[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/IXuUWbR.png?1[/img][/center] [COLOR=GOLDENROD][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]M A R V I L L E, O K L A H O M A:[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][sup][COLOR=LIGHTSLATEGRAY][B]S A T U R D A Y, J U L Y 2 8[SUP]T H[/SUP], 2 0 1 8 - 1 0 : 4 4 a m | M C N A L L Y ‘ N S O N S F A R M[/B][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT] [INDENT][INDENT]That had actually hurt. It was the first time that Thor had felt pain since his fight with Creel. No other battle between then and now had caused him to break a sweat, Earth’s metahumans were still green, still new to their abilities but for Thor it was like waking up for a long slumber. Picking himself up, Thor looked down at his torso, his armor was scorched and even pierced where the socereress’ magic had struck him. His ribs were tender, perhaps even bruised, he noted as Thor gingerly placed a hand to his side. But before he had a chance to retaliate, Thor was drawn out of the collapsing barn, pulled through the air before being suspended at the mercy of the Enchantress as she wrapped a hand around his chin, squeezing his cheeks as she looked him over like a prized piece of meat. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Really?”[/b][/color] She stated as her green eyes peered deep into his stormy blues, [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Nothing? You don’t remember me at all?”[/b][/color] Suddenly a smile crossed her face as she turned Thor’s head to look him directly in his right eye. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“No, I can see it now. Your memory is scattered, fragmented by a pain far more powerful than your body could possibly process no matter how long you live.”[/b][/color] She emitted a gleeful giggle before releasing Thor as she pushed him back through the air. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“You have died.”[/b][/color] The words were like a knife between his ribs as Thor saw flashes of fire in his mind’s eye. Searing pain raced down his back as the fallen lindwyrm morphed into something else as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Acidic venom dripped from above as two long fangs hung over his head, an unhinged jaw ready to close on him at any moment as Thor flinched the second it moved only to realize there was nothing but the sorceress who was still peering into his mind. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Shame, someone repressed all those juicy memories.”[/b][/color] The witch pouted. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Nevertheless, I’ll still have my fun.”[/b][/color] She nodded her head, slamming Thor was into the ground before he was quickly whipped into the air, his body moving in a crescent arc before drove into the grass and dirt of the field, a shockwave emitting from the impact as the sorceress looked on grinning. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Strongest of the Asgardians, yet look at you now.”[/b][/color] The sorceress taunted. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“I guess all the rumors were true, you are nothing without your hammer.”[/b][/color] [color=GOLDENROD][b]“No.”[/b][/color] A rumble roared overhead as rain began to fall. Laughter echoed across the field as Amora emitted a web of viridian from her hand as Thor was sent careening across the wet grass while she continued to taunt her foe. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“What are you intending to do?”[/b][/color] She asked with a sneer, [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Melt me? Wrong witch!”[/b][/color] She hissed as she drew her fingers apart, emerald waves swirling between her hands only to be interrupted as a lightning bolt plummeted from the sky, striking her. Standing free of the Enchantress’ assault, Thor ripped the remnants of his tattered cape from his shoulders as he walked towards the woman defiantly, another bolt of lightning striking the sorceress as she screamed out in pain. [color=GOLDENROD][b]“I am Thor, the Son of Odin, the God of Thunder.”[/b][/color] Thor boasted as he cracked his knuckles while continuing his approach. [color=GOLDENROD][b]“Heir to the Throne of Asgard, Protector of the Nine Realms, Bj-”[/b][/color] As the next bolt of lightning was about to strike the woman in green, the witch suddenly redirected the blast, the brilliant blue bolt changing to a venomous green, as it struck Thor in the shoulder. The bolt pierced through Thor’s armor, dropping the Lord of Battle to his knees as the wound continued to spread like a poison, burning him to the bone. Crying out in pain, the sorceress screamed in triumphant laughter as she looked down on her fallen foe. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Your father only saw me as an Enchantress, but I am Amora, and you would do well to remember my name. Teach it to Hel for I’ll be sending all of Midgard’s men to her, then Asgard’s and finally, your father.”[/b][/color] She taunted while standing over Thor. Fighting to stand, Thor swung a fist at Amora, but it met nothing but empty air as she stepped aside. Retaliating, Amora raised her hands, extending her pointing fingers as she began to torture Thor. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“You are defeated, little God of Thunder! Pay your father’s sins!”[/b][/color] She yelled triumphantly as Thor continued to struggle. [color=SPRINGGREEN][b]“Give up! No one shy of the Sorcerer Supreme could even stand a chance against me, let alone one washed up Son of Odin.”[/b][/color] [color=lightseagreen]“But I can!”[/COLOR] Thor looked up for the source of the voice but it seemed it could only have come from Amora herself. Watching the Enchantress stagger backward, Thor found himself unable to look away as Amora’s blonde hair shifted to brown and back again. Her face, clothes, and body changed as though someone else was trying to get out. A scream of desperation came forth from the woman before Thor, but the scream contained within it two voices, each fighting against the other. Suddenly the tight bodice became a hoodie and Thor was helpless to stop Amora as the woman disappeared altogether, the only thing remaining was a small laminated card that had fallen from the other woman’s hoodie. With a groan, Thor fumbled forward, forcing himself to move as he hobbled towards the object as it drifted towards the ground. Reaching out for the card, Thor grasped it between his fingers before nearly falling over. Regaining his balance, Thor lifted the card to his face as he began to read it. [color=GOLDENROD]“Star City Transit pass.”[/color] Blake groaned, pocketing the pass as he transformed back into his jeans and shirt. Slumping his back against a nearby fence, his body protested any further movements as he slowly lowered himself to the damp ground. Blake reached into his pocket, fetching out his cell phone as he entered three numbers into the dialer. The sound of the call connecting crackled in his ear as Blake coughed to clear his throat. [color=SILVER]“9-1-1. this call is being recorded. Please state the nature of the emergency,”[/color] A surly man’s voice answered as Blake raised his pitch. [color=GOLDENROD]“This is Ted McNally, Sheriff Lamb responded to a call at my father’s farm but he’s been attacked, the attacker was a woman with blonde hair dressed all in green. She seems to have fled but the Sheriff isn’t moving.”[/color] [color=SILVER]“Emergency services are on their way. Please remain on the line.”[/color] Hanging the phone up, Blake tried to stand, but every muscle in his body protested. It felt as though his blood was boiling as it coursed through his veins, pain searing in rhythm with his beating heart. Placing a hand under his shirt, Blake felt his injured shoulder, pulling his hand back in surprise as something wet and warm touched washed over it. Looking down at his hand, Blake was taken aback at seeing his own blood for the first time. It steamed and bubbled in the damp air as Blake lay defeated against the fence. [color=ORANGE][b]“Not here, not today.”[/b][/color] A gruff voice ordered as a hand nearly as large as his own was extended in front of Blake. Taking it, Blake felt himself pulled to his feet as he came face to face with the hawk-like eyes of the taller man. [color=GOLDENROD]“Who are-”[/color] Blake began to ask as the other man shook his hand and braced Blake on his shoulder. [color=ORANGE][b]“No time for that now, we need to get you out of here.”[/b] [/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“Where?”[/color] Blake asked, his eyelids threatening to close at any moment as the other man practically began to drag him across the field. [color=ORANGE][b]“Somewhere safe.”[/b][/color][/INDENT][/INDENT] [CENTER][sup][h2][color=silver][img]https://i.imgur.com/SXfrcEV.png?1[/img] [sub]°[/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SXfrcEV.png?1[/img] [sub]°[/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SXfrcEV.png?1[/img] [sub]°[/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SXfrcEV.png?1[/img] [sub]°[/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/SXfrcEV.png?1[/img][/color][/h2][/sup][/CENTER] [INDENT][INDENT][color=GOLDENROD][i]Barbara.[/i][/color] That was the first thing that crossed Blake’s mind as his eyes fluttered open. The light scent of vanilla and cinnamon wisped past his nose as the bright light of a new morning sun blinded his barely open eyes. Familiar walls painted warm colors only did little to reduce the brightness of the sun as Blake moved to sit up only for a firm hand to push him back against the bed. [color=GOLDENROD]“[i]Enchantress[/i]…”[/color] He muttered hazily, Thor urging him to get up but his blood still burned, the magic had cursed his every fiber of his being as Blake rolled his head to the side, his eyes meeting blonde hair as he suddenly jolted back in his bed, thunder boomed outside before suddenly dissipating as familiar hazel eyes stared into his own. [color=STEELBLUE]“Your mother tells me that you went your whole life without so much as a scratch and yet in the past month you’ve gone out of your way to try and get yourself killed.”[/color] Barbara chided as she sat on the edge of their bed, giving his hand a concerned squeeze. Returning her concern with a sigh of relief and a smile like the first sun after a storm, Blake cleared his throat. [color=GOLDENROD]“Tell Lamb to call Animal Control next time.” [/color] Barbara let out a reluctant chuckle as she playfully swatted Blake before immediately regretting it as she watched him wince in pain. Gently caressing the spot she had swatted, Barbara locked eyes with Blake as she spoke. [color=STEELBLUE]“I see your sense of humor is intact,”[/color] She smiled briefly before beginning her cross-examination as the look in her eyes quickly shifted. [color=STEELBLUE]“Why don’t you tell me what the [i]hell[/i] happened out there, hun?”[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“I-,”[/color] Blake started, struggling to sit up as he tried to speak. [color=GOLDENROD]“I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.”[/color] He smiled as Barbara rolled her eyes before returning his smile with an insincere one of her own. [color=STEELBLUE]“Oh trust me, I saw the carcass, try me.”[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“Oh that,”[/color] Blake rolled his eyes. [color=GOLDENROD]“No, that wasn’t the problem, no, Amora was.”[/color] He answered, the name still ringing in his ears. Blake could practically feel Thor trying to force his way out at the mention of her name, his lust for revenge nearly overwhelming any sense of control that Blake thought he had. [color=STEELBLUE]“Blonde hair, green clothes, straight out of a Renaissance fair?”[/color] Barbara asked with a raised eyebrow. “[color=STEELBLUE]Yeah, we heard about her.”[/color] She added before a look of confusion crossed her face. [color=STEELBLUE]“If she did this to you, how’d Lamb get off easy.” [/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“Beats me,”[/color] Blake lied. [color=STEELBLUE]“Alright,”[/color] Barbara replied in a measured tone that said she didn’t quite believe him. [color=STEELBLUE]“Better question then, why the [i]fuck[/i] are we not in a hospital right now?”[/color] She asked, her tone barely remaining civil as it became clear that Blake’s avoidance was trying what little patience she had for him at this moment. [color=STEELBLUE]“You were asleep for over twenty-four hours and that wound is healing far faster than it has any right to. I also don’t appreciate calls from your cell phone where another man tells me where to pick you up and I find you like this, barely conscious and the only thing you manage to tell me is, ‘no hospitals’. Are you [i]fuckin’[/i] kidding me, Blake?”[/color] She paused to take a minute to compose herself. [color=STEELBLUE]“Nothing has been the same since Creel.”[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“I don’t think anything will be the same.”[/color] Blake’s eyes widened as the words just came out of his mouth. But it wasn’t Thor speaking, it was him. These were his words, his thoughts and now he’d have to explain them as Barbara shot him a look that was full of hurt and confusion. [color=GOLDENROD]“I-”[/color] Blake stammered, choosing his words carefully, but the damage was likely already done as Barbara stood up. [color=STEELBLUE]“I have to go to work, Blake.”[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“I love you.”[/color] He replied as Barbara paused, keeping her back to Blake as she allowed him to speak. [color=GOLDENROD]“That will never change.”[/color] He continued as Barbara turned her head, her blonde hair spilled down either side, parting to allow one eye to meet Blake’s. [color=GOLDENROD]“If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s us, Barbara. And I don’t want any of this craziness to come between us. I guess I foolishly thought the world changing wouldn’t affect Marville but yet here we are with our own superhero. I guess I got caught up in the rush, thought I’d help Thor out and twice now it’s backfired on me.”[/color] Turning back, Barbara took her seat on the edge of the bed again as she looked towards him before speaking. [color=STEELBLUE]“Blake…”[/color] Barbara caressed the side of his face, her fingers slowly dragging along the fledgling beard on his cheeks as she locked eyes with him. [color=STEELBLUE]“You are the bravest man I know, you don’t have anything to prove to me by playing hero. No matter who you are, there’s one thing that will always be constant, my love for you.”[/color] Her lips moved towards his before she suddenly paused. [color=STEELBLUE]“But!”[/color] She stated, pressing a finger to his lips. [color=STEELBLUE]“You have got to promise me that you’ll stop trying to get yourself killed.”[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“Deal,”[/color] Blake replied with a relieved smile as Barbara pressed her lips onto his. He pressed back as their mouths began to move faster, Barbara playfully bit at his lip, Blake’s hands found their way to her hips before suddenly she pulled her mouth free and pushed his hands off. [color=STEELBLUE]“I have to go to work.”[/color] She teased as she stood before pointing to Blake’s shoulder. [color=STEELBLUE]“And you need to rest.”[/color] She emphasized waving her finger at the wound. Watching her turn to leave, Blake cleared his throat as Barbara paused giving Blake a look as she realized where his gaze had gone. [color=STEELBLUE]"Yes?"[/color] [color=GOLDENROD]“Before I retire from the hero business entirely,”[/color] Blake stated playfully, pausing while Barbara turned around and took a step back towards the bed, a raised eyebrow indicating her slight amusement. [color=GOLDENROD]“Can you find out who this belongs to?”[/color] Blake asked holding up the transit pass as Barbara took the card with a confused look on her face masking the slight disappointment she felt. [color=GOLDENROD]“I think Amora is holding her against her will, maybe you could put out a BOLO for her or at least confirm if she’s been reported missing?”[/color] Blake said with a shrug as Barbara shook her head. [color=STEELBLUE]“I’ll see what I can do.”[/color] She answered taking the card. [color=STEELBLUE]“Now if that's all, get some rest.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT]