till the end of the line

32 Assemble

"Come on, Kat."

Still feeling weak, I then raised my brow at Tony's voice, "Is Kitty alright there?"

Growling lightly, I sat up and turned towards the voice, "Don't call me that."

He chuckled and shook his head as I rubbed my forehead before turning to Steve who sat beside me, I smiled softly and chuckled myself, "You came back for me."

Helping me stand up, we soon arrived back at the main ship when he nodded and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, "You're stuck with me until the end of the line."

Sighing, I nodded, agreeing, "Till the end of the line."

Getting on the main ship, I sighed as I saw everyone else before feeling two small arms wrap around my leg.

Steve took his arm from around me as I knelt down and picked up the little girl, "Nick, do we have any information on her parents?"

"Identified, but Katerina, they're both gone."

I nodded and exhaled as I looked back at Angelina, "So she needs a home?"

"Certainly, no relative family members. We'll have her put into the system-"

"No!" I leaped forward slightly as Angelina wrapped her arms around my neck. I let out a nervous laugh as they all gave me looks before I smiled, "I'll take her."

Steve looked at me and gave me a questioning look as the little girl smiled, "You're going to take her?"

"Steve, I've always wanted a kid, besides, you know I can't have any of my own. And even then, I don't think I'll ever find that kind of love again."

"Hey, hey. We'll find him."

"But he won't remember me, Steve, he barely remembers us. But it's okay. I'll still look for him and I won't give up. It just means I'll work twice as hard with Angelina here."

"If you're sure."

"I am."

Steve gave me a serious look before then dropping it as a child-like smile etched across his face, "Well, then Uncle Steve wants to hold little Lina."

I laughed and nodded as he put his shield down before I handed her to him.

Natasha then walked up to me as she sighed, "I heard about what Vision said. About the accident."

I lowered my eyes and sighed, "Oh.."

Natasha shook her head and gave me a solemn look, "I had no idea."

"What?"

"I didn't know HYDRA got to you. They must've been after someone if they need to use you the way they did."

I nodded as I lowered my gaze before she placed her hand on my shoulder, "Hamilton County was where I grew up, well, for a few years. But, I don't blame you. It's okay. As Vision said, it wasn't you."

I let out a soft breath I didn't know I was holding before she gave me a hug. We shared the embrace before we returned to the group's conversation.

The entire flight home was debriefing and everyone meeting Angelina. She had taken a liking to Steve, Thor, and Natasha the most.

And once we landed, the team was relocated to the new Avengers Compound. There was a room for everyone and I quickly had another bed put in mine.

~

After settling in, I had brought Angelina to the room, and almost instantly, Angelina fell asleep as I closed the door soon walking towards, Steve, Thor, and Tony in the hallway.

"A machine."

"So it doesn't count."

Tony shook his head and then nodded, "No. It's not like a person lifting the hammer."

"Right. Different rules for us."

I cocked my head and smirked as I stopped in front of them, crossing my arms, "I lifted the hammer."

They stopped and looked at me before Tony shook his head and continued, "Nice guy, but artificial."

"Thank you."

I raised my brow, "Really, Steve?"

"That aside... If he can wield the hammer, he can keep the Mind Stone. It's safe with the Vision and these days, safe is in short supply."

Thor stood still as he held a serious face before Steve starting joking around again.

"But if you put the hammer in an elevator-"

Tony nodded continuing after Steve, "It would still go up."

"Elevator's not worthy."

Thor sighed and looked at me, "I'm going to miss these little talks of ours."

"Well, not if you don't leave."

"I have no choice. The Mind Stone is the fourth of the Infinity Stones to show up in the last few years. That's not a coincidence. Someone has been playing an intricate game and has made pawns of us. But once all these pieces are in position-"

"Triple Yahtzee?"

Ignoring Tony, I opened the door as Steve sighed before they walked out, "You think you can find out what's coming?

"I do. Besides this one, there's nothing that can't be explained."

Thor turned to us and smiled as he swung his hammer, soon disappearing leaving an Asgardian mark embedded in the grass as Tony only groaned.

"That man has no regard for lawn maintenance. I'm gonna miss him though. And you're gonna miss me. There's gonna be a lot of manful tears. Of course, none from you Katerina."

I nodded and folded my arms behind me as Steve sighed, "I will miss you, Tony."

"Yeah? Well, it's time for me to tap out. Maybe I should take a page out of Barton's book and build Pepper a farm, hope nobody blows it up."

"The simple life."

"You'll get there one day."

"I don't know, family, stability. The guy who wanted all that went in the ice seventy-five years ago. I think someone else came out."

Tony nodded and got into his car before sticking his head out the window, "You alright?"

"I'm home. Besides, I have Kat and now little Angelina. I'm her favorite and I should be here to spoil her."

Tony nodded and gave us a wave as he then took off before Steve turned and faced me, "You're her favorite?"

"Yes, of course."

I laughed and grabbed his shoulder before jumping up. I sat on his shoulders and messed up his hair as he brought me back inside, "I think so too, Steve. I mean you're my favorite out of the Avengers."

"Yeah, you too."

I smiled and he let me down as I walked down the hall towards the new recruits as Steve left to find Natasha.

Closing the door before me, I gathered the new help as I waited for the other two to arrive.

Soon I turned around as I heard Natasha, "Let's beat 'em into shape. Nice seeing you, Kat. Has Lina said anything about me?"

"No, she fell asleep. And besides, apparently, Steve's her fave. Of course, that's according to Steve."

Steve rolled his eyes as Natasha looked at me from behind him, pointing to herself as she whispered, "It's me."

I chuckled before we stood up tall facing the newbies.

Rhodey stood in his War Machine suit, as Vision walked up. Sam was in his Falcon suit, and Wanda had gotten a new outfit, a nice leather jacket.

I looked up at Steve as he smiled and then turned back.

"Avengers assemble!"