Dark Armor

The New Avenger

Chapter One: My Reason

Adam is my name, its an everyday average name, a boring one even. Normal used to be the bane of my existence, who wants to be normal anyway? Normal didn't make you different, didn't make you special, didn't make you rich or smart, it never helped with girls. Now I think back to those days in high school and wish to go back, starving for normalcy. Something that would never come, not since my incident.

The day I became Dark Armor.

The Avengers, one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, everyone knew of them. Captain America was an idol American children looked up to, Hulk is a pop culture icon, Iron Man was one of the richest smartest men in the world, Black Widow one of the deadliest assassins on Earth, and Hawkeye was, well he was Hawkeye.

So where do I fit in the equation, definitely not Avenger material. At a time I was normal, until I became Dark Armor, the rest was history.

2 years ago…

I awoke suddenly drawing in a sharp breath to see my third period science teacher staring down at me with intense brows. His shiny bald head reflected the overhead light above him. I wasn't sure if he had said something to wake me up or if my eyes became overpowered by the glow of his scalp.

"Mr. Barrows, if you are to continue sleeping in my class you will removed from it, do I make myself clear?" His voice was booming and authoritative. I think he may have been pissed, couldn't tell.

"Sorry Mr. Kingsley, your voice is so comforting, makes me feel right at home."

With a huff Kingsley turned away and continued his lecture, I could feel the twenty other pairs of eyes watching me on all sides. I smiled sheepishly, some rolled their eyes and turned back to listen to the teacher's riveting speech, others giggled. I sat back in my chair and returned to my notes, attempting to learn at least one new factoid about Biology before the end of class.

I flipped through my text and noticed a shuffle of papers at the corner of my eye, I turned to see Katie Evans paying close attention to the teacher's words. Katie was definitely out of my league, she was a volleyball player, a pro photographer and she was dating the hottest guy in school, Brad. I didn't know much about him apart from him being a tool, couldn't say I didn't blame her for her choice in men. Even I felt weak at the knees when he bullied me.

She glanced over and smiled at me, I mustered what I thought was a half baked attempt at a smile. The kind of smile you shoot someone you are terrified of but want so badly for them to like you, or at least not think you're a creep.

So why does all of this matter? Why am I going over my dull high school life?

You see, high school was a pretty meh experience for me. I was due for graduation in the Spring and I had expectations, normal expectations. Prom, graduate, go to college, meet a girl, start a family, have kids and fifty years later…die. I know it sounds negative but humor me because we're going in a different direction.

Now back to the past, Senior year Spring.

I was running the track for P.E, as far as I knew it was another normal day. I stopped finally after lap four near the bleachers, other students were heading inside from P.E, rules were once you finished head to the gym to play some dodgeball. Which never was as much fun as it sounded. I stood in the middle of the track panting, my friends heading inside behind me, my face sweaty and red from the run.

That was when I heard it, sobbing coming from the bleachers. I walked around the back of the bleachers and saw her standing alone, Katie with a few balled up tissues. I wasn't sure what to say, it wasn't everyday I consoled someone over their emotions.

"I uh, you okay?"

Katie seemed to notice me the first time since I walked over, she straightened up suddenly and wiped her tears away, "I'm fine."

I fought the sudden stupid first response in my head, most people who are fine don't cry under bleachers by themselves…

"Sorry I guess its none of my business," I scratched the back of my head. The classic nervous tick when talking to any pretty girl.

Put your arm down, moron!

My inner voice screamed at me, "Why are guys such asses?"

I was taken aback by her sudden outburst, "Hey we try our best…"

She paused then laughed suddenly, wiping her tears away once more.

I had no idea what was going on, or what the situation was but I took a shot in the dark. "Sometimes we say and do stupid things, especially around beautiful girls."

"Really?" She smiled, I realized what she may have been referring to.

I stepped back suddenly feeling jitters down my spine and butterflies attacking the inner lining of my stomach. She raised an eyebrow at me in confusion.

"Not you, I mean, wait, no you are pretty I just…" I stopped myself, push reset Adam, "Sorry I just made this really awkward."

She laughed to herself a little, her glazed watery eyes slowly melting back to normal. At least his stupidity made her smile. She turned facing out from the back of the bleachers, looking back at the school as their classmates headed into the gym.

She sighed, "I guess you're right, though I never considered cheating a stupid mistake, more of an unforgivable one."

My eyes went wide, how did Brad manage to cheat on a girl like Katie, isn't she one of the popular girls? How was she not good enough?

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know." I said,

"Honestly, I'm surprised, feels like the whole school knows about it. How did you not know?" She seemed to take step back in her words, "not that I think the whole school cares about what I'm doing. It's just the people I hangout with aren't exactly the quiet type. One thing happens and it spreads like wildfire."

"No I didn't think you meant that, but why care what others think? I mean if he truly cheated on you that makes him the jerk right?" I said, as she turned to me.

"Its hard to not care about what others think when every aspect of your life is reflected back at you. Honestly, I don't know what's harder, knowing he cheated on me or having everyone remind me every day, its embarrassing honestly."

I thought about my next words carefully, "Katie, I cant tell you how to live your life, I mean you and I don't exactly know each other very well. My advice is probably the last thing you need, I guess just think about what's important to you and follow what your heart tells you. If you think Brad made a mistake, give him another shot, people change all the time. If its better for you to move on, maybe reconsider and go your own way."

Katie seemed to be thinking to herself, here I was trying to give advice to one of the most attractive girls at this school and I had barely been in a couple relationships myself. I didn't care much for Brad, but in a weird detached totally not weird obsessed way, I cared about hers.

I put my hands into my pockets and stood by growing nervous from the awkward silence. Katie turned back to face me and took my hand in hers.

"Thank you…"

I must've looked really confused because she immediately started explaining.

"Not even my friends have heard me out or comforted me, you're very sweet. I'll see you in third period tomorrow?"

"Y-yeah," I stammered.

She kissed my cheek and left through the back of the bleachers leaving me alone in shock. What did I do to deserve that?

I didn't realize it at the time, but everything that had happened so far. The path I was on was unavoidable, my destiny was unpredictable, it all started with my reason, Katie would be the reason Dark Armor was created.

Author's Note: Hey everyone, I apologize for the slow start to this story. I have lots of plans for where its going to go, feel free to review and let me know what you think. This story is a labor of love for the MCU and the idea of bringing a new hero in fascinates me. I promise the stereotypical high school scenes are almost over.