Hacky Sack ~ An Avengers Story

Sixteen ~ Making My Way Down to Hill

Cedar took a bit to recuperate, mend the damage she took in the base, and figure out where the hell she was going. She had been leaning against a tree somewhere in D.C. flipping a flash drive around her fingers. In this flash drive was the locations of Hydra bases all over the country, and then some. The idea of going off on her own to take down bases has made itself present in her mind a time or two. She may not have much training, but she's got powers and that makes up for it, right?

"God, I'd kill a man for a cheeseburger and fries." That was another thing, Cedar doesn't have food or money or even a spare change of clothes. But she does have a close contact here in D.C.. Quickly pulling out her phone, she tried turning it on to no avail. I guess that's what happens when a bullet pierces through it. "Guess I'm hailing a Taxi and running."

Cedar made her way over to the main roads and started doing what she had to do. She waved her arms, signalling a nearing cab to pick her up. One stopped and pulled over to where she stood so she could climb in, "Where to?"

"1403 Park Road, please." She nodded to him through the rearview mirror. He scrunches his brows as he looked at her,

"How about I take ya' to a hospital instead. Are those bullet wounds?" Concern laced his voice. 

"Listen, I've been held prisoner for the past month and two days. I had to fight for my freedom, and I'm states away from home. I have no money or food or clothes or even a charger. The only person I know that lives in this god forsaken area lives on 1403 Park Road so if you could please just drive me there then maybe Karma will be good to you." She vented to him, sounding like a madwoman. With fear in his eyes, the man looked back to the road and started to the address. 

Cedar leaned back in her seat with a huff. Good, she got the payment issue out of the way, now she just has to hope that this person will remember and be good to her. 

The ride to her old friend's house, she mentally debated how to handle the situation. She couldn't just waltz up to her house and say, "Hey, you may or may not remember me. We were friends, I saved your life. I just got out of being kidnapped and need a place to lay low but it'll put you at risk. Let's discuss it over tea." That definitely wouldn't be the best way to go about it. 

When the recognizable apartment building came into view, she felt her breath get caught in her throat. The driver looked back at her wearily, "So, uh. We're here."

Cedar sighed, "Yup... we sure are."

"Good luck with the whole... kidnapped thing." He awkwardly puts the taxi in park for the girl to get out. She nods to him as she exits the vehicle. 

Knowing how paranoid her friend is, she knew that there would be cameras around the building for 'security' reasons. Hell, Cedar saw two of them disguised horribly as garden gnomes. After all of this, she'll have to teach her how to properly blend cameras into scenery. 

Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Cedar knocked three times against the run down red door before her. There was silence, then some shuffling, followed by the sound of the metal cover of the peep-hole being lifted then dropped. A gasp was heard as the door swung open.

"Cedar lee Evans what the FUCK!?" 

The girl's eyes widened as her lips parted slightly. This is the last reaction she expected. "Hey, Maria."

"Get your ass inside." She ushered her into her apartment then swiftly locked the door behind them, scanning the perimeter before hand. Cedar stood awkwardly in the greeting room as her old friend stared at her expectantly, "Well?"

"So uh... funny story." Cedar rubbed the back of her neck as she tried to construct the right string of words.

"If you say it was Hydra again-"

"It was Hydra again." She cut off Maria, figuring it best to rip the bandage off at once. Unfortunately, this isn't the first bandage she's had to rip off like this, and Maria was still pulling adhesive off from the last time. "It wasn't my fault, I fully blame Stark."

"Haven't heard that one before... just not from you." She raised a brow of confusion.

"Oh honey sit down cause I've got a fuck-ton to tell you." Cedar motioned to the furniture set in the living room. Maria sighed and pushed her hair back, 

"Go sit and figure out how to word this in a way that won't piss me off as I put a kettle on for tea." She marched into the kitchen to get the water boiling. Cedar nodded as she padded to a sofa in said living room. 

A few minutes later, Maria came back into the living room with two cups of tea. Before she sat down, she thought for a moment and went back into the pantry to retrieve two glasses and a bottle of Jack Daniels. Cedar chuckled to herself as her friend set the bottle down on the glass coffee table, "Just like the good old days."

"You wanna tell me why/how you got tangled up with Hydra... again?" Maria questioned, debating between tea or Whiskey. 

"To make a long fucking story short, Tony's adopted me when I was younger temporarily and wants me back. I have powers, my memory got replaced - which I'm sure you know of seeing your occupation - and Tony found out about me. I've been living with them and training to be an Avenger, only to get kidnapped by Hydra who thought I was dead - which you also know since you helped me recover last time. I've been there the past month and finally broke free."

Maria stared at her friend wide-eyed before deciding to knock back her first shot of Whiskey, "You haven't changed a bit."

"Neither have you, Hill." Cedar replied, taking a shot as well. "So I was hoping I could lay low here or something. I was able to escape with a flash drive of different Hydra bases around the world. I want to pursue them but I have literally nothing." 

Hill was silent in though for a minute, piecing together her thoughts. She swiftly stood up and rushed up stairs. Cedar sought it best to stay put while Maria did whatever she was doing. A few minutes later, she returned with a black SHIELD backpack around her shoulder and a set of keys. She brunette chucked it at the injured girl, only to regret it afterwards. "Sorry, should've thought that one through." The agent apologized, "In there is some money, clothes, weapons, and directions to a safehouse in Maryland. The black key on the ring is to a motorcycle I have stored in my garage - I hope you can drive one. There's a phone in there that has two numbers programmed into it - mine and Fury's. I want you to call me when you get there."

Cedar smiled for the first time in a while as she got up to hug her friend. Maria hugged her in return, giving her a tight squeeze, "Please be careful. I won't tell anyone other than Fury. He kinda has to know seeing you're staying in one of his safehouses." 

"I don't deserve you, Hill." Cedar pushed off of her to give her a thankful smile. 

"Maybe you will if you stop getting your ass kicked." She teased, ruffling my hair beneath her hand. Cedar glared,

"Hey! I kicked their asses. I single handedly took them down and escaped all on my own!" She defended herself. Maria smiled and shook her head. A serious look took over her features and brought the playful atmosphere down,

"Are you sure you don't want to tell Stark? He'll miss you like crazy, you know. And he can help you." 

Cedar shook her head, "I'm extremely grateful for everything him and the rest of the team have done for me, but it's time to go off on my own. I don't want to draw Hydra to them, or any other threats after me. They have enough to worry about - saving the world and all. This is for the best. All children have to move out at some point, right?" 

Maria sighed and silently agreed, "Well at least stay the night here and take off in the morning. I'll get you properly stitched up and feed ya'. The guest room is always set up in case you wanna crash here next time you escape Hydra."

The younger laughed, "You'll have to keep an emergency Jack Daniels bottle here, just in case."

Maria held up the practically full bottle before tucking it in Cedar's bag, "Or in case I come visit you, assist in taking out some modern-age-Nazis." 

"I'd happily set you up a bed." Cedar took her bag and slung it over her good shoulder. The two girls went upstairs so Maria could patch up Cedar and show her to her room. That night, Cedar slept better than she had in awhile.