The Avengers: Next Generation

Listening In (7)

Zoë's POV

"I GET TO BE AN AVENGER!!!!! YAY!!!!"

I skipped around my bedroom and sang out my little song while I packed up my clothes.

With the door shut of course.

I was packing up all my things that I had in my room excluding the furniture. I had two suitcases for clothes, one for books and other things that I need, and another for just whatever.

I turned the music app on my iPod way up, and it didn't make as much noise as my radio-which I already packed- but it was loud enough with my screeching.

'Hero' by Skillet seemed like an appropriate song for the occasion.

The song lyrics bounced around the room and grabbing a hairbrush I jumped on my bed with excitement.

I need a herroo

To save me nowww

I need a hero-

To save me now

I need a hero

To save my life

A hero will save me-

Just in tiiime!

After 3 minutes and 6 seconds of jumping and singing in my little terrible voice, I was getting thirsty. I just left my music on and opened my door. I walked to the stairs when I heard Fury tell Fitz and Simmons to go out to the van. When Fitz asked why Fury just ruffly replied, "Just do what your told agent." What did they do to get sent to the van?

I slowly walked down the stairs to limit the noise and then I sat on the fifth to last step. You can't see the stairs from the dining table so I just had to keep quite so they wouldn't hear me. A small voice kept telling me that I should just get a drink and go, but my better half got defeated by the devilish side of me. I heard someone stand up and footsteps walk around the kitchen.

"Nick, why are my agents being sent to the van? Why can't they-"

"It's not their business what I'm about to say Coulsen. This regards the girl. And it also regards the N.G."

They're talking about me and this little plan. Yes, I should listen in and find out stuff that's not my business. What a good little girl I am. I'm guessing N.G. stands for 'Next Generation' and then my hypothesis was confirmed. Fury's voice rang out like a bell and then the secret that Fitz and Simmons couldn't hear came out.

Fury: "Dr. Lee, you know that Hydra has been a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D since early April."

Grandpa: "Correct. Is there a new problem with Hydra?"

Fury: "Kind of. We started this project in March, and it's been two months since then. In this file we have about thirty kids that are qualified for the team. Your granddaughter is not the first kid that we have asked to be on the team."

Something hit the table and the shuffling of papers could be heard. What did they mean I'm not the first one they've talked to about this? I thought they told me I was the first one on the team. Well, me and my four buddies that I haven't met yet. I went back to eavesdropping.

Fury: "Two, three months ago, we found three kids that were on the file. Two boys and a girl. We got ahold of them and then took the to a S.H.I.E.L.D facility. They were training outside when a Hydra agent in disguise came out of hiding. None of the kids made it. It was a bad day that day. People said we should shut down the project, but I thought other whys."

So they weren't telling me this to my face. When it's my hide that could be skinned. Great. Way to tell me things.

Grandpa sighed and I imagined him running a hand over his head. What was he gonna tell Fury?

"My granddaughter is capable of taking care of herself. She'll be fine with a little training and fine tuning. I have faith in her."

How sweet. He doesn't think I'm gonna die. I'll just have to watch my every move while I'm in New York. Of course, I would anyway because NY is a scary place. Just being honest.

Coulsen interrupted the silence and said,

"Does Zoë know about her parents?"

Whaaaaatttt? I feel like he's going to day something that was not the truth I knew.

I could picture grandpa shaking his head as he said, "No, she thinks they left her because they didn't want her anymore. I haven't told her the truth. I was gonna tell her on her birthday, but she'll be with you when that happens.

"I think it's just best she never found out."

So my parents aren't who I think they are. I've lived a lie. And my own grandpa is okay with that.

"I think she should be done packing now," Coulsen stated, "I'll go see if she's ready." I heard him coming up the steps. I didn't have time to go to my room in secrecy so I just dissolved into thin air. Coulsen walked past me and he peeked in my room. Not seeing me he went back down stairs and said that I must be in the bathroom or something.

Let them think that lie.

They're letting me think one too.