The following week after the train incident was pure hell. Mia couldn't leave Stark Tower without some reporter hunting her down and throwing question after question at her in hopes she would divulge more information for a story. And they posted stories and talked about her on TV. In fact she was sitting in her room, on the end of her bed with the television remote in her hand as she stared at her seventy inch flat screen on her wall.
"We've seen the damage mutants can do. Is it safe to assume that Doctor Harper is as she proclaims?"
"She's working with the Avengers, I don't think we have much to fear."
"Or do we? Statistics show that..."
Mia changed the channel and it was a picture of her standing next to Steve the day of the subway and she looked exhausted in the photo's and had blood all down the front of her shirt. Frowning she listened to this report on her.
"Do you think Tony Stark hired her for her abilities, looks or really because she's a doctor?"
"I don't know but to stop a moving train, we have to assume that her abilities play more part in this than we really see."
"So you mean to say we're looking at a new vigilante that calls themselves a hero."
"Judging by Doctor Harpers reaction to the press I don't say she's out for fame. But I think we do have to keep our eyes on this one."
Hearing a knock on her door she muted the TV and said 'enter'. In walked Pepper as she looked from Mia and then to the TV with a sympathetic look on her face.
"Hey." she said kindly and Mia smiled at her in reciprocation.
"Hey."
"I see you're watching those stupid stories. They're rumors used to fuel the fire. They don't know you."
"I know. It just bothers me. I have to know what they say. They just seem curious, some call me a freak but it's not too bad. It's more annoying than anything. I can't step foot out of Stark Tower without getting bombarded by flashing lights and millions of questions."
Pepper sat on the end of the bed with her and took the remote from her before turning off the TV. She settled it next to her then and sighed.
"Well...when Tony was under speculation that he was Iron Man, he held a press conference to deny it. But in the end...Tony can't stand anonymity. He has to be in the center of everything but he does a damn good job at it. He's a mascot. And I think you have a real good chance in being a mascot for mutants."
"You want me to hold a press conference and declare to the world I'm some sort of hero? I can't throw a punch, I can't shoot a gun, I can throw pencils at bad guys with my mind."
"From what Steve told me you threw a little more than pencils when you were determined enough."
"I haven't been able to do something like that since. Every time I try I get a headache and a horrible bloody nose."
"What did Steve say to you before you stopped the train?"
"He told me if Stephan was there I would fight to save him. And he was right...I would do anything to save him."
"Maybe you need to look at thinking about Stephan to trigger your powers then?" she suggested and Mia thought about it. Her powers did come out when she was upset or when put under high intense stress situations.
"Possibly."
"Well, if you wanted to be a hero I'm sure that you'd be great at it." Pepper pat her shoulder and stood up. "By the way you have a three o'clock meeting."
"With whom?" Mia's brow furrowed in thought as she couldn't remember scheduling anything with anyone.
"Director Nick Fury. He is head of an organization called SHIELD. He wants to speak with you about the Avengers Initiative...of which I know nothing about." she said with a grin and then walked to the door. "I think you'd benefit meeting with him. Anyways I'll send him up once he arrives. You don't have to go anywhere."
"Okay..." Mia said unsure but when the door closed she looked around her vast room and then feeling awkward she stood up and walked out of her own room.
The living room was empty so she decided to sit on the couch and watch something that wasn't the news on herself. She picked a movie and settled in as she hugged a pillow to her stomach. Her eyes concentrated on the television and before she knew it she had fallen asleep.
It didn't feel like long before a hand was shaking her shoulder and she opened her eyes to look up at a large man with an eyepatch dressed in all black leather and looking rather intimidating. Her mouth gaped open before she came to her senses that this must be Director Fury.
"Sir!" she arose to her feet immediately and held out her hand. "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright. I know the past couple of days have been stressful for you, sleep is probably something that you're lacking."
"Only a little."
"I want to be the first to congratulate you on your efforts with the train and your opposition against Magneto. I pulled the train's camera footage and I have to say, doctor, I'm impressed." he pulled his trench coat tails back and sat on the small recliner opposite the couch. He leant on his knees and folded his hands in front of him staring at her intently with his one good eye.
She sat down slowly and placed her hands on her knees her back ridgid. This man kind of scared her a bit.
"Thank you." she muttered.
"I know you haven't had much positivity surrounding your extra gifts. Aside from you being a brilliant scientist. But in no way am I here to put you under a microscope Doctor Harper. In fact I'm here to offer you a rare opportunity."
"Oh?"
"I want you to join Shield. You'd be a great asset to the team."
"What like the Avengers?" she scoffed now becoming amused. "Sorry to say Director but I'm no hero."
"Not what I saw." he said seriously. "I've already talked to the others. They agree...and want you on board."
"Why me?"
"You hold yourself back. You fear yourself. And lets face it Doctor you are alone. Estranged from your family, brother died eight months ago, and no other close relatives. You aren't connected to the mutant world and refuse to be even though they have clearly reached out to you. We are having threats coming at us left and right, the universe is getting smaller. We need all the friends we can get to fight when the time arises. To keep the peace when it is needed. Earth needs good men and women. You are a good woman Doctor. On that train I didn't see a girl who got into Stanford at fifteen and never put a toe out of line. I saw a woman who was a hero."
Mia sat there in silence after he gave his speech. She had never heard praise as such before and none the less from a complete stranger.
"Even if I wanted to sir, my powers are horribly underdeveloped. I can cause cerebral hemorrhaging if I push myself to the extent that I pushed myself that day. I'm surprised I didn't hurt myself more than I did. When I say I'm not a hero...it doesn't mean I don't want to protect those who can't protect themselves...it just means my power isn't as useful as you're hoping it is. And I assume that you're so desperate for my in is because you don't have anyone like me. Mutants aren't exactly lined up to work for the government. No one can show me how to deal with this."
"True. But that doesn't mean we can't learn through trial and error. Strengthen what you already know how and train you physically so mentally you can follow. I'm only here to help you find a foot in this world Doctor Harper...not take it away." he rose then from his seat and looked down at her. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. I'll be in touch."
And with that Director Fury walked towards the elevator just as Steve came home. He walked through the elevator and stopped looking surprised as Shield's director stood there.
"Good afternoon Captain." he said and Steve cocked a salute.
"Sir." he said and Director Fury waved it off.
He got into the elevator and the doors closed behind him. Steve turned and looked at Mia with question as he lowered his hand. He walked up to her as he shrugged off his jacket and lay it on the back of the couch.
"What was Director Fury doing here?"
"He offered me a job."
"Doing what?"
"Being an Avenger." she said grimly before turning and sitting on the couch. Rubbing her hands together and leaning on her knees she stared out at the New York skyline. Steve sat next to her and mirrored her posture.
"I take it you're not happy to be apart of our team?"
"No...that's not it." she said carefully trying to think on how to explain her predicament. "That day on the train, when you pushed me to do something great. It felt...good. And then when those people one by one stepped off the train and touched me, I felt gratitude. For once I didn't feel like a complete freak."
He nodded understanding what she meant.
"I just am still afraid. Though I may have a place here with you guys and in your team...I'm different. Not accepted by my own kind...or rather...I don't accept them. And I'm not human, not really. I've never known anyone like me. I'm terrified that I'm not gonna be as useful. I could've been that kid that enjoyed moving objects with my mind, but instead I shied away from it. Overcompensated by being as human and as normal as possible. I tried my hardest to blend and be invisible. All I wanted was the look my parents gave Stephan to be given to me. And that day on the train..." her voice broke and eyes began to water some. "Those people gave me that look. And everything I wanted or ever knew, just got thrown out the window."
"I don't follow..."
"I don't want to become a hero and have everyone look up to me, and then I not turn out to be the hero they thought I was. That I'm not going to be good enough. Cause I've never been and don't know how."
"I'm going to give you a piece of advice a great man once gave me..." Steve started. "Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. That you will stay who you are, not a perfect soldier, but a good man."
Mia smiled a bit at that and she leant over and rest her head on his shoulder. He smiled shyly and together they watched New York together, the sounds of the streets below and the people lifting up to their ears through the open balcony window.
"Thank you Steve. I feel like for the first time since my brother died, I have someone who I can confide in."
"For the first time since I woke up in this time, I felt normal since you've been around." he admitted honestly.
"The mutant and the super soldier just wanting to be normal." she sighed.
"I've come to find though that normal is overrated. If I could go back to that day I decided to take that serum I'd do it all over again. I know what it's like being the weaker guy Mia...and now you have the opportunity to not be. You are a hero...you're my hero."
Mia sat straight and looked at him and he had a small grin on his face. She nudged him with her own arm her smile turning into a cheesy grin herself.
"I kinda did save your butt too."
"Yes ma'am you did."
A/N: I know there's a lot of Steve and Mia fluff in there but it's important. I feel like these two relate to each other so much more personally with how they've lived their lives than Bruce and Mia do. But it's not a Captain America fic and we will get back to some Bruce lovin'...maybe get into his psyche about how he feels and how it contributes to his anger. I'd appreciate some Reviews...I get updates on my phone that all ya'll favorite it! Lol so I know you be reading it! Besides Reviews let me know if it's a positive or negative direction I'm heading in. -ohhaymisskay
