A/N: I wanted a little humor on the side of my serious. I hope you enjoy!
She opened her eyes and it was dark, Still. She wasn't sure if she had actually opened her eyes. A groan fell from her lips and the seat under her moved.
"Baby girl, don't sit up. It's me Gus. I got you," came a familiar voice. She realized that she was lying on top of none other than Clint Barton. She groaned in pain.
"Your wife know about us, Katniss?" she joked with a gravely, aggravated voice.
A laugh rolled over her like thunder. Realizing that she wasn't alone with her favorite former body guard, she tried lifting her head.
"Oh, we are in a car! My hands are tingling, Is that normal?" she squeaked staring at her hands.
"You were given GHB. You probably won't remember this conversation. Don't worry, we are taking good care of you. Taking you to a safe house now ma'am," came the unidentified voice from the front.
"Ma'am. I like the sound of that! So I can't go home? Wait! –" August suddenly sat up right and immediately regretted it. A string of unladylike words stumbled from her mouth.
"Looks like you learned some new words while I was away Gus. " Clint laughed.
"Shut up! Is Cilantro okay? Tell me that you have him?" her voice came, full of panic.
"You named your cat after an herb?"
"Okay don't get judge-y just answer the damn question!"
"Ma'am, we've been informed that your go bag, as well as your pet have been secured. We are headed to a safe house now."
August's hands flew to her face as she positioned her head back in Barton's lap. She groaned again. His hand moved her hair out of her face as he looked down on her,
In a hushed voice he said, "You scared me kid." Gus reached up and ruffled his hair. He laughed and added, "I'll deny that I said that you know."
Gus giggled and then yawned and promptly passed out again.
The next time she opened her eyes, she knew she was in a bed. Probably in the safe house. She remembered seeing Clint and that she thinks her cat is okay, but other than that she is clueless.
Her body ached and she licked her busted lip. She could hear male voices outside of her door. Gingerly pulling the covers off her body, she was greeted by her bare legs,
"Where the hell are my pants?" she muttered to herself. The door burst open and there stood her knight in shinning armor. A flash of black and white flew into the room.
"Cilantro! Baby!" Gus exclaimed as her cat tentatively moved towards her out reached hand.
"Baby, my ass. That thing is a terror," complained Barton.
"You would know," Gus shot back sticking out her tongue. Barton moved to sit on the edge of her bed.
"The real question is where are my pants?"
A laugh burst throughout the room and Clint ran his hand through his hair looking almost sheepish.
"You don't remember?" She shook her head no.
"Well, I wasn't alone when I saved you. When we got to the safe house, I was tending to your wounds when you demanded that I introduce you to the 'hot superhero who kept calling you ma'am.' Steve Rogers."
"Steve Rogers? As in the Steve Rogers?" she asked shocked.
"The very one. Well after I introduced you two, you remembered that you uh… were wearing um… patriotic underwear. Before either of us could stop you, you had ripped off you pants to show off the American flag on your ass," He couldn't contain his laughter especially as Gus turned from pale to tomato red. She blinked rapidly in shock.
"Oh hell no! Why? Why'd you let me do that? Kill me please. He probably thinks I am so weird!"
"Well, maybe a little, but it was pretty endearing-" interrupted a new voice.
August's jaw dropped. She started twisting her hands together as she took in the handsome man in front of her.
"Especially when you wanted me to count all of the stripes," He laughed turning a little red himself.
August threw herself back on the bed groaning in pain and embarrassment. This couldn't get any worse. Expect for the fact that some rando tried to kidnap her last night.
"So, since I am in dire need of changing the subject, can you tell me why I was beat up and drugged last night? And what about Chadwick? Is he alive?" She questioned.
"Well, we have received information about the man who attacked you. He was a loose end from Hydra. He was under orders to obtain you and take you back whomever is giving him orders. We think.. We think that they wanted to use your blood… like they did when you were 16…" Her mind started flying.
Images of metal chairs, needles, guns buzzed in her mind. Clint's gloved hand touched her hand and she jolted.
"We now have reason to believe that the group that took you seven years ago were under the direct orders of Alexander Pierce. They used your blood to keep their soldiers in check emotionally," stated Steve. He was leaning against the wall arms crossed.
"And Chadwick?" she dared to ask.
"Your lover boy is okay. We got him to a hospital and have taken care of your cover story. You.. you won't be seeing him again, so I hope you weren't too attached," it was blunt, but true.
"Ugh! He could have been the love of my life for all you know. I hate this. I finally settled down! I have a life! I am three exams away from having my degree in education AND psychology! This is not fair." August would be the first to admit that she was pouting, but she didn't care.
"I know Gus. That's why we have an offer for you." She looked up still glaring.
"Fury wants you to come live in Avengers training facility. You would be given a more permanent home-"
"Stop right there! I don't want to hear anything from Nick," she pushed herself out bed and stomped into the bathroom. She went to slam the door, but Clint caught it before she could. Steve was right behind him watching with curiosity.
"There she is. The wildcat I remember," Clint grumbled as Gus tried to move the door.
"Ma'am, maybe you should sit down," suggested Captain America.
"Maybe you should sit down grandpa!" She then glared at Clint and yelled,
"You know that Nick does not have my best interest in mind. He is probably the reason that Alexander Pierce took me all those years ago! They were friends! And you know Cyclops asks too much! He pushes too hard and I-" She was abruptly cut off as Clint scooped her up and dumped her on the bathroom counter. He ripped his gloves off with his teeth and put his bare hands on her face. Steve looked a little taken a back. He stepped forward.
"I got this Rogers," He stated as he looked into Gus's dark brown eyes.
"I can feel your fear, your anger, and your pain baby girl. I know that Nick has hurt you and that you feel like you can't trust him. But feel me out, take a listen to my emotions right now,"
He paused.
August glanced fearfully into his eyes and then took a deep breath. She felt brotherly love, hope, and a tinge of anxiousness. But nothing untoward.
Clint used to do this often when she had a harder time controlling her powers when she was younger. He knew that she had trust issues, especially when it came to Nick Fury.
"This is real. I am real, and this is how I really feel. I would never let him step out of line."
"But what if he tries to take my blood? And what would I even do there? Knit super suits?" She tried at humor to mask her fear. Clint took his hands off of her and stepped back.
"No one will take your blood without your permission," Clint declared with such a fierceness that Gus didn't even have to be touching him to know that he meant it.
"I would train you. In combat. Also, we have a project you could work on… it has to do with psychology and you could really help someone… someone who is really important to me," explained Steve.
"And what about my exams? I want those degrees."
"Your professors have agreed to send you essay prompts in place of your exams. We told them there was a family emergency," Barton answered.
Gus ran her shaking hand through her tangled dark brown hair. She felt overwhelmed.
"Do I really have a choice of whether or not I stay here?" She questioned.
"You know what kind of life you would have if you stayed in this safe house cricket."
Hopping down from the sink, she winced at the twinge of pain that ran through her body. Steve reached forward to steady her short frame. His bare hand brushed against the skin of her arm. Hope. Anxiety. Stress. Bucky. His hand jumped back as if he had been fried with electricity.
"Uh sorry." Gus moved by him. Normally, she could just tell what people were feeling, but if someone was extremely consumed with an experience or a feeling she could sometimes catch words and snippets of memories. Clearly, Cap had some things on his mind. She hauled herself back into the bed where Cilantro was already snuggled up.
"Let me rest on it and I'll give you my final decision."
"Yeah love, that works for me. There are some pills you should take on the night stand. Let me know if you need anything."
I need a new life. That's what I need.