Chapter 17

The team did quick work in suiting up.

Apparently, every one of us had stopped sulking and was ready to get up off our asses and fight.

About time.

I had just laced up my boots and started down the stairs when I saw Steve and Tony arguing quietly by the doorway.

I paused in my steps temporarily and strained my ears to hear what they were saying.

"The mission's going to be pretty hands-on, so I'll take Natasha and Clint, Thor's a no-show so..."

Steve paused, frowning. "... and I don't really want to ask this but-"

"Blues?" Tony stops him, nodding resignedly. "Yeah, I know what you're about to say."

"You think Riley will be up for it? I know for a fact she's stronger than any of us, we'll need her."

"Do you really think she'd say no..?" Tony rolls his eyes. "Besides, she'd strangle me if I kept her from the fight."

Both men stared at each other, shrugging.

A small smile grew on my lips at their interaction. Beforehand they were fighting. I hope they were more or less okay now.

Neither was angry or insulted, rather they seem to have come to a conclusion that there was no point going back and forth.

"Alright, I'm gonna hit the NEXUS. I'll join you as soon as I can," Tony patted Steve's shoulder at that.

"I'll drop Banner off the tower, do you mind if I borrow Ms Hill?" Fury popped in between the two males, pausing mid-stride the doorway.

"She's all yours apparently," Tony mumbled, sounding a bit disgruntled that Fury still keeps an eye on him. "What are you gonna do?" He prodded.

Stepping down the last flight of stairs, I made my entrance.

"Something dramatic, Nicky?" I raised an eyebrow, giving him a joking smile.

He nods in my direction. "Something dramatic." He agreed.

Fury and Banner were the first to exit the house. After that, Clint and Natasha climbed aboard the Quinjet, which left Steve, Tony and me behind.

"Blues, I won't be there to save your ass but swear to me you won't do anything stupid." He tells me as we stop in between the house and the jet.

"Tony, my heart may have stopped, but I'm the most capable out of all of you right now," I said exasperatedly, gesturing to my healed body.

It was the truth. I no longer felt mental or physical pain. My abilities had healed me for that.

The only thing it didn't heal were the blue veins.

The long sleeves of my suit covered that, so there was really nothing to say.

"Fine," He grumbled, opening his arms wide as though expecting a hug.

"Uh, no." I shook my head, childishly poking my tongue at him.

Steve laugh at our interaction and followed me as I climbed on board, leaving Tony behind.

"Hey Capsicle if my sister gets hurt, I'll put you back in the freezer," Tony calls out to Steve, glaring at him, pointingly.

Steve smiles and mock salutes before Natasha slams the ramp button, enclosing us inside.

"Check for controls," Natasha notes as she raises her fingers towards the ceiling, pushing and prodding at the buttons. "Clint, you got it?"

"Yeap, I got it," He nods. "We'll reach Korea in five hours, that's three hours less than the actual journey, so you might want to hold onto something."

Clint had taken the initiative to pilot the aircraft. It takes him seconds to allow the thrusters to stabilize and lift off the ground, quickly rotating the machinery to the right destination.

We take off almost immediately, leaving the rest of Barton's barn behind.

I sat in the darkest corner of the jet as the others gathered at the front, discussing what to do next and what we may have to prepare for.

There won't be much time to react if Ultron successfully did what we wanted, therefore, I was absorbing as much energy as I can for the fight that awaits us.

I knew that at some point, I'd had to stop and think about the events that happened in the past day. It was something I couldn't avoid forever.

Who could avoid it when a bunch of glowing jewels decide to suddenly show up in your vision?

It just didn't make sense.

What were they and why now?

More importantly, what did it mean at all?

Something was bugging me at the back of my mind, something that continues to grow even now.

What did I have to do, to get answers?

Five hours go by in a flash. It doesn't take long for the jet to arrive in Korea, that, and the link I shared with the twins gave it away.

They were here.

Hidden, but here.

The link started growing closer and closer, the invisible string seemed to be straightening, and unknowingly, I branch out towards the link, feeling the bond open up.

I found myself speaking.

"We're coming. If you get in our way, you'll regret it."

I sense their surprise, their shock as my voice echoes along with their mind like someone had invaded it.

But there was something else.

Something catastrophic.

It wasn't just shock they felt, it was terror.

Like horror or dread.

"Scarlet?" I spoke out loud, not caring if the team gave me odd looks.

There's no reply and the link wavers like a dying rope.

"We're getting closer to Dr Cho's facility," Clint announces from the front, but I don't pay attention to him as I searched for the bond once more.

It felt murky. Something was blocking me. Did Scarlet block me out?

I debated if I should link with Snow White but considering he doesn't have his sister powers, that wouldn't have worked out too well.

"Damn it," I was afraid Ultron had killed them or something. "Scarlet?"

My voice came out sterner, more forceful.

The link between us glowed like the sun as she reaches for the thread, their energies blazing.

"Riley, what's wrong?" Steve asks as he steps towards me. I hold out my hand, stopping him, feeling Scarlet as her voice swirls in my head, and the sentence becomes clear.

"You were right."

Her voice sounded broken. Afraid.

"He's going to kill us all."

And I know they were scared.

"Clint, step on it!"

I stood up and slam my hands onto the ground of the jet, forcing the jet forward with unspeakable force.

Cries of surprise from my fellow team members go unheard of as I push it with all my might, feeling the lights surround us like tentacles.

The sirens of the Quinjet go off, warning us of the exceeding speed limit.

That was the least of my concern at that point.

All I could feel was their fear threatening to suffocate me.

And that at the very crevice of their mind, though they may not realize it--they were begging me for help.

To save them from themselves.

~~@ @ @~~

A/N

So... if you guys haven't noticed, Lorelie's connection with the twins was something I wanted to incorporate because of the Infinity stones.

It didn't make sense that Lorelie would be unable to connect with them on the same level as they are connected with each other which was why I decided to put that in.

More will be explained later on.

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