"No way are we, or at least I, am going to school with the Spider brat." They had had their run-in with Spider Man and Fury had called them in saying he wanted them to go to school with him. They were seated around the table.

"Don't sound like too bad an idea." Luke shrugged. "Might be fun."

"It will get us closer."

"Than what we already are." Ava scoffed her shin on her arms on the table. She was seriously tired.

"Well, closer with him." He smiled.

"Like you guys aren't close enough." Sam quietly smirked but they still heard. Heat rushed her face and she turned away. She didn't see that Danny had turned the same color or Luke elbow Sam.

"So when do we start?" Luke asked.

"Tomorrow. Go get some sleep." And with that he left.

Sam yawned. "This is going to be so lame."

"It would be good to interact with others our age." Danny shrugged his tan skin tone coming back.

"Yeah, we know we need to get you back into the loop. Been gone ten years." Luke chuckled. "I never paid too much attention in school. Might as well start now."

"Yeah, we can show the tourist around." Nova looked at Ava.

"Says the alien."

"I'm not an oh my gosh never mind." He growled. He was tired of explaining. "At least you can have some girls to hang out with. Maybe try out for cheer."

She made him a face.

"Man you know Ava can't do that." Luke said. Danny nodded in agreement.

"And why not?" she sat up indignantly giving them a glare. For some reason that hurt.

"Because you're not a pretty skirt girly girl." Sam said. Then he saw Ava's burning face and realized his mistake.

"That was not the right thing to say." Danny whispered.

"You know what I mean. You're nice looking," Sam rubbed the back of his neck. "Like hottie! But not that I- we- would ask you out. I mean we could but uh you're . . ."

"Just what? What's wrong with me?"

"You?" he said uneasily.

"Nothing is wrong with you." Danny said gently. "It's just that you're our teammate so it-"

"Yeah, I heard that before." She hissed. "It would hurt, huh?"

Danny opened his mouth but nothing could come out.

"What he means" Luke put in as Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. "Is that you're not exactly that girly. Cheer and dance is for like girls but you're one of us."

"Yeah!" Sam cried thinking things were being solved. "You're like one of us guys."

He grinned with Luke as they threw their arms over each other's shoulders Danny squished in the middle, who was slowly shaking his head. "That wasn't the thing to say either."

They looked at him in confusion then back at Ava. She looked even madder than before. "Except for one thing. I am a girl!" she yelled then stomped out of the room. Their faces fell.

Sam finally broke the silence. "Well I'm pretty sure that could have gone better." Two people smacked his head. "Ooww!"

After that Ava went to her room in frustration. She would show them. Just because she didn't flaunt around in a super short skirt or wore a shirt that showed too much cleavage didn't mean she wasn't a girl. After much debating she changed into some shorts and a plain shirt and left. Soon she was walking through a mall, looking through the stores. Needless to say it wasn't the greatest thing she's done but after picking things she saw as both feminine and comfortable she bought with her S.H.I.E.L.D. issued credit card and left as soon as possible.

The next day they boys got ready for school. Luke had finished eating and was surprised to not see Ava since she was usually one of the first up. He walked to her door and knocked. "Hey Ava. Hope you didn't forget we have to go to school."

"I didn't. I'll be out soon."

He frowned but shrugged. "Okay. As long as you don't ditch out on us."

After awhile they were ready. "Where the hell is Ava? If she gets to stay so do I?" Sam whined.

"She's not. She said she's be out soon." Luke said.

"Well, not soon enough." He growled and went to her room. He pounded on her door. "Ava, hurry your ass up, we have to go."

"Shut up Sam! I'll be out when I'm done getting ready. Just go, I'll meet you guys there!" she yelled from behind the door.

"What do you mean getting ready? You're not girly remember." He called back snottily.

Suddenly the door opened and he got smacked in the chest with a shoe. "What the heck?" he cried at the now closed door. He picked up the running shoe. "This actually proves my point." He barely duck and slumped down against the wall as another shoe was thrown at him. The door slammed close. He picked up the shoe attentively and cried out dropping it. It was a glossy red high heel. "What the hell! When do you own anything like this?"

"Let me try." Danny said coming up from down the hall.

"You might need my helmet." He warned as he stepped back.

Danny leaned on his forearm against the door. "Ava." He called. "Ava it's me Danny. Can I come in?"

"No!"

"Can we talk?"

"We're talking right now, aren't we?"

Danny ignored Sam's snickers. "You know what I mean."

"Actually, I'm pretty sure we already talked, remember?"

Why now! Danny thought to himself. "Look, we have school, if it's about yesterday . . ."

"You know the more you talk to me the longer it's going to take to get ready."

"Ava, I'll knock the door down."

No answer.

He took a step back and took his stance. "You know I will. Just ope-"

He barely had time to move his head when the matching heel flew over his shoulder.

"Whoa." He cried. The door slammed close again.

"Dude!" Sam cried and he began to laugh. Danny groaned.

"I'll see you guys at the school." She called from behind the door.

What she had been doing was deciding what to wear. It had taken most of her morning to decide on something simple. Then she actually tried brushing her hair and straightening it. Sue she ended up burning herself a few times but she had to admit, she liked how her hair looked. She had tried to put on make-up but quickly gave up and wiped it all off. She had been trying on different shoes with her outfit to see what looked best, when Sam and Danny had come looking for her. When they left, she was able to decide on a simple pair of brown sandals. Then she grabbed the bag she had bought yesterday, along with everything else, and left.

As she walked to school she tried to not tug at the edge of the dress to pull it farther down and ignored the looks and whispers she heard. When she got to the school she saw them nearby and began to walk towards them.

Sam was the first to notice. His eyes widened and he tapped Luke's and Danny's shoulders who were talking. "Dude. Dude, dude, dude. Is that Ava?"

They turned to see Ava walking. Some other guys were looking at her to. Danny felt his breath catch in his throat. Luke's jaw slackened. "What the . . . "

She took in their expressions and stopped in front of them. "What?"

"You- uh . . . I see what took you so long." Sam commented not sure what to say.

Danny opened his mouth but couldn't find anything to say.

She rolled her eyes and with a fingers closed Luke's and Danny's jaws. "Whatever. We have to see Coulson." And with that she walked away.

Luke gulped. "Do you think it's because what we said yesterday?"

Danny didn't answer. Sam smiled at him and elbowed him. "You can stop staring now."

Danny blinked. "I wasn't staring." He put a hand behind his neck as they began to follow Ava.

"Sure you weren't." he said sarcastically.

Ava woke up to the sound of an alarm. She groaned from under the covers and hit her alarm. She sat up with a yawn and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She slumped against the wall. "Crap." She muttered.

She remembered that day well. It was her guilty pleasure. She knew in many ways she was acting childish but if there was one thing she hated was being told can't and no. But she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to her actions, if she wanted their reactions to be as they had. Or more.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't see the look on Danny's face and like it. Sure he could be a gentleman but above all he was a teen guy. She knew he had noticed her and she didn't just like it. It gave her a satisfaction to see that glint in his eyes when he saw her. That he had stared. Maybe he would start seeing her as besides a teammate. . .

But she had tested him ever so little. She would play a little with Sam or Harry, people she knew who wouldn't take it serious, and peeked to see his reaction. Even entertained the thought of Peter but truth be told he was a brother to her, just like Luke.

Was it so wrong? To want to know? To want to be closer, to get to them? Because it felt so right. . She wanted to see him with emotion, instead of trying to conceal everything behind a calm face. To see a crack, a glint of passion or something go across his face and in those eyes. Just like the day at the beach. Just like the first day at school. And other times he had been provoked, whether it was when Luke was in trouble, like with Venom or Sam finally annoyed him over the edge or when Peter somewhat apologized and made sure they were still friends.

She shook her head. She had to get rid of these thoughts.

She sighed and got up stretching. She had school today and she had to get ready.

She vaguely remembered the P.E. teacher saying they had 'camp' this month. Basically meant they were going to do activities you usually did at camp.

"Dream on." Nova said with a huge grin accepting Luke's challenge. He grabbed the football from the sand and took off running. He was in his blue swim trunks and a black muscle shirt that said 'New York'. "I get Danny." He turned to Danny who was in the water. "C'mon Danny you're on my team."

Danny came out of the surf and ran towards their spot on the beach. It was the Fourth of July and they had been together for about a couple months now. Fury thought a good bonding would be if they spent the holiday together so they decided to head to the beach for the whole day and watch the fireworks at night. He shook his blond hair splattering the others with water.

"Hey!" Ava cried from where she sat on a chair reading.

He merely grinned as he threw his tan colored tank top on. "You think you guys can handle it?" He said as he caught the ball Sam threw at him.

"Yeah, I do. What about you Ava?" Luke said as he put on his white T-shirt.

"Oh yes." She had her hands on her hip as she stood. Her and Luke high fived and fist punched with a smile. She was in a brown tank top and grey shorts.

Soon they were all out playing football in the sand. They tried to keep it cool but soon they were jumping and flipping over each other in ways most normal people wouldn't. But they didn't notice some of the other people watching. Many of the girls were checking out the boys considering how buff they were but few had approached. Many guys had done a double glance at Ava but considering her company they were weary.

At the time Ava had possession. "Go long Luke!" she cried as she threw it.

"I got it!" he cried as he began back peddling. "I got it! I go- oomph!"

The others winced as he ran at their chairs and tripped landing on them. The others ran over to him. He had fallen all over their chairs and ended up breaking them. He was tangled within them. They chuckled at his bashful expression. "Uh, sorry guys."

"No worries." Danny held out a hand and he took it as he got up. They began to take all the parts off of him.

"At least we have the mats. Plus our towels." Sam gestured to them from where they were rolled up.

"You're welcome." Ava smirked. "And you guys didn't want to bring them."

Danny held up his hands in surrender. "Guilty with charge." Him and Sam took all the parts and headed to a nearby trash can.

"Hey, check this out." Sam grinned. He put down his pile and threw a fragment at the trashcan. It went in. "Oh yeah!"

"Nice." Danny nodded as he grabbed a piece. He threw it and it went in. "But not the best."

"Are they seriously entertained with broken chair pieces?" Ava asked with hands on her hips.

"Looks like it." Luke smiled. "Wanna join?"

"So on!"

Needless to say they played the whole day and soon the sun was going down. They rolled out the mats and began to get ready to see the fireworks.

"Hey ,you guys want some ice cream?" Sam asked gesturing at a stand.

"Dude, it's freezing!" Luke cried.

"C'mon that's the best time to have it!"

"Get me a sundae." Ava said as she stretched on her back. "I'm too lazy to go."

"A cones good." Danny said.

Sam stood and looked at Luke.

"I'll just go with and see what they have." He sighed as he got up. "But that is one hell of a line."

"So worth it." Their voices faded.

Ava sat up with a yawn. She was on the mat next to Danny. He was currently cross-legged meditating. He opened one eye and peeked at her.

"Tired?"

"Very." She glanced at him. "You?"

"Yea. But this has been . . . fun!" he smiled opening both of his eyes.

"You need to get out more." She nudged him playfully. They were close enough to feel the warmth from each other's legs. "Have more normal experiences."

"Yeah since we are perfectly normal." He rolled his eyes.

She laughed. They were quiet till a breeze picked up. It sent her a shiver and goose bumps ran up her arms. She wrapped her arms around herself and pulled up her knees.

"Cold?" he chuckled. He grabbed a blanket from their pile of stuff and threw it over her shoulders. It ended up covering her whole body considering how huge it was.

"What about you?" she frowned raising a piece of the blanket to him. He was still in his swim trunks and tank top.

"I'm fine." He shrugged. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a skeptical look. "Really I'm fine!" he said. She merely raised her hand higher. He smiled. "Fine." He grabbed the piece and pulled it over him so now they had the blanket over each other's shoulders. "You know you may actually be more persuasive when you're quiet."

"So I've been told." She smirked.

He smiled then, hesitantly asked looking into her eyes. "Did you have fun?" They were such a deep brown, so full of warmth he felt tingles.

"Oh yeah!" she smiled meeting his eyes. "As annoying as Sam can be I had a blast here . . with you . . . guys." She began to trail of getting lost in his deep blue eyes. They were so clear and bright . . .

Unconsciously, they had begun to lean into each other closer, eyes beginning to close. Their noses lightly touched and he turned ever so slightly. Soon their mouths touched.

Danny wasn't sure if the firework show had started early or what but he sure as hell saw lights dancing behind his eye lids. Ava felt warmth shoot up her body and she felt a shock go through her veins. She pressed against him more and their lips molded into each other's. His tongue lightly ran over her lips and she opened her mouth. And the taste . . .

Suddenly a voice filtered through Danny's head. No! came the unmistakable voice of his master. He jumped and pulled back slightly, eyes shooting open. Ava opened her eyes slowly as if waking up. She blinked a little and took in Danny's face.

"Danny? Danny, it's okay." She said gently and leaned in ever so slightly.

"No . . . I . . . we can't"

"Yes we can." She whispered.

"But . . . no . . ." He began to lean again but the voice came clearer. No Daniel! He stopped. "No. Ava no." He held her at her shoulder and hung his head. "I can't. This . . . this isn't right."

She reeled back as if she had been slap. "What?"

"This is wrong, a mistake."

She felt a prickle at her eyes but her voice was strong. "A mistake! How Danny?"

He winced at his name but looked up at her a little more. "We're teammates. Soldiers. Friends. But we can't, not this."

"But we aren't just that. We're teens. What's wrong with this?"

"We're only going to end up hurting each other. If something went wrong it would affect the whole team." He looked up to her eyes but she had turned her head to the side, her heavy glossy hair hiding her face. "And mess up a friendship." Letting her go he wrapped his part of the blanket around her gently but she pulled from his touch. He sighed and whispered "I'm sorry."

"No." She said voice raw with emotion. "You're right. This is a mistake."

This is a mistake

A mistake

Mistake

Mistake.

Danny shot up from his bed breathing heavily. He ran a hand through his hair trying to calm his heartbeat then dropped his face in his hand. "Dam it." He whispered with frustration building up. Then he yelled, "Dam it!" and punched the wall to his right. He kept breathing thickly and he rested his forehead on the cool wall. After awhile he looked up and pulled his fist out of the wall, assessing the huge hole. "Dam it." He sighed as he landed on his back on his bed.

His fist throbbed slightly. This wasn't a punch focused with energy. Of the Iron Fist. This one was raw, full of withheld emotion. Like Ava's voice.

He groaned and rolled over. The clock on his bedside said he still had time. He had school today.

That memory was complex for him; it had happened a few months back, before they met Spider Man. It was one of his best memories of the team. But it was also one of the most hurtful and vivid. How could something so wrong feel so right, so good? He remembered the sensation, how warm she felt under his mouth . . .

He shut down and flipped off his bed. He walked toward the rice screen door and slid it open then closed it behind him and made himself busy lighting some candles. This room was his personal training/meditating room at his own place.

He hadn't been to the office in awhile so he had decided, since this Sunday he had nothing to do, to come in and see how things were. He had dealt with the mangers with their budgets and plans and problems and rates all day, it wasn't the most fun thing to do but his dad had done it and left it for him so he would bear through.

After what he thought was a sufficient amount of candles he went to the middle of the room to meditate, just as he always had.