➢𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 𝗞𝗜𝗗𝗦➢

『  𝐓  𝐇  𝐄     𝐄  𝐅  𝐅  𝐈  𝐂  𝐈  𝐄  𝐍  𝐓  𝐒  』

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

『 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜: 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩. 』

𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲... 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

𝗢 𝗡 𝗘       𝗬 𝗘 𝗔 𝗥        𝗟 𝗔 𝗧 𝗘 𝗥

-𝚂𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟸𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹-

𝙵𝙰𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙲 𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙽 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙲𝙻𝚄𝙱

𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙽, 𝚄.𝙺. 

In a London Night Club, dubstep Spanish music plays, those inside solely focusing on the rhythm and the beat.

The room is dark, though strobe lights touch it every once in a while.

Danielle Rockland is MORE than uncomfortable in this environment. 

The now eighteen-year-old never really considered herself that 'popular' kid, one to effortlessly thrive in a party scene with loud music, and drinking that she had yet to experience, but that is not why she is there.

Why they presently are there, infiltrating the goods ransacked at this nightclub during a time where most likely it's more acceptable than not. Looting.

Taking a deep breath whilst moving past a couple of enthusiastic―and probably wasted―party-goers, Dani's expression lights up with much relief when she picks out an individual in the crowd that she recognizes, and dodging a few more drunk dancing people she makes her way over to the twenty-year-old, "Kayla!"

The blonde Experiment #04 dances smoothly as her body sways with the music, looking relaxed as she then turns around upon hearing her name be used―and the shaky tone belongs to the Success.

From the corner of both young―but not adults―eyes, a couple of scowling and sober individuals lift walkie-talkies to their lips, speaking indistinctly to the operators of this club... notifying them of figures that were part of that rebellious teenage group of kids with magic fingers. Enhanced abilities.

Their reputation was somewhat known around London, anyone's was anywhere when coming to terms with the effects of the Snap and what it had done―people had to earn a living somehow. Survive. The world is still in shambles.

So is an anxious Danielle, nerves getting the best of her as she voices to the older girl, "... I think something is about to happen."

"I know," Kayla shrugs over the loud music, continuing to dance in place and that immediately confuses Dani.

She asks her, "So, what do we do?"

And the blondie responds naturally, "Try to blend in."

The eighteen-year-old stares at her blankly.

Kayla rolls her eyes while a smile breaks through, explaining, "Dance with me, dumbass!"

"Oh," the words slip out of Dani's mouth, and right after that she attempts... to blend in.

To dance along with a half-hundred of people, cool as a cucumber... yeah, it doesn't really work.

Kayla briefly covers her hand over her mouth while watching the brunette's body move around in a very strange way, tense, and instead of laughing at her the older girl tries to help the other relax―to blend in, and she does it like this.

Her hand reaches down and grabs Dani's waist, pulling her close.

Dani glances back up.

The two girls use one another to set in a nice and steady motion, the eighteen-year-old easing almost instantly at the demeanor of the twenty-year-old, and Kayla and Dani begin dancing together this time―Dani's arms winding around the blonde's neck.

They move in one with the music, vibes, and bodies exhilarated, filled with intense happiness and excitement. The two suddenly are crowded by other people who don't think they are that bad.

Dani, actually, is not that bad. Thanks to Kayla.

Her long dark hair that had completely reverted back to its original color―blackened naturally at the roots due to puberty―flips onto the other side of her shoulder whilst her hands remain in the air, and a few more minutes of just them dancing pass.

Before the two are spotted by a man and a woman who are the owners of this club, not primarily good themselves, and they roughly push past a few more people when beginning to approach.

The eighteen-year-old signals to her friend, and Kayla leans in close by her ear.

"You ready?"

Dani nods. Time to show off her skills.

All that she's learned in the past year, from training with the Efficient's.

They turn around, and amongst the crowd begin to fight.

Kayla takes hold of the jacket belonging to the bald man that approaches her, and ever so carefully―but not―her enhanced strength shoves down the individual to the ground and her hand goes out to give him a hard wack in the face.

Dani's opponent, a woman, earns a flexible and strong kick extended from the girl's left leg, knocking her to the floor briefly.

But the eighteen-year-old does not stop. Getting an oomph from the ground Dani quickly knees into the woman's abdomen, shoving her backward and away from the sea of people and Dani continues to act swiftly.

She both dodges, and counters the human-strength attacks delivered to her and she twists the woman's arm all the way around, somewhat jumping and wrapping her legs around her neck to dismantle her talkie and potential weapon, and then Dani conjures up some power.

She calls upon the pieces of the Tesseract inside her... the sustainable energy source, to give her a bit of a push. To combine with her next hit.

Dani leaps off the ground, turns, and sharply kicks the individual into the wall, both arms raised and in a stance similar to someone else. A signature jump-kick.

She lands back on her feet, fist still raised, and with a proud expression, she calmly moves a piece of hair out of her face while turning to the other side of the room, where Kayla battles her enemy.

The twenty-year-old relies on strategy rather than pure strength―she is not able to do what Danielle just did―and she body-slams into the male once more, sending him into the ground.

He tries to use the gun in his hand but his arm is stepped on, broken, and his howls of agony are shortened when an elbow sharply takes him out, cutting his jaw.

Dante finally shows up.

Finally, though, that was okay... for the two girls easily had it back there.

The boy doesn't want to admit it, "I think something's happening."

Kayla and Dani look at each other and then roll their vibrant eyes.

"All good?" the 4th Experiment questions, to which the 123rd nods.

"Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go!"

All three of the enhanced teenagers don't waste another moment to get the hell out of there, out of the club, because they had stolen something.

Needless to say, this operation was successful, and the Experiments were once again... Golden.

Unstoppable.

It felt good.

"So, where are we going again?"

Dante replies to a curious Dani, "If I told you, it would ruin the 'surprise' factor."

Only for her to counter him. 

"Yeah, well, believe it or not, I don't have a good track record with those..."

"Oh, I do believe it," the nineteen-year-old spins around to face the eighteen-year-old, a small smirk developing when reminding her, "considering you showed up in pieces on our doorstep."

Dani grins back at him, the two currently on one of their frequent long walks together that was actually―believe it or not―much longer today for some reason. And... in the middle of the woods. Dante wouldn't say.

Bare trees and missing leaves cover the grounds as brown boots step through them, and in shorts and a gray cardigan with an orange tank top a long-haired Dani Rockland momentarily insists, "Thank you."

Dante looks back at her, and she explains herself with a shy but authentic smile, "You guys have really helped me a lot in the past year. Gave me a place to stay, trained me, helped me control my abilities―I would've never thought I'd be able to..."

"-Kickass in a nightclub and completely demolish all of us in physical and mental strength? Yeah, I see you." The boy finishes a variation of her sentence for her, his version, and Dani folds her lip while remaining silent in response. 

For Dante really had said it all.

This past year, unarguably, probably was the best of Danielle Rockland's life. The new friends she'd made, the real connection felt towards them as well as within herself and her abilities... Dani has never been owning who she was as much as she had been now. Okay... with who she was, now. She wasn't trying to be anyone else.

Sure, there were times when she thought about home, the place, and the people―but Dani strictly convinced herself to move on. No one from her past is here to tell her otherwise therefore she will not listen to the parts of her that wish to return home, and run into the arms of... never mind.

Forget she said that.

"I mean, it's pretty impressive, you know? How much progress you've made." Trickling back into the present and realistic time, the dark-haired girl nods along with the curly-haired boy's speech, him recalling, "You've gone from one of the least able to control your powers to nearly the best... that's really something."

Dani chuckles a bit before inquiring, "Who's the least?"

Her question is unintentionally answered.

"Agh!"

Sharp gasps do not escape from Danielle, her not experiencing that type of pain anymore, however the urge for control―to sustain and keep the sustainable energy source inside, is wholeheartedly endured by one of the Efficient's himself. The youngest.

"God!" Dante grits out, stepping feet away from a concerned Dani who walks toward him, and the boy begins fanning his right hand up and down which draws attention toward it―and his own Force Field breaks out.

Orange fiery-looking aura coats his right hand, the muscles twinging as an expression of pain overwhelms him, all in a struggle to contain.

Dani understands and knows how he feels, evidently, though does not engage because it seems like the nineteen-year-old is very defensive at the moment. Unstable, even, but that does not turn the girl away.

He is the youngest Experiment other than herself, born a year before her, so aptly it makes sense that Dante would be the one who struggles with control. Still, even today...

Heavy breaths and a close of his fists occur before miraculously, he is able to suck his aura back into himself―and seafoam green eyes next to him blink in worry, "Dante?"

"Yeah?" the boy exhales, and it seems like something else is bothering him.

Dani asks him with knowledge of the terms 'safety' and 'love' being ones that helped reassure her during times when her abilities have acted up, "Why haven't you gone home to see your parents? Visit your little brother?"

A look of contortion comes over Dante's face, a sign she was getting through to him, though he somewhat with soft venom on his tongue, spats, "My parents were a lost cause in terms of repair, but my brother? He's dead."

"He..." Dani's lips part, her gaze downcast in silent shame when finding out, "He was one of the ones that,"

Dante shakes his head, "Even if I could go visit my home again, at a distance so that I could still see the Iron Man posters from the window in his room―I can't."

"He dusted away..."

Turning back around to face the girl, he asks her, feeling that they were close enough, "Did you lose anybody that you love? In the Snap?"

"Yes." Dani swallows, hands going into her jean back pockets when trekking around in the autumn leaves, and in a voice steady and calm she tells him, "My Uncle Sam."

"Him and... my sister, Wanda. I miss them both, so much."

He looks at her with gentle eyes, face softened, though Dani puts back on a smile, admitting, "But it's not good to dwell on things that cannot be changed, that can't be brought back, so why try? All we can do is start over, and keep moving forward. For our own sake, and theirs."

Dante bites his lip while nodding, succumbing back to laughter as he copes with his situation, "So good at giving advice to others, though I can't even take my own."

Dani realizes he is referring to his inability to ground himself, ground his abilities, and the blue-aura girl suddenly formulates a plan. She goes through with it.

She strikes, gray-sweatered arm blocked by the muscular bulging arm of the boy, and Dante looks at her, gawking, "What was that for?"

"To get you to stop thinking so much," she explains, emphasizing before attempting to land a hit again, "pondering."

The Success goes harder and the 123rd Experiment easily fends off her hits before they dare become a smidge more difficult.

Dante and Dani lock eyes, his amusement and hers of determination. 

Determination to fix him.

The boy raises his hands, ready, and the two begin to spar.

"Hi-ya!" Dani lunges at Dante, rapid-fire kicks and blows included, and one is aided in power when blue aura circles her boots from underneath―and Dani levitates in the air to throw a cross hit.

One that shoves Dante back forcefully.

He smiles in contentment and the two continue to go at it.

She swipes at his leg and then throws a punch that misses, though Dani retries and goes after his knee. Dante catches both her muscular but slim arms in his hold and lifts them up as a restraint, and both heavily breathe.

Then brown eyes glow orange, the girl tilting her head in concern.

"That was fun." The aura in tune with the boy's enjoyment shines, and slowly the eighteen-year-old girl's lips lift up in a dignified smirk of her own.

"Come on," Dante releases his grip, starting to jog up the rest of the leafy path and towards his main goal at hand, a purpose for being out here in the middle of the woods, "I want to show you something."

Dani willingly follows, spirit as free as a bird's.

The two reach a cliffed and circular stoned area that has water pouring out from the top, a swimming pool.

The brunette frowns at the natural setting, "It's... a swimming hole."

"Yep." Dante's grin is from ear-to-ear, and he tells her, "It's where we come to hang out."

"You know, for get-togethers and stuff..."

Dani clarifies, "Parties."

"Yeah," the boy doesn't believe she knows what that means, and he is proven correct in suspicion of her inexperience when he says casually―as it is casual at their age―, "Alcohol."

The girl looks at him as if he's said a bad word, slightly stunned more than anything, and she says rather quietly, "I've... never been to a party before."

"Wait, what? Are you being serious right now?"

Dani starts to nod, "Yeah." 

And physically jumps at the outburst of a response coming from Dante.

 "NO WAY!"

A smile fills the corners of his lips as the dents in his cheeks prove to gear into his excitement, and potential plan, and he confirms, "Well, you're going to one tonight."

"It's been a little while since we've had one here."

"W-Wait, w-what? Are you serious?" the girl's voice squeaks up to one of the chipmunks, in fear.

Though the boy gently takes hold of her hand and squeezes it, pressing against his chest and beating heart as he exclaims, "Hells yes! We're gonna throw you a party, Dani Rockland!"

"Uh, Dante―!" the eighteen-year-old calls out.

The nineteen-year-old is already running off to tell the others, "PARTY!"

"Dante!" Dani groans before chasing after him.

Wait for her!

Oh, no.

✰

"All right Efficient's, and our dear dear Success... Dream Falls is thirteen miles away. Last one there gets the first dunk and the first one there gets the first drink." 

Dante in line with his friends explains, and each of the teenagers is now dressed in warm workout gear―as it's September and they're about to go swimming in London. Not too much logic there.

Nevertheless, this announcement of a so-called 'party' both up and energized each of the former Experiments, Marcus especially reacting to the adrenaline high by insisting, "Now Jackson and Dani can finally have their race!"

The taller boy and gray-long-sleeved girl whose hair has been pulled back from her face lock eyes, and he sharply scoffs, "Pfft! Oh, please, I could beat 124 in my sleep!"

The brave talk urges a more competitive side of Danielle to seep out, and the eighteen-year-old challenges, "We'll see if that's possible, 07."

Both Experiments eye one another upon the use of their numbers, ultimately comfortable with it as they all are from the same organization―share the same trauma in what it's like to be branded with those identifications.

Well, the Efficient's literally in the form of a tattoo, though Dani's remains healed underneath her skin.

Dante counts down, not with any enthusiasm nor organization and then the six kids break off into a sprint, two obviously leading the pack―and it's Dani and Jackson.

Now in a full-fledged race. Just who will win?

Dani uses advice from an old friend regarding running to help her. The long pony-tailed teenage girl pumps her legs and arms, exerting herself as much as she can, controlling her breathing, and picking up the pace immensely when she feels a cool tingling sensation surround the inside of her bones and muscles, laying right underneath the patches of her skin―she is aware that it's the pieces of the Space Stone.

Jackon's long brown hair flies in the wind as his expansive figure and collective stamina help him run entirely faster than his friends, though what shockingly catches his eye seconds later so much so that he must turn his head, is the figure of Dani Rockland that comes charging through.

Charges right by him, and beats him. Sprints faster than him.

He drops his mouth open in shock.

Red sneakers smack the pavement maybe even not at some times, the blue aura only internally inside the brunette threatening to seep out as her speed increases to where she is way ahead of the Efficient's, and they watch her go in awe.

She is in awe of herself.

"Wait!" Kayla calls out, realizing before everyone else the path that they are taking―what she's about to run into―and Dante's brown eyes widen.

"Shit!"

Dani is tempted to say that as well because her velocity is incredibly strident, so much so that she may lose control, may not be able to stop... but all of a sudden.

She is caught. Strong long-sleeved arms and a body coming from the other side swiftly stop Dani Rockland in her stride, and they belong to Dante.

A squeal of surprise escapes her mouth as she is put back on the ground, close to the figure who holds her in place and Dani cannot help but still be on an adrenaline rush, "Oh, my god! Did you see how fast I was running? I beat Jackson!"

"No," the boy pulls her leg, smiling softly and insinuating that she was, truly, that fast. 

So fast that he couldn't even watch her go.

His expression shortly falls when explaining, "I had to stop you, though."

Dani's falters, too, "Why?"

Dante looks to his right, Dani's left, and her gaze enlarges.

Anxiety creeps up the girl's tone of voice, quivering when gesturing to the large hole in the middle of the ground, "Why wasn't that there last time?"

"Because," his hands stay on her shoulders, "We took a backroad. This is a shortcut."

"And just how is 'this' a shortcut?"

The other Efficient's catch up, Jackson still somewhat sore from losing but all that fizzles away when one by one each gets a head start―and promptly flies over the steep area with a harnessed command from their abilities.

Their aura lights up under their feet and palms. Dani starts to shake her head.

"Uh uh, no way. In fact... I think I'll just take the backroad, it's a better workout anyways―,"

"Now wait a minute," Dante grabs onto the girl's long-sleeved arm, starting to tug her forwards but she resists.

Not only physically but with words as Dani's voice becomes shallow, "Dante, no. I can't."

"Hold on, though, please," he begs, and with much reluctance and a heavy sigh, Dani complies, waiting while the boy in front of her raises his hands.

Then he, even with his performance issues and control, signals for his orange aura to come upon and carry him effortlessly over the bridge-less gap, and now on the other side he praises, "See? If I can do it, definitely so can you."

"You just can't think about it too much... also don't think too little either, you'll fall."

"Oh, god." Dani grits her teeth, before backing up, and with a few whispered words of encouragement she hypes herself up, "All right, come on, you can do this. You got this."

Oh, for the love of Thor!

She most certainly does not have this! She's screwed!

Oh, well.

In one direct movement, the Success runs and jumps off the huge gap in the Earth, surprising herself when instead of plummeting all the way down she... levitates across, shakily as the sustainable energy source has been cooperating as of late. Rare, right?

A laugh of much relief overcomes her as a result, and Dante mimics her as a genuine one bubbles up from his throat. 

He reveals all his teeth in a smile as he celebrates for her, "Yeah!"

Dani lands right on the edge of the other side, expressing her astonishment and excitement, "I did it! I did it! I did―!"

"Woah!"

She falls backward, slipping by a rock that breaks underneath her and Dani heads straight for the bottom if it weren't for the quick actions of the boy whom she'd been growing more friendly with as of late, close to.

Dante swipes one of her wrists, face just as panicked as hers when carefully using all his strength to pull her body back up, and Dani collides with the center of his chest.

Both breathe heavily as that could have been it, though, rather than grovel in fear, the two with one look at their frightened expressions, burst into unstoppable and contagious laughter.

The boy asks her, "You okay?"

"Yeah," she laughs, and the rest of the way to the swim-hole the two of them are alone, making fun of one another while simultaneously feeling a bit shy when one is caught staring at the other―their chemistry right now is undeniable.

And Dani, Dani is very comfortable with Dante.

✰

She is back to being uncomfortable when looking over the swimsuits lent to her by Allison and Kayla, and smoothing out the top of one bikini the subtle and non-existent curves belonging to eighteen-year-old Dani Rockland are put on display.

Looking through the mirror, the girl runs her finger over a wound that had healed but never will go away. A scar.

The long and deep line on her left thigh is closed up now, white, and the skin there puckers as the effort to stitch itself back together was more than any when it was at the hands of Thanos.

There are times mostly when Dani ignores it, not having it exposed if she could decide but now she was about to go swimming, not only about to show her adolescent body but now the scar that most girls her age do not have. Would probably find ugly.

Dani is self-conscious about the way she looks. What woman isn't?

Someone who deals with their own insecurities appears in the doorway in a purple one-piece, and taking one look at the black bikini bottom and royal blue top that her friend has picked out, Allison compliments, "Blue is totally your color, Rockie. You look hot."

"Thanks, Al," Dani replies with a smile, though another deep breath, and the dark-haired girl is pushed into silence again.

Her facial features cave into a frown.

"Something wrong?" Allison notices her expression through the body-length mirror.

The girl immediately raises her head, before her hands raise in order to fiddle with them, "It's just... never worn a bikini before."

"Hm, so let's see," the darker-haired girl snorts, finding amusement in Dani's lack of experience, "'never been to a party before', 'never worn a bikini before'... what else is on D's list of 'Never Have I Ever'?"

Dani's face falls as she gulps before admitting sheepishly, "I've never been kissed."

Allison stops her absentminded folding in the small cabin near the swimming hole to approach from behind, giving her a side hug whilst saying fruitily and with dry humor, "I'm sure Dante could change that."

"I mean, all the guys are gonna go crazy when they see you in this swimsuit."

Dani frowns again, "That isn't the point."

Allison steps over to her, instead informing the eighteen-year-old of something she should know, though is utterly obvious, "He really likes you, Dani. I mean, every minute of time spent he gives you his undivided attention."

"The question is, do you feel the same way?"

A long exhale is emitted from her ribcage, does she feel the same way? Most likely, yes.

But, Dani blinks to get rid of the stiffness in her green eyes. She isn't sure if it should go anywhere right now. If she is ready... for it to go anywhere right now.

"I don't know if I'm ready for a relationship."

Allison nods in fairness, though is taken aback a second later when a perceptive Danielle calls her out, "And before I did any of that, I, well... wanted to ask your permission first."

The nineteen year old's brows knit.

Dani explains, "I mean, on the day that I met you guys, you, you were alone with Dante in the cafe."

She knows where she is going with this, and to diffuse any messy love triangle, Allison insists, "We've stolen a few looks at each other, had some fun... but we've never dated, nor will we ever."

"He's all yours, D."

Dani blushes furiously, feeling better having gotten that out of the way, and Allison finds amusement in her easily flustered demeanor. One completely opposite of hers.

She leans over to whisper in the brunette's ear one last time, and it makes her shiver her last words, "Now... go show em'."

✰

♬𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 -𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗖♬

The sun shines brightly down on the swimming hole the Efficient's hang at, and the three guys of the group find themselves utterly gawking―jaws dropped wide open... when Dani Rockland arrives.

They're staring... rudely, and it's the innocent smile that then turns to confusion that causes each to absentmindedly look in a different direction―pretending they are watching something else undeniably beautiful and breathtaking.

Dani places her hands on her thin hips, "No one's gone in, yet?"

She snickers, "... Suckers," before turning around and running into the cool water with little to no problem, and then the true nature of much fun starts.

Well, fun with six enhanced individuals who are also wild young teenagers.

First, they swim. Diving headfirst into the water, the Efficient's engage in normal water activities, for the abnormal Experiments they are―chicken fights. Kayla atop Jackson's shoulders successfully takes out Allison atop Marcus', and they consider switching. 

Dani and Dante watch from onshore, feet dipped in water, and he leans in to tell her, "We usually jump from up there..."

Sea-foam green eyes widen at the tall view of the cliff right next to the waterfall that pours into the pool, and the eighteen-year-old fills with excitement.

She cuts him off, "Can we?"

Dante reacts to her additional tug on his bare arm with a lopsided smile, and he nods.

They all take turns jumping from a large height, bodies falling down and it's exhilarating once again. Dani loves adrenaline rushes.

More so than the Efficient's.

They get bored with swimming after a while and next is much concentration needed for some strength matches... a large rock is planted as a table for two individuals to put their arms over―and it's an arm-wrestling competition.

Allison and Marcus are up first, arm to arm, and with Dante as the referee, they begin using all their strength against one another.

Marcus beats her no doubt, though the 102nd Experiment proceeds to roast him for not inviting that amount of power in for the chicken fights earlier.

Next are Jackson and Dani. The #7th Experiment remains a tough opponent even though #124 had, in fact, beat him in their race, though he is determined to use all of his pink-aura strength to take down Dani's arm.

It's not too bad at first, an easy fight, though a sudden amount of force and fortitude plunges through the eighteen year old's arm and she does not let up―Jackson is unable to take her down.

"Ouch!"

He loses, and the other Efficient's continue to cheer Dani on. 

As she had just won the arm wrestling competition between all of them, proving that she is, of course, the strongest.

Other activities take place, including a few rounds of American Football. Dani also enjoys the adrenaline rush of this one―making a few great catches as she sucks at throwing... and then it's time to test the waters out.

Not the actual waters, Dani's tolerance when it comes to alcohol.

Spoiler alert... The girl finishes downing another beer, hating the foul taste and truly believing it's one of the nastiest things she has ever drank―and sets it down with ease.

A slightly tipsy Dante approaches her, "Feel anything yet?"

Dani looks towards the several empty bottles and then back at him, "Nope."

Then registers that after drinking three beers and not even feeling buzzed, she, in fact, is incapable.

Incapable of getting drunk. For now.

Her metabolism, much like the one of Steve Rogers, or Bucky Barnes, just burns way too fast.

Experiment #123 can't help his honest response, "You know... sometimes I wished I was the Success, now I don't."

He laughs as her expression puckers up bitterly, though eventually loosens when he bumps her shoulder playfully and Dani accepts the role of being the 'designated driver'.

To make sure none of these 'stupid heads' do anything stupid... like play a dumb game.

"Okay, okay, chill," Dante says as all are gathered around a small fire, the sky pitch black now, and the drunk teenagers cover themselves in blankets + one sober one who finds their tipsy talk very entertaining.

She engages in a game of 'Never Have I Ever', Marcus presently telling a story, "So, when we were at this orphanage, a lot of the kids there were picking on me, for like, no reason..."

"Well, it's because I like girls and guys."

Dani thoughtfully nods as he continues, "But anyway, back to the story, this one kid-I don't even know what came over me," he submerges the urge to break into laughter, "but I just blasted him all the way across the room and into the next building over. I don't even know why I did it."

The rest of his power-usage story gets tangled in laughter, and it grows loud before Allison shushes everyone, "Okay, okay, I got it."

"We've been pretty hard here on Kayla and Jackson," the couple upon hearing their names pick their heads up in sync, and Allison is blunt, "who are probably gonna bone later."

"Hey!"

"What if it's true?"

The blonde sends a harsh smack into her boyfriend's shoulder before laying her head on it, and Jackson gives her a peck on the lips.

"Seems only fair if," her dark eyes wander over to lighter ones, "we tease somebody else."

Allison clears her throat, "So, Dani."

Dani's eyes pop open at the mention of her, and with a terrified look, that does not stop the words from leaving the other Experiment's mouth.

The question, or, involvement, of her in this game.

"Out of the five of us, if you could receive one kiss, who would it be from?"

The eighteen-year-old pulls her knees to her chest, disliking the sudden spotlight being shown on her and she dismisses, "Putting me on the spot is so not cool."

"Yeah, why you gotta do that, Al?" Dante chimes in, defensively, and Allison's lips are lifted into a pleasurable smile.

Everyone is focused on her now, almost like the year before and Dani threatens to crack under the pressure.

A hand rubs her shoulder tenderly and she recognizes the rough but gentle patterns as a reassurance from Jackson, the young man having his other arm wrapped around Kayla, "It's just one kiss."

"But, it isn't..."

"Not to me." 

Dani's voice pipes up after a minute.

She is heartfelt in her explanation, a proclamation of how things like 'love' go―not believing that you could kiss someone and not even love them―she still is a wholesome soul, "I-I, well, when you choose to be that intimate with someone, it means you trust them. Wholeheartedly."

"That you so much as love them."

Dani's past struggles with trust and love come to light, "When I... have enough faith in someone to share that kind of relationship with them, I want it to be slow, not abrupt, and just completely perfect."

"-At the right time."

Having opened herself up spiritually in her belief, Dani now wants to crawl into a hole when the only sounds around her are the crackling fire pit.

The Efficient's, though not as connected with their feelings as her, as sensitive, they understand completely where she stands. Having trust issues, being guarded.

Living life as they do, as former Experiments with unexplainable powers and abilities, it can be a difficult thing to accept. For themselves as individuals, but also anyone else with who they cross paths. Surrogate parents and uncles.

Family.

Dani felt like hers were the five people sitting around her right now. She looks past their imperfections―or is not yet exposed to them, though regardless, relies on them heavily for support right now. When she is trying to find herself.

And they, well, they still can't believe that they've actually met the Success. Her.

Allison, despite her attempt to poke fun, sobers up her expression upon laying on one of Dante, whose features are unbelievably soft for Dani.

Marcus nods stoically and Jackson and Kayla remain neutral as always, kind, and after a few seconds, the silence is broken.

By laughter.

"Let's go back in the water," Kayla suggests, nearly falling over as she stands up, and Allison contradicts her.

 "It's getting late. There could be sea creatures down there."

"What are you talking about? Jackson's on land."

More laughter is emitted.

The teens continue hanging, drinking, and smiling, it was certainly nice to hear and witness after such a hard five years. For everyone.

Though, through that time, Danielle had really thrived. Grown into a person she'd like and learned to finally harness and control her abilities, to a point where she was not afraid of herself... like she'd found a reason for existing.

She thought she had.

"Hey," the Efficient, laying down on the grass next to her, taps her hand, and Dani turns to face Dante.

"You okay?"

Yes. She's more than okay. She's happy.

"But really, though..." An Efficient from laying on the other side grabs her attention, and Marcus' tone is serious, "Have you ever seen the Hulk naked, before?"

What a graceful image.

Dani cannot contain her laughter. Giggles seep through her lips at such a question that she did not want to be thinking about right now, so instead, she looks up at the stars. 

Bright and beautiful dots in the sky from here that twinkle every once in a while, yup, all was good in the world of Dani Rockland.

All... but one.

✰

Her. They never forgot about her. Her.

Don't underestimate her.

Her.

... Deborah Rockland.

The woman twitches in pain as her sweat-coated blonde hair lands in front of her face, and the laps of agony inside her body with each additional injection make her legs weak as she falls to the floor.

From above in an undisclosed location, but somehow where they started from, Lawkin Drewhale unscrews the top off a sedative, one meant to tame the enraging Deborah Rockland and her pulsating new enhancements.

Her new abilities... that she had been tampering with since the Sokovia Accords, since helping HYDRA experiment on Wanda and Pietro Maximoff.

Now the test subject is her.

The woman collapses onto the pavement, panting, and shortly she passes out, but little was it known that this was a good sign. Exhaustion, but not death from the usage of unparalleled power.

From above, Lawkin stands, "Experiment #125. Success."

"Time to come for the rest."

Deborah's eyes glow a bright green, the color of her sustainable energy source.

✰

The next day inside the Efficient's apartment, things are relatively quiet. Most if not all stunted by a hangover.

Clear exhaustion as well as last night's party wiped everybody out, except for Dani Rockland.

While the eighteen-year-old would have hoped to experience the carefree persona many of her friends took on after the appropriate amount of drinks, she still enjoyed the night peacefully with many laughs and memories included. Memories made.

That was the whole point, right? Of going to parties... the wholesome point.

Anywho, things are calm and inviting when inside the comfy apartment Allison and Marcus with pounding headaches engage in a game of Connect 4―no logic as to why, and the female shakes her head, "I've got you by the balls, dude."

The boy raises a brow in reaction to the two-way loss which is his only option, as the entirety of the board has been filled with yellow and red chips.

He leans into his charisma, "Guess I still gotta find my corner of the sky..."

Allison raises her brows.

Marcus scoffs, "Come on, really? It's a quote from―"

"Pippin."

Dani's voice echoes in the background as she warms up a cup of hot tea, not for herself, but for a messy-haired Dante who walks in a few moments later.

"It's a musical."

"A great one, yeah. How'd you know it?" Marcus asks her, curious, and a bit of relief flushes to the girl's features.

In fond remembrance, "It was my best friend's favorite show... and we were the lead roles for an adaptation of it in middle school."

"No way, really? That's so cool!" The boy exclaims.

"But lame." Allison fends off his excitement, though both suffer from a wave of agony due to their migraines, "Do we have anymore Advil?"

"Uh," Dani rummages through their cabinets, eventually shaking her head, "No. Are you even sure that stuff works on you guys?"

"Sometimes it can," Dante enters the kitchen, his taller figure nearing Dani's average one as she promptly hands him the mug, "Thanks."

Rustling from the door leading to a closed bedroom swings open a millisecond later, and wrapped in blankets and probably not anything else, Kayla and Jackson are a bit frantic.

The group takes their turns in roasting them.

"Rough night?"

"Shut up." Jackson retorts, rubbing his aching forehead while talking with his eyes closed, "Can we also get some Gatorades? I think we're outta those, too."

Since none of them seem up to―or motivated to get out of the house―Dani takes the initiative, "I'll go."

"I wanna pick up some Capri Suns anyways."

She is met with a chorus of gracious 'thank yous'.

One is specially made for her, by he who takes her cold palm in his warm one from holding his cup, and Dante leans over, pressing a firm kiss onto Dani's cheek, "Thanks, Babe."

"Yeah ... sure."

She is flustered, though gathers her things and heads out onto the morning streets of London to the nearest drugstore.

On her way, Dani takes some more time to reflect on how great her life has been.

She's grown as a person, and a friend, and truly will strive to do as best she can going forward―with regard to being a good person.

The door chimes when she opens it and swiftly like always, she walks through.

Taking a red basket and already tossing in many products she does not need, Dani heads down to the refrigerated section of the store, casually reaching out and grabbing a couple of Gatorades, and some water bottles.

A presence lurking behind her is aware of her, and while walking past her in all black, drops something.

Dani notices and hears the sound instantly, of the object falling, one that happened to be a Pacific Cooler Capri Sun.

Picking up the pouch she grabs his attention, "Uh, excuse me..."

She is shocked.

Oh, my god.

She knows this individual. She did not know what happened to them, but, she knows this individual.

Her breath is caught in her throat, and Dani is stunned, though her brief silence is overshadowed by the sheepish and familiar voice of someone she has not seen in a while.

Someone... who she misses. Who she loves.

"... Hey, Dan."

https://youtu.be/szJQ0d7WOZ8

『 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄    𝐄 𝐅 𝐅 𝐈 𝐂 𝐈 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐒 』

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲... 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

━━━✰━━━

Welcome back. Here's Episode 2... sorry to leave you with that big cliff hanger lol

I wanna address a few things but also, hope you're all doing well and as always super safe and healthy ❤️, but any who there's gonna be five episodes total of this series, three left so don't worry more is to come soon. Also if there doesn't seem to be much action do not worry because there is about to be a TON when dun dun dun..... Deborah Rockland returns! I will not say much but yea, basically she's enhanced herself with something to make her a powerful enemy for Dani, more powerful than just her terrifying the heck outta ppl bc jeez... she is scary.

All right and yeah, that surprise reveal at the end I hope it shocked u all because do y'all know who that is!? Not just Joel Courteny but our friend Matthew!! Dani's best friend... hope that was a nice reveal. More to come and also more references to the MCU. This is a limited series on it's own but it very clearly takes place during the Blip so the whole looting/club scene In the beginning was inspired by TFATWS and them stealing art and stuff during the Snap (also props to Teen Wolf for that dance scene between Kayla and Dani lol) AND the Dante and Dani one, oh gosh, they're so cute aren't they?????

Also wanna quickly say if this series has been a little bit more 'raunchy', with it's themes, I want it to seem like you guys are growing along with Dani, and I know it may seem a little intense because she literally was thirteen two chapters ago and now she's eighteen but this is ENDGAME Y'all the whole five years later is a damn thing and especially for someone like Dani who literally is an old teenager now. Not yet an adult. 🤭

Thoughts? Predictions? Comments idk I'd love to hear from you all I hope you're well, and thank you so much for reading ❤️

Take care my lovely friends ;) 

xxoo, Alessandra (dreamkept)