Calm before the Storm
Summer is winding down, and Steve can feel Autumn is just around the corner even now in early September. He is outside with a group of kids of varying ages… hell, they're all kids compared to how old he is… enjoying the warmth of the lazy afternoon out in the estate gardens. They are drawing the various plants to be found in this locale.
Steve had thought he would be of little use as an art teacher, but quickly discovered his analytical nature and patient attitude helped him connect with his charges. At first it started out with a few students following him around with sketchbooks then Steve had to come up with a lesson plan… of sorts… to actually try and 'teach' them something other than just sitting down and doodling. When he was younger, Steve learned to draw by blocking out shapes… so now when he looks at things, he sees shapes as well as planes and angles. It has become second nature to him and quite handy when he makes snap decisions before throwing his shield. He is trying to instill this way of looking at everything to his students. Steve noticed how those struggling to draw are now starting to grasp the basics and are actually improving in their doodles.
He then talked about color and how individual colors inspire moods, like how Blue calms while Red energizes. He then talked about how colors work in concert with each other, even altering the hue of one another in certain contexts. Now he can't help but look at the world differently yet again… only this time in terms of color and all the subtle nuances of varying shades. He finds it fascinating that Natasha's eyes would shift in color with her moods as she occupies his thoughts everyday. He hasn't seen her since she returned to the Tower with the others…
Steve understands that it is harder for her to move freely about now, but he just wishes that she'd come upstate for a visit. She does call him every night and gets Steve to talk about what is happening, how he is getting on with the various X-Men, and how much he misses her. He avoids talking about Bucky. Natasha tells him about the going-ons in the Tower… though both talk in vague terms… after all, someone maybe listening. Natasha does go into explicit detail about some of things she is going to do to him when they do finally get to see each other and Steve has dropped his Starkphone too many times to count because of such talk.
Steve shakes his head clearing his mind of such memories as he walks about looking at what each of his half-dozen students are drawing. Marie, who he learned is also know as Rogue to the rest of the school, is drawing a red rose that is growing up the archway to the garden entrance. She smiles shyly and blushes as Steve complements her good work so far. She has real talent and he has encouraged her to frame her artwork so as to hang it up throughout the school. Steve finds her mutation somewhat unfortunate especially in such a lovely young woman. He has treated her with the utmost respect she deserves as he gives her positive feedback and gentle encouragement… but he knows she has developed a crush on him that he will have to deal with at some point. The looks from a young man known as Iceman have been an indicator of this.
Steve then walks around and looks at what Colossus is sketching… a row of hastas that serve as a border around one flowerbed. Steve learned this young man's real name is Piotr Rasputin. He gave up on saying Colossus' name properly so he calls him 'Peter' when the young man starts to act out which isn't often around Steve.
There is a great deal of mutual respect between them because they've been sparring three times a week since Steve 'moved-in'. He has been tempering Colossus by having the young man teach self-defense to the younger students. Charles approved since it keeps Colossus' restless nature in check by giving it an outlet. The young man has proven to be respectful and helpful to everyone smaller than him. It warms Steve's heart as he thinks how Dr. Erskine would be proud of him for helping others find the good heart they have within.
Steve walks on and finds Kurt perched on a retaining wall focused intently on the indigo-hued columbines he is drawing… or attempting to. Kurt has been having trouble sketching with a regular No. 2 pencil, so Steve got him some charcoal sticks which are a little larger and longer. They fit better in Kurt's large three-fingered hands and he does rather well at drawing broader, lengthier subjects than those with lots of fine detail… like a columbine flower. Steve encourages Kurt to sketch one of the Japanese maple trees that are growing behind the flowers in the center of this flowerbed. Kurt nods and complies then uses the knife he is holding in his tail to sharpen the stick to a finer point as he turns to a blank page with his left hand.
This multi-tasking movement that Kurt does carries over into everything Steve has noticed. He has made it a point to spar with Kurt for one hour everyday in the late afternoon… and what a challenge Kurt has proven to be! Steve was worried he would hurt Kurt at first but then the indigo-skinned Mutant wound up teleporting around him in a dance-like way and Steve realized he had drastically underestimated the blue devil. Steve had to put his back to a wall, literally, just to defend himself. He managed to catch Kurt off guard ten minutes in and punched him in the solar plexus just hard enough to stun.
Ever since that first sparring match… Steve has had Kurt come at him armed with three knives, one in each hand plus his tail. The sparring sessions last the whole hour with Steve in the defensive until Kurt tires enough to get sloppy then Steve ends it. Both always wind up walking away with minor injuries. Steve gets cuts while Kurt gets bruises… yet they both come out even better skilled for the experience.
Steve walks over to a studious looking Dr. McCoy, who sits in twice a week until lunch time… claiming the sketching relaxes him. He has his glasses on as he looks intently at an iris, sketching lightly with a light blue colored pencil in his right hand as he holds his small glass of Scotch-on-the-rocks in his left. His sketchpad is positioned on an easel as he sits perched at the end of a stone bench near the center of the garden.
The two men chat about the lovely late summer weather (thanks to Storm) while Hank sips at his adult beverage and draws. Steve has to admit… Hank puts him to shame when it comes to drawing realistically and Steve is really frigging good… so he strolls away before he starts to feel jealous. Steve can't hold anything against Hank though… the blue guy has been a tremendous help in figuring out how to be a teacher. If it wasn't for both Hank and Charles' help, well, Steve fears this art class of his would be more awkward than his first kiss with Natasha on that escalator.
Steve then approaches the young Asian girl who turned out to be a huge Hulk fan. She is doing a very stylistic rendering of sunflowers with her colored pencils like Hank with his irises. Her and Colossus both draw more 'cartoonish' works than actual realistic drawings. Colossus' style is more bold and clean cut with black outlines while Jubliee's is more flowing and open since she uses shading and darker colors to define her outlines. Steve has stressed they learn to draw realistically… and they can, but they always default to their personal styles. Steve stopped stressing a few sessions back and he is reluctant to admit that they are doing very well. He praises her skill all the same and moves on as she smiles at him.
Steve then comes to a young boy everyone calls Cipher. He is glaring his frustration at the rock he is attempting to sketch as Steve strolls up. He has found Cipher sitting in front of the huge flatscreen TV every morning. Steve has since learned the boy doesn't sleep and his mutation allows him to 'speak with' and control anything electronic. Appliances like the refrigerator, TVs, computers, vehicles of all types, phones, security systems… hell, the Internet even… all these things plus more are within his influence! This kid would be scary dangerous if he was learning anywhere else but here. So Steve had gotten him to join his Art class so he can have more one-on-one time with the boy.
"This would be funner if I could talk to the rock." Cipher grumbles as he scribbles on the page then huffs as he tosses the sketchpad and pencil to the side.
"It's not about talking to Nature, Art is about looking at Nature and seeing what is there then interpreting it onto the page." Steve says with a friendly smile as he slowly retrieves the pad and pencil. Remember what I said about shapes?" Steve then asks as he sits down next to the boy.
"Yeah." Cipher says meekly as he rubs the toe of his sneaker on the paving stones below his feet.
"Here… just look at the rock and see how it comes to a point up there then flattens back and slopes down the sides… it kinda looks like a leaning TV remote doesn't it?" Steve says as he points at the large stone sitting as the focal piece in a circular flowerbed.
"Yeah… or one of those old cellphones from the '80s… if you tilt your head just right to line that tree up over there to be the antennae." The boy says as he tilts his head to the side.
"I wouldn't know, Kid. I was on ice for that decade." Steve says with a chuckle as he mirrors the head tilt. He can see the boy's reasoning for the analogy though. "How about you draw that rock to look like either one of those things?" Steve suggests with a warm smile as he looks to the boy.
"TV remote it is… since TV seems to be the foundation of American life nowadays." Cipher says as he smiles at the joke.
"Just gotta find your angle, Kid." Steve says as he stands and ruffles the boy's shaggy hair. He walks on as Cipher eagerly starts to doodle a remote sticking out of the ground. Steve then finds himself thinking again of his past nearly three months here at the school.
One day, a week ago, Steve asked his students to design their own 'superhero' costumes. He told them to think on how it would look, if there would be armor or not, whether they'd have a cape or no, and what colors they would use. He allowed them three colors at the most.
Colossus drew up a rather well-rendered work of himself practically shirtless to showcase his metal skin as he hefts a boulder overhead. Marie/Rogue drew herself in a skin tight ensemble that she colored green and white with a stylish black and green hoodie jacket over her torso. As he had looked at each student's work though, Steve had come to realize they needed to learn proportions… and the best way to learn that is to study people. So he has his class of around a half dozen students plus Hank outside warming up on the plants… now that they've been out here for awhile, he is about to throw the curve ball at them.
"Okay, everyone… time to turn to a new page and gather around me." Steve says after another ten minutes. Everyone moves to take their new positions in the open courtyard at the center of the gardens. "I've got something new for you to draw today." Steve starts calm and collected… but deep down he is getting more and more nervous. He can't believe he is actually going to go through with this. As such thoughts start to spiral in his mind… Jean Grey, well now Jean Summers, comes out wearing a green robe with gold accents on the black trim. Everyone stops what they are doing and watches Jean curiously… though some of them watch intently.
"Mrs. Summers has agreed to help me teach you all about proportions on the female form. We will all be drawing her in various poses for the next hour, practicing quick sketching then we'll take a lunch break and return to do a lengthy singular pose to sharpen our skills." Steve says as he sets a timer for one hour while Jean removes her robe to reveal that she is wearing a green bikini with black and gold accents.
Steve adverts his eyes on instinct due to his manners, as Jean disrobes then she strikes a pose. She holds it for ten minutes then moves into a new pose and holds that one for ten minutes… she does this for the next hour. As Steve walks around inspecting each student's sketches, he can't help but look at Jean. He feels foolish for being so nervous about looking at her… though she is in rather flattering swim-wear.
'Man, swim suits are so much more appealing today than they were back in the '40s.' Steve can't help but think. Jean restrains a giggle but doesn't stop the smile on her face and Steve apologizes in his head for his 'observation'… after all, she is married to Scott and he has Natasha. So Steve lets it go, and as soon as he does… everything becomes less tense, less constrained. He just sees a figure waiting to be drawn. Jean shifts poses and Steve continues to walk and inspect his students' sketches then before too long… the timer goes off.
"Time for some lunch." Steve says as he silences the chiming timer and everyone puts their pencils away then leaves their sketchpads where they were sitting to mark their places. They move indoors making a beeline for the kitchen. Steve lingers as Jean slips her robe back on.
"We should run through a Danger Room session together tonight… if you aren't that busy that is?" Steve says as he approaches her. Jean looks at him and her eyes study him closely. Steve can feel the 'brush' of her mind on his thoughts. He just wants to gauge how she does in a battle situation which he has yet to see her in combat of any kind. He is wagering that she'd be formidable on her own.
"I shouldn't." Jean says and looks away as she shakes her head slightly.
"Why not?" Steve asks curiously and with some concern.
"Because if I let my powers loose, I'll attract too much attention to myself… and trust me… that isn't something we need right now." She replies.
"But if you keep restricting yourself, your powers will manifest in your sleep to a very noticeable degree. Me and Scott have talked about the lead up to San Francisco over four years ago." Steve says. He is genuinely concerned for her well-being as well as that of everyone else. "Him, Logan, and Xavier have told me all about this 'Phoenix Force' that possessed you… and you have told me about the woman named Phoenix. I understand-"
"You can't possibly understand what I went through. No one can." Jean says in a harsh whisper cutting over Steve's words sharply. Her dark green eyes bore into him and he feels the push from her combined telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Steve sighs and lowers his head.
"Let me rephrase that…" He starts then looks up at her as he uses his Captain's voice. "I know what it's like to suddenly be able to do impossible things… now my enhanced abilities may be a far cry from your own, but the point is the same… With great power, comes greater responsibility. So far, Jean… you are one of the most powerful Mutants I've ever met. You use your talents to help keep the basic things going around here.
"But you need to train for combat and focus on discipline so you can control your emotional self to do what needs to be done with a clear head. Please, let me help. I just need to see what you can do… then I can give you pointers to improve. So what do ya say?" Steve then asks as he finishes with a friendly smile. Jean considers his words for a moment.
"Okay… but it'll have to be after your class is over." Jean replies solemnly. Steve has a moment to consider this for he knows he has a sparring session scheduled with Kurt after class, but then he gets the idea of bringing Kurt to act as a wildcard.
"Alright. I'll see you after class then, Mrs. Summers." Steve then says as he nods to her and heads off inside to eat.
Later on that afternoon in New York City…
"This cannot be right!" Thor's booming voice echoes through the Common area. He and Clint are watching something on the History Channel about Ancient Egypt and aliens. Clint has made his opinion clear that he thinks aliens helping to build the pyramids is a load of shit… Thor on the other hand had went on and on about some alien race that Clint can't begin to pronounce who had had dealings with that region of Midgard for twenty thousand years then just stopped sometime around four thousand years ago… retreating from Midgard never to be heard from again.
"I still say Humans built all of it." Clint grumbles.
"I cannot vouch for that… but of what I am speaking of this instant is that." Thor says and points to the Sphinx. "My father told me and Loki of the Great Beast in the sands of Midgard when we were children. It was mighty indeed! With the body of a lion and the head of an eagle!" Thor goes on… and of course he never forgets to mention Loki even if it is only in passing. Clint rolls his eyes.
"Well they say it was recarved at some point thousands of years ago." Natasha says as she strolls in to check on the commotion. Bruce, Jane, and Selvig are busy working on the 'Starkgate' and Tony is busy in his lab working on that project as well or something else… it's hard too tell since he tends to lock everyone out of his sanctuary.
"So did your dear ol' dad do his share of traveling the Nine Realms too?" Natasha asks curiously of Thor.
"Aye, Lady Natasha. Odin was known as the Wanderer in his youth until his brother Cul died in battle against Trolls on Nornheim… then my father and his younger siblings Tyr and Freya returned to Asgard. That is when Odin became King and All-Father." Thor then pulls out something that looks like a wallet but it is solid gold. He unfolds it until it opens up to reveal a large painting… a portrait of what looks like Thor standing tall and stern with a taller man to his right with a broader build and reddish brown hair and a woman with raven hair and piercing blue eyes to his left. They are all dressed in their finest armor and leathers.
"Holy shit! It's Xena!" Clint exclaims as he does a double take of the painting. He is starring at the woman with surprise.
"That is my Aunt Freya…" Thor says as he looks at the woman in the painting more closely. "Though after watching that show with you, Archer, I must say you are right… there is a resemblance."
"She looks a lot like someone else we know…" Natasha says flatly and the two men look to her curiously. "Loki." Clint is confused but Thor frowns and looks away.
"Aye… that is no coincidence either." Thor says solemnly. He sighs then looks at the painting once more. "After Loki fell from the Bi-Frost… my father told me everything concerning my brother's parentage. Loki is half-Jotun and half-Aesir. His true father was Laufey, last King of the Frost Giants… and his true mother… was my Aunt Freya." A silence falls over the trio then… only the sounds of the TV disrupt the somber mood.
"So you and Loki are cousins." Clint says then gives a dismissive shoulder shrug.
"That maybe so… but I will always see him as my little brother. Nothing can change that." Thor says sadly and the pain is written upon his features.
"I guess his killing spree here on Earth was nothing then." Clint says with some heat as he stands.
"That tested my bond with him… but he reproved his prior actions by aiding in the battle against Malekith. Loki died with Honor. I shall strive to live doing the same." Thor says a bit testily as he too rises.
"One good deed doesn't erase all the bad." Natasha says flatly to Thor as she fixes him with a stern glare.
"Aye… but learning from those past misdeeds and moving forward to seek amendment is a good start. Wouldn't you agree, Lady Natasha?" Thor says a bit calmer as he turns to fix Natasha with a look. Natasha flinches for a split second. Thor doesn't notice it, but Clint does. Those words hit a little too close for comfort with her.
"Are you sure he wasn't lying the whole time?" Natasha says icily. Thor's eyes narrow on the redhead.
"His final words were no lies. He muttered his apologizes and declared he had done his last great trick for our mother, Frigga." Thor says and his eyes shimmer with unshed tears though anger paints his handsome face.
"Is this a bad time?" Tony suddenly says as he comes strolling in looking at the three standing around the couch area.
"We were just talking about He-Who-Must-Never-Be-Named." Clint says speaking up as Thor and Natasha continue to stare one another down.
"Ahh… I see. Well enough about Professor Snape." Tony says dismissively as he strolls through the open space. "Clint, I need you to head out and give this new toy to Peter." Tony says as he stops before Hawkeye. "Suit-up and make it a business venture." Tony adds as he hands a key on a key chain with Spider-Man's logo on it in red and dark blue to the spiky haired blonde.
"What the hell is this to?" Clint asks as he holds the key out.
"Glad ya asked… follow me, Hawk Boy." Tony then says and Clint follows. They go up to the quinjet hanger which Tony has been calling 'The Garage' and then Tony comes to stop in front of a sleek looking bike. "Ta-da!" Tony says as he pulls a jazz hands maneuver.
"A bike? You're giving that kid a bike?" Clint asks incredulously as he inspects the ride. It is black with red accents and chromed webbing on the tank and back fender.
"This sweet baby can go fast enough to climb walls. It even has handy web-shooters built in at the base to create a line to ride on. See the grooves in the tires?" Tony says as he gets into his zone at explaining the features.
"Yeah?" Clint says as he takes a closer look at the front tire.
"Those ride the web line and they can even split out and it will become a four-wheeler if need be that can move on any terrain." Tony says with a grin.
"I am so jealous right now." Clint says while looking at the bike.
"If you're good… I'll make you one as well, Birdie." Tony says.
"Mine's gotta fly though… that's the one stipulation I have." Clint says as he straddles the bike and gets a feel for the seat and handlebars. "Oh yeah, I like this. Mine will also require an autopilot so that I can shoot as I go." Clint then adds as he sits back and tests his aim.
"Enough gabbing. Pete's on the West Side. Oh and if ya wanna drop a web line…" Tony says as he points down at the spider logo on the top of the tank. "Press that."
"Give me ten minutes to go down and get suited up-"
"No need to go down when the suits are already here." Tony says as he walks over to the back wall of the hanger. He presses his thumb to a button and two doors slide apart to reveal his Iron Man suit. "Try your luck, Hawkeye."
"This is definitely the one thing I love about my job…" Clint says with a smirk as he looks at Tony while pressing his thumb to another pad a couple of meters away from Tony. "All the coolness of James Bond… in real life." He grins as his suit, quiver, and retractable recurve bow appear from behind a pair of sliding doors.
"Are you saying I'm Q?" Tony asks and blinks rapidly in feigned offense.
"Well, I am one of the Super Spies/Assassins, remember? And you are the Tech Guy… though Q ain't got nothin' on you." Clint says through his smile.
"Alright, I can live with that." Tony says as he wiggles his head after considering the comparison for a few seconds more then turns away to look at something else. Clint chuckles as he looks back at his suit then steps inside to change.
Steve, Colossus, and Kurt are on their way to the Danger Room down in the second subbasement. They are all dressed in sweats and tight t-shirts. Steve's shirt is blue with a white star on the front, Colossus' shirt has no sleeves and is a deep red, and Kurt's is black with a big red 'V' going from his shoulders to his navel. Steve has his shield and Kurt is has strapped his knife belt on for the small dagger at his lower back and the two side sheathes secured around his thighs by straps above his knees for the slightly longer fighting knives. The sheathes on his thighs will act as added protection when Kurt fights. Colossus comes bare handed.
Steve and Colossus enter the Danger Room and see Jean standing there in her new X-Men uniform of black leather with green accents on her upper arms, outer thighs, and sides. There is gold trim and gold zippers… real gold since it isn't magnetic.
"I feel a little under-dressed now." Steve says with a smile as he takes his stance. Colossus takes his stance as well after metaling up. "Let's begin!" Steve says as he throws his shield and Colossus rushes in… but the shield stops midway and Colossus freezes in place.
"I told you… I don't need to this." Jean says as she just stands there and looks at Steve. Him and Colossus both then feel themselves being drawn up and frozen into place by an unseen force. Only their eyes move as they breathe.
"Very good." Steve says impressed. "This is an excellent way to deal with a frontal assault." Kurt then teleports in directly behind her. He moves to tag her in the back with the pommel of his left knife, but he freezes mid-stab. Jean then calmly steps forward.
"As I was saying… I don't need this." She says sadly then lowers her eyes and blinks. Steve, Colossus, and Kurt are able to move of their own accord then.
"Still… it never hurts to spar." Steve says to her as he offers out his hand. "You did better than what I was expecting." Jean looks at his offered hand then slowly takes it and they shake hands.
"Thanks." Jean says and smiles… then a distant look fills her eyes as she zones out for a second. "The Professor wants to speak with you… in Cerebra." She says gravely to Steve.
"Alright. I'm on my way to him." Steve responds then turns away and leaves. Steve enters Cerebra as the doors open at his approach. He walks with his shield on his left arm dressed as he is to meet with Charles Xavier who is removing the skullcap and turning his hover chair around to face the Super Soldier.
"I have some troubling news." Charles starts and his face is grim. "It seems our target has caught on to my prying early on. They have moved much but there are two things there of interest… your old friend, Bucky, and an alien weapon which was first seen in the hands of a certain Norse Legend."
"They have Loki's scepter?" Steve asks as this is the first time he has heard of it being there… in the hands of Hydra. Of course, it wouldn't get destroyed! The government keeps everything of interest for future study, so they can replicate it. Steve frowns as he thinks on that for a second.
"They are planning on using it to unleash the Phoenix. We must got it away from them and-"
"Destroy it. None of this 'lock it away' crap." Steve cuts into Xavier's words using his Captain's voice. "Don't worry… we'll stop them. I need to make a couple of phone calls and suit up, but I'm going to need Storm, Logan, Scott, Kurt, and Colossus to suit up as well… Jean's already dressed and ready to go. We'll be heading out as soon as my three show up."
"Very well then, Captain." Xavier says with a nod and he stares off for a split second then blinks and adds, "But I'm not sure we possess the power needed to destroy that scepter. We may have to seek outside help in that matter."
"Who do you have in mind?" Steve says still in his Captain's voice.
"You shall soon see." Charles says with a playful glint in his blue eyes. He can tell Steve isn't fully trusting in that claim, but he is willing to give Charles the benefit of the doubt.
"Very well then. I've got some calls to make." Steve says and walks briskly from the Cerebra Chamber.
Natasha had slipped away from Thor in the Commons before their conversation could go any further. Tony was the perfect distraction too. She really doesn't want to get into an argument with Thor over Loki, but such a thing seems predestined since every conversation they have had nose dives in that direction. So she has avoided Thor purposefully since he arrived, but that is getting harder and harder as the days go on.
If Loki had meant what he said, then he really did want to die. Only those truly wishing to die would rush out ahead screaming 'Here I am! Kill me! Kill the monster!'… was that really Loki all along? Suicidal? She knows what that is like… she also knows what the urge to survive is like as well…
'No.' Natasha narrows her eyes as she thinks. 'There is one single truth I know about the deposed prince…Sure, he has a constant need for attention… but his magic works best when there are no eyes on him since it's based in quantum physics. The Vikings got a few things right as well… Loki is a contradictory, manipulative bastard. Too bad he isn't funny… then he might actually be amusing.' Natasha then smirks at the thought but then her face is schooled back into her mask. 'Instead, he was just a pathetic child.' She then thinks. Her Starkphone rings playing out the crescendo to the classical song '1812'. It's Steve… she made this his ringtone because it amuses her and the quick tempo gets her heart to quicken like when he's close.
"Yes, Rogers." She answers coolly in her husky tone though she allows the smile to bleed in.
"Natasha… Suit up. I need you and Hawkeye here. We are 'Ready for the Siege'." He says using the code term they agreed upon when he last seen her in person.
"Yes, sir, O Captain… my Captain." She replies playfully and hangs up… every second counts so she quickly slips into her catsuit and loads up her guns, ammo, and throwing knives. "JARVIS inform Clint that he needs to suit up and meet me in 'The Garage'." She says as she checks her Widow Bite gauntlets and places a dagger in each boot.
"He has already suited up, Miss… but I am afraid he is out of the Tower at the moment." JARVIS replies coolly from the ceiling.
"Call him, txt him, just tell him he needed to be here five minutes ago." Natasha says as she leaves her apartment. The door locks automatically behind her and she walks briskly towards the elevator.
"Mr. Barton will be arriving at the Tower shortly. I have informed Mr. Stark to tell Mr. Barton of your urgent need, Ms. Romanoff." JARVIS then says as she gets into the elevator and heads up going straight for the hanger floor. She rolls her eyes at the thought of Tony now knowing that her and Clint will be heading off to help Steve. Walking over to the quinjet, she double-checks everything then checks the supplies on the quinjet. Nearly ten minutes later and Hawkeye comes hurrying on board.
"I swear you'll be late for your own funeral." Natasha says with a smirk as she eyes Clint.
"Sorry, running a Stark errand. You know how those tend to go." Hawkeye says as he seats himself in the pilot seat and starts flicking switches to power up the quinjet's systems. He activates the invisi-shielding then presses the vertical take off button and throttles up as Natasha buckles in next to him in the cockpit.
"You know I do." She says casually as they lift off and head out through the now open hanger doors. They fly low enough over the city to be under the air traffic yet high enough to avoid helicopters and other low-fliers. In less than two minutes they are zooming north out of the Big Apple towards the Xavier Institute further upstate.
"I bet you're excited to see Steve again." Clint says with a knowing smirk as he chances a glance at her. She smirks.
"I am… it's just too bad I won't get to enjoy my time with him until we get back." She says in her husky tone as she deepens her smile. Clint goes silent for a few minutes after that.
"Steve is a good guy, Nat." Clint then says his voice going serious. "And… he is good for you… in that he will be able to help you be honest with yourself. It's taken me ten years to realize I can't be that for you. I was just meant to show you a better way by giving you a third option that day in San Francisco. I just want you to be happy… that's all." Clint then finishes and goes silent. Natasha is her topical stoic self next to him. Clint then sighs.
"Well, since I got that off of my chest… can we be friends again?" Clint then asks and gives Natasha a curious look.
"We'll always be friends, Clint." Natasha says warmly to him and he looks over to see her smile. It makes him smile in return… and for the first time since Clint's hostage moment, it feels like things are back to normal.
"I guess that means no more benefits between friends then, huh?" Clint says jokingly as he hedges a nervous chuckle.
"You know we haven't done anything close to that in years." She says and gives him a pointed glare. Clint sighs once again.
"I know." He replies a bit sadly. They continue on in an easy silence.
Steve is outside on the edge of the field suited up and ready to go as the quinjet appears suddenly overhead when the stealth mode goes off. He smiles excitedly as the rear door lowers and Natasha steps out. Her hair is shorter, much like it was when they fought side-by-side against the Chitauri over two years ago… and of course she is in her form-fitting catsuit. He notices the changes made to it as he rushes up and catches her in his arms.
"I like your hair. It's lovely." Steve says then captures her lips with his before she can reply with more than a smirk. The kiss is heated but mostly chaste. They pull away and smile at one another.
"I missed you too, Captain." Natasha says low in her seductive husky tone. She rubs her thigh just right at the juncture of his thighs and Steve can feel his blood rushing to his lower body instantly. He squirms a little with her in his arms and Natasha just grins at him.
"Hey now… we've got a mission to run first." Steve says trying to use his Captain's voice but it breaks at the beginning.
"And after it… do I get to do whatever I want to you?" Natasha says in a near-whisper as her voice gets perfectly sexy. Steve flushes a bright red instantly and stammers out his reply.
"Um, ah, yeah, yeah." If Steve was holding his Starkphone, he would've dropped it by now.
"You love it when I'm on top." Natasha says as her lips curl into a knowing smirk that causes Steve's heart to race. Her eyes are green he notices… meaning she's in a really good mood.
"You know it." Steve says trying to regain his composure and he kisses her once more. Soft and sweet.
"Get a room you two." Hawkeye says chuckling as he walks past. They just look at the archer as he walks away towards the school.
"He seems to be in a better mood." Steve says.
"He and I talked… we're on speaking terms again so everything is almost 'right as rain'." Natasha says and then Steve leads her towards the school.
"That's good to hear." Steve says with a smile.
A/N: This chapter runs parallel with chapter 1 of my Tangled Webs Spider-Man fic. If you are curious to know Spider-Man's reaction then feel free to check that fic out :)
I do hope this has peaked your interest, Reader. More to come.