A Whole New World

[mostlyajerk]

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[trickedya]

Guess what I just got assigned to do?

[mostlyajerk]

Something dangerous, something ridiculous or something ridiculously dangerous?

[trickedya]

I have to assassinate three people by midnight tonight and all of them have powers beyond mine and all of them are working against Zoom.

So I've decided to stay at home and finger paint with Josh and Jerrie because I'm not fucking insane.

[mostlyajerk]

Give me the names, Ax. Do you know what powers they have?

Finger paints sound fun though. Jerrie loves drawing. I mean. She used to, I guess she still does.

[trickedya]

Already emailed a detailed list.

She made you a picture, I took a photo and sent it with the email :D it's youuuuu... only redder and with blue hair.

[catchacold]

Thinking of you, handsome.

[gotspeed]

Thank you! That's really nice of you.

[catchacold]

Thinking about what I'd like to do to you.

[gotspeed]

Oh? Like what kind of things?

[catchacold]

I'd like to bend you over a table and pull down your jeans. Or khakis, I suppose. Feel your ass and grab your hair to turn your head and kiss you.

[viber]

I'm not happy.

[mostlyajerk]

Let me check on my Reverb mood board.



Which one is it?

[viber]

Hilarious.

I gave Axel a job and somehow you did it. Explain.

[mostlyajerk]

The job got done, they're all three dead. No issue, no witnesses, no time wasted.

[viber]

Except the wrong person did it.

Zoom isn't happy.

[mostlyajerk]

It was the middle of the night when the Piper struck. In this case, the mission was harmless enough. Hartley just broke into the penthouse, right into the master bedroom. Axel and Mark were both asleep and looked wholesome and very much in love, which perhaps made it easier for Hartley to interrupt that.

It didn't even occur to him to just wake Axel up. Instead he started playing, made sure Mark would stay asleep and led Axel out onto the balcony. Terrace. Whatever to call this gigantic place. He only stopped playing after Axel had slid the door shut and there he was, full on Piper, masked and hooded, flute in his hand and looking at him.

"I have a message."

[trickedya]

"Oh God!" What was happening? Why was he outside on the balcony in his undies with no memory of moving. Axel flew back from the edge and bumped into the door, cursing under his breath. "Oh Jesus fucking christ, do you have to do that?"

Seriously? Mind controlling him outside? This was exactly why he hated Zoom and his meta army. The logical and honest idea of waking him up or knocking his door was so impossible for them to do. He'd rather just go into his head and manipulate him outside without even asking permission.

"The front door would have been easier."

[mostlyajerk]

"I..." Hartley trailed off when he realised that, no, he didn't have to do that. But here they were anyway. He looked away from Axel, not that his eyes were visible. "I wanted to make sure Mark wouldn't notice."

Not Mark, not Jerrie, not Josh, not any of Axel's happy family. Maybe Axel would appreciate that too, ultimately. Hartley didn't want to take his hood off. He didn't even want to be here. Looking at Axel reminded him of a time when he'd thought he could just be happy with him. It seemed like a long time ago now.

"Reverb wants to take you on some mission. You have to show loyalty and presence. I asked for it to be non-lethal. Nothing bad."

[trickedya]

"Not again. Look, can't I have a simpler job? Like maybe something in an office. Does Zoom have an office?-- Probably not. Maybe I could bring him coffee and a muffin. I had a girl who did that for me way back when. I have no idea why, I think she thought I was the CEO." Common mistake, the company was in his name and he did own it but he certainly didn't run it. He gave majority share to one of Lisa's friends and happily basked in his own cut.

With a reluctant sigh, Axel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

"Reverb said my last job wasn't going to be lethal and we ended up robbing STAR labs." Well, they ended up robbing STAR labs, Axel played look out because he panicked so much, it was a 'liability' to the job. But what was he doing to do? He couldn't risk upsetting Zoom. "Whatever. I'll do it. Don't tell them I hesitated."

[mostlyajerk]

"I tried, Axel. I asked if I could come with you and he told me that he wants to come himself and started getting on my nerves about why I care about you even though you're taken, stuff like that."

Hartley smiled a little, his lips at least visible. "Of course I won't tell them. I'm trying to think, Ax. I want to find a way to get you to Atlantis without Zoom interfering. The whole family."

He knew he couldn't go. He was an asset. He had done awful things. He was with Zoom, there was no going back and he knew he was getting worse day after day. "Reverb is doing me a favour, going easy on you. He'll keep to that."

[viber]

Are you home?

[mostlyajerk]

Yes. Why?

[viber]

You idiot not-boyfriend botched our job tonight and now I need your help.

I'm coming over.

[mostlyajerk]

Is Axel okay?

[viber]

Fuck Axel, he's a moron.