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[color=808080][color=a8f9ff][b]#a8f9ff[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]prism[/b] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/gPMHTRp][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]..............[/color] [color=00aeef][b]#00aeef[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/dIG8NkF][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c]..............[/color] [b]descendant tower[/b][/color] 
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Imogen was restless, with anger still coursing through her veins like venom. She couldn’t stay behind and listen to Luke’s lies or hear Magni’s kind understanding. The best and only solution was to remove herself before she did something rash… Or more rash than breaking a door and destroying a kitchen island. She didn’t take the elevator back up to her penthouse but deeper into the tower, down past the ground floor and the gym she couldn’t stomach setting foot in, until it opened to sub-level 09. Her bare feet carried her across the cool concrete until she reached the door to the simulation room and stepped inside. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Good morning, Ms. Frost,"[/color] J.A.R.V.I.S.’s voice stirred to life, echoing off the bare walls of the large empty room. [color=d6d6d6]"Do you require assistance in setting up a training simulation?"[/color] 

[color=a8f9ff]"I just… want something to hit,"[/color] she confessed, extending and splaying out her fingers before curving them tightly into the palms of her hands. 

[color=d6d6d6]"Of course,"[/color] the A.I. responded. 

A few seconds later a hatch in the floor opened and five training robots slowly emerged. Imogen started toward them without hesitation, shifting back into her diamond form just before her fist slammed into the head of the closest dummy.

It took a few minutes before Magni found his way down to the training grounds, with a bit of assistance from the tower's resident ghost. As he entered the training area, his brow furrowed at the most immediate sight of Imogen in her diamond form. He knew well when people needed to blow off steam, and didn't dare to interfere. He leaned his shoulder against the observation window, his eyes watching the incoming carnage while his mind still reeled from what had transpired. His thoughts kept focusing on the confession, about how something in the words and mannerisms felt both unnatural and familiar. It seemed it didn't matter what realm he found himself in, he always ended up embroiled in some sort of lurid affair. He hoped, if only briefly, that a melee could distract him.

Imogen didn’t hear him approach, didn’t get the early warning of his thoughts entering her space as her mind was shut off from the rest of the world in her diamond form. Her body was slick from grease and various oils. The harsh fluorescents refracted off her skin in various shades of blues, indigos, and fuchsias as she moved around the training room. Her fingers curved around the robot’s mandible while her other hand was plunged deep into the breastplate. Then with a [i]hiss[/i] and a [i]pop[/i] she ripped the head off, spraying herself with more hydraulic fluid. The body fell limp from her grasp, crumbling on the ground with a metallic [i]thunk[/i]. She looked down at the head resting in her palm with a pained, furious grimace before throwing it across the room like a baseball. The robot head slammed into the wall, embedding itself into the concrete as cracks splintered off of it in every direction. 

The room was filled with at least half a dozen ruined training dummies when Imogen turned around to find Magni waiting for her. The second her eyes landed on him, her diamond form vanished, leaving her standing barefoot amidst the remnants of her wrath. Her chest heaved with every breath as the oils clung to her skin, sunk into her blonde hair, and stained her white clothes. She slowly approached him, wincing once or twice as she stepped on a stray scrap of metal, but overall ignoring what stood in her way or fell under foot. Her hands instinctually reached out for him, until her gaze fell to oils that stained her skin. She sucked in sharp breath, curling her fingers into her palms as her hands fell to her sides. 

[color=a8f9ff]"I’m sorry I left you there alone,"[/color] she spoke quietly before looking up into his eyes. [color=a8f9ff]"I couldn’t… listen to any more of his lies."[/color] Her brows furrowed as she shook her head and brushed her hair back behind her ears, unknowingly tarnishing more of the soft yellow with streaks of slick black and brown. Imogen blinked slowly, finding and organizing her thoughts before speaking. [color=a8f9ff]"I would have done something… [i]impulsive[/i] if I stayed. [i]Not that he doesn’t deserve it,[/i]"[/color] she muttered under her breath. Before she could run away with that train of thought, she shook her head and waved it off, forcing herself to focus on what was important… On what she needed to say. [color=a8f9ff]"I promised to remain at your side and I didn’t. That’s… not ok. And I am sorry."[/color]

The room was silent aside from the silent dripping of oils from discarded machines and Imogen’s own heavy breaths. A small apologetic and guilty smile slowly grew across her grease stained face. [color=a8f9ff]"[i]I[/i]... have a temper,"[/color] she admitted, tilting her head to the side slightly. [color=a8f9ff]"My brother can attest to that,"[/color] she added quietly. [color=a8f9ff]"But seeing your memories…"[/color] Imogen took a small step forward as her gaze fell to her hands. [color=a8f9ff]"I could have killed him,"[/color] she confessed so quietly that it was nearly inaudible in the small amount of space between them.

For all Magni’s talk and desire for a softer partner with a diplomatic edge, he was deeply pleased at the display of Imogen's rage. It was natural for an Asgardian, when so much of his own culture was focused on martial prowess and contests of might. When blood ran hot, wires often got crossed. If not for the serious matters at hand, they would have no doubt earned another scolding from Phil that very moment.

Unfortunately, his pleasure was undercut by a melancholy as Imogen pulled away as she stood before him. Her apology made sense upon a moment of reflection. She could peer into the souls of others and parse out truth and meaning in a way he could never. While it was a boon, unchecked knowledge often came at their own costs. To hear her describe Luke's words as a lie was both shocking and reassuring. He hadn't believed his friend loved him, but he had a harder time believing that Luke would lie so brazenly knowing he would be caught. Perhaps there was truth, or confusion, or some greater thing he could not see. It reminded him of his uncle, which further dampened his mood. Magni hated being another plaything or unwitting fool.

The rest of Imogen's apology was hard to hear. He let her speak, trying to bite his mental tongue to prevent derailing her. He wanted to deny it, for he understood rash action when enraged more than most. He was hurt when she left him to deal with things. At the same time… it was for the best she removed herself before things turned. It was a losing situation regardless, and he ultimately wasn't too torn up about his end of the calculation. When she was finished, Magni just nodded. He lifted a hand up to cup her cheek, undeterred by the oil and grease. [color=00aeef]"Thou art forgiven,"[/color] he responded simply.

He let the moment linger for a moment before he simply wrapped his arms around Imogen to pull her into a tight hug. [color=00aeef]"I know thy fury, and it does not diminish my affections for thee."[/color] He whispered the words as he rested his chin against the side of her skull, his words vibrating her body to ensure she could not hide from them. [color=00aeef]"I commend thee for thy restraint. I do not know if I would have been so composed, should our fates have been traded."[/color]

There was a part of Imogen that wanted to argue when he tried to hold her, citing how she’d dirty him and his clothes or whatever weak excuse she could think of. But as he pulled her into a hug she caved, like she always did, incapable of turning away his embrace. And while Magni was trying to reassure her, she found more comfort in knowing he was ok. If Luke had done irreparable harm… She didn’t want to think about it. Her arms curled around his waist, holding him tight in her own attempt to ease the warring emotions she could hear churning through his mind and comfort him in whatever way she could. She should have done that first, hugged him, held him and told him it was ok… not rushed off with the intention of beating Luke into a paste. She sighed at her own impulsiveness, chastising herself internally, but said no more about it. This wasn’t about her, it never was. 

[color=a8f9ff]"I’m sorry they did that to you,"[/color] Imogen mumbled against his chest. She couldn’t begin to understand why Luke did it. Was it just to take advantage of Magni? To make him look stupid? Or was it some fucked up way to get back at her for their argument during training? None of it made sense. She felt guilty, like she had some part to play in it even if she couldn’t see the dots to connect them. [color=a8f9ff]"I know you can defend yourself and I am not a God… But I still feel very protective of you. I don’t like seeing you hurt,"[/color] she added quietly, sealing her words with a soft kiss against his sternum.

[color=00aeef]"I know,"[/color] he answered softly, holding her tight against him. He took a deep breath, a warmth spreading across his chest at her sentiments. [color=00aeef]"I find thy instincts endearing, if not… enticing,"[/color] he added sheepishly, attempting to add some mirth to such a grievous morning. He pulled away from the hug only slightly to note the black and prismatic stains in her hair and attire. [color=00aeef]"Perhaps… another round of bathing is in order, so that we may wash ourselves from this… mess."[/color] It was a self-serving suggestion, since he still felt dirty from the trick that morning. At the same time, he was still a simple man with simple desires. If he could wash away his discomfort with a pleasant view, he would take it.

Imogen hummed a soft, worn laugh, her lips vibrating softly where they still pressed against his chest. Her head tilted back as he pulled away, looking up at him with a tender smile and warmth behind her tired eyes. [color=a8f9ff]"Of course,"[/color] she replied quietly, shifting up onto the tips of her toes so she could give him a soft, fleeting kiss. [color=a8f9ff]"Whatever you need. I am yours."[/color] With that, she gently took Magni’s hand in hers, entangling their fingers as she led him out of the training room and toward the elevators.[/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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