A/N: Hi all! Everyone seems to be enjoying the story so far! I'm glad. I just saw Civil War for the third time yesterday… ugh, love it so much.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Jon Snow.
Chapter Two
"Well, I can still handle Mystique," I lifted a shoulder, "it should be quick, pretty easy, too. We don't need the whole team."
Steve shook his head, guiding me into the command center, where Natasha, Sam Wilson, and Wanda awaited me, "Xavier's got his men on it. That Wolverine's got it covered; something about payback being a… well, you know."
Meeting Sam's gaze from across the room, we shared an amused smirk at Steve's reluctance to say even the tamest of curses.
"So that means you came all this way for no reason," Steve continued, though he didn't sound altogether apologetic. Instead, quirking a brow, an almost playful smile crossed his face as he queried, "You ever been to Lagos?"
/
The trip to Lagos was passing far quicker than I'd expected; with Tony's tech, however, I wasn't surprised. His jets were the fastest in the world; no military, no organization could come close. Not even SHIELD - when they were up and running, that is.
We would reach the African city before one.
"Ya know, I'm missin' out on margaritas and skinny-dipping in the ocean for this," I frowned, sitting cross-legged on the uncomfortable grated flooring across from Sam. Eyes narrowed and lips pursed, I examined my cards and queried, "Got any 5s?"
Sam eyed his hand critically, before smirking triumphantly, "Go fish."
Skinning an eye in his direction, I scanned his cards; no fives. With a sigh, I reached for the deck as he queried, "How's your neighbor? The spider kid? He doin' alright?"
"So far," I nodded, offering him a four from my hand when he asked, "he's a little gung ho, but he's good. He's been sticking mostly to small-time crooks - purse snatchers and stuff. He's fine with them; they're cake. I wouldn't wanna see him go up against anyone we have. He'd never stand a chance."
"He would if you let Cap and Nat train him."
"He's just a kid."
It was a weak excuse, I knew, and so did Sam. He shot me a disbelieving glance and made to argue. Chewing on the tip of my tongue and hoping to avoid any further argument, I opted for a cheery, "Got any 8s?"
He shook his head; lifting my gaze, I caught sight of the two 8s in his hand and smirked, "Liar."
He threw his cards to the floor, leaping to his feet and exclaiming dramatically, "This is why no one likes to play games with you Aury!"
"Ah, but you don't hate me when we hit Vegas, do you?" I laughed, abandoning my own hand and stretching my legs out before me. Sam offered me a hand, hauling me to my feet.
"Did I say no one liked to play games with you?" he laughed, an innocent grin stretched across his face, "I meant we all love it. Absolute best time ever."
"Though we do prefer playing video games," Natasha quipped from the cockpit, throwing a grin over her shoulder as I eyed her curiously, "less chance of you cheating."
Tipping my head to the side, I shrugged; she had a point.
"Ya know, margaritas and skinny-dipping does sound a lot more tempting than chasing down Rumlow…," Sam noted, making himself comfortable in one of the plush seats along the wall. Leaning his head back, his eyes drifted shut, probably envisioning just that if the grin on his face was anything to go by. Thank God we couldn't make eye contact; I didn't want to see whatever raunchy shit he was conjuring up in that mind of his.
"With Stark?" Wanda queried, looking up from her book and glancing at the man beside her, wrinkling her nose, "pass."
One hand to my mouth in feigned surprise, I gasped, waving a wild finger in her direction, "I'm telling him you said that!"
"Go ahead," she laughed, marking her book and resting it in her lap. With a light shrug and an amused smirk, she continued, "His ego could do with a bit of deflating."
"Nat?" I inquired, dropping myself beside Sam and kicking my feet up onto his lap. I watched her flaming mane pop back into view and shook my head in feigned disgust, "Do you agree with this travesty?"
"He's still hot," she admitted easily, wiggling her eyebrows as Wanda gagged, "and free drinks? Count me in."
"Can we focus on the mission and not skinny-dipping with Stark, please?"
The captain emerged from the cockpit, slinging his shield across his back and grimacing. His eyes fell to the cards Sam and I had so haphazardly left strewn across the floor; pinning us with a glance that read very irritated mother.
Sharing an amused grin with the Falcon, I offered Steve my most innocuous smile, complete with wide eyes and fluttering lashes, "Sorry, Mom."
With a flick of her wrist, Wanda cleaned up the mess, the cards sliding together into a neat little deck surrounded by a bright, red glow. Thanking her with a silent, grateful grin, I removed my feet from Sam's lap and rounded on the captain.
I wasn't the only one.
Sam folded his arms across his chest, shooting Steve an incredulous frown, "I was thinkin' more along the lines of these three gorgeous ladies, Cap," he shot Wanda a wink, laughing as the captain chided him with an embarrassed blush, "couldn't get much better than that."
As Steve's ears took on an impressive shade of red, I interjected sternly, "Sam, that's enough." Before relief could flood his face, I smiled slyly, "Maybe after we get Rumlow."
Sam snorted and Cap simply shook his head, rolling his eyes skyward as though in a silent prayer to save him from our mischievous tag team. That prayer was answered when Nat rose from her seat and joined us in the rear of the jet, announcing our imminent arrival.
Cap nodded resolutely, ordering Sam into his gear. As the pair of them split off, the Falcon to change and Steve to ensure all of our ear pieces were in working order, I eyed them appreciatively, muttering, "You know, skinny-dipping on the beach with Cap…"
"Now that would not be so bad," Wanda mused, brows quirked in contemplation, her eyes drifting toward the captain's decidedly incredible backside.
As Nat tied the sash around her coat, she queried curiously, eyes flashing deviously, "Have you ever checked him out? You know, the eye thing?"
"Nat, are you suggesting that I might've looked through those gloriously tight jeans?" I queried, aghast, though I couldn't help slide my glasses down the bridge of my nose and glance in his direction. Offering my companions a saucy wink, I declared, "Never."
Spinning on a heel and retrieving my thigh holster, I couldn't help but laugh as Nat muttered, "Fuckin' lucky."
/
As Nat and Cap tag-teamed training Wanda in the middle of a busy cafe across from the Lagos police station, I sat patiently on a rooftop beside Sam. Legs dangling from the edge of the building, I lightly kicked my heels against the stone and removed my glasses from my face. As he fiddled with the controls on his wrist, I scanned the perimeter, seeking out anything that would lead me to Rumlow.
It was difficult, what with the hundreds of people out and about on such a warm, sunny day. Not to mention, all of the additional people busy with their daily lives behind thick walls and closed doors made it twice as hard.
But, as my gaze flicked to and fro, steel and concrete and brick became translucent; I could see anyone and everyone.
Unfortunately.
I ignored most, their daily tasks menial, their shopping trips trivial; I was looking for full body armor and automatic weapons. And that stupid fucking helmet Rumlow had begun wearing, taking to calling himself Crossbones.
But the streets surrounding the police station were clear. The Range Rover Cap pointed out was bullet proof, yes, but also empty. A quick sweep of the surrounding buildings were clear as well; no suspicious behavior, no mercenaries…
The owner might have been paranoid, yes, but they certainly weren't worth looking into.
"I'm not seein' anything, guys," I announced with a frown, brow furrowed in confusion. I slipped my glasses back over my face for a moment to ease the pressure building behind my eyes and dropped my chin to my chest. I couldn't rest for long; though Sam had Redwing, it couldn't quite do everything I could and if Rumlow slipped past us, it would be on me.
A heavy hand rested on my shoulder and my companion queried, concerned, "You doin' alright, Aury?"
The inquiry didn't go unnoticed by the others, and Steve's voice crackled to life in my ear, inquiring sharply, "What's going on? Everything okay?"
Cracking an eye and squinting against the sun, I offered him a grin, "Yup. Just needed a quick break. No worries, really."
"I don't know how you handle it, Aury," Sam shook his head, "all that input…"
"She's a boss, that's how," Nat complimented with a laugh and I shook my head, tapping the corner of my glasses, "Nope, just these babies. It's kinda like Scott Summers; the glasses definitely help."
"And they give you that sexy librarian look," Sam grinned, offering me a wink through his red-tinted goggles, "which, I gotta say, I'm a huge fan of."
Snorting and blowing him a kiss, I laughed as Steve scolded him before ordering, "Well, if it gets too much, take a break, Aurelie. Alright, folks, eyes on target. This is the closest we've gotten to Rumlow in six months. We can't lose him again."
"Don't think that'll be a problem, Cap," Sam replied with a huff, "if he sees us coming. He kinda hates us."
"Feeling's mutual," I scoffed, shoving the glasses into my hair and skimming the streets once more, "it's weird, though. I don't see him anywhere, him or his men. If they're hitting the police station, they're sure as shit taking their time."
"Sam, Aurelie, garbage truck headed east, away from the station," the captain stated suddenly, drawing my attention away from the surrounding area and bringing me to my feet in an instant, "what's in it?"
Sam released Redwing from the suit on his back as I stared at the racing vehicle. Though I couldn't exactly weigh it like his little electronic bird could, I could certainly see it wasn't hauling garbage. As it plowed into cars and vendors' stalls alike, I advised warily, "Metal. Lots of it, Cap, this thing is loaded."
"And the driver's armed," Sam announced disconcertedly, clasping onto my wrist and drawing me to his chest. Immediately, he dove from the rooftop, dropping me onto the street below and jettisoning off to get Cap.
Couldn't say I was surprised - or disappointed.
I didn't have a suit of armor and explosives like he did. I couldn't withstand the shit Cap could. I could blast them into oblivion if I concentrated hard enough, but I preferred to save that little treat for criminals and villains in less populated areas. It was too unpredictable, too uncontrollable.
What I had were guns, three of them, and I knew how to use them.
Taking off on foot down the road, I dodged confused and frightened citizens, offering half-hearted apologies over my shoulder when I plowed into one who didn't heed my warnings. Wanda was hot on my heels, the pair of us dashing along the path created by the out of control garbage truck.
Ten blocks ahead, I watched as two unmarked moving trucks passed through the demolished remains of the entrance of the Institute for Infectious Diseases, followed by several more military-grade trucks. Through their steel bodies, I could see the men within, peering through the gas masks they had donned.
One of them had that fucking helmet.
"He's here, Cap," I pressed the bud deeper into my ear, "Rumlow. And he's got a good fifteen men with him."
"This is not good," Wanda groaned as we neared, "if it were just the police station-"
"He can do much worse with something in there," I agreed, scrambling over the rubble as we reached the institute, somewhat envious of the Sokovian as she easily used her abilities to lift herself over the debris.
Righting myself on the other side, I watched as Cap took down one of Rumlow's mercenaries from atop an army green Hummer. He easily jumped to his feet on the vehicle's roof, announcing, "Aurelie, I'm counting ten hostiles outside."
"Six inside, including Rumlow," I replied with a quick glance at the building, "and some sort of gas. Poisonous and lethal. I can't see any heartbeats."
"I need to get inside," Cap announced, lips set in a firm line, "Wanda, like we talked about."
"What about the gas?" she queried, brows furrowed in concern.
"Get it out. Aurelie, I want you, Natasha, and Sam to take out the rest of these guys out here."
With that, Wanda lifted Steve with her powers, the captain surrounded in bright red waves, and sent him through one of the windows. She then set to work siphoning the gas from the building, while I turned quickly, seeking out the closest mercenary.
He was behind an armored truck, sneaking up on me, an assault rifle in hand. Running toward the vehicle, I reached out, pushing up off of the hood of the vehicle with both hands and flinging myself over to his side. He raised the gun in surprise, but the force of my attack sent us both tumbling to the ground. Before he could fend me off, I caught his gaze; he fell limply against the cement, his azure gaze becoming unfocused, glassy.
Stripping him of his rifle, sidearms, and knives, I retrieved a zip-tie from the pocket of my leather jacket and lashed his hands and feet together. Though that wouldn't work for everyone, it worked for him, and the less people I could kill, the better I felt. Not to mention, the next time he woke, he would have zero inclination to take on any of us; he was, as of this moment, renouncing his HYDRA ways.
Rising to my feet, I quickly scanned my surroundings. Though I didn't typically look through the back of my skull, it would've been useful. A solid form tackled me to the ground, the weight like a ton of bricks against my back. I bucked against him even as he slammed my face into the pavement, reaching for the gun at my thigh. He caught the move, latching onto my wrist and yanking it high overhead.
He dropped his face beside my head, lips curving against the shell of my ear, "Whatcha gonna do now, sweetheart?"
I didn't answer, instead flinging my head back and slamming my skull into his jaw. Pain exploded through my head, though I heard a resounding crack on his end and smirked. Throwing a quick elbow behind me, I connected with his chest and rolled out from beneath him. Before I could leap to my feet, he latched onto my ankle, slashing wildly at my face with a foot-long serrated blade.
The pistol was in my hand before I could blink; leveling it at his face, I pulled the trigger and grimaced at the result. Blood and brains exploded from his skull and he fell back onto the ground, unmoving. Hauling myself upright, I tapped the bud in my ear, "Cap, how's it going in there?"
"Rumlow's got some kind of biological weapon," he replied, "any sign of him out there?"
Not in the courtyard.
Spinning, I searched in every direction for the bastard that had turned on SHIELD, led the Avengers of wild goose chase after wild goose chase. I spotted him atop one of the armored trucks about fifty yards away. He was battling Natasha, and she was putting up a helluva fight.
I ran toward the melee, lurching to a halt as he shoved the redhead back into the truck and dropped a grenade in after her. Frozen, I stared through the wreckage, breathing only when I saw my friend haul herself to her feet, more than a little shaken.
Rumlow leapt from the roof and tossed a smirking glance over his shoulder; running at him, I screamed his name.
Though he glanced up at the noise, almost instantly, he dropped his gaze, chuckling hoarsely, "No, uh-uh, Reynolds, you ain't gonna get me with that eye shit. I read your files, saw you on the news; I know all about you. What you can do; the shit you did. Why you ain't locked up, hell if I know…"
Raising the gun, I fired off four rounds, fury blazing in my eyes, fire burning through my veins. The bullets bounced harmlessly off of his armor and I cursed my temper, racing toward him and praying he made eye contact.
The little shit didn't.
Not only that, but he had a gun of his own; I had to duck and roll to avoid being hit, stumbling over the debris.
Well, no one could say I was graceful.
As Rumlow clambered into a tank, I scoured the streets for Sam or Wanda. The rounds in my gun certainly weren't powerful enough to penetrate the massive vehicle's armor and I there was no way I could get close enough to either make eye contact with Rumlow.
"Aury, watch out!"
Rumlow would have to wait. Bending just as a man ran at me at full speed, I used my body to trip him, flipping him onto his back and landing a swift kick to his head and neck. His armor did well to protect him, but I yanked the helmet from his head and met his gaze.
Another one down.
Several sudden explosions rang out through the courtyard and I was momentarily deafened. Hands to my ears, I tumbled away from the tank, where Rumlow was busily blowing holes into the side of the building. Though I could see Cap dodge every one, my heart lodged itself in my throat and I turned my attention once more to the armored vehicle.
Dashing toward it, I positioned myself in front of it, staring through the metal and meeting the driver's gaze. His movements became stiff, rigid, as he brought the tank to a grinding halt. Rumlow slammed into the side at the sudden loss of movement, before climbing out and into another truck. This one had at least five others in it, and it took off in an instant.
Rumlow must have warned them about me; none of them so much as turned my way.
"They're getting away with the weapon!"
Fuckin' hell. I shoulda gone skinny-dipping with Stark…
/
DarylDixon'sLover: Thank you! I'm glad you like her; I'm hoping she fits in well with the rest of them.
Aandm20: Thanks! I know, it wasn't a hard decision to keep him alive. I was so mad when they killed him off!
DeliriousPrincess: Yeah, that was what I was going for. I left it open for if decide I want to make prequels, or even just one-shots. And her backstory will get fleshed out later on. Thanks for pointing those out! I'll have to go back and fix it up. Thanks so much for your review!
Lady-Finwe: Here ya go! :)
Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you do!
