Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own any of characters depicted below that you may recognize...they belong to forces higher then me, and I respect them and applaud them for their beautiful creations.
"Alright. Status Report."
Fury's arms were crossed, his expression was stern, and no one was inclined to speak first.
Finally, Tony sighed. "The kids are less than a month away from finishing their graduation requirements, we've for the most part gauged their specialties on an off-the-combat-field front, and the living arrangement seems to be fine. Is that everything?"
Fury frowned. "Is it?"
"Thor beats me." Avery spoke up helpfully. Thor growled.
"I do NOT-" Thor began, but was interrupted.
"The living arrangements are awful." David complained. "It's like a prison."
"The physical training is a joke." Will added. "There's no instruction, no critique. It's just a cage fight that ends in our loss and their win and all they do is gloat about how much better they are. I thought the point of living with the Avengers was that they were supposed to actually teach us something? Also, what about the missions?"
David scoffed. "You mean the missions we were promised but never given, the missions the avengers take on a nearly daily basis; but oh wait! The last time we asked about them, we were told our "Instructors" had to clear us before letting us take any, which that conversation was what, two months ago?"
"Instructors?" Avery sassed. "You mean jailers?"
"That's not exactly a fair assessment," Bruce began slowly, but Team two just rolled their eyes.
"Right. Whatever."
Silence descended over the room.
Steve smirked down at his phone screen before looking up to assess the room.
Team Two was dressed in workout clothes; sweatpants or shorts and tshirts or bro tanks. Jake the Tank wore a jacket; he didn't have the body mass to keep him warm the way Will and Avery did. David was the only one in Jeans…he complained that since he wore a suit…he didn't really have to work out…right? The Avengers wore civvies…Jeans and jackets, trousers and a button-up for Bruce, and Tasha and Clint wore their Shield uniforms. Fury stood in the middle of the conference room, the Avengers seated and standing sporadically on one side of the table, Team Two all standing against the far wall.
Yep. The teamwork was tangible in the room. And Steve was unfortunately aware that it was as bad as it looked.
Tony and Thor had bonded over their mutual dislike of Team Two. Clint found them to be great partners in crime, but when push came to shove, he usually sided with Tasha; who thought Team Two shouldn't touch anything heavier than a food recipe. Bruce tried playing the middle field, and he often found himself nodding in sympathy whenever any grievances were aired from both sides, but playing Switzerland wasn't as easy as it sounded. It was very obviously, up to Steve to fix it.
Which he knew he was quite incapable of doing so…but until he found a way to get Harper to reveal herself, "Steve-power" would have to do.
Steve shrugged. "Alright then." He looked to Will, Team Two's designated leader. "How do we fix it?"
Jake frowned. He stood upright, so he was no longer using the wall as support. "You agree with our assessment of the situation, then?" He pressed slowly.
Steve tilted his head. "It doesn't matter if I agree or not." He answered simply. It's not my program. It's yours; to do with and change as benefits you." Will and David shared a look of surprise. "If you say it's not up to par; then let's fix it." Steve concluded. He moved away from the other Avengers to stand next to Fury.
Clint nodded his head. "I agree with Rogers." He added quickly. Clint wasn't always the first to jump out of the boat, but he always followed quickly behind, and he almost always picked the winning side. Steve shot Clint a grin, which he returned. Clint moved to stand next to Steve. "So, young ones," Clint asked brightly. "What can we do? Help us-Help you!"
Will despite himself, smiled slightly.
Scott sighed heavily. For such a fun and bright hacker; he was silent most of the time. "If only Harper were here." He said mournfully.
That sobered the room. Four months and not a word, and everyone was feeling the tension; Team Two more than the others. They hadn't even got to speak to her before everything went to poop-town.
Steve winced internally, but outwardly, he put on a sympathetic face. "What do you mean?" He was so going to hell.
Scott sat up with a grin. "Harper's the best teacher ever!" He brightened.
Will smiled despite himself. "She taught us everything we know."
David grinned. "Literally!"
"Except for the fact that she's evil." Avery grunted.
The Avengers shot Avery a serious look, and he sat up, surprised.
"I uh, I didn't mean it like that!" He backtracked, "I just meant that she's a hard taskmaster, you know?"
Jake smiled softly. "When we first were picked up by IAS, it was Harper that greeted us, that showed us around, that taught us anything and everything we needed to know. It seemed only natural that she be the one to teach us how to fight."
"We knew street moves." Will added with a nod. "Enough to get by on the streets. But when it came down to it, we had a lot to learn. She taught us what we needed to know."
Avery sighed. "I wish she were here."
"Me too." Scott agreed mournfully.
Steve turned away, thinking.
"No."
"Come on, Kiddo, it's not like we're asking you to be a superhero with us."
"You just want me to train them." Harper threw a piece of spaghetti and Steve, which he dodged.
"Which wouldn't be new to you." Steve ignored the noodle to plead with his eyes. "C'mon, kid, they miss you." Steve straightened. "Plus, I think you're bored."
Harper tilted her head, eyes narrowed. "What do you mean bored? My volunteer project has turned into a city wide relief program, I work 30 hours a week minimum, and I start school in two days. When do I have time to be bored?" Which was all very valid…but both Steve and Harper were aware that it wasn't Steve she was trying to convince.
Steve shrugged, digging into the pasta he'd made earlier. "You can be bored with your busy life, if all of the things you're doing aren't fun to you."
Harper rolled her eyes. "I'm not bored. This is what I wanted. A normal life. I can live precariously through you easily enough." Harper took a bite of pasta, sitting across from Steve at their kitchen table, and shrugged. "Besides; I can't really keep up with you guys anyway."
Steve frowned. "What do you mean?"
Harper grimaced. "You guys all have these super cool abilities, and I'm over here, all normal. I don't really have anything to offer the team anyway."
Steve's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? What do you mean normal?"
Harper threw her fork onto the table. "You know what I mean! I'm no genius, I can't fly, and I'm not strong, or tall, or super at anything really! I'm just normal." Harper looked away for a second, then she smiled. "And honestly, I'm okay with that. I'll leave the saving of the world to the supers."
Steve ran a hand over his face. This wasn't….right. "Harper…..what do you remember about the battle?"
Harper made a face at the change in subject. "Well….Shield kidnapped me and forced me aboard their helicarrier and then I ran into you and I found out IAS was attacking you guys, and I spilled my whole story, and then IAS literally attacked, and I lied to you to protect you and went off with IAS and then they shot me and healed me and then I passed out…and then I woke up at Shield HQ and we won! Yay!" Harper waved her hands excitedly. She smirked. Then she frowned. "Why?" That's what happened, isn't it?"
Steve bit his lip.
He'd resigned himself to never seeing Harper again, of letting her live her normal life. But because she'd chosen to be normal, to not use her abilities. But she was here, and alive, and living with him again, and Steve was ecstatic that the kid he adopted was under his care again, that he could've dealt with anything….more aliens, more psycho-genius' trying to take him out…literally anything.
But this? Harper not remembering she was the most powerful (probably) being on the entire planet/realm?
What was he supposed to do with that?
Then he remembered how Harper had fought to be normal, to go to school, to have a regular job, to live separate from the craziness of Shield and the Avengers, and he couldn't tell her. Not yet.
"Yeah." Steve smiled, though it was more of a grimace. "That's what happened."
He would tell her….later.
He only hoped he wouldn't regret keeping this secret from her.
"But seriously….Team Two needs some serious training work. You don't have to be a superhero, but you worked with them before. Why can't you do it again?"
Harper tilted her head, thinking it over, and Steve smiled. She was caving.
"At least think about it." He pressed his advantage gently.
Harper sighed. "Okay. I'll think about it. Keep me posted on their progress?" Steve nodded. "And let me know if they need me, but only if they REALLY need me, got it?"
Steve smiled. "They already do."
Chapters three and four will be up next Wednesday!
REMINDER: If you're following my blog; Ready. Aim. Write., You may or may not see some extra content, (such as a "What have the avengers been up to since they last saw Charlie previously list,) and fun stuff later on down the road. You'll also get first looks at new chapters, stories, and more. It's the best way to keep up with me and my crazy brain! I have the same username on tumblr as I do here! Hope to see you there!
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LLAP, (Live Long and Prosper,)
~CLC~
