THE HARDEST PLACE TO BE —

[retravel]

WHO: Leo Fitz (retravel) and others!
WHERE: Various
WHEN: Early to Mid October
WHAT: Closed prompts
NOTES OR WARNINGS: tba

[ Closed starters in the comments, but hit me up via Fitz's inbox, pm, or locution for something special! ]

Comments

[retravel]

[ gently, ] She's also helped plenty of people unlock their potential.

[ Discovering their powers for the first time. The techniques he's applying now are cribbed from her guidebook, after all. Although Fitz purposefully stays away from her endeavours, Daisy is the foremost expert on unlocking and training powers. She's the best, absolutely, but Fitz's own work on powered individuals was decidedly less savoury, and every time he learns someone's ability, he catalogs it, as if part of a horrific, inevitable subroutine: Level of danger, potential, and whether or not Ophelia would have wanted it for herself.

The nights Fitz wakes up in a cold sweat are twisted in dreams of the work he did alongside her.

Even now, teasing out Dick's power isn't as simple as helping a friend. How does Fitz know he won't use any one of his friends or their abilities to serve his ends? You don't. But Dick trusts him, at least with this, even if the look on his face is — stunned? It's often Dick reaching out to touch him first, he supposes, with Fitz more unused to the contact after his time in solitary.

Doesn't matter, in the end, 'cause he says yes, and Fitz beams, pleased to be trying experimenting with something new. As Dick makes his way over, he finds another rock, testing its weight one-handed again. When Dick slides beside him, he doesn't shift his focus, no need, even when there's a brush of skin, bringing the bond online with the skitter of unfamiliar emotions. He's expecting a hand at his wrist, then, or a light touch against his arm (uncharacteristically short-sleeves being a necessity in this weather and all). Only they're suddenly holding hands, with surprise rising and flowing from Fitz as Dick settles slightly behind him. Just a brief glance downward, to check they're very much holding hands. Oh. Nothing strange, really, except — Connor had been the one to reach out like this, typically. Had told Fitz that he was the first one to show him what it meant, to hold someone's hand as a means of signify care.

He thinks about it now, with a flutter of some confused, bittersweet emotion slipping through the net of his control. ]

Okay. Good. [ a squeeze of their linked hands, so Dick doesn't think he's done anything wrong. Fitz casts his gaze out ahead again, fingers brushing over the rock. ] First time it happened, it was instinctive, like the ability was an extension of what I wanted, even when the wanting was, well, just laziness. So, I want to get from here [ tipping the rock in front of them and then to the side. ] to there. [ the sharpness of his focus cuts through their connection, bolstered by determination. His hand flexes slightly, still grasping Dick's own. Eyes locked on the route, he runs his tongue over the back of his teeth. ]

And just bloody-well go for it. [ said with a thrill through the bond and wind-up of his swing, tossing outward and upward. Only this time, something feels different, almost like an electric current runs rivulets through to his fingertips. Far less precise than his previous fare, the portal opening stretches from a foot or so above them down to the dirt and debris, digging into the ground and swallowing a chunk of the earth along with the rock. Even faster than before, the exit-portal ejects much farther to the right than he intended, so much so that the debris sprays against the metal wall of the warehouse with a deafening clatter — and a smattering even ricochets back.

Being an agent of SHIELD and the former, feared head of HYDRA, Fitz makes a startled noise and jumps, skittering into Dick despite their still-linked hands. ]

[preceded]

[The initial contact is nothing new. Dick has created a point of connection so often now, that even when he doesn't always know the cause- the feeling of Fitz' most common emotions, sliding and curling around his own, stop feeling so other after their initial appearance. Confusion, surprise, a soft fondness, pain- he's felt them before, and when the bittersweet, confused feeling comes through, Dick doesn't think much of the instinctual returning the squeeze on his hand, pushing fondness and assurance, confidence through the bond in return, past the curiousity, the frustration, and sorrow- making it the most prominent feeling to get across.

It's care without pushing, extending the courtesy Fitz has always given to him. To speak only when he wants- to keep a measure of privacy. It's something Dick has sunk into more than once- not having to be alone, while being given space to process at his own pace. It's something he cares more about imparting to Fitz- that he isn't, that sharing isn't a perquisite to ensure that he doesn't have to be.

He switches his focus, once Fitz starts to speak, when he feels a sharp thread of focus shifting across the bond, redirecting what he's feeling and honing it towards his actions] I'm with you on that so far.

[That it's to be treated as an instinctual part of him, the same as breathing, as knowing where to shift his footing to maintain balance. That it's to want- it makes sense on the scope of a defence mechanism as well. Most people instinctively want to live- to help those they love, to not feel pain. Nothing Dick has wanted, has felt, has created any change. He ruthlessly stamps down that frustrated, little feeling bubbling that suggests it's not going to be that simple, and turns his attention to picking out Fitz' feelings from his own, and watching the trajectory as it occurs.

Initially- it's nothing he hadn't expected to feel. The determination, the tension in the hand that Dick is holding, fingertips pressing firm into the back of his hand, muscles straining in his shoulders, in his jaw. The soft thrill of tossing the stone outward, and watching something part of you take shape, created out of nothing but your own will- and then it all turns slightly sideways.

Becomes so much more, that he's glad he'd taken his hand. Would have dropped it at the size of the portal, and the quick ejection- causing debris to scatter. Would have placed more space between him and the exit point, and waited for the dust to settle. As it is, he squeezes tightly and jerks at the surprising sound, at Fitz' own startled surprised coming through loud and clear- verbally and across the bond, and the body crashing into his own.

Without thinking, his other hand comes up to Fitz' side, steadying him, feet slightly sliding further apart, in an effort to maintain their balance. His eyes have widened slightly, and a startled laugh huffs out against the shell of Fitz' ear]

Well- you bloody well did something, didn't you? If- [He sounds slightly breathless, slight awe colouring the corners of the words] If you were trying to show off, I was already impressed.

[The extra power behind that didn't give him any info that a smaller showing wouldn't have, babe]

[retravel]

[ It's a good thing Dick takes care of him 'cause his attention's gone, laser-focused on the far-wall as a cloud of dust disperses, despite the way he stumbles. Easy enough to let Dick balance them, instinctively allowing the solid grip (and protective wave through the bond) to do the trick. It's fine. If not for Dick holding his hand, it'd go flapping, with his other already reaching out, as if that might reveal what happened.

When Dick breaks the silence of the aftermath with a laugh, hot on his ear, another startle zips across their connection. And for once, Fitz has enough awareness to be flustered, colour rising in his cheeks — because of his jumpiness and Dick's teasing, at the very least. ]

I didn't — [ mean to, but his brain skips ahead, moving faster than his mouth. In his haste to whirl on Dick, he bumps into him again and ends up only turning to the side, without bothering to extricate himself. Good thing he isn't terribly bony. ] Sorry, wasn't — [ my intention, but that thought's already gone, too. Without putting distance between them, he twists his hand free, only to bring it to Dick's chest, knocking there, like Fitz needs his attention. Focus. His voice ticks up, not quite nervous, no — excited. ] That's never — [ happened before. He rapidly gestures between himself and the place where his exit portal manifested. ]

Never gone through solid matter, except, well.

[ Intentionally cutting himself off there, at the thought of slicing through the UNA soldier, arterial sprawl across his front and all over Ishani Patil's kitchen; no wonder she doesn't like him very much. He, ah, hasn't mentioned that to Dick yet. ]

It must've changed again. [ It being his power. Fitz tips his chin, looking up to Dick as one corner of his mouth hooks into a smile, utterly delighted. A rolling motion this time. ] Evolved.

[ Terrifying and fantastic in all the best ways, that is. God, who even knows if his body can handle that. Not as if he has the physiology needed to withstand quantum energy and wormhole travel long-term, but it's too wondrous to concern himself with immediately. ]

[preceded]

[There's a moment, broken up by his laugh in a soft burst- but that remains absolutely still. Dick holds steady, and waits for Fitz to regain his footing, waits for the feedback on the bond to come across with something softer, less startled- soothed by the fact that Dick has no intention of letting him go until he's ready.

The amusement that had lingered on the edges of his expression only deepens, when Fitz starts speaking- stops abruptly, and then starts again. When he whirls on him faster than Dick can keep up with, and gets a slightly misplaced elbow into his ribs for the trouble- nothing more noteworthy than having had enough pressure to have felt it. The excitement starts to come through the bond, chasing away the lingering surprise- before Fitz is extracting his hand to knock on Dick's chest.

He squeezes his side gently, in answer. A reassurance to his attention, even if he doesn't try to interrupt, doesn't try to verbally put the pieces together. Let's Fitz find his own way to the sentences he wants to say, the point he wishes to get across. It's enough to put them together, through context of the person that Fitz is- and the situation they've found themselves in. Not having meant to, is quite obvious. If Fitz had truly meant to make such a big bang- he'd not have been so startled by the results, and the placement of the rock would have been a little more calculated- left a bigger impression with less of a chance to be hit by stray pieces as the rock broke apart.

That it's never happened before- that's both a cause for concern and excitement all at once. It definitely broadens the capabilities Fitz has to use it- and with his power and situations like they dealt with in the UNA attack- it can only be a much bigger help. On the other- as far as he can tell, Fitz carries no capacity to carry a power like this genetically, not even latent. To be forced to do so, and then watch that power expand beyond his own control-

He schools his concern in the face of Fitz' excitement, in how clearly happy he is to have another mystery solve- and a much better one than some of the others. It's been awhile- since he's seen a smile so genuine on his features. His expression softens, a moment later- disarmed, as he usually is, when it comes to this]

So that's never happened before, but it isn't the first time it's evolved over all. How many times has it changed on you? And did anything set it off?

[A soft beat, a little loath to even suggest it] And do you think you could repeat it?