We Are Only Human

Summary (Volume 2): After rescuing the young woman, they have found that her powers are more than they once were. More threats arise and the Avengers need to train their newest members before it is too late.

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 Forty Nine

May 13, 2016. 0500 Hours

Avril sat staring at the sunrise. A steaming hot cup of coffee rested in her hand as she thought about all that had happened during the night. Sharon had stayed, making it so that Avril felt even more uncomfortable around Steve. She could tell he was attracted to her cousin, but she didn't feel like dealing with all of that drama. Instead she opted to sleep outside in the spare tent she had packed. Rayne had stayed awake patrolling the area around the AVNU and campsite.

Sensing someone behind her, she turned to see Steve walking towards her. She quickly turned back to the tiny embers that her camping coffee pot was on. "I don't have a spare cup." She muttered before looking up at the sky again. "I wish I had packed my paint sets. This would have been beautiful to paint."

"You don't happen to have a camera on you, do you?" Steve asked while sitting on the log next to her.

"No, at least not on me…and I don't want to wake Sharon by searching my cabin for it."

"I don't think she would mind too much."

"She would…we've been that way since we were kids. Hated being around each other for too long. Hated the way that we were treated differently by the elders in the house. She was given the chance to be a normal kid, and I was forced to learn self-defense basically since I could walk. I needed to perfect my self-control by the time I was 4. We were basically jealous of each other growing up."

"It seems to have carried into adulthood." Steve stated before reaching for the coffee pot.

"You don't need to condemn me for it. I already condemn myself." Avril drained the last of her coffee and handed the empty mug to him. "I'm done." She got up and started to reach for the bucket of dirt and sand she had already gathered.

"Avril, what's really wrong?"

She ignored him and focused on the new presence she sensed nearby. Rayne was in the opposite direction of the new presence. "Captain, stay put." Avril stated before going off into the nearby bushes. Slipping her hand to her belt, she kept walking until she was past the presence. Yanking out the wakizashi from its sheath, she dropped down and slipped it around the stranger's throat. "State your name and intention."

"Hey Professor…"

Growling to herself, she put the knife away and spun Bucky around. What the hell Bucky! She snapped telepathically. It is extremely dangerous for you to be here.

I wanted to check on you before making my way out of here. I noticed the AVNU and thought it would be good to at least see that you all were still safe.

Get out of here fast. Rayne will notice that you're here.

How?

She has enhanced senses! Now go!

Bucky nodded his head before slinking out of the bushes and leaving.

"Avril?" She heard Steve shout as his presence got closer.

"Sorry, I thought I saw something." Avril countered before standing up right. "It's fine."

"I would feel better if you didn't walk off like that." Steve folded his arms across his chest.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself Captain Rogers." Avril hated how lying was suddenly changing who she was. She hated hiding the fact that Bucky was regaining his memories and that he had been there just seconds before. She hated having Sharon there with them.

"Avril, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Everything.

You're lying again…I wish you could trust me enough to tell me the truth. He thought while looking down at the mug of coffee in his hand.

"If I told you the truth, you would only feel disgusted." She muttered in Russian before going over to her tent and breaking it down.

"Sorry, I've got to get going." Sharon stated while running out of the AVNU.

"It was nice to see you again Agent 13." Steve stated while holding his hand out to her.

"Nice to see you too Captain." Sharon briefly shook his hand before going over to Avril. "Avril, it's nice seeing you again…" She held her hand out to Avril.

Avril stood up and started to shake her cousin's hand only to be pulled into a tight embrace. Tensing for a moment, she felt confused.

Take care of him. He cares so much for you. She heard Sharon think very loudly.

But he is attracted to you.

Physically attracted, but not the same kind of attraction that he has for you cousin. "I left a file on your computer that Rayne wanted you to have but entrusted me with it. It has to do with your maternal great grandmother."

"All right, I'll take a look at it." Avril looked at her cousin one last time before she got into her car. Shaking her head, Avril went back to taking down the tent.

"You need help?"

"No." She held out her left hand and focused on telekinetically rolling the tent up. it happened slowly at first, but once the deconstructed tent was rolling up neatly, she let out a small smile. She was getting better at using her new found gift. Seeing Steve pick up the case for the tent, she let a chuckle escape her. "I really don't need help."

"I thought I would help anyway." Steve took the rolled up tent and slipped it inside the case. He then hefted it over his shoulder and took a step closer to her. "Are you sure you want to continue with us?"

"Why would I change that now?" Avril held her hand out to take the tent from him. However he walked past her and she narrowed her eyes. "Why? Why are you not letting me do things on my own?" she shouted while turning around to glare at the back of his head.

"I wanted to help."

"I didn't need it!"

"Avril, do you ever let people help you?"

"What?"

"Do you ever let people help you?"

"Of course I do. It's just that it was my mess and I should be the one to clean it up, not you."

Steve slipped the tent into the undercarriage of the AVNU. When he turned back to her, he noticed that she was looking off towards the ashes of her little campfire. "Teammates help each other and will always be more than willing to help, even if the other teammates don't want it."

"Right…" She took a moment before looking him in the eyes.

"Now are you going to tell me what is bothering you?"

"Nothing is bothering me, unless you count the fact that you keep asking me that."

"All right, I can take a hint."

She almost snapped before rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry I am so off kilter. That letter is really bugging me the most." And so is lying to all of you about Bucky. Her heart pounded as her grandmother walked out from the same area that Bucky had been hiding. She was alone, but she looked angry.

"I can smell him. He was here during the night." Rayne stated while looking at Steve.

"Do you think you saw Bucky in the bushes earlier?"

"Maybe…I mean I am not entirely sure what I saw. It was gone by the time I got over there."

"We need to set up a better guard watch, two at a time while the other two sleep. If you need to go outside for any reason, do not go out alone." Steve ordered her while getting inside the AVNU.

Avril rolled her eyes. She was probably the safest out of any of them when it came to Bucky. He wouldn't hurt her, and if he somehow got under the control of Hydra again, she could stop him with a single thought. Not that any of them needed to really be reminded of that.