to try and weed out any lingering scents that would tell her if there was anything close by that was hiding from any scout's eyes. She'd sensed nothing. "I didn't smell anything, either. There was nothing out there. Maybe Thor's taken one too many hits to the head and he's imagining things."
"All that means is that Loki's allies are in hiding. And that Art's magic is helping keep anyone from passing the border into Asgard." Pietro turned from the map he'd been studying to give her a knowing look. "This is Loki we're dealing with. I doubt Thor's imagining anything where the trickster is concerned."
There was a note of finality in his voice that said the topic wasn't open for discussion any longer. Frankie made a general sound of displeasure and completely ignored the knowing look Scott Lang sent her way. No doubt the man was just itching to say something about a lover's quarrel. She'd lover's quarrel his ass after turning into a squirrel. Try explaining that one to friends and family, Scott.
Frankie allowed herself to sink into silence, her mind turning over a few strange events that she hadn't told Pietro about. Things that had occurred when she'd been out scouting. Something odd had happened to her out there, while she'd been exploring the edges of Asgard. Something she didn't quite have an explanation for.
She'd felt... something. She didn't know what it was and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Forget trying to explain it. She wasn't even sure she could do that much. It had happened while she'd been trotting around Asgard on all fours, trying to get a sense of just how big an attack Loki was planning against his father's domain. One moment, she'd been moving along at a good clip with her nose to the wind. The next, she'd nearly fallen flat on her face when she'd been caught up by a dizzying sensation that had left her unsure of which direction was up and which was down.
And then she'd been assaulted by the notion that she was operating under two distinct sets of thoughts. Almost as if she was suffering from multiple personalities. There'd been a brief loss of control as whatever had climbed into her had struggled to be the dominant personality. But she'd beaten it back, intent on maintaining her present form. She'd known that there'd be an opportunity to think about the whole thing after she finished her scouting mission. However, the presence of another mind pressing against her own had made it harder than it should have for her to complete her assignment.
There'd been an internal argument going on between herself and this new personality once she'd started retracing her steps to Asgard's main city. They'd again fought over who would control her body and, as with before, she'd managed to keep that control for herself. But her grip on herself felt as if it was loosening. She didn't know what she was supposed to do. Was there anyone she could talk to about this? It sounded really damned strange, even to her own ears. She didn't think it was part of her mutation, which only left her with one option.
She was going absolutely insane.
"Are you listening to me, Francis?" Pietro's voice was filled with arrogant superiority and just a touch of irritating mirth. She shot a glare his way at the use of that name. His mouth twisted up knowingly.
"You're already on thin ice with me, mister. You're down for one night without me at your side. Want me to extend it to a week?" she asked, ignoring his expression. She hated that it was so easy for him to get a rise out of her. All he had to do was use her given name. No one else did it. Not even Steve called her Francis, though it had taken some time to break him of the habit back in the beginning.
Pietro's gaze flicked to where Scott sat, pretending he was ignoring them, then returned to her face. "That will never happen, Frankie. You know you can't resist me."
"You're an arrogant, pig-headed pain in my ass, Pietro," she retorted, but there was nothing in her voice that suggested she was upset with him anymore. His grin widened slightly. It didn't deserve a response, so she crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her chair. Just to let him know that he wasn't off the hook that easily. He gave her that annoyingly arrogant look again, then turned back to his map.
Some days, she wondered why she was still seeing him. Pietro Maximoff had to be the most pompous, most egotistical man she'd ever met. He snarked on the level of a master and it all she could do some days, like now when he was silently gloating to himself at her expense, to keep herself from changing into something that had a really painful bite. She'd put a welt on his ass the likes of which he'd never seen before in his life.
Then she'd think about him with Luna and how he absolutely loved his daughter, how he doted on her, and her heart melted all over again. Pietro was the best father any little girl could ask for and Luna really wanted for nothing. And he had his moments with her that showed he had a softer side. She just wished that he...
Her brain stopped a moment and she blinked at the man sitting only feet from her. White hair crowned the head of a lean man who looked tense and in control. His blue eyes were locked on the map before him. The uniform he wore clung to every line and muscle, the two shades of blue bisected by a white lightning bolt traveling across his torso from the left shoulder to the right hip. Even staring at a map, obviously making plans in his head, his face was cast in lines of supreme arrogance.
That was when that second part of her, the one she'd been battling all day long, rose to the surface and really took a look around. She was sitting in Asgard with Scott Lang and Pietro Maximoff. Holy shit! She was sitting in Asgard with Scott Lang and Pietro Maximoff. She was with two of the Avengers. She was...
Holy shit! Daz had told her about the Mary Sue Virus but she hadn't really believed what she'd been told. Not really. But now... Holy shit. It was real and she was here and she was.... Whoa! She was having sex with Pietro Maximoff. Real, live, body slapping, sweat inducing sex. Her body tingled with the memories and she had to bite her lip to stifle a groan. She thought Daz had been making it all up. "Holy shit!" she whispered.
"Did you say something, Frankie?" Scott asked absently. He was busy pouring over some documents that Odin had provided him with, looking for answers to this newest threat.
"No. Sorry." Scott obviously didn't believe her because he looked up from his stack of reading material. She flashed him a completely unbelievable smile while waving a hand at him. He stared a second or two, then shrugged and went back to his papers.
If she was here, did that mean that someone else was here, too? If they were, where were they? Please, God, don't let her have been the only one who'd showed up in this universe. She had no clue what the hell she was supposed to be doing. Surely someone was there to help guide her and keep her from freaking out. Surely she wasn't going to have to deal with this all by herself.
Was she?
The door to the room swung open and Art stepped in. He looked like a throwback from the Victorian era, like he was one of those re-enactors who got really into his role. He was dressed as a gentleman back then would have. His trousers were grey with darker grey pinstriping on them, while his shirt was crisp and white. His waistcoat was a brilliant crimson and the cravat at his neck was black silk. His frock coat was black and hung to the knees. The umbrella he always carried was hooked over his arm and his bowler was tipped at a jaunty angle. Brown eyes stared at them from behind little round spectacles. "They'll be arriving shortly. Would anyone care to meet them with me?"
Frankie looked around at her two companions. Neither one acted as if they'd heard Art, though she was sure they had. Shrugging her shoulders, she gave Art a nod and rose to her feet. Let the two of them sit here in the stuffy confines of their make shift war room while she got to explore Odin's palace. Maybe she could puzzle things out while she was gone.
Art allowed Frankie out the door before him, then pulled it closed as he fell into step with her. She cast a glance at him and couldn't help the soft chuckle. He was such an unassuming little man who packed quite the wallop. Most people would look at him and see an eccentric man who liked to dress in a very old fashioned manner. They might not realize that he was wearing clothes that had been made over a century before. And they likely wouldn't know that Art had been born more than a century ago.
Art's very life was steeped in myth and magic. Maybe he'd be the one to talk to about all this. She was sure that he might be able to tell her something. But the thought slid away as quickly as it came. Hadn't Daz said something about people not being able to know about the whole Mary Sue thing? She frowned and screwed her face up in a look of concentration as she tried to remember just what she'd been told about it all. To be honest, she hadn't paid much attention because she'd thought the other woman had been making the whole mess up. It was starting to look like she owed Daz an apology about doubting her.
The touch of Art's hand on her arm brought her from her thoughts to find that he was watching her closely. "Miss Francis, is something troubling you? You haven't had a row with young Master Maximoff, have you?"
She blinked at him a couple times before shaking her head. "Nothing out of the usual. Sorry, Art. Just... lost in thought," she replied.
"It looks rather serious. Is it something I can assist you with?" He looked so earnest and she really wanted to ask him. But part of her reminded her that, despite everything he'd seen in his long life, there were some things that would see people calling her crazy.
"I don't think so, Art. But thank you for offering. I'll just have to figure it out on my own."
He studied her a moment longer, then gave a nod of his head and motioned for her to continue forward. Frankie's feet began moving again and Art fell into step beside her. The corridor seemed to stretch out before them forever, the echoes of their foot falls bouncing back and forth off the walls until it seemed as if there were more than two people in the hallway. It reminded her of the way two sets of thoughts seemed to be going through her head. Those that were her own and those that belonged to Frankie, the woman's body she knew she was in.
"You know, Miss Francis," Art's voice caught her attention. It was thoughtful, as if he was giving great consideration to each word he spoke. "I cannot help but think that you are plagued by thoughts that aren't your own. This isn't as unusual as you might think."
There was an inflection in Art's tone that stopped her in her tracks. She turned to look at him and found that knowledge had darkened his eyes. He tipped his head at her. "What do you mean?"
"I think you know. But all in good time, my dear. There are others to consult, are there not? And we mustn't keep our friends waiting. They've no doubt arrived by now."
She stared for a second, then gave a brisk nod. Yes. There were others to consult. And it was obvious that Art knew something. Had his magic clued him in to the fact that there were two parts of her whole now? Or was his knowledge based in something different, though no less magical? Jerking into motion again, she made her way up the hall. She was sure she'd find out what he was talking about in a good time.
~*~*~*~*~
Riley watched.
From the moment she'd geared up for the trip to Asgard, she'd been watching. She'd watched as Thor and Captain America had bent their heads together while planning how they would get to Asgard. She'd watched as Wanda and Vision had sat silent and still and yet, they'd managed to give her the impression of movement and conversation. She'd watched Jan fuss with Hank over some matter and she'd watched Hank take it in stride. She'd watched Jen carefully doing a pre-flight inventory. She'd watched Tony making last minute adjustments to the instrument panel, his hands moving quickly over the controls with confidence.
Truth be told, she'd watched Tony for a long time. He'd suited up, but hadn't put on his helmet. Her eyes had mapped the very geography of his face and committed it to memory. She'd smiled fondly at the slight mess of his hair, as if he'd recently been running his fingers through it in agitation. He'd let her gaze trace the curves of his lips and the angles of his cheeks. She'd caught the blue of his eyes flicking over the cabin without really seeing it or anyone in it. She'd wondered what had been going on in his head.
She wasn't sure if the attraction could be attributed to the part of her that was Riley, the part of her that was Nan, or if it belonged to both of them. She didn't look too deeply into that attraction because, so far, Tony had given no sign that he saw her as anything beyond a teammate. Besides, it was obvious that a relationship between the two of them might not be welcome. Look at the one between Sorcha and Clint. It was creating a lot of friction. Still, she wondered if Willa and Sorcha's reason for her presence here in the Avengers' world wasn't absolutely spot on.
Willa and Sorcha. She'd watched them, too. Watched as they'd boarded the quinjet together. It would seem that the two of them were thick as thieves. Even now, they were sitting side by side in a pair of chairs, heads bent together while they whispered back and forth like teenagers in high school. She'd noted that Sorcha had barely looked at Clint once they'd climbed into their seats, as if the woman was letting Willa know that her loyalties lay with her friend and not the man she was having sex with.
It seemed that Willa had relaxed since they'd left the meeting. Riley had watched her then, had watched and seen enough of Daz peeking out to know that seeing Sorcha and Clint together had bothered her. Just a little bit.
Maybe Willa had relaxed because there'd really been no time for Sorcha and Clint to have a quickie. They all knew that a quickie for those two ended up lasting for an hour or more. If anything, the two of them had only had time for a few kisses and some groping before they'd reported to the hangar. In fact, Sorcha had seemingly put on her serious face because she'd barely mentioned sex in the past half hour and Riley couldn't recall hearing a single 'totally' or 'dude' since she'd shown up in her uniform. Perhaps Steve wasn't able to see her dedication to her life as an Avenger because of Clint, but it was so obviously there.
A snicker drew her attention back to Sorcha and Willa. The two of them were trying hard not to laugh out loud. Okay. So it was there most of the time. What were those two talking about? No doubt they were planning something wicked or juvenile. Often times, it was the same thing with them. Just a couple of weeks ago, they'd been betting on whether or not Steve wore boxers or briefs. Sorcha had barely gotten out of the man's room before being caught. Turned out Cap liked boxer briefs.
Sorcha lifted her head and pointed toward Thor. Willa grinned and shook her head. Sorcha nodded and made a grabbing motion with both hands. Which meant she was trying to convince Willa that they could either grab Thor's Asgardian ass or they could give him a wedgie. Either way, they were playing with fire.
Her gaze shifted to the last member of their little group. Caelin was strapped into her seat, presenting a calm and collected appearance. Riley knew better. She'd watched Caelin, too. The woman had been utterly confused because Cat had apparently not let go of her control yet. While she hadn't really given any outward sign that she was in conflict, Riley knew the signs well enough that she'd been able to spot them. She could sympathize with the other woman. She'd been in the same position before. But Caelin needed to take control soon or someone would realize something was up. The moment they went into battle, it would become obvious that there was something wrong.
Battle. That seemed odd. Naturally, she'd seen a battle or two in other universes. But none of them had been as dangerous as this one felt like it would be. She didn't know much about the world of the Avengers, but every instinct she had screamed that things wouldn't be easy for them here. The fight they were facing would test them in ways they'd never been tested before. Would they be up to it? She hoped like hell that they were.
"We're getting ready to pass through the portal. I suggest everyone make sure they're strapped in." Steve's voice filled the cabin. Riley checked her seatbelt before looking toward the windows before the flight panel. Realizing that something amazing was about to happen, the light chatter that had surrounded her fell to silence and everyone gave their attention to the front of the jet.
There was no magic incantation spoken. No spell cast. Nothing really out of the ordinary happened. Thor simply hefted Mjolnir and pointed it toward the blue expanse of sky beyond the windows. There was a bright flash of light that faded and left them staring at the same blue expanse of sky. Except it wasn't the same. Riley couldn't put her finger on why it was different, but it was.
Almost immediately, the jet began lowering its nose. They were already coming in for a landing. Thor must have brought them right to Asgard's main city. She'd have been impressed with that if she wasn't so curious about their destination.
The jet was on the ground five minutes later, the hatch open and people filing out. So far, the only one who hadn't left their seat was Caelin. Riley nudged her arm and motioned toward the open exit with her head. "Its time to get off. Might want to take the seatbelt off. That makes it easier to get out of your seat."
"Why am I here again?" the woman asked, her hands absently undoing the catch on the belt.
"Because you're an Avenger and Thor needs your help."
"Right. Because I'm an Avenger." Caelin nodded and rose from her seat. Riley watched as the momentary lack of confidence slid away. With it, the last doubts that belonged to Cat disappeared and Caelin fully took control of herself again. She headed toward the hatch without looking back. Riley smiled and shook her head, then followed the woman.
The place was fantastic. No matter where Riley looked, there were structures that defied description. Aspects of nature that did things that weren't natural and defied the imagination. It was truly a place fit for gods. She tried to take everything in, but there was just too much. So she finally let her gaze land at her feet. Only a handful of steps away, was the famed Bifrost bridge.
The bridge was something out of a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead of ribbons of colors woven together to form a bridge, it was like one of those holographic cards that changed colors and sparked metallic rainbows when you shifted it in the light. The bridge was thick, though she wasn't sure just how thick, and it looked like it was wide enough for maybe three on horse to ride side by side.
She watched as Thor paced forward toward the palace. The moment his feet landed upon the bridge, it was like the light and shifted under the bridge. His touch brought to life the rainbow of colors that gave the passage its name. Metallic colors light and flashed under his foot steps and, for just a moment, Riley could imagine what it would look like if a horse's hooves pounded against the ribbon in a full gallop. She hoped beyond hope that she would get a chance to see that sight.
"Congratulations. You're all officially somewhere over the rainbow." Frankie stared at them with a faint smirk on her face. She let her gaze flick around the gathered group. "Sorry about the welcome wagon. Judy Garland couldn't make it."
There was a snicker or two from Sorcha and Willa, but that was the only reaction the comment got. Frankie managed a tight smile, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she was not happy about things. She had to be fighting with Pietro again. She swore those two fought sometimes just so that they could make up.
"My friends," Thor smiled and threw out his arms. The gesture was meant to encompass the palace behind him and all of the land surrounding it. "Welcome to Asgard and my home. First, you will be shown to your sleeping quarters. Then we feast!"
"Great. A feast. Just what the doctor didn't order," Sorcha muttered.
"Behave. You know there'll be some mead." Willa jabbed her in the side with an elbow.
"You remember what happened the last time I got drunk?"
Willa just grinned. "Of course I do. I'm looking forward to seeing if that happens again."
Sorcha frowned at the blonde then stooped down to pick up her bag. "You're evil, Willa. Totally evil."
"I am. And you love me for it," Willa replied as she followed after the other woman. Riley grinned and shook her head.
Oh, yes. This was going to be fun.
~*~*~*~*~
"What's going on, Art? What did you want to talk about?" Willa asked. She stood in the center of the chamber that someone with an odd, Viking sounding name that Caelin couldn't remember had shown the woman to. It had been when they'd been going from room to room that Art had let Willa and everyone else know that he wished to speak to them about something. Willa had nodded and silently suggested her room. Once they'd all settled their things in to their appointed chambers, they'd met up with Willa in the room she'd been given.
Art's gaze slid to Frankie behind his glasses, a faint smile tweaking the corners of his lips. "I believe Miss Francis is feeling quite lost. This whole thing is quite the new and amazing experience for her. In fact, I'd hazard a guess and say that she's sick with longing for home. I believe she has come down with a virus of some sort."
Caelin watched as Willa looked from Art to Frankie and then back again. Then she shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. "Yeah. There's a lot of that going around lately." Then Willa, Sorcha and Riley turned to look at Caelin. She felt a blush stain her cheeks.
Art smiled politely. "And who do we have here?"
"Ladies and gentleman, the part of Caelin O'Shaughnessy will be played today by Cat." Sorcha's voice held a hint of teasing.
"I blame this on you completely," Caelin replied and crossed her arms under her breasts. Sorcha laughed and shook her head.
"I'm scared. And there are no cameras here, model chick. Stop posing."
Caelin made a face, then turned to study the other two people. The part of her that was Cat found herself lost in memories of both Art and Frankie in their time as Avengers. There were images of fights that happened along side the other two. Occasions where they'd laughed and joked together. A string of images rolled out in her mind like a length of red carpeting at one of her events. Caelin knew these people. Worked with them and trusted them. Cat, however, was more than a little lost.
Riley rose to her feet, breaking Caelin from her thoughts. Having two sets of memories and ideas in her head was painful and she was glad for the respite. The woman stared at Frankie for a moment, then turned her attention to Art. "Samu?" she asked quietly. There was a hint of hesitance in her voice, as if she wasn't sure she should be doing this.
Art's smile broadened. The little man tugged the bowler from his head as he bent into a deep, respectful bow. "At your service, ladies." He righted himself, restored the bowler to his head and glanced at Frankie. "And you, my dear?"
Frankie's grey eyes slid around the room. She looked like she wasn't quite ready to talk. Maybe she thought that they'd think she was nuts. Hadn't she and Sam just introduced themselves. Finally, Frankie crossed her arms over her chest. "How do I know that this isn't all some trick?"
"I'm Nan. You've met Sam and Cat. The lazy one lounging on the bed over there is Lady." Riley's hand motioned to each in turn. When she gestured to Sorcha, the lounging woman lifted a hand in a peace sign.
"`Sup, dude?"
Riley sighed and shifted her hand over to Willa. "And that's Daz."
Frankie's gaze slid to the blonde and shook her head. "I owe you an apology. When you told me about the virus, I thought you were making it all up. I didn't think that it was something really... you know, real."
Willa blinked at Frankie, then shook her head. "Jamie? Really?"
"Yeah. Talk about a rude awakening," Frankie said and gave a rueful grin. "I was out scouting the borders as a wolf and I had this moment where everything went crazy on me. I almost lost my form."
"Did you find anything?" Sorcha asked. She sat up and gave them all a look when they turned a startled expression on her. "What? Because I'm a party girl, I can't have brains? When are you people going to learn that I'm just as dedicated to being an Avenger as old Stars and Stripes is. Thor said Loki is being an ass again. I want to know if you found anything to support his statements."
"I didn't see or smell anything," Frankie replied. Then she shook her head. "I know Thor is sure Loki's got something up his sleeve, but I don't know about that. I didn't see anything out there. No sign of Frost Giants. I didn't smell anything. I don't think he's right."
"I've never known Thor to be mistaken about such things," Art said. His voice sounded thoughtful. He turned to Frankie. "If he believes that Loki is going to create trouble, then no doubt Loki will create trouble."
"But I couldn't smell anything, Art. Shouldn't I have been able to smell something? If they're out there, there should have been some kind of scent on the air."
"Exactly. If they are out there." Art reached up to adjust his glasses. "They may not have arrived to make trouble yet. We must remain ever vigilant."
"Vigilant?" Frankie snorted. "This is why there's going to be a feast tonight?"
Sorcha laughed. "They're Viking gods, Frankie. They think that the wind changing direction is reason to have a feast. They'll feast when the entire fucking world is going up in flames. Honored guests arrive to help them fight their mortal enemies, they're going to have a feast. Just stay away from Thor when he gets drunk. He's all hands."
"And he'll offer to show you his hammer." Riley and Willa intoned together. Then, with Sorcha, they broke into knowing laughter.
Frankie frowned at them. "I've obviously missed something."
The laughter slowly died down. Willa waved a hand at the other woman. "Don't worry. Its Cat's first time being caught up in the virus, too. She's just as a lost as you are. We'll tell you the same thing we told her. Let your Sue do the driving and it'll make things so much easier."
"Let my Sue do the driving? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Caelin took the opportunity to speak up. "The way I understand it, the body you're in has its own personality. Its own thoughts and memories. All you need to do is let that personality do what it always does. You'll have access to the thoughts and memories of your Sue. You're just kind of along for the ride."
Frankie tilted her head to the side as she pondered what Caelin was telling her. "So I'm along for the ride. And I'm going to know everything Frankie knows. Will I remember all of this after its all over?"
"Yup," Sorcha nodded. "Even though there are some things you might want to forget."
"Like the smell of a singed Wolverine?" Willa grinned.
"And you never did anything stupid?" Sorcha asked, her voice filled with a faint blush of anger and embarrassment.
"Not like that." Willa's grin grew.
"Right. Fuck you." There was no heat to Sorcha's words. Turning, she caught sight of herself in a large mirror that hung on the wall. The rest of the room could be seen in its reflection, including all six of the Sues. "This is the most Sues we've had at one time, Willa. Something must be seriously fucked up in this world."
"Something is always seriously fucked up in this world," Willa nodded. The woman's gaze traveled over every one of the Sues. "No doubt we'll figure it out eventually. Other than what Thor's told us so far. I do have to say that I think this is the most diverse group we've ever had."
Riley nodded. "I think you're right." She looked at Art and then Frankie. "You said you were a wolf earlier. Are you some kind of shape shifter?"
The brunette nodded. "Yes. I can shift into any form I chose. Mostly, I go with animals. I don't really shift into other people because I feel that's an invasion of their privacy. I have to actually touch what I want to change into and kind of absorb their DNA." Frankie paused a moment, then frowned. "If you've got access to Riley's memories, don't you already know this?"
"Technically, yes. But we've found that in the beginning, we tend to float between our Sues and ourselves until the Sue fully takes over. Some trips, that happens sooner than in others." Riley smiled and motioned to Caelin. "It also helps the newer members of the virus understand what's going on. Art?"
"I'm a mage of some renown, Miss Riley." Art paused and seemingly searched his thoughts. Then he offered a chagrinned look. "I apologize for my antiquated speech. It would seem that this is the way Art speaks. He's a gentleman of an era gone by, you see."
"No worries, Art. One of us has to have manners." Willa smirked and shot a look to Sorcha. She was sprawled across the bed on the back, head hanging over the opposite edge. Caelin could see her face in the mirror. Sorcha was busy doing something with her nose. At the other woman's words, though, one hand rose so that she could flip Willa the bird. The blonde smiled and shook her head. "Some things never change."
"Hot damn." Sorcha sat up and gave them all a look. "You know, I wish we could take pictures that we could take home with us. That would be, like, the awesomest souvenir ever."
"The fourteen year old valley girl returns." Caelin commented dryly. Sorcha made a face at her, then rose to her feet. Caelin took the opportunity to really study her friends and companions. They were as different a bunch as they could be.
Somehow, Art had ended up being the smallest of the bunch. He barely topped five foot without the bowler on and the man's looks were rather unremarkable. He had brown eyes and brown hair and the light fringe of a mustache above his upper lip. If not for his dress, she didn't think that anyone would take note of him. But there was an aura of power to him. It clung to him like a second skin and practically vibrated the air around him. That power said very plainly that he was not a man to be messed with.
Frankie was over half a foot taller than Art but a couple inches shorter than Caelin, with a head of hair that was two toned. While most of her hair was red, her bangs were brunette. Grey eyes still filled with a hint of confusion moved from one person to another, obviously hoping that one of them would help her figure this out or tell her that it was all a bad dream. The woman had a lean body, her muscles obviously well honed from exercise and training. But there were still curves to her, letting the world know she was a real woman.
Her gaze fell next on Willa. The woman was only a few inches taller than Art, with a short, shaggy head of strawberry blonde hair. Except for her bangs. Those were white. Piercing eyes the blue-green of the ocean stared out at the world. Willa was lithe and muscular, much like the rest of them were. No doubt she trained hard, just like everyone else did.
Riley was barely taller than Willa. Side by side, one would have a hard time picking which of them stood higher than the other. And, like Willa, Riley's hair was cut short. It was a deep, dark black with hints of blue in it that the light picked out when it slid over the silken locks. Streaks of purple broke up the midnight expanse and were just a few shades darker than her eyes. She looked like a harmless little thing, but Caelin knew better. Her memories told her that Riley was as capable as someone who towered over her. S.H.I.E.L.D. training did that to a person.
Her eyes landed on Sorcha, who lounged negligently against the wall. Her hair hung long and free around her face, as inky black as Riley's, but with a tinge of green to it that the light found with ease. Also like Riley, she had purple eyes, but they were a lighter shade than the other woman's. Sorcha was a couple inches shorter than Caelin and, unlike most of the others, she didn't really do anything outside of the Avengers. Steve had assigned her as a kind of public relations person for the Avengers in hopes that it would keep her out of trouble when they weren't on a mission. Caelin didn't know if it had worked yet.
That brought her to herself. Tall and willowy, Caelin worked as a model when she wasn't playing hero for the Avengers. Her hair was a rich chestnut color. It hung long around her frame, a wave to it that made it look like she'd spent hours with it braided or something. She had deep blue eyes that got her face noticed when she was in pictures with anyone else.
And they were standing in Asgard, preparing for a feast with Viking gods. Then there was the battle. She was a little nervous about that. The part of her that was Cat, that remembered being Cat, didn't think she could handle going into a fight with things called Frost Giants. She didn't have a fucking clue what she was doing here. Even worse, she didn't know how she was supposed to get home.
"So... Do we just hang out here until its time to go to this feast?" Frankie asked, shifting from foot to foot. It looked like a nervous habit. It also looked like she was unaware she was doing it. Willa frowned.
"I don't know. I would suppose so. It isn't like we can't go wandering around Asgard," she replied.
"To hell with that. I want to find Thor's rooms and explore his wardrobe. I want to know if he wears boxers or briefs under those leggings of his," Sorcha stated before heading for the door.
"This is not the time or place, Sorcha. If you get caught making a panty raid on Thor's chambers, Steve will never let you go anywhere ever again." There was only mild censure in Willa's tone. Caelin could see she was trying to stave off a smile.
"Give me an hour with Mr. Tight Britches and he'll be smiling until Dr. Doom has to start wearing iron adult diapers," Sorcha commented. A few light chuckles filled the room but no one said anything to her. Her hand caught the knob and turned. The door opened to reveal one of the Vikings Caelin had briefly seen when they'd been whisked through the palace. He offered a smile and made that same broad gesture that she'd seen Thor give earlier.
"Friends and honored guests. Please. Accompany me. The feast has started."
Chapter Two: Asgard
Fandom: something like the Marvel Universe, leaning mostly toward the Avengers branch
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: lots of sex and violence, language, anything else i can toss in. a grown woman behaving like a five year old. probably some drinking.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of Marvel. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. the Sues are the sole property of their originators,
dazzledfirestar , nanaea , mistress_o_muse , samuraiter , strawberispring and ladydeathfaerie . the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from Dazzledfirestar.The Mary Sue Virus: Avengers Assemble - The Index
"Thor is sure that Loki's got something cooking?" Frankie asked, staring idly at her fingernails. There was a bit of dirt caught under one, no doubt left over from her scouting mission to check the borders of Asgard. The white headed man heading up their recon mission turned and flashed her a deep frown. Pietro was in a fine temper, his attitude harsher than usual. Guess who wasn't getting laid tonight? "You saw the borders as clearly as I did. There's nothing threatening Asgard. If there's anything out there, its hidden from view."
"Just because you didn't see anything," Pietro began. Frankie snorted and shook her head, cutting off whatever else he'd been about to say.
"You might have the speed of a cheetah on crack, Pietro, but I was using the eyes of a wolf. Much better vision than a mere human," Frankie informed him. She'd been able to cover more ground as a wolf and she'd made use of the wolf's keen eye sight to scan Asgard's border. She'd also used the animal's heightened sense of smell to try and weed out any lingering scents that would tell her if there was anything close by that was hiding from any scout's eyes. She'd sensed nothing. "I didn't smell anything, either. There was nothing out there. Maybe Thor's taken one too many hits to the head and he's imagining things."
"All that means is that Loki's allies are in hiding. And that Art's magic is helping keep anyone from passing the border into Asgard." Pietro turned from the map he'd been studying to give her a knowing look. "This is Loki we're dealing with. I doubt Thor's imagining anything where the trickster is concerned."
There was a note of finality in his voice that said the topic wasn't open for discussion any longer. Frankie made a general sound of displeasure and completely ignored the knowing look Scott Lang sent her way. No doubt the man was just itching to say something about a lover's quarrel. She'd lover's quarrel his ass after turning into a squirrel. Try explaining that one to friends and family, Scott.
Frankie allowed herself to sink into silence, her mind turning over a few strange events that she hadn't told Pietro about. Things that had occurred when she'd been out scouting. Something odd had happened to her out there, while she'd been exploring the edges of Asgard. Something she didn't quite have an explanation for.
She'd felt... something. She didn't know what it was and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Forget trying to explain it. She wasn't even sure she could do that much. It had happened while she'd been trotting around Asgard on all fours, trying to get a sense of just how big an attack Loki was planning against his father's domain. One moment, she'd been moving along at a good clip with her nose to the wind. The next, she'd nearly fallen flat on her face when she'd been caught up by a dizzying sensation that had left her unsure of which direction was up and which was down.
And then she'd been assaulted by the notion that she was operating under two distinct sets of thoughts. Almost as if she was suffering from multiple personalities. There'd been a brief loss of control as whatever had climbed into her had struggled to be the dominant personality. But she'd beaten it back, intent on maintaining her present form. She'd known that there'd be an opportunity to think about the whole thing after she finished her scouting mission. However, the presence of another mind pressing against her own had made it harder than it should have for her to complete her assignment.
There'd been an internal argument going on between herself and this new personality once she'd started retracing her steps to Asgard's main city. They'd again fought over who would control her body and, as with before, she'd managed to keep that control for herself. But her grip on herself felt as if it was loosening. She didn't know what she was supposed to do. Was there anyone she could talk to about this? It sounded really damned strange, even to her own ears. She didn't think it was part of her mutation, which only left her with one option.
She was going absolutely insane.
"Are you listening to me, Francis?" Pietro's voice was filled with arrogant superiority and just a touch of irritating mirth. She shot a glare his way at the use of that name. His mouth twisted up knowingly.
"You're already on thin ice with me, mister. You're down for one night without me at your side. Want me to extend it to a week?" she asked, ignoring his expression. She hated that it was so easy for him to get a rise out of her. All he had to do was use her given name. No one else did it. Not even Steve called her Francis, though it had taken some time to break him of the habit back in the beginning.
Pietro's gaze flicked to where Scott sat, pretending he was ignoring them, then returned to her face. "That will never happen, Frankie. You know you can't resist me."
"You're an arrogant, pig-headed pain in my ass, Pietro," she retorted, but there was nothing in her voice that suggested she was upset with him anymore. His grin widened slightly. It didn't deserve a response, so she crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in her chair. Just to let him know that he wasn't off the hook that easily. He gave her that annoyingly arrogant look again, then turned back to his map.
Some days, she wondered why she was still seeing him. Pietro Maximoff had to be the most pompous, most egotistical man she'd ever met. He snarked on the level of a master and it all she could do some days, like now when he was silently gloating to himself at her expense, to keep herself from changing into something that had a really painful bite. She'd put a welt on his ass the likes of which he'd never seen before in his life.
Then she'd think about him with Luna and how he absolutely loved his daughter, how he doted on her, and her heart melted all over again. Pietro was the best father any little girl could ask for and Luna really wanted for nothing. And he had his moments with her that showed he had a softer side. She just wished that he...
Her brain stopped a moment and she blinked at the man sitting only feet from her. White hair crowned the head of a lean man who looked tense and in control. His blue eyes were locked on the map before him. The uniform he wore clung to every line and muscle, the two shades of blue bisected by a white lightning bolt traveling across his torso from the left shoulder to the right hip. Even staring at a map, obviously making plans in his head, his face was cast in lines of supreme arrogance.
That was when that second part of her, the one she'd been battling all day long, rose to the surface and really took a look around. She was sitting in Asgard with Scott Lang and Pietro Maximoff. Holy shit! She was sitting in Asgard with Scott Lang and Pietro Maximoff. She was with two of the Avengers. She was...
Holy shit! Daz had told her about the Mary Sue Virus but she hadn't really believed what she'd been told. Not really. But now... Holy shit. It was real and she was here and she was.... Whoa! She was having sex with Pietro Maximoff. Real, live, body slapping, sweat inducing sex. Her body tingled with the memories and she had to bite her lip to stifle a groan. She thought Daz had been making it all up. "Holy shit!" she whispered.
"Did you say something, Frankie?" Scott asked absently. He was busy pouring over some documents that Odin had provided him with, looking for answers to this newest threat.
"No. Sorry." Scott obviously didn't believe her because he looked up from his stack of reading material. She flashed him a completely unbelievable smile while waving a hand at him. He stared a second or two, then shrugged and went back to his papers.
If she was here, did that mean that someone else was here, too? If they were, where were they? Please, God, don't let her have been the only one who'd showed up in this universe. She had no clue what the hell she was supposed to be doing. Surely someone was there to help guide her and keep her from freaking out. Surely she wasn't going to have to deal with this all by herself.
Was she?
The door to the room swung open and Art stepped in. He looked like a throwback from the Victorian era, like he was one of those re-enactors who got really into his role. He was dressed as a gentleman back then would have. His trousers were grey with darker grey pinstriping on them, while his shirt was crisp and white. His waistcoat was a brilliant crimson and the cravat at his neck was black silk. His frock coat was black and hung to the knees. The umbrella he always carried was hooked over his arm and his bowler was tipped at a jaunty angle. Brown eyes stared at them from behind little round spectacles. "They'll be arriving shortly. Would anyone care to meet them with me?"
Frankie looked around at her two companions. Neither one acted as if they'd heard Art, though she was sure they had. Shrugging her shoulders, she gave Art a nod and rose to her feet. Let the two of them sit here in the stuffy confines of their make shift war room while she got to explore Odin's palace. Maybe she could puzzle things out while she was gone.
Art allowed Frankie out the door before him, then pulled it closed as he fell into step with her. She cast a glance at him and couldn't help the soft chuckle. He was such an unassuming little man who packed quite the wallop. Most people would look at him and see an eccentric man who liked to dress in a very old fashioned manner. They might not realize that he was wearing clothes that had been made over a century before. And they likely wouldn't know that Art had been born more than a century ago.
Art's very life was steeped in myth and magic. Maybe he'd be the one to talk to about all this. She was sure that he might be able to tell her something. But the thought slid away as quickly as it came. Hadn't Daz said something about people not being able to know about the whole Mary Sue thing? She frowned and screwed her face up in a look of concentration as she tried to remember just what she'd been told about it all. To be honest, she hadn't paid much attention because she'd thought the other woman had been making the whole mess up. It was starting to look like she owed Daz an apology about doubting her.
The touch of Art's hand on her arm brought her from her thoughts to find that he was watching her closely. "Miss Francis, is something troubling you? You haven't had a row with young Master Maximoff, have you?"
She blinked at him a couple times before shaking her head. "Nothing out of the usual. Sorry, Art. Just... lost in thought," she replied.
"It looks rather serious. Is it something I can assist you with?" He looked so earnest and she really wanted to ask him. But part of her reminded her that, despite everything he'd seen in his long life, there were some things that would see people calling her crazy.
"I don't think so, Art. But thank you for offering. I'll just have to figure it out on my own."
He studied her a moment longer, then gave a nod of his head and motioned for her to continue forward. Frankie's feet began moving again and Art fell into step beside her. The corridor seemed to stretch out before them forever, the echoes of their foot falls bouncing back and forth off the walls until it seemed as if there were more than two people in the hallway. It reminded her of the way two sets of thoughts seemed to be going through her head. Those that were her own and those that belonged to Frankie, the woman's body she knew she was in.
"You know, Miss Francis," Art's voice caught her attention. It was thoughtful, as if he was giving great consideration to each word he spoke. "I cannot help but think that you are plagued by thoughts that aren't your own. This isn't as unusual as you might think."
There was an inflection in Art's tone that stopped her in her tracks. She turned to look at him and found that knowledge had darkened his eyes. He tipped his head at her. "What do you mean?"
"I think you know. But all in good time, my dear. There are others to consult, are there not? And we mustn't keep our friends waiting. They've no doubt arrived by now."
She stared for a second, then gave a brisk nod. Yes. There were others to consult. And it was obvious that Art knew something. Had his magic clued him in to the fact that there were two parts of her whole now? Or was his knowledge based in something different, though no less magical? Jerking into motion again, she made her way up the hall. She was sure she'd find out what he was talking about in a good time.
~*~*~*~*~
Riley watched.
From the moment she'd geared up for the trip to Asgard, she'd been watching. She'd watched as Thor and Captain America had bent their heads together while planning how they would get to Asgard. She'd watched as Wanda and Vision had sat silent and still and yet, they'd managed to give her the impression of movement and conversation. She'd watched Jan fuss with Hank over some matter and she'd watched Hank take it in stride. She'd watched Jen carefully doing a pre-flight inventory. She'd watched Tony making last minute adjustments to the instrument panel, his hands moving quickly over the controls with confidence.
Truth be told, she'd watched Tony for a long time. He'd suited up, but hadn't put on his helmet. Her eyes had mapped the very geography of his face and committed it to memory. She'd smiled fondly at the slight mess of his hair, as if he'd recently been running his fingers through it in agitation. He'd let her gaze trace the curves of his lips and the angles of his cheeks. She'd caught the blue of his eyes flicking over the cabin without really seeing it or anyone in it. She'd wondered what had been going on in his head.
She wasn't sure if the attraction could be attributed to the part of her that was Riley, the part of her that was Nan, or if it belonged to both of them. She didn't look too deeply into that attraction because, so far, Tony had given no sign that he saw her as anything beyond a teammate. Besides, it was obvious that a relationship between the two of them might not be welcome. Look at the one between Sorcha and Clint. It was creating a lot of friction. Still, she wondered if Willa and Sorcha's reason for her presence here in the Avengers' world wasn't absolutely spot on.
Willa and Sorcha. She'd watched them, too. Watched as they'd boarded the quinjet together. It would seem that the two of them were thick as thieves. Even now, they were sitting side by side in a pair of chairs, heads bent together while they whispered back and forth like teenagers in high school. She'd noted that Sorcha had barely looked at Clint once they'd climbed into their seats, as if the woman was letting Willa know that her loyalties lay with her friend and not the man she was having sex with.
It seemed that Willa had relaxed since they'd left the meeting. Riley had watched her then, had watched and seen enough of Daz peeking out to know that seeing Sorcha and Clint together had bothered her. Just a little bit.
Maybe Willa had relaxed because there'd really been no time for Sorcha and Clint to have a quickie. They all knew that a quickie for those two ended up lasting for an hour or more. If anything, the two of them had only had time for a few kisses and some groping before they'd reported to the hangar. In fact, Sorcha had seemingly put on her serious face because she'd barely mentioned sex in the past half hour and Riley couldn't recall hearing a single 'totally' or 'dude' since she'd shown up in her uniform. Perhaps Steve wasn't able to see her dedication to her life as an Avenger because of Clint, but it was so obviously there.
A snicker drew her attention back to Sorcha and Willa. The two of them were trying hard not to laugh out loud. Okay. So it was there most of the time. What were those two talking about? No doubt they were planning something wicked or juvenile. Often times, it was the same thing with them. Just a couple of weeks ago, they'd been betting on whether or not Steve wore boxers or briefs. Sorcha had barely gotten out of the man's room before being caught. Turned out Cap liked boxer briefs.
Sorcha lifted her head and pointed toward Thor. Willa grinned and shook her head. Sorcha nodded and made a grabbing motion with both hands. Which meant she was trying to convince Willa that they could either grab Thor's Asgardian ass or they could give him a wedgie. Either way, they were playing with fire.
Her gaze shifted to the last member of their little group. Caelin was strapped into her seat, presenting a calm and collected appearance. Riley knew better. She'd watched Caelin, too. The woman had been utterly confused because Cat had apparently not let go of her control yet. While she hadn't really given any outward sign that she was in conflict, Riley knew the signs well enough that she'd been able to spot them. She could sympathize with the other woman. She'd been in the same position before. But Caelin needed to take control soon or someone would realize something was up. The moment they went into battle, it would become obvious that there was something wrong.
Battle. That seemed odd. Naturally, she'd seen a battle or two in other universes. But none of them had been as dangerous as this one felt like it would be. She didn't know much about the world of the Avengers, but every instinct she had screamed that things wouldn't be easy for them here. The fight they were facing would test them in ways they'd never been tested before. Would they be up to it? She hoped like hell that they were.
"We're getting ready to pass through the portal. I suggest everyone make sure they're strapped in." Steve's voice filled the cabin. Riley checked her seatbelt before looking toward the windows before the flight panel. Realizing that something amazing was about to happen, the light chatter that had surrounded her fell to silence and everyone gave their attention to the front of the jet.
There was no magic incantation spoken. No spell cast. Nothing really out of the ordinary happened. Thor simply hefted Mjolnir and pointed it toward the blue expanse of sky beyond the windows. There was a bright flash of light that faded and left them staring at the same blue expanse of sky. Except it wasn't the same. Riley couldn't put her finger on why it was different, but it was.
Almost immediately, the jet began lowering its nose. They were already coming in for a landing. Thor must have brought them right to Asgard's main city. She'd have been impressed with that if she wasn't so curious about their destination.
The jet was on the ground five minutes later, the hatch open and people filing out. So far, the only one who hadn't left their seat was Caelin. Riley nudged her arm and motioned toward the open exit with her head. "Its time to get off. Might want to take the seatbelt off. That makes it easier to get out of your seat."
"Why am I here again?" the woman asked, her hands absently undoing the catch on the belt.
"Because you're an Avenger and Thor needs your help."
"Right. Because I'm an Avenger." Caelin nodded and rose from her seat. Riley watched as the momentary lack of confidence slid away. With it, the last doubts that belonged to Cat disappeared and Caelin fully took control of herself again. She headed toward the hatch without looking back. Riley smiled and shook her head, then followed the woman.
The place was fantastic. No matter where Riley looked, there were structures that defied description. Aspects of nature that did things that weren't natural and defied the imagination. It was truly a place fit for gods. She tried to take everything in, but there was just too much. So she finally let her gaze land at her feet. Only a handful of steps away, was the famed Bifrost bridge.
The bridge was something out of a Hollywood blockbuster. Instead of ribbons of colors woven together to form a bridge, it was like one of those holographic cards that changed colors and sparked metallic rainbows when you shifted it in the light. The bridge was thick, though she wasn't sure just how thick, and it looked like it was wide enough for maybe three on horse to ride side by side.
She watched as Thor paced forward toward the palace. The moment his feet landed upon the bridge, it was like the light and shifted under the bridge. His touch brought to life the rainbow of colors that gave the passage its name. Metallic colors light and flashed under his foot steps and, for just a moment, Riley could imagine what it would look like if a horse's hooves pounded against the ribbon in a full gallop. She hoped beyond hope that she would get a chance to see that sight.
"Congratulations. You're all officially somewhere over the rainbow." Frankie stared at them with a faint smirk on her face. She let her gaze flick around the gathered group. "Sorry about the welcome wagon. Judy Garland couldn't make it."
There was a snicker or two from Sorcha and Willa, but that was the only reaction the comment got. Frankie managed a tight smile, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she was not happy about things. She had to be fighting with Pietro again. She swore those two fought sometimes just so that they could make up.
"My friends," Thor smiled and threw out his arms. The gesture was meant to encompass the palace behind him and all of the land surrounding it. "Welcome to Asgard and my home. First, you will be shown to your sleeping quarters. Then we feast!"
"Great. A feast. Just what the doctor didn't order," Sorcha muttered.
"Behave. You know there'll be some mead." Willa jabbed her in the side with an elbow.
"You remember what happened the last time I got drunk?"
Willa just grinned. "Of course I do. I'm looking forward to seeing if that happens again."
Sorcha frowned at the blonde then stooped down to pick up her bag. "You're evil, Willa. Totally evil."
"I am. And you love me for it," Willa replied as she followed after the other woman. Riley grinned and shook her head.
Oh, yes. This was going to be fun.
~*~*~*~*~
"What's going on, Art? What did you want to talk about?" Willa asked. She stood in the center of the chamber that someone with an odd, Viking sounding name that Caelin couldn't remember had shown the woman to. It had been when they'd been going from room to room that Art had let Willa and everyone else know that he wished to speak to them about something. Willa had nodded and silently suggested her room. Once they'd all settled their things in to their appointed chambers, they'd met up with Willa in the room she'd been given.
Art's gaze slid to Frankie behind his glasses, a faint smile tweaking the corners of his lips. "I believe Miss Francis is feeling quite lost. This whole thing is quite the new and amazing experience for her. In fact, I'd hazard a guess and say that she's sick with longing for home. I believe she has come down with a virus of some sort."
Caelin watched as Willa looked from Art to Frankie and then back again. Then she shook her head and gave him a rueful smile. "Yeah. There's a lot of that going around lately." Then Willa, Sorcha and Riley turned to look at Caelin. She felt a blush stain her cheeks.
Art smiled politely. "And who do we have here?"
"Ladies and gentleman, the part of Caelin O'Shaughnessy will be played today by Cat." Sorcha's voice held a hint of teasing.
"I blame this on you completely," Caelin replied and crossed her arms under her breasts. Sorcha laughed and shook her head.
"I'm scared. And there are no cameras here, model chick. Stop posing."
Caelin made a face, then turned to study the other two people. The part of her that was Cat found herself lost in memories of both Art and Frankie in their time as Avengers. There were images of fights that happened along side the other two. Occasions where they'd laughed and joked together. A string of images rolled out in her mind like a length of red carpeting at one of her events. Caelin knew these people. Worked with them and trusted them. Cat, however, was more than a little lost.
Riley rose to her feet, breaking Caelin from her thoughts. Having two sets of memories and ideas in her head was painful and she was glad for the respite. The woman stared at Frankie for a moment, then turned her attention to Art. "Samu?" she asked quietly. There was a hint of hesitance in her voice, as if she wasn't sure she should be doing this.
Art's smile broadened. The little man tugged the bowler from his head as he bent into a deep, respectful bow. "At your service, ladies." He righted himself, restored the bowler to his head and glanced at Frankie. "And you, my dear?"
Frankie's grey eyes slid around the room. She looked like she wasn't quite ready to talk. Maybe she thought that they'd think she was nuts. Hadn't she and Sam just introduced themselves. Finally, Frankie crossed her arms over her chest. "How do I know that this isn't all some trick?"
"I'm Nan. You've met Sam and Cat. The lazy one lounging on the bed over there is Lady." Riley's hand motioned to each in turn. When she gestured to Sorcha, the lounging woman lifted a hand in a peace sign.
"`Sup, dude?"
Riley sighed and shifted her hand over to Willa. "And that's Daz."
Frankie's gaze slid to the blonde and shook her head. "I owe you an apology. When you told me about the virus, I thought you were making it all up. I didn't think that it was something really... you know, real."
Willa blinked at Frankie, then shook her head. "Jamie? Really?"
"Yeah. Talk about a rude awakening," Frankie said and gave a rueful grin. "I was out scouting the borders as a wolf and I had this moment where everything went crazy on me. I almost lost my form."
"Did you find anything?" Sorcha asked. She sat up and gave them all a look when they turned a startled expression on her. "What? Because I'm a party girl, I can't have brains? When are you people going to learn that I'm just as dedicated to being an Avenger as old Stars and Stripes is. Thor said Loki is being an ass again. I want to know if you found anything to support his statements."
"I didn't see or smell anything," Frankie replied. Then she shook her head. "I know Thor is sure Loki's got something up his sleeve, but I don't know about that. I didn't see anything out there. No sign of Frost Giants. I didn't smell anything. I don't think he's right."
"I've never known Thor to be mistaken about such things," Art said. His voice sounded thoughtful. He turned to Frankie. "If he believes that Loki is going to create trouble, then no doubt Loki will create trouble."
"But I couldn't smell anything, Art. Shouldn't I have been able to smell something? If they're out there, there should have been some kind of scent on the air."
"Exactly. If they are out there." Art reached up to adjust his glasses. "They may not have arrived to make trouble yet. We must remain ever vigilant."
"Vigilant?" Frankie snorted. "This is why there's going to be a feast tonight?"
Sorcha laughed. "They're Viking gods, Frankie. They think that the wind changing direction is reason to have a feast. They'll feast when the entire fucking world is going up in flames. Honored guests arrive to help them fight their mortal enemies, they're going to have a feast. Just stay away from Thor when he gets drunk. He's all hands."
"And he'll offer to show you his hammer." Riley and Willa intoned together. Then, with Sorcha, they broke into knowing laughter.
Frankie frowned at them. "I've obviously missed something."
The laughter slowly died down. Willa waved a hand at the other woman. "Don't worry. Its Cat's first time being caught up in the virus, too. She's just as a lost as you are. We'll tell you the same thing we told her. Let your Sue do the driving and it'll make things so much easier."
"Let my Sue do the driving? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Caelin took the opportunity to speak up. "The way I understand it, the body you're in has its own personality. Its own thoughts and memories. All you need to do is let that personality do what it always does. You'll have access to the thoughts and memories of your Sue. You're just kind of along for the ride."
Frankie tilted her head to the side as she pondered what Caelin was telling her. "So I'm along for the ride. And I'm going to know everything Frankie knows. Will I remember all of this after its all over?"
"Yup," Sorcha nodded. "Even though there are some things you might want to forget."
"Like the smell of a singed Wolverine?" Willa grinned.
"And you never did anything stupid?" Sorcha asked, her voice filled with a faint blush of anger and embarrassment.
"Not like that." Willa's grin grew.
"Right. Fuck you." There was no heat to Sorcha's words. Turning, she caught sight of herself in a large mirror that hung on the wall. The rest of the room could be seen in its reflection, including all six of the Sues. "This is the most Sues we've had at one time, Willa. Something must be seriously fucked up in this world."
"Something is always seriously fucked up in this world," Willa nodded. The woman's gaze traveled over every one of the Sues. "No doubt we'll figure it out eventually. Other than what Thor's told us so far. I do have to say that I think this is the most diverse group we've ever had."
Riley nodded. "I think you're right." She looked at Art and then Frankie. "You said you were a wolf earlier. Are you some kind of shape shifter?"
The brunette nodded. "Yes. I can shift into any form I chose. Mostly, I go with animals. I don't really shift into other people because I feel that's an invasion of their privacy. I have to actually touch what I want to change into and kind of absorb their DNA." Frankie paused a moment, then frowned. "If you've got access to Riley's memories, don't you already know this?"
"Technically, yes. But we've found that in the beginning, we tend to float between our Sues and ourselves until the Sue fully takes over. Some trips, that happens sooner than in others." Riley smiled and motioned to Caelin. "It also helps the newer members of the virus understand what's going on. Art?"
"I'm a mage of some renown, Miss Riley." Art paused and seemingly searched his thoughts. Then he offered a chagrinned look. "I apologize for my antiquated speech. It would seem that this is the way Art speaks. He's a gentleman of an era gone by, you see."
"No worries, Art. One of us has to have manners." Willa smirked and shot a look to Sorcha. She was sprawled across the bed on the back, head hanging over the opposite edge. Caelin could see her face in the mirror. Sorcha was busy doing something with her nose. At the other woman's words, though, one hand rose so that she could flip Willa the bird. The blonde smiled and shook her head. "Some things never change."
"Hot damn." Sorcha sat up and gave them all a look. "You know, I wish we could take pictures that we could take home with us. That would be, like, the awesomest souvenir ever."
"The fourteen year old valley girl returns." Caelin commented dryly. Sorcha made a face at her, then rose to her feet. Caelin took the opportunity to really study her friends and companions. They were as different a bunch as they could be.
Somehow, Art had ended up being the smallest of the bunch. He barely topped five foot without the bowler on and the man's looks were rather unremarkable. He had brown eyes and brown hair and the light fringe of a mustache above his upper lip. If not for his dress, she didn't think that anyone would take note of him. But there was an aura of power to him. It clung to him like a second skin and practically vibrated the air around him. That power said very plainly that he was not a man to be messed with.
Frankie was over half a foot taller than Art but a couple inches shorter than Caelin, with a head of hair that was two toned. While most of her hair was red, her bangs were brunette. Grey eyes still filled with a hint of confusion moved from one person to another, obviously hoping that one of them would help her figure this out or tell her that it was all a bad dream. The woman had a lean body, her muscles obviously well honed from exercise and training. But there were still curves to her, letting the world know she was a real woman.
Her gaze fell next on Willa. The woman was only a few inches taller than Art, with a short, shaggy head of strawberry blonde hair. Except for her bangs. Those were white. Piercing eyes the blue-green of the ocean stared out at the world. Willa was lithe and muscular, much like the rest of them were. No doubt she trained hard, just like everyone else did.
Riley was barely taller than Willa. Side by side, one would have a hard time picking which of them stood higher than the other. And, like Willa, Riley's hair was cut short. It was a deep, dark black with hints of blue in it that the light picked out when it slid over the silken locks. Streaks of purple broke up the midnight expanse and were just a few shades darker than her eyes. She looked like a harmless little thing, but Caelin knew better. Her memories told her that Riley was as capable as someone who towered over her. S.H.I.E.L.D. training did that to a person.
Her eyes landed on Sorcha, who lounged negligently against the wall. Her hair hung long and free around her face, as inky black as Riley's, but with a tinge of green to it that the light found with ease. Also like Riley, she had purple eyes, but they were a lighter shade than the other woman's. Sorcha was a couple inches shorter than Caelin and, unlike most of the others, she didn't really do anything outside of the Avengers. Steve had assigned her as a kind of public relations person for the Avengers in hopes that it would keep her out of trouble when they weren't on a mission. Caelin didn't know if it had worked yet.
That brought her to herself. Tall and willowy, Caelin worked as a model when she wasn't playing hero for the Avengers. Her hair was a rich chestnut color. It hung long around her frame, a wave to it that made it look like she'd spent hours with it braided or something. She had deep blue eyes that got her face noticed when she was in pictures with anyone else.
And they were standing in Asgard, preparing for a feast with Viking gods. Then there was the battle. She was a little nervous about that. The part of her that was Cat, that remembered being Cat, didn't think she could handle going into a fight with things called Frost Giants. She didn't have a fucking clue what she was doing here. Even worse, she didn't know how she was supposed to get home.
"So... Do we just hang out here until its time to go to this feast?" Frankie asked, shifting from foot to foot. It looked like a nervous habit. It also looked like she was unaware she was doing it. Willa frowned.
"I don't know. I would suppose so. It isn't like we can't go wandering around Asgard," she replied.
"To hell with that. I want to find Thor's rooms and explore his wardrobe. I want to know if he wears boxers or briefs under those leggings of his," Sorcha stated before heading for the door.
"This is not the time or place, Sorcha. If you get caught making a panty raid on Thor's chambers, Steve will never let you go anywhere ever again." There was only mild censure in Willa's tone. Caelin could see she was trying to stave off a smile.
"Give me an hour with Mr. Tight Britches and he'll be smiling until Dr. Doom has to start wearing iron adult diapers," Sorcha commented. A few light chuckles filled the room but no one said anything to her. Her hand caught the knob and turned. The door opened to reveal one of the Vikings Caelin had briefly seen when they'd been whisked through the palace. He offered a smile and made that same broad gesture that she'd seen Thor give earlier.
"Friends and honored guests. Please. Accompany me. The feast has started."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:21 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:41 am (UTC)I love it sweetie!! :D) This is just awesome! I think you know me too well...Cat/Caelin...scarily spot on...scarily! :D)
And oh my god, I love Sorcha...and Willa....together those two are downright dangerous me thinks! Can't wait to see what trouble these Sues can get into! :D)
Woooo!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:47 am (UTC)i hope that, as the story progresses, there's more Caelin and maybe less Cat. we'll have to see how that goes.
and yes. Sorcha and Willa. those two... i love them together so much.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:44 am (UTC)Sorcha's just going to be trouble all the time, isn't she? LOL
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 03:49 am (UTC)yes. i think Sorcha's going to be a pain in everyone's ass.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 05:46 pm (UTC)I like the way you started & ended w/the newest Sues. And I think Riley just sitting back and watching everything is spot on for her. Great chapter, hun!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-05-22 06:09 pm (UTC)i figured it would be good to get the views of the newest Sues in there. since this is their first trip and all. new experiences for them. new people for them. fresh meat for the older Sues.
and i think Riley is much more laid back than any of your other Sues. so she's going to take this all in stride.
glad you enjoyed!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-17 06:59 pm (UTC)Nice work. Plenty of giggles and a good way to catch up the newbies whether they're Sues or readers. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out. And whether Thor wears boxers or briefs. My bet's more on him going commando. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-09-17 08:02 pm (UTC)yes. lots of giggles. guess which Sue is the comic relief? i'm kind of looking forward to seeing how it plays out, too. cos this is a one step at a time deal. so... your guess is as good as mine.
i'm sure Thor doesn't have an underwear drawer. unless it holds the panties he's gotten off his conquests. Sorcha and Willa can be quite dangerous together...
glad you enjoyed.