Song: F*ckin Perfect by P!nk

******

That night, Steve and I sat at the kitchen table and listened to the others tell us about what had happened at the abandoned mansion. Clint's wife had made us all spaghetti and meatballs, though not much was eaten.

Mrs. Barton seemed understanding, even though I apologized several times. I did, however, enjoy the garlic bread for the others.

It wasn't much, and for the most part none of them wanted to talk much about whatever horrors or past hurts were brought up. Instead, they had me go over what happened with the twins and Bruce, to which I explained everything to them.

The whole time, Bruce just stared at my wrist in the brace, refusing to make eye contact with me as I explained how my injuries happened. Steve merely sat next to me and listened with a strange expression on his face. He caught Bruce staring at me and I saw him once or twice shift closer to me, which caused Bruce to look away.

By the time our dinners were eaten, no one felt like talking anymore, so we all went off to our rooms for the night. Steve and I went back to the room we were using and I fell back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He lay down next to me, remaining silent.

"Clint's family is nice," I mumbled.

"Yeah. He's got some cute kids," he replied, his hand reaching over as he laced his fingers through mine. "I'm happy for him. Makes it funny that we teased him about needing a girlfriend over Christmas, huh?"

I laughed. "Yeah, that is true," I paused, thinking. "Have you ever thought of having a future?" I whispered. "I mean, a family of your own, and time to just settle down? I had plans for that before Strucker. Before all of this. And now... I don't know."

"I did," He says softly. "Then things changed for me, too. I guess it's silly, but I've always wanted a little girl. I let go of that dream a long time ago."

I felt a pang deep in my chest at that, as I would never be able to have children again. "I'm sorry..."

He looked over at me and frowned, then leaned over me and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "It's not your fault, Avery. Don't be sorry."

I looked up at him. "I just... why do you want to be with me? I don't want to be the reason your dreams can't happen...."

He moved his arms under me and gathered me into his arms, pulling me into his chest, and he whispered, "Don't ever think I wouldn't give up on some dream for you. You are my Angel, and I woke up in this time for a reason. I'm here."

I felt my eyes beginning to sting with tears and I moved my arms around him.

"I... Steve, I love you," I laughed slightly. "I don't think I've ever fallen so quickly, and it scares me a little bit."

"We have time, Avery," he said softly, his arms tightening around me as his hands rubbed up and down my back. "All the time in the world."

I smiled, moving my hand to the back of his head and gently playing with his hair. He hugged me a little closer, his shoulders and muscles losing their tightness as he relaxed into my touch.

"Yeah, we do, don't we?" I whispered, and smiled.

*******

The next morning after breakfast, I went outside with Steve and Tony, watching them chop wood as I sat cross-legged on a larger log. They weren't speaking, but that seemed to be normal for them at this point.

There was an uncomfortable silence until I finally broke it,

"Are you two ok?" I fiddled with a strap on the wrist brace, looking between the two anxiously. I knew they weren't, I just wanted them to talk.

"Just fine, Avery, what makes you ask?" Tony asks as he lifts another log and splits it with the axe rather forcefully.

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean other than the fact that I can read minds? You two have been at each others' throats lately, and you are both my closest friends, so I just wanted to see what's going on. Because we need to regroup."

Steve looked at me and smirked a bit at that, and I stuck my tongue out at him. "Very close friends..." he mumbled towards me and I sighed heavily.

"Well, we can't do that with Thor gone," Tony says and sends Steve a look. "Did he mention where he was going, by the way?"

"No. Which is strange because I thought people would tell me things, and surprisingly, Thor didn't." Steve replied and broke apart a log with his bare hands, sending Tony a venomous look. 

My eyebrows shot up. Damn. I wanted him to split another like that... Shut up, Avery. I felt my cheeks beginning to burn.

Tony sighed and shot back, "Look, we only did it because we were trying to help."

"Yeah, and look where it got us. Now the team is in danger," Steve replied.

"The team. Yeah that's what this is all about, huh? No. Look, we did that so we wouldn't need a team. Isn't that the point of the Avengers? To make sure the world is just safe?" Tony demanded.

Steve looked about ready to pounce on Tony.

I slid off the log and stood between them and snapped, "And since when has acting like a pair of whiny children ever helped any situation?"

They paused and looked at me, going silent as they began to shift uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Honestly, you two have been at each others' throats and I'm tired of it. Should Ultron have become what he is now? No, of course not! Was there good intent behind his creation? Yes. Was it something that maybe should have been brought up sooner? Yes, but it wasn't, so we need to let that go and deal with what we have going now. And no offense, but you're both being unreasonable. Stop letting your emotions rule and think logically here about what needs to be done. Ultron said the Avengers aren't needed anymore, did he not? He said we meant nothing. We will mean nothing if we can't even work and communicate together."

They stared at me in stunned silence before Steve mumbled, "I'm sorry, Avery."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," I said more gently and motioned towards Tony, but my wings flared out behind me slightly. "And I didn't hear anything from you, either," I said to Tony.

Tony looked to Steve and held a hand out to him. "Sorry for being a prick."

Steve paused, then took his hand. "Sorry for being sensitive."

I nodded, resting my hands on my hips. "There. See? Wasn't so hard. Your feelings are both valid, you just gotta learn to see each other's."

"And that's why you're here, Avery. You're able to see past all of it," Tony said. "You always do."

"Hey," A voice said and we turned to see Clint's wife standing behind us. "Ah, sorry to interrupt. But I was wondering if you could take a look at the tractor in the barn, Mr. Stark? Clint said you wouldn't mind."

"No worries. There was nothing to interrupt," Tony said and set the axe into the log to his left, then pointed at Steve, who stiffened at his comment. "Don't touch my pile."

I watched him walk down towards the barn and I looked at Steve. His arms were crossed, his fists clenched under his arms.

I moved a hand to touch his arm and he looked down at me. "I know you want to keep the peace, Angel, and I love you for it, but Tony and I have had issues from day one."

I pulled on his arm and he leaned down and I kissed his cheek, causing him to smile. "All the more reason for you both to get working on that, darling. Everything can change, but change requires work."

He looked at me then, his blue eyes searching mine, before he said, "You are amazing."

I smirked slightly, then said, "Yeah? Well I'm gonna sit on that log again and watch you break apart those logs some more."

He laughed at that, but his cheeks tinged slightly pink. "Oh yeah? You like watching me?"

"Splitting those logs?" I asked as I boosted myself up onto the log again and crossed my legs. "Oh, yeah. You can keep going. I'm just gonna watch."

He walked over to the pile and lifted up a log as he met my eyes and broke it in half over his knee.

"Like that, Angel?" He asks, and a sudden tension moved between us.

My heart skipped a beat. "Yeah. Do it again."

He did, and I bit my lip. His eyes never left mine.

He moved over to me, then, and stopped in front of me. Our eyes locked, and I asked somewhat breathlessly, "What is it?"

He moved a hand to my cheek, then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You are beautiful," he says finally. "And if I don't walk away from you, I might do something I'm not sure if you're ready for or not."

My heart beating faster, and my cheeks burning, I asked, "And what would that be, Steve Rogers?"

He leaned forward and whispered in my ear so a tingle went down my spine, "Read my mind."

And I did, and I felt my cheeks burn. It involved no clothing, and a bed, but also a wall... Dear God. "Hm... you want to do that? Good old Steve Rogers wants to have me against a wall?"

"With you, and only you," He says seriously, though a sly smile tugged at his lips. "Though... it would be my first time, and I can't say I've ever wanted someone the way I want you, Angel."

I moved my hands to his cheeks as he stepped closer to me. "That doesn't bother me."

"It doesn't?" He asks as he lifted his hands to hold onto my wrists.

"It doesn't bother you that I have," I said. "It would be unfair of me, and stupid, too. Let's get through this, Steve, ok? It's... not that I don't want to, it's more... we need to fix this first. All this with Ultron."

He nods. "I can respect that. It would be good to have the first time not have so much... stress? Is that a good word?"

I nodded. "It is a good enough word to describe what's happening in our lives right now," I said with a small, nervous laugh. "I want our first time to be when we can focus on each other. No crazy robots trying to destroy the human race or anything else. Just you and me."

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "I can agree to that. And how do you feel about sharing a room tonight?"

I smiled at that. "I appreciate you asking me, darling. Yes, you can stay tonight." I then smirked slightly. "Do you have self-control, my darling?"

He ground his teeth. "For you? I'd wait another seventy years if I had to."

I smiled against his lips as he kissed me and when he pulled away, "I look forward to a kind of future like that if you'll be in it."

******

I sat perched on the arm of the couch as I watched the others talk to a man with an eye patch I was told to be Nick Fury- who dropped off the face of the earth, apparently. From what Steve had filled me in on, the guy had started the Avengers, but after an accident involving an evil group named HYDRA, he disappeared and everyone thought he was dead.

He was talking to them about Ultron and giving them a pep talk, but it didn't feel as though I was a part of the conversation.

Steve kept looking over at me and offering me a small smile. I returned his smiles.

Then, they were all looking at me and I blinked. I realized with a start that the former S.H.I.E.L.D. Director was staring me down from across the room. "I believe I asked you a question," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

I blinked, then stood up and walked into the kitchen, scratching at my arm above my wrist brace. I lifted my chin, and replied, "I believe I missed your question."

A small smirk crossed his lips. "So you are the infamous Anya Maximoff, huh? Ran from home and ended up in a hospital and then an orphanage. And now you're part bird. Is any of that true?"

"Partly," I replied coldly and narrowed my eyes at him, not backing down as I replied, "My name isn't Anya Maximoff. It's Avery."

"Avery what?" He asked right back, getting in my face.

I didn't flinch, and stood up, forcing him to take a step back. "Just Avery. I don't have a last name. What was your question?"

He took a step back from me and nodded slowly. He glanced over at Tony. "And she's an Avenger like you all?"

"Yeah. She's part of the team," Tony replied, sending Steve a look. Steve was watching Fury like a hawk, and didn't seem to catch his quip.

"An excellent addition, if I might add," Bruce said, and I looked over and noticed how much closer he was to Fury and I now, standing only a few feet away. I noticed the watchful expressions on our friends' faces directed at him.

I smiled tersely and went to side-step around Fury to go to Steve, who had also moved around to stand closer to me, but Fury stepped in my way, eye still trained on me. I stiffened, flinching away from him as he did this and I felt my heart beginning to beat hard and fast.

"Fury," Steve said harshly.

I clenched my fists and glared up into the eye of the old Director, daring him. "You're in my way," I snarled.

"Yes. I am," he replied just as tensely.

"Fury, maybe you should stop cornering her," Natasha said, standing. Her eyes darted between Bruce and Steve. "She's been with us for a year now, and has saved us on several occasions. She's even been on two missions and helped reverse the effects of Wanda's powers on our minds, and stopped the Hulk. She didn't grow up with Pietro and Wanda and even fought them yesterday. She's on our side."

"She is what I say she is," Fury snapped. "Isn't it a bit convenient all this is happening at the same time?" He asks and straightens.

The others didn't have a response- except for Steve. "You might want to stop questioning her, Fury. There's nothing to question." His voice was stern, hollow, and angry.

"Step away from her. She's been with us and stood by us the entire time you were absent. You weren't around to help. Avery was," Bruce said, and I was surprised he was standing up for me. I thought he hated me now, but this didn't entirely change what had happened yesterday, not yet.

Fury turned his attention to Bruce, then, and I saw his hand move to rest at his waist, where his holster was. Bruce's eyes followed the movement and his glare only deepened.

I clenched my jaw and moved to go around Fury again, but he stepped in my way again. I glared and lifted my wings pulling them down hard and jumped over him, landing in front of him lightly and folded my wings. I looked over to Steve and he closed the distance and took my hand, pulling me closer to him protectively.

I looked at Fury and l snarled over my shoulder,

"Remove your hand from your weapon. Now."

His face contorted in confusion as his hand suddenly whipped away from his hip and he stared at me in horror. His hand was held above his head, his arm shaking as he tried to fight my control. Steve was gripping my hand tightly, but let me fight my battle.

I didn't stand down and said, "I have no quarrel with you- you were introduced to me as a dead man. Don't make there be a reason for us to have issues. I don't care how fast you can draw that gun- I'm faster. All Bruce did was try to stand up for me. Threaten him again, and no one here will be able to stop me from breaking your fucking wrist right now."

I released Fury's arm and he rubbed at his wrist, then grinned, and laughed.

"Alright. Any doubts I had about you before are gone now, Miss Avery. You are just what this team needed. Spark. I saw you yelling at Steve and Tony outside, and I see the way the team comes to aid you. Welcome."

"Seriously? That was a little unneeded," I say and look at him suspiciously. Steve held my hand tightly still, but I lowered my wings and folded them against my back again.

"Maybe it was, but it was entertaining. Now. I'm sure you already know by now, but with Strucker dead and Klawe out of the picture for now, we-"

"What?" I demanded hoarsely.

"What do you mean 'what'?" Fury asked.

I looked to the others, and they wouldn't look at me. Steve didn't meet my eyes, and it felt like a kick in the gut.

"I mean- what do you mean Strucker is dead?" I asked again, slowly, swallowing back my nausea.

"I mean he is. Ultron killed him. You didn't know?"

I looked at the others and they all looked at a loss for words until Maria spoke up. "We didn't think you'd handle the news well."

I scoffed. "I don't know what I'm more offended about. That you took it upon yourself to determine how I would react to his death for me, or if I'm more upset someone else killed him for me. I'm not a child. I'm twenty-nine years old now. I know how to manage my emotions and deal with things. That man did things to me that are unforgivable and I was angry, yes, but it doesn't mean you keep this from me. If anything, I'm glad he's gone."

"Keeping this from Avery wasn't the right move," Steve said finally. "I'm just as at fault for that. She's a strong person. Telling her should have been one of the first things we did."

I looked up at Steve and gently squeezed his hand, and his grip tightened back around my hand, his other hand moving over to cover it.

"It's understandable you'd be defending your girlfriend," Fury says as he stared at us interestedly and I leveled a glare on him once again. "But sometimes there is no real threat and you should just stand down. Not everyone needs a hero."

I felt Steve stiffen somewhat as Fury's words hit him. Steve wouldn't show it, but I knew the words hurt him. His grip on my hand loosened somewhat, but I squeezed his hand tighter. I wasn't letting him go.

I lifted my chin and said severely, "Funny, coming from the man that designed a team of heroes and then abandoned them. Maybe you should all figure out what it is you need from me, then let me know when I'm needed again. Clearly the only value I seem to have is being able to counter my sister's powers and stop the friggin Hulk. Come find me when you're ready to not be childish and actually communicate for once. I'm not going to sit here and be used."

I turned and began to pull Steve from the room until Tony said, "Wait. Avery. I'm sorry, ok? I'll say sorry for not telling you. We didn't want to hurt you with a topic that was still a fresh hurt. We care about you, Avery, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that. Even Thor, if he was here right now."

I looked back at them and nodded to Tony, then said venomously to Fury, "Don't ever talk like that to Steve again. And as for Bruce- stop treating him like a hazard. You all do, even if you won't say it out loud. He's as much a part of this team as you all are. And I think it's a shame I am the only once who's consistently believed that. Even after yesterday, and everything that happened to me."

No one spoke and I released a heavy sigh. "Let me know when we are going to leave and any plan you make along the way. I'm tired."

I turned to leave again and gently tugged Steve to follow me. And he did, and we left them standing in silence.