Cornelia Street - Avengers

Can You Hear Them?

"Avenge and Defeat. You don't know the half of the abuse."

Sokovia, 2017

(Heathens, Twenty One Pilots)

...

"All set guys?" Tony called to the team from the pilot's seat up ahead. There was collective agreement from them all as they all took their seats and buckled into the jet. Lucia sat next to Nat, knowing she always calmed her nerves, regardless of the circumstances.

Her sister counted her weapons, mentally keeping track of the guns and knives strapped to her and her holster. Her pre-mission rituals always mirrored Lucia's, their double-checking and endless tracking of weapons in preparation, were like second nature to all widows. 

Within seconds, the jet was airborne, but it only took an hour for her to grow restless. It had been months since her last mission, let alone a mission with the team altogether, and her skin began to grow cold as they reached a higher altitude in the sky.

Her nerves bit at her heels, as she clamped her hands together and shut her eyes. She could hear his voice in her head, affirming and strong.

'Remember when you punch, even out your weight between your legs. Lower your shoulders, and cover your neck and face. Never take your eyes off your opponent. Not under any circumstance.'

"Hey," Nat said softly to her sister beside her, lightly placing a hand on her shoulder, as she stole her away from her daydream.

"Yeah?" She said, turning to look back at her sister who toyed with the end of her auburn braid. Her hair had changed, yet again, since returning home. Growing lighter, losing its Autumn touch. Almost like it had turned into Winter, now that she had lost her own.

"You know you don't have anything to prove to us, now that you're back home."

She cocked her head to the side, leaning back against the chair. "I know that I just-"

"I can read you like a book; I can tell exactly when you're overthinking. So, stop," Natasha said, giving her a knowing smile. She could feel the nerves begin to deflate from her body as she finally took note of the jet's gentle silence.

"I'm more overwhelmed than I thought I'd be." She then picked non-existent lint from the black leather of her suit.

"But if there's anything that you're good at, it's adapting to stressful situations. You've done it your whole life, and your drive is something that can't be taught." With a sisterly shake of her shoulder, Natasha told her firmly to relax, and the pair both looked out the front windows of the jet as they sped over the ocean. 

The blue was endless, stretching over for miles upon miles. The sight calmed her, the ripples of the violent and unpredictable sea sent her into a calm trance, one which she welcomed gladly.

Everyone was in their own headspace as the minutes endlessly passed, Clint napped with his head on Nat's lap as she checked over her bullets while Steve went through mission files. She chose to stand at the front of the jet, admiring the view and terrain below with gentle breaths, calming her mind in order to calm her body.

It was a division of skillsets, and their group was going to infiltrate from above and work their way down to the Rendezvous point. Steve appeared behind her, handing her the building's schematics on a small hologram SHIELD tablet. 

Her finger slid across the screen, identifying the markings of specific rooms, before the Captain moved over beside Clint, tapping his shoulder to wake him up as Natasha moved to slap Thor's bicep to wake him up, from his own daydreaming. Like she said, they hadn't been a team in a while.