Since the Beginning

Ch 14: Extremis pt. 1

Chapter Fourteen:

Extremis Pt. 1

Red Skull and Modok watched with amusement as their experimental gas had the desired effect. They had been keeping a close eye on the Avengers since their escape and they were waiting for them to choose a path before they chose a specific plan to use against them. Turning their green friend against them was by far Modok's favorite. He loved seeing friends turn against one another. Especially if said friends were the Avengers.

"Time for the second part of my plan", Red Skull said with a grin, "Come Soldier", he replied to his companion who had remained in the shadows of the room, "let's give them a frosty greeting."

The soldier gave a sharp nod and turned to follow his boss, but Modok stopped them.

"What about Stark?! I want her. You promised me I could have her."

Red Skull turned, frowning.

"So I did", he replied with a nod, "and so you shall, but first...I plan to use her a bit. She is after all, the love of the dear Captain."

"Just don't kill her", Modok stated angrily, "she needs to be moderately well to survive extremis."

"Yes, yes", he replied with a wave as he stepped out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, his frown went to a grim smile. "Soldier...kill her."

The man nodded and vanished down the hall.

"No one tells me what to do", he stated with a laugh, "no one."

AVNGRS

Steve pulled Toni with him, trying to be careful of her arm as the Hulk rushed after them. Clint and Natasha had gone one way, while Thor had seemingly vanished with Hammer and the Baron. Steve wasn't about to let Toni out of his sight anytime soon though, not when she was already injured and not in the best of health.

Toni on her part was keeping up rather well with the good Captain's speed, but she could her arm aching and her mind and chest throbbing with each step. She would have to stop soon. Still, with the hulk right behind them, it was rather a good initiative to keep her moving at a moderate pace.

Steve knew Toni needed a break. He could hear it in the growing wheezes that seemed to follow her every movement. He also could see the lines of pain in her young face.

"Hide here", he said tugging her down beside him behind a cabinet.

The hulk rushed by them and through another wall, attempting to find his prey. Steve listened as the heavy footsteps quieted the further away Bruce got before he finally let out a sigh of relief when the sound vanished altogether. He was surprised out of his thoughts when Toni's head fell onto his shoulder.

"Toni?" he whispered, concerned.

"Shut up and let me rest for a second", she said back, her eyes closed as she turned into his shirt.

Steve didn't say anything else, but he did smile as he looked down at her, taking in the sight. She was so beautiful.

"Toni", he whispered.

Toni looked up, her eyes tired, but curious.

"I..." he hesitated, staring into her gorgeous chocolate colored eyes. What if she was mad at him still for how he had treated her before? What if she no longer liked him like she did? What if...

Toni could see the gears turning in the Captain's head as he looked into her eyes. She didn't even notice when their faces had gotten so close to one another, but all it took was another second, another mere moment to look into his dazzling ocean blue eyes for her to feel that same attraction she had when she was twenty four, before she had literally, de-aged into a kid again.