Natasha had told Carissa that joining SHIELD would be the end for them.
She failed to tell the younger assassin, however, that they would be asked to join the Earth's Mightiest Heroes. That they would have to save the world and stop others from killing people rather than killing them themselves. She failed to tell Cari all of this. Then again, Natasha failed to tell her a lot of things.
Unlike her trusted accomplice Clint, Cari was basically just a ward. Natasha felt obligated to help her because she was an orphan left on her doorstep when Cari was only a month old. Natasha had to take care of her; it was part of her job now.
And so here Cari was, waiting on the Helicarrier for the newest additions to the crew—heroes, Fury called them, but she refused to think so. If they were heroes, why didn't they stop all the horrors in the world that they could rather than only waiting for the major ones?
No, Cari didn't see them as heroes; she saw them as just people gifted with talents that they didn't use.
As she waited, Natasha walked up beside the younger agent, hands clasped behind her back. The red-headed assassin glanced at the blonde from the corner of her eyes. "Excited?" she questioned, noticing Cari's clenched jaw.
Cari shook her head stiffly. "Dreading," she responded shortly. Before Natasha could ease her, a jet touched down ahead of them. Caris took a deep breath before following Natasha toward the SHIELD jet, where the hatch was opening. Phil Coulson emerged from the belly of the plane, making Cari smile slightly.
Phil was a great man to Cari, with a kind heart and cheery disposition. He was the first one besides Natasha and Clint to befriend Cari, and they had been friends for a while.
"Agent Romanoff!" Coulson called out. "Captain Rogers." Cari looked over to see a tall, muscular man with an awkward expression clouding his sculpted face. The young agent raised her eyebrows slightly. This was the famous Captain America? She didn't expect him to be so…attractive.
"Ma'am," the super soldier said awkwardly. Natasha nodded her head. "Hi," she responded simply. Her eyes snapped to Phil. "They need you on the bridge," she informed him. "Face time." Phil nodded, looking between the captain and Natasha. "See you there," he said before departing. Cari watched him go, slightly hurt that her friend had not acknowledged her, but she shook the feeling off quickly.
Natasha turned to Captain Rogers while raising and eyebrow. "There was quite the buzz around here, finding you in the ice," she told the man. "I personally thought Coulson was going to swoon. Did he ask you to sign his Captain America trading cards yet?"
Caris smiled at the bewildered expression on the large man's face.
"Trading cards?" he asked, puzzled.
"They're vintage," Cari interrupted, stepping on the opposite side of him.
"He's very proud." Captain Rogers glanced down at the girl in surprise. "Who may you be, ma'am?" he asked politely. Cari smiled while holding out a small hand to him. "Agent Carissa Edwards," she responded proudly. "But everyone around here calls me Cari." Captain Rogers smiled, eyeing the shorter girl with interest and curiosity. "You can call me Steve then, ma'am," he informed her. Cari nodded back at him while shaking his hand. His larger hand completely enveloped hers, but it was warm and the contact made Caris's heart flutter slightly.
Steve looked over her shoulder and moved away suddenly, causing Natasha and Cari to hurry after him.
"Dr. Banner!" called out the super soldier. Banner turned at the sound, eyeing the taller man. "Oh, yeah. Hi," he said nervously while reaching forward for a handshake. "They told me you'd be coming."
"Word is you can find the cube," Steve said, eyebrows raised. Cari glanced at Natasha with a questioning look. How did he know so much about the mission already? Natasha shrugged and mouthed 'later', which subdued Cari's suspicions for a time.
"Gentlemen," Natasha called to the two men suddenly, stepping forward. "You may want to step inside in a minute. It's going to get a little hard to breath."
The Helicarrier beneath them shuddered as every agent began to prepare for their ascent around them. Cari watched the two men as they took steps closer to the edge of the carrier. "Is this a submarine?" Steve guessed. Banner snorted. "Really?" he scoffed. "They want me in a submerged pressurized metal container?"
Caris chuckled, making the two glance at her. "What?" they asked together. Cari shook her head. "Just wait gentlemen," she told them cryptically. The four watched as the Helicarrier lifted from the water, the motors mounted on the sides lifting them from the surface. Banner shook his head with a bitter laugh.
"Oh no, this is much worse," he responded.
Caris grinned.
"That it is, Dr. Banner," she agreed. "That it is."