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 Fifty Two
May 29, 2016. 1115 Hours
Avril sat at the booth in a small diner. The bus station was just across the street. Steve was apparently going to go do something before coming back to eat. Not that Avril really cared. She was more interested in the sketch on her napkin. She had been doodling for a few minutes. It was of her, Rayne, Falcon and Steve. They were smiling in the sketch. However, she found herself hating the sketch more and more as she came to the realization that she was leaving the group and not going to come back any time soon. Wading up the napkin, she tossed it, not really caring where it landed. Just as she tossed it, Steve happened to catch it and sit down across from her.
Turning red, she tried to reach for it but failed.
"What is this?" He asked while teasingly unfolding the wadded up napkin.
"Nothing, at least nothing really important." She countered while folding her arms across her chest. She hated it when people saw her sketches. She was better at painting than she was sketching.
"Av…"
"It's crap…look can we just order lunch and then let me leave?"
"You're dead set on leaving aren't you?" Steve looked at the napkin. "Yet you don't really want to leave us."
"I would rather not talk about what I want and what I don't want with you Captain." She mumbled. Her eyes quickly glanced over the menu before noticing the slight anger wafting off of him. "I would rather just not go into it all right?"
"Why?"
"Because I don't fit in with you all. I am nothing more than dead weight."
"You're not. You have provided a lot of back up, you've created the drives that have been helping gather information on Hydra. You drive the bus occasionally."
"But what good is all of that, plus my actual training, when I can't go out there and help you all." She hissed as the waitress started walking towards them.
"What can I get you two lovebirds?" The nice elderly woman asked while pulling a pencil out of her hair and a notepad out of her apron.
"Oh we're not…I mean do we look like…I mean…" Steve stammered while eyeing Avril out of the corner of his eye.
"I'll have a cup of coffee, 2 sugar 3 cream. Also a chef salad and a bowl of your macaroni and cheese." Avril answered while putting her menu down. She just wanted this to be over and done with as soon as possible.
"Your uh…cheese burger please." Steve handed the waitress both their menus and smiled as the lady walked away. "Avril, we seriously need to talk."
"So talk…I am more than willing to listen." Avril stabbed her finger onto the tabletop. Her patience was wearing thin but she wasn't exactly going to let him know that.
"Why are you really wanting to leave?"
She tensed before shrugging. "I am a hindrance."
"No, you're not and you know that…even if it is deep down." Steve reached out to take her hand. When he did he smiled at how smooth her skin actually felt. There were subtle lines of scar tissue but that didn't really bother him. He knew that there were also calluses on her fingers and the base of the fingers. It was a shock that her hands were still so smooth after all of the things that she must have gone through. "It's something else. You've been edgy since we left New York. Maybe even a little longer than that."
"I would rather not…it's kind of personal."
"But it's not just because of you viewing yourself as a hindrance."
"No…I mean I can be at times and I hate it but it's not the main reason."
"So tell me."
"I…"
There was a piercing scream from across the street that she felt in her bones. Covering her ears and trying to block out the telepathic pain, she glanced around to see a young woman crumpled to the ground. Two men were running away from her. She jumped to her feet and rushed out of the diner. Steve got up and followed her as well.
Avril quickly knelt down and looked at the unconscious woman. "Steve, stay here and call the police…also look for a four year old boy. She has a son."
Steve was about to counter her order when he watched her rush off after the two men.
Avril was slightly glad that she had been training with the Amazon suit in terms of long distance running. She caught up to the perpetrators in seconds. Tackling them both to the ground, she grabbed the first one and threw his head into the ground as hard as she could, knocking him out. Getting to her feet she glared at the second. "You really shouldn't have done that mate." She hissed while dropping into a fighting stance.
"And who the fuck are you supposed to be bitch?" He shouted at her while pulling out a switchblade.
"The Amazon." Avril answered, her hand instantly going to the hidden wakizashi at her side.
"And I am the Winter Soldier." She heard Bucky shout from behind the second perpetrator.
Avril felt all the air rush out of her lungs as she stared at him. He was wearing a black leather coat, the silver prosthetic arm exposed. At his side were several different weapons. She shivered at the thought that he was even there. Steve was just down the street.
"Fuck this shit…both of you are getting fucked over."
"I would rethink that son."
Avril took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder to see Steve standing there. He was angry, but he was also hurt. Now he probably could figure out why she was so out of sorts. She had been lying to them all this entire time.
"Captain America?"
Bucky laughed. "No, Captain Canada…yes that is Captain America you idiot." He calmly waited for the man to make a move. "Although, I wouldn't mind the fight right now. I mean if you're still stupid enough to try. It is three against one."
"How about 5 against 3." A gruff voice said from the other side of the street.
Avril rolled her eyes. "That's still nothing." She cracked her neck from side to side before looking at the new group. "I have fought the Yakuza, and trust me when I say that was a fight." Yanking the wakizashi free from its sheath, she twirled it a couple of times.
"Avril, we don't have time for this!" Bucky shouted before glancing at her. "Knock 'em down."
She tilted her head before concentrating on each member of the group. Slowly they began to drop, one by one. Taking a deep breath she put the wakizashi away and rolled her eyes. "Come on, you ruined my fun…I was going to make at least one of them crap their pants. He was so close when I mentioned the Yakuza."
"Avril…" Steve sounded both angry and surprised.
"Sorry, I can explain."
"After we get off the street." Bucky interrupted while going over to Avril and grabbing her wrist. "Come on kid, I don't think the police here will take too kindly to you holding a traditional Japanese short sword."
"Probably…" Avril glanced at Steve. "Come on, we can explain better."
"You're…working for Hydra?"
"NO! No, I am not working for Hydra. I am with you Steve. I rescued Bucky…I've been helping him."
"Seriously, off the streets…now!" Bucky yanked her.
