Avengers - Time Rift: Iron Maiden

Chapter 17 - Everybody Needs A Hobby

The face of the one she did all this for flashed through her mind as the bright blue explosion tore the evening sky open. The whitish blue light shattering the warm reds, oranges and yellows of the sunset for just a moment before everything went black, suspending her in an endless void for what seemed to be an eternity. A flash of light broke the darkness and her body felt as though she was bring burned alive, Tonya looked down through the deceptively peaceful appearance of the golden light to see her body broken and in pieces. Shredded muscles and shattered bone laid scattered about missing skin exposing damaged internal organs and the vacant spaces others should be. The pain was unbearable, she wanted to scream but couldn't as she writhed in agony in the stasis field. The blurred image of a figure over the top of her out of reach mumbling constantly, inaudible tones making it clear the figure was speaking to her although she had no idea what it was saying. The only brief moments of peace to be found were thoughts of her. Thoughts that pushed her to not give up, to keep fighting, to survive and return to her despite the pain and agony. Torment that beckoned her to give up, to let go and be released from the torture she was being forced to endure for the sake of getting back to her.

Tonya bolted upright as the sweat dripped down her face and neck, the sheets soaked and her skin covered with goosebumps. "Fuckin nightmares" she thought as she quietly slid out of bed careful not to wake Darcy who laid next to her breathing heavily in her sleep. Tonya stood on shaky legs covering the sweat soaked spot she where she had laid with the blanket before leaving the room carefully closing the door behind her as she made her way across the hall to the bathroom and stepped into the shower. Her legs were steadied underneath her as the cold water pulled her through the remaining haze of the visions that brought her slumber to an abrupt and disagreeable end. She leaned against the wall letting the water run over her, washing away the thick musky scent of sweat as well as the final remnants of her nightmare. "I still have to deal with whoever it is that's so interested in Darcy's work with the convergence" she thought as her fists clenched tightly. The thought of anyone harming the researcher in the next room made her blood boil, streaks of red flashing in her eyes like an inevitable hellish storm brewing in the distance. Tonya shook her head to clear it as she stepped out of the shower quickly drying off and putting it over the door of the shower to avoid the scolding she usually received for leaving it laying on the floor. The redhead grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and flopped back on the couch with a huff. "Juliet, pull up schematics, project Ten Ton Hammer" she said, a holographic image emanating from the projection node on the table in front of her. "If I can't sleep I may well get some work done" she said manipulating the three dimensional images in front of her. "Indeed Yaya, and if I haven't said so lately, it's nice to have you back". Tonya smiled around the mouth of the bottle as she scrolled through the images and streams of data and specs before her "Good to be back".

Darcy groaned as she reached across the bed, her eyes snapping open when she didn't find Tonya next to her. She jumped out of bed her eyes opening even wider as she clamped her thighs together tightly and her hands moved to hold her crotch. "Ooooouch" she whimpered as she pulled a pair of panties and tank top out of the dresser and struggled to get dressed, her muscles weak and aching with each movement. She stumbled into the hallway, leaning against the wall as she made her way toward the kitchen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the mop of red hair peeking over the back of the couch. She cringed with each step she took "You really should wait for me to wake up before you get out of bed" she said causing Tonya to look over the top of the couch at her as she continued "I thought it was a dream ... until I tried to get out of bed and my wahoo felt like it had been beat by a pile driver all night". Tonya laughed quietly as she gave her a wink "It was. Coffees made, you want to go out for breakfast?" she asked watching Darcy make her way into the kitchen and pour herself a cup of coffee from the pot steadying herself on the counter. Darcy smiled at her softly "How about I cook, we take the phone off the hook, lock the doors and just stay home today?" she said running her tongue over her lips "I don't feel like sharing you yet". Tonya laid back on the couch lifting one leg into the air and running her fingers down from her ankles to her thigh as she rested her head on the arm of the couch and peeked into the kitchen "Whatever will I do locked up in the house with you all day?" she asked playfully giving her lover a devilish smile. Darcy felt her knees buckle as she watched Tonya's hands sliding over her leg, she fidgeted with the the bottom of her tank top and bit her bottom lip feeling her cheeks start to flush "Anything you want baby, anything you want" she replied, her voice cracking slightly as she scurried over to the couch and put the two cups of coffee on the table before sliding between Tonya's legs and snuggling into her with a content sigh.