Noelle - Day 89 (Because Why Not)

So I'm a little behind on posts,
Therefore, this week is going to be insane, post-wise.  As in, last minute and whatnot.  Anybody, I don't have much for you today, just the promised story parts.  You know, back to the art gallery for Jess and her buddies.

By the way, our computer is down so I have to write these on the TINY laptop screen.  At any rate, small for me.  :(  Talk to you tomorrow folks!

Random Marvel-based Story (Parts 45 & 46) {Click here to read the rest!}

“Finally, I hate being the center of attention,” Jess muttered as the last reporter rushed away, no doubt to report her ‘juicy gossip’ to her run-of-the-mill magazine.  She rolled her eyes and whispered, “The agent that he sent ain’t drinking the kool aid.  I need J.A.R.V.I.S. to get me anything on Luna Covey, and I’ll go see what I can salvage, because my agents have already messed this up.  Ten minutes, that’s all I ask for.”  She sighed and leaned against him, exhausted.

“It won’t lead to anything,” Iron Man said, smiling at a passing celeb who nodded back and tottered away on her sky-high heels.  When Jess waved her hand in front of his face, he started and added quickly, “He covers up his tracks too well.”

“Don’t be such a doom-sayer, Tony, that’s my job.  Just do it, please?”  Jess pulled away and walked up to Danny.  He quickly dipped a strawberry into the chocolate fountain, seeming to think that he was avoiding attention - Jess rolled her eyes.  She glanced around, spotting Sam and Luke chatting in the corner; Peter and Ava were smiling as the blonde actress giggled and laughed.

“Luna Covey?”  Jess said to Danny, dropping the accent all together.

“I got nothing - she likes white chocolate croissants?”  He said pathetically with a shrug.  “She didn’t let out any information really - I don’t think she’s our girl Jess.  Too chatty.”

“She hates croissants,” Jess murmured, staring intently at the marble floor.

“Hmm?”  Danny said, not really paying attention, but rather keeping an eye on the girl in question, who was currently chatting up Ava.

“Nothing,” Jess said and pulled her attention back to their target.  Where had that come from - croissants?  How did she know that?  She shook her head again and added, “She’s our gal.  Stop watching her, or else she won’t be able to escape.”

“Wait, we’re letting her go?”  Danny said, startled.

“Yes, or else we’ll never hear her deal.  Trust me, I know this kind of thing.  You can fight, I can - ah - negotiate - with the big evil dudes.  I talked down Dr. Doom once, I think I can handle this.”

He nodded and popped another strawberry in his mouth.  “What?  They’re organic, sweet, and vegetarian!”

“Of course they are, sweet tooth,” Jess said, pursing her lips.

“I don’t get it,” Danny said, confused.  He chomped into a chocolaty pineapple as the conversation lulled.  “Don’t you think that that lipstick is a bit dark for you, Jess?”

“Since when do you care?”  She snapped, and stalked off, dress swishing behind her.

*******

“Midnight, let’s go,” Jess said over the com link.  Nova nearly jumped and glanced around.  Somehow, the blonde girl hadn’t yet left, which made him highly nervous, but he knew that Jess could handle whoever was waiting for them up there.  After all, she had only been floored once.  Jess can handle everything, he thought, except...

“How do you fight in heels,” He wondered, retreating into the shadows by the nearest exit.

“Carefully,” A voice growled in his ear, and Sam realized that he had said that outloud.  “Get a move on before I boot you into next week.”

“Sorry Ava,” He muttered, straightening his bowtie.  Jess had chosen him for up-front negotiations, while the rest of the team hid or listened via com-link.  Why him, nobody knew, because everybody assumed that Danny or Peter would be the natural choice, but Jess had been quite adamant about it.

He pulled himself up another flight of stairs, wondering why Jess wouldn’t just let him fly, finally sliding open the iron door onto the windy roof.  Jess was sitting on the edge of the roof above a 70 foot drop, gazing out on the party below.  A limo had just pulled up and the paparazzi was going frantic for attention.

“Sit,” Jess snapped, not taking the time or effort to be polite.  He ignored it and plopped down cross legged next to her.

“You changed out of your dress,” he commented, glancing around the desolate roof.

She shook her head, keeping her eyes fixed on the horizon.  Sam realized that Jess was writing on her hand.  “We’re being watched,” she scribbled.  He nodded and they chatted about nothing in particular - the weather, Jess’s dress, random things.

Suddenly Jess nodded and stood, for a dark figure had appeared at the opposite end of the roof.  “What’s your deal?”  She said curtly, not bothering with her usual banter.  Nova stood at her side silently, as they had decided beforehand.

The figure vanished, but Jess didn’t move.  A paper fell to the ground in front of them, a note written with obvious speed.  With a flick of her hand, the paper was up off the concrete and in Jess’s hand.  “You've been marked, and found unworthy.  I’ve given you chances, Clara, but I’m done playing,” She read aloud slowly.

“What’s your problem with me?”  She yelled into the dark, tearing herself away from the paper.  Silence.

“They’re gone, Jess,” Nova said, shocked.  What was so upsetting about that?

“No,” Jess said with surprising emotion.  Her voice rolled like an icy-black storm cloud over Sam, knocking him back a step.  She sank to her knees, refusing to look at him.

Silence.  Another note flashed at Jess’s feet.  All that was on it was the a scrawled number seven.  She stared at it, while Nova stared at her, wondering if it meant anything to her.

A tear slid down Jess’s cheek, startling him.  Jess was always so tough, so strong!  Nothing brought her down!  “What’s going on?”  He whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She shook her head furiously, clutching at the two papers.  “No, I won’t let this happen, never again,” She hissed.  “I’m not a pawn.”  She looked around her for the notewriter.  “You hear that?”  She howled, her voice echoing against the night sky.  “I’m not your little pawn anymore, Lake!  I’m done!”

“C’mon Nova,” she muttered, pulling herself together, “We’re done here.”

Alright, see you tomorrow! Bye bye bye bye!