𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄 || 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘵

   SPARKS SPLASHED UP, HITTING THE BLACK VISOR OF THE WELDING MASK A FIGURE HAD OVER THEIR HEAD. Unbothered by the multiple engineers walking past and going about their business. It almost seemed like she was invincible to their vision. But in actuality, she was just in charge of a lot of engineers within the hangar.

The bustling around her never strayed her attention away from her Pegasus suit. The blowtorch is dangerously close to the small turbojet/rocket engines on the back of the chest plate. The two strap-on stun rockets were finished being modified earlier that day. All she had to do was finish getting these engines onto the torso piece and it would be up and ready to go again.

"Hey, Nova!" A voice called out, catching the girl's attention as she glanced up. Only being able to see the dim silhouette of a figure approaching her work table. Shutting the blowtorch off, she placed it on the table and lifted the welding mask up.

Blinking a few times for her eyes to readjust, she smiled. "What's up, Cooper?" The blonde gave his famous smile as he took a seat on the stool opposite her. Glancing down at her Pegasus suit and smirked, pointing to it in question.

"You're still working on this?" He asked incredulously. "I got that done at, like, 5:30 AM." The girl rolled her eyes and peeled her gloves off her hands as she grabbed her water bottle.

"Yeah, but I'm making sure I got everything ready." She explained, bringing the bottle to her lips. Humming when feeling the cold liquid hit the back of her throat.

She'd lost track of time whenever it came to her working. From her working on her Pegasus suit, commanding the people in the hangar to their jobs, then going on Air Patrols with Cooper. It was multiple hours of work with multiple responsibilities a day that the idea of rest or even normal day expectations was abnormal. So, keeping track of the time wasn't one of the thoughts at the front of her mind. But that was what she signed up for when she was approached with the job. She knew that this was what her life would be like, especially when her Stepfather was her boss.

Lowering the bottle, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Pointing at Cooper as she said, "And I would much rather prefer not being grounded because I messed up with my systems." She reminded, a smirk on her face when the blonde raised his hands in hysterics.

"That was one time okay! My left engine cut out, but that wasn't my fault."

Nova only replied with a smile as he ran his hands down his face. "It was just a stupid miscalculation from me. I didn't balance out the distribution of the energy into the engines properly. A rookie mistake." He grumbled, holding his head in his hands.

Sighing heavily, Nova leaned back on her stool. "Everyone makes mistakes, Coop. I've made a ton with the suits- Hell, I even nearly died because of the same mistake!" She exclaimed with a chuckle as the blonde looked up at her. "I didn't stabilize the engines when I was in a fight and one of the engines blew." Turning around, she lifted the right side of her shirt to reveal the scars.

"Jesus." He muttered as Nova turned back around and sat down. "But, you've taught me everything about making these suits. From the smallest bits, like the bolts to the goddamn wiring. I just think I shouldn't have fucked up on something like that." He sighed as he grabbed the girl's water bottle and took a sip.

"But you had me, didn't you?" She smiled, tilting her head slightly as the blonde hummed with a nod while swallowing the water.

"I did." He placed the bottle back down. "Don't think I would've survived if you didn't catch me."

Thinking back to that day, it was such a freak accident that was so out of the blue for the pair. They'd been flying together for about 2 years now and they never had a problem like that. One second Nova was flying in tandem with Cooper. The next his left engine sputtered and lost all power. Leaving the blonde in a Skyfall through the clouds with no hope of getting the engine back online. Thankfully, Nova had been able to catch him, even though they both went tumbling to the earth's ground. Both of them were left with major injuries, but both wanted to get back to the sky as soon as possible.

Perhaps that was why Nova had recruited him and trusted him enough with the Pegasus suit. He had the same love of the endlessness that was the sky, which may have also been a reason why she had told him about her father. How he up and left her without an explanation. Only leaving the schematics and blueprints for the Pegasus suit.

"You're my partner, Cooper." She smiled as the blonde fiddled with the dog tags hanging around his neck. "My friend who's been by my side through everything since you got here."

Cooper smiled lightly. "Yeah, well, you left me with no choice since you're my boss."

Rolling her eyes, Nova continued. "You're my brother, Coop." She said softly, gaining eye contact with the blonde. "We've gone through so much together and I can say that I don't plan on losing anyone else. Especially you. So, I got your back no matter what." She assured as the blonde stared at her.

Sniffling slightly, he stood up and sighed. "Man, it's too early for this emotional shit." That made Nova laugh as she stood up.

"Well, sometimes you gotta hear it. I sure don't get to hear it enough." She stated, glancing behind her.

From above, in a room overlooking the hanger. Stood Nick Fury and Coulson watching them closely. It aggravated the girl that he always seemed to do this whenever she was working. She understood he was making sure she was safe, but goddamn it always struck a nerve with her.

"You guys don't talk much, do you?" Cooper asked as the girl finally removed her eyes from her Stepfather.

"No. If we do then it's only for him to tell me that I have a patrol, and that isn't even in person." She grumbled.

Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. "I mean, he's got a lot going on. After the whole Blacksite explosion and the Tesseract being stolen. Hell, even Clint."

The reminder of her friend made her bite the inside of her cheek. "I don't want to talk about that." She muttered as she glanced up at Cooper. "Please.

He nodded in understanding and sighed. "I'm here if you need me." He comforted as Macmillan approached the pair.

"Agent Usoro and Agent Cooper. Director Fury would like for you guys to escort the Quinjet holding Captain Rogers." He explained.

Nova frowned, looking between her co-pilot and the messenger. "They're already on their way here?"

"Yes, ma'am," Macmillian responded with a pursed lips smile. If anyone knew anything, it was to inform Nova about these types of things ahead of time.

Cooper stepped forward. "I thought it would be at least a few days before we even got to work finding Loki?" He asked.

"Yes, but Director Fury moved up his timetable. Met with Captain Rogers while Agent Romanoff met with Doctor Banner."

Nova's eyes lit up at the mention of the redhead as she eagerly stepped forward. "Natasha's back?"

Macmillian nodded but held his hand up to stop the girl who attempted to move past him. "I'm sorry, Agent Usoro. But Director Fury really needs you two to get ready and escort the Quinjet." He explained as the girl glared at him.

"Why the hell do we need to?" She questioned as Cooper placed a hand on her shoulder. Giving her a look that made her huff and take a step back. "What's their E.T.A.?"

Macmillian tapped on his tablet and looked up at the pair. "5 minutes."

"I'm sorry, Agent Usoro. It's a direct order." He advised before giving a sympathetic smile and walking away. Nova looked up to the window and saw her father turn and walk away with Coulson following closely behind. Her hands clenched at her sides as she took a deep breath.

"Hey, come on. The faster we get this done with, the faster you get to see Nat." Cooper smiled as Nova turned her head to him.

A smile slowly built on her lips as she sighed and nodded. "Okay, fine."

The pair split off from one another and began getting ready. Slipping on her black Poplin suit and grabbing the torso of her Pegasus suit and slipping it on. Her chest plate being adamantine with the exterior of her jets being made with the same metal. Making it harder to melt the metal with the heavy modifications of the engines.

A white symbol with a horse and its wings spread was spray-painted onto the centre of the chest piece. With PS.79 as well on the straps around her shoulders.

Grabbing her helmet, she stared at the design she and Cooper created one night. The helmet was all black, the visor blue with wings painted in white on either side of the helmet. It was a very nice little design that was just enough, but not too much.

Flipping it around, she slipped the helmet on. The hud booting up with her name appearing in the centre of her vision. A bar loading up from 0% all the way to 100%. "Good evening, Nova." The voice of Athena, the A.I. she had created spoke. "Good evening, Athena. How's the weather looking?" She quizzed, walking towards the hanger opening that was a wide view of the sky waiting for her and Cooper to occupy.

"Clear skies, perfect for you and Icarus to enjoy," Athena stated, making Nova smile as she stopped at the edge. "Perfect."

"Quick diagnostic check, please."

"Everything is in check, ma'am. Should I do a quick check on Cooper's suit?" She asked.

Nova laughed with a shake of her head. "No, that's all right. I'm sure Zeus has that all under control. Just patch me into comms with him." Nova requested.

In the hud of her helmet, a little voice bar appeared with Cooper's name above it, as well as his callsign "Icarus".

"Zeus, I'm seriously about to beat your A.I. ass if you don't-" Nova laughed loudly, cutting the blonde off.

"Having fun, Zeus?" She asked.

"It's always a pleasure messing with Cooper, ma'am." The other A.I. stated.

Cooper appeared by Nova's side. "You two just love bullying me. You love me right, Athena?"

"Love is a strong word, Cooper." She replied as Nova snickered in amusement.

"All three of you are going to be the death of me." He huffed in annoyance as the girl slapped his shoulder encouragingly.

"Well, get used to it." She chuckled before jumping out of the hanger.

Leaving the blonde to watch the girl grab the two throttles in her hands and force them forward. Propelling her quickly through the sky and out of his sight. A sigh passed his lips.

"Why do you guys have to treat me like this?" He asked rhetorically.

"It seems to get your head in the right space, sir," Zeus replied as Cooper scoffed.

"Piss off, Z," He said before jumping out of the hanger and into the sky.