Fic: Potential For Disaster
Aug. 1st, 2014 04:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
polgara_5Title: Potential For Disaster
Fandom: BtVS/Avengers (MCU)
Word Count: 869
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, settings, or fandoms. They are the property of their respective creators and companies.
Summary: The search for the renegade slayer responsible for capturing Clint comes to its inevitable conclusion.
A/N: Part 8 of the Agent Slayer series. Takes place after Never Easy.
Buffy breathed deeply to try and calm herself down from the fight. She looked down at the girl's broken body, red hair fanned out like a halo around her head and mixed with the blood on the floor. Jaedynn looked peaceful in death in a way that she had never managed to achieve during her short life.
Hazel eyes shimmered with unshed tears. This wasn't the way she wanted to end things. She would have preferred keeping the girl alive, only stripped of her powers, but she had been left with no choice. They had given the young woman more than enough chances to redeem herself. To come back from the destructive path she had set herself upon, but in the end she had exercised her right to free will and Buffy was left picking up the pieces. Jaedynn had fought her to the death, unable to live the rest of her days without power.
And Buffy was responsible for giving her that first taste of power by having Willow awaken all the Potentials so many years ago. For some, like Buffy, it was burden that they shouldered with a sense of responsibility. For others, it created an endless hunger for more and while a precious few could step back from that hunger and learn from their mistakes, most could not. The random few of her slayers who had abused their power because she had made it possible for them had created another level of guilt that she already carried.
She became aware of Coulson and Clint coming to stand on either side of her while Willow took charge of the magical cleanup. For a moment she tensed in expectation of unwanted platitudes from them but the tension slowly bled from her muscles as they just stood there in silence next to her. They were close enough that the fabric of Coulson's suit brushed lightly against her arm and the slight heat from Clint's battle worn body could be felt, but they made no move to touch her.
They had been unbelievable assets today with her hunt. Once they grasped the severity of their opponent they had followed her every lead as they tracked Jaedynn and her followers through the catacombs. Not once did they try to stop her or request backup from their own people. Even when the trail had led them out of the catacombs and into an abandoned building, they had stayed with her, only asking questions for clarity. She was definitely going to have to stop dragging out their negotiations for collaboration.
After a while, Coulson asked, "What would you like to have done with her remaining followers?"
Buffy jumped slightly at the unexpected break in silence. She was surprised that he was asking for her opinion since this had started out as a SHIELD op to rescue Clint. "I would like to take them back to our headquarters and questioned to see how much she revealed to them and to assess any possible magical talent. Any of those deemed a non-magical threat can be turned over to SHIELD."
Coulson turned to give her a nod and approving look, "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll go make the arrangements with my people." Then he moved to leave but she reached out with one hand to stop him.
"I would also like to set up a meeting with Director Fury for sometime next week. Call me on my cell," she said with a small smile. "I think it's time to make some official arrangements between our organizations, don't you?"
His smile matched hers. "It would be my pleasure, Miss Summers."
Buffy dropped her hand from his arm so he could make his calls and turned to look at Clint. "I'm sorry you got mixed up in our mess today." She held up a hand to hold off his protests. "I know, I know. You were investigating for SHIELD but you still got mixed up in our politics because I hadn't shut her down earlier, and I am sorry for that."
Clint rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Apology not necessary but accepted. Sometimes you have to follow your heart whether it's the right choice or not. We've all made decisions that way, and some just happen to bite us on the ass. Give Coulson some time and he can tell you about all the ways I've fucked up doing that."
"Do your fuck ups put thousands of people in danger?" She asked wearily.
"They could have, yes," he said soberly.
She frowned at him for a moment before nodding, "Yeah, I guess spying on arms dealers and terrorists would affect a lot of people."
He slid his arm around her shoulder and steered her away from the dead body on the floor. "You realize that we could be working together a lot more now, creating a potential for us to fuck up even more," he said with a jovial tone. "We can screw things up on both sides of the spectrum."
"I am good at causing grey hairs," Buffy said thoughtfully, allowing him to shift the mood. "Think I could give Coulson a few?"
"Nah, if I haven't succeeded in it yet, no one can."
Fandom: BtVS/Avengers (MCU)
Word Count: 869
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, settings, or fandoms. They are the property of their respective creators and companies.
Summary: The search for the renegade slayer responsible for capturing Clint comes to its inevitable conclusion.
A/N: Part 8 of the Agent Slayer series. Takes place after Never Easy.
Buffy breathed deeply to try and calm herself down from the fight. She looked down at the girl's broken body, red hair fanned out like a halo around her head and mixed with the blood on the floor. Jaedynn looked peaceful in death in a way that she had never managed to achieve during her short life.
Hazel eyes shimmered with unshed tears. This wasn't the way she wanted to end things. She would have preferred keeping the girl alive, only stripped of her powers, but she had been left with no choice. They had given the young woman more than enough chances to redeem herself. To come back from the destructive path she had set herself upon, but in the end she had exercised her right to free will and Buffy was left picking up the pieces. Jaedynn had fought her to the death, unable to live the rest of her days without power.
And Buffy was responsible for giving her that first taste of power by having Willow awaken all the Potentials so many years ago. For some, like Buffy, it was burden that they shouldered with a sense of responsibility. For others, it created an endless hunger for more and while a precious few could step back from that hunger and learn from their mistakes, most could not. The random few of her slayers who had abused their power because she had made it possible for them had created another level of guilt that she already carried.
She became aware of Coulson and Clint coming to stand on either side of her while Willow took charge of the magical cleanup. For a moment she tensed in expectation of unwanted platitudes from them but the tension slowly bled from her muscles as they just stood there in silence next to her. They were close enough that the fabric of Coulson's suit brushed lightly against her arm and the slight heat from Clint's battle worn body could be felt, but they made no move to touch her.
They had been unbelievable assets today with her hunt. Once they grasped the severity of their opponent they had followed her every lead as they tracked Jaedynn and her followers through the catacombs. Not once did they try to stop her or request backup from their own people. Even when the trail had led them out of the catacombs and into an abandoned building, they had stayed with her, only asking questions for clarity. She was definitely going to have to stop dragging out their negotiations for collaboration.
After a while, Coulson asked, "What would you like to have done with her remaining followers?"
Buffy jumped slightly at the unexpected break in silence. She was surprised that he was asking for her opinion since this had started out as a SHIELD op to rescue Clint. "I would like to take them back to our headquarters and questioned to see how much she revealed to them and to assess any possible magical talent. Any of those deemed a non-magical threat can be turned over to SHIELD."
Coulson turned to give her a nod and approving look, "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll go make the arrangements with my people." Then he moved to leave but she reached out with one hand to stop him.
"I would also like to set up a meeting with Director Fury for sometime next week. Call me on my cell," she said with a small smile. "I think it's time to make some official arrangements between our organizations, don't you?"
His smile matched hers. "It would be my pleasure, Miss Summers."
Buffy dropped her hand from his arm so he could make his calls and turned to look at Clint. "I'm sorry you got mixed up in our mess today." She held up a hand to hold off his protests. "I know, I know. You were investigating for SHIELD but you still got mixed up in our politics because I hadn't shut her down earlier, and I am sorry for that."
Clint rested a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Apology not necessary but accepted. Sometimes you have to follow your heart whether it's the right choice or not. We've all made decisions that way, and some just happen to bite us on the ass. Give Coulson some time and he can tell you about all the ways I've fucked up doing that."
"Do your fuck ups put thousands of people in danger?" She asked wearily.
"They could have, yes," he said soberly.
She frowned at him for a moment before nodding, "Yeah, I guess spying on arms dealers and terrorists would affect a lot of people."
He slid his arm around her shoulder and steered her away from the dead body on the floor. "You realize that we could be working together a lot more now, creating a potential for us to fuck up even more," he said with a jovial tone. "We can screw things up on both sides of the spectrum."
"I am good at causing grey hairs," Buffy said thoughtfully, allowing him to shift the mood. "Think I could give Coulson a few?"
"Nah, if I haven't succeeded in it yet, no one can."
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no subject
on 2014-08-01 09:24 pm (UTC)Really enjoyed this sobering look at the not-so bright side of things, which really would be there if this was reality and not fiction. Nicely done, as always. :)
Hope all is well with you.
no subject
on 2014-08-02 02:10 am (UTC)I knew how I wanted this fic to go ages ago, except for the fight scene. I hate writing those and I couldn't seem to get to the rest without writing the fight. I finally just said screw it and write the fallout. :D But I don't think every slayer would be perfect and there had to be a few out there abusing the power like Faith had. Buffy being Buffy would take on the guilt. poor girl
And I'm good. My maternity leave ends on Sunday and I really don't want to return to work, but alas, I must. Hope things are well with you!
no subject
on 2014-08-02 09:09 am (UTC)Harsh taking someone's life. But sometimes you can't avoid it and Slayers are human and so much power can corrupt.
When are you posting on the other side. I want to read it all at once.
no subject
on 2014-08-07 04:24 pm (UTC)Posting on the other side? You mean at TtH? Probably won't post for a few weeks. I want to wait and see if I can crank any more fics out for this series this month first.
Thanks for reviewing!