Author's Note: I usually don't do pre-chapter author's notes, but I do give warnings in rare cases when appropriate. This chapter contains Explicit Sexual Content. The scene is near the end, labeled, and is completely skippable if you're not interested.
Chapter 119
Avengers
Arc 8 - Ch 11: Stuck on Base
Friday, March 23, 2012.
Location: Joint Dark Energy Mission Facility, Mojave Desert, Nevada
Tyson stood on stage once again. It'd become a Friday night feature that everyone looked forward to. He'd put on a show, then give a debriefing afterward, where he broke down his enemies' powers, their capabilities, weaknesses, and any mistakes he made during the battle. On the stage next to him stood the illusion of a giant that dwarfed even Tyson's large frame.
"Cain Marko, the Juggernaut," Tyson explained.
Tyson's illusion rewound, showing the moment he absorbed the Juggernaut's power and socked him across the face. The image froze, capturing the instant of impact.
"Is Dr. Richards here?" Tyson called to the audience.
Reed stood up and responded, "I'm here."
"My normal strength puts me around 8 tons," Tyson reiterated. "I hit the Juggernaut full force with his own power. The impact sent out a shockwave that shattered windows a block away. Pop quiz, Dr. Richards, how hard did I hit him?"
Reed paused, calculating. "It would depend on several factors, the glass thickness and type, how big the windows were, and the mediums of propagation for the shockwave..."
Tyson held up a hand. "Approximation?"
Reed mumbled to himself, "PSI to Newtons to Metric Tons..." After a moment, he answered, "About 280 tons."
"Thank you, Dr. Richards." Tyson nodded, then continued the illusion. "I hit him with 280 tons… and he didn't move."
The audience murmured in astonishment as they watched the dust settle, and the Juggernaut still stood there unmoved by the colossal impact, and smiling at that.
"But I won this fight because while I couldn't conquer his strength or durability, I targeted his mind."
Johnny Storm's voice called out from the crowd, "We're not psychic, how do we win against something like that?"
Tyson's expression turned grave. "Unless you happen to have a magic weapon stronger than the one I left in New York... You don't. You can't defeat an unstoppable force. While I managed to trick the Juggernaut, I didn't kill him. Admittedly, I don't even know if I could kill him, without getting creative."
"Your goal should not always be to stop the threat. Occupying them for a moment, and survival might be your objective. Or it might just be survival."
The illusion flickered, showing various moments from the battle. Tyson pointed out each instance, his voice clear and instructive. "As unstoppable as the Juggernaut is, he had multiple weaknesses. Magic is bullshit, but it can be combated with other magics, usually. Since you don't have that, look at what other openings he creates."
The image zoomed in on the Juggernaut's helmet. "The helmet is to block psionics. Remove the helmet. He's vulnerable to that. Otherwise, once he's moving, he's unstoppable... so get out of the way."
Tyson gestured to himself in the illusion, dodging and weaving around the Juggernaut's massive form. "Notice I didn't take a single hit from him while I was focused on him. If he's charging at you, dodge. He's not agile; even a normal human who's ready could get out of the way in time."
The audience watched intently as the illusory Tyson demonstrated evasive maneuvers against the charging behemoth.
"Three agents, spaced appropriately, distracting him and dodging, could keep him occupied for a time," Tyson continued. "But you need an exit strategy. And if that strategy doesn't involve superpowered backup, then you should not engage unless you're willing to risk your life. Because he will kill you."
His words were a sobering reminder of the dangers they faced.
"Any questions?" Tyson asked, scanning the crowd.
A young agent raised her hand. "Sir, you mentioned targeting his mind. How exactly did you do that?"
Tyson nodded, appreciating the question. "I used my illusion powers to make his allies look like me. He targeted them for a time, evening out the odds. But remember, I have abilities you don't. For non-powered individuals, psychological warfare might involve using his momentum against him or exploiting his lack of agility, or even taunting him."
Another agent spoke up. "What if we encounter him in a populated area? How do we minimize collateral damage?"
"Excellent question," Tyson replied. "Your priority should be evacuation. Clear the area as quickly as possible. If you must engage, try to lead him away from populated zones. Use his single-mindedness against him. Once he starts moving in a direction, it's hard for him to change course quickly."
The questions continued, each one demonstrating the agents' growing understanding of the complexities involved in facing such a formidable opponent. Tyson answered each question patiently, often using his illusions to illustrate his points.
Tyson's presentation was winding down when an agent in the back row stood up.
"I saw the footage from the Battle in Times Square," the agent said, his voice carrying across the hushed auditorium. "You omitted Jubilation Lee from the replay and the debriefing."
As the agent asked, Tyson's expression darkened. Dr. Sofen, sensing the shift, quickly rose to her feet.
"You don't need to answer that, Tyson," she said firmly, turning to scold the agent. But Tyson held up a hand.
He stood there in silence for a long moment. Then, he moved to the edge of the stage and sat down, his legs dangling off the side. He looked up at the packed auditorium of gathered agents.
"I know that a lot of you had military training prior to joining SHIELD," Tyson began, his voice low but clearly cast across the auditorium. "Then, and even over the course of working in SHIELD, you've probably lost colleagues, squad mates, or friends." He paused, swallowing hard. "Jubilation Lee was all of those to me, and she was my lover."
The auditorium remained silent, every agent hanging on his words.
"But I want you to consider what this is like for me," Tyson continued. "You all see my illusions, and they are vivid, no different from reality, but for me, I see a shell of what it is. I can't convince myself that they're real; to me, they're more like phantom images."
With a wave of his hand, Tyson conjured Times Square around them. To the agents in the audience, it was as if they sat among the skyscrapers and lights, the bustling heart of New York City surrounding them. Then he shifted the illusion, and it became spectral, halfway transparent.
"This is what I see," he explained, gesturing to the ghostly cityscape. "It's like a ghost of what really is. That's why I've never created an illusion of Jubilation Lee. Because I'd be seeing the ghost of my lost love."
Several agents shifted uncomfortably. Some who had lost comrades in the field recognized the particular weight of his words.
"But I want all of you to learn from my failures," he said, his voice growing stronger. "I would be remiss if I didn't show you my greatest one."
Tyson stood and took a deep breath, steeling himself for what came next. With visible effort, he conjured an image of Jubilee for the first time since her death. To the audience, she looked as real as any of them; vibrant and full of life, her presence filling the room.
But to Tyson, she looked like a ghost, like his most imperfect creation. He couldn't capture her vibrancy from his perspective. He couldn't mimic her joy of life or her scent of bubblegum and sparklers. He could barely look at her without remembering the pain of her loss.
Turning to the crowd, Tyson positioned the illusion of Jubilee to face them. "This information is top secret," he said, his voice taking on a more formal tone. "Jubilation Lee was a vampire at her time of death."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the audience.
"It's very much like the mythology you're familiar with, even in pop culture... Minus Twilight... But typical vampire strengths and weaknesses apply. Superhuman speed and strength in the one-ton range. Feeds on human blood, and those bitten become infected, die, and turn. Stake through the heart, sunlight or ultraviolet light, garlic, holy symbols, and silver all apply. I'm unsure about holy water as we never got to test it."
Tyson's voice faltered for a moment before he pressed on. "But what killed Jubilation was... decapitation."
The auditorium watched as the scene unfolded before them. Tyson reached for Jubilee as a metal shard cut through her neck. The illusion was vivid, horrifyingly real to everyone except Tyson, who saw only a pale imitation of the traumatic moment.
Tyson licked his teeth, trying to hold back the tide of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "Vampires are real," he said, his voice rough. "They exist, hidden in every city, among corporations, and in clubs. They're strong, but they also have many weaknesses to exploit."
As Tyson stood there, surrounded by the ghostly images of Times Square and the perfect/flawed illusion of Jubilee, another aspect of the reality of their dangerous world settled over the assembled agents. They had come expecting a tactical briefing and some entertainment, but received a lesson in loss, love, and the hidden threats lurking in the shadows of their world.
— Rogue Redemption —
The dormitory room was more subdued than usual. Johnny Storm broke the silence, his usual bravado tempered by genuine concern.
"Hey man, as much as I give you a hard time, I'm sorry about what happened. That agent was out of line."
Dr. Sofen watched Tyson's reaction with clinical interest. He waved away Johnny's concern, but the tightness around his mouth betrayed his true feelings.
Ben Grimm cleared his throat. "You wanna talk about it, kid?"
"Nah," Tyson shook his head. "Done enough of that with the doc."
Johnny fidgeted with his empty glass, clearly uncomfortable with the heavy mood. Suddenly, he perked up. "So, vampires are real. How'd you find that out?"
"High school graduation party."
"Seriously?" Johnny straightened, his eyebrows shooting up.
"Yup."
"You can't just leave it at that. Encore!"
Tyson hesitated, staring at the floor. Johnny caught Sue's attention, tilting his head subtly. She rolled her eyes but understood the gesture, moving to sit next to Tyson on the couch.
"So," she said softly, "what happened after graduation?"
Tyson squinted at Johnny, who shrugged innocently. But Sue's gentle encouragement made him relent.
"This was before Jubilee and I started dating," Tyson began. "She'd been planning a night out where we'd go clubbing to celebrate finishing high school. She picked this underground pop-up rave."
He paused, taking a sip of wine. The others leaned in, captivated by his shift into storytelling mode.
"We got there and were dancing, getting closer. We ended up in a secluded booth." Johnny let out a cheer, earning him a glare from Sue. "But then I noticed her makeup had smeared on her cheek. When I wiped it away, it wasn't makeup. It was blood."
"Then blood started raining from the sprinklers," Tyson said dramatically.
The room erupted in laughter. Johnny shook his head, grinning. "That can't be real."
"I swear that's exactly how it happened," Tyson insisted with a genuine smile despite the weight of the memory.
Sue frowned. "Why would they waste blood like that?"
Tyson shrugged. "Hell if I know. We had to fight our way out. But Jubilee got bit in the melee. I didn't even know. The vampires were everywhere, and most of the clubbers were either vamps or food for them..." He trailed off.
"But you got out," Ben prompted, recognizing his need to move through the story.
Tyson nodded. "Jubilee's powers came in handy. Those fireworks of hers were super effective against vamps, and my healing allows me to get bitten without getting infected."
"What about Jubilee?" Sue asked softly. "You said she was bitten."
"Yeah, that was... that was rough."
Tyson leaned forward, his demeanor shifting as he delved deeper into the memory. "So you guys know I can do a little magic, right? Well, there are sorcerers in New York. I went to them, and they had a way to cure the vampirism. But the ritual required the blood of a god."
Johnny's eyes widened. "Loki?"
Tyson shook his head. "Close. Asgard is cut off from Earth, but there's one Asgardian on the planet. A magic-user that came back with me named Amora."
Ben shifted forward. "You haven't talked about her in the threat assessments."
"I did actually. The Enchantress, the one ai battled in the desert. I just didn't give her name because Amora is a... friend." Tyson paused, his lips quirking into a half-smile. "Well, she is now."
He looked up expectantly.
Johnny glanced around the room suspiciously, as Tyson was staring at the ceiling and looking around as if searching for something. "Checking for bugs?"
Tyson laughed. "Nah, I can do that with my magnetic sense. There's no point in bugging my room since I can block the listening devices at will. Amora uses magic to... observe. She's particularly fond of watching me."
"You have a stalker goddess!" Johnny exclaimed, delighted by the absurdity.
Tyson held up his hand, half-exasperated, half-amused. "Please, for the love of god, don't call her that. I like to think of it more that she's watching over me."
Sue leaned forward, clearly invested despite herself. "So, what happened next?"
"Anyway," Tyson continued, "after jumping through some hoops, I got in contact with Amora, and she was willing to give me her blood, but she wanted me to get stronger in exchange. Which meant I needed to use my power to absorb someone."
The room fell silent. Dr. Sofen's professional mask slipped slightly, revealing her fascination with this darker turn.
"So I went after a few people," Tyson said, "The imposter Spider-Man, that was a flop. His danger sense alerted him when I got near. I got in an Iron Man-esque suit and flew toward D.C., where a mutant was impersonating a Senator, but Jubilee snitched on me to the mutant, and she fled."
Johnny whistled low. "Damn, that's some serious stuff."
Tyson nodded grimly. "I picked out a mind controller in Vegas to target next, but Jubes and her other mutant friends caught up to me."
Sue studied his face carefully. "They tried to stop you?"
"Yeah. They didn't want me to kill and absorb anyone," Tyson confirmed. "We threw down. I… I almost won." For the first time they'd seen, Tyson seemed at a loss. "I don't know how they stopped me. But they did."
Ben shifted uncomfortably, recognizing the weight of what Tyson was sharing. "What happened then, kid?"
Tyson shook his head, mentally moving on from that fight. "By then, Jubilee was getting weak. We went back to New York, had a small marriage ceremony, and she died later that night." He paused, "And rose as a vampire the following night."
The silence that followed was heavy. Johnny, for once, seemed at a loss for words. Sue reached out, placing a comforting hand on Tyson's arm.
Dr. Sofen asked gently, "That must have been incredibly difficult, Tyson. How did you cope with such a traumatic experience?"
"I didn't, not really. I tried to stop it, but it happened anyway. I'd failed her, but I knew she'd rise again, so I locked myself in a vault with her until she did."
Ben cleared his throat. "You can't blame yourself, kid. You did everything you could."
"Did I?" Tyson looked up, haunted. "After it was all settled, we found a cure for vampirism, but Jubilee didn't want to take it. She was trying to keep up with me, to get stronger so she could stand by my side. And she did. Then she was killed. She died twice because of me. If I'd pushed harder for her to take the cure, she'd have never made it to Times Square when she did. She would have still been just a mutant, and Magneto wouldn't have killed her."
Sue squeezed his arm gently. "You tried to save her both times, Tyson. She loved you and wanted to save you, too. That's not something to regret."
Johnny, uncharacteristically serious, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. You went up against vampires, mutants, and a goddess for her. That's love, right there."
Dr. Sofen interjected softly, "It's natural to question our decisions in hindsight, especially when dealing with loss. But it's important to remember that you were acting out of love and desperation. You can't judge your past actions with the knowledge you have now."
"I know. It's just... hard sometimes. Especially on nights like this, when everything feels so... raw."
The room fell into a contemplative silence. After Tyson's story, each of them understood more about the man behind the power.
Ben spoke up, "You know, kid, sharing this stuff... it takes guts. We're here for you, whatever you need."
Sue nodded emphatically. "Absolutely."
Johnny, in a rare moment of sincerity, added, "Yeah, man. We've got your back. Through thick and thin."
Tyson snorted, "Thanks, guys, but I'm the one who's supposed to have your backs."
Johnny leaned forward, a mischievous glint returning to his demeanor. "Why don't you tell us a story? Something that might cheer you up. Jubilee couldn't have been your only girl. I bet you hooked up with all kinds of freaky mutants."
Sue reached over and slapped her brother's arm, exasperated. "Johnny!"
Tyson laughed, shaking his head. "You know, Amora's probably listening to this conversation. Maybe she'll portal in and tell her side of the story if I describe how we met." He glanced around the room expectantly, waiting for a portal to appear.
Johnny grinned, "Maybe it's like Candyman. You gotta say her name three times."
Tyson straightened up, adopting a dramatic pose. "Alright, then... I'm going to tell the story of how Amora, the Goddess of Magic… and peeping, fell in love with me..." He paused, looking around once more. There was still no portal. He shrugged, smiling. "Fine, you get my side, then."
Taking a deep breath, Tyson began, "It all started when I followed Thor, the God of Thunder, to a strip club."
Johnny burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "Damn, you've got the best stories!"
Sue rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her curiosity. "How did you end up following Thor to a strip club?"
Tyson leaned back, nostalgic. "Well, Thor had been stripped of his power and exiled to Earth. SHIELD found his legendary hammer, Mjolnir, out in the desert. Odin enchanted it so that only the worthy could wield it. After Thor failed to lift it, Agent Coulson released him and let me keep track of him."
Ben chuckled. "So they sent the rookie to tail a god?"
"Hey, I can be discreet!" Tyson protested, grinning. "But I wasn't. Anyway, Thor went to get a drink, and Dr. Selvig, yeah, the one working here, took him to a strip club instead of a bar."
Johnny snorted. "Because nothing says 'blending in' like a mutant in a skin-tight black suit at a strip club."
Tyson laughed. "I wore normal clothes. They were in a barfight when I arrived. I stepped in, we drank, and I listened to his stories. It was very manly."
Sue rolled her eyes. "What about Amora?"
"Afterward, Selvig was passing out, the poor guy was drunk and probably had a concussion, Thor carried him back to where they were staying. As I was about to leave, music began playing, and Amora came out on stage. I thought the club might have just been a bar, because no other dancers had come out the entire time we were there. But let me tell you, the moment she started dancing, I was entranced. It wasn't just her looks, though she was stunning. There was this... presence about her like it charged the air. She definitely cast some magic on me that night."
Johnny wiggled his eyebrows. "I bet that's not all that was charged."
Sue elbowed him, but Tyson just chuckled. "You're not wrong. But it wasn't just physical attraction. It was like... have you ever seen something so beautiful that nothing else in the world matters?"
"So what happened next?" Ben prompted, genuinely interested.
Tyson's demeanor became more distant. "I watched her dance, completely forgetting about Thor. She focused on me, fishing for information, finished her set, and disappeared backstage. I thought that was it, you know? Just a moment of beauty, like an interlude in the middle of that story."
"But it wasn't," Sue guessed.
"Nope," Tyson confirmed. "The next day, Loki sent the Asgardian equivalent of a giant robot to kill Thor."
Johnny leaned forward, grinning. "Oh, this is getting good."
Tyson continued, "My claws could cut its armor, and with some of Thor's allies, we had nearly taken it down when Amora interrupted."
Sue studied him carefully. "So when did you realize she was more than just a stripper?"
"When she launched me across the desert using magic," Tyson chuckled. "We fought one-on-one. She thought she had me beat, but then she kissed me to try to enthrall me. When she did, my power activated, and I absorbed her, breaking her spell."
"Smooth," Johnny commented.
"Lucky," Tyson admitted. "But Thor got his powers back and took down Loki's automaton, and Amora ended our fight since she'd fulfilled her purpose."
"Wait," Ben interrupted, "If she was there for Thor, why'd she approach you?"
Tyson's lips quirked into a half-smile. "I caught her attention. Like I said, she fell in love with me…" When she still didn't show up, Tyson said, "I probably shouldn't be messing with her like that." He laughed. "After everything was settled on Asgard, Amora returned with me to Earth. We should've been trapped on Asgard, but she can super-juice my power. I'm left weak afterward. She left me in my apartment, saying that she wanted me to get strong and that she'd be watching."
Ben whistled. "Damn. You had a goddess hitting on you."
"I wouldn't say hitting on me," Tyson clarified. "More like... sizing me up."
"So when was the next time you saw her?" Johnny raised an eyebrow. "With the whole vampire ordeal?"
Tyson nodded. "Yeah, I never did mention she ended up giving me her blood anyway. Even though I'd failed to absorb someone, I hired a magic tutor, and she deemed it sufficient."
"Just like that?" Ben asked, skeptical.
"Just like that," Tyson confirmed.
Johnny grinned. "And let me guess, you met her again, and you fell head over heels for her? Her name is Amora, after all."
"Not quite." Tyson's face became somber. Johnny immediately interrupted, "Hey now, none of that. Keep it going."
Tyson said, "After the Battle in Times Square, when I got back to House of M, Amora was waiting for me."
"What did she say?" Sue asked, clearly invested in the story.
Suddenly, a portal appeared near the door, cutting Tyson off mid-sentence. A tall, statuesque blonde woman sat on the other side, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Now, now, darling," Amora purred, her voice like honey. "You weren't about to give away all our secrets, were you? Must you tease me so?"
Johnny's eyes widened in shock as he pointed at the portal, his voice rising to a shout. "No fucking way! It was true!"
Sue quickly grabbed her brother's arm, trying to calm him down. "Johnny, relax," she hissed.
Tyson, seemingly unfazed by the sudden appearance, bowed slightly towards Amora. "My apologies," he said with a hint of playfulness in his tone. "I'm but a humble soldier, reminiscing of the loves I've left behind."
Amora's expression turned contemplative as she observed Tyson. She inclined her head to match the depth of his bow. "Soldiers fight in wars," she said, her voice becoming serious. "Your two favors are ready should war come for you." The gravity of her words hung in the air for a moment before her demeanor suddenly lightened. "I am not so cruel a goddess that I would deny my soldier a glimpse of his goddess before the war came for him."
Dr. Sofen watched the exchange with rapt attention, her professional curiosity completely engaged by this display of supernatural power.
Ben Grimm shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly out of his depth with divine entities appearing in their lounge.
Amora's gaze swept across the room, taking in the varied reactions of Tyson's companions. Her attention lingered on Sue and Karla momentarily, clearly cataloging them with amused interest.
"Good luck," she said, her attention returning to Tyson. Her voice softened slightly as she added, "And when you tire of playing soldier, you will seek me out." With those parting words, she closed the portal, leaving the room stunned.
For a moment, no one moved or spoke.
Johnny was the first to break the silence. "Dude," he breathed, staring at the spot where the portal had been. "That was... that was real. You actually know a goddess."
Tyson chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I do."
Sue released her grip on Johnny's arm, her analytical mind already working overtime. "Tyson," she said carefully, "what did she mean by 'two favors'? And what war was she talking about?"
Ben leaned forward, concerned. "Yeah, kid. Sounds like you might be in deeper than you've let on."
Tyson held up his hands. He liked the Fantastic Four and Dr. Sofen, but he wasn't ready to spill what Loki was planning. "Whoa, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Amora's... well, she's Amora. She has a flair for the dramatic."
"Dramatic?" Johnny scoffed. "That's putting it mildly. She just popped in through a freaking portal!"
"I know, I know," Tyson said, trying to calm the rising tension in the room. "Look, Amora and I have a history, sure, but it's not anything to be concerned about. What she just did was the equivalent of a long-distance call." He reassured, "Amora's only interested in me, and she wouldn't hurt me. You guys don't need to worry about her. I'll handle her."
Johnny snorted. "Handle her? Dude, she's a goddess. How do you 'handle' that?"
"Very carefully," Tyson replied with a smirk, some of his humor returning.
Sue shook her head, exasperated, "If she's only interested in you, why did she study Karla and me in a way I didn't like?"
Tyson tried and failed to hold back his laughter.
Johnny asked, "Oh man, this has to be good."
"Amora has always been rather possessive. She insisted on referring to Jubilee as my 'mistress,' or my 'vampire'."
Johnny burst into raucous laughter. "Oh man, that's priceless!" He pointed towards Sue, barely containing his amusement. "I bet she's back in her lair right now, calling you his scientist." His finger swung towards Dr. Sofen. "And you, his doctor."
Sue narrowed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. Dr. Sofen crossed her arms, an icy glare leveled at Johnny.
A tense beat passed.
Johnny's chuckles died in his throat as he took in the women's stony expressions. He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, don't take it out on me. But come on, we gotta admit this is crazy cool. Tyson's got a legit goddess keeping tabs on him. How many people can say that?"
"Yeah, but really, she's harmless as far as threats go. Just has a penchant for dramatic entrances." He paused, considering his next words. "I know her popping in like that was jarring, but trust me, I can handle Amora."
Sue pursed her lips, skepticism etched on her features. "Are you certain she won't try to remove... competition?"
Tyson's eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward. "Are you her competition, Sue?"
Sue's eyes widened, a faint blush creeping up her neck. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again, clearly caught off guard by the directness of the question.
Johnny let out a low whistle. "Oh snap, this just got interesting," he chuckled, watching the interaction between Tyson and his sister with keen interest.
Dr. Sofen leaned back in her chair, her professional demeanor slipping slightly as she observed the unfolding drama.
Sue finally found her voice. "That's not what I meant, and you know it, Tyson," she said, crossing her arms defensively. "I'm simply concerned about the safety of everyone here, including you."
Tyson held up his hands, but the mischievous glint in his expression remained. "Hey, I'm just asking for clarification."
Johnny couldn't contain himself any longer. He burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Oh man, Sue, your face! You should see yourself right now!"
Sue shot her brother a withering glare. "Johnny, this isn't funny."
"Oh, come on, sis," Johnny replied, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "It's a little funny. I mean, how often do we get to see you all flustered over a guy?"
"I am not flustered!" Sue protested, her voice rising slightly.
"Of course, you're not," Tyson conceded. "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable, Sue. That wasn't my intention."
Sue took a deep breath, composing herself. "It's fine, Tyson. Let's just move on."
Johnny, however, wasn't quite ready to let it go. "But seriously, Sue," he said with a teasing grin. "If you were interested in Tyson, you could just say so. No need to hide behind all this 'concern for safety' stuff." He took on a mocking, nerdy tone, "Just say your intentions are to integrate… Nerds!"
"Johnny!"
— Rogue Redemption —
Tyson sank into the plush sofa. Ben, Sue, and Johnny had retired to their rooms. Dr. Sofen perched beside him, her fingers curled around the stem of a wine glass. The ruby liquid swirled gently as she took a sip.
"The settings for our sessions keep getting less and less formal," Tyson joked.
Karla's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Because you need me as your therapist less and less. I'm still here for you, but SHIELD's concerns over your mental health have eased. Creating that illusion of Jubilee earlier was a major breakthrough. I'm proud of you."
He didn't answer, just nodded.
She set the glass down on the coffee table with a soft clink. "Watching the recordings of you speaking with Dr. Sterns has been interesting..."
"Yeah, having me speak with him is having a greater effect than you." He paused, realizing how that sounded. "Not saying you're not smart, doc, but anyone less than a genius may as well not exist on his radar."
Dr. Sofen leaned back, crossing her legs. "Do you think we're making any progress?"
"Not really. He considers some of the points, but after analyzing them, he dismisses most." Tyson sighed in frustration. "Pointing out that I could kill him, and within his own worldview, it's the right thing to do, almost made him reconsider. But then he just assumed I'm going to do the 'right' thing and moved on, unchanged."
"That's frustrating," Karla said. "You're putting in a lot of effort to reach him."
Tyson stood up, pacing the length of the room. His footsteps were muffled by the thick carpet. "It's like talking to a brick wall. A really smart, condescending brick wall."
Dr. Sofen watched him move, tracking his restless energy. "Have you considered that maybe you're not the right person to reach him?"
Tyson stopped, turning to face her. "What do you mean?"
"You represent everything he resents. Power, freedom, the ability to use your, or his, intellect without restraint. Maybe what he needs is someone who can relate to his position more closely."
Tyson considered her words. "You might have a point. But who? We can't exactly bring in another super-intelligent criminal mastermind for a chat."
Dr. Sofen smiled wryly. "No, it was just a thought. But let's forget about Sterns for now. I want to circle back to something you said earlier. About me not being your therapist as much anymore." She shifted on the sofa, closing the distance between them ever so slightly. "I've noticed you've been spending quite a bit of time in Phase Four, particularly with Sue Storm."
Tyson raised an eyebrow. "Have you been spying on me, doc?"
Karla laughed softly. "Hardly. It's my job to observe. And in a facility this size, it's not hard to notice patterns." She leaned forward, reaching for her wine glass. As she did, her knee brushed against his thigh, a fleeting touch that seemed almost accidental. Almost.
"Sue's an interesting woman," she continued, taking a sip of her wine. "Brilliant scientist and quite beautiful. It's natural that you'd be drawn to her."
"We're just colleagues. Friends, maybe."
"Are you? When she's in the room, everyone else takes a back seat. You defer to her. But it's more than that." Karla's tone was light, but her attention was focused. "I've seen the way you look at her when you think no one's watching. The way your body language changes when she enters a room." She set her glass down and turned to face him fully, her knee now resting against his. "Your pupils dilate, your breathing quickens, and you subconsciously mirror her movements. All classic signs of attraction."
"I didn't realize I was so transparent."
"To the untrained eye, you're not. But I'm trained to notice these things. It's fascinating, really. You're usually so guarded, so in control. But around Sue, there's a vulnerability that shows through. The others might not notice the subtlest cues, but you're together often enough that Johnny and even Ben have picked it up."
"It's quite endearing, actually." She reached out, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "It's perfectly natural to develop feelings for someone you work closely with."
She paused, studying his face. Her hand was still on his arm, her thumb now tracing small circles on his skin. "But sometimes, what we want isn't always what's best for us. Or for others."
Tyson turned to face her, aware of how close they were. "What are you suggesting, doc?"
Karla's attention flickered to his lips for a brief moment before meeting his gaze again. "I'm suggesting that perhaps you're overlooking other... possibilities."
"Karla… What are we doing here?"
She smiled, a mix of warmth and something more predatory in her expression. Her hand moved from his arm to his chest. "I've watched you for months now. Seen the way you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. The way you try to be everything for everyone." Her other hand came up to cup his cheek, her touch gentle but insistent. "But who takes care of you, Tyson? Who sees past the hero, the leader, the agent, to the man underneath?" She leaned in even closer, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, "Let me be that for you. Even if it's just for tonight." Her fingers traced the line of his jaw. "We're both adults. We both know the risks, the potential complications. But we also know that life is short, and opportunities for genuine connection are rare."
Tyson chuckled. "Ready to risk the wrath of a goddess, doc?"
Karla's smile widened. She leaned in closer, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on Tyson's chest. "I'll take care of you, Tyson. And I know you take care of those close to you, too." Her hand moved up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing lightly across his lower lip. "If an Asgardian comes after me, I'm sure you'll save me." There was a playful challenge in her tone, daring him to deny it.
Tyson found himself leaning into her hand. "You seem pretty confident about that," he murmured.
Karla's laugh was soft and melodious. "Of course I am," she replied, her fingers now trailing down his neck. "You're a protector, Tyson. It's in your nature. And besides," she added, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "if Amora's always watching, I'm sure she recognizes my value."
Tyson raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her boldness. "Oh?"
Karla's smile turned sultry as she shifted even closer, practically straddling him now. "Well," she breathed, her lips mere inches from his, "I'm the one who helps keep you balanced, grounded. I understand the complexities of your mind, the weight of your responsibilities." Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck. "In a way, I'm doing her a favor, keeping her favorite mortal sane and stable."
Tyson's hands found their way to Karla's waist, holding her steady. He could feel the heat of her body through the thin fabric of her blouse. "That's quite a pitch."
Karla's eyes glittered with triumph. "I'm a strategist, Tyson. It's what I do." She leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "And right now, my strategy is to make you forget about everything else but this moment."
— Rogue Redemption —
— Lemons Begin —
Karla's fingers began unbuttoning Tyson's shirt. Her touch was confident, unhurried, as she worked her way down. The fabric parted beneath her hands, revealing his muscular chest inch by inch. "You've been carrying so much tension," she murmured, pushing the shirt from his shoulders. Her palms slid over his skin, appreciating the defined contours of his physique. "I can feel it in your muscles."
He tugged at the hem of her blouse, pulling it free from her skirt. Karla lifted her arms obligingly as he drew the garment upward, revealing the smooth expanse of her stomach, the delicate lace of her bra. The blouse joined his shirt on the floor.
"Beautiful," he breathed, his hands settling on her waist.
Karla smiled, pleased by his appreciation. She leaned forward, her lips brushing against his collarbone as her fingers worked at his belt. "I've thought about this more than is strictly professional," she admitted, honest and unapologetic. His hands slid up her back, finding the clasp of her bra. With a deft movement, he unhooked it, letting the straps slide down her arms.
"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered it, too."
The bra fell away, and Karla straightened, allowing him to look at her. There was no shyness in her posture, no hesitation. Just the quiet confidence of a woman comfortable in her skin and aware of her effect on him.
Tyson's hands moved to her skirt next, finding the zipper at the back. The sound of it sliding down seemed loud in the quiet room. The garment pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but her underwear and heels.
"You're overdressed," she pointed out, her fingers returning to his belt.
He stood, allowing her to finish undoing his belt and unzipping his pants. They fell to the floor, and he stepped out of them, kicking them aside. His hands found her waist again, drawing her against him, skin to skin. Karla's hands explored the planes of his back, the strength in his shoulders.
"I've been wanting to do this since the first time I saw you. You were so guarded, so controlled. I wanted to see what was beneath all that armor."
Her honesty was refreshing.
He guided her backward until her legs hit the edge of the sofa. She sank down onto it, looking up at him with undisguised want. Her hand reached for him, fingers hooking into the waistband of his boxers.
"Come here," she commanded.
Tyson complied, allowing her to draw him closer. Her fingers slipped beneath the elastic, pushing the fabric down his hips. He stepped out of the boxers, now completely bare before her.
Karla's gaze traveled over him appreciatively. "Just as I imagined," she murmured, her hands sliding up his thighs.
He reached down, hooking his fingers into her underwear. "Let's even the playing field," he suggested, tugging the delicate fabric down her legs. She lifted her hips to assist him, then kicked the garment away with one foot. Her heels remained, the only thing she still wore. The contrast of her naked body with the elegant shoes was unexpectedly erotic.
"Should I take these off, too?" she asked, noticing where his gaze had landed.
Tyson shook his head. "Leave them on."
She smiled, pleased by his response, and leaned back on the sofa, making room for him to join her.
She crawled between his legs and took his length into her mouth.
"I know what you've been doing from the start, Karla," he said.
She froze. Her blue eyes widened slightly, searching his face for meaning.
Tyson entangled his fingers in her blonde hair, encouraging her with gentle pressure. "Don't stop," he murmured, guiding her movements. "I knew about your manipulations and your want for power."
She tried to say something, but it was muffled by his cock. Her expression flickered between surprise and something darker, more complex.
"But you were helping me, so I let it go," he continued, watching her reactions carefully. "I knew about all your schemes. While you were in my head, I was in yours."
Karla's breathing quickened. Her hands gripped his thighs, nails pressing into his skin.
"And you knew it," Tyson said. "Enjoyed the thrill of having this superhero who could turn you in at any moment and didn't. It made you feel powerful."
He stroked her hair, his touch contradicting the nature of his words. "And I let it. Because I gave you power, and you would do anything for it."
The air between them crackled with tension, not just physical desire but the electric current of secrets laid bare. Karla's ministrations, her bobbing, became more focused, more intense, as if responding to his words.
"I can feel you right now," Tyson said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The thought of this, hearing me say it out loud, it's turning you on. Making you wet."
Her eyes flashed up to meet his, neither confirming nor denying his accusation. There was defiance there, and hunger.
Tyson leaned back, allowing her to continue. "You thought you were the one in control of our sessions," he said. "Pulling strings, gathering information. But we were playing the same game."
Karla pulled away just enough to speak. "And what game is that?" Her voice was husky, challenging. She stroked him as she spoke, but quickly replaced her mouth on his head.
"Power," he replied simply. "You want it. I have it. But the difference is—" He traced a finger down her cheek. "—I understand what power really is."
Her laugh sounded both bitter and aroused. "And what's that?"
"I know what drives you," he continued. "What you need. What you crave."
Karla moved up his body, bringing her face level with his. "How long have you known?"
"Long enough," Tyson replied. "Everyone deserves a chance to be more than their worst decisions," he said. "Even manipulative psychiatrists."
A laugh escaped her, genuine this time. "Maybe I'm playing the long game," she suggested, but there was less conviction in her voice than before.
Tyson's hands moved up her sides, his touch deliberately slow. "Maybe. Or maybe you're starting to care. And that scares you more than anything."
Karla didn't answer, but her body responded to his touch, arching against him.
"You don't have to admit it," he said. "Not out loud. But we both know the truth."
She leaned down, her lips nearly touching his. "And what truth is that?"
"That this—" he gestured between them "—isn't just about power anymore."
For a moment, she seemed about to deny it. Then something shifted in her expression.
She made a decision.
She closed the distance between them, kissing him with an intensity that communicated what words could not. When she finally pulled back, her mask had slipped completely. "You think you know me so well," she murmured against his lips.
"I know you well enough to know that your blush when I showed you what illusions could do wasn't just a show, just curiosity," Tyson said knowingly. "You wanted to know what it was like, to feel it. It became your desire. I became your fantasy."
A shiver ran through her body, not from cold but from being so thoroughly seen. Before she could formulate a response, she felt a presence behind her. Warm breath tickled the nape of her neck, and strong hands settled on her hips.
Karla froze, her mind racing to process what her body already understood. She didn't need to turn around to know what, who, was there.
"How are you—" she began, her voice uncharacteristically unsteady.
"Not how," the Tyson beneath her corrected. "What. What am I doing? Giving you what you've been fantasizing about since I demonstrated my abilities."
The second Tyson pressed against her back, his chest solid and warm against her skin. His hands slid around to her stomach, fingertips tracing idle patterns that made her muscles tense with anticipation.
His touch felt real, the heat of his skin, the pressure of his fingers, the solidity of his form. The original Tyson watched her face cycle through surprise, curiosity, and, beneath it all, unmistakable arousal.
"This is—"
"Exactly what you want," both Tysons said in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized.
The effect was disorienting and thrilling. Karla found herself caught between them, her body responding to stimuli from two directions. The original Tyson beneath her captured her mouth in a kiss, while his duplicate continued his attentions behind her.
"I've spent our sessions analyzing you," the original Tyson murmured against her lips. "Learning what makes you tick. What drives you."
"And what did you learn?" she managed to ask, her breathing uneven.
"That beneath that controlled exterior is someone who craves being overwhelmed," he replied. "Someone who spends so much time in control that surrender is the ultimate fantasy."
The second Tyson's hands grew more insistent, more purposeful. One hand tangled in her hair, gently pulling her head back to expose her throat. His lips traced a path from her shoulder to her ear.
"Am I wrong?" the original Tyson asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer.
Karla closed her eyes, abandoning the last vestiges of professional distance. "No," she admitted. "You're not wrong."
The confession changed something fundamental in their dynamic. It was one thing for him to know her desires, another entirely for her to acknowledge them aloud.
"Good," the original Tyson said. "Because I want you to let go completely."
The second Tyson moved one hand between her legs, finding her already wet and ready. She gasped at the contact, her body arching involuntarily.
"You see? Your body knows what it wants, even if your mind is still catching up."
Karla opened her eyes, meeting his gaze directly. "My mind knows exactly what it wants," she countered, refusing to surrender the last word even in this position.
"Then show me."
She reached between them, taking his length in her hand. The second Tyson continued his ministrations, fingers moving in slow, deliberate circles that made concentration increasingly difficult.
"Two can play at this game," she said, her voice husky as she positioned herself above him.
"It's not a game," the original Tyson corrected. "It's a revelation."
As she sank down onto him, taking him inside her, Karla understood what he meant. This wasn't about winning or losing, about power or control. It was about truth. Her truth, laid bare before someone who could see it without judgment.
The second Tyson pressed closer against her back, his hands never ceasing their exploration of her body. The sensation of being surrounded, filled, completely enveloped by Tyson from both sides was overwhelming in exactly the way she had secretly craved.
"You're thinking too much," the original Tyson observed, watching her face. "Let go." Karla moved against him, establishing a rhythm. "That's it. Just feel. I want to see you come undone. I want to see what happens when Dr. Karla Sofen stops analyzing and starts feeling."
His words pushed her closer to the edge. The second Tyson's fingers found exactly the right spot, applying pressure in perfect counterpoint to their shared rhythm.
"You don't have to be in control here. You don't have to maintain that perfect facade. Not with me."
Karla felt something breaking open inside her, not just physical release building, but emotional barriers crumbling. The vulnerability was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure.
The second Tyson pressed himself against her. His solid chest molded to her back, skin hot against hers. Karla gasped at the dual sensation; Tyson inside her and another version of him behind her, both equally real to her senses. The illusion was flawless, indistinguishable from reality.
"Is this what you imagined?" the original asked, watching her face as she processed the overwhelming stimulation.
Karla couldn't form words as the second Tyson grasped his member and placed its tip against her rosebud. His other hand moved with deliberate purpose, sliding up to cup her breast. The original held her in place as the one behind her slowly slid into her ass.
"I think she approves," the duplicate murmured, his breath warm against her ear.
Tyson smiled, a knowing expression. "She likes losing control, but only when she chooses to give it up."
Karla found her voice. "You think you have me figured out."
"I know I do." He thrust upward, causing her to gasp. "Just like you thought you had me figured out during our sessions. The difference," the original Tyson continued, "is that I was right."
Karla moved against him, establishing a rhythm that the duplicate matched perfectly. The synchronization was uncanny; two bodies moving as one entity around her, inside her, anticipating her responses before she even knew what she wanted.
"How are you doing this?" she managed to ask between breaths. "Maintaining such a complex illusion while—"
"While fucking you?" The original Tyson completed her thought bluntly. "Practice. Focus." His hands tightened on her hips. "And motivation."
The duplicate's hands never stopped moving, finding every sensitive spot with unerring accuracy.
"You're not just creating a physical presence," Karla realized, her professional curiosity momentarily surfacing through the haze of pleasure. "You're maintaining independent consciousness in both forms."
"Impressed?" both Tysons asked simultaneously.
The effect was disorienting and thrilling. Karla felt herself caught between them, her body responding to stimuli from two directions.
"You're thinking too much again," the original Tyson murmured against her lips. "Always analyzing."
"It's what I do."
"Not now," the original Tyson said. "Now you feel."
As if on cue, the duplicate slid one hand between her legs from behind, his fingers finding her most sensitive point. The triple stimulation, two Tysons inside her and his duplicate's expert touch, sent a jolt of pleasure through her that made rational thought impossible.
Karla's head fell back against the duplicate's shoulder, a moan escaping her lips. Her body moved of its own accord now, chasing the building tension.
"That's it," the original Tyson encouraged, watching her face with intense focus. "Let go."
The duplicate's free hand moved to her throat, not squeezing but resting there, a gentle reminder of her vulnerability in this position. The implied power dynamic sent another wave of heat through her.
"You like that," the original Tyson observed. Not a question but a statement of fact. "The reminder that you're at our mercy."
"Your mercy," she corrected, finding a moment of clarity. "It's just you. Two bodies, one mind."
"Does that make it better or worse?" the duplicate whispered in her ear, his voice identical to the original's.
Karla didn't answer with words. Her body spoke for her, moving more urgently against them both. The original Tyson matched her pace, thrusting upward to meet her movements. The duplicate's fingers maintained their relentless rhythm, pushing her closer to the edge.
"I've wanted to see you like this since our first session," the original Tyson admitted. "When you sat there so composed, clipboard in hand, asking me about my feelings while you hid all of yours."
"Professional distance," she managed to say breathlessly.
The duplicate laughed softly. "We're well past professional distance now, Dr. Sofen."
The use of her title in this context sent another unexpected thrill through her. The juxtaposition of her professional identity with her current state of abandon was strangely arousing.
"You're close. I can feel it."
He was right. The tension was building inside her, coiling tighter with each movement. The duplicate's touches became more focused, more deliberate.
"What are you waiting for?" the original Tyson asked, his eyes never leaving hers. "Permission?"
Karla tried to form a retort, but the words dissolved into a moan as the duplicate hit exactly the right spot. Her control was slipping, the carefully maintained facade cracking.
"You don't need permission," the original continued. "Not here. Not with me."
The duplicate's lips found her ear. "Let go, Karla," he whispered, using her first name with deliberate intimacy. "Show us what you look like when you're not in control."
Karla came undone. Her body tensed, then shuddered as pleasure crashed through her. She cried out, the sound raw and unrestrained. The original Tyson held her gaze through it all, watching as she surrendered completely.
He continued to move beneath her, prolonging her pleasure until she thought she might shatter from the overload. When the waves finally began to subside, Karla found herself trembling, her body hypersensitive. The duplicate pressed a surprisingly tender kiss to her shoulder, then slowly faded from existence, the illusion dissolving now that its purpose was fulfilled.
Tyson remained, still inside her, watching her face with an expression that mingled satisfaction with something deeper, more complex. He rolled them over in one motion, positioning himself above her.
"My turn," he said simply.
Karla looked up at him, her usual sharp retort nowhere to be found. Instead, she reached up to touch his face, the gesture unexpectedly vulnerable.
"I see the real you. Not the psychiatrist. Not the manipulator. You."
The words penetrated deeper than they should have. Karla felt exposed in a way that had nothing to do with her physical nakedness.
"And what do you see?"
"Someone worth knowing," he answered. "Despite everything."
Before she could process the impact of those words, he began to move again. Karla wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper.
Whatever game they had been playing. Of power, of control, of manipulation, had transformed into something neither of them had anticipated.
Something dangerously close to honesty.