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]

[ 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?