(nsfw scene warning in the middle of the chapter)
47: Taking the Risk
Inside the tent, the previously lively atmosphere that had just begun to take shape seemed to shift abruptly when Clea's expression changed from cheerful to one that looked like someone had just forced her to eat an entire lemon.
In contrast, John's smile grew much brighter, in a way that few had witnessed since they had known him, causing several of the people present to be left completely perplexed.
"You…" Clea gritted her teeth. Her eyes narrowed with a dangerous intensity, as if she were trying to set him on fire with her gaze. However, she soon forced herself to swallow her bitterness, letting out a long, low sigh.
She wasn't truly angry at John—rather, she was angry at herself for not having been able to prevent this. If her teacher found out, she would surely be disappointed. After so much time, she had finally been entrusted with the freedom to go out into the world… and the first thing she did was fall into such a shameless trap. Just imagining the look she would give her when she found out what had happened almost made her want to die of shame.
'She's going to be so mad,' she thought, feeling the contract between them about to be fully sealed—just moments away from becoming effective. This brief instant, which almost seemed to stretch in time, was the kind of moment in which any other sorcerer in her place would resist and try to back out, to free themselves from an agreement that was clearly dangerous.
But she didn't.
What was done was done. She could accept this loss even if it seemed too risky. In the worst-case scenario, she would just have to forcefully break the contract in the future—which, of course, would mean paying a great price to do so, one that most sorcerers couldn't afford. Luckily, she wasn't like most sorcerers.
Even so, she hoped it wouldn't come to that—or rather, she believed it wouldn't be necessary. Though her teacher hadn't said much about John, and she herself barely knew a few things about him, that little was enough for her to 'trust' him to some extent, believing he wouldn't abuse this deal.
Despite her great power and mystical skill, Clea was still quite naïve in many ways. She thought that since her master 'believed' in John, by default that made him someone she could also trust.
As long as John didn't cross certain boundaries, it would be fine. But if he went beyond what Clea could tolerate doing for him, then she wouldn't hesitate to take action—no matter the consequences she'd have to pay.
With a tingling sensation running through their bodies, both of them could feel the connection between them being fully formed at last.
"I'm going to start drawing some of your cosmic energy," Clea said, though she didn't really need to. Due to the bond they now shared, John would instinctively know when she wanted to draw power from him, just as Clea would know when he needed her to do something for him.
Focusing, Clea let the power flow into her through their connection. Although she had access to 10% of his energy, she didn't draw that full amount right away. Instead, she only took about 1% to begin studying it tentatively.
It was potent, like a searing fire that threatened to consume everything, yet at the same time it was stable, controlled—two completely opposite properties perfectly combined into one in harmonious balance.
Carefully, she let the power permeate her body. Her originally violet irises took on a new emerald hue, almost identical to the color in John's own eyes.
'This feeling…' Clea had to swallow as a shiver ran through her body.
Though she had dealt with many types of unique energies from different dimensions, this was the first time she had felt such strong compatibility. It was almost like using the native energy of her homeland, but at the same time very different—without the inherent dark properties that constantly threatened to corrupt her psyche.
"How is it? Do you think it'll work?" John asked, pulling her attention back to him.
"Yes. I think it will," Clea replied, with much more confidence than before. Then she turned to Cassandra.
"Show me your hands." At her request, the girl didn't hesitate and raised her arms, letting Clea take her hands in hers. A slight grimace of pain appeared on her face for a second at the contact.
John watched with curiosity as the sorceress began to murmur under her breath, incomprehensible words he assumed must be some kind of spell or incantation.
Then he felt his cosmic energy begin to activate. Strands of emerald and amber light wove themselves over Cassandra's hands, making the girl raise her eyebrows at the tingling sensation that began to melt away the stabbing pain she had been feeling, replacing it with a warm, almost pleasurable sensation.
The process didn't take long. After a minute, Clea allowed the cosmic energy to return to her and released Cassandra's hands.
"How do you feel?" At her question, Cassandra blinked, looked at her hands with slight doubt, and with a simple thought, the bandages around them began to unravel, slipping off and falling to the ground.
What appeared then was a pair of flawless hands, without a single scar, mark, or bruise on her fair skin. To anyone looking, it was hard to imagine that just moments ago those hands had been severely fractured.
Cassandra began moving her fingers, one by one, with natural fluidity. Each motion was smooth, precise, and elegant. There was no doubt at all that her hands were now completely healed.
"Huh… I thought it was going to be more complicated…" Though she wasn't complaining that it was fast.
Happy to have her hands back, she was about to step aside when she felt John's gaze on her. He wasn't making any kind of strange expression, but somehow it was as if he were silently telling her she still had something left to do.
"…Thanks… I guess," she added quietly after a few seconds, clearly uncomfortable.
Only then did John look away and turn to Clea.
"Looks like it was a complete success. Do you know what the limitations might be? What kind of wounds you could heal and which ones you couldn't?"
Clea took a moment to think before answering.
"Your cosmic energy is much stronger and more stable than I expected. Its compatibility with the human body is extraordinary. without fear of being mistaken, I'd say any physical wound, short of death itself, could be healed with its help. Perhaps even regenerating lost body parts might be possible, though that would likely require significantly more than what we used this time."
Well, this had definitely been completely worth it.
Internally, he wondered if it might be possible for him to use it on himself in the same way without needing any spell—it was his own energy after all.
'If that's the case, maybe I now have regeneration almost at Logan's level…'
'Almost,' because he would never dare to test if it was actually equal. He wasn't suicidal.
"Amazing!" John stopped thinking about it as he heard Janet's excited voice. At some point, the young scientist had stepped up to Cassandra, taking her hands and beginning to examine them closely with obvious enthusiasm.
Cassandra frowned, clearly irritated by having her personal space so suddenly invaded. For a second, she was tempted to send Janet flying, but before she could, John placed a hand on her shoulder, making her stop.
"There's no trace left of her injuries," Janet murmured as she ran her fingers across Cassandra's palms, completely unaware that the girl looked increasingly ready to shove her away by force.
"How's your ankle? Maybe Clea can help you with that too," John intervened, trying to redirect Janet's attention as he gently pulled her hands away from Cassandra's.
"Could you?!" Janet turned to the sorceress with enthusiasm and curiosity. Clea shrugged and nodded.
"It should be much easier."
And so Janet ended up sitting back on her stretcher, with Clea checking her ankle while the girl bombarded her with questions about sorcery and Clea did her best to answer them. They actually seemed to be getting along pretty well.
"Annoying woman," Cassandra muttered under her breath, glancing sideways at her. Beside her, John snorted.
"Come on, don't be so dramatic. It was just a little touch." Shaking his head, John turned his gaze toward the still-unconscious Charles.
"Do you think your brother's going to be okay?"
Following his gaze, Cassandra narrowed her eyes before walking over to Charles's stretcher.
Normally, she would've said that Charles would pull through. But this time… she wasn't so sure.
"I'll find out."
Placing a hand on his forehead, she closed her eyes and let her power begin to act, brushing against his, calling to him.
John stepped aside with no intention of interfering, letting Cassandra handle this as had been the plan from the beginning.
'I hope she can bring him back,' he thought as he turned away and walked over to Erik.
If it had been before, John would've had much more confidence in Cassandra's chances. But knowing everything he did about her now, he wasn't so sure. Though technically bound, it was clear to him that the two siblings didn't share as strong a connection as he had originally imagined—and that could be a problem given the situation.
'Doesn't matter. If this doesn't work, I'll find another way once the war is over.'
John didn't like pessimism. Just because something couldn't be resolved immediately didn't mean it couldn't be solved later. As long as there was even a chance, he would never give up.
It was the least he owed Charles for dragging him into all of this.
"Erik, come with me," he said to the boy once he reached his stretcher. The meta-human nodded, quickly standing up and tucking the vibranium bullets he'd been playing with into the pockets of his pants.
"We're heading back to the S.W.O.R.D. base. I need your help to bring a few things," he explained as they exited the military tent and his gaze shifted toward the horizon.
"You told me that during your fight with the demon in Warsaw you used metal to fly—how good are you at that?" At his question, the boy grimaced slightly.
"Not very good, to be honest. I almost fell a few times."
"Good, let's use this little trip for you to practice a bit more. Later, once we're in the States, we'll have better training." It would be really embarrassing if Erik died in the middle of a fight from falling badly or something like that—John needed to make sure that wouldn't happen.
Soon, John managed to borrow a sufficiently sturdy metal piece for both of them to stand on, and letting Erik lift it into the air, they set off back to the S.W.O.R.D. base.
The journey wasn't very long, though it was turbulent—Erik had trouble adjusting to the air currents buffeting them as they gained altitude. Still, little by little he got the hang of it, and by the time they reached their destination, the boy was already able to stand more or less steadily on the metal he was controlling.
A huge improvement over squatting.
"Completely clean," John murmured as he stepped into what had once been Hank's lab, Erik right behind him.
His sight - far superior to that of an average human - captured details others would miss. Within seconds, he had a pretty good idea of what had happened here.
'Accident or something done deliberately?' Whatever the case, the result was the same—Hank was gone, and everything he had been working on was gone with him.
"Can you sense the vibranium hidden here?" he asked Erik, and the boy nodded with obvious excitement as he looked toward a wall that seemed completely ordinary.
"Before all this happened, we'd been working on several projects with it. Most of it was stored here, but another portion was hidden in Howard's lab. Go and fetch it." Without hesitation, Erik obeyed and left, following the unique sensation that the indestructible metal provoked in his power to guide himself.
To be honest, John could have come and done this alone—but he figured it would do Erik good to stretch his legs a bit before they left the country.
Walking toward the wall the boy had been staring at before he left, John sank his fingers into it and clenched. Then, with a powerful yank, he tore a concrete square the size of a double door and at least two meters thick from its place and hurled it backward.
The best way to hide something is to make reaching it difficult. A hidden entrance that could only be accessed using Pym particles—or, failing that, a massive dose of brute force—had been the method they chose back then to ensure greater security.
Pym particles had that kind of convenience, turning things that once might've been difficult into something simple.
'Bingo,' he thought when he saw the massive chunk of vibranium still in place.
Using his telekinesis, he pulled the metal from its hiding spot and set it down in the center of the room. Hiding it would've been easier if they'd shrunk it back to its original size, but since they had been extracting fragments from it while working, they never did. So it remained as it was... until Hydra attacked.
Which, in a way, had turned out to be a good thing. He didn't know how long it would be before they'd be able to produce more.
'I hope Janet remembers Hank's machine blueprints,' he thought
Though convincing her to focus on that might be tricky. The girl wanted to be out in the field, involved in the remainder of the war. Asking her to stay behind and rebuild what had been lost… probably wouldn't make her very happy.
But he had to convince her, one way or another.
That tech was far too important for S.W.O.R.D.'s future.
"Got everything," Erik's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
When the young man re-entered the lab, his eyes flew open in astonishment at the massive piece of vibranium John had extracted from the wall.
Walking toward him, John focused his attention on the four large cases Erik was carrying.
Inside them was the vibranium-based gear he'd been developing along with Howard and Hank.
"This one's yours," he said, handing Erik one of the cases while he began checking the contents of the other three.
The boy blinked, glancing at the enormous "block" of vibranium one more time before focusing on the case in his hands. Thanks to his powers, he already knew there was some vibranium inside - but only when he opened it and saw its contents did he understand exactly what it was.
"Whoa," he whispered, pulling out an incredible red metallic helmet.
Looking at his reflection in the polished metal, Erik didn't think twice before putting it on. The helmet slid onto his head as if custom-made for him.
With growing excitement, he began examining the rest of the contents. Aside from the helmet, there was a full high-end tactical suit: black with red accents, segmented into multiple flexible parts, and a stunning wine-colored cape seemingly designed to fasten directly onto the shoulders.
Erik had never owned anything so cool in his entire life, and the way his eyes lit up made it crystal clear just how much he loved it.
"You also have a dozen knives as well as small metallic spheres that you can use as you see fit," John commented upon noticing that he was only staring at the suit.
Upon hearing him, Erik snapped out of his trance and immediately began inspecting the rest of the contents, making the objects levitate around him with excitement.
"This is amazing!" he shouted like a kid who'd just been given the toy of his dreams… which, honestly, wasn't that far from the truth.
Letting a small smile tug at his lips, John finished checking the contents of the last suitcase. Once he was sure nothing was missing, he closed it and placed it to the side, along with the other two.
Letting a small smile tug at his lips, John finished checking the contents of the last suitcase. Once he was sure nothing was missing, he closed it and placed it to the side, along with the other two.
"Come on, you can try the suit on when we get back..." John paused, his nose twitched, then he looked at him with a slightly furrowed brow. "After you take a shower," he added, making Erik blink and instinctively raise his arm to sniff his armpit—almost turning green in the process.
"Ugh!"
Ignoring his reaction, John thought about the others waiting at the base. In fact, it seemed like everyone could use a shower. Fortunately, there were still a few hours left before they had to leave.
'I'd better get some clothes for them,' he decided. He hoped the attack hadn't done too much damage to the personal quarters—especially Janet's. If her spare suits had been destroyed during the attack, making new ones could take some time.
These days, the girl wore nothing but those things—something about not wanting to end up naked in the middle of an emergency just because she wasn't wearing clothes compatible with her powers.
Which was a pretty valid reason, if you thought about it.
'I'm getting distracted.' shaking his head, John started walking towards the lab door.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to grab a few more things, then we'll head out," he told Erik before leaving.
"Huh? Oh, right," the boy nodded and began carefully putting away everything he had taken out of the suitcase, thinking he'd inspect it all more thoroughly when they got back.
John didn't take long to get what he needed. Luckily, the housing area was mostly intact.
Shortly after, the two of them flew out of the destroyed base, riding on a metal slab the size of a car.
.
.
.
Getting back to the United States had been both easy and complicated in equal measure.
Easy, because thanks to Clea, John's team—along with Howard, Peggy, and Isaac—were able to return through one of her portals.
Complicated, because the rest of what remained of S.W.O.R.D. had to do it the old-fashioned way.
The reason, of course, was to avoid revealing the existence of sorcery to too many people. Explaining how additional 'supersoldiers' - besides John and James - had already been complicated enough back then.
So far, it remained a secret disclosed with full accuracy only to a select group of individuals.
Most of them were the presidents and high-ranking officials of the countries comprising the international military coalition of the United Nations. Or, in short - the Allies.
As far as John knew, the reveal about metahumans had already triggered quiet efforts by governments to find more of them, though with limited success.
The ongoing war meant available manpower was stretched thin, making a large-scale search difficult to sustain.
On top of that, metahumans didn't appear to be especially common in this era, which only added to the challenge of finding them.
But that would undoubtedly change once the war ended.
And that was where S.W.O.R.D. would come in.
John wasn't about to take any chances or let someone screw things up by bothering the wrong person.
The last thing he needed was to go toe-to-toe with an omega-level metahuman just because some government had accidentally killed a loved one while trying to capture them.
So the best course of action was to let S.W.O.R.D. handle everything related to meta-humans. Something that was already being discussed with the various allied governments. Convincing them would be difficult, yes, but not impossible.
And if necessary, John had no issue letting Charles or Cassandra intervene… and make them a little more susceptible to listening.
Speaking of the Xavier siblings—while John had been away, Cassandra had managed to wake Charles. Though the boy hadn't spoken a word since regaining consciousness, and Cassandra didn't exactly look thrilled either.
John planned to talk to them both in private later to figure out what was going on.
But not right now.
At this moment, he had already said too much.
"In short, that's everything that happened," he finished, letting silence fall over the meeting room.
Seated around the table were all the key members of S.W.O.R.D.: Peggy, Howard, Raven, Cassandra, Charles, Erik, James, Janet, Isaac, himself, and the most recent addition to the team—Clea.
Bringing everyone up to speed with everything that had happened was complicated, but thanks to Clea's sorcery, it was possible.
John explained to them, in general terms, how he had initiated The Project Ascension with Howard, what it exactly was and why it was necessary, and also why he had left and wasn't present during HYDRA's attack on the base.
Of course, he also had to include his encounter with the Sorcerer Supreme, a heavily shortened and modified version, but one that served to explain why Clea was now on the team and why, most likely, they would have to face more supernatural beings like demons, courtesy of Red Skull's desperation to win the war at all costs.
"I know this is a lot to take in. For now, try to process it and get some rest. If any of you have questions I didn't address during the meeting, you can ask me tomorrow and I'll clarify things as best I can."
"I need a bottle," James was the first to break the silence. Though clearly disoriented, the man had lived too long to be truly surprised anymore. Even so, he felt the urge to fall back into old habits and, without saying another word, left the meeting room—probably in search of a nearby bar to spend the night.
The second to leave was Charles, who seemed completely lost. He didn't say a single word, just got up and left. Cassandra frowned as she watched him go and followed shortly after, not without first exchanging a brief, silent look with John.
"Impossible, but… there's too much evidence. No, it's not scientific at all… but what if it is?" Howard muttered, nearly frantic, as he tried to process what he had just heard.
To say that the revelation about the existence of sorcery had shaken him more than anyone else would be an understatement. His refusal to accept it was as strong as his inability to fully refute it, leaving him trapped in a rather disorienting internal conflict.
Seeing him like that worried John a little, but not too much. He trusted Howard would adapt and accept it soon enough. He wouldn't even be surprised if he ended up going to Kamar-Ta, after the war, to pursue the mystical path… and who knows, maybe he could even combine it with his scientific knowledge.
That would definitely be something interesting to see.
"I'll take Mr. Stark to rest," Isaac said, helping the man to his feet.
Before leaving the room, he nodded in John's direction as a farewell.
"Raven, take Clea and Erik to get a room. Help them get whatever they need," John ordered after a moment. The blonde girl obeyed, saying goodbye to him and leaving along with the two.
Finally, only John, Peggy, and Janet remained in the room.
Letting out a sigh, John turned toward Peggy. The woman, who seemed to be in a much better mood than a few hours ago, gave him a small smile before standing up and gathering some of the papers that were on the table.
"I should get going too. I still have several calls to make before the evening starts," she said, politely saying goodbye to Janet and giving John one last discreet glance before heading toward the exit.
John watched, with considerably less discretion, the sway of her hips as she walked away.
"Ahem!... Did you say you needed to talk to me?" Janet suddenly interrupted, her voice slightly louder than usual, making John turn back toward her.
Feeling his gaze on her, the girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to hide her slight nervousness.
It seemed like it was the first time in a long while that they were truly alone, which made her feel a bit uneasy—though not in an unpleasant way.
Their training sessions at the S.W.O.R.D. base didn't count, since Raven was almost always present.
"Of course, thank you for staying. I know you need a break too, so I'll try not to take too long," John assured her, giving her a faint smile that made her blush slightly.
"Don't worry, I don't mind!" she said—maybe a little too quickly. "I-I mean, I don't have much to do right now, so it's not a big deal," she added with slight awkwardness as she noticed him raising an eyebrow.
Truthfully, she wasn't all that tired. With the Pym particles inside her fully recovered and growing, she actually felt quite energized.
"About that…" John drummed his fingers on the table for a second before moving closer and sitting down beside her.
"As you know, Dr. Pym has disappeared—not just him, but also his entire lab, along with his research notes, his machines, and prototypes." Looking at her seriously, John continued.
"You're the only one he ever truly trusted and taught without holding anything back. And even though I know it's incredibly selfish of me, I have no choice but to ask you to rebuild his work—at least what you can."
"That's..." Janet frowned slightly as she heard him. Though she'd sensed John would ask something important of her, she hadn't expected this. Doubt filled her for a moment—not because she felt she couldn't do it, but because she knew what it would mean to accept.
"You said we'd return to the front in two weeks at most. I can't rebuild everything he taught me in two weeks… maybe not even in two months," there was a slight tremble in her voice as she said it.
And John knew why—if she agreed to do what he was asking, then chances were she wouldn't be able to go back to the front with them.
During the meeting, he'd made it clear that his goal was to destroy HYDRA once and for all. To end the war.
If Janet stayed behind now… she'd miss everything.
And of course, that wasn't what she wanted.
"I know this isn't easy. I know how hard you've worked, how much you've trained… but after what happened at the S.W.O.R.D. base, are you sure you want to keep fighting this war? Maybe it would be better to focus on something else. Something just as important."
Janet didn't know what to say. Shaking her head, she stood up abruptly and began pacing around the room, visibly agitated, until she finally stopped in front of him, her body slightly trembling.
"Don't I have another choice?" she asked bitterly. Her pleading eyes looked at him, as if hoping he'd change his mind. As if he could still offer her an alternative.
Of course, Janet considered refusing, but she knew she couldn't. If John decided she needed to stay, disobedience wasn't an option. Or rather, she wasn't sure she'd dare to try.
Seeing her like that, John realized things wouldn't be so simple. Forcing someone to do what they clearly didn't want had always been a recipe for disaster. He knew this too well—and that's exactly why he avoided it whenever possible.
He wanted Janet to stay and work on reconstructing Hank's technology, but if she was reluctant, forcing her would only plant unnecessary resentment. It might even drive her away from S.W.O.R.D. in the future.
And that, of course, was something he couldn't allow.
'It doesn't seem like I can convince her,' he thought. He'd believed his words would be enough, but maybe he'd underestimated how much Janet actually wanted to be on the frontlines.
'I need to take a step back'—you couldn't always win; sometimes you had to find a balance.
Letting out a sigh, John rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking for several seconds—seconds that felt mortifyingly long to Janet—before speaking again.
"Maybe you don't have to do everything. If you can rewrite the most important parts of Hank's research and recreate the schematics for his main machine before we have to return to the front, that should be enough."
It wasn't ideal, but it would be sufficient—enough that, even if something happened to her during the final battle, they wouldn't lose everything along with her.
"Yes!" Janet didn't even need to think about it before agreeing immediately, the turbulent emotions inside her turning into overwhelming relief and joy that made her throw herself at him with excitement, ending with her almost on top of him.
"I-I mean, I can do it!" she stammered a bit upon realizing how close they were now, but at that moment she didn't give it much importance, as her mind was more focused on thinking about how she would complete her new task.
If it was just writing and drawing schematics, she had no doubt she could finish in a few days. Her memory had always been sharp, and ever since gaining her powers, she needed far less sleep. If she pushed herself, she'd only need three or four hours a night.
That meant she could dedicate all her remaining time—aside from eating and bathroom breaks—to working on it and if her quick calculations were right, she'd have it done in under a week
"I won't let you down, I promise," she emphasized again, afraid he might change his mind.
Seeing her determination, John raised an eyebrow, but didn't let his doubts show.
Whether she truly managed it or not now depended on her, this way she couldn't complain too much if in the end she failed and wound up left behind because of that, right? Though seeing her enthusiasm, John thought that perhaps she could indeed do it.
"Alright, I'll trust that you'll make it," he said seriously, deciding to believe in her—and in response, she closed the small distance still between them and gave him a strong hug.
"Thanks! Thanks!" she whispered with clear relief and gratitude, clinging tightly to him—despite the fact that her distress had been his fault in the first place.
Patting her back gently, John let her vent while his gaze drifted to the room's ceiling, not really focusing on anything.
Although the conversation hadn't gone exactly as he had expected and he hadn't entirely gotten what he wanted, the outcome didn't bother him. Maybe he wasn't the best person in the world, nor the wisest or most qualified leader, but at the very least, he would always try to offer those who served under his command the best treatment possible, one way or another.
He hoped that would be enough…
After a while, Janet's excitement completely subsided and her mind finally registered the position in which she now found herself, causing nervousness and a certain shyness to begin filling her.
She knew she had to get away from him—she and John were not in the kind of relationship that would let them cuddle like this, if anyone else saw them it would be quite mortifying and hard to explain.
Her father would probably have a heart attack.
But he wasn't here and, more importantly… she didn't want to move away.
'His scent is still so pleasant,' she thought, inhaling a little more deeply than she should have, sending a shiver down her body.
Being near him like this made her feel the same way she had the very first time she saw him in person so long ago—with every part of her tingling and her heart beating faster and faster.
The butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach.
Janet was not naïve — from the very first time they met, she knew that she was more attracted to John than was normal. Maybe it had been something very superficial at first, since she had mostly been captivated by his appearance. Everyone has their preferences, and saying that John checked every single one of Janet's would be an understatement.
He was exactly the kind of man she used to fantasize about during her teenage years.
Even so, she had thought it was just a passing crush — an intense one, of course, but surely something that would fade with time. Needless to say, she had been wrong.
Just having him nearby was enough to quicken her pulse and make her cheeks flush. Hearing his voice captured her full attention, and a single look from him could make her shiver without even trying.
Training alongside him had been a quiet torment for all those reasons. The physical closeness, the constant brushing of their bodies—it all only made her attraction to him grow stronger day by day. But she'd never dared to express it openly, whether because Raven was always nearby or due to her own doubts and inner insecurities.
Holding herself back that much had almost driven her mad. Her only way of coping had been to channel everything into training, pushing herself beyond exhaustion, beyond pain, beyond everything.. But even then, it had barely been enough.
Then the invasion happened, and it was as if the world had decided to remind her, with a slap to the face, what mortality truly meant.
Not that Janet had thought herself invincible—the death of her mother had taught her that life was, in fact, very short—but somehow, that truth hadn't fully registered in her mind until she felt that she really might die at any moment.
At first, it terrified her. But more than anything, it made her realize there were things one shouldn't hesitate too much.
Given that they were still in the middle of a war, and she fully intended to return to the front lines, Janet didn't want to have any regrets, she didn't want a 'what if' or a 'maybe if'.
If dying was a risk, she didn't want to take it without first feeling that everything had been worth it.
Maybe that's why her face ended up so close to John's, with their lips just about to touch.
Feeling her warm breath suddenly so close, John froze for a moment. Confusion filled him for a second before it faded and understanding took its place. He didn't need to be a genius to realize what Janet wanted — even if she hadn't said a word.
In any other situation, he would have responded without hesitation. Denying that he was attracted to her would be absurd—Janet was an extraordinarily beautiful woman, with a stunning physique and figure.
But what happened with his ex-girlfriend in his previous life had taught him that playing with women's hearts only led to trouble. And even though he and Peggy didn't have a 'real relationship' in the strictest sense of the word, that didn't mean he could act without considering her at all.
Before Janet could lean in any closer, John stopped her, pulling her out of her reverie and making her look at him in confusion. her eyes trembling slightly as they met his.
"I…" she tried to say something, but he spoke first.
"Before you take another step, you need to know the kind of man I really am," he said, making her raise her eyebrows in confusion.
John didn't know exactly what Janet thought of him, or who she believed he was, but he couldn't let her have the wrong expectations.
Maybe she believed in the image the United States had worked so hard to sell about him, but John was far from that 'traditional man,' and anyone who dug deep enough into what he had done during his tours across the country would know it.
That was why, even if he often acted a part in front of others, when it came to the people who worked more closely with him, John always tried to let a bit of his true self show from time to time—but never enough to let the mask come off completely.
Well, right now he was going to pull back that mask a little more, because whatever it was that Janet wanted to do, she first needed to understand what she was getting into.
"I've been with a lot of women," he admitted outright, making her shiver.
"I'll probably be with many more." He hesitated a little before continuing. "I'm even sleeping with Peggy in secret right now." Another shiver—his sharp ear caught how her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
"Though I'd prefer you didn't tell anyone about that—maybe it'll never become anything official," he added, not wanting rumors to spread that might upset the redhead.
In fact, he needed to talk to her about it sometime soon. He wasn't stupid: he knew that when the war ended, Peggy might expect something more from him.
It was certainly cruel on his part not to have made it clear from the start that maybe that wouldn't happen. But John didn't think he was perfect. He had let himself get carried away when he slept with her for the first time, making the mistake of not being honest before crossing that line, without thinking much about what would come next.
This time would be different.
"Formality isn't my thing.I don't think I'll ever get married in my life, or have a traditional home like the kind expected of other men." His way of thinking, without a doubt, clashed strongly with the ideals of this era—but it wasn't something he was willing to change. He had long since accepted that, above all else, he was selfish.
"Knowing all this… do you still want to go on?"
With his words hanging in the air, the meeting room fell silent.
John calmly watched as Janet's face cycled through a multitude of emotions for several seconds, until her expression finally settled into something more neutral and contemplative.
He braced himself for her to walk away—but, surprisingly, she didn't.
"You know… I've been thinking a lot about what you told Clea when you two argued about whether or not to try curing Cassandra. You said no one's ever won anything without at least taking a bit of a risk," she began, swallowing hard before stepping closer, the blush on her cheeks returning with more intensity.
"You might not have noticed, but a lot went through my mind at that moment. And maybe this is a mistake… but right now, I don't care. I've decided I want to live my life—however short or long it ends up being—on my own terms. And right now…" she paused, her eyes locked onto John's for what felt like an eternity before continuing.
"I think... I want to take that risk with you." With her decision made, her lips found his.
...
Her attempt to kiss him was inexperienced, clumsy, and in a way, almost innocent. The first kiss of a girl who, without a doubt, was worth her weight in gold.
John let her enjoy it for a few more seconds before deciding to take things further.
Placing his hands on her hips, he started to take the initiative, causing her to let out a gasp that was muffled as their kiss deepened.
As she felt his tongue slipping effortlessly past her lips and beginning to move inside her mouth, Janet's eyes flew open in surprise. A shiver ran down her spine, as if lightning had struck through her body.
His taste, far from unpleasant, was like savoring a candy she didn't know she needed. Without hesitation, she began to move her own tongue against his, letting them meet and slowly entwine.
With every fiber of her being burning with desire, Janet began rubbing against him with a near-frantic urgency. She had never been this aroused in her life. She didn't know what was happening, but deep inside, she could feel the energy her body was generating swirling with excitement, as if it were responding to her emotions—making every centimeter of her skin suddenly far more sensitive.
Between her toned thighs, wetness began to trickle down, staining her suit.
Janet tried to wrap her legs around John's waist, but couldn't quite manage it. Noticing this, John slid his hands from her hips down to her soft, elastic ass, giving it a firm squeeze that drew a moan of pleasure from her lips.
"Mmhn~"
With a firm grip on her, John pushed away from the chair he'd been sitting in and moved toward the table in the center of the room, letting Janet sit on top of it—finally allowing her to fully wrap her legs around his waist.
The caresses intensified. Janet clung to him even tighter, savoring the friction between their bodies beyond anything she had ever imagined. Every touch from him sent waves of pleasure rippling through her from head to toe, her arousal multiplying second by second.
Perhaps it was the thrill of doing something forbidden, of surrendering completely to her desires. Or the dizzying rush of adrenaline from defying the modesty she'd been raised with. Whatever the reason, it all swirled inside her like a sudden storm.
Before she could even try to stop it, her back arched, and instinctively her legs locked tighter around him—pressing the thick bulge in his pants firmly against the exact spot where she craved him the most.
A shiver ran through her, prickling across her skin. Her cheeks flushed red, and as her pupils dilated, Janet felt a hot gush of liquid rush freely between her thighs.
"Mmmmh!..." her moan, which could have been scandalous, was smothered by the deep kiss they still shared.
John slowed, pulling his lips away just enough to let her catch her breath. Her eyes, clouded with lust, stared into his with intensity, while her voluptuous breasts bounced gently in rhythm with her labored breathing.
"Looks like you need a change of clothes," he commented as he felt the dampness starting to stain his pants. She was far more sensitive than he had expected—if just a make-out session could make her come like that.
Hearing his words, the blush on her face deepened, spreading to her ears and down her pale, slender neck. Swallowing hard, Janet licked her red lips and, with trembling hands, reached for the zipper of her suit.
She tried to lower it herself, but it was clear that her nerves were getting the better of her. Deciding to help, John gently brushed her hands aside, took hold of the zipper, and began to pull it down slowly, causing her to let out a warm sigh.
As the zipper descended, it revealed skin so smooth and pale it looked like porcelain—Her collarbones came into view first, followed by the soft swell of her breasts, which gradually began to free themselves from the tight, leather-like fabric that had confined them. Tiny beads of sweat trickled down her cleavage.
With one last tug, John pulled the zipper down to her navel, causing her breasts to bounce lightly into the open air, swaying hypnotically in front of him—now utterly exposed and free.
They were firm, high, and perfectly shaped, crowned with a pair of hard, rosy nipples that stood erect with clear excitement.
Bringing his hands to them, John began caressing, marveling at their Surprising softness and pliability, his fingers sinking easily into her warm flesh as he squeezed them gently.
"O-oh!~" Janet moaned breathlessly, biting her lip as John's hands toyed skillfully with her breasts, each stroke of his fingers against her sensitive skin drawing shaky sighs from her throat—especially when they grazed her hardened nipples.
John noticed immediately, and with a slight smirk, began to focus on them even more. His fingers rolled over the stiff peaks, pinching and teasing until she shuddered under his touch.
Then, without warning, he lowered his head and caught one between his lips, sucking and massaging it skillfully with his tongue.
Something Janet seemed to quite like—if the way her hands tangled in his head, trying to pull him deeper between her breasts, was any indication.
Every suck, every slow lick sent electric shocks straight to her core. Janet had never felt anything like it before—it was overwhelming, better than her wildest dreams or dirtiest fantasies.
"More... give me more... please~..." was all she managed to whisper between soft, pleasure-soaked moans, her voice thick with desire.
And, being the good man he was, John obeyed.
With a soft, wet pop, he released the nipple he'd had between his lips and immediately took the other into his mouth, alternating between the two every so often to make sure neither felt neglected.
Meanwhile, his free hand slid down her thighs, tracing their curves firmly before ascending slowly over her hips, up to her waist, before descending again—this time to the small of her back. The mere contact made her body tremble.
For the second time, Janet felt her mind Going hazy, her dampened eyes locking onto John's gaze.
Her legs, still tightly wrapped around his waist, began to jerk—seeking more, demanding more. A burning heat spread from deep within her belly, coursing down to the insides of her thighs. and in response her hips started moving on their own, grinding her soaked intimacy against him with a need that bordered on desperation.
Then it happened again.
A warm, crystalline stream spilled between her legs, soaking more than just her clothes and trickling down onto the wooden surface of the table where she sat.
"Hhnng!~" Shame flooded her just as intensely as the pleasure.
Gasping for air, Janet nearly collapsed as uncontrollable spasms wracked her body and leaving her immobile. Her slender arms fell weakly to her sides, limp and trembling.
"You're very sensitive," John said with a faintly amused tone as he took in her state—though, to be fair, he wasn't complaining. It made things quite a bit easier.
Of course, he couldn't let her be the only one enjoying this encounter. Carefully parting her legs, John moved a little away from her, much to Janet's displeasure.
"W-what's wrong?" she asked in a shaky voice, still panting for air.
Seeing her like that—sweat trailing down her neck, her hair messy, and a blush staining her cheeks—was certainly an unforgettable sight
Her breasts, beautiful and firm, bounced gently with each breath, drawing his gaze once more. But he'd played with them enough. It was time for something more fun.
Reaching out, he grabbed the zipper he'd left just below her navel and began pulling it down as far as it would go, stopping just centimeters away from her most intimate place.
"Let's get rid of the suit," he said, and Janet barely hesitated.
With clumsy, hurried movements, she stripped off the upper half of her outfit completely, leaving only the lower part still clinging to her body. Given how tight it was, she hadn't worn any underwear or extra garments beneath it. Just a little more, and she would be entirely naked—completely exposed before him.
For some reason, that thought made the shame come rushing back.
With a mix of shyness and modesty, she brought one hand down to her lower half, trying to cover her intimacy, while the other moved up to her breasts, pressing against them as if trying to hide... but without much success.
That sight was enough to make John swallow hard, and without wasting another second, he placed his hands on her legs and began removing what remained of the suit. The fabric slid easily over her damp skin, clinging slightly for a moment before continuing to slip downward.
Soon, the suit was completely off her body, revealing a pair of beautiful, long legs—perfectly toned, with curvaceous thighs. Her skin, pale and radiant, glistened softly, wet not only with sweat but also with her own fluids, making them even more irresistible.
Unable to help himself, John placed his hands on her thick thighs, stroking and gently squeezing them.
"You're incredibly beautiful," he said with complete sincerity, devouring her with his gaze. Her figure was, without a doubt, one of the most breathtaking he had ever seen.
Upon hearing his words and feeling the intensity of his gaze, Janet felt a tingling sensation spread across her skin.
"You're pretty handsome yourself," she replied awkwardly... In truth, she didn't know what to say in that moment… but she did know what she wanted.
"T-take off your clothes," she murmured, almost without thinking. She couldn't be the only one standing there naked, right?
Seeing how eager she seemed, John smiled and began to undress. Janet tried to help, but it was clear she was still too nervous—her clumsy hands spent more time caressing his body than actually helping him out of his suit.
Once everything was off and only his briefs remained, Janet could hardly tear her eyes away from the prominent bulge straining against the fabric.
John was about to pull them down, but she stopped him.
"Let me do it," she said, her voice hoarse and heavy with lust.
Leaning toward his waist without waiting for an answer, she placed her hands on the last piece of clothing that concealed his erection.
She tried to pull it down quickly, but it was so tight against him that she ended up yanking it down roughly. A surprised squeal escaped her mouth as his thick cock nearly hit her face, bouncing in the air just centimeters away from her parted lips.
"I-It's... really big..." Janet stuttered in astonishment. His scent hit her like a wave: a dense, masculine musk, an almost intoxicating aroma that made her inhale deeply, almost unconsciously, as if she were trying to get drunk on it. Her arousal increased instantly.
She didn't know what to do next, so she just stayed there for a moment, staring at him and inhaling his intoxicating scent.
John was tempted to push his length against her pink lips, but he'd had enough foreplay—it was time to claim the prize.
"Sit down," he said in a deep voice, snapping her out of her reverie.
"Eh?" Janet blinked, but she was quick to obey. Soon, her bare cheeks were pressed against the table, the cool, wet wood against her skin making her shudder and momentarily dispelling the cloud of lust that had been flooding her mind.
As John began to approach, Janet realized what was about to happen—they were going to do it, right here, on top of the table, in the meeting room. Not on her wedding night. Not between warm sheets and comfortable pillows.
She was going to completely surrender herself to him in a place as wildly inappropriate as this.
And that thought, instead of deterring or unsettling her, only made her desire swell, the excitement shining even brighter in her eyes
She wanted this. She wanted this so much that without him saying anything, she started to spread her legs, revealing her flushed and glistening center, barely covered by her own hand.
Swallowing hard, Janet felt the heat of his tense erection drawing near—almost close enough to brush against her fingers.
"Are you ready?" To his question, there was only one possible answer.
Removing her hand, Janet allowed him to gaze upon her glistening, bare sex for the first time.
She was surprisingly well-shaved, with only a faint, almost imperceptible trace of hair above her pubis. But what drew the most attention was what lay beneath—her moist, reddened pussy, with pink folds slightly parted, barely revealing a hint of her crimson interior, where a warm, crystalline liquid slid like a small cascade.
With the last barrier between them swept aside, John's cock collided with her lips with a wet snap that resounded like thunder in her ears.
A trembling gasp escaped her throat, her eyes widening in astonishment as she watched his throbbing erection press against her swollen, sensitive pussy.
Her body, acting on its own, began to move.
Janet's hips thrust forward and backward, grinding against his hardened length, the nectar flowing from her folds helping her slide more and more easily over it, lubricating it little by little
Her legs lifted; her thick, firm thighs clung tightly around his waist, dragging her hips against his in a desperate urgency. The moment her clit rubbed his cock instantly sent a livewire jolt through her—striking her belly and arching her spine like a drawn bow.
"Mmhn~!" a sharp, almost shrill moan tore from her throat.
They hadn't even begun, and she already felt as if she were teetering on the edge of heaven at any moment.
Before Janet could reach her third climax, John gripped her waist, halting her movements and earning a piercing look from her.
With a mischievous smile, John stepped back slightly, letting the tip of his cock nudge against her wet, twitching entrance.
Feeling him pressing against her, almost entering her, Janet moaned with frustration.
"C-Come on! J-Just... do it!" she pleaded, writhing with a voice broken by desire.
And John did it.
With one firm thrust, his cock plunged into her all at once, making its way effortlessly between the narrow, slippery walls of her pussy.
Janet's eyes dilated. A strangled cry escaped her throat as a sharp pain coursed through her abdomen, mingling with a pleasure so overwhelming it completely stole her breath.
"O-Oooohhh!~"
Her body convulsed in uncontrollable spasms, a tremor running from head to toe.
Liquid gushed from her inside like an endless torrent— her climax detonating—harder, brighter than anything she'd ever felt.
For several seconds, her vision blurred. All Janet could perceive during that time was the scorching heat of his thick cock throbbing deep inside her, stretching her to the limit and grinding against every tender, aching spot within.
Pain and pleasure fused like raw electricity, surging through every nerve, sparking wildly through her body.
She had never known such bliss; it was raw, soul-deep satisfaction—as if every empty part of her had been made to be filled by him.
"Eh?" John blinked, confused, as he saw Janet's eyes suddenly welling up and tears begin to slip down her cheeks.
Had he been too rough? Perhaps he should have taken it slower—after all, it was her first time, even if his training had already made her hymen disappear; there should still have been pain. And probably, more than he had anticipated.
Janet didn't respond immediately; she stared intently into his eyes and, after a few seconds that seemed devoted solely to admiring his face, she slowly nodded.
"S-s-yes," she stammered, her voice slightly broken.
Without letting him say another word, she launched herself at him—her lips urgently seeking his, her arms wrapping around his neck, her breasts crushing against his chest, and her legs entwining his waist.
Their bodies, skin against skin, melted in a deep embrace that lasted an indeterminate amount of time.
Then, little by little, John began to pull back.
A silent sigh escaped Janet's lips as she felt him sliding out of her—The sudden emptiness made her clench her teeth in discomfort. But her complaint was soon answered when he thrust back into her, slamming against her pelvis with a wet, firm impact that made her gasp from pure excitement.
"Ahh!~"
John began moving, slowly at first, almost pulling out of her before driving back in forcefully.
Every thrust grew stronger than the last, every moan from Janet sharper and more intense, every part of her shaking with the collision of their hips.
"Ahhh~…! J-John…" She panted, her warm breath growing increasingly erratic. Her back arched, her breasts beginning to bounce with each powerful push.
John took one of them, caressing and firmly squeezing, while his other hand clutched her ass, guiding their movements.
"More… don't stop…!" Janet whispered in a broken voice, trembling as his touch sent shivers through her—completely lost in ecstasy.
John grunted in response, gradually increasing his pace.
The wet sounds of their bodies colliding filled the room, harmonizing with the rhythm of their ragged breaths.
Even though it was her first time, Janet surpassed any expectation John might have had; The girl, despite climaxing several times in rapid succession, seemed to possess boundless energy, never pausing their encounter for even a moment.
At some point, John ended up lying back on the table with her straddling him—bouncing on top of him over and over in a near uncontrollable frenzy.
"Yes! Yes!.. Yes!~" Janet cried out as she moved with an urgency that only grew with each downward thrust. Her generous, beautiful, and firm breasts swayed to the rhythm of her movements, her erect nipples tracing tiny circles in the air while wet slapping sounds echoed mercilessly through the room.
"Fuck!" John grunted, surprised as he felt himself nearing his own climax. It was the first time a woman had ever brought him to that point since he came into this world. Resting his hands on her ass, he helped her pick up the pace, making her bounces almost blur as he guided her to ride him with wild abandon.
Janet's eyelashes fluttered as sweat trickled down her skin, making her glow under the dim light of the room. Her ragged breathing turned her warm exhales into small clouds of vapor before her flushed face.
The collision of their hips kept intensifying until, with a sharp gasp, convulsions wracked her body—arching her back and causing her breasts to rise.
The warm liquid burst forth from her core once more, streaming down her thighs and spilling over John's body until it pooled into a crystalline puddle on the floor beneath them.
Despite the explosive release, Janet soon seemed to recover—as if that orgasm had barely affected her.
Bracing her hands on John's chest, she rose until only his tip remained inside her. Then, with a wicked smile, she dropped her full weight, allowing his cock to fill her completely again.
"Ohhh!~" Another shiver pulsed up to her belly, spreading across her entire body like endless waves of pleasure. Her lips parted in a silent moan As more of her juices escaped her folds, dripping hot and slick down her legs.
Only she knew that with each orgasm she reached, the energy fueling her powers diminished ever so slightly.
By this point, she had already lost more than half of it, escaping from between her thighs with every thrust that pierced to her core and shook her innards.
It would probably take her two or three days to fully recover.
But she didn't care.
Her mind wasn't strong enough to worry about that. Right now, she was entirely focused on matching John's rhythm—on savoring every second of their union.
Feeling her insides tighten fiercely around his cock, John let out a rough groan as his muscles tensed instantly.
Without giving her time to protest, he shifted position with a firm motion, pinning her beneath him again—with her back against the table and her legs in the air
She quickly adapted to the change, her thighs clinging to his waist and her arms wrapping around his neck.
Beginning to kiss his neck with avidity, John pushed his hips forward and started thrusting hard. Each movement was swift, deep, and relentless, filling her completely again and again.
"John!~" Janet could only scream his name, moaning amid gasps as her body convulsed beneath his. Her ass trembled with every thrust, sweat slicking her skin and splattering with each frenzied movement.
Her legs, raised helplessly in the air, shook uncontrollably, nearly limp.
Hearing her heartbeat race and feeling her juices flow, John knew she was about to climax again… and she wasn't the only one.
He was close too. His breathing grew heavier, heat building in his core, making his cock swell even thicker inside her.
That slight change was enough to draw another sharp cry from her.
"Mmmh!…~"
Janet stared up at him in awe, her mouth agape as she babbled broken moans—as if she couldn't believe he could fill her even more than he already had.
Sensing the moment, John moved faster—his thrusts becoming more frantic and ravenous, just as the heat of climax was about to push him over the edge, he tried to pull out.
But before he could move, Janet reacted.
With unexpected strength, she wrapped her legs around his waist; her toned thighs clamped like steel shackles, refusing to let him escape, clutching him as though her life depended on it.
"Janet! I'm gonna—!" he tried to warn her, panting, not daring to force her away for fear of hurting her.
And in response, she lunged at him, her lips seeking his in a wet, hungry kiss.
"Do it~!" she managed to say as her tongue battled with his.
"L-let it out!" she nearly demanded in a hoarse voice.
John knew this was a terrible idea, but hearing the urgency in her voice and seeing her reddened, pleading eyes—staring at him with deep desire—he realized he couldn't hold back any longer.
With one final, violent thrust, he buried his cock completely inside her, unleashing wave after wave of his hot, thick essence—his seed staining her inner walls entirely and threatening to begin spilling down her legs.
"O-Ohhh!!!~"
Janet arched violently, her back lifting off the table as a sharp, filthy moan escaped her lips. The warm liquid pulsing in her entrails made her shudder to the bone. Her breath caught, and her eyelashes fluttered wildly as she felt her soul nearly leave her body
Like a lightning bolt striking her spine and thunder roaring in her head, a torrent of pleasure Crashing over her along with her climax. Her sex Clenched furiously, releasing an Overflowing flood of her own juices.
Any final exclamation died in her throat as her world began to spin out of control.
Janet collapsed onto the table, gasping with ragged, erratic breaths. Like a puppet with cut strings, her sweat-slicked body surrendered to exhaustion.
With glassy eyes and her chest still trembling, she watched with morbid fascination as John spread her legs and began withdrawing from inside her. His burning cock, still erect and throbbing, slid slowly between her sensitive lips… until, with a wet, obscene "Slrch," their union broke.
Like a dam bursting, Janet felt his thick, viscous seed begin spilling out—gushing from her pussy in torrents and sliding down between her ass and thighs. A broken, discontented sigh escaped her as she felt his warmth leaving her—a sudden emptiness that pierced her belly in an almost unbearable way.
With the little strength she had left, she clenched her legs shut as tight as she could, as if that might stop his seed from continuing to spill.
'This is bad.' As clarity returned to his mind, John realized what he had just done and, with a pale face, he stared at the white liquid staining the pink folds between Janet's legs.
He had let himself go too far; Janet had completely surprised him with her unwavering resistance, making him ignore all else as he irresponsibly lost himself in pleasure.
'If she gets pregnant…' just the thought was enough to make his heart skip a beat.
'Clea… surely she has a solution, right?' If not even magic could fix this, John was seriously considering moving to another planet.
'Wait… would I really do that?' He might be trash, but even he had principles… at least he'd leave her child support before he left.
'Yeah… none of my children will suffer from debt!'
Deciding not to stress about things that hadn't even happened yet, John lay down beside Janet, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and drawing her close.
If his calculations were correct, there were still two hours until dawn—they could cuddle for a while before they had to leave.
Resting her head against his chest, Janet looked up at him with bright eyes, oblivious to all the nonsense he had been thinking; then she let out a tired sigh and closed her eyelids, surrendering to sleep, her energy completely depleted.
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Note:
Writing this took too long, I did the best I could. Feel free to leave your feedback.
Given its length, there might be some unforeseen grammatical errors that I may not have noticed before posting.
Please, if you spot any, let me know so I can correct them.
Normally, I'd say more, but I'm exhausted. I'm sorry I haven't posted as many chapters these days; I underestimated how much mental energy this would take.
Remember that if you want to support me, you can do so through my Patreon ( patreon.com/EmmaCruzader )