I'M BACK! :D
Ahhh! It's good to finally post something. I'm sorry I was away for such a long time, I was doing National Novel Writing Month, and working on my own original story, but now I'm hoping to be back and updating quite a bit. :) (hoping being a key word there).
This chapter's a bit short, since I wanted to post something as fast as possible, but I hope you all enjoy it all the same!
Thanks for reading!
-mariahills-capsicle
NUSAA's SHIELD Base-Library
1130R (UTC-5)
23JUN2012
It actually didn't take Maria that long to find Steve. She decided she might as well get her promise with Barton over with and go talk to the Captain right away. Steve was in the library, pouring over numerous newspaper clippings and magazine articles. In front of him on the table was an extremely thick, blue file. Maria recognized it instantly as General Fury's Avengers Initiative file and smiled. So, the old general had finally picked a leader for his team. Steve was the perfect choice, she wouldn't deny that. She was perfectly content to sit there, behind a shelf, watching him through the books as he worked on building this new team. But she had sworn to Clint that she would actually speak to him, so she wheeled out and addressed him with a smile.
"Major Hill," Steve said, "I was actually going to go looking for you after I was done reading some of this…. Homework." He smiled, but it was weak and lonely.
"Captain. I wanted to apologize for my sudden and inappropriate change in behavior." Maria said. Steve sighed.
"Look, what I did was wrong. I'm sorry I stepped over the line."
"I think, though, that I've made things awkward. I want to be friends." Maria said. "I… I like you, Steve, I think you're a wonderful person. The fact is, I'm not sure I'm really ready for a relationship yet."
"Yes, I know. I'm sorry." Steve sighed. "Friends, though?"
"Friends." Maria nodded. For now. "So what are you working on?"
"The Avengers Initiative. I'm sure you've heard of it."
"Of course. Fury made the right decision assigning you as team leader. What do you think of the idea?"
"I think the whole Avengers plan is a good one, but I'm not so keen on being a leader." Steve said, "I've just come back from the dead, really. I still have a lot to learn about technology advances and such."
"Don't worry about it." Maria said, "You'll be fine."
"Thanks." Steve said, "Would you mind… I'm sure you know more about these people than I do. Could you help me learn more about them?"
"Sure." Maria said.
"Good morning." Clint grinned. Natasha stared up at him, blinking in the light of the room.
"Clint." She murmured in her Russian accent. "What… did it go well?"
"Bruce says everything looks totally fine!" Clint said, "You did it! You're safe now!" Despite her drowsiness, she grinned.
"You're safe now." She said. In a moment of silence she slipped her hand into his. "I'm glad you're here. I had a nightmare that we failed and… I lost you."
"We're here for each other, Nat, so we can protect each other."
"I know." Natasha whispered, "It was just so real."
"Well, I'm here now!" Clint grinned.
"Clint?" Nat asked. "I want to help you fight Hydra. I know I can, as soon as I'm all healed."
"You're strong enough, that's for sure, but it would be dangerous having you go out on field without Fury knowing about you."
"It might be the only way for me to prove myself to him." Natasha replied.
"You're right. As soon as you're better I'll think of a way to sneak you out." He grinned mischievously and Natasha leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "What was that for?" He gasped.
"For pulling me out of Hydra. I'd still be in that dungeon being brainwashed by Hydra if it weren't for you, Clinton Barton."
"You'd have done the same for me." Clint replied.
The concrete was drawing closer, and closer.
"TONY!" Pepper screamed.
"Hang on!" Tony gasped. "Jarvis?!"
"Sir, there's nothing I can do, your repulsors are not going to fix themselves. It's not a programming problem, it's the wiring."
"Shit. Shit. Shit." Then, out of nowhere, something hit Tony square in the back, and pulled him up. And then they were rising in the air. "Pepper!" Tony screamed, pointing down, trying to get his rescuer to realize that there was another human in danger, but whoever had grabbed him completely ignored him, and when they got to a rooftop, Tony saw why. "Sam! Pepper's falling to her death!"
"You think I'm an idiot?" Sam asked. "I brought a friend." That's when Pepper landed on her feet right in front of them. Behind her stood a young man dressed in red and blue. Pepper turned to the young man first,
"Thank you!" She whispered.
"Just part of the job!" The young man nodded, holding up a thumb's up. The Pepper turned to Tony. The billionaire knew what was coming, and though he tried desperately, his face mask wouldn't obey his orders and his expression of fear was seen by everyone.
"You idiot!" Pepper screamed. "You're crazy! I could have died." Tony had no words for her. He felt terribly guilty, but it wasn't exactly in his nature to apologize for mistakes that he knew he made but would rather not mention. Pepper looked back over at Sam and the young man who'd joined him. "Thank you both, again. I am taking the bus back to the Labor District, I need to be alone." She turned to leave, but paused just before spinning back around and pulling Tony into a deep kiss. Tony probably would have fallen over, had Pepper's arms not been wrapped around his shoulders. "You're still an idiot." She hissed, as she pulled away, and stormed down the stairs, "But I'm glad you're alive!"
"Way to send a mixed message." The young man frowned. Sam had his arms crossed and was staring after Pepper, shaking his head. Then he turned to Tony.
"You're sure as fucking hell lucky that Bruce told me you went out."
"Tattletale." Tony sighed.
"Tattletale? You'd be dead without Bruce Banner and Falcon!" The young man in red and blue gasped. "And your girlfriend would be dead without me. I think you owe us a 'thanks'."
"And who are you supposed to be?" Tony asked, "A mini Captain America?"
"Oh for the love of- No! Does no one see the spider eyes?!"
"I should ask you the same question, Tony. What are you calling yourself? Metal-Man?"
"Please, I pride myself on being an inventor, I would have thought you could have come up with something at least a little better than Metal-Man. I'm Iron Man." But Falcon wasn't listening anymore. His phone had suddenly begun to beep, signaling he was receiving some sort of message, and his full attention was on the little device. The young man was watching Tony very carefully, as if this was his first official job- retrieving a renegade Tony Stark- and he wasn't about to screw it up.
"Yes, sir, I found him. He nearly killed himself and Ms. Potts." Sam was saying. "Of course, sir, we're on our way."
"Come on, Stark, Parker- we're heading back home."
"It's dangerous." Was all Maria could say in reply to Steve's suggestion.
"Of course it's dangerous. Whoever said war wouldn't be. The fact is, if we're going to take this fort we need a team of specialists. Tony Stark is a specialist, there's no doubt about that." Steve replied.
"And what about Natalia Alianova? She's a specialist, sure, but can we trust her? Can we trust either of them?" Steve paused, looking into her eyes, a small smile on his lips, the light from their battery powered lantern making his expression look almost sinister, but definitely genius. For a moment she thought that he was the most intelligent person she'd ever encountered- a picture of perfect gentleman charm, and tactical genius- but the moment faded when he laughed out loud.
"Maria, you look so…"
"Concerned? Yes. I am concerned. Either one of them could turn on us for their own gain. Why would Stark want to fight at all? And Nat? She just wants to get away from all this."
"Nat and Stark both want revenge. It's not the best of motives, but it's a motive all the same." Steve said. "We need specialists. Romanov and Stark, we'll have to keep an eye on both of them to make sure their motives don't turn into blind rage, but I'm hoping that if we all work together we can change each other for the better. We can help them see that it's not all about destroying the thing that destroyed us, it's about regaining our freedom. It's about having a say." Maria sighed, looking down at the list they had written out on a slip of paper. Their pencil had broken one or two times, making the scrap of yellow paper messy, but it was a list that could be the salvation of the New United States of America and all her people.
"You're right." She said, "So, when she we gather up all your specialists?"
"What's that old saying?" Steve asked with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "Oh right- 'there's no time like the present.'"
REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER TWENTY
Still Waters: Lovely chapter. Great character interactions. Tony chasing after Pepper. Clint's rationale for rescuing Nat. His conversation with Hill. Looking forward to more of whatever whenever (certainly sympathize with the story juggling issues).
I'm glad you liked it. I feel like this chapter's a little messier, and definitely shorter, but I just wanted to throw it out there for you guys! Yes, story juggling makes one almost go crazy. But, yay, I am back at last! :)
Spitfire303: Very nice one of the best au stories i have read in a long time :) i love how you have managed to keep true to tue characters :)
Aww! Thanks! I'm so glad you said that! One of the main things I worry about when I write fanfiction is if I'll be able to stay true to the characters and write them the way they're supposed to be from their original stories. Steve, I think, is the easiest for me just because I identify with him more than anyone else. He's kind of a quiet, and artistic sort of guy, always nice until he needs to be badass. And then there he is, fighting for what's right, like a good hero always should. And he always thinks from his heart- which is what I love about him. Where Tony's definitely a crazy rule-breaker, (it works for him!) Steve is calm and organized. Ah... I guess it's just fun to analyze them all. :P
AgentMaryMargaretSkitz: Daisy Johnson! Woohoo! (Although tbh I miss calling her Skye and still do). But yah that Hank and Matt are also on the roster.
LEO FITZ CAMEO! MY HEART IS FLYING AND I AM SO HAPPY!
Holy crap! Sam, if you're on a fly-by, now's the time to come by!
Yeah, the chip was in Max's arm, not her wrist. But the whole thing just reminded me of it. Also, did not care for Dylan, so glad to see a fellow friend on that front!
You and me, just like Coulson, still slipping up and calling her Skye. :) Yes! There are totally going to be cameos all over for Agents of SHIELD!
I've had this little plan for a while about Bruce telling Sam Tony left, and Sam following him. So, when I read your comment (aaaages ago) I was like- 'You called it!'
I thought I remembered that... And yes, Dylan just needs to not exist. :P He's making more of those books isn't he? I thought I read that somewhere. There are so many! It's just like a really long TV series. 'No... just do a happy ending and end all the suffering!'
shadowhuntingdauntlessdemigod: Cliffhanger? Come one! He just found her, he can't lose her again!
I could never in a million years kill of Pepper- oh wait...
I could never in a million years kill of Pepper again.
fox tamer 113: No! D:
Pepperony will not die! I refuse it!
Tony will be able to catch Pepper and they'll crash land somewhere safe! Like a forest! Or a shallow stream!
I swear to Hades, if you kill off my favorite couple... I'll don't know what to do! ;-;
No, but seriously, no. I'm not that heartless. Cliffhangers are just fun, that's all. :)
I Just Won a Free Toaster Oven: Tony's an idiot.
I 100% agree with you, but when is he not?
It's his arrogance. I know because my brother- I love him but- sometimes is the most arrogant asshole on the face of the planet, and let me tell you. When he's an arrogant asshole... he's even more an idiot.
Thank you all, so much, for the reviews! I love reviews! Keep sending them in and I shall keep writing! We'll be an encouraging team of joy! After all the cliff-hangers, of course. I bet you all are wondering where Thor is...
Let's free Bucky and find out. :)
Remember to find me on tumblr! mariahills-capsicle
NEXT UP IS CHAPTER FIVE OR SIX OR WHATEVER CHAPTER WE'RE ON OF BUNKER 37. If you haven't checked out my other fanfic "Bunker 37" go ahead! It's gonna be fun! :D