expiationlogs | ( mixed. ) pasa mi corazón del frío al fuego

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( mixed. ) pasa mi corazón del frío al fuego

Who: Spock, Jim, Gwen, Peter, and various.
Where: Various locations (see prompts for details).
What: Gnosia-related shenanigans.
Warnings: Uh. Probably more than a few? Most likely: references to genocide, references to starvation/famine, references/overt descriptions of being targeted by racially motivated crimes, general violence, and gore. Maybe some vaguely racy commentary here and there (linked).

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Kinda in my job description, kid. [ It's not meant flippantly or as a dismissal, but rather earnest concern. A far cry from his disposition ten minutes ago. Jim's eyeing that tear in her suit, the blood that wells to the surface and stains the fabric - trying to determine how critical it is. He doesn't wait for acceptance, hands moving to his shirt (or what remained of it). Jim tears off a strip of fabric from one of the hanging bits on the bottom, offering it to Gwen. If she'll let him wrap it for her, great, but if not - he'll press the fabric gently towards her until she takes it for a makeshift bandage. ]

How did you do that? [ He knows what it felt like from his end, but the question of how this all worked was still something of a mystery. Jim nods, exhaling before he gathers his strength and gets a hand underneath himself, pushing into more of a sitting-up position from where he'd sprawled. ] Yeah, I'll live. Might need a hand to stand but I'm - mostly just tired.

[ He's not; his muscles are seizing and he's littered with minor injuries, bleeding sluggishly. But he can stand, and more to the point, he needs to stand. Spock and Peter are still out there and Spock -

Spock and Peter are -

It's as though once he's thought of it, the bond surges forward, called to mind instantly. Jim's lost in the mire of it for a second, eyes unfocused; it's so much information, and more than he's used to with the simple press of a hand. But he remembers this, from before, during the infection - remembers Spock burrowing deeper, remembers communicating on an instinctual level. He'll get the hang of it - but they don't have a moment. ]

Fuck. Fuck. [ The panic sends a shot of adrenaline right through Jim's system, blessedly washing away some of the exhaustion - and getting him up on his feet, at least. He can still feel Spock through the bond, and it doesn't feel like he's subdued. He feels - angry. An angry Vulcan was not a good thing - Peter might be able to hold his own for a while, but would he be able to take Spock down on his own? ] Where are they? Gwen - are they here?

[ They're not. He knows they're not, but the worry rises up in him like a physical sensation in his throat. ] We have to find them. Spock is -

[ Vicious satisfaction, a flash of imagery as Peter's suit comes undone around him. Spock lunges forward and Jim staggers, trying to cope with the onslaught. ] Fuck, his suit - !

[Gwen would normally try to argue, but honestly, she's too damn tired, and she knows just how stubborn Jim can be. Even though he has his own injuries, bloody and scraped up as he is, she still accepts his help, holding out her arm to let him help her tie it. She could do it herself, but given he's there and willing, she knows better than to refuse.]

Honestly? I have no idea. I just... knew. When I had the opening, I did what felt right, and it worked. [All she can do is shrug, really. None of this stuff has made sense, but when has anything about this place ever made sense?

Especially because her spider-sense started to flare in her mind again. Jim was fine, there wasn't anything else around, so why was the anxiety creeping up in her again? But then it suddenly made sense, when Jim suddenly stood and changed the topic to the two people not here with them at the moment.]

Um--- they should be close? Peter was supposed to distract Spock, just long enough for me to heal you. Here, let me text him-- [She had barely even gotten the message sent over to Peter when more curses came out of Jim, and she felt like her stomach dropped.]

Jim, what-- ["his suit". Goddammit. Jim didn't have to finish the sentence for her to know what he meant. Peter was in that goddamn Iron Spider suit, which they thought might be best, but its power supply was faulty at times. She told Peter to make sure to charge it, but even if he did, it didn't always last like it was supposed to. She doesn't have an answer for know Jim has any idea what might be happening with Peter and Spock at the moment, but his own panic is adding to hers.]

You don't think...? He was just supposed to distract him, not take him on by himself--

[ Gift, horse, mouth. As long as she can do it again (??), things will be fine. Jim's manifesting. That's what the kids do nowadays, right? Gwen allows him to tie the fabric around her arm, and Jim knows it's more for him than it is for her - that she's letting him do something, some way to start repaying the horrible debt he's racked up. ]

He's not he - Spock - [ Jim's trying not to panic and failing, which is really not a great sign. He's usually good under pressure - like he said, kind of in the job description. But having a direct line to Spock's mental anguish and the physical beating that's unfolding while they sit here, helpless - well, that's a different matter entirely. Jim makes a concerted effort to focus on Gwen, pulling himself away from the bond, the mental link still connecting him and Spock and the terrible, gaping maw of the Gnosia. ] Spock caught him, Gwen. They're fighting, but Peter's suit is compromised.

[ A grappling, fist and fury and violence, barely restrained, because Spock is reeling from the loss of Jim - he knows what happened here, as easily as Jim knows what's happening there. Peter is worth much more whole. Peter's suit, gone, knocking Spock off balance - the whip Spock had fashioned as a weapon, caught in Peter's hands, arrow wounds twinging where the shafts were still embedded in Spock's person - ]

Spock don't - [ Jim lurches forward, a hand outstretched, as if to do something. But the damage, it seems, is already done - Jim's hand lands hard on Gwen's shoulder, his own knees threatening to buckle again. ] Spock just - he broke Peter's collarbone.

[ A nerve pinch, dropping the kid like a stone, a decisive victory. Oh god. Spock has him. Peter, at his mercy, the only thing keeping him alive (or, well, his mind not soupified) the fact that he was a hostage. ]

[Jim panicking is not helping Gwen's own panic.

She has so many questions. For one, how the hell does Jim even know what's happening? Did he have secret cameras hidden around their compound? Had he been watching them both, from the second both Gwen and Peter came onto the property? She knows Spock has a weird touch telepathy thing about him, but full on, actual telepathy? She didn't think he was that powerful. Then again, who knows what this Gnosia infection did to them. Did it boost powers? She had no idea. Jim didn't seem necessarily stronger, to her.

She'd honestly ponder the whole situation more, if it wasn't for what Jim was telling her.]

What? Oh, no-- No, no, no-- [Peter wasn't completely helpless without the suit. He still had webslingers, but if it was compromised because he was injured--

No. She couldn't think like that. Peter would be fine. He could hold his own, he was-- ]

Shit. [Yep, she sure is racing out of the warehouse without a second thought at the mention of Peter being hurt. She doesn't know where exactly Peter and Spock ended up, but surely they were still close enough, if she could get to them-- only. her webslingers were busted. She would have to get there on foot. She was fast, but running when she hurt like this-- it would slow her down. Could she even get to them in time?]

Shit, shit, shit!

Gwen! Gwen wait -

[ Jim stumbles after her, thrown off balance by the sudden movement - but he's able to follow her close behind, boots pounding on the metal containers as they make their way outside. The docks are eerily quiet, no one snooping around this secluded area - especially not with the way Jim and Spock have been prowling around. Jim slows a pace behind her as Gwen stalls out, trying to figure out which way to go.

...but it's no use. Spock and Peter aren't here, aren't even close to here, or Spock would have come as soon as Jim was healed. As soon as he'd realized Gwen was going to catch him. There's no way to find them, with Peter's suit offline, his GPS turned off. ]

Gwen, stop. [ Jim hovers, knowing he'll be unable to stop her if she takes off on him, but they have to stick together. They have to work together, or they won't be able to save them. ] It's too late. He has him, Spock - nerve pinched him. Which means he's unconscious, but alive. Peter's alive, Gwen.

[ The for now hangs unsaid in the air. ]

They're not here. [ Jim's tone gentles, apologetic but earnest, firm. He knows they're not, and taking off half-cocked into the night wasn't going to get them any closer. ] We can find them. We'll find them, I swear.

[Gwen's only half aware that Jim is behind her when she stops. Panic has consumed her at this point, and she puts her hands to her head, trying to figure out something.

She hears Jim talking, but doesn't process the words, doesn't understand the reassurances he's trying to give her. All she can focus on is the fact that Peter was gone. He was hurt, his life was in danger, and she was helpless to do anything about it.

This was all her fault. She should never have let him take that suit. She should have made sure it was charged first, or just insisted he go in his regular suit, or just never let him go on his own in the first place--

The anger and frustration she felt at herself bubbled inside her, until all she could do to let it out was grab the closest thing and throw it with all her strength-- it just happened to be a helpless car. She lifted it with ease, tossed it like it was nothing, and it crumbled at the force of her throw. A guttural cry escaped her lips, and she dropped to her knees, pounding her fist on the ground. Again, she made no effort to hold back her strength, not caring that she left a dent in the concrete. But finally, some of that anger seemed to be dissipating from her, and she had to fight back tears.]

This is all my fault.

[ Whatever Jim's expecting out of Gwen, absolutely fucking bodying a nearby car is totally unexpected.

He knew the kids were strong - hell, he watched her chop that wood for him like it was nothing, he's seen Peter lift a ridiculous number of supply boxes - but that's another level. Especially with the violence of it, emotionally driven, and he can't blame her for it. He'd throw a car too, if he could get away with it.

It puts a stutter into Jim's step, but it doesn't stop him from slowly circling, approaching Gwen from the side, where she can see him. It throws the careful way she was handling him when they were fighting into stark contrast; and the last thing Jim wants is to spook her by showing up in her peripheral when she wasn't expecting him. ]

Hey. None of that, now. [ Jim levers himself down next to her, kneeling next to the cracked concrete. Small mercies the Spider-teens weren't affected - how in the blue fuck would Jim and Spock ever have caught them? ] None of this is your fault. None of it, do you hear me? Shit happens. You and Peter are brave, intelligent, incredible people.

Plans work sometimes, and when they don't, you keep making 'em. [ Now, Jim reaches out, gently tapping the back of her hand, where it rests against the ground. ] He'll be okay. We'll make sure of it. New plan, you and me, alright?

[Gwen hears Jim moving and knows he's there before she even sees him. The fact that Jim takes precautions to be in her line of vision is obvious, and she feels immensely guilty. She didn't mean to scare him, and she's sure she had to. She tries so hard not to get emotional, not to let her strength loose, but the emotional reaction of failing so bad came out of her so easily.

She's already lost two of the most important people to her. She's already separated from friends she cared deeply about. She didn't know if she could handle something else happening to someone she loved.

But she did save Jim. He's back to himself, albeit a bit roughed up, but he was like that before she got to him. Shit happens. She knows this. Shit always happens. But they make do with what they have, they make a new plan, and they figure things out.

She nods, feeling a bit numb, but she didn't have time to wallow in self pity.]

...We should get you cleaned up. We can regroup and figure out a plan once you don't look like your clothes went through a shredder.

[ Jim nods his assent slowly, the concern clear in his steady blue gaze - no longer iced over with madness but warmer, crystal water. The buzzing from Spock's side of the bond, Jim pushes back, trying to stay grounded in the here and now and not lose himself to the turmoil again. He has no idea if the Gnosia can re-infect him while they're connected, and he'd rather they find Spock and Peter and cure the Vulcan before they have to find out.

He'd make a joke about how often he loses his shirt, but Jim's not sure either of them are in the mood for it. At least this isn't his uniform shirt, because it'd be a real bummer to ruin the only one he's got on him here in Aldrip. ]

And...those people. We need to free them, get them medical attention. [ He'd lost count of how many were trapped in that building. Deactivating the traps so no one else fell prey to them... ] Oh god, Claude. Fuck -

[ Jim tries to stand too fast and staggers, blood rushing in the wrong direction. Still, he relentlessly pushes on, catching himself on another nearby car. ] Fuck, he's stuck in the bottle dungeon -

[ What the hell had they been doing? ]

[Right. The people inside. She had almost forgotten about that, and that makes her feel even more guilty. Peter could take care of himself. Even in Spock's hands, he was still more than capable. But the people trapped here and now needed her help, and she was too distracted and self absorbed in the moment. She needed to get it together.]

Yeah. Yeah-- I opened one of the cages already. Hopefully the people I set free already started that process. No... no offense, but they might not be excited to see you, even if it is to help.

[She still feels some kind of way, after facing Jim like that. It was intense, to say the least. Maybe it's a good thing she doesn't have the time or mental space to process that right now. Just bury and deal with it later, yep, sounds good.]

Bottle dungeon...? What? [yeah, she has no idea what he's on about right now.]

You're right. [ Jim forces himself to take a breath, trying to get his head on straight. Of course she's right, after everything him and Spock have been doing for the past couple days - it's hard to focus, hard to process properly, when it all feels like such a nightmare. He lets the air out slowly, determination settling over his shoulders like a well-worn blanket. ] I need to disable the traps, though. We set tons, all around the perimeter. If someone steps into one...

It's exactly what it sounds like. [ Jim is heading back for the warehouse door, a man on a mission, despite whatever blood pressure problem he's having - but luckily there's plenty around to aid him. ] It's a trapdoor that drops its victim into a pit. An oubliette.

[ One guess as to who that idea belonged to. ]

An oubliette, seriously? For two guys from the future, you and Spock really went all out with your medieval means of torture. Geez. Remind me to never get on your bad side again.

[She supposes that even in the future, people have a fascination with medieval times. Meanwhile she just played a lot of D&D.]

But fine. Then you work on traps. I'll get the cages open, and funnel the people through the areas that are already cleared. And rescue whoever had this misfortune to end up in your pitfall. Sound good?

We were... [ Jim frowns, eyebrows knitting together as he tries to dig through the mire of his memory. ] ...we were trying to channel the impulses into not killing anyone.

[ Whether or not they succeeded depended upon how far Claude fell, probably. Christ.

Jim nods, already hanging a right towards the back of the warehouse. He remembers, at least, where they put everything. ] The way you originally came in should be clear. That tripwire is fake. Well, not fake - it sets off an alarm. It shouldn't hurt anyone.

So you went with an obliette? Please tell me you two didn't put spikes at the bottom.

[But all things considered...it did appear that what he said was true. Even if his stunts were terrifying beyond belief and very dangerous, Jim could have outright tried to kill her as soon as she walked into that warehouse. He honestly got close to outsmarting her, but it felt more like he was toying with her than anything. And she had powers. Not everyone that fell into his trap would've been so lucky.]

--- Right. Okay, so avoid the tripwire still, so I don't get an even worse headache. Perfect. I'll meet back up with you after everyone's out, then we can figure out...whatever's next, I guess?

[And take a nap. Lord know she needs a nap, though she doubts she'll be able to rest until she knows Peter is safe again.]

Which trapped them. Didn't kill them. [ God, he hopes not, anyway. Only one way to find out, and Jim mentally tries to steel himself for - he doesn't even want to think it but - finding Claude's body.

Jim didn't want to think about what they could have achieved, had he and Spock both been completely stripped of their inhibitions. Everyone they'd caught could have been dead and Gwen - Jim doesn't know if he would have been able to kill her, but he does know he never wants to find out. ]

You got it. [ Jim pulls it together in a beat, setting his shoulders back with the veneer of command confidence - even if he didn't really feel it. Especially when he didn't really feel it. That's when he needed it the most, after all. Jim takes a breath, ready to turn and head off to the oubliette - but he turns, briefly, back towards Gwen. ] I'm sorry, Gwen.

[ It can't make up for it right now - he'll have many more apologies to make, depending on how this all goes down - but he gives it to her anyway. ]

No, you just made them fall how many feet into a pit? [Lord, Gwen hopes they didn't kill anyone. The fact that everyone in their cages seemed alive-- honestly, a little surprising, but welcomed. This could have gone a lot worse, and been a lot more bloody. And she knows Jim and Spock would have a harder time handling the fallout if they did truly hurt someone like that. This was already bad enough.]

Don't-- don't worry about it. [She really not in the mood, anyway. She definitely doesn't feel like talking it out right now, when there were civilians to help and Peter was in danger.] We have other priorities right now.

[And with that, she takes off back inside, being mindful of the traps, just like Jim warned her. These people would be free soon, and then. What? Regroup and figure out how to get Peter back was priority #1, but how was going to be the trick. Hopefully Jim would have insight into what Spock might be planning next.]

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( mixed. ) pasa mi corazón del frío al fuego

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