The Seventh Avenger: Playing With Fire

Chapter 1: 'Tis the Season

          "How did I get myself into this? Hey, Woody. Woody, c'mere. Listen. Uh, has anyone ever died doing this?"

          "Just once."

          "Hey, Ren! Hey, sport! When this hat flies in the air, you better have your butt in gear."

          "Forget her, c'mon Ren! I've got my fingers crossed for you buddy!"

          As Bonnie Tyler's 'Holding Out for a Hero' blares from television speakers, Steve Rogers leans across the couch to whisper to his friend beside him, "I'm failing to see how Footloose is a classic Christmas movie."

          Lydia Hathaway can't hide the grin that spreads across her face. Tearing her eyes away from the cheering teenagers on the screen, she replies to the super-soldier, "Oh, it's not. I'm sorry to say this, Captain, but you've been well and truly played."

          She can't help but quietly chuckle as Steve's brows furrow in confusion, and his eyes seek out the other person in the room. Ava Quill's head gently bobs up and down as she hums along with the music, remaining oblivious to the conversation between the two Avengers. While Lydia and Steve had spread themselves across Lydia's spacious couch, Ava had opted to sit on the floor, directly in front of the television. She hasn't moved since the movie first started almost thirty minutes ago.

          "If it isn't a Christmas film, then why did she say it was?"

          "Because Ava just wanted an excuse to watch the film," Lydia explains. "It's her favourite. She used to watch it all the time when she was younger. I think that her brother and mother enjoyed it as well. If you want, I can try to convince her to change it onto something else-"

          Steve begins to shake his head before Lydia has the chance to finish the sentence. "No, no it's alright; I'm not complaining," he says. "I'm actually enjoying the film so far. I just couldn't help but wonder how it falls into the category of a Christmas classic."

          "Well, consider me impressed. I didn't expect you to figure things out until at least halfway through the film."

          He narrows his eyes in an almost playful manner at her. "You mean to tell me you were in on this the whole time?"

          "Guilty, yet not sorry."

          Suddenly, the sounds of the triumphing cheers and music disappear, leaving silence to settle over the apartment. Startled, Lydia turns her head towards the television, where the sight of a still screen and an amused Ava greet her. The redhead waves the remote in her hands as one of her brows quirk up once she realises that she has grabbed their attention, her green eyes studying them carefully. "I love you both, but this is one of my favourite parts of the film," she says in her clear, lilted voice. "If you don't shove a cork in it, I'm going to throw this remote at you, steal all of your chocolate, and kick you out of your own apartment. Understood?"

          "Yes, ma'am."

          "Shutting up right this second."

          Ava grins. "Excellent."

          With a quick click of a button, the movie begins playing once more, and Ava turns her attention back to the screen. Exchanging a brief smile with Steve, Lydia only repositions herself on the couch, before reaching for the bowl of snacks on the coffee table in front of her.

          The rest of the movie passes without any other interruptions, aside from appropriate reactions from Ava here and there. Lydia can only watch with amusement. She must have seen this film at least a hundred times, yet every time she watches it, it's as if she is doing for the first time again. And when the film's title song begins to play, she jumps up and down where she sits. It isn't until the credits begin that she finally stills. Switching the screen off with the remote, she turns to shoot Steve and Lydia a dreamy smile. "Ah. Ren McCormack. What a man. What a hero. Captain; thoughts?"