The Recruits

Chapter 2 - Why me?

I don't know for how long I've been staring at him. It could've been seconds but it also could've been hours. I didn't know. My expression was blank and so was my mind. I must've misunderstood. He couldn't have said what I thought he said, right? I'm not a hero, I don't belong in this Academy. I'm just plain, average Ashtyn. That's all I am and not more.

After another five minutes of me staring at him, with him not saying anything, I cleared my throat awkwardly. "I'm sorry? You must have the wrong girl." I told him, my voice shaking. He just looked at me, with a disapproving expression on his face. "Trust me, miss Andrews. If it was up to me, you wouldn't be recruited but fortunately for you, it's not up to me." He explained in a stern voice. "Am I allowed to decline?" I asked, getting desperate to get out of this conversation. He chuckled humorlessly and shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Miss Andrews." He told me. "You have to understand that once we pick somebody, there's no way out. You have to come with me so you can commence your training." It sounded almost like a threat. This man scared me. "So let me get this straight. You're basically forcing me to risk my life for people I don't even know?" I asked him with a frown on my face. "Being a part of this academy is an honor, miss Andrews." He said, his voice dangerously low. "Being a part of this academy is a death sentence." I fired back, the frustration evident in my voice. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You will come with me, Miss Andrews, whether you like it or not." He said. "And what if I refuse?" I asked him, obviously testing my limits, but I didn't care right now. I didn't wanna go with this man. "As you wish." He simply said, before he stepped closer to me. There was something in his hand, but before I could realize what it was, I felt a sharp pain going through my body just before my world went black.

I let out a groan as I tried to move, but I couldn't. I slowly opened my eyes, flinching at the unknown environment. Where was I? After a few minutes of looking around, I finally remembered what happened. Agent Carter. The Avengers Academy. I groaned in frustration and tried to move again, but it was no use. I then realized that I was strapped to the bed. Are they serious? They're treating me like I'm a criminal. "Hello? Anybody there?" I called out, hoping somebody could hear me. A woman came into my room and I sighed in relief. "Ah I've seen you've woken up, Miss Andrews. How do you feel?" She said politely with a soft smile on her face. "Like I've slept for a week." I joked with a weak chuckle. "Well, you did sleep that long actually." She told me and I almost choked on my own spit. "I've been out for a week?" I asked breathlessly. "Yes. Agent Carter really knocked you out." She chuckled. Is she seriously laughing at my pain? What the fuck? "And everybody's okay with that?" I asked her with a frown on my face. She shrugged her shoulders before answering my question. "It wouldn't be the first time something like this happened." She told me casually, as if it wasn't a big deal. I just sat there for a few seconds, completely shocked by her statement.

After a few more seconds of silence, I snapped out of it and turned my attention back to the nurse. "Could you please unstrap me? I really wanna be able to move again. Why did you restrict me in the first place?" I asked her, a little bit of anger lacing my voice. "We didn't want you to run away." She responded absentmindedly. "I wouldn't have been able to run away either way since that asshole knocked me out." I grumbled. "Everybody knows that Agent Carter is not a very nice or polite person, but that doesn't justify you calling him an asshole." She lectured me and I let out a sigh in defeat. The nurse stepped closer to me and unbuckled my straps. I immediately sat up and stretched my sore muscles. These beds are very uncomfortable. "Your vitals look fine so you're discharged." She told me, just before a woman, or should I say girl, entered the room. "Miss Stark will accompany you and show you around." She told me as she pointed to the girl that just entered the room. "Hi, I'm Hallie. I'll be your tour guide for the next few days." The brunette said, with a huge grin plastered on her face. I looked her up and down with a frown on my face, before nodding my head slowly.

I stood up from the bed and walked over to Hallie, who still had a smile on her face and was jumping up and down with excitement. "It's nice to meet you Hayley." I said with a small smile. "Oh it's Hallie, not Hayley." She corrected, still smiling. Apparently she wasn't offended by me not getting her name right. I apologized quietly before she led me out of the hospital and into a huge yard. As I looked around I could see a lot of people, mostly yound adults, training. I stopped walking so I could watch them a little more closely. The training looked intense and I couldn't help but gulp. I knew where I was. This was the Avengers Academy and soon I would be training here soon. I shook me head before I started walking again and tried to catch up with Hallie. I cleared my throat awkwardly before adressing her. "So how long have you been here?" I asked her as casually as possible. "My whole life." She responded, which caused me to frown. "What?" I asked her before I could stop myself. "In case you haven't noticed yet by my last name but I'm Tony Starks daughter. I've been growing up with all of this." She told me. Holy crap! I should've known that. "You're Iron Man's daughter?" I asked in disbelief as we walked towards what looked like a cafeteria. "Yup I am." She said, a slight smirk on her lips. I couldn't help but smile at that little arrogance that she was showing. Yeah, she was indeed Tony Starks daugther.

As we walked into the building I could see what this please really was. I was right, it's a cafeteria. I guess it's time to eat. "Lunch usually starts at 12:00, so you haven't missed much yet. After lunch you have to go back to the yard we just crossed and report to unit 732. If you have any questions just ask me okay?" She said with a smile before she skipped off into the cafeteria. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself before I went after her to get some food. I decided on spaghetti with meatballs. At least they have decent food here. As I walked through the room, looking for a table, I saw a familiar blonde sitting at one of the tables. Sydney. Right next to her was an also very familiar ginger boy. Benji. I couldn't believe my eyes. Sydney's been recruited too? Is that why she's been so acting weird?

I shook those thoughts off and walked over to her. I hesitated before tapping her on the shoulder. She turned around and her eyes went wide. "Ash." She breathed out before she got out of her seat and gave me a hug. Well, as best as she could with my tray in hands. I pulled back from the hug and looked at her with curious eyes. "Sydney. What are you doing here?" I asked her. "I was recruited too." She admitted shyly. "And so was Benji." She added after my eyes shifted to her little brother questionly. "Hey Ash." Benji said with his mouth full as he gave me a little wave. I just nodded in greeting before turning my attention back to Sydney. "Why haven't you said anything?" I asked her. "Well you were out for a week and I wasn't allowed to tell you anything before." She shrugged. "You were trying to tell me in the car weren't you?" It came out more like a statement than a question. She just nodded her head and bit her lip. I decided to drop the subject and sat down beside her, before starting to eat.

Sydney kept shooting me glanced during my meal, with a guilty expression on her face. "I'm really sorry you know?" She said to me, her voice almost breaking. I sighed and looked over at her. "Don't worry about it. I'm not mad at you." I told her as I gave her a soft smile. She smiled back at me before returning to her food. After lunch it was time for me to report to my unit. Turns out Sydney, Benji and I are in the same one, which I was actually very excited about. We stood in line as we waited for further instructions.

"Unit 732. My name is James W. Link. I'll be the head of this unit. Which means, that you will come to me with whatever concern or problem you have. I will be responsible for whatever this unit, which means every single one of you does. Don't disappoint me." The man in front of us said in a stern voice. "Now, may I introduce you to your instructors. Mister Tony Stark, will teach you everything you need to know about technical devices." Tony Stark walked towards our unit as we cheered for him. I've never seen a superhero this close and it's kinda exciting. "Next, Mister Steve Rogers. He will teach you about strategy and survival." He announced as THE Captain America was walking towards us. I heard Sydney squeal beside me. "Isn't he super hot?" She asked me with a huge smile on her face as she cheered for him. "And last but not least, Mister Tristan Harper. He will be your teacher for combat." Tristan Harper? Who the fuck was that? I looked over at Sydney and she looked just as confused as I was. As Tristan walked towards us I couldn't help but feel like I know who he is. But in reality, I didn't. All I knew is that this guy, was the most handsome man that I've ever laid my eyes on.