the strongest avenger (2)

forty eight

"Yeah...she did it."

I clench my hands into fists as they rest on my lap. Sending Wanda a thankful smile, I turn my attention back to Fury at the head of the conference table.

Wanda just confirmed what I thought—that Sharon let the goats out, and now I feel a white hot rage take place in my chest.

I tone it down as I listen to Fury explain how for those of us who are enhanced, we can start focusing on those abilities instead of just strengthening our bodies while training.

We're all cleared, which I'm thankful for, as I don't know if I could spend another session with James.

SHIELD wants us, especially those with powers or whatever, to train longer before we're sent on missions or any assignments.

I think it's unnecessary.

If they were smart, they could send someone in to pretend to be Hydra but really be SHIELD—a double agent if you will. And then, they could slowly break Hydra down from the inside.

If he were more stable, James could probably do it. Pretend that his Winter Soldier programming was still there, but there are too many risks regarding him.

However, SHIELD is doing a different approach. Something about taking down their warehouses and finding the agents in SHIELD that are actually Hydra.

Apparently, SHIELD needs to do better background checks on their employees. It's already August, so the new compound will be done in two weeks, a little after Peter's eighteenth birthday.

"So," Fury's voice brings me back to the conversation. "we know where two of their current warehouses are, we can take them down and then gather intel for the next hit. So I want two teams, one for the building in Boston and one for the other in Connecticut. Rogers, I expect you to prepare the teams and have them prepared by the end of the week." He raises his eyebrow at the blonde. "You remember the specific restrictions."

My brows narrow at that last statement. What the hell kind of restrictions are there?

Sharon shoots me a glance, and I send her a smirk, trying to not let her get to me. I've been trying not to hit her every time I see her, and have been trying to avoid thinking of my dead pet.

But sometimes it's really hard.

Fury claps his hands together, signaling that the meeting is over and him, Hill, and Sharon get up to leave. The rest of us wait patiently as Steve sorts through some papers in front of him.

"Alright, team one is Tony, Sam, Wanda, and myself. Team two is Peter, Nat, Thor, and Bruce."

"Um, wait a minute." I start, sitting up in my chair. "I think you forgot someone."

I give him a 'what the fuck' kind of face.

"Uh what about me?"

My gaze flicks over to James as I realize that his name wasn't called either.

Steve purses his lips and glances between us.

"Okay...this is where the rest of us leave." I roll my eyes as Tony tries to get everyone to exit the room.

Bucky and I stay seated, glaring at our blonde friend, while the rest of the team trickle out.

"What the fuck, dude?" I say as the door closes.

"Look," He holds out his hands to us. "it's not my choice. SHIELD thinks that both of you are liabilities."

My mouth drops open and I glance at James.

"Liabilities? How am I a liability?"

"Because you're powerful. Fury and Maria think that Hydra will go after you, and that will distract from the mission at hand."

I just blink at him, a little shocked. "You do know, that everything would go a lot faster if you let me help. You know that right?"

Steve nods and lets out a breath. "It's out of my control." He turns towards James. "They just want everything to die down a little, before you two get involved with anything Hydra related."

"The stuff inside me...it's gone Steve." Bucky says in a small voice.

"I know, Buck. It's out of my hands."

I grit my teeth and look away. "Whatever. You know that this is bullshit."

I get up and head towards the door. This isn't fair, we both got cleared. So why can't we do anything?

I get Bucky's predicament, but mine doesn't make sense. I can take care of myself.

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️

"It's just not fair!" I fling another ball of fire at the target in the distance. "Everyone else gets to go, and we don't."

Wanda's expression turns sympathetic as I look over at her. Red mist surrounds her legs as she aims her balls of energy towards the other targets.

I pause and reign in the fire. "Like seriously? If we're being real, I could kill all of them in a second." Wanda sends me a look and I roll my eyes. "I wouldn't. But you get what I'm saying."

"I do. And it sucks." The redhead frowns slightly as she takes me in.

My tank top clings to my sticky skin, and my white hair hangs over my shoulder in a braid.

"I just—what the hell am I supposed to do?" I throw my hands up as I speak.

The rest of the training room is empty, us having assigned times to be in there for more specific skill set training.

"Just keep showing them how much of a badass you are."

I huff out a breath. "Yeah, a badass who has a breakdown every other day."

I turn my gaze towards the targets in the distance, picturing Sharon's face on each one. Taking a deep breath I fling my hand towards the targets and watch as a large ice spike forms and impales the target smack in the center.

As the other targets move, I flick my hands back and forth, watching the icicles meet their mark. When I'm finished, I turn towards Wanda and let her have a turn.

Today was a training day, and tomorrow's the mission. James and I are expected to wait...and see what happens.

I grab some water as I watch Wanda practice her aim, we really need a bigger area to train, preferably outside, as it's hard to use telekinesis in here.

I turn around to see Peter and Sam walk in to the training room, that must mean our time's up. Wanda finishes once she sees the two boys, and we send them smiles before going to the locker room.

We both shower and get changed, before leaving the room and walking back out into the training area.

I pause and watch as Peter works with a punching bag, his muscles flexing during each hit. He looks like a man...not even a boy anymore.

Okay, that was a stretch.

But he's grown so much compared to the scrawny boy that gave me a tour of Midtown back in my sophomore year.

I turn to Wanda a slight smile on my face, rolling my eyes as I see her smirking at me. I throw an arm around her and together we leave the training room, and go to help plan their mission.