the strongest avenger (2)

twenty eight

We sit at a large table in a conference room. Fury and Maria Hill are at the front, along with one Sharon Carter, who looks slightly annoyed for some reason.

On my side of the table, it's Tony, Steve, Nat, Me, and Wanda. The other side is Thor, Peter, Sam, Bucky, and Bruce.

"So, you're all here today because we are reinstating the Avengers Initiative, with minor changes." Fury looks each of us in the eye. "Basically you're all going to have to receive counseling before you're cleared, and then there will be evaluations."

"I'm sorry—did you say evaluations? As in, we have to show you what we can do?" Tony interrupts as he leans forward. "As if we didn't just beat a fucking titan, excuse my language Parker." I glance at Peter and see his jaw tighten.

"Yes, every person that works for SHIELD has to do it."

"I was under the impression that we were working with SHIELD." Steve states.

"Yes, yes. With. Anyways, once you're cleared to go, we have some smaller scale problems to deal with compared to the other worldly shit you all have worked with."

"And what are these smaller scale problems?" Nat asks.

"Well for starters, Hydra is not gone." I spare a glance at James and see him tense. "They've been rebuilding slowly for the past five years. Then there's the other issue." I frown as he looks at me.

"What's the other problem?" I ask.

"You."

I sigh and just cross my arms, not really sure what to do.

"What's the issue with me?"

"You, have the power of the Infinity Stones within you."

"And? What about it? I've only used it to make a stupid shirt."

"Hydra, for some goddamn reason, has learned about your abilities."

"How the fuck did they manage to do that? I've had them for a week. Literally, no one knows."

"It's in the SHIELD database, was added two days after the battle when Fury talked with Tony." Sharon pipes up, sending me a look.

"Okay..."

"Basically, we can assume that they're going to want you. Probably going to come after you." Fury continues to explain, but I roll my eyes.

"I'd like to see them try."

"Oh they will." Sharon says, the hint of a smile on her face.

I frown and look at her, she was nice to me back in Berlin...but I don't know what happened. She's honestly acting like a bitch.

"Can we move on?" I huff.

"Yes, yes. We've set you up with counselors to evaluate you, and then based off that, we can determine an official abilities eval date." Maria explains, passing a piece of paper to Tony.

"He doesn't like to be handed things." I mutter as Tony just looks at the paper in her hand.

She frowns but places it on the table, and slides it in front of him.

"So...we're being sent to therapy?" Bruce asks from across the table, his green face etched with nerves.

"No...counseling. That's all. Some of you guys start later today."

"And this is mandatory if we want to continue being an Avenger?" I ask him.

"Yes."

I sigh and sit back in my chair. I didn't mind going to therapy last year, but I actually wanted to go and wanted to talk. But I know these people are going to basically interrogate me, and I don't want that.

To be honest, I was kinda zoned out for the rest of the meeting. Just picking at my finger nails and blocking them out, kind of nervous for this therapy/counseling thing.

Fury dismisses us, and we all filter out to meet in the kitchen. Tony glances at the paper and I can tell he's reading it as I jump up onto the counter.

"Okay, Bruce and Thor, you're at noon, Nat and Steve are at one, Tal and Bucky are at two. Tomorrow Wanda and Peter are at noon, and then Sam and I are at one. Don't look at me like that, I didn't make the goddamn schedule."

I groan and lean back, hitting my head on a cabinet. Of course I get stuck with the most annoying person in the world.

I look over in Bucky's direction, but quickly look away as he's already looking at me.

I let out a sigh as I push off the counter and start heading to my room, but I pause when someone's hand touches my shoulder.

I turn and glimpse that familiar
red-orangey hair color—Wanda.

"Hey Wands. What's up?"

"Could I talk to you?"

I grin and gesture her inside my room. She follows and plops down on my bed.

"What's going on?"

"I wanted to talk to you..." she takes a deep breath. "about planning something for Vision."

"Yeah of course. Did you have anything in mind?"

She lays back on the bed and stares up at the ceiling. "I um...I was thinking we could do a dinner, I could make paprikash. It was the first meal he attempted to make for me." I hear the waver in her voice and I grasp her hand tight. "I think it's a sweet type of irony, cause he couldn't even eat."

I let out a chuckle. "I think he would like that. If you don't mind me asking...what happened to his body?"

She sighs shakily. "The Wakandans took him...well I let them. He was made of vibranium after all, and it was okay. I got to say goodbye. I got to have some closure."

I nod, remembering when she went away this past week, coming back yesterday.

"Okay...so we'll do a dinner in his honor."

"He would like that." She whispers.

"Yeah...he would."