Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my characters and the plot.
3
The scene of Mia sobbing in Tony Starks embrace was defiantly one you would not forget. Well, that's what Bruce Banner thought when he stumbled upon their small clearing.
"Bruce!" shouted Tony when he saw him standing in their clearing, mouth hanging open. He stood and walked towards him, Bruce still had his mouth open, Tony saw and stooped walking mid track. Confusion took over his face; he turned and gazed back at Mia.
"What? You've never seen a crying girl before?"
"Bruce?" Called Mia, "Is that you?"
...
The rest of the day went rather fast for Amelia. It was after Bruce had stumbled upon them, that the truth of her situation came to light. Well, to darkness.
"Your pupils don't even dilate," said Bruce, as he directed Mia's gaze towards the sun. "I'm sorry, I can't do much here," with an edge of disappointment. "But I found some aloviera plants, they should bring some relief to your burns." All Mia could do was nod. She tried to sleep some more, all she dreamt of was the underground base collapsing, Tom's face, and the dizziness setting in, taking away her vision. There was one thing she could see crystal clear, Clint, and disappointment ruled in his face.
Mia woke again at sunset; she lay still, contemplating what to do next. Her sight being lost took away her indepencance. Mia felt bad making the boys wait on her could hear the others talking not far from where she was resting. She wondered where Clint was. Was he hurt? Was he tied up somewhere? Would he ever for forgive Amelia for the naive things she said?
-Unknown location in Australia-
Heavy metal locks groaned as they were open. The iron door swung open. Light streamed in, blinding Clint Barton. A figure stood in the doorway, casting a shadow over the already dark, concrete cell. Clint wondered if these daily appearing wounds would ever heal.
"Ready for today's Activities, Mr Barton?"
"Why, why are you doing this? Why are you on their side?" Croaked Clint.
"I like to keep my customers happy. Besides, I need something for my soldiers to train on, they need to learn no mercy." Clint's over head restraints were lowered; pain shot though his arms and back as he lowered his arms to his sides. Two guards marched in and dragged the beaten man towards the light. But he didn't fight them off. What had he left to fight for? The Avengers? They were all here in their own cells; safe and sound. The world? He couldn't protect himself, how could they save a world? The love of his life? She thought of him a coward. Besides, she was dead.
...
Tony and Bruce's conversation drew Amelia from her thoughts
"We need to find a base, de-brief and Avenge the others"
"I agree, but we are over our heads. And Amelia needs medical attention."
"Alright, lets rest up here and move out at dawn and – Wait, did you ever check out the blue prints of the Inpex base?"
"No, and I highly doubt that someone handed them too confidently."
"Hey, new place, new country, new people. I wasn't going in blind." Mia snorted from her spot,
"Isn't that ironic" Mia called out sarcastically.
"Sorry, but still. On these old prints there was alot of tunnels and emergency storage holds. I say we go back and see if they still exist." Said Stark
"It is a bit off a stretch, what if these storages have been deactivated?"
"Well they should still be there, the place wasn't that old."
...
Bruce woke mia up the next morning.
"Why don't you just leave me here, I will only be in the way. And I will slow you down"
"Not a chance, just because you are blind, for now, doesn't mean you aren't of use. Besides, we need some sense between us two." Mia could hear the smile in Bruce's voice. She was glad that he wanted her with them, she didn't know what she would do if she was left alone.
"Hey Tony, I forgot to ask, what happened to your suit?"
"Stane screwed my electronics; I had to get it off somehow." Replied Tony. Tree branches breaking.
"And you kept the boots on."
"Yes, well I think they are rather stylish." Said Tony in a high, posh voice.
"Is that what Pepper told you?" Tony glared at Bruce.
"Touché," he said as he walked away, while whistling 'These boots were made for walking'.
Bruce turned back to mia, "I have an idea, but it might not be too comfortable for you."
"Go on."
"We must be at least 30 miles from the base, the other guy could get us there a lot faster, and Tony can't fly there either."
"That is an excellent idea, you up for it Mia?" called tony from somewhere.
"Ok," she replied her confidence slowly leaving.
...
The ride over wasn't that bad, a green hand held mia to the hulks chest. At least she felt safe. They stopped on the tree border and took in the scene.
"It looks worse than I thought it would," said Stark
"Tell me" said mia.
"There is one big crater in the middle of nowhere." What he didn't tell her was the dead bodies sprawled everywhere. There was still smoke rising from the crater. Hulk shook Tony off his back roughly and as gently as he could, placed Mia on her feet. He then turned and smashed into the bushland to cool off.
"Well someone has favourites," he called after him. Hulk roared back, but it sounded like more of a laugh then anything. Tony grabbed Mia by the hand.
"There is a few shipping containers over here, let's check them out. It's all flat land, you won't walk into anything." He led her to the container taking it slow and steady.
"Hey guys, wait for me!" Bruce called as he calmly walked to them. Mia turned to the direction of Bruce.
"Christ Banner, puts some pants on."
"Well have you got some floating around here?" Mia couldn't help but giggle. Bruce turned bright red.
"I only have my over stretched stuff from before. Anyone got a belt of some sort?"
Mia pulled the bow in her hair out and trusted the piece of silk in Bruce's general direction, "Here, use this. Just tie the ends," she then pulled a second one out of her pocket and gave it to Bruce as well, "I always keep a second."
"Mia you reckon you could break this padlock?"
"I guess so," she put her hands in front of her, tony pulled her by the waist to the door. The padlock was the size of her hands. She felt it all over until she had enough of a mental image. She didn't have to think of it breaking for too long, it just fell in two. The whole process was alot easier for Mia, the headaches were rare, and she no longer felt exhausted after light activities. The training had done her well.
"You never seize to amaze me." said Bruce quietly. Mia stepped back and Tony swung the metal doors open.
"Hello beautiful," said Stark.
"What is it?"
"It's a helicopter," replied Tony, jumping up and down.
"I call first shower! Banner help me collapse these walls," said tony as he skipped into the container
"But where are we going to go? Do you have a map?" asked Bruce. Tony came back out of the container.
"I don't know. Fly north; there must be some sort of civilization around here." Bruce and Tony turned to look at the helicopter; Mia sat on the ground and picked at the dead grass around her. A gun loaded behind them.
"Alright hands in there air," the voice was familiar but nobody could pick it. "Turn around slowly, no funny business." Mia turned first, and then did Tony and Bruce. I know that voice.
"Jenkins?" asked Amelia. The short man stared at mia, his face went red like a tomato, and he nervously pushed his glasses up higher on his nose.
"You are all supposed to be dead, or captured. How can you still be here?"
"It's called run for your lives, son." Remarked Tony as he stepped forward and took the gun from Jenkins hands, which was still pointed at them.
"Are there any others?"Asked Bruce.
"There is a few of us who escaped and who weren't at the base at the time of the..." Jenkins face lit up "Mr Banner you are a doctor, are you not?" Bruce nodded looking startled. "Come quick Dave was shot, he needs help." Jenkins turned and dragged Bruce back to the tree line.
"Yay, more walking." Groaned Mia.
"Don't you worry your pretty little face about that," said Tony, squatting and pulling her onto his back.
"Oh Tony, not, I'm too heavy."
"You. Heavy? These muscles aren't painted on, dear." Mia couldn't help but giggle.