fakeasain56 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fakeasain56) wrote2012-06-14 09:19 pm
fakeasain56) wrote2012-06-14 09:19 pm
Entry tags:
Everyone/Everyone (polyramory) "Running together" Chapter 4/?
Summary: Teenage AU where the Avengers are a bunchy of mouthy runaway/orphaned kids who band together and commit petty theft (later more grand-scale theft like banks etc.) in order to survive on the streets. They get so good at this that SHEILD snatches them up and offers to train them as a response team instead. Since the alternative is being split up and doomed to the foster care system, they agree. By this point, they have become terribly co-dependent, but this just makes them a better team.
Previous Chapter
Chapter One
Coulson wearily trudged up the stairs towards his tiny apartment, shoulders slumped forward. Every bone in his body ached from standing, and yelling in his own oblique was at Hill. She had yelled right back, and his ears, even now, rung slightly.
The woman really, really needed to learn how to control her voice and her actions. She listened to Fury and Fury only, and Fury had said to bring them in. So, she was going to bring them in whether they liked it or not, but Coulson would be the one babysitting them.
He reached his apartment door and stopped dead.
It had been tampered with.
He hesitated outside of it, before at last shrugging. There was only one group he could think of being in there, and if they were, then it made his job a little easier. Or a little harder.
He pushed open the door, and ducked the gun butt headed for his nose, and took a step right to avoid an arrow to the knee. There was a low groan of disappointment from the two teens as they moved to try again, but Coulson merely raised an eyebrow at them. “If you’re going to fight me, at least let me get inside where we won’t disturb the neighbors.”
The teen with the bow laughed, eyes sparking in delight. A third voice, one that he recognized, spoke up, “Clint, Natasha, let him in.”
Coulson took a deep breath, preparing himself for the chaos he would undoubtedly find- he didn’t twitch when he walked in through the door.
The small living room had been completely cleared of all furniture, and all blankets and mattresses were laid out on the floor, pushed side by side. Loki had Thor’s head in his lap, singing softly in some foreign language as he ran a hand through golden hair. Bruce was curled up on the second mattress, leaning against Tony, who typed away on Coulson’s old computer merrily.
Steve was cooking at Coulson’s stove. “Hello Agent Coulson. I hope that you don’t mind us dropping in.”
“Not at all. How are they doing?”
Bruce mumbled, and groaned, nudging into Tony’s leg. Tony spoke up. “Not so good. Bruce doesn’t do well with hallucinogens. Want to give us a cure for it?”
“Right here. I brought one for each of you in case this happened.”
“Ooh, you’re certainly mister prepared, aren’t you? By the way, we like your gun rack back there.” Tony jerked a finger back, as Clint somehow, eerily, managed to climb up into the ceiling to watch what was going on. Natasha walked back to Bruce, and pulled him into her lap, carding his hair through her fingers.
“Tony.” Steve warned, even as Tony took the antidote from Coulson, “Be nice to him.”
“Why should I?”
“Because we are currently his guests.”
“Oh really? Because last I knew we were inviting ourselves. You just want to pretend this is legal.”
“Don’t go there Tony.”
Obviously, the team was stressed if they were arguing so quickly. Coulson stepped in diplomatically. “You can stay the night if you wish. I won’t call anyone.”
“We know. We took care of that already.”
“Tony!”
“What, I’m just letting him know! Lighten up Steve!”
Steve glared as he scraped off food onto plates, and brought them into the living room. He placed one by Loki, giving him a simple look. Loki ignored his to focus on his brother as he coaxed him to drink the antidote to the tranquillizers. Natasha nodded as Steve placed another next to her, attention focused on Bruce. “Come and get your food Tony.”
“Nope. Not moving.” Coulson blinked when he realized that Tony had a hand on Banners wrist, measuring the steady pulse beat. Clint hung upside down for a few moments, collecting the plate Steve gave him, before swinging back up into the ceiling tiles.
“Don’t drop any food up there Clint.”
“I won’t.”
One plate was given to Tony, and another to Coulson, and then, like it was some silent signal, Coulson could hear the sounds of munching.
Bruce and Thor slept on, oblivious, as night slowly passed, and each of the teens slowly dropped into sleep on the small mattress and blanket pile they had made for themselves, tangled in each others limbs.
-------
Bruce woke up first, in total darkness. He could feel Tony leaning on his right arm, cutting off the circulation. Natasha leaned on his left, keeping him safe.
He closed his eyes, and went back to sleep.
------
Thor awoke to the first tendrils of light seeping in through the window, and shifted slightly. His side throbbed, but all warriors learned how to ignore wounds when needed. Loki mumbled softly, for once not up earlier then him. Thor smiled as he twisted enough to drop a brushing kiss against his brothers forehead.
Loki leaned into him, affectionate with actions, if not in words. Natasha was nearby, and he could see Steve propped up against the wall, ever watchful of his team. Thor smiled. He was a good leader, and Thor could do learning how to be such a leader as he.
He pulled himself to his feet, felt his side protest as he looked around. It was an apartment building, one he didn’t recognize, but he was hungry. And there was a fridge, which beckoned.
And everyone woke up to the mighty belch Thor gave after he had eaten his fill.
---------
Tony laughed his head off at the look Coulson had on his face as he stared at his fridge empty of all meat products. Thor grimaced as Bruce rebandaged him, tutting softly, half-wincing with each movement.
“Hangover?”
“Yes.”
His reply was short, surly, but soft and Bruce was more the willing to nuzzle into Tony’s side.
Coulson cleared his throat as he closed his fridge door. “Now that you are all awake and listening, I’d like to clarify the offer I gave Steve. We’d like you to work for us- just as consultants. On a case-by-case basis. You do the jobs, and we’ll take care of the clean-up.”
“What sort of jobs exactly?”
“There will be a variety and you can pick and choose of course.” Coulson smiled blandly, not a hint of his intentions showing through as he lifted his briefcase onto the table. “I have several if you would like to see.”
Steve did- Thor did as well as he grabbily reached over to pick one up. Tony rolled his eyes, but wrapped an arm abound Bruce as he leaned his head on Steve’s shoulder to read. Up in the ceiling, a tile shifted slightly. Natasha looked up, before imperiously crooking a finger.
Clint dropped down, scowling, as Loki snatched the file from Thor. “Honestly you oaf, you’ll tear the paper. Let me read it to you.”
Thor beamed good naturedly, smiling and nodding as he boomed his agreement.
Coulson never knew someone could be so loud without trying- now he knew why they sent Thor in first as a distraction. He was handsome enough to catch any persons attention, and loud enough to catch everyone else.
“This one. Voltimere. A smuggler. He stole valuable materials in transit?” Steve seemed interested in it- Tony’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I notice that there’s a lot of do-gooder stuff on here Agent. We’re scammers. You know, bad people.”
“Remarkably precise for scammers- targeting only those who can more then afford it, hitting them and only them- It could be considered Robinhood, if you donated that money.”
Steve blushed slightly, and Thor looked the slightest bit sheepish.
Bruce didn’t raise his head from where he lay, eyes still closed. Clint circled around to rub his back, and Natasha crossed to the fridge, glaring at Thor pointedly. Thor didn’t notice, too busy listening to Loki, nodding every now and then like he understood.
Tony stated out loud, “This seems rather sketchy to me. They did just try to kidnap us.”
Coulson continued smiling blandly. Bruce spoke up from where he lay, “You haven’t told us the catch. What happens if we refuse.”
“Then according to all policies, my organization will be forced to return you to your legal guardians.”
Dead. Silence.
Even Natasha seemed frozen where she sat. “We have located approximately fifteen safe houses you have across the country, and another eighteen points you must cross to reach a major city to hide in.”
Bruce opened an eye and stared at him for a second. “Only eighteen? I know of at least twenty-five.”
That confirmed the rumor that Bruce had been traveling by foot long before he had traveled by car. It niggled at Coulson, to think of a seven or eight year old walking through the desert and the wilderness without anywhere to go. But he was nineteen now, well-used to traveling. He promised to be the hardest to bring the net down on, other then Natasha and Clint.
Those two had both tensed, automatically falling in behind Steve. Thor wrapped an arm around Loki, gone stiff and cold, a low, warning rumble beginning to work its way out.
Tony grabbed Steve’s hand, and squeezed. Steve squeezed back. “Even if you do split us up, we’re just going to get back together again. And again, until we’re legally old enough that we can’t be sent back. In fact, Bruce can’t be, he’s old enough to be considered an adult.”
“Then they go to prison.” Now eyes were burning in fury. “It is much harder to escape from there.”
“Not always.” Bruce supplied, again. “I know of several where it’s very easy.”
Again, another stab of uneasiness. Natasha nodded but Clint didn’t look too sure. Coulson smiled in response. “That is of course, if you choose not to help out.”
Steve looked around at his team, his family and Coulson could see it clearly written on his face. “Then I suppose we can’t refuse such a generous offer.”
Tony spoke up again, “So, what’s our benefits?”
“An entire organization backing you, doing cleanup. Any toy you could possibly wish for. Doctors. Laboratories. Training rooms, safe houses that are actually fully equipped.”
“A horse?” Thor asked innocently, but completely and utterly seriously. Coulson’s face twisted as Tony didn’t bother to hide his laughter.
“You’ll have to buy your own, but we do pay well.”
Loki actually seemed to agree with Thor on the horse subject- he had a slightly wistful look on his face. “A snake. And a place to rest.”
The benefits were clearly emphasized here. Even Tony looked a little eager, at the idea of having so many electronics at his fingertips. Bruce curled up a little tighter as Natasha’s lips pursed, reminding Coulson that not everyone was happy.
Steve was the leader however, and the team would follow what he said. “Steve?”
Steve looked a little unhappy, but also a little excited. “I don’t see how we can refuse.” Bruce mumbled something into his hands, “Very well then. We do still get too chose our missions, correct?”
“There will be a few that we’ll throw at you unexpectedly, but for the most part, yes. You will get too choose.”
Bruce struggled up into a sitting position, still leaning against Tony, and Coulson wondered if the antidote wasn’t working properly, or if Bruce simply didn’t care who saw him, he was clinging.
Tony agreeably fished out a folder, and flipped it open. Steve eyed the five folders, now scattered around the room, before saying softly, “We will have to discuss it of course.”
He was being kicked out of his own house, by that polite smile. Oh the life of a agent.
Next Chapter
Previous Chapter
Chapter One
Coulson wearily trudged up the stairs towards his tiny apartment, shoulders slumped forward. Every bone in his body ached from standing, and yelling in his own oblique was at Hill. She had yelled right back, and his ears, even now, rung slightly.
The woman really, really needed to learn how to control her voice and her actions. She listened to Fury and Fury only, and Fury had said to bring them in. So, she was going to bring them in whether they liked it or not, but Coulson would be the one babysitting them.
He reached his apartment door and stopped dead.
It had been tampered with.
He hesitated outside of it, before at last shrugging. There was only one group he could think of being in there, and if they were, then it made his job a little easier. Or a little harder.
He pushed open the door, and ducked the gun butt headed for his nose, and took a step right to avoid an arrow to the knee. There was a low groan of disappointment from the two teens as they moved to try again, but Coulson merely raised an eyebrow at them. “If you’re going to fight me, at least let me get inside where we won’t disturb the neighbors.”
The teen with the bow laughed, eyes sparking in delight. A third voice, one that he recognized, spoke up, “Clint, Natasha, let him in.”
Coulson took a deep breath, preparing himself for the chaos he would undoubtedly find- he didn’t twitch when he walked in through the door.
The small living room had been completely cleared of all furniture, and all blankets and mattresses were laid out on the floor, pushed side by side. Loki had Thor’s head in his lap, singing softly in some foreign language as he ran a hand through golden hair. Bruce was curled up on the second mattress, leaning against Tony, who typed away on Coulson’s old computer merrily.
Steve was cooking at Coulson’s stove. “Hello Agent Coulson. I hope that you don’t mind us dropping in.”
“Not at all. How are they doing?”
Bruce mumbled, and groaned, nudging into Tony’s leg. Tony spoke up. “Not so good. Bruce doesn’t do well with hallucinogens. Want to give us a cure for it?”
“Right here. I brought one for each of you in case this happened.”
“Ooh, you’re certainly mister prepared, aren’t you? By the way, we like your gun rack back there.” Tony jerked a finger back, as Clint somehow, eerily, managed to climb up into the ceiling to watch what was going on. Natasha walked back to Bruce, and pulled him into her lap, carding his hair through her fingers.
“Tony.” Steve warned, even as Tony took the antidote from Coulson, “Be nice to him.”
“Why should I?”
“Because we are currently his guests.”
“Oh really? Because last I knew we were inviting ourselves. You just want to pretend this is legal.”
“Don’t go there Tony.”
Obviously, the team was stressed if they were arguing so quickly. Coulson stepped in diplomatically. “You can stay the night if you wish. I won’t call anyone.”
“We know. We took care of that already.”
“Tony!”
“What, I’m just letting him know! Lighten up Steve!”
Steve glared as he scraped off food onto plates, and brought them into the living room. He placed one by Loki, giving him a simple look. Loki ignored his to focus on his brother as he coaxed him to drink the antidote to the tranquillizers. Natasha nodded as Steve placed another next to her, attention focused on Bruce. “Come and get your food Tony.”
“Nope. Not moving.” Coulson blinked when he realized that Tony had a hand on Banners wrist, measuring the steady pulse beat. Clint hung upside down for a few moments, collecting the plate Steve gave him, before swinging back up into the ceiling tiles.
“Don’t drop any food up there Clint.”
“I won’t.”
One plate was given to Tony, and another to Coulson, and then, like it was some silent signal, Coulson could hear the sounds of munching.
Bruce and Thor slept on, oblivious, as night slowly passed, and each of the teens slowly dropped into sleep on the small mattress and blanket pile they had made for themselves, tangled in each others limbs.
-------
Bruce woke up first, in total darkness. He could feel Tony leaning on his right arm, cutting off the circulation. Natasha leaned on his left, keeping him safe.
He closed his eyes, and went back to sleep.
------
Thor awoke to the first tendrils of light seeping in through the window, and shifted slightly. His side throbbed, but all warriors learned how to ignore wounds when needed. Loki mumbled softly, for once not up earlier then him. Thor smiled as he twisted enough to drop a brushing kiss against his brothers forehead.
Loki leaned into him, affectionate with actions, if not in words. Natasha was nearby, and he could see Steve propped up against the wall, ever watchful of his team. Thor smiled. He was a good leader, and Thor could do learning how to be such a leader as he.
He pulled himself to his feet, felt his side protest as he looked around. It was an apartment building, one he didn’t recognize, but he was hungry. And there was a fridge, which beckoned.
And everyone woke up to the mighty belch Thor gave after he had eaten his fill.
---------
Tony laughed his head off at the look Coulson had on his face as he stared at his fridge empty of all meat products. Thor grimaced as Bruce rebandaged him, tutting softly, half-wincing with each movement.
“Hangover?”
“Yes.”
His reply was short, surly, but soft and Bruce was more the willing to nuzzle into Tony’s side.
Coulson cleared his throat as he closed his fridge door. “Now that you are all awake and listening, I’d like to clarify the offer I gave Steve. We’d like you to work for us- just as consultants. On a case-by-case basis. You do the jobs, and we’ll take care of the clean-up.”
“What sort of jobs exactly?”
“There will be a variety and you can pick and choose of course.” Coulson smiled blandly, not a hint of his intentions showing through as he lifted his briefcase onto the table. “I have several if you would like to see.”
Steve did- Thor did as well as he grabbily reached over to pick one up. Tony rolled his eyes, but wrapped an arm abound Bruce as he leaned his head on Steve’s shoulder to read. Up in the ceiling, a tile shifted slightly. Natasha looked up, before imperiously crooking a finger.
Clint dropped down, scowling, as Loki snatched the file from Thor. “Honestly you oaf, you’ll tear the paper. Let me read it to you.”
Thor beamed good naturedly, smiling and nodding as he boomed his agreement.
Coulson never knew someone could be so loud without trying- now he knew why they sent Thor in first as a distraction. He was handsome enough to catch any persons attention, and loud enough to catch everyone else.
“This one. Voltimere. A smuggler. He stole valuable materials in transit?” Steve seemed interested in it- Tony’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I notice that there’s a lot of do-gooder stuff on here Agent. We’re scammers. You know, bad people.”
“Remarkably precise for scammers- targeting only those who can more then afford it, hitting them and only them- It could be considered Robinhood, if you donated that money.”
Steve blushed slightly, and Thor looked the slightest bit sheepish.
Bruce didn’t raise his head from where he lay, eyes still closed. Clint circled around to rub his back, and Natasha crossed to the fridge, glaring at Thor pointedly. Thor didn’t notice, too busy listening to Loki, nodding every now and then like he understood.
Tony stated out loud, “This seems rather sketchy to me. They did just try to kidnap us.”
Coulson continued smiling blandly. Bruce spoke up from where he lay, “You haven’t told us the catch. What happens if we refuse.”
“Then according to all policies, my organization will be forced to return you to your legal guardians.”
Dead. Silence.
Even Natasha seemed frozen where she sat. “We have located approximately fifteen safe houses you have across the country, and another eighteen points you must cross to reach a major city to hide in.”
Bruce opened an eye and stared at him for a second. “Only eighteen? I know of at least twenty-five.”
That confirmed the rumor that Bruce had been traveling by foot long before he had traveled by car. It niggled at Coulson, to think of a seven or eight year old walking through the desert and the wilderness without anywhere to go. But he was nineteen now, well-used to traveling. He promised to be the hardest to bring the net down on, other then Natasha and Clint.
Those two had both tensed, automatically falling in behind Steve. Thor wrapped an arm around Loki, gone stiff and cold, a low, warning rumble beginning to work its way out.
Tony grabbed Steve’s hand, and squeezed. Steve squeezed back. “Even if you do split us up, we’re just going to get back together again. And again, until we’re legally old enough that we can’t be sent back. In fact, Bruce can’t be, he’s old enough to be considered an adult.”
“Then they go to prison.” Now eyes were burning in fury. “It is much harder to escape from there.”
“Not always.” Bruce supplied, again. “I know of several where it’s very easy.”
Again, another stab of uneasiness. Natasha nodded but Clint didn’t look too sure. Coulson smiled in response. “That is of course, if you choose not to help out.”
Steve looked around at his team, his family and Coulson could see it clearly written on his face. “Then I suppose we can’t refuse such a generous offer.”
Tony spoke up again, “So, what’s our benefits?”
“An entire organization backing you, doing cleanup. Any toy you could possibly wish for. Doctors. Laboratories. Training rooms, safe houses that are actually fully equipped.”
“A horse?” Thor asked innocently, but completely and utterly seriously. Coulson’s face twisted as Tony didn’t bother to hide his laughter.
“You’ll have to buy your own, but we do pay well.”
Loki actually seemed to agree with Thor on the horse subject- he had a slightly wistful look on his face. “A snake. And a place to rest.”
The benefits were clearly emphasized here. Even Tony looked a little eager, at the idea of having so many electronics at his fingertips. Bruce curled up a little tighter as Natasha’s lips pursed, reminding Coulson that not everyone was happy.
Steve was the leader however, and the team would follow what he said. “Steve?”
Steve looked a little unhappy, but also a little excited. “I don’t see how we can refuse.” Bruce mumbled something into his hands, “Very well then. We do still get too chose our missions, correct?”
“There will be a few that we’ll throw at you unexpectedly, but for the most part, yes. You will get too choose.”
Bruce struggled up into a sitting position, still leaning against Tony, and Coulson wondered if the antidote wasn’t working properly, or if Bruce simply didn’t care who saw him, he was clinging.
Tony agreeably fished out a folder, and flipped it open. Steve eyed the five folders, now scattered around the room, before saying softly, “We will have to discuss it of course.”
He was being kicked out of his own house, by that polite smile. Oh the life of a agent.
Next Chapter