29 x it's a celebration
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[ Megan's POV ]
Steve was accompanying me to the café. We (as in the entire team) had rented it out for the night. It was an Avengers celebration, and everyone else was meeting us there; the reason for Steve and I's lateness had been because we had been discussing Peter and Evangeline.
He told me about the conversation he had with Tony, and that he had had a similar conversation with the two teens. I hadn't freaked out. I actually felt a sense of relief, knowing that the two of them could keep living semi-normal lives without having to worry about big issues that came with being an Avenger. (Besides, I had both of their cell numbers, and could call and mother them whenever I felt so inclined, so that helped.)
The conversation hadn't lasted long, but then Steve had gotten a call. Which he was now trying to wrap up.
"Yes, sir, and again; we're very grateful that you were so behind us in helping make the prison," Steve said.
I was staring at him so hard that if I'd had laser vision he would've had a hole in his head. But I did not and thus he did not, though at this point, I was tempted to let off a flash of light if only to regain his attention.
He chuckled, "Yeah. Yeah, that means a lot to me. Thanks again, Coulson." Then he hung up and looked at me, as my brows rose.
"Coulson?" I repeated. I hadn't seen the director of SHIELD in a while, and he was one of my favorite regular people. If Phil Coulson could be considered regular.
"Mhmm," Steve nodded, grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. I was quick to follow after him. "He was giving me an update on his three latest prisoners."
"And?" I asked, not at all appeased by such little information.
"And their cells are holding up just fine," Steve shrugged before glancing at me. "Shouldn't you be getting into a celebratory mind set?"
"Maybe," I said, moving in step with him as we hit the streets, "but I've also got this thing called a 'hero mindset,' which I can't quite seem to shake. Heard of it?"
When I glanced at him, there was a small smile on his lips. "I might've."
"Thought so," I smiled to myself.
"Loosen up, Meg," he said then, "it's celebration night. We're all going to be together as a team. Everything's good."
"Yeah," I breathed, running my fingers through my hair. "Good. Huh. It's been a while since I've had . . . that. I mean, don't get me wrong, this team is very much good--"
"But the calm aftermath is a nice change," Steve nodded knowingly. "Yeah. I get it."
Then he was holding the door to the café open for me, and the two of us were entering a world of heroes -- family -- and food.
And it was good.
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"So as I was saying, I'd clearly win in a fight--" Rhodey was interrupted by Sam.
"Nuh uh, man, there is no way I am losing to you in a fight. I've got a reputation to maintain, you know?"
Bucky rolled his eyes. "I could take you both on in a fight, no weapons, while you're in your armor. And still win. As a matter of fact, Sam . . ." He gave him a pointed look, which caused the Falcon to huff.
"Yeah, yeah, you pulled me outta the sky. You know how much of a pain it was to get that fixed?" Sam asked.
"You're friends with Tony, fixing things is no longer a pain," Rhodey corrected, "it's a procedure that requires heavy medication and hoping you never have to ask for his help again."
Bucky snickered at that one.
Meanwhile Natasha and Wanda were engaged in a rapid-fire conversation in what sounded to me like Russian (though one could never be sure given Natasha's background), while Bruce and Tony were going at it with Steve.
"But you've got to watch the Jurassic Park series," Tony persisted. "Dinosaurs, Rogers. Dinosaurs."
"Not that I'm trying to make a habit out of saying this, but Tony's right," Bruce said, spreading his hands as he did so.
Steve rolled his eyes, "I don't understand how 'dinosaurs,' is a good reason to do anything."
Tony gave him a highly insulted look. "Dinosaurs, Steven!"
"He doesn't get it 'cause he is one, Stark," Natasha interrupted casually. "You've got to give the poor man a break, it's not like Jurassic Park would be anything he hasn't seen before," she winked teasingly.
"I believe that was a crack at your old age," Vision volunteered, to which Pietro rolled his eyes.
"Of course it was," he said, "Rogers and Barnes are the oldest ones here."
"I feel considerably relieved to know I am no longer that old," Clint volunteered with a proud smile, which earned him an eye roll from Natasha.
"I'm with the Science Bros on this one, Steve," I said then. "It's Jurassic Park all the way. Have we even brought up Jaws yet?" I asked, turning toward Bruce.
"Oh! I like Jaws!" Pietro declared, reaching out and squeezing my hand as he smiled widely. "We should watch it together."
"We should," Wanda agreed, giving her twin a pointed look. "I believe I am far overdue a double date."
"Wanna make it a triple?" Tony volunteered. "We could even get Banner and Romanoff in on it, make it a quadruple."
"I think," Rhodey said in a mock whisper, "that if you run now he won't be able to catch you. Also, he'll probably forget."
Pietro, Bucky, and Sam all snickered at that as Tony rolled his eyes.
"No, Stark, I do not wish to any-kind-of-pairing date with you," Wanda said politely. "Seriously though, Meg-- help, please?"
"Oh, we're in," I nodded seriously. "We were in the moment you said the words. Road Runner may not realize it, he might be in denial over it, but we are in."
Pietro blinked owlishly at me. "I am afraid to argue," he admitted carefully.
"Probably best not to," Steve nodded.
"I wouldn't," Sam agreed.
"You wouldn't argue with Steve, either," Tony pointed out.
"Why would anyone argue with Steve?" Natasha asked innocently. "He's Captain America."
"Sometimes," Steve said, shaking his head and smiling, "I hate all of you."
"Captain America can hate?! Oh the agony!" Natasha gasped, clutching at her chest before winking at Bruce, causing him to laugh.
"I think he's hated me the longest," Bucky said in amusement, before his wandering eyes zoned in on me.
I watched as his brow furrowed, and became considerably aware of an incoming headache.
"Megan," Bucky said slowly, "your nose is bleeding."
Confused, I reached up and touched my nose, and sure enough, when my hand pulled away liquid crimson coated my finger tips. My own brow furrowed as the once lingering, theoretical headache became a blaring reality, and spots began to appear in front of my eyes. Dizziness took me by storm, and I could feel my heart beginning to race as my brain processed the only two logical words; Oh, no.
Then I was vaguely aware of losing my balance to a point where I'd fallen out of my chair. Somewhere in the back of my mind I could hear Pietro's voice frantically trying to say I was okay, before that switched to chants of please wake up, please, please, please--
Then the world was dark.
When I woke up, everything felt fuzzy and disconnected and wrong, though I didn't know why, and as soon as I'd fully come to consciousness fear griped firmly at my chest. I attempted to rush into a seated position, but was stopped by two sets of warm hands.
Bruce and Tony were standing over me, in the examination room, much like they had been at our first meeting. But this time, Tony didn't say a word; Bruce looked at me in eyes filled with concern.
"Megan," he said slowly, as my attention focused in on him, "your density alteration . . . we can't pick it up any more."
THE END
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A/N: a preview for the next book, Stand As Heroes, is up now! It'll be the final installment in the Quicksilver series, and oooooooh am I excited!!
(sorrynotsorry about the cliffhanger ending dolls xox)