Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

3. Because Casey Would

Peyton's POV

The sound of Nicole playing music on her Bluetooth speaker as she made a breakfast smoothie woke me up. I wish she'd wear her earphones whenever she plays her music.

"Nic! Some of us are tryin' to sleep here!" I hollered and pressed a pillow against my face.

"I couldn't find my earbuds!" she called out.

"Aren't they in your bag or somewhere in your room?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll look in a bit."

The blender went off, which drowned out the music. I checked my phone and saw that it was a quarter to seven, and I figured I'd try to get myself up.

It had been a few days since we last talked to Casey. We couldn't contact her while she had her next assignment. I had been sending her a series of text messages whenever she got around. Vince decided to get corny and send her a bunch of memes and GIFs.

I went into the kitchen and helped myself to a bowl of Special K with strawberries and almond milk. Vince came out a couple of seconds after me and was about to drink out of a jug of orange juice when Nicole snatched it from him.

"Hey! Don't spread your saliva all over this!" she snapped, and handed him a small plastic cup, pouring the juice into it.

"Aw, c'mon!" Vince moaned.

Sean arrived in the kitchen. Something immediately felt off. His shoulders were tense. His phone was clenched tightly in one hand. He rolled his SHIELD keycard back and forth between his fingers. A habit he usually fell into when stressed.

Nicole noticed too. "Sean?"

He looked up.

For a second, it seemed like he was trying to figure out how to phrase something.

"Phil just texted me," Sean said.

The room fell silent.

"Clint's been compromised," he added.

My heart sank.

Sean swallowed. "And Casey's been abducted."

I dropped my spoon just as Nicole choked on her smoothie.

"Wait, what?" I gaped wide-eyed.

"And Fury wants us on the Helicarrier immediately," Sean added.

"Did Phil tell you what happened?" Vince asked.

"We'll find out more when we get there."

We quickly ate our breakfast, got dressed, and packed each of us a small bag of necessities, since we would all be gone for a while. I went into Casey's room after packing my things and dug out her weekender bag, filling a couple of her pants, two shirts, and lingerie, figuring she'd want to change clothes after being rescued. I found her Nintendo 3DS, complete with its case, game cartridges, and charger, in case she got bored. Next, I located an extra phone charger, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a hairbrush, deodorant, and a small bottle of body soap from Bath and Body Works. Casey would be so glad to have these things!

"Guys, ready?" Sean called out.

"Coming!" I replied as I zipped up the bag and grabbed both, then met up with the others in the hallway.

Vince, Nicole, and I followed Sean outside after locking up the apartment.

"Pey, why do you have two bags?" Vince asked, gripping the strap of his duffle.

"One of them is Casey's," I replied.

"Great idea!" Nicole nodded at me as she read my mind about my reason for packing it.