A/N: OMG! I'm so sorry! It's been kinda busy around here so I haven't had the chance so sit down and write! Please don't hate me forever!
chapter 10: theCitadel
James climbed up a cord through a hole in the ceiling, Toruun close by his side and Azari and Gwen leaping from place ahead of him.
Laura and Pym stayed behind for a moment to speak with Hawkeye and Griffin. A sudden yelping caused them to turn and see a young border collie puppy rush up and begin licking Griffin before giving a growl at the others, just to show them who was boss. The effect was ruined as it began chasing its tail.
"Hey there, Maya!" Exclaimed the young girl as she bent down to scratch it. "Have you been being a good girl? She's my watchdog, and attack dog," she explained to the pair of heroes.
"Ultron beware," said Laura, rolling her eyes. "We have ankle-biters!" Hawkeye tried to hold his laughter as Griffin scowled.
"You sure you don't wanna come?" asked Pym. "You can shoot arrows at Ultron! It'll be fun! Come on!" Though he address Hawkeye, he couldn't help glancing at Griffin as he spoke, causing her to shy away.
He only looked at Laura. "Stay safe, Beautiful," he said with a wink.
Her cheeks went a little pink. "You too," With that, she leapt off in pursuit of her siblings.
Pym watched the exchange and turned to Griffin in order to copy it. He found himself staring at a spear of ice. "Say something that cheesy, I dare you," was all she said.
He gulped before shrinking and flying up, pausing in the air. "We'll be back for Vision's head! Take good care of him! And stay safe, beautiful!" He ducked to avoid the spear that was launched at him before continuing after the others.
Hawkeye stared after them before feeling the gazes of the Scavengers on his back. He turned around and saw all eyes were locked on him, accusingly. "What?" He asked angrily. "We have to look after ourselves!" With that he turned and stormed off
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James peeked his head over the top of the metal. In the distance, he could see the towering structure known as the Citadel. Even from a distance it was massive. He looked around once more before turning back to his waiting companions. "All clear!" He said quietly. "Pym, Azari, Laura, come on!" He called as he jumped up, his friends close behind. Toruun had lost her sword so she wouldn't be much help in a fight, and Gwen had elected to play bodyguard for her, so the pair trailed a little behind the others.
They leapt up onto a pair of tracks. James looked up and saw a intricate metal supply tower approaching. "That tower!" Called James. "It's heading for the Citadel! Come on!"
As the machine passed over them, the group jumped up to take hold. They quickly began to ascend, trying to make it to the top before it reached its destination. "Come on! Hawkeye said the entrance was at the top of the tower!" Called James.
"I'll race ya!" Said Pym.
"You're on Pipsqeak!" Replied Laura, quickening her progress. Gwen was already near the top, glancing back at the others worriedly.
"We're not gonna make it!" Exclaimed James fearfully. Azari leapt up but was interrupted as a web shot out from near the top and yanked him skyward. Laura was grabbed in one hand by Toruun and James in the other as she flew up to join the ones already at the top.
They breathed a sigh of relief until Pym spoke up. "Is getting crushed part of the plan?" He asked. They turned around and saw the face of the Citadel right in front of them. They all let out a scream as it tower collided into the Citadel's wall. "Great, now what?" Asked the youngest boy when they realized no one was injured.
"See what you can do about that door," replied James as he gestured towards the door in front of them.
"I'm on it!" He exclaimed, glad to have a job. He examined it for a moment before turning back to the others. "Hey, Azari can open this!"
"What?" Asked a shocked James. "How do you know?"
"It's just like the maintenance hatches at home!" He replied.
"That's... Convenient," said Gwen quietly. Never the less, Azari shot a spark of electricity at the panel, forcing the door open. It revealed a dark passageway, leading into the gloom. "That's... Scary." Added Gwen. Azari reached out and gave her hand a squeeze. James and Toruun watched them before glancing at each other and blushing.
"Um, Laura?" Said Pym as he stared into the darkness, oblivious to the scene. "You go first." She rolled her eyes but stepped forward anyways. The boy returned to normal size and strode forward. A sudden switch activated and the wall slid away, along with the floor.
Pym, Laura, Azari, and Gwen began to sprint towards the other side. Suddenly, the ground beneath Pym vanished and he plummeted into open air. "Pym!" Screamed Azari and Gwen together.
"Just kidding," said the boy as he flew back up to them and returned to normal, a smug look on his face.
"We shouldn't be here!" Said a fearful Toruun to James as the pair stared towards the others across the void. "James, what if-"
"It's going to be ok," he interrupted firmly. "I promise." With that he extended his hand.
She stared at it for a moment before grasping it in her own. It felt... Warm. Warm and strong. It felt as though simply by grasping his hand, she knew everything would be alright. It seemed to banish all the fear and doubt she had, making her feel strong and safe. She almost end didn't want to let go when he pulled away after they landed on the other platform.
"Ok?" Said Azari in confusion. "There's no one here."
"They're, they just died from the corniness all of you guys are giving off," replied Laura with a glance towards Gwen and Azari, as well as one towards James and Toruun.
"Maybe Ultron assumes no one would be dumb enough to break in," continued the Wakandan, ignoring her.
"Ha!" Said Pym. "We showed him! We are dumb enough!" He ended this by stepping on yet another switch.
"Well, you are at least," said Laira with a sigh.
A bridge began to form, leading to a platform with eight glass cases. James stared at them for a moment before leading the way towards them. "James, wait!" Called Toruun, fear in her voice. He ignored her and kept walking.
That is, until he came to the first case.
Inside was a pile of broken metal with a helmet on top. The helmet of Iron Man.
The others moved up beside him. "What is all this?" Asked Pym in awe. Then they all saw the case as well. Azari pressed his fist against the glass and tried not to sob. Gwen was already doing it into his shoulder. Laura looked away and clenched her fist while Pym turned around. Toruua launched herself into James's arms and began to cry.
That's when the boy noticed the nearby. Inside was a blue mask with the letter A on it. James began to walk slowly towards it, knowing what he'd find.
Inside was his father's mask and shield.
The others watched him, waiting to see what he'd do, and wanting to know what to do next. Without realizing it, they had begun to know he was their leader. Now, faced with this discovery, they needed him more than ever.
James took a small step forward, trying to touch it. As his foot landed, another switch activated, lighting up the hundreds of cases that made up the walls of the room.
"Oh no, James!" Said Pym with fear.
"It's like.. It's like some kind of trophy room!" Said Azari.
"And the trophies are all the meta humans Ultron has killed," replied Gwen with a whisper.
"But that means..." Said Azari.
"Come on, let's go," said James forcefully. Toruun stared after him, fear in her gaze.
He tried to ignore the little voice in his head that said Ultron had let them in there, and that the machine was taunting him. It wanted him to know just how hopeless it was to oppose it.
It wanted to break his spirit.
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Tony lay strapped in the same chair he had been in before. He was tired and his body roared with pain. It was because of this that he that the shout and shield flying through the air were only figments of his imagination. That is, until he fell and landed in the arms of Azari and James.
"We got you now," said the redhead in assurance.
"Let's get you out of here, Geezer," added Laura.
"Please..." Said the old man weakly. "Please tell me you didn't just walk into Ultron's trap."
"How do you know it's a trap?" Asked Pym. " Maybe we're just that good!"
"I know because I built Ultron," replied Tony grimly.
"Oh well, that sucks!" commented the boy.
"No duh, Pipsqueak!" replied Laura with a roll of her eyes.
It was then that the walls began to move. The Iron Avengers began to reveal themselves, surrounding the group instantly. But the real threat was revealed as Ultron appeared.
"Do you see, Avenger?" Asked the android. "Rumors of the children's existence already spreads among the humans. Super-human variable can not he permitted. The children must be destroyed!"
"Hey that's not fair!" Replied Pym. "James doesn't even have any powers!"
"Scanning Avengers data file. Identity match: James Rogers, son of Steve Rogers. A.K.A.: Captain America, the most dangerous of all the Avengers. He inspired them. And like Captain America, you, James, shall be the first to fall!"
He boy narrowed his eyes, noticing a figure hidden in the shadows. It was a white-haired boy with a boy aimed straight for the android, with a girl wearing a mask behind him with a spear of ice aimed for the same place. "Not today, robot!" Replied the redhead. With that, the arrow and spear were released, and they exploded on the machine.
There wasn't even a scratch.
The robot turned in the direction they had come from. "Barton!" It growled. He gave a nervous wave in response before firing another ineffective arrow. The machine raised a hand to return fire but was distracted as the Scavengers appeared from the cracks and fired on it, breaking its concentration.
"All of you, run!" ordered James. "Go with Hawkeye! Toruun, take Tony." They nodded and did as they were told.
"Scavengers, disappear!" Shouted the archer. They gave a thumbs up and vanished as quickly as they appeared, destroying Iron Captain America's shield as a parting act of rebellion.
Hawkeye jumped down and began sprinting through a maze of passages, the others behind him.
All but James, who was staring Ultron in the eyes, challenging him. "There is no hope for the Avenger," said the machine, readying a repulser. He missed as James vanished after his friends. "Find them!" Ordered the android. The walls began to move as the building entered lock down.
"Go!" yelled James to Azari as the Wakandan hesitated.
"Move it you two!" Called Hawkeye. James threw his shield to stop a door from closing and trapping the pair. As they joined with Hawkeye, the shield vanished and they were all pushed off into open air. They rapidly descended into Old Town
They screamed as they fell, catching the attention of the girls. Azari's momentum was frozen as he felt a wed attach to his side. James was suddenly dangling from his foot, as that was the only place Toruun could grab.
Hawkeye felt a sharp pain in his side as something slammed into him, forcing him towards a wall. There was a small tearing sound as something plunged into the wall, forcing their momentum to slow. He opened his eyes and found himself held in one hand by Laura, feet from the ground.
"Kinda cutting it close there, Gorgeous," he said, his voice slightly higher than usual.
"Better late than never," she replied calmly.
end of chapter
A/N: again, sorry I took so long! To my mysterious guest (I've got a lot of those now but you know who you are!) I'm really just gonna have Maya be a kind of mascot, so she won't do anything major in the story. Sorry. Please review!
