Heads Bowed
(Author's note- I'm back! I say to literally nobody. Lol but actually I've kinda lost interest in this story. It was something I started years ago and tried to continue but alas inspiration doesn't work that way. I'll try and get more done, and if I do end up ending the story I'll give an update. Until then, enjoy!)
Once on the ground, Melissa was quick to dart a farther distance away from Thrud, who didn't seem to care as her concern was with another issue.
"Did Thalia also summon you here?"
Melissa glared. "Yeah she picked me up from one of my busts and we headed straight...Banner!"
Thrud appeared concerned. "You headed straight Banner? I am unfamiliar with that term."
"No you idiot!" Melissa yelled. "I mean what happened to Powerhouse after he jumped out of the plane?"
Looking around as if preparing for the monster to pop out of the ground, Thrud answered, "No, my concern lied with catching you."
The archer rolled her eyes. "Oh wow, I'm swooning. Anyway we need to find him. You head north toward the crash and I'll call-"
"Not necessary, my dear bird brain."
Both of the heroes turned toward the new voice, and for the third time that day, Melissa was disappointed by the source.
The new armor Thalia was in was similar to the previous one, with slightly outdated materials being the only telltale sign. With her face hidden behind the plate, Melissa was frustrated with being unable to read her emotions.
Motioning at the smoking remains of the crash sight of the plane in the distance, Thrud asked, "But daughter of Stark, the monster is free and may potentially cause harm to your people! He must be found."
"God I can't say I missed your weird phrasing Viking Metal, but don't worry. I got it covered."
Melissa laughed skeptically. "You took down a Hulk in that dinky little armor of yours? As if."
If Iron Maiden could've rolled her eyes through the armor, she would've. "Don't believe me? Fine. Step inside and see."
The initial adrenaline of the incident had somewhat cooled down, leaving Melissa calm enough to look around at where they had landed. Thrud must've had some good aim, because they were right in front of the long forgotten manor.
Not waiting for an answer, Thalia began walking inside. Thrud and Melissa shared brief glance before Thrud shrugged and followed her. Melissa groaned, "Fine I'll come, but I still don't like any of you bastards!"
The halls were filled to the brim with ghosts, almost to the point where Melissa was finding it hard to breathe. Or maybe she was hyperventilating. Either one works.
Memories of dashing through the halls as a kid filled her head. Playing with the other children without a care in the world. It was so bittersweet her head ached a little bit. But those days were gone. Because like all else in Melissa's life, everything eventually changed.
No one attempted to initiate conversation during the walk down the halls, which Melissa was thankful for. Small talk was disgusting. She was at least grateful when Thalia tossed her a rag and bandages to clean up her thankfully not broken nose.
More than mere shock ruined her angry train of thought when a sheepish Liam shuffled through a door Thalia had stopped at and pulled open. Other than a bandage wrapped around his midsection and new clothes, he seemed to be in good condition.
"Well colour me surprised 'Lia, you actually managed to take down a hulk."
Thrud was also in the same boat as Melissa. "Yes Starkdottir it is a difficult feat you have managed, but nonetheless I can proudly say I never doubted you."
"Sure thing Hercules, if you say so. And I didn't defeat Powerhouse, I calmed him down."
Liam finally spoke, though his voice was hoarse and more tired than before. "Still I didn't think anyone besides Aunt N- I mean the Black Widow learned the lullaby."
Shrugging nonchalantly like she hadn't used a technique previously thought to have been killed off along with the Avengers, Thalia motioned for the group to follow her again. "Well as much as I like being praised I didn't call you guys out here for a group powwow. We have a problem."
"Hell no!"
"Melissa why don't we at least hear her out-"
Standing up, Melissa was already fuming. "Hear what? 'Hey guys why don't we form a suicide squad funded by the queen of reckless, life-threatening, drunken whims?'"
Thalia sighed as she swirled around her cup of probably spiked coffee. "Look, I'm not saying we form up the Avengers again-"
"I thought that was exactly what you were suggesting?" Thrud asked confusedly.
The room they were walking through certainly didn't help the atmosphere of the group. It was now, pacing among the stone copies of their parents that Melissa regretted letting SHIELD commission this "memory" room for the fallen. It was a constant effort to avoid looking at her dad's memorial. The new addition to the room, a statue in the corner left unidentifiable by the cloth that covered it didn't go unnoticed by the archer, but she chose to instead focus on the task at hand: ripping Thalia's stupid little plan apart.
Thalia also looked as though she wanted death when she stood up amongst the group and began pacing. "No, not Avengers. Just… a group-"
"A group?" Melissa laughed. "You honestly think a group is a good idea? Look where we are Tin Can! Everyone here is dead because they yolo'd their ass into a team and paid the price."
The sad part was that it was true. Statues showing not only previous Avengers but also Guardians, Defenders, and Inhumans showed the sad price working together and forming a target cost.
"Thalia, I wouldn't take it that far, but she has a point. Maybe a team would work better with more people." Liam commented quietly.
Stopping in front of the covered statue, Thalia turned around and suddenly looked much older than her age would suggest. "You think I don't know that? But I can't get in contact with Andrei, I don't think anyone besides Legolas over here could and you don't look like you're willing to help, and I don't want to bring anyone else into this."
Thrud scoffed, "Well, it would at least make sense to bring in Super Soldier."
"Yeah, if anyone seemed like the type to form our own version of the Mickey Mouse Club it would've been Tommy," Melissa agreed.
Thalia flinched and swallowed hard. She looked down in an uncharacteristic moment of doubt, leaving Melissa confused. "Actually…" Her voice shook as she spoke, "that's why I brought you here."
With one fluid motion she brought down the cloth covering the last statue in the room. Liam apparently knew right away what it was as he choked out a small, meek "No," and collapsed to his knees, but Melissa was in the dark. Why would Thalia make such a big deal about unveiling a statue of Captain Am-
"Oh God, no. No. No! You're lying!" Thalia shaking her head was unnerving. She hadn't even realized she had said her thoughts out loud.
Melissa's vision zeroed in on it. The sign. Of their destruction, of their history, of the final end of a too young life. All she could see was Thomas's cross necklace hanging from the statue's neck, a blaring alarm setting panic to her thoughts.
It was her father's bow coming back with no confident smile to back it up.
It was her aunt's gravestone by her feet, because her aunt left nothing else that could be traced back to her.
It was her mom's wedding ring, hastily kissed during whispered prayers right before her death.
It was one more part of Melissa's family, her heart, a part she didn't think she had left, being broken.
"At nine a.m. this morning…"
Thrud's face was covered by her flowing hair, but the tears burning down her cheeks could still be seen dripping onto the floor.
"A previously unknown clone of the Red Skull emerged to the public along with MODOK…"
Liam's sobs were muffled, each one a broken, shattering sound that ripped layers of Melissa's barriers off.
"And managed to kill Sup… and managed to kill Thomas."
A numbing storm was whisking through Melissa's mind, each thought taking hold for a second then disappearing into the red expanse. Before she knew it she was standing directly in front of the Stark. With teary eyes, a clenched fist, and grief ridden voice she uttered out words the world had not heard in almost a decade:
"Avenger's Assemble."
