HEROES ─ fallen warriors series one shots

6| Easy Homework

(takes place after between sections 6 and 7 of "Fallen")

Olivia

History class has never been my favorite subject. Learning about the French Revolution or the bombing of Pearl Harbor is one thing, those events are fascinating. But once history class enters into the 21st century, then it becomes about the Avengers. Everyone in class gets so excited; lessons become about epic battles between aliens, Stark technology, Thanos, and the infamous infinity stones. For other students they get to watch and learn about epic tales of heroism, badass battles, and super powers they wish they had.

For me, I have to sit in class and watch people romanticize traumatic events in my family's lives. I read articles about the organization that tortured my parents, I watch footage of Uncle T'Challa trying to murder Dad, I see photos of Mom saving people trapped under rubble after the snap. All of my classmates look at them like they're gods. Even now as we watch video footage of my family fighting off Thanos's army in Wakanda, I hear the person next to me whisper; "The Savage is so cool. I bet she could beat all the other Avengers in a fight."

The person behind me interjects. "Not Thor. She couldn't beat Thor."

"If she turned into a whale and sat on him then she would win."

"I mean if we're talking about her going up against Black Widow or Captain America, then sure the Savage would win. But Thor would kick her ass."

This debate keeps going on for some time. I've only met Thor a couple of times, and each time I was very intimidated by him. He's an actual god after all. I think Mom could beat him in a fight though.

Watching this footage makes me shake with anxiety. Of course I know nothing will happen to them, but watching my whole family in mortal peril isn't fun. Mom and Dad are fighting side by side near Uncle T'Challa on one side of the battlefield, while Uncle Alex, Uncle Khari, and Aunt Okoye are fighting on the other. Uncle Sam is flying through the air with Uncle Rhodey, shooting at the aliens below.

Stevie would love to watch this. He's just as bad as my classmates. He doesn't see this as our family is danger, he sees this as our family being kick ass superheroes. My brother has these rose colored glasses when it comes to our family. I seem to be the only one who sees the weight of our family's job.

"Alright, the bell is about to ring," My teacher says, pausing the footage much to everyone's displeasure. "Your homework assignment is to answer these questions about the Battle of Wakanda. It's three pages and I want them on my desk by Tuesday."

The person next to me groans. "Crap. That Savage versus Thor debate is going to bite me in the ass. I wasn't paying attention."

The person behind me shrugs. "Just look the footage up online. This assignment will be easy."

I chuckle lightly to myself. There was a reason I ace this part of history every year. They may be able to watch footage of these battles and these heroes online, but I live with them. I'd be happy homework was this easy if it also weren't extremely weird to do homework on my family. Even worse, people tend to notice how uncomfortable I get during class, then I have to make some excuse about a stomach ache. But alas, that's the story of my life; pretending to be Olivia Branson while trying to hide being Olivia Barnes.

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Letting out a sigh, I begin clicking my pen, wracking my brain for the answer. Glancing around the living room, I try to find one of my parents to help me, but I don't see either of them.