"Sup?"
Jessica strolled over to Peter, he hands pushed inside of her giant sweatshirt's pockets. On the front of the sweatshirt was a graphic of a giant banana and the words Andy Warhol under it. She smiled brightly and flopped down onto the couch, where Peter was sitting. He scooted over a little bit so she could have more space.
"Nothing much," Peter replied "Actually a lot."
Immediately picking up on how troubled Peter's voice sounded, Jessica frowned and sat up.
"You said you needed help finding common ground. What's that all about?"
Peter sighed.
"It's pretty complicated. You know the song Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
"No."
"Oh. Well never mind. Let me—let me try something else. You know Steve?"
"I know a lot of Steves but I assume you aren't referring to that asshole from my old middle school."
I mean—I mean," Peter started, unsure if he should even continue.
"Yes?"
"Steve as in Steve Rogers."
"Captain America."
Peter nodded slowly. He bit down on his tongue as he tried to analyze Jessica's face. It was mostly blank, void of any kind of expression. Her eyes stared at him, her eye lids flicker close only the tiniest of bits. Jessica didn't know a whole lot about Steve. The Avengers had tried to move on without the Captain and to do so, they didn't talk about him. It was a taboo subject, one that would make Tony angry. Peter didn't know how much Rhodey had told Jessica about Captain America. He thought Rhodey avoided the subject because it reminded him of how he was injured and that he could not fight alongside his fellow team mates.
"I don't know, Peter. I don't know anything about him."
"Rhodey didn't tell you anything."
"Not really, except that he's a criminal."
"Yeah, I know. That's the problem. Aren't you bored?"
Jessica frowned.
"You keep changing the subject."
"Oh—ohhh I—I—I promise that it'll line up. The thing is . . ."
Peter pulled his phone out of his pocket, opened the picture app and handed it to Jessica. She snatched the phone from his hand and stared at the image. He could quickly see she was devastated.
"That son of a bitch!"
"Don't you see? Ross won't let us go on missions anymore. He leaves us here, letting the world go to crap and—"
"Peter, Peter, Peter," Jessica mumbled "I can't believe it. I can't believe it. All these gruesome things happening that we could've stopped."
She stood up and ran her fingers through her short hair. Peter could see her hands trembling as she lowered them from her head and knit their fingers together. She blinked, desperately trying to hold her tears back. It was as if Peter could see the images flashing in front of her eyes, ones displaying the grief and terror in the eyes of people she could have saved.
"I know," he said quietly "But Ross thinks we're too weak."
"That's why we need Steve back."
She didn't reply at first. Instead. She sat back down and wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them up to her chest. A small sigh escaped her lips.
"He's a criminal though," Peter continued "Natasha says there is no way that he could ever be pardoned or allowed to join the Avengers again."
Jessica's eyes narrowed.
"We don't even know where he is, Jess. He could be anywhere in the world with his assassin buddy."
"The Winter Soldier."
"Right. All I know is that we need to find him because we have to try to get him pardoned. Even if it isn't believed to be possible."
"What if that isn't possible?"
"At least he and Tony can reconcile in some way."
Jessica nodded, then let go of her legs, stretching them out as if they had started to cramp.
"And that common ground you were talking about on the phone?"
"We need to unite them over something they have in common."
"Like what? They both like the color red?"
"I don't know. We need to think! We can come up with something. I know it!"
"Peter, you can be such an idealist sometimes."
"What, you think it's a bad thing?"
"No, not really. I think we could use a little bit of that right now."
They both sat there in silence for a little bit. Both of their brains searched for an idea, an inkling that might suggest how to move forward. All Peter could think of was Steve and how what he told at Uncle Ben's grave.
He'd been in Queens in a graveyard and Peter didn't know why. Ever since then, he hadn't heard from him and no other sightings had been brought to the public. The last person from the Avengers he saw had been Wanda back when Vision went and saw her.
Vision.
"I got it!" Peter practically screamed "I got it!"
"What?" Jessica yelled back.
Peter sucked in a deep breath in order to calm down his racing heart.
"It—it's Vision. He got a call from Wanda. You know, the Scarlett Witch and-"
"Oh my gosh! Peter! This is great! Wanda might know where Steve is! We need to talk to Vision now!"
They both jumped from the couch and raced to the living quarters, where Vision would probably be, curled up in a chair, reading a book.
Of course, they were right.
Vision sat on the chair, his legs crossed. Sitting on his knee was a copy of Far From the Madding Crowd, a popular Thomas Hardy novel that Wanda had recommended to him before the Civil War. He had a small smile on his face as he flipped through the pages.
"Hey Vision," Peter said quickly, his voice sounding strained.
"What is wrong, Peter?" Vision immediately asked, not looking up from his book.
"Who said anything was wrong?" Peter replied awkwardly.
He leaned against the door frame and Jessica peered over her shoulder, a ridiculously large smile plastered over her face. Vision glanced up at them, his lips pressed into a hard line. He reached over to the small table next to his chair which had his reading light set up on it. He grabbed a small piece of torn paper and stuck it in between the pages to mark where he left off.
"I have never understood the concept of lying. Why would one make something up? Why would someone not speak his mind? Life would be a lot easier that way."
"There is no such thing as being subtle with you, is there?" Jessica commented.
She nudged Peter, who stepped inside of the room, allowing her to come in also.
Vision's room was very simple.
There was a queen sized bed, a dresser, a desk with a laptop on it, a chair pushed under it. On the far wall was a bookshelf, packed with dozens of books. Next to it was a comfy chair, the one on which Vision was sitting.
"How can I assist you and Miss. Drew?"
"Well," Peter started "We wanted to talk to you about Wanda."
"And Steve," Jessica added.
Vision seemed to stiffen a little bit when he heard Wanda's name.
"C'mon, man. You know I would never say anything to Tony. I helped you go see her, remember?"
"I am not a man," Vision said stiffly.
"What did you just say about honesty?" Jessica snapped.
She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at the android, while Peter looked on in admiration. Jessica was a force of nature, one that could battle anything in her way. It was one of the reasons he valued her as a friend. When her mind was set, there was no changing it. She obviously wanted to find Steve and wasn't going to let Vision get in the way of that.
Vision looked back at her. His eyes flickered.
"Yes?" Jessica demanded "Say it!"
"I do not know where Steve is, Miss. Drew. If I did, Tony would know as well."
"What about Wanda? Is she still in Yorkshire?"
"I have not spoken to her since we last, Peter. I am sorry, but that is all I have to say on the matter."
Peter and Jessica looked at each other.
"Thanks, I guess," Jessica muttered.
"I truly am sorry."
"You won't tell Tony, will you?" Peter asked hesitantly.
Vision re-opened his book.
"You don't have to lie. All you have to do is—well—not tell him."
Vision turned the page.
"Vision?"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Tony."
"Do not worry, Peter. Tony will not ask me the questions you just asked. He is much too afraid to."
Jessica nodded at Peter, and gestured towards the door. He sighed and followed her out. They walked down the hallway, not saying a word to each other.
"This is horrid," Jessica finally said.
Peter grunted.
"I really I could tell Rhodey."
"Rhodey wouldn't side with us, Jess."
"I know, but a girl can wish, right?"
They walked in silence again through the living quarters and through the kitchen. On the other side of the kitchens was Tony's office. Of course, it was quite strategically placed, at least for Tony. Whenever he got hungry, it was only a quick walk for him to get something from the kitchen.
"Hey Tony!' Peter called heartlessly as he walked to the fridge.
He opened the fridge door and pulled out an orange. After he peeled it, he grabbed and knife and sliced it up. He offered a piece to Jessica, who declined.
"Tony?" Peter called again "You want something?"
Nothing.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Peter muttered.
He charged to Tony's office and banged on the door loudly.
"Hey! Tony!" he exclaimed.
"Peter, come on," Jessica said softly, placing her hand on his shoulder "Don't drag him into this."
Peter scowled. He opened the door and looked in.
"See? He's not here! And if he wanted something to eat, he could get it himself. He's a big boy," Jessica scoffed.
Peter walked up to his desk and sat down in the chair.
"What're you doing?" Jessica asked as Peter shuffled through a stack of files.
"I don't know. Just a hunch."
"A hunch about what? You honestly don't think Tony knows where Steve and Wanda are, do you?"
"I don't know," Peter repeated.
He opened one of the drawers, and pulled out a stack of files. He sighed and set them down on the desk. Reaching back into the drawer to pull out another stack of papers, peter's hand brushed against something hard in it. He looked down and saw a track phone, which had been hiding under the stack of paper.
"Look!" He whispered, pulling it out.
"So?" Jessica said, shrugging.
"You honestly think he has a track phone?" Peter demanded "He's Tony Stark!"
Jessica shrugged again as Peter grabbed the phone and flipped it open.
"The thing about track phones is that they can't be traced. At all . . . Look, there's a phone number in here!"
"What?"
He held up the phone so Jessica could see it.
"Call it!" she suggested "See who it is!"
Peter nodded and pressed the call button. He held it up to his ear and gestured to Jessica, telling her to come sit next to him. She squeezed into the chair next to him and leaned towards him, her ear close to the phone as well.
The phone rang a few times.
Finally, someone picked it up.
"Tony?"
"Hello, who is this?"
The voice on the other end went silent.
"Is this Steve?"
"Is this the kid from Queens?"
"Yes. Spider-Man. And you're Captain America, right?"
"It is."
"Captain Rogers, my friend and I need to talk to you about something. Is that possible? It's very important."
"Where is Tony?"
"He doesn't know that we're talking to you."
They could hear Steve breathing deeply on the other end of the line.
"Please," Jessica said slowly "We need to speak to you. Please."
She looked over at Peter, who was biting down on his lip.
"Captain Rogers, if not for us, do it for the world," she added "It still needs you, criminal status or not. Tell us where we are and we will come to you."
"Don't come to me, kids. That's a pretty bad idea. I will meet you though . . . In a place I pick."
"Perfect!" Peter squeaked "Absolutely perfect."
"Alright," Steve said softly "Listen closely."
Hey Guys! What's up? Here is another crappy chapter from yours truly. I am sorry if it isn't the greatest. I kind of wrote it in a rush because I don't want to make you guys wait for months for another chapter again. That would make me feel terrible and I think its better to have something than nothing at all. The good news is that I will be introducing a new character next chapter! I'd been thinking about adding this character in for a bit and I'm glad it's finally happening. I think you guys will like him a lot mainly because he'd one of the most loveable characters in Civil War. Gosh, he makes me smile.
Anyway, please enjoy. Leave a review! That makes me happy. And to any new comers, please follow and favorite because that makes me even happier.
Much Love,
gotmoreissuesthanvogue