Chapter Text
You Like Weird
Kendra sat in the Quinjet with her feet up on the dash. She had her right hand in front of her as she snapped her fingers. A tiny flame appeared as she focused her power. Ever since DC, Kendra has spent the majority of her out of lab time training to get a better focus on her abilities. She listened to the team over the comms as they finished infiltrating the base. While she wasn’t officially a field agent again, Fury had asked her to play back up for today’s mission. However, the strict orders of staying in the boat were exhausting.
She would rather be in a lab than waiting around for nothing to happen.
While playing with the flames on her hands, a sudden whoosh went past the window in front of her and Black Widow's voice filled the empty jet, “Clint!” Kendra extinguished her flame and leaned forward, trying to catch any movement in the distance.
“We have an enhanced in the field,” Cap warned over the radio.
Kendra pressed the comms on her headset, “Widow you got a 20 on Clint?” She brought up a drone cam on Natasha who ran over to where Clint was lying down. They are surrounded by enemies.
“Somebody want to deal with that bunker?” Widow asked in annoyance. Suddenly Hulk burst through the clearing and took care of it. “Thank you.”
Natasha held Clint’s wound, “Clint's hit pretty bad, guys. Kendra, we’re gonna need evac.”
“I can get Barton to the jet.” Thor spoke over the radio, “The sooner we're gone the better. Steve and Stark secure the scepter.”
Kendra watched Thor land near Clint and Natasha. In the distance, she could see a blur passing through the forest. Frustrated, she swiped the screen away and took off her headset, placing it on the dash of the console. “Never send a man to do a women's job” Kendra mumbled as she unhooked her seatbelt, getting up from the pilot chair she made her way down the ramp as Thor was escorting Clint up it. “Get that wound closed up Thor.” She snapped passing them into the forest.
“What are you doing to do?” Thor called after her.
“Catch a rabbit.” She snapped.
Walking into the clearing, Kendra focused her eyes on the trees. As she made her way further into the woods, she felt a large pull of energy, signaling that the enhanced human was getting closer. To her left, a branch broke. Kendra smirked and like lightning, she threw her right hand out and let out a blast of energy towards the guy in mid-run. He struggled against her hold on his body. “Let me go American scum!” He screamed, trying to wiggle his body free.
“Oh I’m sorry,” She smiled. “This isn’t comfortable? Let me help.” The man screamed as Kendra began squeezing his body. He kept trying to move but found himself unable. She waved her hand down and brought the man to his knees. “Now, now,” She asked. “If you struggle I will only push harder. Doesn’t feel great, does it? Feeling helpless,” she sneered, stepping forward. “I want you to feel all of this.” He pushed back against her hold. She smiled. “Don't get me wrong, you are very strong. But I am stronger.”
Suddenly the comms went off catching her off guard.
“We have a second enhanced,” yelled Steve in agony. “Female, do not engage, I repeat, do not engage.” Kendra pressed her free hand to her ear, weakening her hold, and the young man who took advantage of the situation and slammed into her, knocking her on her feet before speeding away
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Kendra limped her way back to the jet, she was more annoyed than when she left. Steve was coming out of the clearing beside her, she met him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and provided her some support walking back.
“You alright?” he questioned, hand running down her side.
Kendra nodded. “Probably a bruised rib, it’s my pride more than anything. I’m just saying,” as they walked up the ramp, “If I get my hands on that punk again I’m going to knock his ass out next time.”
Barton sat up in the med bed, “Well, get in line.”
Kendra walked over and sat down in the pilot's chair, “Just another day at the office.” She grumbled and went to grab her headset.
Natasha walked over and stood next to her friend, “Fury told you to stay on the boat.” Natasha spoke low and soft, “Don’t give me a reason to take you off this team.”
Kendra rolled her eyes and secured the headset in place, “Next time you stay on the sidelines while your team is in trouble and we see how you handle it.” Reaching forward she pressed the console and started up the jet, “Now, unless you have something else to add, I need to get our team home.”
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Tony hung up his phone and turned back to the group in the jet, “Hey Banner, Dr. Cho's on her way in from Seoul, is it okay if she sets up in your lab?”
Bruce, who was sitting with Natasha, looked over to Tony, “Uh, yeah, she knows her way around.”
Tony walked over behind Kendra at the helm, “Thanks. Jarvis, tell her to prep everything, Barton's gonna need the full treatment.” Tony spoke aloud.
“Very good sir.” The AI replied.
Tony stood behind Kendra, he placed a hand on her shoulder. She felt her hand twitch and turned her head a bit to acknowledge him, “Mind giving me some space? I’m kind of flying here.”
Tony rolled his eyes and leaned over her to press one of the buttons on the console in front of her, “JARVIS, take the wheel.”
“Yes, sir. Approach vector is locked.”
Kendra stayed motionless in her chair as it turned around while she rolled her eyes. Tony walked away towards the group and she crossed her arms to follow.
“It feels good, yeah?” Tony looked at the specter, he turned to Thor who was standing with Steve, “I mean, you've been after this thing since SHIELD collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding parties, but…”
Thor shook his head, “No, but this… this brings it to a close.”
“As soon as we find out what else this has been used for. I don't just mean weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?” Steve asked with a hint of worry.
“Banner, Kendra, and I'll give it the once before it goes back to Asgard. Is that cool with you?” Tony asked Thor.
Thor nods his head.
“I mean, just a few days until the farewell party. You're staying, right?”
Thor shook his head again, “Yes, yes, of course. A victory should be honored with revels. Besides” He reached past Tony and grabbed Kendra's hand pulling her into his side, “I promised my cousin I wouldn’t leave again without a proper goodbye.”
Kendra smiled and squeezed her cousin close.
Tony leaned over the specter case, “Yeah. Who doesn't love revels? Captain?”
“Hopefully this puts an end to the Chitauri and HYDRA, so. Yes, revels. And to spend time with those we cherish most.” Steve looked over to Kendra who gave him a wink in return.
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The Avengers aircraft lands at headquarters, the bay doors open and teams are rushing up the ship pushing Barton to the medical bay. Maria walks up the ramp to meet with Stark who is arguing with Kendra.
“I’m just saying,” Kendra snapped, “next time you do it, I don’t need a backseat driver. I obviously got us here in one piece.”
“It’s like you have forgotten everything I taught you about flying!” Tony exclaimed.
Kendra laughed and shut the engines down to connect to the landing pad, “Rhodey taught me how to fly.” She turned her chair towards Tony, “and he specifically said barrel rolls upon landing are highly frowned upon.”
Tony whacked her nose with a straw, “It’s why I am the fun one.” The team begins to disembark on their own. Kendra and Tony turned to see Maria standing next to them.
“Lab's all set up, boss,” Hill spoke up.
Tony pointed to Steve, “Uh, actually, he's the boss.” Tony emphasized, “I just pay for everything, and design everything and make everyone look cooler.”
Steve, who was putting things away in the jet, stood up and shook his head. Kendra walked with Hill over to him. Steve was only interested in one thing, ”What's the word on Strucker?” he asked.
“NATO's got him,” Hill replied.
Kendra nodded, and looked at the datapad, which showed two people on it, “Those enhanced?” Kendra asked.
Maria handed Steve the datapad, “Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. Twins. Orphaned at ten when a shell collapsed their apartment building. Sokovia had a rough history. It's nowhere special but it's on the way to everywhere special.”
Kendra looked through with Steve, “Their abilities? The boy definitely had some speed on him. He struggled against me pretty well.”
Maria nodded as they all walked down the ramp together, “Yes, He's got increased metabolism and improved thermal homeostasis.” They all walked through the hallway towards the elevator, “Her thing is neural electric interfacing, telekinesis, mental manipulation.”
Steve looks at her funny. Kendra laughed.
Maria sighed and decided to rephrase the statement so he can understand, “He's fast and she's weird.”
Kendra smiled and gave her boyfriend a playful nudge with a wink. “You like weird.”
Steve ignored Kendra and handed the datapad back to Maria, “Well, they're going to show up again.”
The agent nodded, “Agreed. The file says they volunteered for Strucker's experiments. It's nuts.”
The elevator opened, Steve took Kendra’s hand and stepped inside. “Right.” He pressed the button to their floor, “What kind of monster would let a German scientist experiment on them to protect their country?”
“We're not at war, Captain.” Maria pointed out.
Steve gave her a pointed look, “They are.” The doors closed.
Kendra let out a sigh and wrapped herself up in Steve’s embrace. He pulled her close, she flinched as his hand came in contact with her injured side.
“Ribs still tender?” Steve asked.
Kendra nodded, “Yeah, give it a day. By this Saturday I’ll be dancing on tables at Starks party.”
Steve smirked, “God help us.”
The elevator dinged and the door opened to her office. Kendra groaned and pulled away from Steve. “No rest for the wicked it seems. Let's do something easy for dinner tonight, yeah?” Kenda started to walk away, but not before Steve grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. “Steve! What-”, but she didn’t say more. Steve grabbed her face with his hands and kissed her. Kendra melted into his embrace immediately.
Steve pulled away, grinning. “I’ll grab the pizza.” He whispered while pushing her back through the open doors, “Call me when you are done.” Kendra, still in a daze, could only nod as she walked away to get to work.