Get it done

Date: July 3rd 2014

Location: Tony's Lab, Avengers Tower

Bored. She was so bored. Cleo wondered if this was the most bored anyone had ever been in the history of the universe.

As usual she was floating in a reclined position a little below the ceiling. Robin was busy trying to find some semblance of control of her strength with the exercises Dr Banner gave her. Which was why she was nonchalantly floating in Tony's lab, waiting for him to finish making the designs for their 'Nega-Bands' or whatever they were called. The problem was that he had been working on them for days and she wasn't sure how long they were going to take. She had no skill in mechanics or anything like that, so it wasn't like she could be on any real use to Tony, but the truth was that if she wasn't in the lab she would probably be alone in her rooms.

"Right, ya got all that JARVIS?" said mechanic asked aloud as he leaned back in his plush office chair and started to toss a stress ball from one hand to the other.

"Yes sir, approximated completion time 16 hours." The familiar AI responded.

"Awesome. You hear that Sparky?" Stark looked up at Cleo with a triumphant smirk. "In sixteen hours you and your cousin get your training wheels."

"You seem awfully chipper. Is it 'cause you're getting rid of me or 'cause you got to play with alien tech?" She asked curiously as she slowly began to float upside down. There was no sad note or angry quiver in her voice so Tony answered honestly.

"Little of both," He shrugged as he placed the stress ball on his desk and stood from his chair "but the main reason? Same as Bruce. You and Robin are so afraid of your powers getting out of control that actually enjoying being a superhero doesn't occur to you. I mean come on. You. Are. Flying!" He gestured towards her with both hands as she considered his words. He had a point. Years ago, before Robin had left for America, they had joked about superpowers and longed to be special. It seemed a little of a 'be careful what you wish for' kind of thing. But who actually thinks that idle thoughts would come to fruition.

"You can fly too, you just seem to be a bit better at it than me." Cleo responded as she bobbed in the air.

Iron man scoffed. "Man, it's like déjà vu. I can control it because I learned how, and, in just under sixteen hours you can learn too." He smirked as he sat back down on his chair and opened another file on his screen marked 'ULTRON'. "Also, when you get a handle on your flying, you know forwards backwards up down, we are having the race to end all races."

Date: July 3rd 2014

Location: Bruce's Meditation Room, Avengers Tower

Gentle soothing music floated through the air.

Soft breaths moving in and out.

Robin cracked an eye open to look at Bruce who was sat cross-legged opposite her. She disliked the meditations he suggested. He said he did them anyway and if she joined in it may help her gain some control. All it really did was make her realise she didn't have the patience of meditation.

"You gave up faster than usual today." The scientist commented without opening his eyes to look at her.

"Yeah… sorry." Caught out she automatically raked her hand through her hair before heaving a large sigh. "Being still like this… I used to be good at it, before-" She paused as she tried to repress the memories of the last two years. "I used to sit and read for hours. Now, I just feel like I need to be moving all the time." Robin stood as she spoke and began to pace the hard wood floor of the small room.

"Is this pent up energy or more like 'fight or flight' instincts?" He asked having opened his eyes and observed her closely. She paused notably uncomfortable with his close attention of her reactions. It reminded her of being in her cell.

Always watched. Analysed. Studied.

"I dunno, is there a difference?" Nervously she twisted her fingers together, fidgeting, as she continued to pace. The doctor shrugged, he was always the first to remind everyone he wasn't a phycologist but sometimes he knew the right things to say.

"Just try to relax, meditation isn't for everyone and I'm pretty sure I said you didn't have to do it. It's one of the things that work for me." Bruce spoke calmly as he felt the subtle vibrations in the floor from her pacing. She wasn't paying attention to the strength of her steps and he worried she might leave pretty sizable dents… again.

"Why do I need to keep doing this? Tony is working on those things that will dial down the power. I'll be able to do normal things without thinking about it." Robin ranted more to herself than to Bruce, she wanted to do things she used to take for granted. Reading her favourite book. Sketching. Press the damn buttons on a TV remote.

"Yes, but the more power they suppress the faster they will deteriorate. They aren't a permanent solution. Learning control is still important. Then, maybe, one day you and Cleo won't need them." Bruce's logic only seemed to add to her distress.

"Even if they burn out Tony can just make more right?" Her pacing stopped as she looked at Bruce still sat calmly on the floor.

"True, but they do cost money to produce and I know that he won't just let you use them to hide from your strength. If anything he would just not let you use them at all." Slowly Banner stood up and turned off the music from his Ipod, it was clear they weren't going to get anything more from the session and he was sure the music wasn't calming her at all.

"Oh come on…" Robin groaned as she returned to pacing the length of the room.

"It's true, he hasn't got any superpowers and I think he has a thing against people not using the things that make them special. Trust me, I learned the hard way." His thoughts returned to the multiple occasions Tony had literally poked and prodded him into letting the Other Guy out. He winced as he saw the emotions freely play across Robins face.

Panic. Anger. Fear. Frustration. Panic again. Acceptance. The pacing stopped and she turned sharply to face him directly.

"Fine. But I can't do the meditating thing." She demanded making him chuckle. Robin bristled at his clear amusement at her expense but after a moment it dawned on her that she was acting like a child. A small smile creased her lips as she raked her hand through her hair. The two packed away what little they had been using for the session and headed for the door.

"Do you want to try the-"

"If I have to even look at another egg I will go Hulk on you."

"…That's not funny."

"It is a little funny."

Date: July 3rd 2014

Location: Cleo and Robin's Living Room, Avengers Tower

Cleo had been thinking. It had been something she had been thinking about for the last month or so. Since she had been set free, since they had been set free, all she could think about was what they had been through. At the hands of Hydra, the White Coats and the Suits, they had been tortured and experimented upon… but there was something she had not told Robin, or anyone since their escape.

Unlike Robin Cleo was not so resilient. Her cousin had so much strength, but more than that her very skin resonated that power and so the experimentation could not be as invasive as the White Coats had wanted. Cleo, however, was not so fortunate. She could glow and she could float around a room but her skin could also be cut and stitched.

They had kept her lucid while they had attempted to remove the band from her wrist. She didn't know why they couldn't remove it but the hours they had spent trying to were burned into her memories. It was one of the few reasons she was glad she no longer felt the need to sleep. Every time she closed her eyes she was back on the operating table.

Strapped down. Cold. Powerless.

Now that she was free and the possibility of control was in sight, her mind kept circling around one thing;

Vengeance.

Cleo knew that the Avengers were working tirelessly to rid the world of the Hydra menace and she wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to stop them from hurting people. The way Robin had been hurt. The way she had been hurt. Cleo wanted them to know the suffering they inflicted.

Justice. Revenge. She didn't care about labelling it. She just wanted to get it done.

"Cleo? Are you okay?" Robin's voice rang through the air as she entered the room. Cleo hadn't heard her enter but as the doors were automated and controlled by JARVIS she shouldn't have been surprised. "You looked like you were sucking on a lemon. What's up?" Her cousin asked concerned as she gingerly sat on their couch.

"Nothing, just… thinking." She said distantly. Cleo knew Robin, that she had been happy with her life in America at the museum. Now that she had the chance Cleo was sure her cousin would opt for the easy path, to choose a life of normalcy.

"Liar." Robin accused as she lazily reclined on the couch. "If you are gunna lie to me at least be creative about it."

"I'm not lying. I'm just not telling you what I'm thinking." Cleo shrugged as she floated a little further away. She didn't want to share her dark thoughts with Robin, it was obvious she would disagree.

"Aw come on. What's up?" Robin asked as she sat up and focused more intently on Cleo.

"Robin… can we not." The glowing girl sighed as she floated closer to the window to look at the cityscape below.

"Cleo." Robin mimicked teasingly "If we don't do this now, you know I'll just keep asking and asking and asking and asking…" She continued over and over, knowing it would get a rise out of Cleo.

"Just, stop that." She snapped weakly, not taking her gaze from the window. Cleo had no desire to argue but she also knew that now Robin knew something was bothering her, she wouldn't stop. Not until she figured out how to resolve the problem. That or blatantly ignore it until it went away. Her cousin was a funny sort, depending on her mood.

"Nope. Tell me now, what's the matter?" Robin persisted as she stood up and walked purposefully towards the window. As gently as she could Robin grabbed Cleo's hand and turned her so they faced each other. Cleo looked down at Robin angrily, she didn't like being manhandled and she didn't like being forced into anything. She had had enough of both for the last two years. She tried to pull away but even though Robin held her gently she could not break the hold.

"What do you think the problem is?!" Cleo snapped still trying to wrench her arm from its vice. "Hydra!"

"Hydra?!" Robin exclaimed, confused she released her grip enough for Cleo to pull away. "But… We're safe from them. They can't hurt us here. We got away." She babbled as if she was reassuring herself more than anything else.

"How do you know?!" Her sharp tone caught Robin's attention as she looked lost up at her floating cousin. "How do you know that we're safe? That they can protect us?"

"B…because…" Her voice waivered as she started to back away, Cleo could see the pain clear as day in her face but now that they had started this talk… they had to finish it.

"Because they told you? Robin, it's not just us. They took other people, probably are doing it right now and are probably doing far worse things than we can imagine." The words tasted bitter as she spoke them but Robin had been right, she needed to vent this out. "We have the power to help destroy Hydra! They tried to take it from us, but we need to use it against them!"

"And what power do you have to stop them?!" Robin all but yelled at her friend as anger began to seep into her fear and confusion. "What are you going to do? Glow at them? Float in their general direction?!"

"NO!" Cleo yelled as she felt anger surge within her. It had been so long since she had felt this burning rage within her. Ever since Hydra all she felt was fear, like a cornered animal, but now she felt through the fear. Her anger was fuelled with it. The Nega-band on her wrist hummed with power as her glow brightened intensely.

"Cleo?" Robin asked as she brought her arms over her eyes, blinded by the light emanating from Cleo.

She didn't understand, this had never happened before, Cleo felt everything building. Her skin crackled with energy before suddenly the glow around her intensified into a glowing white beam. It lashed out straight at Robin throwing her backwards, not just off her feet but through the wall behind her and into the open air.

Date: July 3rd 2014

Location: Outer Front Entrance, Avengers Tower

"Right, are we ready? Okay.

Hello, this is Jenny on the HeroWatch podcast outside of the famous Avengers Tower! Moments ago Iron Man descended from the skies and landed on the top of the Avengers Tower. At this point it is unclear what he had been doing or where he has been but stay with us and we will bring you the latest Hero gossip as it develops.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitt- wait. Something's happening! It looks like some kind of light! Look! Someone's just crashed through that window!

Glass is raining down from one of the top windows and… yes, it looks like someone is falling. Oh, God!

Move! Get out the way!

Oh my… If you can hear this, someone has just crashed into the middle of the street. But the ground around us quaked and whoever fell made a large crater when they landed!

I'll try and get a closer look. Yes, someone's in there! She's moving! She doesn't even seem hurt!

Could this be a new Avenger in training?!

Look! It's Captain America and Iron Man! Excuse me? Can we please get a statement from you? Is she human? Is she a new Avenger? What's her name?"

"Lady, I think the question you should be asking is 'Tony you are in such great shape, do you work out?' The answer is no, I'm just naturally this awesome."

"No! Wait! Captain America has just picked her up and the three of them are heading inside. THE WORLD HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW!

You heard it here first folks, a new Avenger might just be on the way. The video will be posted on our YouTube channel and let us know your theories. Who is this mysterious woman? And what should her code-name be? Send us your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook!"

Date: July 3rd 2014

Location: Tony's Lab, Avengers Tower

Robin was confused. She had just been talking to Cleo and now… She stiffened immediately when she realised she was being carried by Captain America. They had been arguing… Cleo had… Robin wasn't sure what had happened but knew it wasn't Cleo's fault. After a moment she realised Steve and Tony were talking to each other as they entered Tony's lab. Bruce was stood by the door way and looked as if he had just finished talking to Cleo, who was floating in the centre on the room.

"Robin! Oh my- Are you okay? I'm so sorry. I don't-" Cleo was floating in front of them, her glow was flickering slightly and Robin wondered absently if the blast had drained her batteries a little.

"It's okay Cleo, you didn't know." She assured her as Steve finally let her down onto the ground.

"Didn't know what? What the hell happened up there?!" Tony finally asked as he looked at them critically.

"That's a good question." Steve intoned as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"I- We… we were arguing. Cleo wants to help you guys fight Hydra but I was like 'what are you gunna do float at them' and then she got kinda pissed. I'm pretty sure she shot me with lightning or something." Robin explained the best she could while Cleo stayed guiltily quiet.

"Lightning?" The mechanic asked as he processed the new information, he seemed excited.

"Yeah, her glowing kinda got brighter, really bright, and then BOOM! Out the window." She explained with large hand gestures to emphasise her words. Silently Steve noted that despite the incredibly long fall she had not a scratch on her and moved with ease.

"Interesting. If you want we can look into it. Help you learn to control it." Tony pulled out some kind of tablet and as he spoke he pressed a multitude of buttons.

"Yeah, I would appreciate that." Cleo finally spoke up as she looked at her cousin.

"Great, now that we are all here in one piece. I have the tech ready." Tony said brightly as he put his tablet down on one of his workbenches and picked up two small boxes. He walked over to Robin and began to attach it to her glowing band. After some bleeps and whirrs the device came alive and wired itself into the alien gold. Immediately Robin felt a difference, she couldn't quiet place it but she felt… just different. Tony handed her a small spanner that had been in one of his toolboxes. The metal squished like butter in her grasp. Tony cursed under his breath as he pulled out a screwdriver and altered the settings on her wrist.

"Okay, try it now." The genius handed her a stale coffee cup from the table, she took it gingerly and stared at it in disbelief.

"I… I did it!" Robin smiled as she held the cool mug in her hands. There were some fine cracks under her finger tips but it hadn't shattered immediately and it had been so long since she had been able to do anything herself.

"Your turn Twinkle-toes." Tony turned to Cleo triumphantly. She reached out towards him and he gently pulled her over to him. As had the other the device embedded itself in her glowing band. Her glow flickered and dimmed before she unceremoniously flopped onto the workbench.

"Woah, hello gravity." Cleo laughed as she patted the workbench she was sat upon. She didn't immediately notice she hovered an inch or so above the surface but it was the closest she had been to sitting without restraints.

"How long will it last?" Steve asked as he eyed the devices flashing on their wrists.

"On full suppression… a couple a months." Tony shrugged as he picked his tablet back up and input some new notes about the devices.

"So?" Robin looked up at them before gently placing the coffee cup on the workbench.

"So, keep working on control and every so often we reduce the suppression until you guys don't need them anymore." The millionaire shrugged as he continued to press buttons on his tablet.

"Does… does this mean we can leave the tower now?" Cleo asked hopeful. She didn't want to be cooped up anymore and now her glow was a little more subtle and she was flying around the place, it should be possible to leave.

"What are you Rapunzel? Yeah, you guys aren't prisoners." Tony laughed without taking his eyes from what he was doing. Now that the suppression devices were finished he could focus his attention on other projects.

"But you shouldn't go alone. Not while Hydra has the advantage." Steve reminded them, the girls had been captured once for their abilities and given the chance, there was no doubt in his mind that Hydra would try again.

"Well volunteered Cap, you get chaperone duty." Iron Man smirked.

"What?" Steve asked confused. He was too busy taking down Hydra and they knew it.

"Bruce and I did our time. Besides you were the one that found them. Pull your weight Pops." Stark sniped as he picked up one of the many half full cups of coffee from his workbench, he took a sip and grimaced when he realised it was cold.

"What Tony means," Bruce interrupted giving Tony a meaningful look "is that you have spent the last few months running yourself ragged against Hydra. Take some down time." Banner insisted as his lips quirked at Tony unceremoniously plonking the cold coffee down and checking to see if any of the others were still hot.

"And what better way to relax than with a couple of super powered chicks?!" Tony grinned as he found one and brought the warm mug to his lips.

"Woah, you guys have helped us enough. I for one don't want to be a burden on any of you. Plus now I am less likely to smash things on contact, I think we can handle popping out to the shops on our own." Robin reasoned, not wanting to force any of them into looking after her. They were superheroes for heaven's sake and they clearly had more important things to be spending their time one.

"It's not you two. Bucky is still out there, I need to find him, and Hydra need to pay for what they've done. To Bucky, to you two and to all the other people whose lives they've ruined." Steve told them resolutely.

"Steve, I understand that but you can't spend every waking moment doing this. You need to catch your breath." Bruce responded gently. Even a super soldier needed to take a break and if a crisis did arise, as they tend to around the Avengers, they couldn't let him burn himself out.

"Alright," He finally conceded "I just can't give up on this." For a moment it looked like Tony was going to make a comment but before he could Bruce had steered Steve out of the lab and they started talking about other concerns. Robin stared after them for a little while before she turned to her previously quiet cousin.

"Hey Cleo, wanna head back up to the room seeing as you can walk now?" She smiled as she headed for the door. Cleo matched her smile as she gently pushed herself off the workbench and stood up for the first time in years. Her step faltered slightly before Robin took her arm to steady her and together they walked out of the lab. Cleo's steps a little lighter than Robin's but still on the ground.

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

Please R&R so I know what you think and how you think it could go :3

Thanks for reading,

See ya next chapter!