Like A Bullet {marvel/captain america}

•f i v e•

Song for this chapter; new perspective by panic! at the disco

'stop there and let me correct it, I wanna live my life from a new perspective'
--
{reese's POV}

{the Avengers compound}
--
' You wanna explain?' Tony raised his brows at me.

'Not really.' I murmured in response. The entire team was staring at me now, eyes glued to me, almost as if they were expecting me to just tell them everything I knew then and there.

Truth is, I knew why Loki wanted me dead and in all honesty, I didn't blame him. I knew things about him that could help the Avengers take him down but it was also leverage, something I could use to get what I wanted from them.

I wanted to walk free. I wasn't stupid and I knew I was looking at months, probably years, in a federal penitentiary. I was doing exactly what the Avengers did - only they got paid to do it, so it was okay, right?

'You have Loki captured, but he has a back up plan - people to do his work for him outside. Whatever he planned on doing is still in action and I what I know could put you a few steps ahead of them.' I spoke up. 'But I want something in return for the information.'

'Depends what it is you want,' Maria replied.

'I'll tell you everything and in return, I walk.'

'You want exoneration?'

'Exactly. What I have is valuable and probably worth more than what I'm asking.'

'Coulson, contact the DA and get a plea deal together. If what you're telling is truly valuable, you can walk.'

A grin spread across my face. I'd won.

Two guards came up to me and grabbed me by the arms, picking me up and taking me off to a small room at the side where a pen and paper were waiting for me. Maria came in too and stood in front of me.

'Tell me what you know,' She began, grabbing the pen and paper.

'Loki's using one of the infinity stones to build a weapon of mass destruction,' I began. 'To wipe out the Earth. He's doing it for a higher power, someone who's obviously promised him something amazing in return. He's got a base in Brooklyn, one in England and one in France. If you want to find them, look for really high uranium and plutonium signatures in London and Paris. He's got compromised people working for him,' I paused, pulling the memory stick out my pocket. 'All their details are on there.'

I had to be quick to get the memory stick - I know Loki needed evidence of my meddling and information stealing to kill me, and that memory stick was cold, hard proof. I'd got to it before he did and maybe I was lucky, but I knew he'd be on my trail again soon enough. As soon as SHIELD let me go, I planned on running, and not stopping till this was all over.

'Right, okay. And how do you know all this?'

'That's the part I'm keeping to myself.' I responded.

'Right,' She nodded again. 'I'm gonna have a word with the DA. Wait here.'

I was sat on my own in the room for a good few minutes until someone else came in - my father. He sat opposite me without a word, not making eye contact.

'Maria's getting the plea deal drawn up,' Tony began. 'It's not exactly what you wanted.'

I sniffed. 'How'd you mean?'

'There was a uh...development in the situation. Loki's broken free. Again.' He chuckled sadly. 'And since you apparently know more about this situation than anyone here, you're staying until it's over. To help fight with us. And then you can walk a free person, no charges standing.'

'No!' I snapped. 'That was not part of the deal!'

'Beggars can't be choosers, T.' He retorted, apparently having a nickname for me now. 'You understand that, right?'

'I'm gonna have to.' I solemnly snorted.

'Okay, well,' Maria re-entered the room, a black jumpsuit in hand. 'We don't know if Loki is in Paris or London - he escaped less than five minutes ago so it could be a few hours before we get any sightings. In the mean time, you need to go to the infirmary, get stitched up and then freshen up- but be on standby for anything. Got it?'

'Got it.' I was internally screaming. I wanted nothing to do with this team -  nothing. But I was hardly being given a choice. I stood up and yanked the suit from Hill's arms.

'An agent will take you down to the infirmary.' She added. 'As of now, you're an Avenger. At least temporarily.'

--

Given that I'd been caught up in two explosions in one day, I'd needed a lot of medical attention. I had stitches up my back and across my legs, a busted lip and my small toe on my left foot was broken. It could've been worse, though.

I used one of the showers in the sleeping quarters - it was fancy, like the rest of the place. I managed to condition my hair as well, so it was no longer a birds nest and hung around my shoulders as it should do. The suit was tight and leather, and I felt like an idiot - but Tony's words stuck in my head.

Beggars can't be choosers.

But beggars can be Avengers though, apparently.

I felt weird looking at myself in the mirror - in a SHIELD suit. I never expected in a million years to be an Avenger (not that it was my choice). But, if I tried my hardest to sort this shit out, the sooner I could return to whatever the hell my life was.

I pushed my dark hair out my face and made my way down the briefing room, my eyes landing on Jorge, who was (again) asleep outside the door. I knelt down next to him and prodded him in the side, waking him up.

'Reese!' He helped, eyes landing on my suit. 'The hell are you wearing?'

'It's a very long story - I'll explain when this is over,' I sighed. 'You should go home. I'll call you, though.'

'Oh, okay.' He nodded and stood up. 'Man, I can't believe Tony Stark is your dad. It's insane.'

'Believe me, I know.'

I have him a quick hug good bye and made my way into the briefing room. Natasha and Steve were in there - the first typing away at a computer and the latter texting on his phone.

'Angeles,' Natasha greeted me. 'So, you're one of us now.'

'Like Hill said, only temporarily.' I responded, sliding into a seat next to Natasha.

'Shame. We could do with more females on the team.' She replied. I raised my eyebrows and propped my feet up on the table, already bored.

'Don't encourage her, I'm the one who was to babysit her.' Steve interjected.

'You what?' I groaned.

'SHIELD don't exactly trust you, so they've made your - and believe me, it pains me to say this - partner.' He explained. 'It was originally gonna be Stark but they feared you might...kill him. Or something.'

I snorted to myself, also reminding myself that this was all only temporary. A few weeks, hopefully nothing more, and I could walk away.