Traceur

•05•

Levi's POV.
I look down at my phone, biting my lip nervously.

'It's time'. HYDRA's message sent to me anonymously makes me want to throw up.

It's time.

It's time.

Underneath are the directions to where they're stationed. I have to be there by six-thirty on the dot, and I still have no clue what I'm launching myself into.

'It's time'. What is that supposed to mean?

And, even more ominously, they left a second message underneath the first.

'No misbehaving :)'

The nerve of them.

I dress in casual denim shorts and a yellow tank top, tugging a blue beanie over my ears because for some reason, I always feel more secure when I'm wearing something on my head. Besides, with this beanie, anybody searching for my trademark red hair won't be able to see it immediately, so that's another plus.

I tuck six throwing knives into the small sheathes hidden inside the waistbands of pretty much all my clothing, and head out, not bringing my phone in case they get their grubby fingers on it and try to hack it. Besides, I don't want the Avengers to track me, like they did that one time I headed over to Mason's house for a get-together with the Rogues, and had to deal with the humiliation of finding out that they not only followed me, but also got in uniform, too.

The boys had a good laugh that day.

I smile at the memory, then start heading towards the elevator that'll take me to the street level. Of course, with my luck, the doors open to reveal Tony and Steve waiting inside.

Ah, the sexual tension of those two men. Maybe that's why they're always arguing.

I join them in the elevator, praying that they don't start making out as soon as the doors close. But they don't, and instead, I'm greeted with something that's almost worse: Steve eyeing my attire and asking me where I'm going.

"To the library," I lie easily, and Tony looks up from his phone.

"Got a date?" He asks, wiggling his eyebrows, and I roll my eyes, shoving his cheek so his face is looking the other way.

"No."

"Aw, you're blushing!" He coos, pushing my hand off and poking me in the cheek. Steve shifts, looking irritated.

"A date?" He snaps, and I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Who woke up on the wrong side of bed today?" I ask Captain Grumpyface, and his nostrils flare, allowing me the wonderful sight of his surprisingly un-patriotic boogers. And to think that I'd thought his nose-gunk would be red, white and blue. How disappointing.

"Who became a high-ranking SHIELD agent behind my back?" He retorts, and I feign surprise, although in reality, I am quite surprised that he found out. I'm guessing either Natasha, Tony, or Fury told him, but that information's not really helpful right now.

"You found out all by yourself, did you?" I ask, mocking him. "Wow, I would've never thought."

"Ooh, are you higher than Capsicle over there?" Tony asks, interested now. I roll my eyes.

"Most Saturdays, yes," I confirm, and Tony laughs while Steve turns red and splutters.

"High?"

"Relax, I was joking," I inform him. "You really need 'How to Get Sarcasm for Dummies'. It'd be helpful."

"Still- you- I- why couldn't you tell me yourself?! I had to find out from Fury that you outrank me! And, speaking of that, how were you already primed and ready to go? He said you didn't even need training!"

"Police officer dad," Tony and I speak in sync, both of us rehearsing my big lie with blank faces and monotonous voices.

A vein pulses in Steve's temple, obviously showing how much he's restraining his anger. If he wasn't such a 'boy-next-door' kind of guy, I bet he'd be yelling and throwing a tantrum over the fact that- well, not the fact that I outrank him, I guess, but the fact that I'd never mentioned that I was even interested in the job. That, and Tony has made it clear that he thinks I have a date at the library, and right now, I'm certain that Steve is going to trust Tony's guesses over my protests.

"I- you- you're grounded! Go to your room!"

At that, Stark and I howl with laughter, with me snorting through the mess. As the elevator slowly comes to a stop at whatever floor we're on (I'm not paying attention), I realize that Steve's being serious. I think Tony comes to that realization too, and we both stare at him incredulously.

"Wait, you think you can just tell me to go to my room, and I'll actually do it?" I ask, stressing the words where I got confused at. Steve stares at me in astonishment.

"Well, yeah!"

I snort.

"I don't think you got the memo of this century. Women aren't men's to order around, and I certainly won't listen to you just because you have different genitals."

"That's not what I was trying to-"

"And you think you can order me around?" I ask, angry. Tony somehow has gotten his hands on a bag of popcorn, and is leaning against the receptionist desk, watching the fight play out. "What gives you the right? You're not my dad!"

Everyone freezes. Tony's popcorn drops from his hand, which is hovering right in front of his slacked jaw. The receptionist- Elena MacMire, a very nice woman- is staring at the scene, ignoring the fact that Tony's popcorn has fallen on top of her head. And Steve...

Steve is frozen is shock, his face fallen like a kicked puppy's. His eyes are wide and glazed over with what looks like tears, and his arm, which was clenched in a tight fist beside him, is now open and shaking.

"I...what?" Steve asks softly, hurt lacing his tone. I glare at him. Why is he reacting like this?! He obviously isn't my father!

"You're. Not. My. Dad." I ground out, spitting every poison-laced word as if it's my ammunition. Even though I don't think of that sentence as even remotely hurtful, Steve's acting like it is.

My anger, Steve's sadness, and everyone's overall shock fill the air, and, feeling suffocated, I storm out of the Avengers Tower, away from the place where I find comfort, and towards the place that only holds pain and fear.

To HYDRA.

...
A/N: HALP I FORGOT TO MAKE LEVI'S SUPERHERO NAME! Please, anyone, suggestions!!

Thanks <3