The wind was vindictive as it gusted around Taylor, threatening to throw her off the roof. In reaction, Taylor curled in on herself, trying to keep from being blown away. Her hood fluttered, the fingers of the wind snatching at it.

Overhead clouds skittered across the night sky decorating the city in dancing shadows. Counteracting the blueish moonlight was a glow from the narrow skylight below Taylor.

Members of the Fitzpatrick crime family moved around a table laden with papers. Pivoting around the window like a hand on a clock, Taylor could see different sections. There was a blueprint at one end, a schematic in the middle and a tangle of other intelligible papers that Taylor couldn't decipher on the other.

Every time she tried to get photos of the blueprints men would block her view. Growling in frustration and growing tiredness, she wanted to scream at everyone to stop moving!

The second the thought popped into her head, the solution followed. Retreating from the view of the skylight, she typed away at her phone, the wind howling in her ear.

"You awake?"

As she waited for a reply, she hugged her jacket tighter around her, wishing the wind wasn't so ferocious. After a minute in which she wasn't sure an answer was going to come at all, she got a reply.

"Yeah. Y?"

Taylor pressed her back against the edge of the roof, ducking over her phone.

"Are you alone in your room?"

This time the answer was immediate.

"Yeah. Again y?"

Taylor didn't bother with answering, instead she stood up and popped out of existence. The relief of being out of the wind's clutches made her sigh as she landed in Dominic's room. He sat on his bed in only a pair of sweatpants, rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes.

When he looked at Taylor, she could see that he had been on the verge of dropping off, the only thing keeping him from doing so was the open book on his lap with an old photograph sticking out of the seam.

"If you're here to seduce me you should have worn something more revealing," Dominic said.

Taylor frowned at him and rubbed feeling back into her arms.

"What? Why would you think that?"

"Why would you ask if I was alone and show up in my room?"

"Cause I need your help," she said.

"That's original." Dominic dragged a hand down his face and leaned his head back against the wall, eyes droopy. "What do you need?"

"I need you to use your Time Stop."

"What? Now?"

"Yes."

Dominic grabbed his phone and glanced at the screen. "Taylor, do you know what time it is?"

She shrugged. "Nighttime."

"Yes, almost morning, technically. Can't this wait? We have school tomorrow?"

"No, it can't. I really need your help." She could see him about to resist and talked on. "Come on, Dominic. Don't be Elizabeth Bennett and sit on your a-"

"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "Just let me get changed."

He flipped the book closed and tossed it aside. Before Taylor could spy what he was reading, he stood next to her in an all-black outfit. He held his arms out to the side.

"Where and what are we doing?" he asked.

"We're going to test a theory," she said. "If it doesn't work then you can come back and go to sleep." She placed her hand on his arm. "I need you to take us into the Time Stop and hold it while I teleport."

Despite the half-asleep state, Taylor had found him in, he perked up at this.

"Okay," he said.

The world stopped moving. Taylor nodded and in a blink they were gone. When they returned to the rooftop everything remained frozen. The wind stilled and the hum of the city muted. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

"It worked, good."

Dominic gazed around as if he was surprised by this fact. Then his brow wrinkled with confusion.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"The rooftop to a crime family's hideout."

Dominic whipped his head around to stare at her. "What? You can't be serious!"

"Why would I lie?"

Dominic glanced around as if men with automatic guns were going to jump out of nowhere.

"Why the hell are we here?" he asked.

"Cause I need to take pictures of stuff and you're going to help me."

Dominic ran a frantic hand through his hair. "This is insane."

Taylor eyed him. "Can you help me or not? Cause this is important. I wouldn't have asked if it wasn't."

Dominic released a shaky breath and nodded. "Yeah, I can help you."

For a long moment, Taylor stared at him gauging whether that answer was truth or feigned courage. She gripped his arm.

"Look, I need you to have my back. If I suddenly appear among them...I could probably get out fast enough, but I'm not sure. I need you to be able to do this."

As she said it, Taylor realized how completely senseless this plan was. She was willingly putting herself among thugs that wouldn't think twice about killing her. The only defense she had against them was her ability and the last time she had gone up against a member of the crime family she had been punched.

"I can do this," Dominic said, his voice reassuring.

She swallowed, now the one doubting this task. When he saw that she was frozen, he jostled her shoulder.

"Hey," he said. "Are you okay?"

She nodded but the gesture was stiff. "Yeah." The word came out as a tight wheeze. She cleared her throat. "Last time I faced one of these guys it didn't go well. I got punched."

Dominic's eyes darted to the healed spot on her cheek.

"So not an ex-boyfriend," he said. 

Something about the comment helped Taylor stay rooted in the present. She let out a weak laugh.

"Yeah, not an ex-boyfriend."

"Okay, well I got your back."

Inhaling slowly, she let go of his arm. The world rushed back, the wind more vicious in contrast to the stillness they had just faced. Dominic took Taylor's hand and squeezed it. She squeezed back but dropped it.

"I will need my hand," she said.

Understanding, Dominic took hold of her upper arm. She pulled out her phone.

"Will the camera work on this?" she asked.

In answer, he took it, made everything stop once more and handed it back to her.

"Now it will."

Clutching the phone, Taylor edged forward to get a look at the room below. The men were statues, hovering in the midst of conversations and gestures. A cloud of smoke hovered over one man. The tip of a cigarette glowed red, ash crumbling from the end. Steeling herself, Taylor glanced back at Dominic.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said, his firm hold on her arm echoing the statement.

Not knowing whether this was pure insanity, Taylor held her breath and dropped them into the room at a far corner. They stayed there, taking in the scope of where they were.

The room was three times the size Taylor had imagined, space branching out on all sides. On one end were crates all stacked around each other. More tables surrounded by men filled up another section. Everywhere she looked there was someone who looked like they could snap her in two. Even without scowls and tight clothes to show off their muscles they were intimidating.

Heart pounding, Taylor took a single step forward, Dominic moving with her. When none of the men spun around and started shooting them, she took another. With each inch gained, she felt a bit of her fear lessening. She edged deeper into the room, the thought of helping Weston spurring her on.

When they approached the table, their progress slowed as they wedged themselves around petrified men. Taylor lifted her phone and began taking photos. She barely registered what she was seeing, focused on getting as many as she could. As they made their away down the length of the table, she snapped pictures of the men's faces, not knowing if this could help Weston either.

They were rounding to the far end and Taylor was ducking beneath a man's outstretched arm when he looked up and caught sight of his face. Fear gripped her and she stumbled back into Dominic. He held her against him, tensing with unknown panic.

"What?" he asked. "What is it?"

Taylor shook her head, thoughts failing her. Vincent was reaching out to a companion, his face trapped between words. Even though there was no anger in his countenance, all Taylor could feel the impact of his fist.

"Taylor, talk to me," Dominic said, tightening his hold.

Again she shook her head. "It's...that's the guy who..."

"Wanna get out of here?"

Taylor relaxed, bolstered by Dominic's presence.

"No, I can do this," she said.

When she took a step forward, Dominic released his hold around her, just leaving his hand on her arm. Ignoring Vincent as best she could, she captured the contents on the table before him. After taking photos of the crates and what lay inside, she tucked her phone in her pocket.

With a thought, she whisked them away to safety. After they settled on the rooftop - she always used - Dominic let go and bent over his knees, breathing deeply. The wind raced around them bringing with it all the noise of the city.

Taylor buried her face in her hands, trembling but not sure whether it was from fear, shock or astonishment. Maybe it was from all three of them colliding. Dominic raised his head, shaking.

"Did we seriously just do that?" he asked, disbelief lacing his words.

Taylor lowered her hands and a bubble of laughter fell out of her mouth. She clamped her hands over her lips but the laughter bounced around her chest making her shiver.

"That was crazy," she said, still trying to contain her uncontrollable laughter.

Unable to fight it, she started laughing in earnest, her blood rushing with adrenaline. Dominic stared at her, his lips twitching. When she didn't stop, he joined in, the shock wreaking havoc on their nerves. Taylor stumbled, lost balance, and hit the hard surface, clutching her stomach. Dominic staggered and leaned against the ridge of the roof, tears streaming down his face.

When Taylor felt a tug in her stomach, she thought it was only a cramp from laughing so hard. As the feeling intensified, she swallowed, reining in her giddiness. She locked eyes with Dominic, seeing as he registered the same sensation.

"Want to do it again?" she asked.

He grinned. "Hell yes."

Pushing herself up, Taylor crossed over to him and took his hand. The world became motionless and they disappeared. When they reappeared, they both gazed around, trying to find the source of the problem. When nothing jumped out, they moved further down the street. As they rounded a corner block, they saw what had drawn them there.

In front of an ATM was a woman being held at gunpoint by a hooded figure. Desperation and ferocity were plain as day in the attacker's shadowed eyes. The woman was bent over, reaching to retrieve her fallen purse, tears caught halfway down her face. Taylor and Dominic strode forward but paused as they surveyed the scene.

"How do we handle this?" Taylor asked.

"How do you usually?"

"I pop up beside the guy, startle him, jump to the other side and take his gun. If I'm fast enough sometimes I can get cuffs on him."

Dominic eyed her, surprised. "You carry around a pair of cuffs."

"Yeah."

She pulled out a set from her back pocket. Dominic looked from the cuffs to the attacker, running through a plan.

"Alright, we're going to take the guy's gun and then you're going to cuff one of the guy's hands and attach the other side to that fire hydrant." 

They moved over to the assailant, but Taylor paused, struck by a thought.

"Won't he be pulled into the Time Stop if I touch him?"

This made Dominic grimace. He scratched the top of his head, looking the man up and down. For his part, the man remained exactly where he was, unresponsive to Dominic's appraisal.

"Okay, well just try not to touch him, if you do we'll move fast."

Taylor nodded, but her heart kicked up speed and she felt as adrenaline coursed through her system.

"I really hope this doesn't end with either of us getting shot," she said.

Dominic gave a shaky laugh that told her he was thinking the same thing. Swallowing, she reached out and took hold of the gun's barrel. The metal was solid and dense underneath her fingers, speaking of the power it held in it.

Beside her, Dominic stopped breathing as he watched her. At first, it seemed the mugger's grip was too strong, fingers like stone wrapped around the handle, but Taylor wiggled the barrel, loosening his hold.

When it was fully in her possession, both Dominic and Taylor relaxed. She looked around for a place to put it. Spotting a ledge above the ATM, she tugged on Dominic's hand and crossed over, rising onto her tiptoes to hide the weapon.

"Now let's cuff him," Dominic said.

Taylor shook herself, nerves ricocheting inside.

"Okay."

With his free hand, Dominic held onto Taylor's arm before dropping her hand, giving her freedom. As she approached the man again, her breathing turned shallow, the hard glint in the man's eyes was unmistakable and as she stared into it, Taylor felt as if the man would come alive again and lunge at her.

"You got this," Dominic said.

She didn't answer, trying to remain in control of her spiraling emotions. Opening one end of the handcuffs, Taylor draped it over the man's still outstretched wrist and closed it, working to avoid making contact. When it was locked, she glanced at Dominic.

"He's going to come into the Time Stop for this next part, isn't he?" she said.

Dominic gulped, his own nerves spinning out of control inside him.

"Yes," he said. "I'm going to need to let you go. I can stay in the Time Stop and move him. He will be disoriented for a second, but I can't do that while holding onto you."

"Will you be okay?"

He nodded, but Taylor wasn't convinced. Before she could argue, Dominic let go. The world crashed back in around her, the wind buffeting her, making her falter. Panic shot through her like a bullet to the chest and she spun towards the fire hydrant ready to do anything to help Dominic.

But her help wasn't needed. The man was already kneeling beside it, cuffed. He shook his head dazed and looked around. Dominic was standing beside him, shaking with surprise. Taylor closed her eyes, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat. A gasp made her snap her eyes open.

The woman who had been recently been a victim gaped at the sudden development. Taylor rushed to block Dominic and the now swearing mugger. She raised her hands in a placating gesture.

"It's okay," she said. "We aren't here to hurt you despite what our clothes would suggest. Are you able to call the police and get help?"

The woman blinked, her eyes darting between Taylor and Dominic then to the man that had been holding a gun to her. At the sight of him and the harsh words he was spewing, she shrank back. Taylor turned to Dominic and motioned to the man.

"Can you do something about him please?" she asked.

Dominic punched the guy in the face, cutting off his tirade of cursing. Facing the woman again, Taylor smiled, trying to reassure the rattled woman. When it was apparent that the woman was going to be unresponsive for a time, Taylor pulled out her phone. It rang twice.

"What do you got for me, Shadow?" Weston asked.

"I wish a new name."

Weston laughed. "I'll keep working on it. What do you need?"

"Send a patrol to the ATM on the corner of Berk and Madison. The mugger is cuffed to a fire hydrant, the gun is on the top of the machine, and the victim is secure in her car."

"There's a car stationed a couple of blocks away, they'll be there in a minute."

"Thanks."

Taylor hung up and looked at the huddled woman. "Can you get in your car and wait for the cops? They will be here in a minute?"

Still shaken, the woman managed to open her car door and tuck herself inside. In the distance, Taylor heard the sound of sirens approaching. As she spun around to face Dominic, she found him pacing seemingly vibrating with adrenaline and excitement. With the danger passed, Taylor buzzed with energy, alive with the sensation.

When she spotted the flashing blue and red lights, she held out a hand. Dominic took it and they vanished back to the rooftop. Dominic dropped her hands and spread his arms out.

"That was seriously crazy!" he shouted, the wind snatching at his voice.

"Completely insane!"

"I mean we just did that! That was...we were..."

"I know!" Everything inside Taylor pulsed with adrenaline. She stared at Dominic her eyes burning with the fire of amazement. Her heart beat wildly. "You were amazing!"

Dominic pointed at himself. "Me? What about you? The way you got us into the room! That was freaking awesome!"

"No, not even close to how you dealt with that guy! One second I'm in the Time Stop and the next he was cuffed, I was terrified something happened."

Dominic paced, emotions rolling off him in waves. "I was terrified! I was half out of my mind as we were going around that room with all those guys. I thought for sure something would happen and we would be shot."

Taylor let out a laugh. "Same! When we first got in I thought that the Time Stop wouldn't last but it did."

Dominic stopped walking, staring at her wide-eyed with wonder. "I never thought we could do that! Did you think we could do that?"

"No! I never thought we could...that you and I..."

They stared at each other, breathing hard like they had sprinted a mile. The wind roared around them, but neither of them seemed to notice.

Then without knowing how it happened, the distance closed between them and they were kissing.

Taylor wrapped her arms around Dominic's neck, knocking off his hood as he gripped her waist. As the kiss deepened, every cell in Taylor exploded as the world around them completely vanished. Nothing else existed right then.

As suddenly as the kiss began it ended, both of them separating as if fully realizing what they had just been doing.

In the quiet, they remained there, breathing rapidly. Dominic glanced at Taylor's lips then back at her eyes. She watched, seeing as two sides of him were at war. Right then she didn't know which one she wanted to win.

When Dominic broke eye contact, all of Taylor's thoughts came flooding back and she knew what she needed to do. She took hold of Dominic's arm and his room appeared around them.

Before Dominic had time to utter a single word, Taylor vanished.

**********************************************************************

"And gosh darn it watch your language."

I'm sorry Tony I can't, not this time. OH HOLY MUDDLE MUFFINS AND A PUPLE PLATYPUS! DID THAT SERIOUSLY JUST HAPPEN!?!?! *faints*

Go ahead heroes, leave your own thoughts and wild exclamations while I try to revive myself with ice cream (naturally). 🦹🏼🦸🏿‍♀️🦸🏼‍♂️

Boy oh boy that was something! They finally become a super team to go muddle the waters with kissing. Oh dear oh dear, I don't know if this is good or bad. 😬

Alright you've witnessed the first kiss of the book where do you currently land (knowing full well you can jump ships at any times, after all this is a superhero book and you can be teleported places)

Team Clay. (Taylor and Clint)

Team Day. (Taylor and Dominic)

Team I'm-neutral-until-the-end-of-the-book-becasue-I-don't-trust-Joy-not-to-mess-my-ship-up.

(Also I like the ship names. But if you have different ones go ahead and let me know)

*Leans back in chair and watches as the crowd divides, grinning evilly* That's right my little readers, choose, choose and see how I will turn the world around. HahHAHAHAH!!!

(What can I say, we all have villainous sides, Sunshine Girl is no different)

Nonne scitis  (Latin): At the end of Thor the Dark World, Natalie Portman couldn't come back to film so Chris Hemsworth's wife placed the post credit scene.

Vote, comment, follow but only if you stand for shipping ships that ship love around the world!

Also theres drawings of Taylor were made by akraylingstar which one is your favorite?