Family Matters CHAPTER 23

After they had finished eating the Avengers were called into a meeting with T'Challa and his council so Grace found herself in the company of Pietro, Wanda and Bucky. Grace was still not sure if Nat was made at her or not and she didn't get the chance to ask her. They were outside looking over the Asgardian camp they had set up rows and rows of tents not to mention the Wakandan army was on the other side it seriously made the once open land look like a sea of tents. She'd hate having to walk from one side to the other.

"What do you think they are talking about in there that we weren't invited for?" Pietro asked he had a ball in his hand and was entertaining himself trying to keep the ball in the air.

'It is a war council.' Grace signed but seeming none of them knew sign she let Wanda read her thoughts.

"We are part of their team no? we should be in there with them?" he stated

"Do you really want to be in a room listening to a bunch of people discuss battle plans we already know? Standing there, quiet and still?" Bucky asked seeming Pietro had yet to stop moving since he joined them.

"Not really no, but that is not the principal. We should have been at least invited." He huffed catching the ball on the back of his neck.

"Where are you going?" Pietro asked seeming Grace had gotten up and started walking towards the Asgardian camp.

'To watch them fight.' Grace replied she heard steal on steal so knew that their was a spar taking place. Bucky ended up joining her with Wanda and Pietro who had given up his ball. She had a feeling Bucky was keeping an eye on her for Steve's sake and Pietro for Clint's. 'You know I am older than you right?' Grace thought to Wanda

"What?"

'Nat asked you to watch out for me, but I am older than you so it should be me looking out for you.' Grace responded. As they walked through the many rows of tents several Asgardian warriors watched them. Bucky seemed to straighten as he walked he carried himself with a defining look that he was the one in charge and looking out for the others in this group. They stopped at a crowd to see they have gathered around a couple of soldiers sparring with swords and shields. Grace was in awe as she paid close attention to watching them move, after five minutes she had picked the winner of the match. Five minutes after that she was correct.

"Do we have a new challenger?" One Asgardian asked looking around the crowd another man stepped forward taking his place against the champion. A new fight took place. Grace ended up spending the morning watching Asgardians spar. At some point Pietro and Wanda left but Bucky remained by her side.

"You have taken interest in our fighting techniques?" Lady Sif asked moving over to her and Bucky

"They are all capable fighters." Bucky replied but she was looking at Grace so she nodded.

"You are Son of Bartons sister?" She asked at this Grace nodded already used to the way they speak. "He has mastered the bow has he not?" She asked again Grace nodded "Are you skilled with that weapon?" She asked at this Grace shook her head. "What is your weapon of choice?" She asked at this Grace thought it over, she could use a gun but found herself better with her hands. She knew how to use a knife that was her preferred weapon, not only was she skilled in the kitchen with a knife but thanks to Natasha she knew several tricks with the blade. At this Grace pointed to the closes thing they had to a knife which was a dagger, quite a bit longer than a knife and thicker but the weight was still good. Seeming Lady Sif had handed her the dagger she had pointed to. "Would you spar with me?" Lady Sif asked

"I don't think…" Bucky began to say that was not a good idea but Grace hit him in the stomach stopping his as she nodded her head to Lady Sif and let her lead the way. Grace assessed the warrior in front of her, she could tell by her posture she was an experienced fighter without needing to know the details of her being one of Thor's most valued friends.

"We train with weapons, do we need fake ones?" Lady Sif asked at this Grace shook her head and indicated that this weapon would be fine. Lady Sif gave a small nod. "That is the spirt." She stated before pulling out her sword. Grace took a deep breath relaxing her mind as she focused on the fight at hand. She knew that Lady Sif was going to take it easy, who wouldn't when they knew they were superiorly stronger then their opponent after all she was an Asgardian. Grace let her make the first move so that she could get an understanding of her fighting style. Grace had trained with weapons before she was light on her feet as she blocked Lady Sif's attacks, just to be on the safe side though she did put up a barrier around herself in case she managed to get past her defense. Lady Sif did manage to get past her defense as she stopped herself short so she wouldn't hurt Grace not knowing about the barrier Grace had put in place. Grace took this chance to step in and around using her elbow she hit Lady Sif on the back. Lady Sif was quick to counter though she seemed impressed by Grace's speed and agility as she got out of the way of the more serious attacks. Grace then changed from defense to offense. Grace had Lady Sif's pattern and had it worked to her advantage. Grace managed to get past her defense twice but it was clear that Lady Sif was the superior fighter as Grace ended up disarmed. "You are good with that dagger."

"Grace what are you doing?" Clint asked he was with Natasha and Steve.

'Training. You had your meeting, I took the initiative to learn from expert warriors.' Grace signed looking at her brother.

'You could have been hurt.' Clint signed back

'Please, like she could have hurt me? She was holding back…by a lot.' Grace signed back not seeing the problem as she and her brother ended up in a glare off. 'I am here to fight, why not learn something along the way?' She added

"I have every right to put you on a plane home." He mumbled

'Try it see what happens.' Grace glared at him as she signed at him in anger.

"You were holding back Grace, go again. This time don't hold back." Natasha stated looking at Lady Sif to see if it was alright. She nodded surprised that Natasha knew that Grace was holding back. She had thought the human did rather well against her.

"Nat?" Clint almost whined he thought they were on the same side.

"You want to know if she is ready? Grace don't hold back." Natasha stated at this Grace nodded before turning back to Lady Sif as the others gave them some room. Grace noticed the crowd of on lookers seemed to have grown since her brothers arrival. She also saw that it wasn't only Asgardians in the crowd. King T'Challa was with Steve and Stark. Rocket was with Peter Quill and their other friends. Grace tuned them all out as she looked over her opponent. She knew what Natasha was wanting her to do but she still found it weird openly using her powers. This time Grace started off on offence making the air around her thicker so it was harder for Lady Sif to land a strike. Lady Sif tilted her head as she felt resistance each time she swung her sword. She then continued side stepping a thrust she knocked it back with the dagger putting a bit more force behind her strike. Lady Sif was now serious…Grace using a maneuver she had witnessed one of the other Asgardians used to knock the sword out of her hand. Grace was now against her shield, Lady Sif knew how to use it as a weapon. She ended up rolling on the ground to grab her sword back as Grace gave chase, she ended up jumping over Sif's strike going a little higher than a normal human should as she landed she ducked under an attack using her dagger but it was knocked out of her hand. Lady Sif stepped back thinking the match was concluded but Grace didn't tap out instead she held her hand out. The dagger flew back into her hand surprising the crowd except Clint and Natasha she then ran at Sif who fell into a defensive stance but Grace knew this so managed to step around her stance she used her free hand to grip Sif's arm with the sword stealing it, her own hand with the dagger touched Lady's Sif's breastplate and Sif's own sword was pointed at her head.

"You have sorcery?" Sif asked

'I have powers. I can control the air.' Grace signed rolling up her sleeves she handed back her sword only for Sif to take her arm and turn it over.

"Who did this?" She asked making Grace look down at the brand on her arm, Grace pushed her sleeve back down.

'Thank you for the fight.' Grace signed before turning to look at Clint and Natasha.

"You have powers?" Stark asked at this Grace shrugged. "What was that mark on your arm?" he asked not noticing Grace's clenched fist.

"Tony, not now." Natasha stated silencing him as Clint had moved closer to her.

"You good?" he asked

'My past, I can take care of myself.' Grace replied

"I can see that, nice use of the air. Although did you have to be like Thor?" He asked this made her smile.

'They are his people…and well, he is Thor. Could not stop myself he is dreamy after all.' She replied with a smile.

"Seriously? This is why I need Skye here. She respects me." Clint stated at this Grace placed her hand on his shoulder.

'It was her saying.' Grace signed 'Plus he is dreamy, you are our brother, why would we see you that way. That's messed up…great now that is all I can see. Besides you know who my favorite is.'

"At one point it was me."

'No, Nat."

"Seriously?" he asked looking from Grace to Natasha who was wearing a smug smile.

'It's always been Nat, but you are my favorite brother.' Grace signed moving over to Natasha who was holding a drink.

"Wait I'm your only brother." Clint stated turning and walking after them.

"What just happened?" Stark asked "How is Natasha her favorite? You're dating her, I'm Tony bloody Stark what does Natasha do?"

"She can take you down with one hand and without much effort. Would you go against her?" Steve stated looking after them.

"Did you know she had powers?" Stark asked deciding it was best to change the topic even though he had many more questions, they all did.

"Should we keep going?" Steve asked looking at T'Challa and the others.

"Are we just meant to ignore what just happened?" Rocket asked looking at Quill.

"Let us continue." T'Challa stated leading them on to examine the rest of their defensive strategies.

AN: What do you think? i do not own any Marvel characters.