The Light that Shines Within

The Night Before

I had my suitcase all rounded up and ready to go for tomorrow night and our flight out to California, finally, for PAX. The last week being full of Steve's lessons, and getting Loki's extra measures put in place on the very off chance he actually did decide to go off the handle and yell at everyone to kneel before his 'Godly presence'. 

I didn't think he would try anything like that. I knew Loki wouldn't try something so fucking stupid, but dumbass Nick Fury thought that Steve Rogers was just one monster away from a heart attack, sooooo... Maybe he wasn't the best judge in characters and their capabilities. Steve was being his usual strange self around me, but I wasn't minding it as much as we approached the big day of leaving the Tower with our number one enemy.  

My senses kept telling me there was something up with his behavior, but it was just Steve being his old, natural self and I didn't see anything wrong with that, really. I mean, it was Steve Rogers for crying out loud. Being frozen made people a bit strange sometimes and I could relate, unfortunately. Nothing too much, just him trying to be closer every day now and it was getting kinda annoying.  

But not annoying-I mean, this was supposed to be my vacation for goodness sake, not another huge mission you have to stress over. If I had known going to PAX would be like this, I wouldn't have even have asked my uncle for time away. But it was too late to back out now. Nick expected all three of us at the airport gates tomorrow morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. 

Fucking great...

I woke up the day before with a game plan in mind of just relaxing by the pool in the basement leftover from when that was where Great-Uncle Howard would train the athletes he endorsed over the years. Tony had given it to me as a project to work on when I wasn't busy as a teenager. I guess his thoughts were something along the lines of "Overactive teen? Hmm, better give her a floor to renovate." I chuckled to myself as I put on my dark blue swimsuit and a towel with the Stark logo from the bathroom. I then grabbed my iPod and dock to listen to my music as I swam. Today was going to be about me, whether the rest wanted it or not. If I wasn't going to be able to actually vacation on vacation, I was going to soak up the one free day I had to act like I was on vacation. 

(Time-skip brought to you by the Joker...)

I took another dive off the deep end, my body going into freefall gracefully as it dove towards the cool water below. I soon plummetted into the water feeling exhilarated. "This is my fight song, take back my life song, prove I'm alright sooooonnggg..." I sang along with the music and relaxed finally. Today was going great and I was happy to finally have one day to myself without Steve, Loki, or any of the other Avengers for that matter.

Right now, it was just me, my music, and the calming waters of my personal pool... Then came a noise over the loudspeakers. "Ms. Smith?" It was Tony's computer butler. I rose my head up to listen better."Yes, JARVIS?" I asked politely. I really hoped it wasn't Steve trying to find out my whereabouts by using the automated Avenger-finder: JARVIS. "Ms. Romanov and Mr. Barton are requesting entry to your private sector. They say it's a 'relaxation matter'."

I smiled, knowing what meant. They just wanted to swim and likely hide from Fury for the day. And I didnt blame them at all for it. They had over three missions in the last week! So i decided to let them in. "Go ahead and let them in J. But if Captain Rogers or Loki asks where I am please tell me they are asking first. Then I'll give you my answer ok?" I waited a moment."Ok, shall do Ms.Smith. " " Thanks J. " Then I heard the lock system being breached outside and soon Natasha and Clint came around the bend in swimsuits, carrying towlels and looking ready to relax for awhile. Clint set down his towel looking around the old 40's pool. I'd left everything as it was years ago when Howard made it and the only updates being installing Jarvis and Bluetooth speakers for my phone. Other than that, it was pretty much the same as way back in the day. Steve would approve.