𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣- completed but editing

Chapter 13

The tile was cold on my bare feet. Light flooded my eyes as I flicked on the switch to the kitchen. Screen doors lined one side of the long room that merged with the living room.

My eyes quickly adjusted to sunlight pouring into the house. I was used to sunlight in America now. In India, it scorched with vigor, whereas here, in upstate New York, it gently shone down to kiss the top of my head while I trained.

Our refrigerator was full of leftovers. Leftover chili, leftover ham, leftover salad, leftover roast. Tony and Pepper kept us stocked with fresh food in the pantry but my father insisted on keeping the leftovers after living in Calcutta conditions.

Happy had stopped by yesterday with another load. He was the messenger now, Pepper was worried sick about Tony, who went under the radar two days ago. As far as I knew, he was somewhere on this coast while Pepper was still in California, looking through the wreckage of what was their house.

Air brushed my bare arms as I stepped outside onto the porch. The sun had risen about an hour ago and the lake wasn't frigid anymore. Just cold. It was winter and the trees were laden with snow and ice. Tony had built the house on the lake, near a dock. It was perfect for my training.

Fury was adamant about me improving my max amount of power so I could fight longer and harder. Technically I was an Avenger now, Tony and Steve treated me like one but my father was still worried about the "amount of stress that something like that puts on a girl your age".

Four barrels were lined up on the dock and I pushed each of them into the water with a satisfying splash!, avoiding the spray. I stood over the edge and, with my cloud swirling around my wrists, began my daily routine. In and out. Splash, drip, splash. The cold eventually faded out of my skin, my body adjusting to the chilly weather outside.

Around mid-morning, I grew tired and headed back to the house.

"Morning, Li Anne," my father yawned. His therapy had gone late last night and I think he got back around midnight.

I opened the pantry and pulled out a container of store-bought muffins. "Morning." Handing him a muffin, I pulled out a stool under the countertop and accepted the mug of cider he gave me.

Dad slipped on his glasses. "Expecting any calls today?"

"Nope," I sipped my cider.

He smiled. "Well, Evelyn took a message for you from Nick Fury."

I froze mid-sip. "Fury?" I choked.

Patting me on the back, Dad answered, "Evelyn, play the message from Nick Fury."

"Right away, sir." Evelyn replied.

Fury's voice played on our surround speakers in the low, husky voice I had grown accustomed to. "Li Anne, I have an assignment for you. I need you on a jet to London in forty-eight hours max. Call me back for specific details."

My eyes grew larger in unison with my father's as the message continued.

"This is an important assignment."

"Evelyn," I stood up. "Call Nick Fury."

Dad casually stood up and headed for his bedroom.

"Yes, miss."

"Banner." Fury's voice was curt.

I pulled my hair into a ponytail as I answered. "Fury."

"I've got an important assignment for you, Banner. You will need to fly to London immediately to meet me there."