Mission Time...
***ONE MONTH LATER; FOUR MONTHS AFTER SOKOVIA***
Another pretty chill day at the compound. They haven't been getting many calls for emergencies, so they were all just relaxing, some more than others. Waiting for the possibility of a call.
Veronika was in the training room practicing her movements. Practicing her fighting moves, that she mixed into like a dance. She came up with this style young, and learned it to perfection, dancing distracts people and makes them vulnerable and that was the task at hand sometimes.
"Veronika." A voice said suddenly which made her turn with a dagger of stars in her hand.
"VISION! What did you, me and Wanda talk about with this?!"
"Sorry Veronika, I was just told to inform you to come to the meeting room." They said with an apologetic look. She sighed and stood straight walking to them.
"Why do I need to go to the meeting room?"
"Captain Rogers said he has a mission for you. You, Pietro, and Sam, they're all in the conference room."
"Oh, great a mission with the person who hates me." She said removing the wraps from her hands. Throwing them away.
"From my understanding, he doesn't hate you, Veronika." They said but quickly stopped. "Just please come to the meeting room."
She nodded a little confused at their first statement but made her way to the meeting room, though she was still in her training gear. She walked in and saw her father and the Silver speedy wonder talking.
"Look who finally showed up." Steve joked. "Hope you didn't tire yourself out too much kid."
"Never, what do you need dad?"
"Well, I have a mission for you and Maximoff for a supposed abandoned HYDRA spot we've located in North Carolina, America obviously. We will give you the coordinates to get there." He began tapping the tablet that Natasha has been teaching him to use. "As far as we know it's not a human testing facility, so we don't know what you may find...and it's been abandoned for about a month, maybe a little longer, maybe a little less." Steve said, looking at the two.
"So, you just want us to check it out and tell you what we find?" Veronika asked, "Seems easy enough how long do we have to get ready-"
"You assume it's easy, are you sure there's no one there?" Pietro asked, his arms crossed and his expression in a neutral sort of zone.
"Like I said, it's supposedly abandoned, we don't think anyone is there, that is why we want to send you two. Pietro, you can do a run through to check and Veronika, you can go after anyone that's needed to be chased. Find files and bring them here. Tell us what you find in the mission log okay?"
"Will anyone be with us?" Pietro asked.
"I will send Sam to do a perimeter watch in his suit. Now go suit up the jet's going up in 20." Steve finished. The two each gave a nod.
Veronika walked out and Pietro came up beside her.
"What do you want, Silver?" She asked.
"Have a good training session?" He asked.
"You care, why?"
"Just in case we need to fight bad HYDRA guys." he smirked a little. "Wanna make sure I don't have to save you."
"Aw you're so sweet when you're protective." She said moving ahead of him when they reached their rooms. "But I don't need a big strong man to save me darling." She smirked and went into her room.
His eyes widened at the last name she said, and he coughed as he felt his cheeks grow warm. No, he didn't find that attractive...at all...he ran to his room and got ready.
She felt prideful in herself, she made him flustered. The cocky bastard that drove her crazy, she did that to him. But no focus on that right now, she needed to be ready for this mission. She was a little tired and a bit sweaty but no time to shower so she got into her suit that Tony made and had added updates to. She put her hair into its black and white braid over her shoulder and put her boots on. Put her guns in her holsters and stepped out of her room going to the jet with her mission pack. Proud to see she got there before speedy.
"Little Romanoff, are you ready to be going at this on your own for the first time?"
"I've been on missions alone before, Sammy. And I'm not alone, I have you and speedy." She smirked.
"Honored that you consider us to your level." He joked.
She smiled at him "Of course Sammy. Can you do me favor though?"
"What?"
"Just keep your eyes on us, I worry for the speedster." She lied. In actuality she was scared to get caught.
"Sure, but I wouldn't worry about him." he shrugged. "Honestly the kid has some skills, on and off field for not having much outside time."
She laughed and that's when he arrived. Pietro ran onto the jet, and he looked a little tousled but that was usual for his mop of hair.
"How'd you two get here first?"
"We had a system, try getting one some time." Sam smirked, "Alright, let's go." he yelled walking to the front seat and the jet started taking off. They all sat in silence.
It was a semi comfortable silence. Pietro had a look at Veronika, and she looked at him. Tilting her head, as he kept his stare on her. As if they were having a staring contest. She chuckled. "What's with the staring problem Maximoff dear?"
His body became rigid at that. She noticed that when she said certain things to him. He would freeze as if what was happening wasn't reality.
"Just zoned out." he looked down.
"Yeah right." she thought as she laughed to herself and when the jet landed, she stood immediately. Walking off the jet she looked at the building, yep obviously freshly abandoned.
"Sam, you fly above, check the perimeter from above, Silver and I will check the building for the files and anything we find on the way. Got the plan boys?"
"I'm older than you." Sam said.
"Do you really want to 'flex' that Sammy?" she tilted her head.
"Oh...rude." he narrowed his brows and jumped taking off with his jetpack-wings to the air.
She chuckled, activating a com between the three of them.
"Okay Maximoff, go check the building I'm right behind you.
"I'm older than you too..." he raised his brow at her.
"By a year! And age doesn't matter, experience matters, so you go check."
"Bossy," He ran into the building. She waited a few seconds before she went in.
Going through the entrance and pulling her hood of her suit over her head. She walked slowly knowing Pietro was already through the building by now, she looked around the halls which only had light from the sun coming in through small windows. But the light was minimal and useless, she opened her palm and used her stars to make a little more light. She looked around and that's when she heard it.
BARK
BARK
BARK
Barking?
"Hello?" she yelled as she walked through. "Pietro you better not be messing with me."
"I hear it too." She heard in her coms. "Barking? I didn't see a lot- wait."
"What?" she asked.
"It's closer to where I am. We should check the rooms again."
She sighed and pulled out a gun, walking in the direction of where she heard the barking. There were a few separate hallways throughout the building but that was expected for a HYDRA base.
"Pietro, lead me to where you are." She told him to help her.
"Take the right side twice and one of the doors down the hall. I'll look for the files while you check that out." He said and tuned out his comms.
She just listened to the barking and heard the barking become louder.
"I think I found it, be ready to come to room 20B." She said into her coms.
"Got it, Sam you copy?"
"I hear you both. Be careful little Romanoff."
"When am I not?" She chuckled and putting her hand on the knob of the door pushed it open where she was met with a horrible smell and something at her legs she looked down and saw a dog. "Oh my God." she said looking around, this was a lab but there were animals all over the place. Good few of them died.
"What? What is it kid?" Sam asked.
"This was an animal lab; I've just found the animals." She kneeled to the dog at her feet and held its head. "Hey, hey, hey you're okay..." she whispered, petting it the poor creature was a bit cut and scratched up and mangy. It used to be white but now it's brown with dirt, with black spots. Her guess, a dalmatian based on the pup's build and coloring. She held and continued studying it, it was so sickly. "It's okay pup, we'll help you, Sammy do you think we could bring these animals to animal hospital?"
"Depends, how many are we talking?" Sam asked.
She looked around and saw about 4 animals in pretty okay condition and 4 in need of assistance again the rest all dead, she sighed. "Around eight maybe. Plus, this pup in front of me. So, nine."
"Sonic, help her round them all up and get on the jet. We'll see what we can do."
"Alright, and I have the files. I'm heading over Ver."
She kept to the animals and when she felt a whoosh against her, she looked up at Pietro.
He knelt beside her. Handing her the files for her bag as he asked, "Which ones you want me to take?"
She closed the bag. "The four that are injured in the top kennels. I'll take this pup, and the four decently healthy ones here on the bottom." he nodded and ran through the room and surprisingly carefully took care of the animals he needed to and brought them out. She looked at the dog and sighed.
"You remind me of myself, pup. Broken by a horrible place." She whispered so only the dog could hear her. "I'll fix you right up. Let's go, okay?" The pup whimpered as it looked at her nuzzling her hand obviously looking for love. "It's okay, let's go." She looked around and with her eyes slightly aglow brought the kennels out with her mind and picked up the pup at her feet which was easy to carry.
She walked to the jet as quickly, carefully she could. Sam landed behind her floating animals and helped her.
"We're going to have to check all of these survivors. We don't know if HYDRA gave them abilities. Which, I don't know if that's possible but still." He looked at the two. "You're holding onto the dog Little Romanoff?"
"Yeah, we’ll have to check their abilities." She looked at the dog in her arms and looked at Sam. "She stays with me."
Pietro looked at the dog who was seemingly staring at him.
"Why does it look at me like that?"
"She can smell how annoying you are." Veronika smirked. But he returned a glare.
"You're rude."
She chuckled and held the dog on her lap as she watched the others in their individual cages. She felt so bad for them. The birds, the bunnies, a cat and a whole little variety of animals. It broke her heart.
Once they landed, she picked up the puppy and brought her to the vet doors, and right into the lobby, she needed this puppy to be protected most of all. She had no idea why she was forming such a big bond with the puppy, but she loves her.
"I need this dog checked on, Avengers business and we have a few others outside."
The receptionist looked at her and her eyes widened.
"You're Nightshade-" the girl had a southern accent and for Veronika that caught her off guard, until she remembered where they were. And really, she shouldn't judge based on how her accent has confused many.
"Yes, I'm sorry. It's not important, can we get a vet to see these animals?" She held up her pup.
"Oh uh, yeah sure? We aren't busy as of now we can squeeze you all in. How many do you have?"
"5 injured, 4 pretty healthy but we still want to check them." Veronika said as the boys were bringing in the animals.
"We have them." Sam said bringing in his animals and Pietro bringing his in.
"Okay let's get them signed in and we can get three for each of you just take the animals one at a time, okay?"
"But we can't leave the others alone, can we just bring them into the rooms?" Veronika asked.
The receptionist nodded. "Yes, that would be okay. Now please have a seat, the vets will come get you." She smiled at Veronika and gave a look towards the boy in the back. She kept smiling and a blush went over her cheeks, "He's cute, you must be real lucky to work with him."
Veronika felt a little angry. But not really knowing why she was angry the girl was crushing; and she knew who the girl was talking about obviously. Pietro was one of the most attractive team members. That's just obvious. So why does it bother her so much?
"Yeah, but he's a snorer. Promise you don't want that."
"Oh, I'm sorry- you're dating?"
"Oh ew- no." That felt like a lie. "He's just in room next to mine."
Damnit why'd you have to tell the truth?
"Oh, so he is single. By the way, I love your costume." The girl smiled and Veronika sighed.
"Thanks, Tony made it." She looked at the puppy in her arms, "I'm going to sit thank you," She looked at the girl's name tag. "Chelsea." She gave a smile and walked to the chairs and saw Pietro walk up to Chelsea who was still staring. Flirting with her. Of course.
Bastard.
She petted the dog and floated the carriers to her. She waited patiently. She saw Sam in her peripheral vision looking at her and turned he was sitting with a knowing smile on his face as she was slightly broody. "What."
"You're jealous."
"What!?" She narrowed her eyes.
"Of Maximoff and the receptionist. You're jealous he's flirting with her."
"Why would I be jealous that he's a player and literally flirts with anyone on two legs? I know this is temporary. Yeah, no way, besides I have way better taste than that-"
"Kid, you've never dated a day in your life-"
"I dated once!" She glared, then looked at the pup. "Just, was sort of forced to..." she whispered. "But still, I know I'd like better than a flirt like him."
"Mhmm, I know jealous when I see it, kid. And that look right there is it. But lie to yourself, it's not my place to parent." He shrugged and picked up a vet magazine. “I’m just cool Uncle Sam.”
She snorted at that sentence rolling her eyes. She looked at him as he flipped pages and then looked to where the speedster was, and she felt something in her chest ache. She coughed slightly and turned her head to the dalmatian who nuzzled into her.
"Okay I heard some celebrity guests showed up, so let's see what you brought us." A man, about middle age, 30 may be higher, came out of a room and up to Sam and Veronika. She looked up again, standing up with a nod.
"I'll see this one you get the next Sam and tell the silver playboy over there he goes to the next available vet."
"You're the boss."
She smirked and following the vet carried the carriers with her on the stars.
"Okay, what do you have here miss?"
"Veronika. And I think she's a dalmatian, she's a little too dirty to tell and she looks malnourished, so you know..." she looked at him and he nodded.
"Okay, well let's check her out, how long have you had her?" he said as he examined the scratches and marks on the pup.
"I got her about ten, twenty minutes ago actually. We picked them up and I just want to see if we can help them." She said simply. Watching the pup as he checked her stomach and ears, the dog yelped every now and again and Veronika would immediately take to her need.
"Well, as you must know she hasn't been through the best conditions, we can keep her here and the rest for the next two days to take care of them, that's your choice. Seeing her condition and from the report I read you have too many animals for one visit so if you can come back the day after tomorrow then we can tell you what my colleagues and I found." Veronika stared at him and looked at the pup.
"Can I just talk to my team quickly?"
"Go ahead." he smiled kindly, and she walked out to see the boys sitting together. Pietro with a big smirk and Sam still reading the vet magazine.
"Go ahead." he smiled kindly, and she walked out to see the boys sitting together. Pietro with a big smirk and Sam still reading the vet magazine.
"Good you're both still here, Pietro I need you to take my bag and get this to dad- I mean Captain Rogers" She took her pack off her shoulders and tossed it at him, he caught it with ease.
Shame. Kinda wanted it to hit him in the face.
"And Sam, give me Tony's emergency credit card." She whispered to him.
"Wait what? Why what's going on?"
"They're not going to see all the animals today, they could squeeze a few in but not all. So, I need to stay for, at most, two days. I'm going to stay in a hotel-"
"No, we are on this mission together kid, Steve will kill me if I leave you here-"
"But he'll be even angrier if we don't tell him the status. I'll be fine by myself."
"Look, I know you've done more dangerous stuff but you're still a kid, at least have one of us stay." Sam said. "How about this, I will give you the card, I will take the files, if you two stay together."
"How is HIM staying with me better than being by myself?"
"Ouch calls me 'HIM'?" Pietro looked at her. Fake hurt, with a hand over his heart.
"He can help you, and he's a little bit older." Sam said, ignoring the younger boy's remark.
"ONLY BY A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS..." She gritted out.
"Just proved my point. Speedy protect her, Little Romanoff protect him. Take this." He gives Tony's card to the two "Be careful. Now, I will take this to Steve" he takes the bag, "and I'll be back the day after tomorrow, be ready, okay?" He looked between the two.
She sighed. "Yes, Uncle Sammy." She rolled her eyes.
"Yes Falcon." Pietro said.
"Good. see you two later. Don't kill each other." He walked out the clinic and to the jet Veronika sighed.
I can't make that promise.
"Okay Silver, go get the room, I'm going to-" He already ran out of the clinic to look for a hotel. She glared at the blue and silver blur he left. "I hate you." She groaned and walked to the vet's office seeing he'd already brought her pup away. She felt a little saddened by it. "Okay, we'll be able to wait on them. If you can just help, that would be fantastic. I will pay all I need to."
"We'll take good care of her, now go on, we have a quaint town, while we do our best, you just relax. I'm sure an Avenger's life is all stress so go on."
"Mmm, not an easy feat, thank you sir, I'll see you in two days." she smiled and walked out of the room feeling bad she was leaving that pup, but she'll be fine, these are trained hands they'll take care of them.
"So, you payin when you pick them up?"
"Yes, and that's in two days. Thank you by the way for squeezing us in."
"No problem. Oh, and thanks for the treat of getting to talk to your friend there."
Veronika faked a smile "No problem, looked like he enjoyed it too. Have a nice day." She dropped her smile when she left the building and sighed. It's not that girl's fault she knew that, yet for some reason she wanted to punch her and that speedy bastard.
WOOSH
Speak of the devil.
"I found a place; they had two rooms left so I got them. Only problem is they're connected so we’ll have to share a bathroom."
She shrugged "well either way great job, show me where it is?"
"Down the street and where it says, 'Red Roof Inn'. It's pretty nice, they had a waterfall thingy in the lobby. Here's your room key by the way." He handed it to her.
She nodded, "That's a weird name for a hotel, but alright let's go." She started walking, noticing he wasn't following but looking into the glass doors. "You coming Silver? I want to see if they have food when we get there." She turned and saw him staring at the door. Of course.
"No, you go ahead, I'll catch up."
"Fine," She glared and walked to the hotel, exactly where he said it was. At this point she wasn't really hungry anymore, knowing he was still talking to that girl she lost her appetite. So, she just went to the room the key card read. She didn't have anything to wear so she just took off her holsters and her guns and placed them where she could reach if she needed to.
Veronika laid in the bed still in her suit which wasn't the most comfortable but it's all she had. She never liked sleeping in unfamiliar places and this is definitely one. Always got used to it though, moving as much as she had in life. Staring at the wall she couldn't fall asleep, just lying and turning onto her back, when she heard noise come from the room next door, she heard giggling and then the small but still noticeable bang of a headboard. She groaned and put the pillow on her head.
He brought her with him? It's 1pm. That idiot.
She didn't know why it made her angry, at this point it was normal for him to bring random people. She just sighed and lifting her hand made a wall of shadows around her room. To block sounds which before making it she heard. Sitting in her darkness thinking about the pup she left.