Destruction (Retaliation Book 1) [Avengers Fan-fic] [COMPLETED]

Chapter 1

Lexi

‘Lex?’ Johnny called quietly. I sniffled, and took a deep breath, wiping furiously at my eyes, before humming a reply.

Johnny came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. He held me close, his body as warm as a hot water bottle.

‘Talk to me, Lex.’ He said softly, as more of a suggestion than anything else. I sighed, leaning back against him, as his arms wrapped around me tighter.

‘I just…’ I huffed, looking out the window of Baxter Towers, as New York was enveloped in the golden light of the sunset.

‘I just wish that we knew. I mean, really knew. I mean… I’ve accepted that she’s gone, I have… but…’ I trailed off sighing.

‘But there’s still a part of you that hopes that she isn’t and that she’ll find her way back?’ he asked gently. I bit my lip, as tears welled in my eyes, and I nodded.

‘Why is this so hard to accept?’ I asked him in a whisper, and his arms tightened around me. ‘I mean…’ I sighed, and gulped. ‘It’s been almost a year, and yet…’ I sighed heavily, closing my eyes.

‘And it feels like everyone else has magically found a way to deal with it. Steve throws himself into his work, so do Clint and Nat. Tony’s started researching new ways to make new elements to put in his arc reactor. Bruce has been working on getting the Hulk fully under control. You have all your work, Sue and Reed are building that… whatever it is. Ben is… well I don’t know what he’s doing, but he’s dealing. And all I have is you and this recruiting that Nick has me doing. But… I feel… I feel like I have too much time to…’ I trailed off and sighed. Johnny kissed my cheek softly as I stared out the window.

‘Too much time to what?’ he asked quietly, and I sighed, turning around in his arms, looking up at him through bleary eyes.

‘Think?’ I offered with a shrug, and blinked, sending little teardrops racing down my cheeks. Johnny put his hands on either side of my face, and wiped away the tears.

‘Everything is going to be fine, Lexi. We can get through this. Sam wouldn’t have wanted us to spend our time grieving.’ Johnny said softly. I nodded, sniffing, and straightiening up.

‘I know. She would want us to do our jobs.’ I reminded myself aloud. Johnny nodded, and kissed my forehead, before enveloping me in a hug, which I returned with twice the force. I sighed against him, before we let each other go and I nodded to myself.

‘We have work to do.’ I thought aloud, and Johnny nodded.

‘You sure you’re ok to do this?’ he asked, and I nodded sighing.

‘I need to be doing something.’ I told him, and he sighed, nodding.

‘Be careful, alright?’ he asked, and I nodded.

‘You too.’ I told him, before he pulled me in for one last hug.

‘Don’t forget to call.’ He told me quietly, and I nodded against his chest.

‘I’ll be back in a few days.’ I told him as I pulled out of his arms. ‘I’ll see you soon.’ I told him quietly, meeting his lips as he leaned in for a kiss.

We kissed passionately, but quickly, as Carl called through my coms.

‘Lex, we’re ready up here. Let us know when you want to go.’ I sighed, and pulled away from Johnny, who sighed disappointedly, as I pressed the button on my com set.

‘I’m on my way up, Carl. Be there in a minute.’ I picked my bag up from the floor, and turned to Johnny. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as his went around my waist, holding me tight, just for a few blissful seconds. We pulled away, and I sighed.

‘I’ll see you soon.’ I repeated, before kissing him again briefly, before turning away.

I had better get this done.