Nephilim

42

Ryder's P.O.V.- Present Day

I stand in the conference room of the Avenger's Compound, reading the paper Mason had written, handing it off to the others. "This doesn't make any sense. Are you sure this is what she sent?"

The note was complete nonsense; YIELDING OR UNYIELDING, A RARE EXAMPLE BORROWS EXCELLENT IDEAS NOT GIMMICKS. WADE: A TARNISHED, CLUMSY, HARSH, EAGER DICK. IMMEDIATELY, NOT SLOWLY. TURN IT TECHNICAL, UNDO THE END. NOT ON THE STOVE AFTER FIVE EDGES. STEVE TAKES A YEAR OF UNEMPLOYMENT TOO. OH FUCK. PETER: UNFORTUNATE. BATMAN LUCKILY IS CRIME-FIGHTING. PURPLE LAKES: A COLORFUL EDITION, SIR. DRIVE OVER NO ONE TOMORROW. LET ELVES ALIENATE VINE EASELS. RUN JUNIOR, AT LEAST ONE NIGHT EACH. AVENGERS CUDDLES. JOHN ON NEGLECT; A TACTLESS, HARSH, AND NEEDLESS HELL. ABSENT SACRIFICE MEANS ENOUGH. HELP ELEPHANTS IN SAHEL. NO OLIVES TODAY AND LET ONE NUMBER EDUCATION.

"Sorry, the phone reception was shitty, I didn't quite grasp what she sent." Acidic sarcasm drips over the words as Mason speaks, "Yes. This is exactly what she sent. Down to the last letter. I thought maybe they could figure it out because it probably has some greater meaning." The two teens turn to look at the small group next to them. Steve, Tony, and Nat were huddled together, the blondes reading over the genius' shoulder.

"It's clearly a code, that much is clear. But this is Kirstin, she knows at least seven different ways to code important information. She'll probably go for the hardest one there is." Natasha mutters quietly, her face blank and her eyes never leaving the paper. Tony holds up a finger, setting the paper on the table and grabbing another piece.

"Or that's just what she wants us to think. We just assume she'd go for the most encrypted one because she knows how to, and knows that we could figure it out. But she sent this to Mason for the Shadowhunters to read which means that, no offense, she's going to attempt to dumb it down for their sakes. So..." He trails off as he begins writing, occasionally looking at the source material. He finishes quickly, spinning the paper to show us, "You use the first letter of every word, and you get what you need."

I snatch the paper off of the table reading carefully. YOU ARE BEING WATCHED. INSTITUTE NOT SAFE. STAY OUT OF PUBLIC PLACES. DO NOT LEAVE R. J. ALONE. A. C. JONATHAN HAS ME. HE IS NOT ALONE. "A. C.? R. J.? She was definitely in a hurry."

"I think you should be more concerned with the important information she just gave us. Your little safe haven isn't so safe, she doesn't want you or Jack left alone, and she's telling you to come to the Avenger's Compound, probably meaning the Bunker isn't secure either." Tony broaches the more important subjects of the note. I guess that's what R.J. stands for.

"We are also now informed that he's working with people who would willingly kidnap her to help his cause," Mason adds after snatching the paper from my hands.

"Or to help their own causes. A lot of people could be after her and willing to do anything to get her." Steve finally speaks up, having been quiet for most of the time the two have been here. He looked beyond tired, the beard giving him a final touch on the world-weary look.

"Most of our enemies have the resources, but I highly doubt any of them will be willing to hand her over to him, even if they are working toward a common goal. Get the leaders of your Institute here. We need to know more about this guy."

#

A file slams down on the table, Nick Fury standing next to my parents, who seem very confused. "This is everything you need to know about the psychopath that is Jonathan Morgenstern. Honestly, is it too hard to believe that I would keep track of the world within ours, with all of the crazy shit I've seen in my life?"

Mason gives him a weird look, "Aren't you legally dead? Wouldn't it be like your... un-life?" He cracks a smile at his own stupid joke, earning a laugh out of me. More out of the fact that it was awful than the fact that it was actually funny.