Running. Ugh. How long have I been running? My small hands shove people out of the way the best I can but I'm mostly just twisting and turning through the crowds. Still, I can almost feel his hands still on me. Reaching towards me, grabbing my shirt, pulling me back into his bruising hands. Suddenly, I run straight into someone and fall back on my butt. "Christ, kid." A tall man curses and looks down at me with bright blue eyes that widen when he sees the look of pure fear on my face. "You alright?" He offers me his gloved hand and I search his face. He's familiar. The news. I've seen him on tv with the Avengers. I grab onto his offered hand with both of mine. This might be my only chance to escape. Percy has what some would call a complicated family life. While running from her life, she runs into a certain supersoldier. As much as Bucky would like to think he's a hard man, he can't resist helping this little girl. And maybe getting a little more attached than he should. *I DO NOT OWN THE AVENGERS ONLY THE CHARACTERS I CREATE*

Sequel to Punching Bag! My heart is beating about as fast as I'm spinning the two rings around my finger. I stare out the jet windows at the changing landscape, so different from where I just was. I pause and look down at the rings with nostalgia staining my tongue. A smile curves my lips up when I fiddle with the bottom shining silver band with the little A on it and then the little spider on the other. "You need to calm down. Even I can hear your heartbeat." Natasha tells me calmly as she flies. A moment passes with her searching jade eyes on mine before I sigh. "It's been three months," I tell her green eyes as she suppresses a smile. "I've been gone longer. This was your chance to stretch your legs, Jo, and you did extremely well." She reassures me. "What's bothering you?" Natasha pushes slightly, knowing I'm not telling her something. My eyes roll. "Are you forgetting I didn't exactly have permission to leave? And how adamant everyone was that I shouldn't have?" She raises an eyebrow. "Everyone?" She repeats and I deflate slightly in surrender. She was on my side, mostly. "You're over eighteen and legally allowed to make your own decisions. The team has no hold on you, Jo." I fix her with an incredulous glare and her lips twitch. "Other than affection." Sighing, I press my lips together. "Right. And that has no hold on me." It's been three years since the events in Punching Bag and three months since Jo left to be on her own. Returning back to the facility has its own set of problems though. Including a stubborn Steve Rogers, broken-hearted Peter Parker, and an American public that Jo must win over to be an Avenger. And even more surprises down the line... *I DO NOT OWN THE AVENGERS. ONLY THE SCENES AND CHARACTERS I CREATE*

"Hold on!" He asks vehemently. "What do you want?" I ask, irritated. His blue eyes widen and still manage to shine in the dim moonlight, his dark, golden hair looking like a halo on his head. America's golden boy he is. He hesitates at my question, as if he doesn't even know himself. "Why don't you come back with me? I can get you some food, a warm bed, some clean clothes?" He offers kindly. I look at him skeptically. "Back where? Your ivory tower?" I sass. He presses his lips together before jumping to the other dumpster. "Look, I just want to help. It doesn't matter what the press says. They get a lot wrong anyway." He shoots a smile down at me to try and win me over. "Well, that's wonderfully patriotic of you," I hop down and start walking down the alley away from him. "but no thanks." I slip my thumbs under the straps of my backpack and clutch on. Steve Rogers appears next to me in seconds, walking with me. I create distance between us, making sure we don't touch. Before he opens his mouth, I stop us both, my temper flaring up. "Look, I have no interest in being your charity case. I don't want to be in the press, used as an example of how good the Avengers are, or any of that shit. I just want to be left alone!" I huff, pulling my backpack tighter against my back to resist punching Captain America. Steve's eyes go to my still bloody knuckles in the dim light and his eyebrows furrow even further. "Oh, dear god." I complain at seeing more concern on his face. Before he can put a gentle hand on my shoulder and give me a rousing speech about justice or something I kick him hard in the balls. As soon as he leans over I start sprinting. I reach another dumpster and jump on top of it, then leap to the nearest fire escape. Then, I'm on the roof and feel like I'm flying. Some people've gotta learn the hard way; not everyone wants to be saved. SEQUEL 'Into the Ring' IS UP NOW! *I DO NOT OWN THE AVENGERS. ONLY THE CHARACTERS AND SITUATIONS I CREATE.*

It's not like I'm here for a joyride or some other stupid shit. Apparently, I'm Tony Stark's daughter. Yay. A product of one of his past crazy nights out where he was a little less than careful. My mom decided to drop this on me last night, then left for work, whatever the fuck that is for her, then the car came home in the morning instead of her. Whatever. She's never been a model mom anyways. So, here I am per her uber's instructions. No clue what else to do and I have nowhere else to go, so I'm going for broke here. A letter from my mother in my hands, I finally reach the door. With pursed lips, I ring the doorbell and jut my hip out to hold my hand. A bored expression on my face and worry in my heart; I wait. I DON'T OWN THE AVENGERS OR MARVEL, ONLY THE CHARACTERS AND SITUATIONS I CREATE.