Hello! Here's the second chapter, as requested by 'Pounce the Cat.' You are awesome for reviewing! Also, you probably see that I took your advice. When it was published, it messed up the spacing somehow, but I figured it out. Does it look better?
I think I'm going to continue to post on Wednesdays, so sorry if I don't!
Anyway, onto the story! I don't own Maximum Ride or any other affiliated characters, same with Marvel, and the story cover.
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go?
I Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
Max's POV
My eyes opened as I slowly woke up. I hadn't even realized that I was tired before I laid down. The building was so tall, it was my natural habitat. I stood up and bent over to reach for my toes, stretching. For my morning exercise, I would always stretch, run, and fly, each one for about ten minutes.
Smiling, I opened the window. My nose wrinkled when I realized that this was most certainly not the woods. Oh well. I closed the window again and looked into the wardrobe.
Oh, God. It looked like Nudge herself had chosen clothes. Sighing, I chose a white tank top and an almost clear teal blouse and some ripped up jeans. I curved my back, relishing on how my back hadn't hurt after waking up.
The door opened into the hallway without a squeak. Remembering the layout from yesterday, I turned into the lounge-type-room.
Stark was in the kitchen. Well, this was going to be awkward. "Good morning," I croaked. Dang. That was not how I had planned my introduction. His somewhat blood-shot eyes flashed to me, and he replied, "Morning."
I was right. This was awkward.
"So, Max, mind telling me why you're living in my tower?"
This was going to be fun to answer. In case you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm.
Suddenly, I found out that the floor was really a beautiful thing. "Uh...Fury didn't tell you?" I managed to come up with a response.
He responded, "Well, he did, but it wasn't an actual explanation."
"What did he tell you so far?" I questioned.
"That you're special, and didn't have a place to stay." At least he's got that right, but it wasn't much for him to on. I pursed my lips, wondering where to start. SHIELD could actually be trusted, despite what I believed before. If Fury trusted him, shouldn't I? But it's not as if I could just go out and say, "yeah, you know what he said about being special? Well, I sort of have wings."
Actually, why not? It's not as if I really care about what he thinks. Screw logic.
"Well, don't freak out on me, but... I have wings."
He stared at me for a second, and started laughing.
Ouch, he did not just do that. No one has ever laughed at me, Maximum Ride. Well, except for that one time, Fang and Iggy... but that's for another time.
I snapped my wings out. Then laughed at the look that he gave me.
"Whoa, can you, like, fly?" He asked, eyes still bugged out.
"Yeah, I can, like, fly," I laughed. Deciding to tell the rest of my story later, I grabbed a banana, some toast, and cereal. "So, who exactly are you and why does Fury trust you? Wel, no, he doesn't trust anyone, but, answer anyway," I corrected myself.
"You haven't heard of me? Oh, that's humbling..." He mumbled to himself, then answered, "I'm Tony Stark, Iron Man? Ring a bell? No? Fine. Well, since I fly around saving people, I guess that Fury deems me trustworthy." He ended the statement like a question.
"Oh! Yesterday Agent Coulson gave me this file to give to you. It's about the 'Avengers Initiative' thing." He picked up a plain manila file from the granite counter and handed it to me. I opened it.
The first thing that I saw was my picture and information. It read:
Maximum Ride
18 years old 5'8 genetically mutated 98% human 2% hawk Mother: Valencia Martinez Father: Jeb Batchelder
Skills:
fly/run at 300+ mph breath underwater 14 ft wingspan
Wow. I had never been made out to be so boring. Was that even possible? I shuffled through the rest of the papers. Next was a ginger, Natasha Romanov. Great. If Fang saw her, he'd be all over her, too. I flipped the page over too reveal another file. Bruce Banner. He looked nice enough... Apparently he could become quite angry, to say the least.
We all have our little quirks. Although his is not very little. Oh, I crack myself up. (AN - I actually did laugh to myself when I wrote that. I don't know why, it's not even that funny.) Going on, then.
Hawkeye, really? I bet I was more of a hawk that him. He didn't have freaking wings. All he did was shoots arrows for a living. And, Hawkeye for a nickname just sounds ridiculous.
Thor just seemed like when an Asian dude comes to America and makes everyone look dumb. Except, in physical abilities, not intelligence. (AN - I didn't know if Fury already knew that Thor was going to be in the Avengers, so tell me if I'm wrong)
Aw, poor Captain America. His story was just tragic, being torn from all he has ever known. But I knew the feeling, somewhat. Being away from the flock had changed me. Not that I wasn't mature before, it was just that I hadn't really joked as much anymore. Well, no, I'd just stopped saying it out loud. Now, I knew that I didn't have to please everyone at all times. I don't have to take full responsibility at all times.
Maybe I need to continue to grow before I can say that I fully understand the change.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to review if you'd like, it's make my day like Pounce the Cat did:)
-Katie