The obliviates | An MCU fanfic

9: A new home

A guy lights his smoke in an alley. He looks at the thing, considering the risks that will follow. He's been off of it for months now. To hell with it, work has been stressfull and the kids were up all night. He stops the cigarette in front of his mouth. Then again... The guy tosses the cigarette and walks away. The cigarette gets caught mid air. Blake drops his hand and inspects the cigarette. Untouched and still lit. He takes a content breath and walks away.

Markus, Evine, Yeona, Akina and Sergio exit the concert building. Blake is waiting near the entrance, wearing sunglasses while reading a paper.
"Don't tell me how it was, I know", Blake says as the group walks over to him. "You're a little different though", he looks at Sergio.
"I'm uncertain wether or not I enjoy things, but I feel inspired to build bluetooth devices into my suit", he responds without looking up from whatever he is scribbling down.
"You seemed to enjoy it as well Evine", Yeona notes.
"Music is the one thing that reaches everyone, and lasts forever. Oh and food too", she speaks relaxed.
"Good. No need to ask those two", she looks at Markus and Akina.
"I've never been to a concert before. Sirenwave speaks to everyone, though it was a bit loud", Akina says.
"You gotta drop those books more, you should come to one of my basketball games. Much more entertaining than this mainstream music", Markus says.
"I'll consider it", she giggles.
"She'll probably end up reading there anyway", Yeona slaps Akina on her back.
"No need to expose my plan...", she says disappointed. The two giggle. "So what were you reading Blake?"
"Apparently a new female hero showed up in Australia", he says with smoke coming out of his mouth.
"We should go after her, see if she wants to join. We can't let the boys outnumber this group", Yeona suggests. Evine and Akina nod.
"Sounds dope, but we gotta deal with the Ascended first", Markus points out.
He reaches his hand to his pocket. "Steve's calling me." He picks up: "hey, did you find anything?"
"<I found us a home>", Steve replies as a surprise to everyone. "<I tried calling Sergio, he normally picks up immediately.>"
"Sergio is... What's a fancy word? Indisposed, at the moment", Markus winks, making Akina chuckle. "What do you mean you found us a home?"
"<I sent you guys the adress, come over and check it out yourselves>", he finishes before hanging up.
"He's much more mysterious than I've heard", Evine says arms crossed.
"To be fair, we can't stay in the hotel forever", Yeona mentions.
"You're staying at a hotel. The rest of us are hopping motels and b&b's", Blake points out.
Yeona rolls her eyes. "Either way, we can't let Steve stay at the headquarters, that place is filthy and smells like boys."
"Let's head over then", Sergio enthousiastically announces after putting away his notes. He pulls on his suspenders and steps forward. "I turned the navigation on, it's exactly 43 minutes from here."
"Can't we take a taxi? An uber? A lift", Yeona begs.
"Let's just start walking", Evine gently pushes her along.
Markus paces a little behind the group. Akina notices and slows down to catch up with him.
"What's on your mind", she asks him.
"It just bothers me that we're not making any progress. They took me hostage and they hurt people, yet we're going to look at houses", Markus mumbles.
"I wish we could've stopped their plans already, but there's nothing we can do until we know their next step", Akina says calmly.
"Then why didn't we stop them at the headquarters?"
"Steve didn't want us to get hurt. That's what I think at least. He only really talks to us during missions and the training ground", Akina notes.
"He only talks to Kelvin. I don't know why we need him at this point", Markus complains.
"Those two do have a special connection...", she says with an implying tone. "Steve put us together, he's kind of our leader."
"I never voted for him. I was more of an Iron Man guy", his face lights up a bit.
"Really?"
"What's wrong with that? Is it because he's rich", Markus says offended.
"No, not at all. I just thought you'd prefer Captain's practical approach", she puts her arms behind her back.
"Who's your inspiration then", Markus asks.
"Not exactly the same skillset, but I think Black Panther is incredible. He's an icon. Good looking too", she tells him dreamy.
"I'm good looking too", he winks at her. She rolls her eyes, blushing a little. "Besides, I do what he does plus way more. Except that I'm not leading an army."
"Is that your ambition", she looks surprised. "To lead our group?"
"It's not that I desire it per se, but someone should take charge", he responds.
Akina looks lost in thought. "I hope we don't lose Captain America just yet..."
The group keeps walking until they reach a large, nice looking house.

"The garden is huge", Akina notes.
"The WiFi seems decent, but I'll improve our connection just to be sure", Sergio inspects.
"So we're all gonna live together in this house in Germany", Evine wonders.
"Does this mean I have to clean my own room", Yeona complains.
The group ecstatically checks out the house. Markus finds Blake staring out the window in a room upstairs.
"You're not gonna betray us are you", Markus jokes.
Blake grins for a short moment. "There's more rooms than we have people. Maybe we can convince some of the others to come to our side as well."
"You mean from the Ascended right", Markus walks in closer.
"They've all got their backstories. Lived rough lives, looking for family and purpose. A place to belong. They're not suited for the battlefield, not all of them. They're decent people."
"We should remove the thorn that keeps them together then, we need to stop Warlock", Markus says.
"I don't care what happens to him. Maybe we can convince Sorune, Black Ice, the others are just a coin toss. I'm not gonna manipulate them into it. As for the new guy, I'm not even sure he got recruited or just randomly came along", Blake tells him.
"What is it that makes Warlock so captivating", Markus asks arriving next to Blake.
"I believed him because of his honesty. The world really was different during the blip. We felt abandoned by our protectors. But people didn't value our powers as useful, so after rejection and rejection he grew spiteful. Then the Avengers returned and received full praise", Blake explains.
"That must've struck a nerve with him", Markus surmises. Blake nods at him.
"I grew up on the streets, but with my powers I learned that bad in good people and good in bad people. I know Sorune has had it rough too, pretty sure she lost multiple families. We found a new one in the Cunningham's. Geoff took over their estate during the blip. But of course they came back. We started having our doubts when the count and countess stopped making appearances...", Blake continues.
"Jesus Christ man", is all Markus can make out.
"There's very little good left in Geoff. But as I've shown off the other day, there's still pure emotion in there deep down."
"Do you think he should be spared", Markus asks.
"I'm not the God that judges people's mistakes", is all Blake says before walking to the door. "I hope they didn't harm you during your stay", he says finally.
Markus quietly shakes his head. "They make really good food though."
Blake nods in agreement, then leaves the room. Markus looks around the room, then looks back out the window. He takes a deep breath to take it all in. He ends with a long sigh and heads out to find Steve.