Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Protection Squad

3. Brooke

2:02 Pm. December 12th.

"Well done." Natasha complemented, checking the time on her stopwatch.

"It only took you 14 seconds this time." She praised, examining my exhausted form.

For the last 6 days, she has been testing me with different obstacles to see how long it would take me to get to the safe room. I had mastered all of the 'situations' with a lot of help from Natasha and loads of practice. Oh and there hasn't really been any updates on my friend's or family's condition, but we know that the hydra operatives haven't pinpointed my location and they aren't anywhere close to doing so (because of clint's awesome distraction skills.)

This week has been rough mentally, knowing that any second one of my loved ones could be murdered in cold blood, but to my own delight I actually found a friendship with the infamous black widow. She lets me call her Nat now, which makes me feel like a total badass because not a lot of people have that luxury. However, Bucky has been a ghost and we haven't exchanged a single word since he saw me tangled into a sheet burrito, but Nat said he'd warm up eventually.

"Thanks, Nat. Who's rotating with you this week?" I wiped a drop of sweat that was headed towards my nicely groomed eyebrows.

"Falcon or Rogers." She shrugged, handing me a sweat rag.

"It just sucks that I'm stuck with the silent hard-ass." I gratefully accepted the towel, hanging it around my neck.

"He's the most prepared and qualified person to stay here permanently with you." She explained sternly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." I nodded.

"Now go shower, you smell." She ordered, pointing to the stairs.

"Will you be here when I'm done?" I asked beginning my trek up the stairs.

"Nope, sorry kiddo. I'll see you soon though." She replied making her way over to her room to gather her belongings.

***

Honestly if I could, I'd never leave this room. It's beautiful, quiet, and the bed feels like a cloud. Also, either Steve or Sam will probably be downstairs waiting to greet me, and I'd like to postpone that as long as possible. I mean yeah I'm witty and sociable, but come on, either a freaking model/super soldier or a shrink/model will be waiting to either intimidate the heck out of me or train the heck out of me. Sounds like a win/lose kind of situation to me. And yeah I know thinking this is probably childish as fuck, but please tell me you wouldn't be thinking the same thing if you were in my position.

"You've got company." Bucky's voice almost whispered on the other side of my door.

The guy had such a mysterious/I'll snap your neck kind of vibe, so I made up my mind to let him initiate all conversation rather than me bugging the heck out of him.

Sliding my slightly damp feet into my fuzzy blue slippers, I opened my door to find that Bucky was not there.

"Typical." I huffed, making my downstairs.

"Hey, kid." Sam greeted solemnly from the entryway.

If that's not an indication that something is wrong, then I don't know what is.