Login with:

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Google

Yahoo

Aol.

Mibba

Your info will not be visible on the site. After logging in for the first time you'll be able to choose your display name.

Fixed in the Shadows

Chapter 17

I wake up curled next to Steve. The heat radiating off his body is keeping me warm like always. I check the clock. It's 3:19 am. I yawn and clamber out of bed, being sure not to wake my sleeping partner. I shuffle my feet over to the kitchen.

While I sip my tea in the dark, I observe Steve. He sleeps like a rock. It used to not be that way. He used to suffer from horrifying night terrors from the war. Eventually, he just stopped sleeping altogether. I did manage to convince him to take sleeping medication. He refused to see a therapist though. I guess it's that 1940's mentality. People back then believed that only "crazy" people saw psychologists.

Just then, I hear the little chime that I always want to hear but yet dread at the same time. I pace over to my desk and pick up my Avengers card. "Hello?" I say into it.

Nick Fury appears on the little screen. "Agent Hourani, we need the Avengers to come in."

"What? Why?" I question. My voice is full of concern.

"I'll explain that when you arrive on the SHIELD helicarrier. Now, I assume Rogers is with you?" His brows are furrowed around his eye patch.

"Yeah, how did you know?" I glance back at Steve, a little bothered about Nick Fury knowing all about my personal relationship with Captain America.

"It's my job to know. Now, Avengers assemble!" The screen then blacks out.

"Well, that was strange... and quite creepy," I mumble to myself. I shrug it off and I run back to the bed. I turn on a lamp and pounce on Steve. "Time to wake up!" I yell playfully in his ear.

"Mrgh," he groans, pushing me away and digging his head deeper into the pillow.

"C'mon, sleepy head! The Avengers need to assemble!" I shake his shoulders, smiling amusingly.

"What?" He exclaims, shooting up in bed and throwing me back. His usually tidy blond hair is sticking up in all sorts of places and he has drool dripping down from his mouth.

"Yeah, Fury just called," I say, leaning back on my hands at the end of the bed.

"Well, then we need to go!" He climbs quickly out of bed, tangling his feet in the blankets and sheets.

As I put the finishing touches on my make-up at my vanity, Steve comes up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist. "You look beautiful." He then places a smooch on my neck.

I turn to face him. "And you look very handsome." I fix the collar on his shirt and let my hands travel down his remarkable pecks. Even in the darkened room his eyes are piercing and shining. I stare at his cute nose, wanting to place a kiss right on the top of it.

"We better go," he whispers.

"Alright," I sigh. I just wanted to stay in that moment forever.

A taxi picks us up outside our apartment and takes us to the airport where a SHIELD jet is waiting to drop us off at the helicarrier.

"Bruce!" I exclaim, running to my friend with open arms.

"Hello, Skylar," he says with a kind smile, accepting my hug. He is wearing brown slacks with a tucked-in yellow dress shirt.

I pull away and place my hand on his shoulder. "I missed you so much! How have you been?" I grin at my friend.

"A-hem," Fury sounds, clearing his throat. We all turn to him. "I would like to get started."

"Fine, geez," I mutter under my breath, sitting down at the table in between Steve and Bruce.

"So what's so important that you had to drag us all out of bed for?" Clint asks, annoyed. He is wearing his classic black t-shirt with black jeans and black ankle combat boots.

"We're facing another global catastrophe," he says plainly, putting his fists on his hips.

"Who is it this time?" Tony asks nonchalantly. He is wearing a burgundy dress shirt with dark brown pants.

I look around the table and realize someone is missing. "Hey, where's Thor?"

"He's still in Asgard," Natasha tells me. She is wearing a red tee with dark wash jeans and heeled booties.

"Excuse me, but could we please focus, Agent Hourani?" Nick seems very on edge.

"Uh, sure, sorry," I mumble, looking down at the computer tablet in front of me.

"Like I said, who is it this time?" Tony repeats.

"It's this man," Fury clicks his remote and a picture shows up on the screen. It looks like a man with a robot head. He has a screen on his abdomen with his face. He is wearing a bright orange hamate suit.

"Zola," Steve mutters with disgust thick in his voice.

"Correct," Fury says. "Arnim Zola is the man responsible for what is about to happen. He is back from the Captain's time."

"Then how is he still living? Was he frozen too or something?" Clint jokes.

Nick gives him a stern look. "He was one of the first human genetic engineers in history. He was a biochemist who worked for the Nazi party during World War II. The Nazis wanted him because they believed his work could ensure a master race."

"So what's he doing here?" Bruce asks calmly, fully interested.

"He is technically immortal," Fury continues. "Every time his body is killed, his mind moves to another screen and body. Our insider tells us that he plans an attack on the U.S. capitol in two days."

"What is his plan?" Steve interrogates.

My eyes are glued to Steve. I study his features. His light brunette brows are furrowed together. His hand covers his mouth, like he is in deep thought. His bright blue eyes are glazed over. He seems bothered by the fact one of his old foes has come back. I completely understand that feeling. But just as he was there for me, I'm definitely going to be there for him.

"We are not entirely sure. It just seems like he wants to place an attack, possibly to kill the president. His motives are all over the place. No one really knows what this nutcase wants."

"How will he accomplish this?" I ask quizzically.

"He has many subordinates but it seems he will be using his Doughboys."

"Doughboys?" Clint snorts. "What is this? Revenge of Pillsbury?" He giggles uncontrollably. "Am I right?" He playfully hits Tony's arm.

"No," Fury bellows. He is really getting sick and tired of the games. He clicks his remote again, revealing a picture of a Doughboy. "The Doughboy is a non-humanoid bioform that has the consistency of dough. It is mentally impaired but has super strength, durability and agility. It seems impossible to destroy."

"Well, that just great!" Tony spews. "How are we going to stop an immortal robot man with his army of invincible batter drones?"

"I'm sure you'll find away." Fury finally cracks a smile. "But there is one more thing." He turns to me and I finally make eye contact with him. "It seems Zola has found some of the old bodies from the battles with The Man's minions. He has engineered them to be even stronger." He sighs.

"WHAT?!" I exclaim. "Oh my God. It just never ends! I kill him but his legacy just lives on." I toss my arm up and my face falls to into my hands. Steve then puts his hand on my shoulder and I look at him. His eyes are full of sympathy. He smiles lightly at me, letting me know he believes we can stop these horrible people. I smirk back and turn to Fury. "Let's get this motherfucker."

Notes

So here we are. Chapter 17. This is a short one with just some background information on Arnim Zola so you guys know what's going on in the next (and final!) chapter. Skylar can never seem to shake her past. How will she react to this situation? Find the answer in the next, riveting, heart-wrenching chapter of Fixed in the Shadows!

Skylar's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/skylar_10/set?id=55263884

Comments

Awesome! Cant wait for more!
Whaaaaaaat? Bring that bitch back!
blasttyrant blasttyrant
1/6/13
love it!