Okay, so after watching Captain America: Civil War it has spurred me to re-write this story after so long. I originally intended to revise the story and make adjustments but now I feel like I have the mojo to rewrite this and make some even better than before :)

DISCLAIMER:

I do not own any of Marvel's characters or buildings I simply own my OCs and my plot line.

SPOILERS WILL BE IN THIS NOVEL FOR CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR! Don't say I didn't warn you :p

Four years after the events of Captain America: Civil War

Zoe's P.O.V

I leant forward on my crutches as the lift in Avenger tower pulled me upwards. This was probably the closest I'd ever be to Heaven after all I'd done. I was definitely a long way away from home, home being England - not Hell, surprisingly.

The lift itself was panelled with gold and elegant designs swirled on the ceiling. I couldn't have expected anything less from Tony Stark if I'm honest.

I leant back on the wall - my right leg, well my hip as that was all that was left of my right leg that was me - was aching. I guess getting blown up had a few disadvantages, temporary blindness etc... But I think it was the being blown off the edge of the cliff which did it for me. Of course, I'm not complaining, I mean look at the bright side, I flew for at least a whole minute before hitting the ground, well... Fell with style. Now after six months I was stuck on crutches, who knows maybe for the rest of my life. But I know others have it far worse than I do, then again they have it better they don't have to live one massive lie.

I flexed my right ankle - it moved just like any other limb but it felt different to me, foreign. No, it felt cold it was the limb of a mindless killer. I moved my jeans to hide the now glinting metal, no one could see what I was, what I had become. My leg which was no longer me. My blood wasn't either but- The lift pinged open as I shrugged the thoughts away. That was the past and this was the present, and who knows what the future would hold. I swung forward on my crutches into the empty living room. Well I could definitely say I was in the right place, there was no other Avenger tower in Manhattan.

"Surprise!" Sharon jumped out from behind a sofa. Great. Her blond hair perfectly tousled and a large smile on her face.

"I don't like surprises," I mumbled, pushing my hair out of my face. I needed a hair cut, my hair was nearly to my waist.

"Well tough, it's your birthday!" She embraced me in a light hug, her arms gentle and her body an inch from mine. She was being careful not to knock me over. What was I now, fine china?

"I won't break Sharon," I laughed, letting my crutches drop to the floor, pulling her closer. "See, it takes a lot more to break me - not bombs, not shrapnel, not war. I'm tough as nails."

"How are you going to stand now?" Sharon stepped back from me, holding my arms as if I'd fall over if she let go. If only she knew...

"I don't know." I winced as I straightened my right leg, putting weight on it. The pain actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. In fact, there was no physical pain at all, it was all in my head. I grinned. "Like this."

Sharon quickly picked up my crutches, sighing. "Has there been any progress with your leg?" She handed the crutches to me.

"It hasn't fallen off." I shrugged, taking the crutches off of her. "I can't ask for anymore or less."

"What have the doctors said?" Sharon brushed a golden strand behind her ear. More people were now emerging from their hiding places. Each pair of eyes watched me, it was a little unnerving. What happens if they saw through my lies? Saw me for who I really was? What happened if they figured out my secret?

"I don't go to the doctors anymore." I swung on my crutches, taking in the new faces, looking anywhere but at Sharon.

"Why?" Sharon's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hair line.

"One, I don't like doctors. Two, I don't like needles. And three, it was a waste of time." I leant on my left crutch, clearing my throat. "Besides as the doctor said -" I coughed putting on a posh voice "- there is nothing more we can do for you, I'm terribly sorry Miss Frost."

"Oh..." Sharon's face fell, her brown gaze falling to the floor.

"Oh yes." I twisted my right crutch on the floor. "I now live my life on crutches. There are bonuses though, I get lots of sympathy which means lots of free food."

"I'm sorry, Zoe." Sharon couldn't look at me, her blonde hair falling across her face.

"What are you sorry about?" I smiled. "You weren't the bastard that bombed me." I swung again. "Everything happens for a reason Sharon, whether that reason be clear or not, who knows..." I glanced around. "Not going to introduce me to your new friends?" She was uncomfortable with the subject, I couldn't blame her. Then again if she knew the truth I wouldn't be speaking her right now at all. She would have wanted nothing to do with me at all.

"Oh, right." Sharon looked to a tall blond man. "This is Steve."

"Hi Cap." I saluted him, wobbling. Strong hands were under my arms steadying me. I quickly grabbed my crutch, pulling away from them. Hopefully my cheeks weren't red. "Thanks," I muttered.

A tall, brunette walked past me his eyes glued to the ground. Hands thrust into his pockets, his lips a straight line. Wasn't that the winter soldier... I swear I heard someone mention he lived here now because everything had died down, what ever that 'everything' was. He'd come back from Wakanda, him and the king there were good friends...

"That's Bucky." Steve smiled at the man as he walked past.

The man smiled back at him, lightly hitting Steve on the shoulder. "Hello."

"Right, okay Steve and Bucky and..." I looked around the room.

"I'm Tony Stark and this is Pepper, my wife." A short man with a dodgy beard answered standing next to a beautiful ginger. He was Iron Man, definitely, you could hear his ego in his voice.

The man called Bucky now sat on the sofa, his eyes watching me. What if he saw through me? He was the Winter Soldier after all.

"Bruce." I snapped my gaze away from Bucky to a brown eyed guy. Hulk.

"I am Thor Odinson of Asgard and this is Jane." A very tall, buff blonde smiled at me with a brunette under his arm.

A red headed woman and a tall muscled man nodded their heads at me.

"Natasha."

"Clint."

Black Widow and Hawkeye.

A purple man, yes purple like a really nice purple, and a woman dressed in a red leather jacket looked at me next. "I am Vision and this is Wanda." Aka Scarlett Witch. It is wrong that I shipped them? No, they're real human beings why was I shipping them?

A black man smiled weakly at me, sunglasses perched on his nose. "Fury." The ex-director of S.H.I.E.L.D who didn't look too pleased to see me. He'd obviously done a background check on me and spent a good few hours reading about my criminal past.

"Okay, I think I've got all your names, if not I'll just say your superhero name." I nodded my head. "Any chance of a seat?" My leg was seriously aching now, I knew why: because I wasn't using it. I didn't know what hurt more right then the feeling of my leg or the sinking guilt of knowing I was just one big walking lie.

"Sure." Sharon motioned for me to sit down on a sofa across from Bucky.

I settled into the seat, keeping my eyes to the floor and letting my crutches fall to the floor beside the chair. Bucky was still watching me and so were all of the others.

Sharon walked over to the bar, coming back with a cardboard box. "Happy birthday!" She grinned handing it to me.

"I didn't want-" I started to protest, putting my hands up and refusing to take the box.

"That's why it's not wrapped, it's not a present then." Sharon grinned, sitting next to me. "Open it, grumpy!"

"Okay, okay." I opened the lid of the box to find a lush, black dress. "What's this for?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

"Party!" Sharon shouted and then contained herself, glancing around before looking at me. Party... Oh no.

I shook my head - parties meant people and I didn't do people at the best of times. "I don't do parties now, I-"

"You have to," Sharon smirked. "I haven't seen you since you shipped off to war and since then my best friend has become the most boring person I know - you make Vision look fun. I just got you back, at least come to the party for me if not for your birthday. Besides, if you try to leave I have the Avengers to get you back."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes. "Are you aware that this is blackmail?"

"Come on, Zo, please. Please don't tell me you've changed so much that you can't even remember how to have fun."

Fun... It seemed like something in the distance that I couldn't quite grasp. I opened my eyes to see Sharon staring at me, stood up with her hand outstretched.

"Are you crazy or something?" I asked, putting the box to the side.

"Or something," Sharon laughed. "Please, Zoe, don't make me ask again."

"Fine, just for you..." I mumbled, pushing myself up with my crutches. Everyone averted their eyes, why do people always do that? Look away when someone crippled tries to get up.

"Make over time." Sharon's smile was scarily like the joker's now as she headed off towards a corridor, my present in her hand. It was a present as she'd given it to me without letting me pay for it.

"The joys," I muttered, swinging after her. "God help me."

"Do you not like parties, maiden Zoe?" Thor asked, raising an eyebrow as Jane followed Sharon. Well, he was a God but I don't think he'd help me.

I swung backwards on my crutches, laughing. "I just don't like the whole attention on me thing, Thor."

Thor nodded. "I understand, maiden Zoe."

I swung after Sharon, gripping my crutches more tightly than normal. All eyes watched me as I left.

"There's something about her that doesn't seem right..." Vision mumbled as I left. Why did I have to have such good hearing?

A very long time later - honestly I wouldn't be surprised if it was an eternity - I stood staring at the reflection of a tall brunette girl, her green eyes highlighted by a smokey purple eyeshadow. Her lips defined by a pale nude lipgloss, the apple of her cheeks highlighted by a light pink blush. The dark circles which had once clung under her eyes were gone. I didn't recognise myself at all. A thick black pair of tights concealing what had become of my leg. It was too easy to hide who you truly were underneath everything else. No wonder there were so many bad guys in the world...

"Let's get this party started." Wanda laughed, wandering out of the door.

I swung after everyone, Natasha by my side in a tight, navy dress.

"What do you do now?" She asked, holding the door open for me.

"Stuff," I shrugged, lifting my crutch to motion for her go first. I mostly stayed inside and worked out - there was nothing else I could do that wouldn't hurt anyone or let them find me.

"Thanks." Natasha slipped through.

I followed her. "S'alright."

Lights flashed and music was blaring, it was definitely a party. Now all I had to do was find the booze.

"Zoe!" Sharon was beckoning me to go over to her, Steve, Tony, Pepper and Bucky. The men wore suits whilst the ladies wore dresses - how stereotypical. Sharon as usual looked amazing in a deep purple strapless number.

I glanced over at the bar before going over to them. "Hey."

"Looking good." Pepper nodded at me.

"Thank you, you look amazing too." I leant on my crutch, glancing out of the window at the city below. The glint of the sunlight on the glass slowly faded away to night.

"How long you staying over here?" Tony asked, staring at the contents of his drink.

Sharon shot him a glare.

"Trying to get rid of me already?" I laughed.

"No, just asking." He shrugged, laughing a little.

"I don't know, as long as you'll allow me to stay I suppose." I slid my crutch down to my elbow as I reached up to scratch the hollow of my throat.

"You still have your tags on?" Steve cast his eyes to my neck. I'd forgotten to take them off...

"Yes." I shrugged, leaning on my crutch again. "I kind of like them, gives me the whole don't mess with me look."

"You're just a bad man aren't you?" Sharon laughed.

"Totally." I rolled my eyes. "Well used to be."

"What?" Steve asked, his eyes narrowing.

"In the presence of a ex-street racer, assassin and thief." I motioned to myself. Silence. I looked at their gazes none of them too impressed, until I accidentally caught the gaze of Bucky.

He smirked.

I quickly looked away. Well done Zoe, way to make things awkward already with Bucky Blue eyes.

"She was until I arrested her and showed her the light." Sharon laughed, a half empty glass of wine in her hand. Light weight.

"Don't forget the car chase, the pepper spray at the traffic lights, the whole breaking of my baby," I sighed. "Oh, and the part where you tasered me."

Everyone laughed.

"I don't and didn't find it funny," I muttered, swinging on my crutches. "I've still got friggin marks!"

"Oops," Sharon said. "At least you'll be good now."

I leant on my right leg, circling a halo above my head. "An angel."

"My baby?" Bucky asked, frowning.

"My Aston Martin DB9," I shrugged. "I love my cars and weapons."

"Nice," Tony chipped in.

"Mmmm..." I sighed. "Can't drive her now though, and that's not because she's wrecked."

"You are," Sharon giggled, an empty wine glass in her hand. I know they shouldn't have but the words resonated in me - I was wrecked, if only she knew the truth.

"Okay, it has been far too long since I have gotten tipsy," I laughed. "I need some Guinness."

"Guinness?" Everyone echoed.

"What? Gonna arrest me for being drunk and disorderly on crutches?" I laughed, swinging over to the bar and pouring myself a drink. I set my right leg down and started hobbling back over to them, crutches trailing the floor.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Bucky asked, raising a brunette eyebrow.

"No, all my nerves don't work so I can't feel a thing. Besides, I've had far worse." I took a swig of the beer, a fiery sensation down my throat. "And I definitely won't feel a thing after this," I laughed. "Cheers and thanks for the party, Sharon."

Everyone clinked glasses. Hopefully I could get drunk, if my metabolism let me.