Project Raven

Paper

Harley's POV

My large black wings caught me midair. I looked out over the skyline of Manhattan and tears bubbled up in my eyes. My wings treaded air and I flew down to the streets. I was on the edge of the city. I ungracefully hit the ground, stumbling and slipping. I broke into a run and knocked over a newspaper stand. Papers went flying, and I grabbed one. I hollered back as I continued running, "Sorry!", slowing after a while. I was around the middle of the city and my bare feet ached. I took a look at the paper. The headline read, 'Avengers salvage S.H.I.E.L.D. agency'. I paused, reading the article. I heard some people talking around me and tucked my wings in, with a lot of difficulty. I was standing in the middle of townsquare. Cars whirled around me, whipping my hair across the wind. I pulled it out of my face. The newspaper flew away, and I with it.

~

I soared through the air, landing on the Stark Tower. I climbed down to the balcony and looked out over the city. "What are you doing us there, Miss?" I heard someone ask behind me. I turned around to see a blonde man. "Oh, sorry. I guessed it would be safe up here. The city has changed so much.." My voice trailed off. He climbed up beside me. "I've had the same feelings. How did you get up here?" He asked. I opened my mouth to answer, but my foot slipped. I fell from the balcony and he held out his hand to catch me. I missed it and fell. Then, with a loud woosh, my wings yanked me out of my freefall. I yelled when they caught the wind, forcing them up. I beat them against the cold air and landed beside the man. "These. What happened to you?" He laughed. "First, I got into an experiment. Then, I defeated another experiment. And of course, got trapped in ice for seventy years. How about you?" I peered at some birds. "My parents died when I was little. Four years ago, a man posing as a cop abducted me. I've just escaped from a facility for experimenting." He looked at me. "Are there others that escaped?" A single tear dripped from my face as I glanced back at him. "No. The other forty nine died in the first two years. I'm the only one left." He nodded in sympathy. We just stood there for a moment as the sun slowly rose. "So," I started. "What's your name?" I asked. He looked over at me. "Steve. Yours?" I laughed. "Harley. Though, the Labcoats called me 'The Raven' usually. It makes sense." I groaned as I moved my shoulder. He noticed, silently voicing his concern. "It's nothing. They just did another procedure, and one of the needles poked the spot where they shot me a few years ago." He looked at the horizon. "What did they do? And how did they give you wings? I assume you weren't born with them." I rolled my shoulders and answered. "They put me in this casket shaped container, poked me, and then burnt me. And they started graphing the wings on after the forty nineth person died." He had a look of realisation. "Wait, they did what? God, if they've recreated the syrum.. We're all in for hell. Did it, by chance, make you stronger? Or taller?" I nodded. He put his hand on his face. "Come on. We should get inside." He directed me indoors. He poured some dark liquid into two mugs and gave me one of them. We sat down on a couch and I took a sip. "Woah, what is this? It's bitter, but good." He laughed. "Coffee. It's changed a lot since 1942, that's for sure." I smiled. "I can barely remember my parents telling me it was for grownups. And, they don't exactly give lab rats and homeless orphans gourmet coffee." We both laughed. A red haired woman yawned and stumbled in. It took her a moment to notice us. "Steve, did you go out and pick another poor girl on the street?" She asked in a tired voice. He blushes. "No. She was standing on the balcony, I swear." She laughed and got some coffee, sitting across from us. "What really happened?" She asked me. "He isn't lying. I flew." She looked confused until I slightly expanded my wings. She took a sip of her coffee. "You people never cease to amaze me. I really need to get used to it." She smiled. "So, what's this poor girl's name?" She asked kindly. "Harley. What's yours?" I responded. "Natasha. Nice to meet you." She took my hand and shook it. I made the slightest wince at the movement, but she notice and let go. "And now's the time you explain yourselves." We explained as other people walked in. First, a girl around my age with brown hair. Then, a guy with shirt dark hair. Out of the blue, a red and black man emerged. "Woah." I said under my breath. They all had food and ended up sitting down with us. We explained what had happened to me, and ended up with an interesting conversation. I learned that the brunette was Wanda, the guy with shirt hair was Sam and the red one was Vision. "Humans are the most beautiful and disturbing creatures I know of." Vision pitched in. Sam seemed both excited and jealous. "Another bird person!" He exclaimed. Natasha explained that they were each super heroes. Wanda was scarlet with with mind powers and dark magic, Sam, aka Falcon, had a suit with wings, and Vision, well, was called Vision and could float and do weird stuff. Wanda spoke up in a thick accent. "We need to take down this facility. Serum or not, they're killing people in experiments." Everyone nodded in agreement. "Harley, can you lead us to it?" Steve asked. I nodded.

~

I took off, hovering a few feet off the ground. My wings beat swiftly, deftly keeping me off the ground. Steve got on his motorcycle while Wanda and Natasha got in a sports car. Vision flew with me, and we were off. It took me a minute to remember my path. After a while, we made it to the cliff. It took around fourty minutes because we had to stop and wait for the ground team oftentimes. Vision and I could have made the journey in fifteen. We gained altitude and I put my feet in the cushion of grass on top of the cliff. It took a minute for the team to assemble at the top. "I can help you take them down. I'm strong." Steve gave me a look that silently asked me if I were up to it. I met his gaze with a look of determination.

I kicked down the door.