Another new story. Yay! Hopefully this one is good. And "Malyutka" is lost one in Russian, I believe.

Malyutka

Chapter 1: Rescue

Living on the streets isn't fun, no matter what anyone says differently. Surrounded by drugs, alcohol, hookers, and other trash. Nicking wallets, stealing food, it's a hard way to live. Many that get thrown onto the streets have no clue about survival. They usually end up in shelters.

I know, though. I know how to survive. My parents died when I was ten years old, seven years ago. I had no overly welcoming relatives, and I didn't want to live in a foster home, so I became one of the street crowds. Unwillingly, of course, but nonetheless.

Now, with the Avengers flying around saving the day, the streets of Manhattan were filled with less crime. Being Manhattan, it will never be fully free, but it's a nice thought.

I myself find it interesting. The Avengers, a group of assassins, spies, super soldiers, demigods, and scientists. Captain America, a 1940s WWII super soldier unfrozen from the ice, is the leader, the first Avenger. Tony stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. Also the son of the man who created Captain America's super serum, and is the great Iron Man. Black Widow, a world-renowned spy. Hawkeye, S.H.E.I.L.D assassin. Bruce Banner, a famous scientist with an awesome ability to go green and angry. Last, but certainly not least, Thor Odinson, Asgardian god of thunder. He also wields a very large and very powerful hammer that only he himself can pick up.

I've only seen them on T.V., not in person. I saw not in Manhattan when Loki and his army attempted takeover.

Right now, I sat in a diner, watching Tony Stark talk about the construction of the new Stark Tower. I wasn't really paying attention, mostly just staring out of boredom. A warm body slid next to mine, and I jumped slightly. I turned, and then grinned. It was one of the only people I trusted, and for good reason.

"Hello, Jim."

"Hey, Wy!" I cringed. Jim insisted on calling me by my horrid nickname. "Jim, my name is Wynona, not Wy." I gritted my teeth. "If you continue to refer to me by that, I will return to calling you Jimbo." Now it was his turn to gasp indignantly. He glared. "You wouldn't." I stared back levelly. "I would."

He stuck his tongue out at my, and we returned to watching Tony Stark. Jim leaned his head on my shoulder, sighing. "He's sooo hot." I laughed. "Not really. I don't go for cocky geniuses. Especially ones with goatees. Not big on facial hair" I teased. Yes, Jim is gay. If that bothers you, fuck off. And yes, he has a major crush on all male members of the Avengers, aside from Dr. Banner.

"Oh yeah, that's right. You go for the sweet and bashful type." Jim shot back. "Shut up. Just because I like my guys sweet and nice doesn't mean they can't have a wild side." I bumped him with my shoulder.

Jim laughed before standing. Come on, time to go. Before the owner runs out of the place." I stood, using Jim for balance. We walked to the door in silence. He turned to me, grinning.

"If you won't let me call you Wy, I'm going to call you Nona!"

My eyes widened. "Never!" Jim chuckled, before falling silent. His brown eyes grew sad. I leaned against the door, waiting for Jim to speak. "You do know, you can stay with me, us, at any time, right?"

I nodded, a sad smile upon my lips. "I know. But no thanks. I can take care of myself." Jim's eyes shot downward. "I know. Believe me, I know. But, just know, you're welcome at any time." He offered once more. "Thank you. For that, I am grateful." I replied, truly grateful for Jim's offer.

Jim doesn't live on the streets, but he is like me; a thief. But Jim does something I would never lower myself to. He sells himself, his body, at times. When he and his 'family', can't afford certain necessities. Jim is like me, his parents died in the same fire that claimed my own. So his family isn't anyone actually related to him. It's a rag-tag group of kids and teenagers taken in off the streets that banded together for the sake of surviving.

Kenna, for instance. 15 year old daughter of 2 dead Marines that died in action. Her mother had been disowned by her parents long before Kenna was born, and her father's parents had died in a car crash the year before her parents died, so Kenna had none to depend on. Kenna and Jim are just two of a large group of people that depend on each other. Normally, I would accept Jim's offer, had it been any other night, but tonight it felt odd to accept.

The door opened from behind me, causing me to fall backwards, having put my full weight on the door, into a pair of strong arms. I looked up, and gasped. Beautiful, large, baby blue eyes peered down into my own jade green orbs.

"Miss? Are you ok?"

I started, the pretty eyes catching me off guard. With help from the hot blonde male holding me, I regained my balance. "Uh, thanks. And yeah, I'm ok." The male smiled at me, before entering the diner. Jim and I looked at each other, giggling. Jim then set out, headed towards downtown. I walked off in the opposite direction, just set on finding somewhere to go.

-just a little time break-

I soon got lost in my thoughts, completely unaware of my surroundings. I looked up; I had ended up in the dark side of town. I immediately knew I had to get out of there, and fast. I turned, to leave the way I came.

But apparently not fast enough. Within seconds I was surrounded by a group of disgusting, putrid, ugly men. Six in all, I thought.

"Lookie here boys. A pretty little lady, just ripe for plucking." One of them spat, grinning. Another stepped closer, leering at me. "I wan' 'a f'rst, cap." One drooled through a mostly toothless mouth. I grimaced. I wasn't scared, I could easily get out of the situation, but these men were just plain UGLY.

I sent a glare at each filthy pig, who then began dropping like flies. I stared, wide-eyed, at the 'cap' of the band of men. He stared back fearfully. I then sneered at him, his body hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

I then heard footsteps behind me, taking my mind off the strange incident.

"Are you okay?" A voice cried out.

I squinted into the darkness, trying to focus on a body. I stood in the light of one of the only working streetlights, making that much worse. "Who are you?" I questioned, still quite wary.

"Just some friendly neighborhood crime stoppers." The sound of a new voice mixed with the sounds of metallic feet hitting the pavement. A body appeared under the streetlight. …A red and gold body…?

The metal man must have noticed my confusion, and spoke once more. "You don't recognize me? How insulting. C'mon out Cap. Maybe she'll recognize you better." The garbled voice began to grate on my nerves, and I cringed at the word 'cap'. That was what one of the goons referred to their 'leader', as. Another body appeared, but this one was more startling than the other. This man was all Star Spangled Bannered up!

And then it hit me. Like a ton of rocks. In front of me stood two of the world's greatest heroes, Captain America and Iron Man! Obviously my observation skills had dimmed slightly.

"Oh now she recognizes us." Iron Man scoffs.

I felt woozy, so I held my hands against my head, hoping to calm the dizziness. I then fell forward, having lost my balance. For the second time that night, I was enveloped in a pair of strong arms. "Did you eat tonight?" I shook my head weakly, which made my head worse. "When was the last time you ate?" I shrugged.

That itself took the rest of my energy, and I fainted.