Making a Hero

Late in the evening, I quickly strolled down the street. It had been eight months since I'd become an Avenger and I'd perfected sneaking out. I rarely had the time to go far, but I needed to keep in touch with Luke so I considered it to be a calculated risk. So far I'd only managed to contact him four times since Fury had sent me upstate, and they hadn't turned out to be very productive visits. The Baron was making Luke work very hard to win his trust.

I didn't look like myself. I had long brown hair, artfully mussed and hanging to my waist. My face was very pretty and laden with make-up. The dress I wore was tiny and clung to all of the foreign curves of my body like it was painted on. I reached the bar, the irresistible tug of that little piece of my soul prompting me inside.

I threw a few flirty looks about and spared some smiles for the patrons inside, and was almost surprised with myself when I managed to spot each of the undercover Hydra agents. Steve's training was paying off. I spotted who I was looking for, and made a beeline for the tall, dark haired man sitting in a shadowy corner. He saw me approach, his eyes crawled up and down my body approvingly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk. I bent forward, put my elbows on his table giving him a good look down the front of my dress.

“Looking for a good time, handsome?” I purred, my accent gave him pause and I reached out and rubbed the tip of my finger on the band of the thin ring that he wore on his pinky. He raised his eyebrow suspiciously and gave me a questioning look. I am not that much of an actress and could not hold the hooker persona. Backsliding to my less sensual self, I grinned. “How's tricks Luke?” I whispered conspiratorially, watching the proverbial light bulb flash in his eyes.

“For a brief moment there I thought that they were going to get much better.” Luke groaned, rubbing a hand down his face and flicking a glance at my considerable cleavage. I laughed softly.

“I told you I'd look different each time.” I murmured, sashaying around the table and sliding myself onto his lap and giving a little giggle. With a gleeful sigh he wrapped one arm around me and slid one hand up my leg, alarmingly high. His knuckles rested up under the hem of my very short dress. and he rubbed his thumb over the sensitive skin with a smile.

“Yes, however last time you showed up at my door as a child selling biscuits.” He murmured distractedly.

“I was Girl Guide selling cookies actually.” I corrected him and he pinched me sharply on my thigh. I flinched. “Ow! Bitch.” I exclaimed quietly. He laughed. I smiled sweetly and ran my hand through his hair, snaring a large chunk of it in my fist. I gave it a little warning tug. His sucked in a breath and I know I didn't imagine the flare of heat in his eyes. Apparently I'd stumbled on Luke's little kink. Hair pulling. We shared an awkward, sexually charged moment.

“Ah, to be young.” a very familiar voice interrupted. I felt my heart rate kick up and knew that the blood was draining from my face. I hadn't heard that voice for many, many years. I could only hope that the amount of make-up I had on would hide my suddenly ghostly complexion. Luke appeared alarmed for a moment, glancing at me before turning to face the speaker. Forcing a bright smile and a vapid expression, I too, turned to face the Baron.

“Oh you're not so old sir, I'm sure you could still show a girl a good time.” I simpered, my voice dripping sugar. Strucker admired me indulgently, and I could feel Luke regarding me with astonishment.

“You're very kind my dear.” He said with a cold smile. I giggled and wriggled, snuggling into Luke's lap. The Baron fixed me with a disdainful look, then addressed Luke, “I suppose you have earned yourself a reward God, but do take yourself somewhere more private. This is unseemly. Make it quick.” He waved his hand at me dismissively and then strode away. Luke and I sat silently for a moment. I knew that I was shaky, and Luke seemed subdued. A part of me had been so certain that Strucker would recognize me and snap a collar around my neck.

“Let's go.” Luke said quietly pushing me up on my feet. He then stood, towering over me and I noticed several people in the little bar stare at him, measures of respect and resentment in their gaze. He grasped my hand and led me up the stairs at the side of the room. His stride proud and purposeful. I tottered after him, the ridiculous heels that I was wearing making my hips roll and forcing me to take fast little mincing steps. We ascended the staircase, and Luke addressed the guards that stood on the landing.

“I demand complete privacy.”He said in a commanding tone, “The Baron has granted me a reward for my loyalty and service, I do not not wished to be disturbed while I...” he turned and fixed me with a predatory gaze, “enjoy it.” His voice dropped to something so seductive that I felt an involuntary shiver travel up my spine. The huskiness in my chuckle was not entirely put on. I had no idea that Luke was capable of making me feel like this, and as I trotted after him like an awkward gazelle, I wasn't convinced that I liked it.

He shut the door and locked it while stood in the room thinking about his reaction to me pulling his hair. I didn't want to think about it, but it kept popping into my head. I should be much more concerned with the Baron's activity in a small pub, not with what turned Luke on. Shit.

“Are you well?” He asked suddenly and I swung around so fast that my hair whipped about and flicked me in the face. Swearing and blinking I wiped it away.

“What?” I squawked guiltily, of course Luke couldn't know what I was thinking, I settled down. “I'm fine. Why do you ask?” I asked distractedly. The room pretty much just had a bed and a bathroom. I tried to think too hard on that and, feeling distinctly flustered, I sat on the corner of the bed, tugging on the hem of my dress.

“Because when you looked as though you might faint when Strucker interrupted us.” He said, eyes darting away from me. Yeah, interrupted us having a kind of sexy moment. I wasn't entirely comfortable remembering that either. I could still hear that little intake of breath when I'd held a fist full of his hair in my grip. I coughed.

“Like I said, we've got a history, The Baron and I. Not that he'd recognize me like this of course.” I sounded more confident than I felt. The Baron had been good at getting into my head and messing me around, the memories of it were enough to make me increasingly nervous.

“He's quite peculiar.” Luke remarked, leaning up against the wall opposite me and crossing his arms, “I am always at his side when he is in the country, aiding him with much of what he does, as uninteresting as it is. But he refuses to confide in me the reason for all of this activity. Telling me only that it will change everything.”

“You must be learning quite a bit.” I commented, fidgeting with my hair. Luke snorted.

“Not as much as I would care to. He claims to have people of considerable power under his control and gloats that no-one will see him coming. He is planning something big. Very big, and the plans are soon going to come to fruition.” Luke began pacing. I picked at the cover on the bed.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

Luke growled, “Waiting. He's supposed to meeting a very important contact but he's remaining evasive when I ask questions.”

“I hope you're not missing it because of me.” I muttered. Luke shook his head.

“The meeting was to take place at midnight, which is still some time away, and he claimed to have need of me at the time of the meet. I think he's planning a test of my loyalty. His secrecy doesn't make sense when he claims to need me.” Luke's hands were behind his back and he stated his suspicions very matter of fact. I knew that he'd do whatever it was that the Baron wanted him to.

“You have to pass that test.” I said unnecessarily. I was dying to know what the Baron was up to and who could possibly so important that the Baron was willing to meet them in a dirty little pub, but I wouldn't risk Luke's safety. I knew how volatile the Baron could be when things didn't go his way.

“He has been asking me a great deal of questions, regarding my true identity and from where I originate.” Luke advised me quietly. I groaned.

“Considering that you can't tell me your actual identity, that's really not a great deal of help.” I said tartly. I still wasn't any closer to figuring out who he really was and it was becoming a source of great irritation.

“I know you're trying to learn who I am, and you can find out. You just have to keep looking for the right information.” he told me, adding, “Though you may not like what you discover.”

“Urgh, don't say ominous things like that Luke. I may not want to find out who you really are. I like liking you, I don't want to hate you.” I said hating the certainty in his voice.

“I don't want you to hate me either. But it is an unavoidable consequence of your future discovery.” He said, and I thought that he sounded a little sad. I blew out a exasperated breath.

“Don't be such a wet blanket. I've loved some pretty questionable people in my time, I'm sure I'll be just as accepting of a friendship with you when I know who you really are, as I am now.” I stood up and stilled his pacing with a touch on his arm. He paused, regarding me with a piercing glance.

“I certainly hope so.” He told me. We both heard heavy footsteps clumping up the stairs. “That's the Baron!” Luke hissed, we shared a panicked stare.

“Quick,” I whispered, “sex me!” and then without giving me a chance to object, he grabbed the hem of my dress and whipped it up over my head before shoving me onto the bed. The look on his face as he realized that I was naked under that dress was so priceless that I laughed as he threw himself on top of me. I helped him out of his jacket and took a great deal of glee in tearing his shirt open. The red flush that flooded his face as he realized my mirth at his expense was the most color I'd ever seen in his face.

“Its not as though I've never seen a naked woman before.” He muttered and I giggled more, running my hands over his bare chest. Excitement flooded me and I knew I was enjoying this ruse far more than I should. My breathing hitched as Luke looked at me, I saw what I was feeling reflected in his eyes and when he lowered his head to kiss me I met his mouth with enthusiasm. Those lips worked my mouth expertly and I moaned and pulled his body closer. He wrapped his arms around me and groaned into my mouth at the contact of our bare chests. His skin was cold to touch, but did nothing to douse the rising heat inside me.

The door crashed open and the Baron charged in, “ You, God! We have been compromised and we must leave. Now!” He barked at Luke, who'd turned to stare at Strucker. I flushed shamefaced, having completely forgotten about the Baron, who didn't even spare me a glace. “Leave the whore for Shield.” He snarled before turning and marching from the room. Luke looked from the door to me, his eyes round and I wondered if he'd forgotten about the Baron as well.

“I'm sorry I-” He backed himself off me so fast it was like I'd literally caught fire, “I got carried away.” he cast one more look at me and then tossed me my dress. He was still breathing hard and his hair was adorably ruffled. Trying not to feel too cheated, I pulled the dress back on.

“Hey, this body makes people get carried away.” I said wiping my mouth on the back of my hand and acting as nonchalant as I could while my heart was still racing, “That's why I Shifted to it.” I couldn't help the sad smile as I dropped the Shift, melting back to my very average self. The dress didn't fit nearly as well and I refused to look at Luke directly while I strode over to the small window and rammed it open. My natural appearance would act as a bucket of cold water to him.

“I'm sorry that you didn't learn much this trip.” He said formally, flushing slightly when I raised an eyebrow.

“Oh I'm sure I've picked up enough to help me learn something new.” I said pertly. “Until next time, God-boy.” If he thought that I'd missed The Baron's pet name for him, he was dead wrong. I waggled my fingers at him and shifted to an owl, perching on the window ledge. With a final hoot at Luke's startled expression, I swept out into the night air and carried myself home on silent wings.

***

A screeching alarm split through the silence of the night, jerking me out of my dreamless sleep. I lurched from my bed and staggered about my room looking for some trousers and trying desperately to recall what Steve had first told me about the different alarms during my orientation over half a year ago. Glancing at the clock I figured that I'd had about five hours sleep and so I fiercely loathed the world and everything in it.

“Alright I'm up, I'm up!” I yelled my hands over my ears, with nothing springing to mind that might help me figure out what I was supposed to do, I dashed from the room, seeing the other dorm occupants skidding about the corridor in various states of dress. Sam and James were running towards the mission room in nothing but boxer shorts and I hurried to join them, admiring the view of their bare backs and satin clad bottoms. My loathing subsided a little.

Wanda fell into step beside me, a t-shirt and pajama bottoms, as bra-less as I was. She fixed me with a worried look “What's going on?” She shouted over the noise of the alarm, I shook my head, having no clue. Vincent glided past us, along the corridor and just vanished into the wall ahead of us, I pulled a face as we scrambled around the corner.

Well all came to a panicked halt in the assembly area to see Steve standing at the large table in nothing but trackpants. I was willing to bet that they were hastily pulled on and he really slept in the buff. He was examining a video that was being holo-projected above the tables surface.

Natasha came into the room from a different direction, looking fresh and ready for action and not all like she'd just been roused from deep morning slumber by a banshee cry. I stood at the table in yesterday's unbuttoned stained jeans with my arms crossed over my braless chest in my thin tank top, and tried not to hate her.

“I bet she hasn't even been to bed.” Sam whispered conspiratorially in my ear. He was hugging himself and his skin was goose-pimpling. I hummed my agreement.

“Our perimeter has been breached.” Steve announced. Ah. So the screeching wail of death sound meant that someone was breaking in, “However, our security cameras haven't picked anything definitive up.” He replayed the footage that he'd been watching, you couldn't see anything.

“Wait, there, there's a blur.” Natasha pointed. The picture enlarged and repeated. We could all see the slight blur, which could easily be dismissed as technological glitch. Except that Wanda audibly gasped and I watched all the color drain from her face. Steve, ever perceptive, picked up on her reaction.

“Wanda, what do you know?” He demanded. Wanda opened her mouth to respond when a strange man strolled into the room and we were all immediately distracted.

“Ten points for getting into the base undetected, thank you and I thank you.” He declared, smiling smugly and everyone stared. I pulled a face and leaned over to Vincent, “Because apparently, genius here didn't hear that ear splitting screech that had us vaulting from our beds. Undetected my ass.” I whispered. Vincent smiled and James snorted.

“Clint, what the hell?” Natasha exclaimed, and Clint winked at her. He grinned broadly at everyone around the room and they returned his smile. I recognized him as Hawkeye, but I'd never met him before. I'd gathered that he was the team wise-ass. His gaze landed on me.

“Ah and the rookie too.” He said, giving me a little wave before turning away. “Well Tasha, it wasn't just me, it was me and-”

“Pietro.” Wanda said breathlessly. Clint nodded with a smug look on his face. He obviously knew more than anyone else in the room and was prepared to lord it over them all. Startled, I turned to look at Wanda, Pietro was supposed to be dead. I felt a whoosh, my hair flapped, and very suddenly, She was gone. I sighed.

“So. Apparently the speedsters not dead.” James murmured. I frowned and wondered if Fury knew that yet or not. Probably. There wasn't much that he didn't know. Yawning, I turned my attention back to Clint, who was explaining to Steve how Pietro came to be here.

“-while I was on a mission. I ran across some unexpected Hydra interference, in the form of Pietro. At some point, Hydra recovered him, he wasn't as dead as we thought. They were controlling him with some kind of collar.” Clint was saying, my interest peaked. Luke had mentioned that Strucker had control over some powerful people. I just hadn't realised that he'd meant it literally. I thought Strucker was blackmailing politicians, not collaring enhanced humans. I felt my skin heat slightly as Luke came to mind.

“Collar?” Steve asked, glancing over at me. “With the steel fibers that pierce the skin of the neck and entangle themselves into the spinal column?” I rubbed the back of my neck as Steve spoke, remembering the feeling.

“Yeah, how did you know?” Clint asked, eyebrows raised.

“A couple of us are all too familiar with Hydra's methods.” Steve replied evasively. I appreciated it, I wasn't really ready for everyone to know that I'd spent time as a pet.

“So what happened to his collar?” I asked, those collars were specially designed to be tamper proof. It took a lot to remove them.

“I shorted it with an electrocution arrow and he managed to phase out of it before it exploded.” Clint said, shrugging. I stood opened mouthed.

“You're shitting me right?” I clarified, Steve groaned and shook his head, Clint laughed.

“You gonna let her get away with that kind of language Cap?” He asked and the Captain just shook his head in a resigned kind of way.

“Honestly there's nothing that I say or do that stops her.” he responded, eyeing me darkly. I just smiled sweetly. It was the modern age. People swear. And since I knew that cussing made Steve uncomfortable, I had made it my life's purpose to come up with the most inventive expletives to use during combat training. He'd landed a punch to my face last time and I'd called him a knuckle dragging, inbred swamp donkey. Clint was grinning.

“I shit you not. It was pretty risky considering we didn't know if he could vibrate fast enough to phase through it, but it was worth a shot.” I had a feeling that Clint was actually dying to launch into full story telling mode.

“Uh guys,” James said and I jumped, having completely forgotten that he was there, He pointed to the gray light illuminating the windows, “That is the cold light of dawn lighting the sky out there.” There was a collective noise of groans.

“Well. I'll put the coffee pot on.” Sam grumbled and we all shuffled off in our various directions to properly begin our day.