Originally I had intended on this only being a one-shot, but my friend AmityN7 convinced me otherwise. You have her to thank for it, and the idea of the chapter.
Chapter Two
The Morning After
The sound of the Avengers Mansion alert horn was ringing out long and loud. The blonde Avenger jumped up, finding herself in an unfamiliar location with someone else pressed against her. It was then that she remembered that she and her best friend Janet, had kissed the night before after watching countless cheesy movies.
"Jan!" She hissed urgently, the bleating noise of the alarm filling the halls and shaking the floors. "Get up Jan!" Carol shook her friend once to get her moving.
"Turn off the alarm..." Muttered Wasp as if it could do anything to stop the super strong woman from shaking her once more and silence the horn. It took a moment, but when the woman realized that it wasn't her alarm clock ringing but the Avengers emergency alert, she jumped up frantic. "What's happening?"
"I don't know, come on and get out of bed!" Urged Ms. Marvel, stumbling to her feet as she tried to disentangle herself from Janet and the sheets, only her duty kept her from saying anything, from asking if Wasp could remember them kissing last night.
If Janet had really meant it when she said she liked Carol there, when she asked why Carol wasn't kissing her already.
Shaking herself back to the reality of the alarm still ringing, the blonde woman was running out the door with Wasp flying in her fairy sized form besides her. They skirted down the hallway and once the stairs showed up before them, Carol took one massive leap and they were flying together, zooming through the beautifully arched corridors of the mansion.
The entrance to the Avengers monitor room came up before them, the pair bursting through with their teammates already waiting inside. Everyone but Ms. Marvel was in their costumes, Wasp always somehow wearing hers when she shifted down to her winged form. The others glanced at the obviously bedraggled duo, a slight smirk on Hawkeye's face.
"Glad to see you two finally made it." Called out Iron Man, an amused expression on his face as he took in Carol's disheveled hair and rumpled clothes. "I hope you enjoyed your sleep Carol, because we need you, Wasp, and Cap out in DC for a press conference." Carol huffed at his taunt, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. She wasn't exactly a morning person.
"You sounded the alarm for a press conference?" Grumbled Wasp, changing back to her human form, yellow wings vanishing from sight. "Really?"
"Yes, really. After our recent lack of action people are starting to question if we're slacking off. We can't afford to get on the public's bad side after the damage Red Skull did. I'd go myself but I have business to attend to at Stark Tower, Hulk is Hulk, T'Challa is returning to Wakanda for the week and who outside of us knows who Yellowjacket and Vision are?" There was a slight nod of agreement between the team, Yellowjacket frowning at the comment, Vision seemingly agreeing with the others however.
"Thor is still out in Asgard?" Asked Carol, noticing the hammer throwing Avenger wasn't present.
"Yeah, and he won't be returning anytime soon last I heard. Something about a fire lord?" Said Clint.
"Wonderful, so we're just the two that get stuck with the boring old press?" Muttered Carol, a hand running through her blonde locks to get it a bit more presentable. "Why not just Cap?"
Captain America frowned at the words, shaking his head. "We're a team Carol, and it would be a good idea to have a founding member as well as one of our more recent one." He replied, indicating both of the women. "Plus lots of people know about you after the Kree herald Ronan the Accuser, you're a bit of an icon yourself now."
"Is it smart to have you coming though Cap?" Wasp gently asked. "I mean I know you've won a lot of the people's respect back after the Skrull impostor, but still, if we're trying to give a strong front wouldn't it be smart not to have someone the people aren't entirely behind again?" She cast an uncertain frown to the soldier. "No offense Captain." Carol gave a faint nod of agreement, approvingly looking at the auburn haired woman as she tried to avoid offending the World War II veteran. The way Janet could speak to the teammates sometimes was a mystery to Carol. She could remember just how desperate Janet had been to keep the team together when Tony revealed someone was a skrull, how much pain was in her voice when Carol had turned against Hawkeye to follow her duty.
She'd felt horrible for making Wasp feel such pain for weeks.
The other Avengers frowned some, thinking on what was said, and then Captain America just shrugged. "If you two think you can handle it, I'll happily sit it out." A slight smile crossed his face, not even the soldier liked talking to the press. "Not entirely my style after all. I'd probably just start spouting something and they'd think it propaganda."
"Of course we can." Replied Carol with a firm nod of her head, blonde curls bouncing animatedly around her, looking at Janet who nodded just as fiercely as her friend. Though, neither were certain 'friend' was any longer the appropriate term to use for the other. "See, we've got this. You guys go do whatever it is your excuses are for getting out of this, we'll head on up to DC and speak to the masses."
Nodding their heads in agreement, the other Avengers started to leave the room. "So how did you two spend your time off?" Clint asked as he walked over, grinning almost knowingly at the pair, making Janet shift her feet nervously.
Ms. Marvel however, wasn't one to miss a beat. "Watched some of the cheesiest movies that have ever been made to exist." Carol complained, flicking a wrist for emphasis.
Instantly, Janet was up to defend some of her favorite movies. "Ice and Fields of Love are some of the greatest films to be made, and unlike your monster horror slasher Die Tonight Again, it has class!" She stated firmly, planting a foot down for emphasis in a childish manner, making Clint chuckle.
A smile crossed Ms. Marvel's face, one hand grasping the other woman's and giving it a firm squeeze. "Oh? Next one is totally going to be Die Tonight Again Two then, just so I can watch you squirm." She teased, completely forgetting about the remaining Avengers. Clint was staring at the pair holding hands, Wasp grinning foolishly as if it were nothing. "It's rather cute."
As if they had suddenly realized where they were and that they had a mission to do, Carol released Janet's hand as casually as possible, to avoid them seeming weird to the others. Or each other. "So, good night off then?" Hawkeye cleared his throat, Iron Man crossing over to join them.
"I'd say. You know I tried to wake you up at your door, but you weren't in there Carol." The armor clad man said, face mask down. "I take it you had a sleepover?"
Wasp grinned widely at his words, nodding her head. "Totally, after all it's nice to spend time with Jane and all, but sometimes a girl just needs to unwind with a fellow lady hero." She gave Carol a playful punch on the shoulder, acting like last night had been nothing more then a friendly exchange. It made her have to force a smile to her lips to play along, both of them looking at the others afterwards with slightly nervous expressions. "We better get going though Carol, I'll prep the quinjet while you get ready for the day." Offered Wasp, and without giving Ms. Marvel a chance to argue shifted down to her winged form and flew out of the room.
"She sure is something." Hawkeye said after she was gone.
"Certainly something." Replied Carol, her head turned after her crush, unaware that she was being watched by the male teammates. Her gaze glued to Janet's rear until the little size-shifter had fled her sight.
"I dare say Hank was a fool for letting her get away." Tony commented. "Maybe if things don't work out with Pepper-"
Instantly Carol snapped her head around, scowling with a jealous fury. "Oh no, you're not touching one wing on her." The woman loomed in towards Tony, despite being shorter then him when he was in his armor. "You and your playboy self better keep it to under control or you'll find that not even the Supreme Intelligence would want to date you."
"Calm down, it was just a joke!" Laughed Hawkeye, gently putting himself between the two of them, though there was something in his voice that made Carol scowl even further. "Now go get ready woman." Giving them both one warning glance, Carol hovered for a moment, and then was flying out the room. "Did you see that?" Clint whispered to Tony.
"Yup." Tony easily responded.
"Think she's got the hots for Jan?" Asked Hawkeye.
"Totally."
"Wanna have some fun with that?"
A sly grin spread across Tony's concealed face. "Definitely."
Walking up the ramp into the quinjet cockpit, Ms. Marvel gave the fine piece of machinery one cursory glance before she spotted the brunet beauty already waiting in the pilot seat. A smile slipped onto her face, Carol sauntering over the last stretch of space between them before she wrapped her arms around Wasp's shoulders from over the seat, giving the other woman a hug. "Hey!" Laughed Wasp after an initial jolt, joy in her eyes.
"Hey." Replied Carol as she released Wasp, and sat down in the other seat. "All set?"
"Yeah, just been waiting for you." Wasp said, flicking a few switches on the dashboard, the ramp sliding back into place. "Time for the press right?"
"Like you don't love the cameras." Smiled Carol, leaning over the armrest towards the other woman flirtatiously. She needed to know if last night was real, and very well intended on asking Wasp then and there on the flight to DC. In the quinjet it wouldn't take long, meaning the question would have to be popped right away. If it wasn't real, well Ms. Marvel wasn't certain what she'd do.
A chuckle escaped Wasp as the engines roared to life. "Only when I get to be with a beautiful woman like yourself."
"I think that's what I'm supposed to be saying." Carol bit her lip, eyes darting up and down Janet's body as she flew the plain.
"You know I had a lot of fun watching those movies, good movies by the way!" Janet responded, looking over at the fellow woman Avenger with something in her eyes, dark and swirling. She then turned away, refocusing on the quinjet as it took off from the hanger.
Carol grinned seductively at her friend, Janet blushing lightly as she caught the look out of the corner of her eye. "I'm dead serious about watching something good next time." Jested Carol, the pair falling easily into their banter. But something felt off to the blonde, the way Wasp was forcing herself to focus on flying the plane, rather then spark up some joke or turn on the autopilot. It bothered her.
"I think that it would only be fair to agree to disagree, you're movies are all scary." Janet replied. "And in no way good for me to watch."
"How can you be scared of them though? Considering what you've fought and faced, what we've fought and faced, I just don't get it." Responded Carol with an exasperated tone. "You're always so brave out there in the open."
Janet gave her a wry grin. "Who says I'm not secretly terrified?"
Blinking with confusion at the sudden admission, Carol moved as close to her crush as the safety straps would allow her. "You're perhaps the most courageous woman I know then."
"I can think of someone braver." Janet replied without looking at her, making Carol's breath catch for a moment. She had to ask it.
"Jan, about last night, I wanted to ask where we-"
Suddenly they heard something shift in the back, both of them snapping to look behind them and see Vision sitting simply in one of the seats all buckled in. "Vision!" Gasped Wasp, blue eyes nearly bursting from her skull.
"Hello." He replied with his mechanical tone.
Offering no explanation for his sudden joining of the pair, Carol tried to speak as politely as she possibly could. "Vision, what are you doing here?" The words were gritted out between clenched teeth.
"Iron Man decided I needed to observe more human behavior and present myself to the public, and suggested I attend the conference. Do not worry, I will not be speak unless you wish me to." The yellow and green clad android responded swiftly, as if it were all that would be needed to assure them that it was all he was there for.
Slumping her shoulders forward, Carol turned back to watch as the sky filled the window, clouds whipping past them. "Right, of course." She responded with a huff of frustration, she'd have to wait until they were back to speak with Janet. Why did the others have to get in the way so much?
They were seated at a large table, blue cloth neatly spread across the several feet long table. It was on a slightly elevated platform, a sea of reporters and cameramen before was just the three of them there, Wasp in the center with Ms. Marvel to her right and Vision to her left. They were gazing out at the flashing cameras and demanding journalists, shouting questions to the trio demanding answers. It had begun.
"Ms. Marvel!" One called out once they had been chosen to speak, a man in a fedora and white suit. "Is it true that due to recent events the Avengers have been downsizing and loosening the reins on security? That they're leaving it to the vigilantes' of the cities to take care of crime?" He asked.
"That is only partly true." Carol replied with an authoritative voice. "While it is true that crime is being left to smaller heroes it isn't because we're downsizing. When Galactus posed a threat to all of Earth, the Avengers assembled a team far larger then ever before. These heroes are the reason we were able to defeat Galactus. Also the Avengers have since extended the opportunity for any who are able to prove their mettle to be added to the Code White Reserves branch of the Avengers, those very same who helped us save the world."
"So you're saying the Avengers are forming a military?" He pressed, a sly grin across his face.
Jumping in, Janet shook her head, waving a hand dismissively. "No, we are not forming an army. The Avengers are still set on their purpose of protecting Earth and stopping crime, but we all know that we can't be everywhere at once. Not to be snide but would you prefer us to stop the maniac with the bomb? Or the mugger on the street? The Avengers was assembled to stop the super villains that escaped prison long ago, and have since then been a force for good to protect Earth. We're not forming an army, we're making sure that even if we ourselves cannot perform our duty, that Earth will still be safe."
The reporter sat down, an uproar of more questions rising. Carol picked one at random. "Wasp, is it true that you and the Ant Man were once romantically involved?" A woman asked, the room grew silent as they expectantly awaited the answer.
Janet blinked, and then just gave a shrug. "It is true to an extent there as well. He and I, there was something. I'm not truly sure what it was. But that something no longer exists, and that is all I'm going to go into the matter." She responded, so casually casting aside her past relationship with Hank. It made Carol smile without realizing it, wanting to hold Janet's hand only to have to remind herself where they were.
The next question was asked rather swiftly. "Ms. Marvel, are you and Wasp in a relationship?"
That one wasn't a question either of them were expecting, Vision turning to watch their reaction as the press once again quieted. It was Carol that spoke first, waving her hand to the side at the question. "That's actually very true." She said, instantly the room was captivated, Wasp looking at her with wide blue eyes. "Wasp and I are in a relationship. A friendship, and have been for years."
"That isn't what I meant." The reporter defended with a frown.
"You asked if we are in a relationship." Wasp replied with a slight smirk on her face. "And I do believe a friendship classifies as a relationship. Don't you think Vision?" The black and yellow dressed woman asked the android who nodded his head.
"By definition, a relationship is the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected. A friendship would qualify as one such connection." He agreed, the reporter sullenly lowering their tape recorder.
Another round of questions were asked, Carol glancing over to Wasp between them as they gave more and more answers or disclosed certain topics to the press. The entire time she was wondering if what she had said was the truth. If they really were in nothing more then a friendship.
She hoped not.
