Altered - A Marvel AU

Chapter 22 - Plan #1

"You wanna annoy Cap." I laughed at Tony, "Why the hell would I want to do that?" Natasha scooted her chair over to me, "Because clearly you two have history. Also, you apparently hate him." "Apparently?" I asked, she nodded, "No one can fool me in love." I decided not to argue with her but to simply state my position, "I don't love him." "Sure, but still, Tony what's your plan?" Tony looked at me and then at Natasha, then back at me and tried to do an evil laugh which ended up with him choking on his own spit and me and Natasha laughing at his misfortune. "Whatever, clearly Cap has a thing for you, what do you say we make him jealous." Tony wriggled his eyebrows.

I sighed, "Right now, I'm just trying to get through each day without bursting into tears." Both of them winced at my words and I realized that just because I was in pain, it didn't mean I had to put other people in pain. Besides, this might work as a distraction, God knows every night from now on I'll be awake, thinking of my brother, might as well distract myself during the day. "Fine." I laughed at Tony's excited expression, he looked like a little kid, "Just follow my lead." He whispered, throwing his arm around my shoulders as Steve walked in. He took one look at me, then at Tony's arm around my shoulders and started to mutter under his breath.

"Oh, oh, here we go." Nat chirped. Fury walked in, killing the fun with a serious expression on his face, "Kronos is on a ramage, wanting you back." I rolled my eyes, "That's because he knows he can't destroy the Avengers without me." Fury nodded, "So it seems. However, Megan, he's killing thousands of families just like yours." I felt my heart sink at that as I tried to contain my tears, I looked down into my lap, "Why would you bring that up?" Steve asked, with annoyance and anger evident in his voice. "Ms. Brooks, I am terribly sorry. That was insensitive of me." I looked up, "It's alright Sir. This is my new reality." Fury pursed his lips, "While that may be, you have support here from SHIELD and the Avengers." I nodded, thankful to all of them, they took me in and didn't require a whole lot from me. Maybe I had made some pretty foolish decisions, maybe this was where I belonged.

"Megan?" Clint's voice broke me from my trance as I looked up to see him staring at me. "Hmm, sorry." "I asked whether or not you'd like to get it over and done with today?" I looked at everyone, perhaps if I had stayed a week or two more, I could've made excellent bonds with Natasha and Tony, however I had a job to do. To maintain my hard-heartedness I had to leave behind the Avengers as soon as I was done with this mission. But could I do that? Granted, I had been with them less than 3 hours, but I still felt welcome, Tony and Nat treated me like we were old friends. Now that I had no family, could I really leave behind this one?

"Kronos isn't that easy to defeat. I mean we can't kill him for one thing, the dude's immortal. Also, he has a whole army of demon minions that would do his bidding. We have to be sneaky with our attacks." Fury nodded, "Ok, so what do you suggest?" Everyone looked at me, "What do I suggest? You have a Captain and a veteran, I highly doubt my suggestions would do any good." "Yes, but you've been with him the longest, you know how he operates. It only makes sense if you told us what to do." Steve spoke up.

That was perhaps true, they had a better chance following my information then a general attack plan, "Ok, I suggest we take out his army, close his endless supply somehow, leave him defenseless." "Ok, how do we do that?" Nat asked, "We cut off his communication to his other brothers that may be helping him." "And how do we do that?" Thor inquired, "Leave that part to me, how fast can this plane get to Greece." Fury furrowed his eyebrows, "Give or take, about 6 hours." "Great, get us to Greece then." Everyone nodded and Fury gave orders to a nearby officer who sped down the stairs, by the computers and into the corridors.

I was about to leave, when Fury grabbed my arm, "Can I speak with you?" I nodded and I let him lead me down to the same metal room I was chained to just a few hours before. "You have a dynamic." Fury spoke, "A dynamic that relaxes people, makes them interact with one another, makes strangers become friends easily. I'd like you to stay, because, to put it simply, you're the glue that holds this team together. The person who will turn this team of unique strangers into a family. I've seen it with Tony and Natasha, you guys have barely known each other yet you're already friends."

"I've had that my whole life, Sir. But, I can't stay, I just..." "Who else do you have, Megan. I share your pain, not many know, but one of my own siblings was killed in a car accident. You know what kept me sane? Working at SHIELD, I've worked with all the people on this team and they are all excellent, pure-heart individuals. They will take you in, just make them into a family." I bit my lip, "I'll try, Sir." He nodded and let me go about my day, later that day, just before I was about to sleep, Natasha walked in.

"Hey." "Hey yourself." She smiled, "What did Fury want?" I shook my head, "Nothing really, just some protocols." Natasha stuck a finger in her mouth, pretending to barf, "Don't want to hear about that." "No, I know you wouldn't." Natasha smiled, "Sooo." I rolled my eyes, "Spit it out, Nat." "Ok." She bounced on my bed, "What happened between you and Steve, cause he's really closed off about it." I sighed, "Yes, I suppose he is. Nothing really. Look, neither of us really want to talk about it. Also, I'm incredibly tired." Natasha nodded and got up, "Oh yah, sorry. Sweet dreams, Meg." "Sweet dreams, Nat." she closed my door and I instantly fell into a deep sleep.

***

Faaz came to me in my dream again, "Faaz." I shouted in joy, running to him and hugging him. "Hey Baji." "What... what aren't you relaxing in paradise." Faaz chuckled, "It's not what society makes it out to be, it's way better. I felt the need to talk to you though." "About..." "About the Avengers. You should stay on the team, even after defeating Kronos. And for God's sake can you stop crying over me, you know it hurts me to see you in such pain." I bit my lip, "Yeah, well, I haven't been taking your death real well." "You always were dramatic." I gasped, "Faaz." he laughed. "Look, they're good people, this lone wolf act has to stop, please." "ok." "Good, now let me chill, also I may just be a figment of your imagination so don't stress." "Wait-" But it was too late, I woke up in a cold sweat.

I decided to take a shower, since it was 4 in the morning and walk down to the gym Fury had shown me. The only other person there was Steve, punching at a punching bag and not noticing anything that was happening around him. I started on the treadmill, increasing my pace until I was practically flying over the rotating mats. "Why him?" Steve asked quietly, and I looked up to see him staring at me in fascination, "What do you mean?" "Why Kronos?" I bit my lip, I thought he was asking about Tony, but he took this conversation down a way darker path. "He was there for me when no one was." Steve let out a humourless laugh, "What?" I asked, annoyed. "You never were one to wait." I shrugged, "Patience isn't my strong suit." "No, I suppose it isn't. What about Hannah?"

My eyes widened, "How'd you know I was staying at Hannah's?" Steve shrugged, "Premonition I guess." I narrowed my eyes, not convinced at his answer, "Hannah probably doesn't care. Highschool friendships don't really last, and if they do then that's a fucking miracle." "Language." Steve muttered and I let out a small heh. "Well, those people were fake." I looked at Steve, "They weren't the only ones." Steve sighed, "How long is this going to go on?" "Until I'm satisfied." Steve grinned, "So that means you'll stay after Kronos." I rolled my eyes, "It's a possibility." Steve nodded, "good, very, very good." He mused.

"Look, you probably don't want to hear this, but getting involved with Tony isn't the best of ideas." "Oh and why is that, Cap?" Tony walked in behind Steve, with impeccable timing. Steve stared at him, "Stark." He nodded, "Capsicle." Tony nodded, I laughed to myself at their interaction. Both of their heads turned towards me, looking at me in the eyes. "Your eyes are rainbow-coloured." Tony marvelled, "Yeah, they were blue yesterday." Steve said. I nodded, "My eyes change colours according to my mood." They both nodded, and spoke at once, "What mood is rainbow?" Then they looked at each other in annoyance and back at me, "Happiness." Tony whopped, "Soon enough, your eyes will always be rainbow." I laughed.

"Yeah, ok." The intercom buzzed over the gym, "We've arrived in Greece, Avengers please take your stations." a female voice spoke out. "Well, got a long day ahead of us boys, try not to fret too much."