Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

33. Off-World Contact

Peyton's P.O.V.

After our group went into hiding and sought shelter with the Kemps, we began investigating Casey's mysterious disappearance. She was considered a cold case because no evidence pointed to what happened, aside from Brett and Gunner's statement that Casey had mysteriously vanished into thin air after everyone went to bed.

Plus, we found out through a message from Steve and Natasha that SHIELD had been gone since HYDRA had infiltrated it since its establishment. The entire thing was gone, though the other Avengers were still out in the open.

Plus, it turned out Casey's parents discovered HYDRA in a stealthy operation and were on their way to warn Fury when a renegade agent murdered them. The rogue agent who killed them was John Garrett. If Casey were still around, she would've wanted to give the prick himself a piece of her mind. 

Jin Kwan, the man Casey rescued from North Korea, revealed that the dictator had agreed to a deal with HYDRA. Jin had his wife and young daughters head south first while he searched for more information. Soon, after the whole family was safe, some other agents on our side managed to stop the heinous activity.

About a year ago, Steve contacted us to assist him and the others in retrieving Loki's scepter from a HYDRA base in Sokovia. Vince, Sean, Nicole, and I went to help out, along with Noya and Tarlo Bravebird, two resourceful kids from the Blackfeet Reservation who had destroyed another HYDRA secret facility that had been built on their land. 

When things seemed to go our way, Ultron appeared and wreaked havoc. Brett and Gunner had tagged along to help us. Tony and Bruce constructed a pair of mechanical legs for Gunner. The cool part was that the legs came with rocket thrusters, just like Tony's suit, enabling Gunner to fly as well.

After Ultron's destruction, all the world's governments initiated the Sokovia Accords. They made it look like we were at fault for the attack and many deaths. We had tried to get the Sokovians to evacuate the city before Ultron and his legion attacked. Brett mentioned that some people try to find fault in something after tragic events.

Our group returned to the safehouse, refusing to sign the Accords, knowing it meant someone owned us. If Casey were around, she would've flat-out refused to sign anything.

I tagged along with Brett and Gunner on some errands while the others stayed at the safe house. While getting gas for the truck, I went into the convenience shop to use the restroom and buy a slushy. 

After finishing my business, I approached the counter with the slushy machine and chose a large cup. 

"Peyton?!" Craig called out in shock.

I pretended not to hear him, pumped some cherry slushy, and mixed it with blue raspberry. I was about to check out when a hand grabbed my arm.

"What the hell are you doing here? You looking for Casey?" Craig wondered, sounding frustrated.

"None of your business," I snapped, jerking my arm free.

"I went back to the apartment and found the whole thing deserted. I assumed you and the others somehow learned that SHIELD had been compromised and HYDRA had infiltrated it since its founding. I've been trying to find you guys. I can only guess that all of you knew where Casey had been all this time and never thought to contact me about her whereabouts. Then I heard you and the others were over in Sokovia when the city was launched into the sky."

I didn't give Craig any answers. It wouldn't be surprising if he were a double agent. 

"Excuse me," I headed for the cashier counter and paid for the slushy.