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ericadawn16Title: Friends to the End: The One with the Lesbian Wedding
Author: Ericadawn16
Prompt: The wonderful mash-up of Friends and Avengers
Character/Pairing(s): Clint/Jessica Drew, Jessica Drew/Vange Whedon, Tony/Pepper, Phil/Clint, Clint/Natasha, Clint/?, Natasha/?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash, lots of slash, mild language
Spoilers: a few references here and there, nothing big
Summary: Jessica Drew and Evangeline Whedon are finally getting married, Thor explains about Asgardian marriage practices and Jessica Jones makes a horrible discovery in Central Park.
Beta: HUGE Thanks to lavendergaia and Valoscope
ADDITIONAL WARNING! This chapter deals with the aftermath of rape so if you want, you can stop reading once Jessica Jones is walking in Central Park.
****************************************************************
The One with the Lesbian Wedding
August 12, 2017
"Thanks for doing this," Jess said. Clint could tell she was nervous from the way she kept straightening everyone's clothing, even his. She wore a white dress and Vange had a white pantsuit.
"I hope you're not jinxing us by wearing that," Vange commented while glaring at his suit. It was his nicest suit. It also happened to be the one he wore when he was supposed to marry Wanda, a marriage which didn't turn out since he said Phil's name at the ceremony instead but things happen...
"It wasn't the suit," Clint told her.
"How do we know Magneto or somebody's not going to come and attack the wedding because of you?" Vange asked.
"Honey, I'm nervous enough without the sniping. Play nice," Jess complained.
"It's a legitimate concern," Vange retorted. Clint could see her point of view. She'd never had a wedding before and Jess had never had a nice one. When she and Clint married, they'd fled to Florida and eloped.
"No, Wanda's convinced that he would never harm Ben or children. You're safe," he tried to assure them. Vange frowned for a bit but nodded. Jess squeezed her hand. Music started to play. This was it.
"Now?" Ben asked in his little suit.
"Almost," Jess told him and he held out his hand. Vange took it as Clint took Jess' arm and accompanied her down the aisle. He tried not to look at anyone especially Tash. She might try to make him laugh.
Finally, they stopped in front of Professor Xavier who nodded. Clint let go, smiled at Jess who was still very nervous and took a second to watch his son leading Vange down the aisle. Then, he took his seat beside Phil and Tash. She had a date. He was lanky with long brown hair and blue eyes but there was something familiar about him.
Clint raised an eyebrow.
"His name's Puck," she whispered. Puck smiled at the introduction.
"He looks like a skinny, brunette Thor," Clint whispered back to get a rise out of her. Puck coughed several times, forcing Professor X. to pause before he started speaking for it to be over.
"Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Jessica Drew and Evangeline Whedon. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Jessica and Evangeline to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
So welcome to one and all, those who have traveled from near and far. Jessica and Evangeline thank you for your presence here today and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for their decision to be married. Will you give them this?" Professor X. asked the crowd.
"Say yes," said Ben, standing near his mom. Just about everyone said "yes" after that in various languages.
"Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make-"
Professor X was interrupted by a high-pitched cellphone chirp. It was one that Clint was all too familiar with.
"Sorry, sorry, that was me," Tony admitted, standing up and holding up his phone as if proud of the awkwardness.
Jess rolled her eyes but Vange was livid and glaring at him. "Sorry."
He sat back down. Clint turned around to give him another death stare. Tony seemed to ignore it in favor of showing Clint the screen. It appeared to be the latest photo of three month old Nathaniel Rhodes. There was no profit in little Nathan's baby photos because Rhodes was blanketing his social media as it was. In fact, if Rhodes was having some time off, Stark should probably turn his phone off or it would go off again before the ceremony was done.
"And by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners," Professor X. continued with his own intense look directed at Stark. Clint was amused that Tony could be seen turning his phone off after that. Nobody wanted Charles mad at them. The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch.
*************************************************************************************
Thor liked Professor Xavier's school. It felt more like home with its rambling grounds and crowds of people than Avenger Tower's vertical ascent or privacy screenings. He had enjoyed the wedding, too. Jess and Vange appeared to be well-matched.
"Mother would approve," he'd told them although they hadn't seemed to realize the significance of what he meant. He supposed the only one who would truly understand was Loki and they were still not as they once were. Perhaps they would never have that closeness again. In his heart, he had to admit that he still held a distrust of Loki from everything that had happened between them although he wished for this not to be the case. He would ask Coulson for updates on his brother but his brother often took sabbaticals where they could not always find his whereabouts. Thor reminded himself to focus on the present.
The wedding celebration had moved to what appeared to be a feast hall but Bobbi had told him that it was called a cafeteria. Bobbi had agreed to be his date for all the festivities.
"I just realized I've never asked. How do weddings work on Asgard?" Coulson asked.
"The future husband goes to his lover's parents and asks their permission to court her. If all goes well, he seeks the All-Father's permission to ask for her hand. If he and his intended both say yes, then my father marries them followed by a large feast and ball similar to this," Thor explained.
"Is that the only way? There is no other?" Puck asked from the other side of the table. Thor couldn't recall meeting Puck before but he made him uncomfortable. There was something about him that Thor couldn't trust.
Everyone looked at him to see what his answer would be.
"There is another way but it means not having the All-Father's blessing. This should only be done in extreme haste or when he would not grant it," Thor responded. In all his years, which were too many to keep careful track of at the moment, there had only been a handful of such marriages in Asgard. It wasn't done.
"And then what? Is there an Asgardian Justice of the Peace or something?" Bobbi asked.
"I know not what you mean but a couple who wishes to marry in such a way must go to one of my mother's gardens with two witnesses and declare their love and devotion for one another. It is true that my mother has final authority over marriage. It is her expertise as well as motherhood," Thor explained.
"So, she could defy the King if she wished it?" Puck asked.
"She could but why would she? He is her husband," he replied. This garnered a strange set of reactions from the table as though he'd said something wrong. Sometimes, he felt like he was getting acquainted with their customs and sometimes, it felt like he would never truly understand them at all. Puck became so upset that he left. Everyone looked at Natasha who shrugged.
"He'll be fine," she assured them.
***********************************************************************************
It felt over.
All the cake had been eaten, the speeches had been done and there were already a few snoring away at their tables while others were incredibly drunk.
"I don't think they're going to miss us if we just leave," Jessica Jones told Luke Cage.
"You want to?" Luke asked.
"Yeah," Jessica agreed. "Pick up Daniella from May and I'll meet you at home."
"Or she could stay with Aunt May the whole night and we could have a night to ourselves," he suggested, pulling her close.
"And Aunt May would have to get up with her, that's not fair. Maybe when she's older, we could consider it," she said. She didn't like how everyone had ideas for how to be a mother and they were all different. It was overwhelming. She wished her mom was still alive.
"And you're going out again," Luke stated and she could tell his disapproval.
"Yes, and don't tell me I can't take care of myself. You know I can," Jessica complained.
"I know," he agreed. There were a few seconds where she could tell he was thinking about saying something else. There was no changing her mind though and he seemed to come to that realization. "Would you like to accompany me to the city?"
He was using his fake southern gentleman voice and she couldn't help laughing. She took his arms as they exited the room, walking across the Heriz rug.
"I don't want ours to be this big, just our friends. Maybe we could even do it at May's house," Jessica mused aloud.
"I think she'd like that. Did I ever tell you the time I stayed with her and Peter for five or six months?" Luke asked.
"Oh, once or twice or...a zillion times," she said with a laugh. He gently shoved her and she shoved him back, getting a laugh.
"She could probably marry us, too. She knows how to do everything," Jessica said in amazement.
"And anything she can't do, Coulson can," Luke spoke which was very true.
"And the small amount that neither can do is where we come in?" she suggested.
"Exactly," Luke confirmed as he put his arm around her.
*************************************************************************************
"Daddy?" Ben asked.
"Yeah?" Clint asked, looking down. Ben was standing on his shoes and they were dancing.
"Can we go now? I'm tired," the little boy complained. He scooped him up in his arms.
"Yep, let's go say goodnight to mommy and mimi," Clint told him. "Then, tomorrow, we'll go to the park and do the teeter-totter."
"Yes!" Ben declared.
They passed Tony who was talking to Steve. Clint looked around for Pepper but didn't see her. He caught Phil's gaze and was able to share a smile. They never seemed to have the right timing anymore.
*************************************************************************************
Jessica wasn't sure Luke understood why she had to do these things. Maybe it was because he had been doing this superhero stuff for a lot longer than she had. Maybe it was because she was only just now feeling like one of the team. Maybe it was the motherhood catching up to her. Whatever it was, she felt like she was making some slim kind of difference as she walked through Central Park in the early morning hours. Every person that they saved had been someone's child once, just like Danielle. If she was here for someone now, maybe someone would be there if Danielle needed it and they weren't around.
Jessica had changed in their car from the cocktail dress to jeans and a jacket. She was relieved that things seemed to be quiet. There was a sliver of moon above her although the stars were dulled in the bright lights that never faded unless forced to. Then, she heard a noise.
At first, she was unsure whether it was a human or animal but she knew it was crying from pain. She started trying to seek out the source of the sound. Jessica almost missed her because she was close to bushes off any of the main paths.
It was a girl with dark hair and torn clothing. She was crying.
"Hello, hello, are you alright?" she asked. The girl stopped and looked at her. "Are you hurt?"
There was a nod from the girl.
"Can you stand?" Jessica asked.
"I think so," the girl replied. Jessica took her hand and helped her up, but her hand was sticky and she smelled blood. A horrible thought struck her head and she looked down at the girl's crotch. Blood stained the jeans. She looked around.
"He's gone now," the girl spoke.
"Can you identify him? We should go to the police and they'll take of it and the hospital, we should go there, too, get you checked out and we need to make sure he doesn't do this again," Jessica said. She was rambling because this situation was too familiar and disgusting at the same time. She couldn't understand why men would do such things as it was but this girl was practically a child. Was she even a teenager?
Jessica should have been calm for her benefit. Instead, she had freaked out and it showed on the girl's face.
"No! No police, no hospital! My dad would kill me. He'd look bad," the girl stressed and shook her head.
"Did he do this?" Jessica asked.
"No!" the girl screamed. "He wouldn't."
Still, she couldn't just go home after that. She should see someone... Jessica wanted to be helpful but the girl was so scared.
Hmm, there was someone qualified and discrete for the right price.
"Come on, I know someone who can help. No one has to know but you have to get checked out and he can give you something for the pain," Jessica suggested.
The girl wrapped her arms around herself tight and retorted, "I don't even know you."
Right, which was a good point, Jessica thought.
"I'm actually an Avenger," she explained and reached in her pocket for the ID before realizing that it was in her purse that she had left with Luke. It was time for Plan B. "My phone can prove it."
She thought about pulling up contact list. Then, she changed her mind in favor of her photos.
"I was at a wedding earlier. Let's see who I can show...some people like their privacy. Oh, you'll know this one," she said and pointed the phone to reveal Tony Stark.
"Every person in New York has Tony Stark on their phone," the girl argued.
"Right, probably the same for Pepper Potts, here's Thor with Mockingbird, me and Luke...Peter took that," she said with a smile.
"Not Peter Parker? The Daily Bugle photographer?" the girl asked.
"The very same," Jessica answered although she found it a bit odd. While Spider-Man was popular, no one cared about Peter Parker since his identity was secret.
"He's always been nice to me, much nicer than the others. If you're friends, I suppose you can be trusted but no reports, nothing official. I'm the good boring daughter, I'm not...not supposed to have stuff like this happen to me," the girl said. Jessica could hear the tears in her voice and put her arms around her. She stiffened at first but let her do it.
Jessica took off her jacket and wrapped it around her waist.
"What's your name?" she asked in a soft voice.
After a sniffle, the girl replied, "Kate."
"Okay Kate, we're going to take the subway because I'm not about to make you walk to Greenwich Village especially at this hour," Jessica explained. Kate nodded. "Can I call your dad or your mom?"
"No, he's on business and she's dead. My sister's in Vegas planning her wedding," she explained. Jessica was flabbergasted.
"Who's watching you?"
"He has servants," Kate replied in a cold tone. The woman wasn't sure what to say to that. They walked in silence to the underground entrance.
Being late at night, no one paid them much mind on the subway.
"What's your favorite guilty pleasure show?" Jessica asked, trying to make small talk to keep her mind off things.
"I like watching Dog Cops," Kate replied.
"Everyone watches that, why wouldn't you? No, I mean the show that's kind of embarrassing, that everyone makes fun of you for watching," she explained. "Like Luke, he's my fiancé; he makes fun of me for watching Honey Boo Boo."
The girl seemed to think for a moment. Her black hair hid her face. Then, she looked up.
"I like the retro shows and my sister hates it. She says I'm weird," Kate spoke.
"Oh, like Boy Meets World and Family Matters?" Jessica asked. Kate shook her head.
"Actually, like really old, like black and white, I like I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver. Everything seems so perfect then," she explained. "Simple."
She must be more mature than her age would make it seem. Jessica didn't want to think about what had caused that before tonight.
"You should call the old stuff vintage. It sounds better and no one can argue with vintage," Jessica suggested. There was a faint smile on Kate's face.
Soon, they left the station and reached one of the few rundown buildings left in the area. Kate seemed to be taking it all in stride. Jessica stood in front of the door that had patches of green paint remaining on it. Then, she knocked on it. She always did "Shave and a haircut" to annoy him.
The door opened, he took one look at them both and ushered them in. His black hair was unkempt and his clothes were worn as usual but at least his hands weren't shaking so he must have had a fix recently.
"Stephen, I need your help," Jessica spoke.
"That could already be guessed from your appearance at this hour," he told her. She stepped closer to him and whispered, "She was raped but refuses to go to a hospital."
"And this is beyond SHIELD or Stark's capabilities?" he asked.
"I don't think she'd be comfortable with that. She seems very concerned about people finding out. I knew you could be discrete," she explained. He nodded and studied the girl.
"I can do what you ask but it won't be easy on her," he warned. "And if there are complications, she still may need a hospital whether she likes it or not."
She nodded.
"I'll need to make up the medicines. Take her in the next room and explain how she'll need to take pants off because I need to make sure she's not still bleeding or worse," Stephen spoke. "But say it in a nice way that doesn't scare her too much."
She nodded and added, "She's just a child."
"She was a child but I doubt she will feel like a child ever again," he spat and walked into a different room.
************************************************************************
Later, when Stephen had finished, Jessica was supporting most of Kate's weight as they walked to the door.
"Don't leave her alone," Stephen warned.
"Did you have to drug her this much?" she asked.
"Since she refuses to have anyone follow up with her or get prescriptions from a pharmacy, yes," he answered. "I did only what was necessary to ensure nothing comes of this and to dull the pain. She will sleep soon but before that, she may say things without meaning to; things she would never talk about normally. Be careful with that."
"You're very strange," Kate declared.
"Yes, I am Strange," he confirmed.
"Right," she said and turned her head, almost leaning it against Jessica. The woman would probably have to carry her soon."What's that photo?"
It was a postcard of a mountain that Jessica didn't find that different from any other mountain.
"I think most would call it my 'happy place'," Stephen replied.
"You've been there?" the girl asked.
He shook his head before adding, "Always meant to."
"You should," Kate said. "Happy."
"I'll pay you in the morning," Jessica assured them as she led Kate outside.
"There's no need, not for this," he said and smiled at Kate. Jessica couldn't remember ever seeing him smile before.
Then, the door was shut without another word.
She held Kate close as she took out her phone again and scrolled through her names. Half the time, the voice command function never worked anyway.
"I hope someone's dead," Sitwell answered; managing to sound both pissed and tired at the same time.
"No, I need your help," Jessica told him. Kate didn't even look up at the talking.
"You have both Coulson and Lewis to wake up at this hour rather than me," he stated. She had rarely spoken to Sitwell before this.
"Yes, but they wouldn't have a spare pair of clothes for a teenage girl which is what I need," she explained.
There was a pause before he asked, "How old?"
"Kate, how old are you?" she asked.
"Thirteen-"
"Thirteen," she repeated to Sitwell.
"Thirteen next week, he promised to be home for it," Kate explained.
"Next week," she added into the phone. There was a sigh on the other end.
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Give me an address," he stated. She gave him a place that wasn't too far from their present location. Then, he hung up.
"Daddy never liked me," Kate said which seemed to be some of that over-sharing that Stephen had warned her about.
"I bet that's not true," Jessica argued as she readjusted her grip on the girl.
"It is. He always liked Susan better. I was mom's favorite but she's dead," she stated.
Something clicked in Jessica's mind.
Her sister was named Susan, her mom was dead, her dad didn't like bad publicity, she was turning thirteen next week and Jessica noticed now how her clothes weren't cheap.
This was none other than Kate Bishop.
Holy shit.
Getting her home might be a little more complicated than she imagined.
Kate was asleep by the time Sitwell pulled up. Jessica was trying to protect her identity by covering her face. He came out of the car and seemed to study the situation.
"She was raped. I found her in Central Park," she clarified for him. At this, Sitwell stumbled a few steps and she could tell that he was trying not to puke. After a few swallows, he took a deep breath and straightened up.
"She's only a few months older than Gaby. Are you taking her to the hospital? Did you contact her dad?" he asked.
"No, her dad's not in town and she was afraid about the publicity if it got out. I took her to Stephen, that's why she's asleep now," Jessica explained. Sitwell had rolled his eyes at the last.
"Strange isn't the most trustworthy," he stated.
"Yeah, well, I didn't have any options," she retorted back.
"And how do you propose to get Kate Bishop back to her penthouse without a hitch?" Sitwell asked. She didn't ask how he knew so quickly.
"Uh..."
"This is what needs to happen. You get her changed into the clothes I bought. Then, I have a NYPD badge. We'll say that she became disoriented and lost from becoming dehydrated. You're an off duty nurse who helped but she's also a possible crime witness so we'll need to stay the night. You'll need to call Luke and I'll have to call Jazmin," Sitwell explained. This was his area of expertise.
"And that'll work?" she asked.
"We better hope so," he replied. "I'm not about to leave a vulnerable twelve year old alone."
Sitwell already knew Susan was out of town. They wouldn't be on the SHIELD radar so...
"You read all those gossip mags!" Jessica declared.
"Phil has his Wife Swap and stuff, I have my magazines. We all have our ways of coping," he retorted. "Now change her clothes while I call Jazmin."
"Those are good shows," she argued back before carrying Kate to the car.
*********************************************************************
Jessica cursed herself for falling asleep. The chair in Kate's bedroom shouldn't have been that comfortable. Then again, Danielle had her first tooth coming in which wasn't conducive to sleep otherwise. Kate was sitting up in bed, staring at her. Jessica hadn't bothered with a nightgown or anything, just took her shoes off before settling her in bed.
"I'd hoped it was a nightmare," Kate whispered. Jessica stood up and walked over to her.
"I'm so sorry that it wasn't," Jessica told her.
"I was stupid, I was...there should have been some way of stopping it," the girl complained. Jessica took a chance and sat on the bed with her.
"You are not stupid. It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done. I know it," she said and Kate looked at her. There seemed to be understanding about what Jessica had revealed. "But I didn't get better on my own. I had help. I think you should see someone. You don't have to tell your dad why."
Kate nodded. "That'll be easy. He's been wanting me to see one anyway. Plus, I'm about the only kid in school who doesn't have a shrink."
"And you have me. This is my private number whenever you need it," Jessica said and gave her one of Sitwell's cards with her information scrawled on the back.
"Thanks," Kate told her as she took it. Then, she looked up. "I'm going to make sure no one can do this to me again."
Her blue eyes were resolute and reminded her of someone else. Before she could think who, the look was gone. Jessica hugged her. She didn't want to lie and tell it wouldn't happen again. Jessica knew that sometimes it did. She hugged her for a second time and joined Sitwell in the outer room.
"Thanks for your help," Jessica told him. He shook his head.
"This could have been Gaby or Linda," he said.
"I'll burn the clothes. We shouldn't need paperwork over this," Jessica stated.
"No, I'll take care of it all," Sitwell insisted. "My car after all. I'll drive you back to the Tower."
***********************************************************************************
Author: Ericadawn16
Prompt: The wonderful mash-up of Friends and Avengers
Character/Pairing(s): Clint/Jessica Drew, Jessica Drew/Vange Whedon, Tony/Pepper, Phil/Clint, Clint/Natasha, Clint/?, Natasha/?
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Slash, lots of slash, mild language
Spoilers: a few references here and there, nothing big
Summary: Jessica Drew and Evangeline Whedon are finally getting married, Thor explains about Asgardian marriage practices and Jessica Jones makes a horrible discovery in Central Park.
Beta: HUGE Thanks to lavendergaia and Valoscope
ADDITIONAL WARNING! This chapter deals with the aftermath of rape so if you want, you can stop reading once Jessica Jones is walking in Central Park.
****************************************************************
The One with the Lesbian Wedding
August 12, 2017
"Thanks for doing this," Jess said. Clint could tell she was nervous from the way she kept straightening everyone's clothing, even his. She wore a white dress and Vange had a white pantsuit.
"I hope you're not jinxing us by wearing that," Vange commented while glaring at his suit. It was his nicest suit. It also happened to be the one he wore when he was supposed to marry Wanda, a marriage which didn't turn out since he said Phil's name at the ceremony instead but things happen...
"It wasn't the suit," Clint told her.
"How do we know Magneto or somebody's not going to come and attack the wedding because of you?" Vange asked.
"Honey, I'm nervous enough without the sniping. Play nice," Jess complained.
"It's a legitimate concern," Vange retorted. Clint could see her point of view. She'd never had a wedding before and Jess had never had a nice one. When she and Clint married, they'd fled to Florida and eloped.
"No, Wanda's convinced that he would never harm Ben or children. You're safe," he tried to assure them. Vange frowned for a bit but nodded. Jess squeezed her hand. Music started to play. This was it.
"Now?" Ben asked in his little suit.
"Almost," Jess told him and he held out his hand. Vange took it as Clint took Jess' arm and accompanied her down the aisle. He tried not to look at anyone especially Tash. She might try to make him laugh.
Finally, they stopped in front of Professor Xavier who nodded. Clint let go, smiled at Jess who was still very nervous and took a second to watch his son leading Vange down the aisle. Then, he took his seat beside Phil and Tash. She had a date. He was lanky with long brown hair and blue eyes but there was something familiar about him.
Clint raised an eyebrow.
"His name's Puck," she whispered. Puck smiled at the introduction.
"He looks like a skinny, brunette Thor," Clint whispered back to get a rise out of her. Puck coughed several times, forcing Professor X. to pause before he started speaking for it to be over.
"Welcome, family, friends and loved ones. We gather here today to celebrate the wedding of Jessica Drew and Evangeline Whedon. You have come here to share in this formal commitment they make to one another, to offer your love and support to this union, and to allow Jessica and Evangeline to start their married life together surrounded by the people dearest and most important to them.
So welcome to one and all, those who have traveled from near and far. Jessica and Evangeline thank you for your presence here today and now ask for your blessing, encouragement, and lifelong support, for their decision to be married. Will you give them this?" Professor X. asked the crowd.
"Say yes," said Ben, standing near his mom. Just about everyone said "yes" after that in various languages.
"Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage; only you can do that – through love and patience; through dedication and perseverance; through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other; through tenderness and laughter; through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make-"
Professor X was interrupted by a high-pitched cellphone chirp. It was one that Clint was all too familiar with.
"Sorry, sorry, that was me," Tony admitted, standing up and holding up his phone as if proud of the awkwardness.
Jess rolled her eyes but Vange was livid and glaring at him. "Sorry."
He sat back down. Clint turned around to give him another death stare. Tony seemed to ignore it in favor of showing Clint the screen. It appeared to be the latest photo of three month old Nathaniel Rhodes. There was no profit in little Nathan's baby photos because Rhodes was blanketing his social media as it was. In fact, if Rhodes was having some time off, Stark should probably turn his phone off or it would go off again before the ceremony was done.
"And by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as lifemates and partners," Professor X. continued with his own intense look directed at Stark. Clint was amused that Tony could be seen turning his phone off after that. Nobody wanted Charles mad at them. The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch.
*************************************************************************************
Thor liked Professor Xavier's school. It felt more like home with its rambling grounds and crowds of people than Avenger Tower's vertical ascent or privacy screenings. He had enjoyed the wedding, too. Jess and Vange appeared to be well-matched.
"Mother would approve," he'd told them although they hadn't seemed to realize the significance of what he meant. He supposed the only one who would truly understand was Loki and they were still not as they once were. Perhaps they would never have that closeness again. In his heart, he had to admit that he still held a distrust of Loki from everything that had happened between them although he wished for this not to be the case. He would ask Coulson for updates on his brother but his brother often took sabbaticals where they could not always find his whereabouts. Thor reminded himself to focus on the present.
The wedding celebration had moved to what appeared to be a feast hall but Bobbi had told him that it was called a cafeteria. Bobbi had agreed to be his date for all the festivities.
"I just realized I've never asked. How do weddings work on Asgard?" Coulson asked.
"The future husband goes to his lover's parents and asks their permission to court her. If all goes well, he seeks the All-Father's permission to ask for her hand. If he and his intended both say yes, then my father marries them followed by a large feast and ball similar to this," Thor explained.
"Is that the only way? There is no other?" Puck asked from the other side of the table. Thor couldn't recall meeting Puck before but he made him uncomfortable. There was something about him that Thor couldn't trust.
Everyone looked at him to see what his answer would be.
"There is another way but it means not having the All-Father's blessing. This should only be done in extreme haste or when he would not grant it," Thor responded. In all his years, which were too many to keep careful track of at the moment, there had only been a handful of such marriages in Asgard. It wasn't done.
"And then what? Is there an Asgardian Justice of the Peace or something?" Bobbi asked.
"I know not what you mean but a couple who wishes to marry in such a way must go to one of my mother's gardens with two witnesses and declare their love and devotion for one another. It is true that my mother has final authority over marriage. It is her expertise as well as motherhood," Thor explained.
"So, she could defy the King if she wished it?" Puck asked.
"She could but why would she? He is her husband," he replied. This garnered a strange set of reactions from the table as though he'd said something wrong. Sometimes, he felt like he was getting acquainted with their customs and sometimes, it felt like he would never truly understand them at all. Puck became so upset that he left. Everyone looked at Natasha who shrugged.
"He'll be fine," she assured them.
***********************************************************************************
It felt over.
All the cake had been eaten, the speeches had been done and there were already a few snoring away at their tables while others were incredibly drunk.
"I don't think they're going to miss us if we just leave," Jessica Jones told Luke Cage.
"You want to?" Luke asked.
"Yeah," Jessica agreed. "Pick up Daniella from May and I'll meet you at home."
"Or she could stay with Aunt May the whole night and we could have a night to ourselves," he suggested, pulling her close.
"And Aunt May would have to get up with her, that's not fair. Maybe when she's older, we could consider it," she said. She didn't like how everyone had ideas for how to be a mother and they were all different. It was overwhelming. She wished her mom was still alive.
"And you're going out again," Luke stated and she could tell his disapproval.
"Yes, and don't tell me I can't take care of myself. You know I can," Jessica complained.
"I know," he agreed. There were a few seconds where she could tell he was thinking about saying something else. There was no changing her mind though and he seemed to come to that realization. "Would you like to accompany me to the city?"
He was using his fake southern gentleman voice and she couldn't help laughing. She took his arms as they exited the room, walking across the Heriz rug.
"I don't want ours to be this big, just our friends. Maybe we could even do it at May's house," Jessica mused aloud.
"I think she'd like that. Did I ever tell you the time I stayed with her and Peter for five or six months?" Luke asked.
"Oh, once or twice or...a zillion times," she said with a laugh. He gently shoved her and she shoved him back, getting a laugh.
"She could probably marry us, too. She knows how to do everything," Jessica said in amazement.
"And anything she can't do, Coulson can," Luke spoke which was very true.
"And the small amount that neither can do is where we come in?" she suggested.
"Exactly," Luke confirmed as he put his arm around her.
*************************************************************************************
"Daddy?" Ben asked.
"Yeah?" Clint asked, looking down. Ben was standing on his shoes and they were dancing.
"Can we go now? I'm tired," the little boy complained. He scooped him up in his arms.
"Yep, let's go say goodnight to mommy and mimi," Clint told him. "Then, tomorrow, we'll go to the park and do the teeter-totter."
"Yes!" Ben declared.
They passed Tony who was talking to Steve. Clint looked around for Pepper but didn't see her. He caught Phil's gaze and was able to share a smile. They never seemed to have the right timing anymore.
*************************************************************************************
Jessica wasn't sure Luke understood why she had to do these things. Maybe it was because he had been doing this superhero stuff for a lot longer than she had. Maybe it was because she was only just now feeling like one of the team. Maybe it was the motherhood catching up to her. Whatever it was, she felt like she was making some slim kind of difference as she walked through Central Park in the early morning hours. Every person that they saved had been someone's child once, just like Danielle. If she was here for someone now, maybe someone would be there if Danielle needed it and they weren't around.
Jessica had changed in their car from the cocktail dress to jeans and a jacket. She was relieved that things seemed to be quiet. There was a sliver of moon above her although the stars were dulled in the bright lights that never faded unless forced to. Then, she heard a noise.
At first, she was unsure whether it was a human or animal but she knew it was crying from pain. She started trying to seek out the source of the sound. Jessica almost missed her because she was close to bushes off any of the main paths.
It was a girl with dark hair and torn clothing. She was crying.
"Hello, hello, are you alright?" she asked. The girl stopped and looked at her. "Are you hurt?"
There was a nod from the girl.
"Can you stand?" Jessica asked.
"I think so," the girl replied. Jessica took her hand and helped her up, but her hand was sticky and she smelled blood. A horrible thought struck her head and she looked down at the girl's crotch. Blood stained the jeans. She looked around.
"He's gone now," the girl spoke.
"Can you identify him? We should go to the police and they'll take of it and the hospital, we should go there, too, get you checked out and we need to make sure he doesn't do this again," Jessica said. She was rambling because this situation was too familiar and disgusting at the same time. She couldn't understand why men would do such things as it was but this girl was practically a child. Was she even a teenager?
Jessica should have been calm for her benefit. Instead, she had freaked out and it showed on the girl's face.
"No! No police, no hospital! My dad would kill me. He'd look bad," the girl stressed and shook her head.
"Did he do this?" Jessica asked.
"No!" the girl screamed. "He wouldn't."
Still, she couldn't just go home after that. She should see someone... Jessica wanted to be helpful but the girl was so scared.
Hmm, there was someone qualified and discrete for the right price.
"Come on, I know someone who can help. No one has to know but you have to get checked out and he can give you something for the pain," Jessica suggested.
The girl wrapped her arms around herself tight and retorted, "I don't even know you."
Right, which was a good point, Jessica thought.
"I'm actually an Avenger," she explained and reached in her pocket for the ID before realizing that it was in her purse that she had left with Luke. It was time for Plan B. "My phone can prove it."
She thought about pulling up contact list. Then, she changed her mind in favor of her photos.
"I was at a wedding earlier. Let's see who I can show...some people like their privacy. Oh, you'll know this one," she said and pointed the phone to reveal Tony Stark.
"Every person in New York has Tony Stark on their phone," the girl argued.
"Right, probably the same for Pepper Potts, here's Thor with Mockingbird, me and Luke...Peter took that," she said with a smile.
"Not Peter Parker? The Daily Bugle photographer?" the girl asked.
"The very same," Jessica answered although she found it a bit odd. While Spider-Man was popular, no one cared about Peter Parker since his identity was secret.
"He's always been nice to me, much nicer than the others. If you're friends, I suppose you can be trusted but no reports, nothing official. I'm the good boring daughter, I'm not...not supposed to have stuff like this happen to me," the girl said. Jessica could hear the tears in her voice and put her arms around her. She stiffened at first but let her do it.
Jessica took off her jacket and wrapped it around her waist.
"What's your name?" she asked in a soft voice.
After a sniffle, the girl replied, "Kate."
"Okay Kate, we're going to take the subway because I'm not about to make you walk to Greenwich Village especially at this hour," Jessica explained. Kate nodded. "Can I call your dad or your mom?"
"No, he's on business and she's dead. My sister's in Vegas planning her wedding," she explained. Jessica was flabbergasted.
"Who's watching you?"
"He has servants," Kate replied in a cold tone. The woman wasn't sure what to say to that. They walked in silence to the underground entrance.
Being late at night, no one paid them much mind on the subway.
"What's your favorite guilty pleasure show?" Jessica asked, trying to make small talk to keep her mind off things.
"I like watching Dog Cops," Kate replied.
"Everyone watches that, why wouldn't you? No, I mean the show that's kind of embarrassing, that everyone makes fun of you for watching," she explained. "Like Luke, he's my fiancé; he makes fun of me for watching Honey Boo Boo."
The girl seemed to think for a moment. Her black hair hid her face. Then, she looked up.
"I like the retro shows and my sister hates it. She says I'm weird," Kate spoke.
"Oh, like Boy Meets World and Family Matters?" Jessica asked. Kate shook her head.
"Actually, like really old, like black and white, I like I Love Lucy and Leave it to Beaver. Everything seems so perfect then," she explained. "Simple."
She must be more mature than her age would make it seem. Jessica didn't want to think about what had caused that before tonight.
"You should call the old stuff vintage. It sounds better and no one can argue with vintage," Jessica suggested. There was a faint smile on Kate's face.
Soon, they left the station and reached one of the few rundown buildings left in the area. Kate seemed to be taking it all in stride. Jessica stood in front of the door that had patches of green paint remaining on it. Then, she knocked on it. She always did "Shave and a haircut" to annoy him.
The door opened, he took one look at them both and ushered them in. His black hair was unkempt and his clothes were worn as usual but at least his hands weren't shaking so he must have had a fix recently.
"Stephen, I need your help," Jessica spoke.
"That could already be guessed from your appearance at this hour," he told her. She stepped closer to him and whispered, "She was raped but refuses to go to a hospital."
"And this is beyond SHIELD or Stark's capabilities?" he asked.
"I don't think she'd be comfortable with that. She seems very concerned about people finding out. I knew you could be discrete," she explained. He nodded and studied the girl.
"I can do what you ask but it won't be easy on her," he warned. "And if there are complications, she still may need a hospital whether she likes it or not."
She nodded.
"I'll need to make up the medicines. Take her in the next room and explain how she'll need to take pants off because I need to make sure she's not still bleeding or worse," Stephen spoke. "But say it in a nice way that doesn't scare her too much."
She nodded and added, "She's just a child."
"She was a child but I doubt she will feel like a child ever again," he spat and walked into a different room.
************************************************************************
Later, when Stephen had finished, Jessica was supporting most of Kate's weight as they walked to the door.
"Don't leave her alone," Stephen warned.
"Did you have to drug her this much?" she asked.
"Since she refuses to have anyone follow up with her or get prescriptions from a pharmacy, yes," he answered. "I did only what was necessary to ensure nothing comes of this and to dull the pain. She will sleep soon but before that, she may say things without meaning to; things she would never talk about normally. Be careful with that."
"You're very strange," Kate declared.
"Yes, I am Strange," he confirmed.
"Right," she said and turned her head, almost leaning it against Jessica. The woman would probably have to carry her soon."What's that photo?"
It was a postcard of a mountain that Jessica didn't find that different from any other mountain.
"I think most would call it my 'happy place'," Stephen replied.
"You've been there?" the girl asked.
He shook his head before adding, "Always meant to."
"You should," Kate said. "Happy."
"I'll pay you in the morning," Jessica assured them as she led Kate outside.
"There's no need, not for this," he said and smiled at Kate. Jessica couldn't remember ever seeing him smile before.
Then, the door was shut without another word.
She held Kate close as she took out her phone again and scrolled through her names. Half the time, the voice command function never worked anyway.
"I hope someone's dead," Sitwell answered; managing to sound both pissed and tired at the same time.
"No, I need your help," Jessica told him. Kate didn't even look up at the talking.
"You have both Coulson and Lewis to wake up at this hour rather than me," he stated. She had rarely spoken to Sitwell before this.
"Yes, but they wouldn't have a spare pair of clothes for a teenage girl which is what I need," she explained.
There was a pause before he asked, "How old?"
"Kate, how old are you?" she asked.
"Thirteen-"
"Thirteen," she repeated to Sitwell.
"Thirteen next week, he promised to be home for it," Kate explained.
"Next week," she added into the phone. There was a sigh on the other end.
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Give me an address," he stated. She gave him a place that wasn't too far from their present location. Then, he hung up.
"Daddy never liked me," Kate said which seemed to be some of that over-sharing that Stephen had warned her about.
"I bet that's not true," Jessica argued as she readjusted her grip on the girl.
"It is. He always liked Susan better. I was mom's favorite but she's dead," she stated.
Something clicked in Jessica's mind.
Her sister was named Susan, her mom was dead, her dad didn't like bad publicity, she was turning thirteen next week and Jessica noticed now how her clothes weren't cheap.
This was none other than Kate Bishop.
Holy shit.
Getting her home might be a little more complicated than she imagined.
Kate was asleep by the time Sitwell pulled up. Jessica was trying to protect her identity by covering her face. He came out of the car and seemed to study the situation.
"She was raped. I found her in Central Park," she clarified for him. At this, Sitwell stumbled a few steps and she could tell that he was trying not to puke. After a few swallows, he took a deep breath and straightened up.
"She's only a few months older than Gaby. Are you taking her to the hospital? Did you contact her dad?" he asked.
"No, her dad's not in town and she was afraid about the publicity if it got out. I took her to Stephen, that's why she's asleep now," Jessica explained. Sitwell had rolled his eyes at the last.
"Strange isn't the most trustworthy," he stated.
"Yeah, well, I didn't have any options," she retorted back.
"And how do you propose to get Kate Bishop back to her penthouse without a hitch?" Sitwell asked. She didn't ask how he knew so quickly.
"Uh..."
"This is what needs to happen. You get her changed into the clothes I bought. Then, I have a NYPD badge. We'll say that she became disoriented and lost from becoming dehydrated. You're an off duty nurse who helped but she's also a possible crime witness so we'll need to stay the night. You'll need to call Luke and I'll have to call Jazmin," Sitwell explained. This was his area of expertise.
"And that'll work?" she asked.
"We better hope so," he replied. "I'm not about to leave a vulnerable twelve year old alone."
Sitwell already knew Susan was out of town. They wouldn't be on the SHIELD radar so...
"You read all those gossip mags!" Jessica declared.
"Phil has his Wife Swap and stuff, I have my magazines. We all have our ways of coping," he retorted. "Now change her clothes while I call Jazmin."
"Those are good shows," she argued back before carrying Kate to the car.
*********************************************************************
Jessica cursed herself for falling asleep. The chair in Kate's bedroom shouldn't have been that comfortable. Then again, Danielle had her first tooth coming in which wasn't conducive to sleep otherwise. Kate was sitting up in bed, staring at her. Jessica hadn't bothered with a nightgown or anything, just took her shoes off before settling her in bed.
"I'd hoped it was a nightmare," Kate whispered. Jessica stood up and walked over to her.
"I'm so sorry that it wasn't," Jessica told her.
"I was stupid, I was...there should have been some way of stopping it," the girl complained. Jessica took a chance and sat on the bed with her.
"You are not stupid. It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done. I know it," she said and Kate looked at her. There seemed to be understanding about what Jessica had revealed. "But I didn't get better on my own. I had help. I think you should see someone. You don't have to tell your dad why."
Kate nodded. "That'll be easy. He's been wanting me to see one anyway. Plus, I'm about the only kid in school who doesn't have a shrink."
"And you have me. This is my private number whenever you need it," Jessica said and gave her one of Sitwell's cards with her information scrawled on the back.
"Thanks," Kate told her as she took it. Then, she looked up. "I'm going to make sure no one can do this to me again."
Her blue eyes were resolute and reminded her of someone else. Before she could think who, the look was gone. Jessica hugged her. She didn't want to lie and tell it wouldn't happen again. Jessica knew that sometimes it did. She hugged her for a second time and joined Sitwell in the outer room.
"Thanks for your help," Jessica told him. He shook his head.
"This could have been Gaby or Linda," he said.
"I'll burn the clothes. We shouldn't need paperwork over this," Jessica stated.
"No, I'll take care of it all," Sitwell insisted. "My car after all. I'll drive you back to the Tower."
***********************************************************************************
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-07-18 02:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-16 05:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-07-25 07:16 pm (UTC)Professor X's wedding speech was very well written.
Thor's note about weddings suits the Viking mentality, though I do wonder why Loki got so upset if he has only been doing casual relationships so far.
With the timing sentence after Clint and Phil met eyes: did you mean Tony and Steve never had the right timing any more or that Phil and Clint never had the right timing? Also why would the timing seem off now?
I think the handling of the rape was done right for the characters. It wasn't perfect but that lends a touch of realism to the situation. In real life people don't handle things exactly perfectly all the time, but that is part of being human. People will be too bossy or want to try and force them to do the right thing, they will be panicked or snippy even though they are not supposed to be.
I'm surprised no one noticed them on the subway if Kate is still wearing blood-stained jeans.
no subject
Date: 2013-07-28 03:51 am (UTC)Hmm, I should probably put a link for the speech. I found this thing online with different speeches in public domain for weddings.
Hmm, the wedding thing...well...
I couldn't really get into Loki's head too much here since it wasn't his POV but you're my main beta now so you need to know my headcanon.
I thought it seemed from the first film and especially the deleted scenes that Loki had been quite close to Frigga. First, he would have been annoyed that Thor left out Frigga's role in marriage. Then, he was annoyed because Thor pointed out how Frigga wouldn't cross Odin...she'd known all along but since Odin didn't want Loki to know about his true parentage, she went along with the deception. It was kind of reopening the wound all over again.
Which I suppose makes Natasha kind of heartless but she's still pretending that they're just fuck buddies with no real feelings, not even friendship.
Thank you for the timing comment, I will definitely word that differently. I did mean Phil and Clint who currently can't be together because Clint thinks it would make Phil even more of a target for Magneto and/or Pietro.
Yay!
I will reword the subway as well, thank you.
no subject
Date: 2013-08-16 05:15 am (UTC)Thank you again.