We Are Only Human
Summary (Volume 1): It has been a year since the attack on Manhattan by Loki and his Chitauri army, but something is stirring among humanity. When a new evil claims that a woman thought long dead is the Clairvoyant, The Avengers team up with old and new faces to find this threat and save the woman.
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or the characters therein. I do however own my OCs Avril, Jessica, Tommy, and Rayne (and various others that occur). The characters are creations of pure fiction, although some are based on conglomerations of personalities from my friends, family, and editors.
Chapter Ten
November 22, 2015. 0845 Hours.
Steve had managed to convince Avril to come back down with him. As they walked into the briefing room everyone rushed at them. She pressed herself into Steve's side and tried to hide behind his arm.
"You're both soaked." Jessica commented before looking at some of the others. "Stark do you have any spare towels and blankets for them?"
"Maybe." Tony shrugged before getting up.
"I think she should stay with me for a while." Steve commented while trying to gently move Avril off of his side. "Nothing against the rest of you, but she is frightened of you all."
"Excuse me bub?" Logan glared daggers at the soldier. "I don't think you have the right to tell us that."
But he does. A small voice rang through everyone's minds. You all talk about taking care of me and wanting what is best for me without asking me. I might have the mind of a child at the moment but I am an adult physically. If you insist on treating me like a child I will never recover from this lo-bot-o-me.
"Avril, are you sure you don't want to be in an environment that you recognize?" Charles asked while moving over to her.
Not really. She answered while dropping to her knees. But how can you be sure that I would be safer with you?
"Avie is right. From everything that I understand you're going through quite a lot yourselves." Jessica looked at the Captain. "If Rogers and Howlett were to temporarily stay together they could successfully take care of Avril and rehabilitate her. Once that is done she can return to your team."
"Is this S.H.I.E.L.D. talking or her best friend?" Logan inquired with a glare at the telepathic agent.
"Both, as the Inquisitor and her friend." Jessica snarled while taking a step towards Logan. "I am trained to be the best, to take down the best, and turn in the best who have turned rogue. Do not doubt my loyalties to my friends."
Scary. Avril commented to Steve before standing up.
"Looks like you get to be a temporary dad, granddad." Tony commented as he came back with a stack of towels in one hand.
Steve glared at Tony, but stared in shock as the genius suddenly put the towels on the table, climbed up on the table and started dancing around.
"Why are you doing the chicken dance Tony?" Barton asked while trying so hard not to laugh.
"I don't know, get me to fucking stop!" Tony shouted at them.
"AVRIL!" Charles yelled, making the young woman squeak loudly. Stark actually let out a girly scream at the same time before jumping off the table and hiding under it. Avril gripped onto Steve's arm tightly and stared at Charles. "You should never do that."
It's funny, and he deserves it for insulting my imaginary friend. She explained while looking at her handy work proudly. Releasing control, she watched sadly as Tony crawled out and looked at her both angrily and nervously.
"Avril," Charles sighed exasperated. "You should know better than to abuse your powers."
"He still deserved it." She verbally stated dejectedly before wandering off again.
Everyone froze. It was the first time she had verbally spoken since her rescue.
"Captain, stay with her, possibly take her to your apartment in the tower." Jessica ordered while trying to regain her composure and look at Coulson. "I think you are free to go Agent Coulson, you've probably got your next set of orders to take care of."
Coulson nodded once then slowly walked out of the briefing room and towards his car.
The rest of the X-Men and Avengers stayed put, still trying to understand the situation.
"I've never seen her bond with a living person like this before." Hank finally commented after watching Steve grab the towels and then escort Avril from the hallway to the elevator. Rayne followed not far behind.
"The link was established when she was a child." Xavier muttered while trying to think on what was happening. "She must have connected her strong telepathy with a mind strong to handle everything that was going on. He just happened to be the strongest mind out there in terms of kindness and understanding."
"So, she bonded herself to the Capsicle in order to, what, stave off insanity?"
"That is correct Mr. Stark." Xavier looked at their host. "She destroyed that link when she was a teen, but has since re-established it. Perhaps it was the only way her subconscious mind could cope with the torture and experiments her captors were doing."
"And you wondered why I killed those men." Erik jeered before walking out of the room. "You know where to find me Charles."
"I still don't like that we're letting that man go." Logan muttered before finishing off his beer.
…
Steve led the still dripping wet woman into his apartment then looked around. "I'll get you some more towels."
"I've got a change of clothes for her." Rayne commented while stopping in the doorway. "May I come in Captain?"
"Y-yes." Steve answered while quickly going off to his bathroom to find more towels.
Rayne looked at her great-granddaughter. The poor child looked not only absolutely drenched, but also sickly thin. She was thankful that Stark had already found a way to stabilize the Extremis virus. But no one knew that it had done to Avril's already existing mutation. She could only guess that it made it stronger.
When Avril looked at Rayne, the immortal mutant tensed. "Avril, how much do you remember?"
Not much. She responded telepathically. I remember you and me and dad playing in the gardens at Grand-père's. We moved to England to live with Aunt Pegs for a while.
"Aunt Pegs, is that Agent Peggy Carter?" Steve asked after coming out of the bathroom with two more white fluffy towels.
"Yes, I figured Peggy would love to get to know her." Rayne commented before taking the towels and leading Avril into the bathroom. "Can you dry yourself off and change by yourself Avril?
Avril nodded her head and slowly closed the door, locking Rayne out in the living room with the Captain.
"So, explanation time." Rayne muttered while pointing to the couch. "You'll want to change as well then sit down. This is going to blow your mind."
"Right, like waking up 70 years after a war wasn't bad enough." Steve muttered before going off to his room to quickly change out of his wet clothing.
Author's Note: I've got an idea for a proper cover picture if someone is more than willing to contact me (PM or using Facebook or twitter) and hear out my idea I would be extremely happy and forever greatful. The idea has been hitting my head like nothing else (sadly I am no artist when it comes to drawing). Please review!