bakerstreet | POWERED & SOURCE

POWERED & SOURCE

::Powered/SOURCE

a sci-fi au meme

50 years ago, or 75 years ago,or 20 - it's hard to recall such precise numbers in the haze and hardship - the world almost ended. While the timing itself is remembered by few, the event serves as a sharp divide of before the Fall and after. The Fall, in all its terrible and explosive splendor, sent societies spinning on their heads, no matter if its intimate nature are unclear. Once again, humanity has had to claw its way out of the primordial pit, all its achievements sent to ruin in the face of a nuclear flare. What little governmental structure remain amongst the survivors is tyrannical, but astute. When those in charge noticed that offspring of those who hadn't been killed by the Fall were beginning to be born with unique abilities, they chose not to persecute this "new generation." Instead, they jumped at the chance to have a homegrown army to protect the fragile rebirth of man, learning little from the old mistakes.

These gifted individuals fall into two categories: those with psionic powers and abilities used for offense and those who have healing and rejuvenating properties. Apart, these are interesting parlor tricks, with psionics, called Powereds, being about to move items with their minds for a few inches or pick up heavier ones they shouldn't be able to or healers, called Sources, fixing up superficial wounds. The true potential lies in when a Powered and Source are brought together, however. Each Powered has a Source that is their match and vice versa, the lock to their key, right down to the very genetics. When the right pairing made, a Powered can move mountains or create energy weapons beyond compare, a Source can provide near infinite energy to their Powered or even bring living beings back from the brink of death. To belong to either of these groups is a high honor. So high, in fact, that as soon as a child shows promise, they are whisked away by higher authorities to be matched with their lifetime Powered or Sourced and begin their training, where, despite the risks, they will find better living conditions and more resources than they could have ever dreamed of out in the desolate, dying world.

This pair grows up together, becoming dependent on each other. Even if their personalities clash, the pull in their very nature evens things out; it is, after all, a psychic bond that connects Powered and Sourced. Without the presence of their Source, a Powered might find themselves enraged or worried or unsettled. On the other hand, a lonely Source may become listless or despaired. As two is where they find complete harmony, and their unity shows in the combat or espionage skills.

On record, romance between matched pairs is strictly forbidden. Off the books, though, it happens more times than not, with two people growing up together virtually since childhood who are programmed to be co-dependent, and it is highly encouraged by those higher up due to abilities being strengthened through both emotional connection and physical contact. There's no risk in it, in their eyes, only gain as they can terminate a pair quite easily. A Powered is useless without a Source, so the ultimate weapon has a kill-switch...and a useful weakness for blackmail purposes There are always whispers in barracks of someone who's doing a task because their Powered's or Source's life is at stake.

Once battle training is complete, each pair is assigned to an eight-man cell, comprised of four matched pairs like themselves. What these teams do depends upon their skill sets and training levels, with anything from peacekeeping to public relations to assassination being on the dossier. Yet the imperative is for those on front line is clear: protect your Powered or Sourced at all costs, even on the backs of the others on your team.

Without them, you are useless. Without them, there is no place for you in this world.

tl;dr sparknotes this because we want to get to the meme: Sentinels and guides had a baby with YA dystopian lit. After a near extinction level cataclysm, people began to develop abilities that fall into two categories: Powered (sentinel/warrior) and Source (guide/healer). Their true powers are only revealed when they find their one genetically compatible match. A shadow government kidnaps these individuals, puts them into lifebonds, trains them for combat, then sends them out in teams to do all the dirty work. Codependency, mind-bonding, unhealthy love, and bloody murder probably ensue.

In the subject line, place your character name, canon, preferences, and whether your character will be a Powered, Source, or either. Reply to others! What will your character be doing? Being a late bloomer and only now meeting their partner? Training? On a mission? Enjoying some rare down time? Comforting their partner? Aftercare after the battle? Getting blackmailed? Climbing to the top of the ladder and infiltrating the government? Realizing their partner's getting a little too bloodthirsty? Falling in love with someone else's Powered or Source - absolute anathema. Facing certain death? It's up to you. Thread.

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Tony's head on the pillow, he kept his hands against the curve of the Powered's neck and gently pulled him down. "It's not cold when you're here," he replied, eyes following Steve's lips whenever he spoke. He was starting to find that he really enjoyed the way the scruff on Steve's cheeks and chin felt under his hands.

"Well maybe I'm cold," he teased lightly, though he really was pretty comfortable for now. He was just worried that when winter hit his body heat wouldn't be enough to keep them both warm.

He was content for now just to snuggle up against Tony.

Tony had lasted many years here without Steve's warmth. He was sure that they were going to be all right and he said as much as the pleasant weight of the other man pressed partially against him. His hands moved from his neck to his shoulders before he lightly pulled at the hem of his shirt.

They felt so good like this-- the addition of more skin would only make them feel better still.

He tilted his head and then shifted so he could pull his shirt off. He tossed it on the back of the chair across the room and settled back down against Tony.

It did feel wonderful. Steve couldn't argue with that and he wrapped his arms right around Tony in response.

Tony pulled the blankets up over Steve's shoulders and since his hands were there, he ran them, older and calloused but still gentle, down his spine between where the muscles of his back were tightest.

He even took a moment to nuzzle against Steve's throat. His lips followed, right to the underside of his chin. His ten year old self had never done this.

His own hands rub gently at Tony's lower back and he relaxed quite a bit into the man's touch. He could feel the man's lips brush his throat and skin. His ten year old self definitely didn't do that.

Steve took a slow steady breath and hummed lightly.

He breathed out slowly, the whole of his body aching for more than he could give it. Tonight was not for anything too deep-- He was trying to make it so at least, but Steve was responding in all the right ways.

Steve was incredibly fit and strong. His muscles rippled under the skin. It was growing warmer by the second at least.

The Powered smiled in the dark and tilted his head to lightly brush his lips across Tony's forehead. He didn't want to move too quickly either. They have plenty of time to sort things out between them. In the meantime, he explored the man's back and side with smooth, steady hands. While he might not have the muscles that Steve did, he was still remarkably fit. It made sense considering the environment he lived in.

Quietly, even though he hated to ruin the moment, he said, "We should get some sleep."

"I'm not tired," Tony murmured. And then yawned. Damn it. "Okay, I'm a little tired but I don't need to sleep right now." He could spend all night just cuddling with Steve this way. Another yawn came right after though and he groaned before he flopped over and dragged Steve's arm across his waist.

With the weather tomorrow suppose to be terrible so why not sleep in? He told JARVIS not to set the morning alarm. He wanted to dream for as long as he could.

He chuckled, because Tony's body was clearly betraying him and he was more than happy to rest an arm across the man's waist while they slept. Steve didn't know where this would lead but he thought it would be good. Great even. He was more than okay with sleeping in. The more he slept, the more energy he conserved and that was always a good thing.

"Good night," he murmured and it really wouldn't take him too long to fall asleep if Tony started keeping his hands (and mouth) to himself.

With his hands and mouth turned away from Steve, chances were good for a good night's rest. The next day was spent on the suit. And Steve's drawings if he wished. The following day was the same with the air quality still bad.

And then they could return to the government building where the library and the hospital was. As expected, they were immediately seized. He tried to warn Steve on the flight over. "They treat every visit like an invasion. Don't freak out."

Tony's warning to not freak out wasn't terribly reassuring. However, he trusted his Source and cooperated as he was grabbed. It would have been child's play for the Powered to get out of the grip but he stayed quiet. He would let Tony handle this one.

Of course, if one single thing looked off, he couldn't promise he wouldn't react.

They needed to be scanned. And questioned. Tony had a citizenship card but Steve did not. And Tony addressed that angrily. "How do you not keep records of ice men found frozen in the arctic and defrosted in your clinic?! That was three days ago!"

They asked him a lot of questions and he didn't know the answers to some of them. They were obviously skeptical of his personal data. His was born over fifty years ago and didn't look a day past twenty-five? It looked like he was lying or covering something up. They were suspicious enough without his answers making things worse.

Apparently, no one remembered Captain America.

"Our records indicate you kidnapped a John Doe from our clinic, Mr. Stark." Was the response he received. "One that we believe warranted further scientific study."

"Wanna know how much that is not gonna happen?" Tony growled, eyes flashing. "Do you really want to make me mad? No. You don't. You want to let me carry on my business and get someone that actually did something for our country a ration card. And you want my drones to keep dropping off ice."

He was in no mood for any of this and his temper immediately left the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.

He could kill them, slowly and painfully. No one wanted that.

The one that really didn't want any of that was Steve who was quietly listening as his Source told them off. He wasn't about to let anyone study him either. His blood and the serum were classified. They would just have to deal with it.

There was muttering and he could hear every word of their debate. He didn't interrupt, only listened and was unsurprised when they turned around to acquiesce. The problem for them was Tony and Steve held more power than all of them combined. "Very well, Mr. Stark. We do require him to have a citizenship card in the future."

"Then get him a citizenship card," Tony muttered. It was just so obvious to him. He didn't understand why there was a such a need for this idiocy. "Steven Rogers. With a v. No d in the last name. Born on July 4th."

He snorted, pocketing the ration cards they were given.

"Hurry it up. We'll be in the library."

"We'll have it ready when you leave."

They let Steve go and separated to give them space. He didn't have the heart to mention that those ration cards would never feed him. He couldn't take food from three other people just to feed himself. He didn't know what they were going to do but they needed to find a solution and sooner, rather than later.

He followed Tony as they headed for the library and he glanced around while they walked. "Will they let us take books out of here? They seem pretty strict."

"I don't usually ask permission for anything." He didn't have to when the world feared him. He'd heard that Dallas City-State had a pair of Powereds that they also completely let do whatever they wanted.

Tony was going to take as much as they could carry. Like hell was he staying here longer than he had to.

Well that certainly explained why the backpack he was wearing was mostly empty. Steve intended to get some books for entertainment too or even to learn more. It was going to be a long winter.

"It's amazing this place is still intact," he said.

"Stone structures survived better than anything metal," Tony confirmed as he headed towards the computer card catalogue. There was no internet but there certainly was a use for computers still.

Looking up agriculture was still a lesson in partial futility.

Just because the computer said there was a book didn't mean that one was actually there.

Steve peered over Tony's shoulder as the man searched the computer and frowned, because he was used to the real way.

"Agriculture used to be in the 600s somewhere," he offered helpfully, strolling in the direction of the non-fiction books. He was fine with Tony messing with the computer but he spent a ridiculous amount of time in libraries as a kid. He was good at finding things.

"In the--" The 600s? Tony blinked up at Steve, standing at his back with those painfully blue eyes of his. So kind. He felt a little bit like a child again.

Wetting his lips, Tony set his hand in Steve's.

"And you say I'm the genius," he said and tugged him to the proper section. There was no one else here but he still felt so proud. His Powered was above and beyond the rest.

"Yeah, I don't remember the exact number," Steve apologized, because he didn't exactly read books on farming, but he spent enough time in a library to have a vague sense of the numbering. "But if they didn't change it, that'll be pretty close."

He smiled as the man dragged him in that direction. He raised an eyebrow, "How am I a genius?"

"Just take the compliment, Captain," Tony grinned, pausing at the 600s section. As Steve suspected, there was quite a lot of books here...more than in any other section. Farming and agriculture? That had never been big in New York City. Less so now that everything was a wasteland.

Tony pulled some books from the shelf and handed them over before he took a stack for himself.

"Anything useable, we swipe."

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