Avengers Assemble

I wasn't sure how to feel. Every fibre of my body was telling me to cry, or to scream, or to get angry, but I couldn't. I was numb.

After everything, after clearing out my uncle's house, and being briefed by Director Fury about where I'd be staying, and going to the funeral and watching my uncle's coffin descend into the ground, I was too tired to feel anything. I just wanted to go to the room Fury had assigned to me and sleep.

"Miss Coulson?" I looked up to see a woman holding a couple of files, standing near me. I was sat outside someone's office in SHIELD, waiting to be told where to go next. Obviously this woman was about to give me my send off.

"I'm Maria Hill." She smiled and shook my hand as I stood wearily. "I'm sorry we have to meet under these circumstances. Director Fury told you what's happening next?"

I nodded. "My uncle said he wanted me to be put under SHIELD protection, or in the event that the Avenger's Initiative had been put into practice, under their protection."

Maria nodded. "They're waiting outside in the parking lot for you. You're going to be living in the Stark Tower until you graduate College, and then according to your uncle's will, you're free to go wherever you want."

I nodded. Fury had gone through this with me the week previously. Not that I'd paid much attention, but we'd gone through it.

I stooped to pick up my suitcase, dragging it with me as I followed Maria through twisting corridors and to the elevator, where we stood in awkward silence, waiting to arrive at the parking lot level.

"So," she began, "Nineteen huh? Going off to College has got to be pretty amazing."

I shrugged. If I was honest, I was no longer as exited for Art College as I had been half a year ago. My uncle had been the one to push me into going to Art College in the first place, and now, without him here, I felt kind of... Empty.

The elevator doors opened, and Maria led me out into the parking lot, where I could see a sleek, shiny limo surrounded by tall, good looking guys. I immediately recognised the man in front. Tony Stark, who had been leaning against the front door of the limo, stood up straight, walking up to meet us. He shot me a grin.

"Tony Stark. Good to meet you Kate."

I nodded. "Thanks, you too."

Behind him, a honey haired man stepped up to greet me, with a lazy grin. "Clint Barton."

"Barton is our resident archery specialist." Maria murmured from behind me. I nodded and said hi. Behind him was a man I could place in a heartbeat, even though I'd never seen him before. Steve Rogers, America's golden boy.

"Steve Rogers." He gave me a far smaller smile than the two men before him. I didn't feel like returning it. My uncle had loved Steve Rogers, my father too. I'd grown up in a room with posters of the Star Spangled Man with a Plan, and I walked into my European History Class with a head start on the American involvement in the Second World War, all thanks to watching Captain America on film.

"Pleasure." I managed to choke out, as the last guy stepped up. Long blonde hair fell in slight curls past a strong jawline, and I realised with a start as he stepped up to me that he towered over me.

"Thor, of Asgard." He inclined his head and motioned to my bag. "Would you like me to carry that for you, lady Kate?"

"Uh, yeah... Thanks." I muttered lamely, as he plucked the suitcase from my grasp with ease, returning to the limo to dump it back inside. As he made his way back, I realised I was the lone female, unless Maria was coming with me, which I assumed she wasn't. I turned to look at her, and, almost like she'd read my mind, she leaned in a whispered that a woman named Natasha Romanoff would also be staying at the Stark Tower, just as soon as she returned from a mission in Europe.

"So, is there anything else you need?" Maria asked, smiling at me.

For the first time since my uncle had died, just before the battle of New York, I felt a very strong emotion. I didn't want Maria to leave me. She wasn't any less of a stranger than any of these men, but somehow, she was incredibly comforting. I had the sudden, inexplicable urge to grab her arm and beg her to let me stay in the room Fury had supplied me.

Of course, I didn't, and instead clambered into the limo with the guys, after a brief goodbye. As the door closed behind Clint, the car engine came to life, and Maria slid out of view from my window. I sat back in my seat with a sigh, a deep feeling of dread settling in my stomach.

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