#it was the first chapter of when my insane pace started to putter out

[orcelito]

Chapter 16 of discacc was by far my least favorite chapter to write bc of several reasons & thus every time I reach it in my rereads I'm like "ughhh do I have to" bc rereading it just reminds me of that lol

Last reread tho I remember being like "ykno what this is actually pretty good" so maybe it won't be so bad

[fatandnerdy30]

Land of the Avengers chapter 2

"This is the flight simulator," Dr. Storm showed the boy's the dome shaped room in the middle of the floor. "The main reason why there's so many generators in here because of this. It takes a lot of energy to run the simulator. Probably enough to run the entire city for three years."The boy's were stunned. It took that much energy to run the simulation machine?

"That's insane," Peter whispered. "But, isn't that bad for the environment? I mean, the generators make so much heat and the gasses they're known to produce have been proven to deplete the breathable air and-" Susan held up a hand with a smile. "I know all of that, but Richard actually developed these specially with that in mind. It's a new kind of energy, a renewable energy. It's something the world has never seen. Actually, you're the first people outside this building to see it." Her watch let out a beep and she turned her wrist to see the time. "And now it's getting late, so you two better get in there. You have today and tomorrow to practice before your test. I'd wish you boys luck, but I'm sure you won't need it." She opened the door latch. "Just so you know, there is a water dispenser and a bathroom. People tend to spend a long time in here and I got tired of having to clean up after they left." She sent a glare to the doors her brother went through. "So, I had Reed put in a bathroom." She gave the boys a tight smile. "Go on in. And we'll be monitoring you from out here, so we'll be the first to know if there's a problem." Peter and Harley gave a nod in unison and stepped into the chamber. As soon as the door was shut behind them, they looked at one another. "Let's do this," Harley said, holding his hand out. "And kick its ass doing it," Peter replied with a smile and they grabbed each other's hands in their secret handshake. "Did I mention that we have cameras and microphones in there, too. So no bad language," Susan's voice made the two jump and look up at the camera that had turned to look at them, feeling her admonishing look through the lens. "Sorry!" they yelled in unison and began making their way through the dome to the two seats in the middle of the room. In some odd way, they made the room seem emptier. Together they sat and buckled themselves in, looking around the white room. "Good job on buckling up, boys. You don't know how many trainees make that mistake and treat this as just a VR ride instead of a potentially dangerous experience. You two signed the wavers, right?" The boys nodded. "Good. The room will make an odd noise as the simulation starts, but soon it will fade into the noise of the flight sim. Simulation starting in three......two....one....good luck boys." They didn't get a chance to respond before the room started making a high pitched whirring noise before the room actually disappeared! In its place was the inside of a sub-orbital craft.Harley stared out the window and actually looked real, even down to the birds! "This...this is amazing!" His voice didn't even echo in the cockpit, as it was a small, full space. "The reality is so real." He reached out and touched a control, surprised to feel the yoke in his grasp. "Amazing." "I wonder how they do it? Maybe it's something to do with the brainwaves that measure your senses? That would be amazing tech to put into use in the real world! Imagine what could happen if people didn't have to leave their homes in order to work, that would mean they'd be able to spend their lives in filtered air and therefore increase their lifespan by at least ten years!" Harley gave him a look as if to say 'shut up'. "But, think of the damage the power one of these needs in order to run. Could you imagine something like that in every home? It would kill the planet indefinitely. It was a good thought, though, kid." The younger nodded and got a 'thinking' look on his face. "Worry about it after we're done, okay? Our futures ride on this simulation. We have to do good, or else those scholarships should be taken away." Peter's face turned serious in an instant and he gripped the yoke. "I'm ready. Let's get started." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twelve hours the boys stayed in the room, and the next day it was the same. It was Colonel Richards who came into the dome with a grin on his face. "Well, well. If I had known you would take it this seriously, I would have said yes to Virginia sooner. Twenty four hours in two days. You boys are probably my most determined students." He walked into the room and frowned. "Have you boys turned up the temperature in here?"The answer was obvious as Peter and Harley were drenched with sweat, their heads soaking wet as if they'd just taken a shower. "Didn't anyone tell you that you could turn on the air in here?" "Yes, sir, but we wanted this to be a challenge. We've done every simulation, but we needed a challenge." Peter wiped his forehead, grimacing as it came away wet. "Is that so? So, if I were to give you a test, you two think you would pass?" "With flying colors, Colonel," Harley said proudly. "Well, then I still hope you feel that way next week during your test. Now, get home so you can get some rest. You two still have class in the morning." The boys saluted, their actions half-hearted in their tiredness and they trudged out of the room. "What do you think, Susan?" He turned towards one of the camera's facing him. "I think Johnny is going to be upset at not being the youngest pilot anymore," the woman laughed. Reed smirked."I think you may be right." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning was a sluggish one for both boys. Both yawned with almost every step. With all the excitement from the simulation practice it was to be expected, though. Pepper felt bad for the young boys, especially Peter, who looked as if he hadn't gotten an sleep at all. In the morning class, she'd given her usual lesson, but had been lenient on her students and didn't give them the test she'd planned for that Monday. She would give it to them tomorrow. That would give the boys enough time to sleep. When the bell rang, the two tiredly gathered their belongings and were just out of the classroom when a coffee colored fist made impact with the wall next to Harley's head. "Hey there, fruity boys. I didn't expect to see you back in school this morning, with you being expelled and all." The older teen quirked a brow. "Expelled? What do you mean?" "Oh, everyone's talking about it. You don't get called to the Headmaster's office if you're not in trouble. So, what was it? You lost your scholarships and can't afford to pay for this school anymore?" Flash stuck his lower lip out. "Is that it? Mommy's part time job at the diner isn't enough to even cover one class here, and let's not talk about the orphan here," he jabbed his thumb at Peter, who simply looked down, his face flushed in embarrassment. Harley saw red at that movement and took a step towards Flash, his head towering over the freshman's. "Listen here, you little silver spoon lackey. We were not expelled. In fact, Colonel Richards has given us the chance to take the graduating test this weekend." He spotted the Colonel sauntering down the hallway, his face worried as he spotted the position of the trio and began making his way over to them. "Don't believe me? Ask him yourself." Peter was the first to alert Flash of the headmaster's arrival, going rod straight and saluting. "Colonel Richards, Sir!" he exclaimed, his voice breaking on the last part, causing his red face to turn redder. Harley was next, with Flash a second behind him. Richards smiled at the boy. "At ease, Cadets. Would there happen to be a problem here?" He eyed Cadet Thompson, who looked a little pale. "Actually, we were just discussing our test coming up, Colonel. Can you please tell Flash the rumors of our expulsion are false?" "Expulsion? Of the school's best two cadets? I don't know why you would be expelled. But, the flight test is true." He checked his watch. "Which means you two had better get to class." Peter and Harley saluted again, and hurried off. Flash tried to do the same, but Richards wouldn't have it. "Cadet Thompson, a word if you would." He was tired of hearing about this boy causing trouble. If he thought because his father was the mayor of New York he could get away with anything, he was about to be sorely mistaken. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The two boys made it to Sergeant Barton's class just in time, as the bell rang as the youngest stepped foot into the classroom. "Heya, boys. Take your seats." Clint gave them a cheeky grin as they walked in. He had planned a video lesson because he knew the two would appreciate that after having a word with Pepper earlier. So, he lowered the lights and brought down the lights. "Remember to take notes," he reminded the class and started the videos. In seconds, both Harley and Peter were out, heads on their notebooks, slight snores coming from them. Clint wanted to wake them, but he didn't have the heart, so he made it like he didn't see them and sat back for the rest of the lesson, watching over his students. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For both boys the week went by so quick, it was almost as if some kind of magical genie had snapped their fingers and made the week rush by. Flash hadn't been bothering them since the Colonel had straightened things out, and both cadets had been getting odd stares from the others on their way to class. But, in the end, it was Saturday and Peter was packed and ready to go, his suitcase next to May's in the living room. "Come on May! My test starts in two hours!" He was pacing by the door, listening to the woman puttering around the dorm. "That's two hours, Peter! Relax and take a breath!" The woman came out smiling as she fixed the large glasses on her face. She walked over to him and pulled the boy into a hug. "Breathe, Petey-Pie. You'll be fine. And we'll leave as soon as I can find a camera." The day the boy had mentioned his test, and she had gotten clearance from her boss at the hospital, she'd been spending her time after work buying all the camera's she could in order to take enough pictures of Peter and the sights on the trip to show to her colleagues. To say they were both proud and jealous was an understatement. As soon as she was ready, the two rushed from the apartment. Or, Peter rushed May out to go pick up Harley, who was sitting on his dorm porch saying goodbye to his mother. The boy gave the woman another hug and ran towards the mono-taxi, a smile on his face. "Hey Pete!" The two boys did their handshakes as the oldest sat in front of them. "Thank you so much for picking me up, Ms. Parker." May was busy telling Mrs. Keener that her son would be in the best hands as they were pulling away. Harley waved again and sat back. "I'm so excited, worried and ready for this to be over." Peter nodded in agreement as he yawned. "That's what you get for being over anxious," May chuckled.The mono-taxi pulled up to the shuttle port, the driver staring at it with wide eyes. "You know, I ain't nevah taken anybody here, and nevah been here myself. These things are too expensive." He turned in his seat. "You goin' anywhere good?" "Actually, my nephew and his friend are about to take their pilot tests." May sounded so proud and Peter liked the tone she used. "Really? They look so young!" The man's eyes widened comically. "Pete here is the youngest cadet ever to take the test," Harvey said, ruffling the red faced boy's hair. "So if he passes, then that means you'll have had the youngest pilot in history in your taxi." "Hey, can I got your autograph, kid? It could be my feature moment here." The man produced a pen and paper from his glove box. Peter nodded and signed the blank paper, handing it to Harvey, who also signed. "Thanks, boys. Hey, good luck!" The trio got out of the cab and together they rushed to the entrance, the guards stopping them for a moment before, with shocked faces, let them pass. Once they walked in, they were greeted by a crowd of travelers, all walking fast to get to where they had be before their flights left. Peter and Harley grabbed on to May's luggage as she stepped into the crowd. They dodged and pushed past angry people, until the loudspeaker in the sub-port buzzed, gaining everyone's attention. "Cadets Keener and Parker to sub-port thirty-four, cadets Keener and Parker to sub-port post haste. I repeat, Cadets Keener and Parker to sub-port thirty-four post haste." People around them started looking around for the cadets, but Peter and Harley didn't even notice the attention they were getting, being the only ones in cadet uniforms, racing with May to the gate they needed to be at. Once they ran through the gates, the sunlight blinded them for a moment. "Cadets Keener and Parker," came the booming voice of Colonel Richards. Instantly the two young boys stood at attention, their hands coming up in a firm salute. "Colonel Richards, sir!" they shouted in unison. A second later they heard a chuckle. "At ease, boys. You have a long test ahead of you, so it will take all of your strength you don't need to be wasting saluting an old man like me." Reed patted both stunned boys on the shoulder then Ben walked up to them, his eyes alighting with interest at the sight of the older woman. "And who is this stunning young lady?" he asked, his gruff voice sounding husky as he gave the woman a once over. "H-hello, sir. I-I'm May Parker, Peter's aunt." The woman was turning red and stuttering over her words, and making Peter silently gag next to her. "Really? Well, who would have ever thought you of all people would be an aunt." Ben took the woman's hand and kissed the top of it. "I do hope you enjoy your trip, Ms. Parker. Pity I'm not going with you." "We-well, I'll be enjoying time with my nephew." She smiled, noticing the man hadn't let go of her hand as of yet, so she slid it from his grasp. "I'm going to put my bag on board, she said, but Ben suddenly grabbed her suitcase like it was nothing. "Allow me, Ms. Parker." He gave her a suave smile and walked away, his shoulders straighter than they'd ever been, making Reed chuckle. "Now boys, don't let this vacation let you think you'll be able to goof off behind the yoke. I won't have anything happening to my best pilots." He waved his hand and both Virginia and Clint came from the shadows under the plane. "I'll give you two over to your teachers. Good luck, and have fun." He smiled and walked away, going to the air control tower to watch how Peter took off. "Ready?" Clint asked, and both boys turned a certain shade of green he'd never seen before as they nodded. "Come on then! Vacation awaits!" The man walked off, having to practically push Ben out of the way to help May onto the plane, the gruff man glaring at the teacher. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peter sat behind the yoke in the pilot's seat, looking over all the instruments, like he did in his simulations. But, this wasn't a simulation. This was real and he was about to fly a suborbital plane for the first time in real life. Captain Potts took the seat next to him, giving the boy a soft smile. "Nervous?" Peter nodded rapidly, eyes wide. "What if something goes wrong and I wind up crashing the plane?" The woman laughed and placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. "If anything goes wrong, I'll be right here. It's just like the simulation, okay? Just think of it that way and you'll do fine. Besides, after two hours, Harley can finish the test and you can go relax with your aunt." The teen nodded and shifted his vision back to the circuit board of switches. His palms were sweating so much he thought they might drip onto the control panel and fry something. It's just like the simulation, Peter. You can do this, he thought to himself. "Peter, just breathe. I'm right here, and I'll help you as much as I can." The trainee nodded and took control of the yoke. He could do this. It was only a short flight and if everything went right, he'd have his protege wings as be able to co-pilot the planes and take over on the longer flights when they pilot had to take a break. It wasn't like he was going to start flying by himself today. He still had a lot to learn and practice and his age required him to have an experienced co-pilot.. With an audible gulp, he nodded to the captain. This was it. Time to take this test and show it who's boss. He began flipping switches and watching lights blink all around him. In his rear flight camera he moved the rudders first up, then down, then left and right. They moved smoothly. He switched the view to the wings, watching as he moved them, noting they were smooth, too. "You're doing great," Captain Potts said with a smile. Peter nodded and grimaced. He made sure he was buckled in, then with a shaky hand, reached for the ignition button. The plane started so suddenly it made the boy jump, but he settled down at a chuckle from the captain, which he would not hold a grudge for.Two sets of eyes stared at the large black spot in the sky in front of them, hoping he was seeing things. But, Harley's question affirmed he wasn't. "The air space is clear for your test to begin," Colonel Richards' voice came over the communicator. "Have a safe flight, and may the light guide your way." "Thank you, Colonel. And you as well." Pepper responded and turned to Peter. "Whenever you're ready, Cadet." The boy nodded and started forward. It went slowly at first, but then the plane picked up speed until they were going at top ground speed. Peter glanced at the circuit board, noting that all the lights were green. Prime for takeoff. With steady hands, he brought the nose of the plane up, and up and up, until all wheels were off the ground and they were in the air. Peter didn't relax until he leveled the plane out, then he took a shaky breath. He'd done it. "Great job, Peter," Captain Potts said warmly, clasping his shoulder. She never called the cadets by their first names, so she must have been really proud. "Now you can sit back and look at the view. You've earned it." And that's what Peter did. With an awed look, he stared out the cockpit window. Below the hull of the plane lay the Earth and all the cities, though they were barely visible through all the smog and pollution. That made Peter sad. So, instead of looking at that, he fixed his gaze ahead of them. The transition of the black emptiness of space to the lit up horizon of the Earth, with the light bouncing off the ocean, and the clouds below them were white, looking nothing like the white balls of poof he was used to seeing from the ground. "It's beautiful," he whispered, awed. Sure, he'd seen the view in the simulator, but this was the real thing. It was amazing. "Isn't it? This is what we see every day." Pepper smiled at the look on the boy's face, sitting back to watch as Peter controlled the plane like a pro. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Susan was watching the screen for any anomalies, when suddenly something blipped. It was fast, so she didn't pay it much attention, until another blip came from that same spot, but this time it stayed and was bigger than the last time. "Reed, come in," she called over the communicator. "What is it?" her fiance's voice came from the console. "I don't know, but there seems to be something....oh no....it's in the path the cadets just took! Reed, get them to come back now!" The blip was growing and soon it was the bigger than the small plane. Big enough to swallow it whole. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pepper was pulled from her dozing state by a buzzing coming from the communicator. "I've got it, Peter. You just keep flying." She didn't want to distract the young boy from his task. Leaning forward she pressed the button that allowed the colonel's voice to break through the silence. "Pepper! Pepper, you have to return!" Reed's voice sounded panicked over the radio. "Pepper, do you copy! You have to return to base!" "Colonel, we copy. What's wrong?" "I don't-I can't explain it," this time it was Susan's voice coming over the communicator. "But there's a massive amount of gamma and radioactive energies coming straight ahead in your flight path." A beeping came out of the console and flipping a few switches, a map came up. The only problem was, they were too close. "We're too close to turn. We'll try going under that disturbance." She turned to Peter. "Do you need me to take over?" He shook his head. "No, Captain. I need to be ready for anything." Slowly the boy started to go down, but suddenly the plane started rumbling and turning around in the air. No matter what Peter did he couldn't control the plane. With wide eyes, he stared at Captain Potts. Suddenly, a big black cloud appeared, seemingly out of nowhere and started sucking the plane towards it! "What is that thing!?" The young teen was gripping the yoke tight, his fingers doing white. "I don't know, Cadet," Captain Potts said, her voice calm, but it had a wobble to it, letting them know she was nervous. "Just try and avoid its pull." "That's not an option," Peter retorted, his face going pale. "The systems are shutting down!" "What!?" Captain Potts shoved Peter out of his seat, taking it in his stead. "No, this can't be! Clint! Get your ass in here now," she called over the speaker. A second later the door slid open and in ran Clint, his eyes wide as he hung on to the doorway as the plane started rocking. "What the hell is going on? May is back there demanding to know also....and what the fuck is that!?" "That's what I need help with," Pepper cried in exasperation. "It keeps pulling us in!" "Peter, get to the passenger area," Captain Potts called, not looking back at them. "Go sit and buckle in, okay?" She finally took her gaze away from the black blob in the sky, smiling at the scared boy. "We'll be okay." Peter nodded, believing the woman, and was the first to leave the cockpit. "Peter?" May asked as soon as the boy had managed to stumble to his seat , eyes wide as she looked to the cockpit. "It's okay, Aunt May," the boy said, patting her hand after he buckled himself in. "We'll be okay." The plane shifted violently so suddenly, that were they not wearing their seat belts they would have been thrown about the cabin. Peter whimpered, his hand gripping the older woman's and Harley's. "We'll be okay!" he shouted over and over like a mantra. "OH shit!" The passenger cabin suddenly became pitch black. "Hold on!" Harley screamed. "Brace for impact!" Came the captain's voice over the loudspeaker. But, as soon as she said it, light encompassed the cabin, blinding the people inside. Instantly the plane stopped shaking. "What happened?" Peter asked, his head swiveling back and forth trying to see out the windows. It looked like a normal, sunny day, but there was something off about it. Before he could figure it out, though, the plane suddenly jerked, and fell. The passengers screamed all the time they fell, not even noticing the greenery that had encompassed the plane. The metal hull hit something hard enough to cause an explosion behind the seats. The noise had Harley and Peter jumping in their seats. In the next instant, they were hit with the powerful suction of the wind as the plane hurtled toward the ground. May was gripping the seat belt for dear life, the buckle clearly broken by the force of the explosion. Peter turned towards her, to grab his aunt, do something, when the plane was rocked violently, the sound of trees hitting the outside loud to everyone's ears. In the turbulence, May had lost her grip on the seat belt and was sucked out of the gaping hole on the side. It happened so fast, Peter didn't even have time to react. "May?" He whispered, shaking his head, staring at the seat the woman had just been sitting in. "May......MAAAAAAYYYY!!!!" "Everyone hold on!" Came Sergeant Clint's voice over the loudspeaker, but Peter couldn't react. He felt numb, like all of this couldn't be real. It just couldn't. A second later, the plane slammed into the ground, throwing Harley and Peter to the ground as their seat belts broke from the force of the impact. When Peter saw Harley go flying past him, he acted on instinct and grabbed his friend, holding tight to keep him from suffering the same fate as his only family member. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A pair of blue eyes were watching a radar-like map, studying it with an intense stare. There had been a small, moving object on the screen and-there it was again! "I've got something," the person called out. A head of red hair appeared by his side to study the screen. "What is it?" Her voice was smooth as silk as she bent down to look at the screen. "I don't know," the man replied, his eyes staring at the screen still. "But, it was small and came from the direction of the electromagnetic interference." "Really?" Suddenly the blip came again, and this time it stayed on the screen longer, but it seemed as though it was falling. The red head stood and smirked at the man. "Looks like we'll have to go check it out." "All right. I'll notify Tony and be right with you. I don't think we have to suit up for this." He stood and stretched, groaning when his back popped. Too many hours sitting can do that to you. The woman reached out and touched the holograph where the little blip had fallen. "Damn. It fell outside the compound's vicinity...this is going to take all of us to search an area that wide. I'll call the others." With that, the woman left the room. Blue eyes looked one last time at the screen before getting on the phone, walking out of the room. "Tony. We got something," was all he said before hanging up.

[ikesenhell]

Courage

GLITTER & GOLD, CHAPTER 5. You can find all other IkeSen works of mine here. NOTES: Mildly traumatizing content? Implied gore and suicide? It isn’t too bad I promise.  Thanks to all my readers who stopped in and @velociraptor-detective​ for always line editing.

They started the meeting with the usual things that were always discussed when it came to Waŋblí Hoȟpi; food, storage, transportation, the recreation of the rail lines, so on. Masamune didn't know why he’d been summoned until the tail end, when Ieyasu smacked down a tiny mechanical thing in front of him.

“Ieyasu,” Mitsunari squeaked, “I appreciate your fervor, but please be more careful with it, it did take a while for me to fix that--”

Ieyasu pointedly ignored him. “If you really want us to track down where your ghost ship goes, you have to do something stupid, apparently.”

Masamune poked at it. It looked almost exactly like a box, except with a small slot on the front, a little lense, and a few buttons. “What is this, pre-war tech?”

“Yes.” The blonde returned flatly, crossing his arms. “It is, and it took me forever to find the damn thing, so you’d better keep good track of it. It’s a Polaroid camera.”

“No shit. Huh.” Masamune picked it up and pretended to fumble it, catching the device a half second later and relishing the look of horror on Ieyasu and Mitsunari’s faces. Mitsuhide hid his face behind his jacket sleeve. “What do you want me to do with this?”

All eyes turned to Mitsunari.

“Well,” Mitsunari started, slower and less enthusiastic than usual, “You see, we did develop a map of possible patterns and pathways the ship takes. It appears to be pretty consistent, according to the reported sightings.”

Masamune seriously considered juggling the Polaroid and stayed himself. “Okay. What’s this got to do with the camera?”

“Further research is necessary. If we know where it is, then it would behove us to find out… well… what it is.”

It all clicked at last.

“You want me to photograph this thing.” Masamune paused. “Is that what’s going on?”

“Yes!” Mitsunari brightened up. “Preferably from as many angles as possible. The Uesugi-Takeda settlement is coming for talks, and they have an excellent mechanical engineer who I want to take a look at it--”

“That’s a hard no from me.” Masamune pushed the device into Ieyasu’s arms. “You want me to get near the mystery murder boat that happens to have a cult of devotees? Are you insane?”

“Told you,” Ieyasu muttered to the camera. It remained stubbornly mute on the subject.

“You asked us to locate it,” Mitsuhide pointed out reasonably. “And along the route, there’s a fair chance that you might find something of value. We are talking about kidnappings, after all. We did our part--”

“Your part involved being around a fucking table, not chasing down the goddamn--” Masamune sputtered for words. “Ghost scurvy ship!”

Nobunaga, who up until now had remained utterly silent behind his table, finally spoke up. “Would you rather we get someone who isn’t already on the cultists radar? I’m certain if I asked Hideyoshi nicely enough, he’d put himself in the line of fire.”

Masamune shook his head. “Don’t do that.”

“Maybe Mitsunari? He certainly seems game. Or perhaps your precious shopkeeper--”

That was enough. Masamune drew the machete and leveled it at the other man. “That’s not fucking funny.”

Nobunaga just shrugged. “I never implied it was.”

“Don’t--don’t ask her,” Masamune pleaded, lowering the weapon. “She’d do it, too.”

Silence. Mitsunari wilted. Masamune seriously considered blowing up on the spot. “You asked her anyway, didn't you?”

“Well, I asked her first,” Mitsunari confessed, pushing his fingers together. “Since she also seems so invested in this problem. She said she would, but wanted to have you with her…”

Fuck.

“Give me that,” Masamune snapped, snatching up the camera from Ieyasu’s arms. “Does it come with a goddamn harness, or should I just wave it at the death ship freehand?”

“It has a harness.”

“Give it to me.”

They handed it over without commentary. Steaming, Masamune stalked from the room.

---

She was already waiting by the motorcycle as he exited.

“They hassled you about it?”

“Sure did, Kitten.” He sighed raggedly, sweeping past her and into the house. She followed. “Are we really doing this?”

“Masamune. We went stalking around a corn field at night and nearly got shot by a bunch of shotgun-wielding yokels, and you laughed.”

What could he even say to that that wasn’t so close to the truth? He fetched a glass and wriggled it at her, an understood question of do you want something to drink? She shook her head. He puttered around the kitchen, moving Ieyasu’s seedling peppers out of the sink and onto the windowsill for sunlight, and tried to buy himself some time.

It wasn’t enough. He could practically smell the gunpowder. He could hear his father in the quiet echo of his pulse, in the empty space where his eye once was.

“How much did I tell you about how my dad went?” He asked at last.

She hesitated, opened her mouth, closed it, and finally allowed, “Not much. You weren’t really coherent, and then you just…”

“Took off,” he completed for her. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Silence. He paced around the table and ignored the glass of water he’d poured. “Dad saw the ship first, you know. He wasn’t really a superstitious guy, but he was getting up there and losing it a little. Grandad had dementia, so I think that was kind of starting to kick in, you know? He--he was always so strong. I can’t explain what happened. But the ship--the ship just punched the wind out of him somehow.”

She said nothing. He stretched out his arms as if physical exercise would chase the ghosts away. It didn't. Talking faster--like that would hurt less!--Masamune continued. “And like, you know, it only gives you a week. That’s what the legend says. You’ve got a week. We didn't really tell anyone at the time, cause he was a silent type and I was not really that spooked, right? But it got to Dad. I think he thought if we could get through the week, it would all be okay. He started staying up real late and drinking coffee all the time, maybe some herbal stuff. I don’t know what all he did. He didn't want it to get me.”

“Right,” was all she murmured. “I remember that.”

He pushed on, trying to punch through the burning in his eyes. “I just watched him--I watched him dissolve. He turned from my dad into some fucking stranger in a matter of days. It ate him alive. At the end of it, he couldn’t have told me what was sane and what wasn’t. All he thought was that--he thought that taking me at his own hand was mercy. He thought it was cleaner. He thought--”

Could he even say it? Masamune buckled onto the floor and drew his knees up to his chest. How could he articulate being on the wrong side of a gun, when the man behind it was his father? How could he describe the madness and fear in his hero’s eyes? Losing his sight, losing the rest of his family, losing his home in one fell swoop--

“I always say,” he managed, ignoring the tears on his cheeks, “that the ship didn't take him, he took him. That’s a damn lie. The ship took him. The ship took him, and he just finished the job for it. And I’m fucking terrified that if those shitbags out there in the prairie don’t get you, the fear will.”

Wind rattled the house siding. He rubbed stubbornly at his face, willing himself to stop, willing her to stop looking at him. She didn't. Instead she rose and crept to his side, settling down in front of his knees.

“Ah, Kitten,” he forced, “I’m not looking too cool right now.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” she demurred, wiping his face with her fingertips. She smelled like lavender oils. “I wouldn’t say that at all.”

He lowered his face into her hand and shut his eye, letting the scent waft over him. Away went the lingering taste of gunpowder. Away went the vision of what little remained of his father. All that was left was her--her and the creaking floorboards and the soft rush of air outside. She danced the other hand through his hair and despite himself, he moaned soft appreciation.

“We’re going to stop it.” It wasn’t a statement, but a declaration. Her voice almost echoed in the space. “We’re going to do it. There won’t be anyone else taken by the fear--not you, not me, no one. No more.”

---

He donned his lucky gloves the next day and zipped his jacket up to the hilt. She was waiting for him outside the shop when he pulled up. Wordlessly, Masamune offered her the Polaroid.

“It has a strap,” he indicated. She raised a brow at him.

“It’s bright orange. I can see that.”

Shit. He’d sounded just like Hideyoshi then, hadn’t he? Covering for it, Masamune grinned. “Just thought I’d point it out before Ieyasu kills me. Ready?”

She exhaled and pulled back her braids. “As I can be. Move up.”

The sun was setting in the distance, a golden globe radiating across the plains. In his travels, he’d never seen a more beautiful sunset. Out in the east, the eerie fallout glow caused too much fog and polluted rain to really enjoy it. In the south, the land was too barren to risk being out during the daytime. But here? Oh, he relished having her clutch him tight as the wind whistled around them.

“We’re gonna follow around the trail they marked,” Masamune shouted back to her, “They said it shows up around nightfall. You ready?”

She just lifted her thumb in assent.

The grasses bent sideways, flaming orange in the sunlight. And then--

“Holy shit!” She shouted.

Masamune chanced a glance back in a mirror and his blood ran icy cold. There it was. Behind them and moving fast, the ghost ship sailed silently over the grasses.

“Hold on!” He commanded, kicking the engine into the next gear. “And get those photos!”

“On it!”

Not even the new muffler could stifle the roar of the motorcycle. The prairie transformed into a yellow blur, air deafening him. Even then the ship pulled alongside them. Its perfect mast soared overhead, no colors flying, just its sheer surface coloring the whole landscape green. The bare timber sides grew closer and closer as it edged toward the road.

This was it. This was the moment. If death awaited them, it came now. Masamune held his breath and tried to urge the motorcycle faster, but it wasn’t enough. The ghost merged and came level, holding steady mere inches from them.

It won’t hurt anyone else.

In a moment of insane bravery, Masamune thrust his hand out and plunged it into the side. It wasn’t cold or solid, but just--nothing. He waved his palm back and forth. Only air greeted his fingertips. He flapped his arm.

“What are you doing!?” She shouted.

“Fuck you, ghost boat!” He bellowed. “You ain’t shit!”

“You’re insane!” But her laughter was unmistakable. “I can’t get a good shot if you keep doing that--”

Courage flooded him like hot water. “Then try it like this!”

Without warning, Masamune veered sharply to the side, bringing the whole motorcycle inside the ship. She screamed and clutched at him. All he could do was laugh--laugh at the terror he’d held on to for years, laugh at the impassive thing that had taken so much from him--and let it out into the world they tore through. It didn't shift in its course. And at last--at last, when he was certain holding onto the speed would hurt the bike, he slowed and let it overtake them, sailing on. They puttered to a halt and watched it move into the distance.

“Oh my god!” She staggered off the bike, shaking her limbs. “Oh my god!”

Masamune leaped off the bike. “First things first; are you okay?”

“Y--I think so!” Her staccato laugh echoed all the fluttering in his stomach. “I can’t believe we just did that--I can’t believe you just did that--”

“It isn’t shit,” he affirmed, breathless with energy. “It can’t touch us. It isn’t going to ever again. You’re right.”

Oh god, when she smiled like that, it almost took all the breath he’d gathered back up and crushed it out of his lungs again. And she was so beautiful, with her braids cascading down her shoulders and her dark eyes crinkled in the twilight sun, all the stars that hadn’t yet started glowing reflected there, and--

“Come here,” he commanded.

She took one step forward. That was enough. He closed the distance between them and crushed her body against his, pressing a fierce kiss to her mouth. She gasped; he pulled back only a second before she tugged him back in by the jacket.

“Don’t you dare,” she hissed.

“Yes, ma’am,” he teased, and hitched her up under her thighs. She obligingly wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him back in, her mouth lighting-spark hot. Everything he had ever seen and done fell away. What else could compare to this? What else could compare to her?

He’d spent his life running, and he’d never managed to leave her behind.

“I think I love you,” he breathed against her. She just grinned.

“I know you do.”