Avengers: Age of Ultron | Saviors | Memories Long Repressed

Ava starts to suit back up after just having finished tying her hair back into a new braid. Her previous one was wrecked after having been thrown through several walls. Yes, she's still feeling more than a little pissed at both Tony and those Ultron bots for the incidents. But, for the sake of everyone living past tomorrow, she's put aside Winter's revenge streak…for now.

She reaches forwards to grab the gun on her bed before expertly going through the well-known routine of making sure there isn't anything that might render her unable to actually fire a bullet. A dodgy weapon in the middle of a death match will have no use for her - she'd like to live past this fight, and she'll make sure as many people as possible can make it through with her. Especially James and Steve - there's no way she's letting anyone take them away from her again.

Just as Ava holsters two handguns to either side of her hips, a knock sounds at the door. She looks up curiously, and can't help but smile slightly as she notices James leaning against the door, looking towards her with his own smile. Ever since the moment in the bedroom, the air feels clear between them and she's clearly noticed something; James has been smiling a lot more. Ava can't help but notice hoe she does too whenever he was within her presence. The old Ava is definitely starting to trump over the soldier in her.

"You ready for the big fight?" Ava questions, crossing her arms over her chest - looking him up and down properly. He hasn't done much in the last couple of minutes while everyone else gathers what they need. His face is cleaner than before, though, probably having just washed off all the dust particles that swept over him during the train incident. The same thing happened to her - that's why she's made sure to clean up before they leave too.

James doesn't answer, just staring at her with an undetermined look. "I remember this," he states, passing her question aside while his brow furrow with sadness. This scene in front of him really does feel like something out of their past. Ever since Ultron came into the picture, the feelings he used to feel came back with full force and he knows he can't do anything about them.

Avery tilts her head with confusion. "What are you talking about?" She asks, trying to think back to what he might be trying to say. But, nothing comes to mind.

James sighs, shaking his head before removing himself from the doorway - shifting towards her. "The day you left with the team you were commanding." He remembers the day like it was yesterday. At this moment, it feels like he's saying goodbye to her again just like he had to that day. The moment she left the Military camp with the team she was in charge of - that was the last day he saw her for months, and that was when Zola first got his disgusting hands on her.

During those months, they were painful and his heart ached every day; it's something he never wants to go through again. And, losing Ava all over again is just something he can never survive a third round of. He knows she'll get through this fight with the skills she has and the motivation to protect that drives in her soul. But, he still wants her to be careful. Both him and Steve never want to go through that again.

He should never have let her go that day - but she's stubborn, just like he and Steve are. Being a commander for a team was something she was working very hard for; being the first woman to do so with the love for her country under her belt.

Ava sighs silently, the memory vaguely coming back to her slowly. She may have all or most of her memories but retrieving them is always a challenge. Her head is literally living two lives. She steps towards him, gripping his forearms gently with her hands -squeezing them just a little to comfort him.

"James, we're not in 1943 anymore," she says lightly, not wanting him to feel the way he is. She doesn't like seeing that pain of remembering something bad cross his features. She can tell he's blaming himself for letting her go that day but it isn't his fault. If it was anyone's - it's Zola's or even her own. "Even though the circumstances didn't exactly play in my favor. I am a lot more skilled and resilient than I was back them." Circumstances is a stretched way to put her horror-filled life. "We'll all get through this and we'll win."

James lets out a small smile, a little chuckle leaving his lips with remembrance gleaming in his eyes. He gently pushes a falling strand of hair behind her ear before his hand leans against the side of her cheek, she instinctively leans into it. "There's my Ava," he comments, nodding slightly with a proudness leaking into his words. "The girl who believed in the impossible…before it did become possible."

Ava can actually feel her spirit lift a little more, a quirk of her own plastered over her lips. "And you're my James Buchanan Barnes, the most stubborn guy on the planet who won't take 'no' for an answer," she counters. Her smile slowly dims, but her eyes hold an easily detectable 'thank you.' "And if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be where I am today. I would probably still be a murdering psychopath." Putting a little tease in the end towards herself. She knows what she said would have been completely true too.

James leans forwards before resting his forehead against hers, their noses nearly touching. "You're welcome," he breathes quietly, their lips now almost touching. And suddenly, an idea comes to mind. "When this is over and Ultron's gone for good. If you want, I'll take you travelling. We can go visit the places we talked about before the war in '45. We can get away from this place for a while." Then, if the thine is right, he'll propose again. But this time…he'll make it even more special than he did the first time.

And the idea of getting away from the fights actually sound perfect.

The memory flashes before Ava's eyes and her lips widen slightly. "I'd love that." She really could use some time away from all this and the urge to fight. Before the war, they really did talk about travelling a bit before settling down. But then, this was still before their lives turned upside down.

And, even then, she wants to find her roots again and fully heal from everything her body and mind has had to go through lately. It's surprising that her head hasn't snapped yet under all the pressure.

Overall, from this moment on, she isn't going to let her past get to her anymore. The past is in the past and now she needs to think about the future. And that future includes being with James but also being there for her brother again. She knows it's going to be a challenge, a big one, but she's up for it. She is Avery Lola Rogers and it's about time she starts living like her again.