Summary: Tiny gap filler for CACW somewhere between the ending and first teaser credits.
Many thanks to cairistiona7 for being my beta for this little effort!
This is a couple of firsts for me: my first time writing for this fandom, and first time writing again after a very long time. Be gentle. :)
Just a mild warning for language ahead. Usual disclaimers apply (Characters belong to Marvel, etc.)
"A Good Audition"
Scott Lang has always lived a very interesting and charmed life. And this year has been the most interesting yet, one hell of a roller-coaster ride the minute he stepped out of prison.
It was a great moment to ruminate on his life, he thought wryly, as he booked it with his new crew through the dimly lit halls of the facility that held them prisoner (a second for him).
Crew. Not exactly how one would describe the Avengers (well, half of the Avengers) he had the privilege to fight alongside with, or share a cell block with. Not when it had something to do with him and his... interesting background.
Still. His daughter, Cassie, would never think it short of awesome.
"Come on!" He felt an urgent push behind him, as Clint Barton nudged him to take a right. "It won't be long before the rest of the base is onto us."
"Did you forget the mass of unconscious bodies back there?"
Clint shot him a wry grin. "Heh. Shows what you know."
The grin on Clint's face fell to a grim mask that grounded Scott back to the here and now, pumping more energy into his legs.
He, Clint and Sam finally caught up with Captain America (—"Captain Freaking America, Cass!"—) at the bend, who was carrying a listless Wanda in his arms as if she were a light but precious cargo, leading the way to what they discovered to be the hangar. There were three crafts lined up some fifty feet away, but the Captain led them to the middle craft next to a sleek little jet that felt a little out of place somehow. Clint rushed over and got the rear hatch to open to a ramp, jumping in before it even touched the ground. Scott and the Captain trailed after him, while Sam bright up the rear, closing the hatch behind them.
"Strap in," Captain Rogers ordered, and it took Scott a few seconds to realize he was talking to him, as he and Sam eased Wanda to a cot that folded out of the wall of the aircraft. As he took the nearest seat, he heard Wanda mumble softly as she was laid out, and, as if in understanding, Captain America murmured assuring replies.
"You kids settled in back there?" Clint called out from the cockpit, glancing over his shoulder before turning back to his button-pushing and switch flipping.
"I'll watch her." Sam was already strapping himself in at the seat across Wanda's cot, giving the Captain a quick nod.
Seemingly satisfied, Cap gave the order to take off before even jumping in the seat beside Scott.
He was aware he was the newest guy in the group, so Scott took it upon himself to say what they must have all felt. "Thanks for coming back for us, Cap."
For a moment, there was a look in the Captain's eyes that he couldn't read, which softened a blink later.
"You're welcome. And it's Steve, Scott."
He hastily tried to cover up for his choked-up non-answer with a scratch to his nose, hoping his warming face wasn't going too red. Not only was he talking to the leader of the Avengers, he was talking to a living legend. One does not simply engage with an American icon on a first-name basis.
"Yeah, of course! C... Steve."
Playing it cool, Scott, you are not.
The cabin was silent for about half an hour, when Clint spoke up.
"Well, Cap. We haven't picked up a tail, but we're still in stealth mode, just to be sure. Where to now?"
"I've already encoded the flight coordinates for Wakanda in there..."
Clint's head snapped up. "Wakanda? When did that happen?"
Steve's shoulders seemed to have tightened more, his face taut as he stared at the expanse outside the cockpit, before looking back to Clint. "His Highness offered us asylum. We've uncovered the real man behind the UN bombing, and he should be turned in by T'Challa to the task force in Berlin."
"O-kayyy. How does that explain the asylum bit?"
"Yeah, Cap," Scott piped in, turning slightly in his seat to face him. "Isn't their country one of those who signed the Accords? How can we be sure he won't turn us in?"
"Because the king gave his word." Steve trained heavy eyes on him. Scott felt like he failed the whole country with that look Captain America just gave him. "Besides, Bucky's waiting for us there."
"I was wondering where that cyborg bastard's been," Sam spoke up for the first time since their talk started. "I can't believe he let you pull this rescue mission without him."
"I didn't let him," Steve replied with a tired sigh. Then he proceeded to tell them how Tony Stark followed him and Barnes to Siberia, admitted that Steve was right about his suspicions about some fake doctor. That they had a truce before finding out that the doctor had killed the psycho assassins, leading up to the said truce being shattered by a revelation of the truth behind Tony Stark's parents' deaths. That it wasn't an accident, that Steve knew the truth somehow, and never told Stark. Which, considering the revelation, Stark's reaction was understandable, if a bit overboard.
Scott's mind stuttered to a halt then. These guys didn't do things by halves. "Wow. Shit."
Steve's lips curled up, but his eyes were sad. "Pretty much."
"Is he okay?" Scott winced internally at his own question. Well, obviously.
"Took some hits. Tony took out his left arm. And Tony? A little banged up, but he should be fine."
Now, Scott really winced. He didn't realize Barnes was part of the fallout. "Ow. Sorry, Cap."
Steve waved him off, then something lit behind his eyes. "There is something I wanted to ask of you..."
"Sure!" Because who was he to say no to Captain America asking him a favor?
"You know your way around electronics?"
"Absolutely! Not to brag, but I helped with the upgrade of my suit!" he declared proudly.
He must have said the right thing because Steve's face broke into a relieved smile. "That's good. What I'll ask of you isn't something to sneeze at, because I need you to look at Bucky's arm."
It occurred to Scott all at once that A) Steve was referring to Barnes' awesome and deadly metal arm, B) the freaking Winter Soldier and his said awesome and deadly metal arm were on his team, and C) in light of the earlier narrative, he began to question the wisdom of this request, especially if it involves his continued existence.
Something must have registered on his face that made Steve back down a little. "I know it's a lot to ask of you. But Bucky is wary of new people, even if the Wakandan techs have good intentions."
Scott blinked. "But... how would I be different? I'm the new guy in this outfit."
"You're a friend," Steve replied, gaze steady, "who's been tested in battle, and proved he can be relied upon."
With words like that, he'd be a dick to turn down Captain America now.
"Oooh. Was that one of your campaign slogans? 'Coz I don't remember..."
Scott was surprised to see an amused smirk from the captain. "Shaddup, Sam."
Scott held up his hands. "Hey, no need to twist my arm! Of course I'll do it!"
There was a hand on his shoulder, warm and friendly. "Thanks, Scott. And don't worry. A couple of techs and I will be there with you. So, if Bucky gets to be a handful"—Sam's short bark of laughter was met by Steve's eyeroll—"we'll be there to help."
~ tbc.