Not a Hero

(11) Strawberry Lemonade

Huge thanks to @Sassy_Classy_Girl for helping me with this~

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Dreams never made much sense to me. It doesn't seem possible that the human mind could conjure such stories without even being awake, that it could construct entire worlds without even trying. But the nightmares? They were so much worse.

The nightmares were the reason I lie awake. I knew that if I slept, I'd only be greeted by their imposing presence. So, rather than be haunted by dreams of the family I had left behind, I decided I might as well attempt to make up with my new one.

The problem was: I wasn't exactly sure how to. Whenever my brothers and I fought, it typically ended with one of us doing the others' chores or making them food. But I was pretty sure Peter would be freaked out if I showed up to help him with chores, so I settled for the food option.

This choice presented a new problem. I didn't know how to cook. The premise seemed fairly straightforward, though, I highly doubted we had anything to cook with.

Whenever dinner came around we always had either ordered takeout or went somewhere to eat. Vision was the only person I could ever remember see using the kitchen, and his paprikash had long since run out.

I sighed heavily to myself, running a hand through my tangled hair. I left the kitchen after closing every cabinet in a failed attempt to find something that could be made into a meal. I decided to get changed and redirect my search to a store.

~ ~ ~

A pair of boots and a yellow hoodie later, and I was browsing the aisles looking for the cake mixes, as well as the vegetable oil and other ingredients needed. I stalled in front of the flavors, debating between a lemon or strawberry flavor. Peter seemed like the kind of person who liked the stronger flavors. Giving up, I grabbed both and made my way to check out.

I knew it was almost 4 am, but the emptiness of the store did nothing to settle the uneasy feeling in my head. My heeled boots clicked heavily as I wandered to checkout. The store was surprisingly cold despite it still being summer. The store was so quiet I could hear the AC laboring away.

Once there, I began unloading things onto the conveyor belt, listening as the clerk scanned each item. The silence left a thick air until the clerk spoke up. "Did you find everything okay?"

I stalled at his voice, placing a familiarity to it, I'd definitely heard that voice before but I didn't know where. I hummed a yes while taking out the card Stark had given me. I thought back, trying to remember the voice when it hit me: he was one of the AIM people who I'd fought momentarily.

I held my breath the rest of the transaction, shaking slightly as I paid. As I left the store with my things I heard Stark's voice in the back of my head, telling me to leave it alone. I knew it was what I should do, after all, if Stark found out he'd have my head.

I stopped walking for a moment as a curious thought popped into my head. 'If' Stark found out. There was a very heavy 'if' there. But, Stark didn't have to know. I could easily follow the employee to the base, sneak inside and find out what they're planning then shut it down. I would be in and out before Stark even had a chance to suspect anything. Then after I prove I can handle myself, Stark will start giving me missions!

I hummed contently on my way back to the tower, eager to begin the self-given mission. Still, before I started I had to make up with my partner in crime. Which seemed easier said than done, seeing as how we hadn't spoken since the break-in. But I had a plan, granted it was a poorly thought out plan but it works for now.