At first I'd like to thank MyOwnPersonalHeaven for a first review! I'm so glad that you liked it and hope that you're not the only one out there. Enjoy the new chapter :3
CHAPTER 4: Agent Ravenwood
After a 15-hours sleep, Katelin was awakened by the alarm in her phone. At first, she looked around the room confused. A feeling of being in her own room, not in a cell, and being able to go wherever she wants without any guards watching her was exceptionally weird. After turning off the irritating sound coming from the phone, she sat on the bed and stated that so long a sleep wasn't a very good idea. Her head was heavy and she was not really well-rested at all. And hungry, very hungry. Again. Getting up she spotted a big trace with food on the table beside the couch.
I'm beginning to like them - Kat smiled to herself
Without a moment of hesitation she stuffed her face with delicious sandwiches, wishing there was more. A cup of tea gave her a new lease of life to live to endure the next day. Supping, she remembered that she yet had do read through the files from Fury.
Later. - she thought smiling and headed to the bathroom.
She washed her teeth and face. After she resembled a human being she left the bathroom and dressed in a pair of black jeans and baggy, grey jumper. In this outfit, Kat looked as if she has been pulled out of a monochrome film. The only color that could be spotted was a little hint of pink on her cheeks.
Reluctantly she grabbed a briefcase and fall into her bed.
Boring, boring, boring. Oh, wait... Nah, boring.
She didn't delve into details, just read briefly through it and still it took her one and a half an hour. Once she finished, Kat grabbed a pen and signed all the papers, in which she has almost drowned. She started gathering the files and putting them back to the briefcase when somebody knocked to her door. After Kat's invitation a man came in.
-Hello, I'm agent Stanley, I was sent here to take the files and show you around. - nervously he combed through his brown, shining hair - You have signed them, haven't you?
-Oh, yes, I-I have - Katherine replied quickly getting these papers all together and giving them to the young man.
-Great. I'll be back in few minutes, I just need to take them back to director Fury's office - he smiled leaving.
These 'few minutes' Kat spent staring out the window to the training area. She was really curious how her training will look like. Back in HYDRA facility her training was limited to 'kill or survive'. The only tactics Kat has ever learned was her own. She had no idea about working in a team, this idea seemed so distant...
Trying not to think about it, she focused again on observing a training session. And than she spotted him. Pietro.
-Oh, no, no way! - she screamed moving out of the window.
There were several reasons why she shouldn't let her 'fascination' with the speedster proceed. The first and most important was the fact that they were to be partners in combat. More feelings means more weak spots. And weakens leads to death - that was the only reasonable thing HYDRA ever thought her. Secondly, she could seance the aversion Pietro shared for her. Katelin had no idea why is that but she wasn't going to delve into it.
Well not to mention that you are way to clumsy and wimpy to even try. - Kat thought. - And besides, you fancy every handsome guy that comes in your way, it's high time you stopped - saying this to herself she saw agent Stanley standing in the doors.
-Are you ready?
-Oh yes, very, very ready. - Kat almost ran out of the room.
No more 'Pietro' shit today - she promised herself.
-...everything ok? - they yet had to get used to her unusual behavior.
-Yeap, I just can't wait the see this place. - Kat lied.
-Good. - Stanley led her down the hallway - So, we're now in the living quarters belonging to the Avengers. You are a neighbor to the Maximoff twins
Either the're doing it on purpose or I'm just a child of bad luck - Katelin usually spoke to herself more often than to the real people.
- Agent Forren told you about them, didn't she?
-You can say I know everything about them - Kat gave him a prominent smile.
On the end of the corridor there was a big living room in a very modern style. In the corner there stood a big piano and next to it an exclusive stereo with gigantic loudspeakers. A sofa and some chairs were placed in the middle of the room, just by a mini bar. On the left hand-side there was a small kitchen area with the newest food processors.
Looking around the room, her gaze stopped on the piano. Kat remembered how much she loved to play when she was younger and how much music meant to her before she got her powers.
Well, actually not much have changed - Kat grinned gently.
-Here's the common room, but everybody calls is a party room. You can imagine why. - Stanley smirked - And whenever you're hungry you can help yourself, there's plenty of food in the kitchen - he added pointing at the huge fridge.
- We're now going to a training center, where you'll spend a lot of your time - Stanley continued.
-When will I begin my training?
-Can't wait, huh? - he smiled towards her - In one or two days, at the latest, I think. First, you will pass a combat test, do you know what is this? - seeing Kat shaking her head for 'no' he begun to explain - We must know your abilities and check what you already can do. After that you will be put to a certain training groups. But I think that besides the basic training, given your talent, you will also have lessons with Wanda or Pietro Maximoff. You know, the super-power club thing. - after this information, Kat didn't even realized that Stanley laughed and was looking at her. She just thought about how miserable her life was.
And there you go again. Well done, Kat, now dig out of this ocean of anguish - Kat's internal critic stated.
And so she broke her promise not to think about the very attractive, silver-haired young man.
- You're ok...? - Stanley saw her strange face expression and asked with concern.
-Yeap, sorry for that. So, you were saying? - Katelin quickly changed the topic.
-Right, combat test... - at this point Kat really didn't feel like listening. She often liked to drift away and sink in her thoughts. She was bored with all this talking, she wanted to start doing something. She was an agent now, right?
So stop showing me around and talking and let me kick someone's ass! That sure would help me.
When they've finally reached the biggest training hall, Kat was feeling blissful. In front of them, there was a huge hall in the size of a big air dock. It was filled with fighting people, obviously. They were divided into groups, every one of these were training something else. All around the hall she could see various training objects. There were poles with many rungs, big mattresses, moving walls, chain nets and many more.
-I suppose you would like to take a break and watch them, but I'm afraid we're not allowed to stay here. - Stanley warned Kat, seeing her eager face.
-Can I help you? - they heard a male voice from behind. Turning around, Kat saw Steve Rogers approaching them. She recognized him by his suit. When he saw Katelin he stopped amazed, recognizing her. - Raven, I didn't expect to see you here so quickly.
-Yet here I am. Actually... - she wanted to introduce herself properly but Steve's laugh interrupted her.
-So, you're here for training?
-No, I'm just being showed around by agent... - she had just realized that she had completely forgot his name. Smiling awkwardly she pointed at her guide.
-Stanley. Well just call me Jimm - Stanley answered with resignation.
-Right. Ehm, sorry. - Kat liked to call herself 'a queen of awkwardness' and it proved correct once again.
-Carter, would you mind if I took her from you and introduce her to our training system? - Steve grinned charmingly at Kat.
What's about all this hot guys around here? - she almost cried. - Do they breed the most sexy guys just to make them superheroes? That would make sense. A bunch of handsome guys and me. It can't end well.
She'd been there before. Many boys wooded her, before it all started, she was very beautiful after all. But every date ended the same. She knew this disgusted look upon their faces and awkward 'Bye... I'll call you'. She had no idea what was she doing wrong. She just wasn't properly prepared to life. Sooner or later her relationships ended like the one with Pietro. She didn't even had a chance to fully get to know somebody and they already shared a dislike towards her.
-No, not at all. Actually I have a bunch of stuff to do. - Stanley smiled. - I'll pick you up in half an hour and we'll continue, ok?
-Sure, thanks Jimm. - she said behind him, because he didn't even wait for her answer, turned back and left the training hall. And so Katelin was left alone with a super-hot, muscled Captain freaking America.
-Have you ever had a combat training? - Rogers asked over a noise of fight filling the hall as they started walking between fighting groups.
-Yes, but it never looked like this. More like 'kill or get killed' thing. - Steve's face turned a bit scared when he looked back at her. Seeing this Kat rushed with explanation - Strucker had to make sure that his 'mutant' was 100% successful. Also, I think he didn't really had time to play training like this. He wanted me ready as soon as possible - she tried to turn it all to a joke but Steve could see that it was everything but funny to Kat.
-But that's gone, you can't think about it right now. Nobody's going to force you to do anything against your will. Not any more. What's done is done. Just forget.
-Thank you, Captain - she said, smiling sadly - but I'm done forgetting. I want to remember every single moment I've spet with them so that I can give them a proper reward once I meet them again.
-I'm not really sure if revenge is a good idea. It might blind you and make you no less a monster that these scientists that were experimenting on you. - he stopped and grabbed her arms, making her look at him. - Katelin, I need you to be fully responsible for your actions. You are to join the Avengers, I can't have to worry about you out in the field, I must trust you - his face was deadly serious.
-I don't think that I am the right person for this task - she realized this right now. How could anyone trust her if she didn't? - Let's face it. I'm an emotional wreck and even I can't predict my actions. I'm afraid that you won't have much use of me. I need a psychiatrist rather than a trainer.
-I don't think so - Steve smiled again - I think you just need to believe in yourself and stop blaming yourself for what happened, for you are not the one to be blamed. You may be a bit broken but we're here to fix this. Now, let's not talk about it, we have work to do! - Steve patted her on her arm, trying to cheer her up and give her some optimism. Kat agreed with him, that was not the right time, nor place, to worry about her past. He went on with showing her around and explaining various fighting techniques. She was led to the armory and other four training areas including the one outside. It came out much bigger, than she first thought. The major piece of it was surrounded by buildings, so she could't see it from her room. Katelin gladly realized that the silver-haired man was no longer here, so he could not bother her mind. For now.
-Here the efficiency training take place. Also, once a few weeks, we have a small outdoor game, it's so much fun - his laugh was really encouraging - Have you ever played paintball? - Kat nodded for yes - Good. So it's pretty much the same only with real guns. - seeing her face, Rogers chuckled - No need to worry, Raven. We have the latest technology here, I'd like to remind you. Guns are real but bullets aren't. They are more like holograms really. It hurts when they hit you, actually it feels like you got shot by a real bullet. But after a few minutes the pains fades and you're left with some bruises. It is the best possible training and it's so much fun. So when you'll get shot for the first time with a real bullet... well you will be prepared.
-That's a bit spooky way of training - Kat joked. - And what exactly are this bullets made of?
-Frankly, I have no idea. What's important is that they work - they both busted out with laughter.
The time they were given had passed and Steve got a call that agent Stanley was waiting for 'Agent Ravenwood' as he called her. It sounded absurdly but, heck, it was really bad ass. It took them a good few minutes to reach Jimm and Kat was just about to leave when Rogers stopped her.
-Hey, we were planning to make a little meeting, I'm not sure if you know, but Tony's going to come over tomorrow evening. But knowing him this would end up more like a party. Everybody's eager to meet you closer. - Katelin was taken aback with his request.
Did HE just invite ME for a party? - she couldn't believe her ears. There was truly a big progress in her social life. She was very proud of herself that she managed not to screw up this time.
-Yes, sure! I can't wait meeting the Iron Man - she smirked.
-Yeah. That's what I get for being nice - Steve smiled back -So, see you soon - he waved her and left towards one of the training groups.
Stanley and 'agent Ravenwood' left the training hall. Kat was showed three more levels and a huge yard. She was happy to find out that she would be free to go out for the big part of the forest. She loved being alone in the woods more than everything. That was the only place where she could fully relax and sink in her dreams or simply read a book in peace. Kat almost forgot how much she loved to read. Her life was never perfect, good enough but not perfect. But the only think that made it 'good enough' was her own world that she'd created in her head.
-Ehm, Jimm? - Kat disrupted gently. She wasn't even listening to Jimm, who was telling her some 'funny' accidents that happened during his missions - Do you have any library here? And maybe some sort of wi-fi access?
-Why did you have to ask? You spoiled the surprise! - Kat's jaw dropped with astonishment. She didn't really expect them to have a library, because what for? - I see you're quite excited - Jimm said seeing Kat's wide grim and her body shaking with impatience to see the library. - What's your favorite book?
-Oh God, I don't have one. But I guess all of J. R. R. Tolkien's books. He was a genius. But let's not start this subject or you'll end up with me talking of the history of elves for at least two hours - Jimm laughed at this, what kind of annoyed Kat. She really hated when somebody made fun of her love for professor Tolkien's books even if it was an innocent chuckle - Hey, don't judge. I'm a geek and I'm proud of it.
-So you do remember more than 'some' stuff than, right? - Jimm made a point.
-Well, memories keep coming back but they are all from ages ago. I still have no idea how exactly I ended up being... this.
-Everything in it's own time. Let's not worry, I bet that you have enough of these problems. Come on, we're not done yet with sightseeing - Stanley grinned.
