The Avengers Academy

Chapter III

"Thanks for going easy on us," said Sky.

"Not as easy as you guysseem to think," said Captain America, helping the disheveled Iron Man to hisfeet. "You were definitely at the top of your game today. I mean, look what youdid to Tony."

"Op, yep, my head hurts and... oh god, my arm." said Sky, as she noticedthe jagged slash left from one of Hawkeye's undodged arrows running along herupper arm. She laughed nervously, "We mightwant to go back to the mansion."

And it wasn't a mansion. It was a fortress, a modern castle, like amilitary compound, but all white. Not that tall, only a few stories, but hugeand wide, with the gigantic avengers A on the front of the building. And thegrounds were huge too. Hangars for helicopters, as well as launch pads, scatteredthe area close behind it, and garages for tanks as well. Military level weaponscovered the grounds. There was a training ground at the back of the field, andpeople were training on it, but noton all of it. There was a significant amount of it filled with weird tech, and obstaclesyou would think no human could get past. There were targets too. Small, andthey moved, almost impossible to hit. Everythingwas amped up to 'almost impossible', but Sky didn't see this, at least notanymore. She'd gotten used to it by now.

They entered through the big, bulletproof, glass doors by the A. thereceptionist at the desk smiled at the kids as they came in. the whole groupmoved through the front room to a conference room on the side. As soon as thedoor was closed, Sky took a metal chair and hurled it at the glass thatseparated them from the lobby. The chaired was dented, but the glass remained unscathed.She then shoved all the papers off the table and lay down in the middle of it,which was weird even for people that can fly, and shoot fire out of theirhands, but you got used to it.

Cap put his shield on the table in front of him and looked at her, "itwas that bad, was it?" she nodded as she watched Tony, Iron Man, try not tomake a show of moving all the papers that hadn't been flung away, farther fromher arm, which was still oozing blood. Natasha stepped from a corner, andfollowed her gaze to her injury. "You might want to get that checked out, youknow?"

Sky opened her mouth to make a retort, but he was cut off when thatyoungest girl walked up to Steve, and kicked him hard in the shin. "Ow. Youknow, something tells me your upset?" the girl rolled her eyes and said "So, Ilearn that I can turn invisible, turn in to anything, even air, that I'mvirtually indestructible, and you still wont let me outside the car?"

"Yep!" said Tony. Steve shot him a look and said more kindly "we'rejust trying to keep you safe, and you're young..."

"So is Lily!" she interrupted, frustrated "Lily is my age, and you let her fight!"

"Lily is a time lord sweetheart." He realized that was a poor choiceof words and added, "We just don't want you to get hurt."

"Oh, shut up!" said Nat. "That's the last thing she wants to hear!"she turned to the young girl, "the truth is, you're horrible at listening."

Steve looked surprised. "Why would she want to hear that?"

"Because it true." She turned to the girl again, "and ill bet my ass..."

"Natasha, language!"

"Language?"

"Yes. Bree is young and influential."

"We're teaching her to killpeople. Does that not register in your brain?" she looked again at Bree andsaid "Anyway, id bet my ass that we won't let Lily battle this thing, what ever it is, when we actuallyfind it. I doubt it cares how fast you move, or how solid you are."

"Oh, that's it Nat." interrupted Steve. "Yes, that is it, said Tony,"we have things to do, you can argue about who is a worse parent later."

Steve just did the expression he had when he was annoyed, but didn'thave anything to say, which they all saw a lot, but for a second Natasha lookedreally wounded. Then it was gone, but Tony looked down and saw Sky staring athim. She was an observant kid, and she had seen it too. His thoughts wereinterrupted by the entering of three avengers, who hadn't been in the room,Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Falcon. All of them looked worried. Sam, the Falcon,Said, "so, for next time, wanna tell us what we're shooting at?"