The helicopter ride was as awkward as Fury's eye patch. I mean seriously, if he wasn't decked out in all that freaking black, he surly could've been mistaken for a black pirate. Me giggling at the thought caught his attention and he arched a brow, a small and seemingly invisible smirk playing on his lips.
"You're in a good mood for someone mourning." he said.
I scowled, staring out the window. I saw nothing but clouds in the probably midnight sky that was blanketed with many twinkling stars. I squinted my eyes, trying to envision Zin in those stars.
It didn't work.
Fury, surprisingly, placed a hand on my lap, a genuine face on. "Death happens Ava. There's nothing you can do about it."
I stared at him. "I'm not stupid." I then bit my tongue. "Sorry. I didn't mean—"
"You're still in the grieving stage." he said. "You're not thinking right. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Well I am." I snapped. "My best friend just died in my arms. How am I not to be ashamed of the fact that I couldn't resuscitate her? Bring her back from heaven?"
"How do you know she went to heaven?"
"Zin's a good girl!" I shouted. I lowered my tone. "She's a good girl who should've lived much longer than she did."
Fury didn't say anything more and I was glad, as it saved him from getting punched in the face by his rude words. Yes, the fact that she'd died was still within me, but seriously? Trying to act as if she'd gone to Hell? Please.
After a few hours had passed, the helicopter rose extremely high into the air. I wasn't sure where we were going, but for some reason I actually hoped it was the castle in Jack in the Bean Stock. It wasn't (of course), but it was a huge ship thing that was hovering in the air. I was shocked at the size and soon we landed on top of a landing pad.
"What is this?" I asked.
"The helicarrier." Fury said.
Getting out the helicopter, we walked over to seven people who apparently were waiting for our arrival. We walked over to them and Fury nodded at them before beckoning at me. "This is Ava Robertson." he said. "She's the new recruit."
"Hello." said a bald man with blue eyes and a friendly smile. "I'm Phil Coulson."
I smiled back. "Nice to meet you."
"Hello Princess." said the tall man with black hair and black goatee. He flashed a smile. "I'm sure you've heard of me."
"Never in my life." I admitted, gaining smirks from the others.
He didn't seem too happy as his smile somewhat faltered, but he ruffled my hair. "Awe, that's okay. I'm Tony Stark, also known as the famous and beloved Iron Man."
I rolled my eyes as another tall man with blond hair and blue eyes smiled, holding out his hand. "I'm Steve Rogers. I'm known as Captain America."
I shook his hand. "Hello."
"I am Thor, God of Thunder!" exclaimed the other crazily handsome blond with crystal blue eyes. He smiled broadly, holding my hand and kissing it. "And it is a pleasure to meet a beautiful maiden as yourself."
Well, at least I knew who I was crushing on.
A man in a purple shirt with curly black hair and kind eyes smiled shyly. "I'm Bruce Banner."
I nodded at him as the two agent dressed man and redhead women came up to me. The man spoke first. "Clint Barton." he said, smiling warmly.
The redheaded women looked me over. "I'm Natasha Romanoff."
I smirked at her. "You're trying to size me up. See if I'm agent material huh?"
She shrugged as if I wasn't right. "You're young."
"I'm sixteen."
"That's still young." she snapped back.
"I can fight."
She arched a brow. "Really?" I nodded and she suddenly threw a lightning fast punch I easily caught in my palm without batting an eye. She nodded. "Impressive."
Least I made some kind of impression on her.
"So what's this team of yours called?" I asked curiously, hoping it was cool.
"We, Princess," said Tony, walking over to me and placing his hands on my shoulders. "Are the Avengers."
And that's when I saw him. Andre Rodriguez. I recognized him as the man who, well, one of the MRD who'd raided my hometown. I faced Natasha. "You want me to really prove myself?" I stalked up to Andre who I tapped on his shoulder. He turned and I performed a lightning fast high-kick, knocking him out cold. "That's for killing my family yah dick!" I hollered at him.
The Avengers rushed over. Bruce checked him over along with the other medics that appeared seemingly in a second. Fury gripped my shoulder tightly, spinning me around. "We don't harm each other." he stated.
I laughed. "Right. How many times have you said that and yet there's been brawls around here?" I sighed. "Look, he's a bad man from my past.
"How is that?" Steve asked.
I looked away. "He murdered my family when I was young."
Phil put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"We all are." added Steve with a sad face.
I nodded. "Me too."
"And as long as you keep up that performance, you're okay with me." said Natasha. "Oh, and call me Nat's or Tasha."
I nodded and looked back at an unconscious Andre. He'd better be glad I didn't have a gun. Or he'd be very much ten-feet under. My stomach grumbled. "I'm hungry."
They all smiled, leading me away with Fury right behind us and Bruce stating he'd see us a little bit later. Although I knew the Avengers had accepted me, I had a feeling Fury was going to want much more information on my background. Sadly for him, I was going to make it extremely hard for him to find it.
As it was none of his business.