I'M SORRY! I really didn't mean to take so long and it was really only because I was procrastinating and I had some important stuff that needed doing but ANYWAY... Here's the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who favourited, followed or reviewed despite the fact that I haven't updated in weeks and to anyone I have been PM-ing with, you seem like nice people!
Also, the chapter title is a Community (TV show) reference, which is completely unrelated to the Marvel Universe but the phrase fits and I like both so why not?
Disclaimer: I do not own any Marvel characters, only my OCs.
Chapter 19: Getting Rid of the B
Elliot scrambled around his room, hunting rapidly for any sign or evidence of the knowledge he needed. By the time he had finished, the floor was a mess of papers, clothes and torn carpet. He was in despair, Elise's screams still fresh in his mind. He rushed into her room next, but took more care than his own, cautiously checking shelves and returning everything he searched to its original place. Nothing.
Tears threatening to spill from his hazel orbs, the boy continued to their shared living quarters. He ripped apart furniture, scattered documents and shredded books in an hysterical attempt to find something, anything, that could help his sister. Then he thought of something. When the two were younger, their parents had traveled to India in search of something. That's where they apparently died, but they had sent a number of letters beforehand, reporting their journey. Elliot had stuffed them into a box and hidden it somewhere when they died in the hopes that it would help them forget, but all that was forgotten now was the hiding place of the letters.
Elliot dashed through the spacious home, hurriedly placing his mask over his face as he ran down the ominous halls that led to the inner sanctum of the Familia. He caught sight of the Dux and called out.
"Monsieur!" he yelled, skidding to a halt.
"Ah, Elliot, how is Elise? Is she any better?" he questioned calmly.
"No, I need your help, Dux. When my parents died, where did I put the letters they sent?"
"Wow, that was a long time ago, let me think," Strazio sighed, "It doesn't come to mind, why?"
"I-I think Elise is going to die," Elliot murmured, hopelessness evident in his words.
"Elliot, I know that I cannot remember but I think we both know someone who can," he declared grimly.
"Wow, really?' Paige squealed with girlish delight, grinning brightly.
"You didn't have to be so difficult about it," Natasha snorted.
Alexia ignored Nat's comment and maintained a broad smile. Their reactions to the events of that day had been exactly what she had expected.
"We're going to Los Angeles," she informed them excitedly, "We're taking his private jet."
"Wow. I really need a rich boyfriend," Paige breathed heavily, almost in a daze.
"What are you doing in California? Nothing inappropriate, I hope," the redhead smirked.
"I don't actually know," Lexy giggled, a small blush playing at her cheeks, "Tony said it was a surprise."
"Well, whatever it is, it'll be better than what Clint has planned," Nat shrugged, "He wants to go on a 'trust exercise' style adventure with Maria and Steve."
"Urgh, I hate her so much. We should just form a coup," Paige suggested.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know we were usurping the American government," Natasha rolled her eyes.
"Got any better ideas, Widow?" she countered.
"I guess not, but let's not call it a coup."
"Are we actually doing this?" Alexia asked, bewildered by the sudden change in topic.
"Yup! I'll call Bruce and see if I can get something to Thor."
"I'll get Clint and Steve."
"I guess I'll call Tony," Lexy shrugged.
It didn't take long to gather the Avengers into one room. They all looked rather baffled and sent questioning looks at each other, which would only cause a shrug from the recipient. Finally, Natasha and Alexia stepped forward.
"Hi everyone!" Lexy started cheerfully, but was silenced by a look from Nat.
"We're here to talk about Maria."
"What about Maria?" Steve asked incredulously.
"We don't trust her," Lexy sighed.
"Why not? The Lady is truly a great friend," Thor tilted his head.
"Maybe she seems nice, but she's been giving me these looks, full of hatred and... Something else," the brunette shrugged.
"Seeing as Alexia is our teammate and Maria is a stranger we plucked off of the street," the redhead shot a meaningful look at Steve as she spoke, "I don't think there's much of a dilemma in who we should choose."
"I do," Steve raised an eyebrow, "No offense Lexy, but there's no way that Maria could do that to someone."
"And how can you be so sure?" Paige inquired frustratedly, "We've known Maria for weeks, a month at most. You've known Lexy for much longer and you've been though more with her than you could ever go through with some waitress that we don't even know."
"I'm on Lexy's side," Tony decided confidently, causing snorts from the doubtful members of the team.
"I wonder why," Steve muttered.
"And I wonder why you favour Maria so much, Cap. Anything you want to share with the group?" Tony commented.
"Hey, let's keep things civilized, you two," Clint laughed nervously.
"If you like things so civilized, Barton, maybe you should use a weapon from this century," Steve smirked uncharacteristically.
"You won't be much help with that, will you, Rogers, seeing as you haven't been here very long," Clint shouted.
"This is so off-topic!" Alexia cried.
"Look, I don't care if anyone has doubts about Maria, I don't," Steve declared.
"Sorry, Cap, but if you like her, I think you should meet her outside the building, because we seem to be in agreement," Bruce said calmly, standing at Tony's side.
Slowly, Captain America looked into the eyes of each of his teammates. Thor was hesitant, but eventually glanced away as Steve implored him silently to join him. The rest merely stood their ground. Eventually, the soldier sighed.
"Fine, you won't find her in this building again. But you won't find me here very often either," he announced, before exiting the tense room.
"Well that was... Eye-opening," Natasha said.
"What's going on with him?" Paige grumbled, continuously baffled by the drama that surrounded the team.
Maria's apartment was, in a single word, neat. The walls were a plain white and the beige carpet that spread across the area of the floor was clean. The amount of furniture was limited in every room, with only essentials and a few decorations lacing the otherwise empty space. The entire apartment was light and comfortable, but there was something unnerving about the fact that there wasn't a single family photo or souvenir of the woman's past. Steve sat on the couch, his back straight and his hand tightly clasped around a clean glass of wine. Maria had been in her room for several minutes. Steve was about to call when the Italian blonde walked out, wearing a silky red top and tight denim jeans. Her hair was curled and tied in a ponytail that twisted down her shoulder.
"Scusa, Steve. What was it you wanted to say?" she asked, gently relaxing into the space beside him.
"Um, first off, this wasn't my decision, in fact I was sorely against the idea, but," Steve stuttered, before sighing, "The Avengers don't think it's best for you to be at the Tower anymore."
Maria's seductive grin slowly fell and a furious scowl replaced it. She withdrew her hand from the narrow space that divided the two and clenched it into a fist on her lap.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" she questioned, struggling to stay calm.
"Nothing! Well, Alexia thought that... Thought that you didn't like her and Natasha didn't trust you so..."
"So it was Alexia's fault?"
"I guess. I wouldn't say she's at fault. I can understand why she wouldn't want a stranger randomly becoming our ally but you're not a stranger anymore and, I really-"
"Ho fatto un errore," Maria muttered spitefully.
"E-excuse me?"
Abruptly, the blonde thrust her hand forward and dug her sharp, painted nails into Steve's neck. He grasped her wrist and gasped an unsteady breath.
"You and your stupid team!" she shrieked, "Everything would've gone perfectly. I could be Dux!"
Slowly, Steve's raspy breathing became faint. He looked up at Maria with unfocused eyes as she retreated her hand.
"Maria," he slurred hoarsely, "What did you do?"
"Oh mio Dio, calm down, it's just paralysis. I am not leaving mi Familia without protection and I cannot exactly carry a knife into the Avengers Tower. I saw this from an American movie, snake poison in the nail varnish. Except I used something of my own. It'll last a few days at most," she waved off his obvious concerns with a malicious laugh before grabbing her handbag and slamming the door behind her.
Steve sat rigidly, his jaw tight and his eyes glazed over. He was unable to speak and the only movements available to him were the flickers of his eyelids.
Steve is in troooouuuubbllleee... Anyway, translations are down here seeing as the Italian comes in at the end.
Scusa - sorry
Ho fatto un errore - I made a mistake
Oh mio Dio - Oh my God
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