R͟u͟t͟h͟l͟e͟s͟s͟ {Q͟u͟i͟c͟k͟s͟i͟l͟v͟e͟r͟/ A͟v͟e͟n͟g͟e͟r͟s͟}

Chapter 33: Missions, Dying, Etc.

"I'm glad you're staying!" A little boy ran up to me and hugged my legs. I smiled nicely, but on the inside I was worried. Everybody here wanted to talk to me, and I had to be upstairs in literally 60 seconds for my first war meeting. I don't think being late would be a good first impression.

"Thank you!" I said, ruffling his hair excitedly. "I'm glad you were here for me,"

"You're awesome," He grinned, looking up to me, "And you're really pretty, too."

I blushed. "Aww, thanks. You're cute," I smiled at him honestly, "But, I have to go now to a big meeting."

The boy frowned, but he shuffled his feet and said, "Okay..."

"Thanks," I said again, immediately uncomfortable. He was so adorable! I wish I had more time to talk to him. I sprinted across the room.

"'Scuse me," I said, pushing gently through the crowd, finally reaching the thin metal stairwell and climbing it to the top. I burst through the door, a little out of breath. The entire room looked at me.

I winced. "Sorry," I said, sitting down on one of the blankets on the floor. The Avengers, seven other men, and a couple women here and there sat around on the ground. Everybody was looking at me, almost inspecting me. I automatically could tell that most of the people here disliked me, by the way the corners of their mouths were flipped down, or how they leaned back with a discontented look growing the longer they looked at me.

"Ms. Strong," One of the women said coolly, "You may have convinced the rest of the less educated Invulnerables you mean no harm, but you still have yet to prove yourself to us." She folded her arms and analyzed me swiftly. I felt like hiding underneath the table. "So far, you've been of no help, and throughout history, the most powerful are the ones who become corrupt and take advantage of those who are... Not as fortunate."

I bit my lip. I thought we were done with this? I felt Steve tense next to me, but he said nothing, thankfully. I didn't need them to have anything against me. "That's nice," I said, holding back some other things I would've preferred to say. Why couldn't these people just trust me?

There was a tension in the room that made me feel like shrinking into my seat. These people all probably held higher positions, had more knowledge, than I could ever dream of possessing. I swallowed and straightened up in my seat as Steve said, "Alright, so can I brief Strong?" It was weird to have him asking permission.

"Have at it," One man said from across the room. Sitting next to him was the man who'd opposed me during the trial. I narrowed my eyes at him, as Steve looked at me.

"We're sending our third espionage group out tomorrow," Steve began, "To confirm Wanda's location in Wakanda, and to see her defenses so far. They'll be out there until Wednesday of next week, continuing to communicate with us. We're hoping to get in a mole or two, as well, in order to get more inside information than just outside artillery sightings. On Wednesday, if all goes as planned, we have one S.H.I.E.L.D. jet, but it only holds 100 passengers at a time, if we squeeze in. Not to mention, we're still in need of weapons for individuals. We do have a couple of small drone planes that Dr. Eastwood built and designed from our limited materials, "He said, gesturing at the same man from earlier today. So, that's what his name was. "He and Tony had the biggest two weapons companies-"

"Have," Tony and Dr. Eastwood said at the same time. They glared at each other pointedly. I smiled. At least somebody hated him as much as me.

"Well, anyway, we're using them to attack Wanda, she can't possess machines." Steve finished.

"How do I fit in?" I asked uncertainly.

"Well," Another man from across the room said, "We were thinking about sending you in next of the espionage groups. Maybe, with your powers, you could lower security before our army-"