AN: A little short but the next few chapters will be action packed since we're at the end of the movie. Um... I don't have much to say about this chapter. Thanks again for all the reviews, favorites, and follows. I hope you like!
I own nothing.
Chapter Twelve:
Waverly followed Steve through the Helicarrier to the infirmary. Agents were still running about fixing the damage Clint had done. Loki had escaped so numerous agents were stationed at strategic points, armed from head to toe. Alarms were still blaring in certain hallways and emergency lights flickered on and off. Steve walked quickly through the chaos and Waverly had to jog to keep up with him. She couldn't believe how in control and confident he was at a time like this. She was freaking out. For one thing, Steve just kissed her. Full on kissed her. Waverly wasn't about to pretend she didn't like it, but she was shocked. Steve seemed so awkward around women. Second, she had just recovered from her adventure outside. Waverly's knees still felt weak and if she let her brain fully realize what she had just done, she began to feel nauseous again. Finally, Loki's words still buzzed around in her head. Waverly didn't know what she'd do if what Loki said was true. Needless to say, she was a little apprehensive about seeing her brother. Though, she took comfort in the fact that he requested her as copilot. Even if Loki was right and Clint wasn't really her brother, the archer still trusted her enough to fly into battle with him.
Oh, right. There's that whole matter of the battle too. Waverly still didn't know why she agreed to go. She would be next to useless in a fight. Loki had already messed with her head, she had flipped out when she was supposed to be helping Steve with the engine control panel, and she was the only one sobbing like a child when the team was told of Coulson's death. What was she thinking, wading into a war? The emotional toll would be ten times what the past few hours had been. Still, as terrified as she was, Waverly knew she'd be less nervous if she went with Steve and her brother. That way, if they were going to die, at least they'd all be together.
They had finally reached the infirmary. Steve paused before he led Waverly through the door. "He's back, you know. Natasha said he's fine."
Waverly nodded. "Right. I know." She swallowed the lump in her throat which turned into a knot in her stomach. She needed to talk to Clint about what Loki said. But now was not the time. They had a job to do.
Steve walked up to the automatic doors, which opened with a 'whoosh.' Waverly followed him inside. "You ready?" The soldier asked the two assassins sitting on the medical cot.
Natasha nodded. Clint stood up when he saw Waverly. "Waverly!"
"Um," Waverly felt her stomach withering with anxiety. "Hey, Clint. Are you… are you okay?"
Clint rubbed the back of his head. "Head's a little sore. Got Tasha to thank for that one."
Waverly attempted a smile.
"Now, though, I'm ready to go kick some giant gold reindeer ass."
Now, Waverly really did smile. Clint was definitely back. Real brother or not, Clint was the only 'family' Waverly had. Whatever Loki said, whatever was true, Clint and Waverly were as good as siblings. Waverly fully entered the room and engulfed Clint in a hug. The archer, SHIELD agent, and assassin was not one for displays of affection; even between him and his sister. He blushed. Natasha rolled her eyes and Steve snickered. Clint hugged Waverly back for a moment and then the warm, fuzzy moment was over. The super soldier, the master assassins, and secretary turned warrior(-ish) abandoned the infirmary and made for the hangar on one of the lower levels of the ship.
Weaving through SHIELD pilots and other agents, Steve led their not so rag-tag team to a jet that was fully prepared for take off. Upon trying to enter the jet, they were stopped by an agent.
"Sir, you're not authorized to be here."
Steve held up a hand. "Son," his voice was one of restrained calm. "Just don't." Brushing past the agent, Steve led the team aboard.
Clint and Waverly headed towards the cockpit while Natasha secured herself into a seat in the cargo area of the plane. As Clint flipped switches and fired up the jet's engine; Steve realized just how stupid he had been the past hour or so. Not only had he agreed to Clint's request to have Waverly as copilot, he convinced her come with them. Waverly wasn't a soldier. She wasn't like Peggy. Not that that was a bad thing; Waverly was a remarkable woman in her own ways. But leading her into a war? Steve knew she was authorized to carry a gun but he doubted if she ever used it. He knew she had basic self defense skills but she was nowhere near strong enough to fight a god. Steve had barely stood his ground against Loki. And, to top it all off, Waverly was not at all emotionally prepared to survive in a battle.
Add to all of that the fact that Steve had kissed the girl! It wasn't that Steve regretted kissing her. Something in his mind clicked after the attack on the helicarrier. Thinking back on the event, he realized just how terrible he would have felt if something had happened to Waverly. The thought of losing her was just heartbreaking.
As the jet took off, the sound of the engines brought Steve back to World War II. He was thrust into a flashback of his battle with Red Skull before he crash landed the jet in the arctic. Steve began tapping his foot in counts of four to keep his mind off the memory.
"Steve?" Waverly glanced over her shoulder from the cockpit. "Are you all right?"
Steve stopped the foot tapping but couldn't sit still. "Uh, it's just…"
He didn't need to finish. Waverly understood. Steve had gone too long without his medication and now the symptoms of his post traumatic stress were coming back. "Steve, just focus, okay? Relax."
Steve nodded and took a seat beside Natasha.
The jet screeched through the sky, getting closer and closer to New York and their target. The closer they got, the more nervous Steve became. Not about the battle; he was fine in battle. He was worried about Waverly. When they were just a few miles away, Steve unbuckled his seatbelt and entered the cockpit.
"Waverly, I need you to listen to me."
Waverly took off the headset she was wearing and turned the jet fully over to her brother's control. "What's up?"
"When we get to New York, I don't want you in the middle of the fighting. You help any civilians that get stuck in the cross fire." Steve looked intently at Waverly while he spoke and the girl could see the concern etched across his face. "You do exactly what I tell you. If I tell you to get out of there, you go. No arguments."
"Steve, I'm not –" Waverly tried to object.
"No. Listen to me. If something happened to you…" Steve closed his eyes and took a breath. "Just listen to me."
"Okay, Steve."
Steve opened his eyes and locked gazes with Waverly before nodding and turning back to his seat.
Clint, having witnessed the whole exchange, turned to Waverly. "So, what's going on with you and the captain?"
Waverly blushed. "What?! Nothing."
"Waverly, I'm trained to know when people are lying."
Waverly huffed indignantly. "The same thing that's going on with you and Natasha."
Now Clint was the one blushing. "There's nothing – Just remember, I've got my eyes on everything."
