Chapter 29: Look At That, A Flashback

Steve looks at my hand, to me, and back to my hand questionably, but he does take it. I pull him up, but he winces.

"That was low." He grunts out once he's straight.

"Lower than refusing my first attempt at a kind gesture towards you?" I ask. He glares down at me, but he knows I'm right. Everyone comes up to us.

"Steve, are you alright?" Bruce asks.

"Oh, yeah, I'm just peachy." I say sourly sarcastic as I shove past Peter and Clint, before Steve can answer.

As I walk away from the group, I hear Steve mumble, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Where do you think you're going?" Tony asks when I'm in front of the elevator.

I give an exasperated sigh and turn to them. "I thought I would get an ice pack cause, you know, I just got my ass handed to me on a silver platter by a friggin' super human!" I say angrily.

I hit the button, but as the elevator comes, Bruce says, "Steve, we should get you to my lab so I can look at your shoulder." Steve nods in agreement and they begin to walk to me. Or to the elevator more so. "Jade, would you mind coming too?" Bruce asks. I shake my head no and step into the elevator, holding it open for everyone to pile in. Thor is now supporting Steve and when the elevator jerks to a start, I almost fall. He really did mess up my right leg. As I try to push myself up off the wall, Peter comes up next to me and picks me up.

"Peter, I'm f-" I try and protest, but he cuts me off.

"If you say you're fine, I swear I will give you an Aunt May lecture myself." I keep quiet, but I really am fine. "Jade, you have people who will take care of you. Let them." Peter continues.

Really, is all I manage to think, seeing as I'm rather skeptical of that statement.

"Really." Clint says. I guess I didn't just think it. I look around them all and see there is some concern in their eyes. And then I see Steve. He looks at me like a puppy with a broken paw, limping through the rain. I hate that look, but then I see his shoulder and give him the exact same one. I can already tell it's dislocated, because I've had my fair share of dislocations. My eyes travel down his body and I see I did in fact hit a tendon of some sort in his left thigh. There's a large bulge and I know something's wrong. The elevator dings and Peter carries me to Bruce's lab while everyone follows. Peter sets me down on the same table I was on when I couldn't see. Everyone follows and Steve props himself up on a table across from me. I hop down and walk, or I guess limp, to him.

"I dislocated your shoulder." I bluntly say. Everyone turns to me and Steve looks down at me quizzically.

"How do you know?" Tony asks.

"I've had my fair share of them, I know one when I see it."

"Okay, well give me a second, and I can replace it." Bruce says.

"No need." I stop him and take Steve's left hand. "I know it must be hard to stand with that leg, but would you mind getting down so I can pop your shoulder back into place." He eases himself down and I do my best to support him by grabbing his torso. He leans into me and I shift to make it more comfortable for him.

"Go right ahead, ma'am." Steve says, causing a small smile to tug at my mouth.

When he's stable I say, "Okay, not gonna lie, this will hurt." He looks at me skeptically, but I just shrug. "On 3." I push him back slightly so he leans on the table, and I hold his wrist with my right hand and his bicep with my left. Hot damn... This guy really is ripped... Off topic, Leiton!! I take a deep breath, "1..." and push his wrist up and pop his shoulder back in with my left hand.

He grunts out a loud, "OW!!!" and then breathes out a "What..."

I rub his arm and say, "2, 3." answering his age old question of 'What happened to 2 and 3?' I hear several chuckles behind me as I smile up at Steve. He simply nods in return, still slightly disoriented. "How do you feel?" I ask.

"Uh... Better." He replies while rolling his shoulder back and forth. I place my hand on his shoulder to feel if the bone really is back in place, and to make sure it is solid. I stand mostly on my left foot as I stand on my toes and dig my thumbs into his shoulder. I'm sure I look ridiculous right now standing on one foot, just so I can get better leverage. Screw you, shortness. He twitches from the pain causing me to stumble, but his left hand is immediately on my hip to stabilize me. I look up at him, my hands still on his shoulder, and I rub his shoulder slightly in an attempt to ease his pain.

I clear my throat and say, "Well, I'd hold back on throwing your shield with your left arm for a bit."

He lets out a small chuckle along with, "Will do, ma'am."

I let out a chuckle of my own as I lean back down and his grip tightens on my hip. I can tell, he's just trying to make sure I don't fall. "Right." Is all I can say to his response and use of 'ma'am.' I'm mean, I'm definitely not 'ma'am' worthy.

"Jade, we should really get you off that leg." Bruce says behind me.

"Of course." I quietly say, still looking up at Steve." "Peter, you mind?" I ask while turning slightly, still in Steve's grasp, and find Peter behind me, his hand also supporting me on my back. Steve lets up on my side and I shift towards Peter who takes me back in his arms and lifts up to set me on the table. As Peter helps me, I accidentally hit my right leg against the table, and wince. Seeing as Peter had lifted me by my waist, I feel his grip tighten, as I wince, in concern. I look up at him and offer a smile. "It's okay. These guys'll take care of me, right?"

Peter smiles widely and then turns away and leans against the table I'm on. "Right." He says, with a satisfying cross of his arms.

"Okay Steve let's take a look at your leg. Tony would you mind checking out Jade." Bruce says as he slides one of the see through tablets over Steve's lap.

"Of course not, Doctor." Tony says cheekily, while walking over to me. I roll my eyes as he gets his own tablet and pulls it in front of my face.

"So, I thought you were more of a chemistry doctor?" I ask as Tony presses some buttons on the screen.

"Well after my... incident, I decided to learn a little bit about anatomy." Bruce answers as he works on his own screen.

"And by a little, he means the whole damn book." Clint says walking across the room and leaning his back against one of the tables next to me. I smile at his comment and then see him squinting at me. Or, I guess, the screen in front of me more so. He leans back again and simply says, "Man, x-rays are weird." I raise an eyebrow at him and then move to look around at the screen. While it was still clear to me, on Tony's side it's a dark purple hue. I lift my hand up and see all my bones. Feeding my curiosity, I clink one of the buttons and it goes to heat signature.

"Hm..." I let out as I sit back up and Tony switches back to x-ray.

Natasha comes over and says, "Turn your head to the left." I do so and now they seem to be examining my jaw.

"Nothing seems to be broken." Tony confirms.

"I didn't kick her that hard... Did I?" Steve says as he looks over hat me worriedly.

"No but..." Natasha clicks the same button I did for heat signature. "There will be a bit of bruising." I turn my head back and see Steve looking down, sad and ashamed. I push the screen away from my face.

"Steve, it's fine. I've had worse, and besides, we were just training. How's your leg?" I say trying to reassure Steve not to feel bad.

"You tore a tendon in his thigh." Bruce says. Knew it.

"What?" Peter asks.

"Hm?" I say looking at him.

"You said something." He clarifies.

"Oh, I saw his leg in the elevator and guessed it was something with his tendons. He probably has tendonitis." I say.

"Correct. But, Steve should heal quickly if he rests. For now it just needs to be taped." Bruce says walking away to retrieve tape, I'm assuming.

"How's your jaw?" Steve asks.

"Bruising and..." Natasha says turning my face and pressing her thumb around my jaw while holding my chin. "Tender." She finally says.

"Yeah, okay, ow." I say removing her hand. She smiles sheepishly and mumbles a sorry while leaning next to Clint.

"Nothing ice can't help." Bruce says with a smile coming back with the tape for Steve. "Let me have a look at your knee before I wrap Steve." I'm pretty sure he's just waiting for the rest of us to leave, considering I hit Steve pretty high up the leg, he'll have to take his pants off.

"I'm pretty sure it's just sore. At most, a slight sprain." I say as Bruce walks over.

"Let's just make sure." He says moving another one of the clear screens in front of my right knee.

"How do you know so much?" Thor asks. "About the body." He adds on.

"Experience." I say while looking down at the screen. When no one replies I look up and see there all looking at me as if there's more. "Well I'm no doctor, but when I was locked up I had to figure things out on my own."

"It was just poisons and serums, right?" Clint asks.

"What do you think torture means?" I ask more sourly than I intended. Seeing the hurt in their eyes, I soften my tone and continue. "Well that is how I know so much on poison and medicine, but... when I didn't do something right, they'd beat me. Or show me how to do it with me as the dummy." I say.

There's several minutes of silence and then Bruce clears his throat and says, "Well I'd keep weight off your leg for the rest of the day. Hope you two like bed rest and ice, because you'll be spending plenty of time like that." He gestures between me and Steve while walking off to another table.

"So, training is over for the day?" Clint remarks sarcastically.

"It appears so. You Midgardians are so fragile... and tiny." Thor says.

"Yeah, well I'm coming for you next Blondie." I say swinging my legs off the table.

He lets out a hearty laugh with, "I look forward to it." As I'm about to hop down Peter is right by my side.

"You heard the doctor." He says I hold my arms out for him and he lifts me off the table with ease. We leave the lab with everyone, except Steve and Bruce, following. As we get into the elevator, I realize everyone has their own floor, except Tony and Steve and me. Tony I'm sure already had his room planned out, and I just started living here (plus I'm sure it's temporary), so that explains me and Tony, but what about Steve?

"Why doesn't Steve have his own floor?" I ask.

"He didn't want a floor just for himself." Tony says. "But I did put in his own gym on the floor that would have been his. Kinda got a 40's vibe to it." I nod my head at his answer as we stop on Natasha's floor. Then Clint's and lastly the 83rd floor. Thor does go up to his room though. Peter carries me down the hall, while Tony goes to the other elevator. "Peter, what does that elevator go to?" I ask as he sets me down on my bed.

"Oh, Tony's workshop."

"You mean, where his suits are?" I ask.

"Yeah, all of his tools are down there." Peter says leaning on the bed side table.

"Here, help me to the closet, I want to change." I say, standing back up and using the bed post for support.

"You know, I could ask Bruce if he's got a crutch or something." Peter says, slipping his arm around me and helping me walk.

"Would you?" I say as we get to the closet.

"Yeah, I'll go get now." Peter says leaving me in the closet. I hear the soft band of the door closing, and go to change. I put on a purple, v-neck t-shirt and kick off my shoes. As I'm getting ready to go back to the bed, I realize I'll have to go back to my apartment and get more clothes. I sigh and hop my way to my bed and as soon as I get there, Peter comes back in with a crutch. Typical.

I release an agitated sigh, but he just shrugs and says, "What?"

"Nothing, just come here." He listens and walks over, putting the crutch down on the bed.

I prepare to stand, but Peter stops me. "Jade, wait." Oh, crap. Here comes that talk I mentioned earlier. Yup, the one about Luc. Oh, man... I didn't think it was gonna be this early. Cue cartoon, exaggerated gulp. "Look I wanted to talk to you about what happened before training. When you were explaining how HYDRA trained you?" He says warily.

I take a deep breath and say, "Shoot."

"Why haven't you mentioned Luc?" He simply asks. "I know what he meant to you, but he was an important factor to all of this and you can't keep that out of the equation."

Oh, god, I hate when he begins math references. It means he's serious and won't appreciate my usual sarcastic wit. "I... He... It's just..." I stumble.

"Jade, it's okay. Tell me." Peter says. I look up to his brown, puppy-wide eyes and give in.

"I'm afraid if I tell people they'll think lesser of me." I abruptly say.

"Why would they think lesser of you?" Peter asks with a confused and adorable furrow of his brow.

"Because Luc is a weakness. Like you." I again, blandly say while looking down, unable to tolerate any more of Peter's worried stare.

"Jade... Everyone has weaknesses and if it makes you feel better, you have less than anyone I know. I don't know if that means you're stronger, but I do know it means you're braver. But it also means, that you shut people out. And it's not a bad thing to have people who care for you."

"Peter... Everyone I've let in has left me, or was taken. I barely made it through you leaving. The more people I have that care about me, means the more people I have to worry over. It's better for everyone if I just get through the day, and keep everyone else out of my problems, because no one needs all the baggage I carry."

"So... why'd you let me in?" He asks after several seconds of silence. I leave another gap before answering.

"Because... It felt good." I say almost inaudible looking away from Peter and at my lap.

"Exactly." Peter says turning my head back to him. "Now, tell me the other reason why you don't what the others to know about Luc."

"Damn you, Parker." I say with a breath of a laugh. "Are you sure I can't just pretend my leg hurts too much to answer?"

"Come on, Gimpy." He says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes, and head, so much I'm afraid they might actually go to the back of my brain. "Fiiiiine." I whine out while looking back at him. "Luc is just..." When I say his name, I get slightly disoriented and lose my train of thought.

"Jade?" I hear Peter. I shake my head and look back to him.

"Sorry... Okay, Luc, is... He's the one thing that these people don't know about me, and I... I don't know... You're right, he was a big part of my life, and I just... I didn't want them to see me like that. I don't want them to see me so emotional."

"Jade, that's not a bad thing."

F L A S H B A C K

"Alright, what's with this one way staring contest?" Luc says from across the cell.

"Pardon, I just... can't figure out why you are here." I say with slight quirk of my head.

"What do you mean? I'm an object to these heathens, why wouldn't I be here other than someone didn't out bid them?" He says walking over to where I am sitting. He slides down the wall, sitting next to me and rests his forearms on his knees.

"Because they are not like normal... heathens. I wasn't brought here because I was a cheap price, but because a man named Jared White said he liked me. I personally think it is some psychotic perversion, but the other day, he came and said I was no longer going to be experimented on. He-"

"Excuse me, but experimented on?"

"Right, you're new. I'm sure you've been used as a measly laborer?" He nods in response. "Well, here... They use you as a test subject. Something to determine how well their..." I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. "concoctions work on the human body."

He has a look that veins realization on his face, which soon turns to fear, and then disgust, but he quickly recovers saying, "Ah, continue, please." Gesturing with his hands for me to finish speaking.

"He said that it was obvious I... couldn't take much longer in terms of the tests." I see Luc's eyes travel down my body and that he stops on my arms. His eyes widen slightly at the many puncture wounds where needles have been inserted. I cross my arms over my chest in an attempt to hide them, although he has already taken note. He clears his throat while shifting to try and make what just happened less awkward. "So, I was told that I will soon be trained to, defend myself. At first I thought, Well how idiotic of them, but then White told me that I was to be a pawn for him. To get information from the people that had wronged him and his company."

After explaining, Luc takes a deep breath and verbalizes what I was implying. "And you think that is why I'm here?"

"Well, there hasn't been another French person here for two years, and I have yet to meet another teen. If we were to work together, I'm sure they'd want us to at least have common interests. This can't be a coincidence." I say looking to Luc.

"I suppose we'll have to wait this out together." Luc says with a hopeful smile. He holds his hand out to me and I look at it questionably. "What? Have you never held a hand before?"

"Not in 6 six years." I say, still looking at his hand as if it were an alien claw. He takes my arm and glides his hand down to mine. I look up at him as I shiver and grow goose bumps.

"My dear, you're tense." He says with a smile. I can't even remember the last time I was touched gently. "My, now that's tear worthy." He says.

"Hm?" I say, creating a crinkle in between my eyebrows.

"I believe all this seclusion has made you unwillingly talk your thoughts." Luc says with a smile, while rubbing the hand he still holds with his thumb. I instantly become embarrassed. Have I really lost the one thing I had left? My own thoughts? "Do not worry dear, I'm confident you are still one of the smarter and more bearable humans I will be forced to meet." This does induce laughter to erupt from me.

"How refreshing. Someone who thinks as I do. There are only a select few on this damned planet that will not cause me brain damage." I say looking back to him. He smiles. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Smile as you do. I do not see the years of hurt. You still smile incredibly bright and make me want to smile along."

"Do not be so quick to assume, dear... I believe that if I let the people who hurt me and so many others break me, that they win. I may not be able to fight back, because, well, that'd be incredibly idiotic, but I can be damn sure to smile while they do so." I take a moment to process his words. I suppose I shouldn't have just assumed he doesn't show his years of suffering. For all I know he may just be good at hiding. But I do see his point.

"You're right. We'll do this together. I know we met only moment ago, but-"

"No, I want to do this. As long as you're here to do it with me." I stare up at his hazel eyes that grow greener with the dilation of his pupils. Although his face is covered in grime and dirt, I haven't witnessed a more beautiful person in years. Just as this would have been an "aww" worthy moment, the creak of the metal door that causes me to cringe slightly, interrupts.

"Ah, I see you have become acquainted with your... partner." Jared White steps into the cell with his arms behind his back.

"Partner?" I ask.

"Partner. You see, I have a job for you two. Now, get up and let's get to work." I look to Luc, yet he simply gives me a reassuring nod and stern face which reminds me of my father so long ago. How much does he think I can take?

E N D O F F L A S H B A C K

"Peter, I promise I'll tell everyone about Luc, just... not now." I say coming out of my daze.

"Okay... Do you want to stay in the living room?" Peter asks.

"Yes I do." I say, preparing to limp my way there, but Peter picks me up again. "Whoa!" I say as he comes up behind me. He laughs at my shock and I join him. "You know, you don't have to do this." I say.

"Yes I do." Peter mimics me. "And besides, when I was bitten, I didn't just get spider powers. I also got stronger and can heal faster. Nothing like Wolverine, but faster than the average human."

"Well that's a bonus." I say as we enter the living room. Peter sets me down on the couch and then sits next to me.

"Since I will most likely be here all day, will you tell me the story of how Spider Man came to be?" I ask.

"I'd love to, but... I can't stay." Peter says hesitantly.

"Oh, okay, maybe I'll just catch up on Supernatural then." I say. "Now, where's the remote...?" I mumble to myself. Not finding a control, I look back up at Peter who looks, almost sad. "Hey, it's okay. I don't mind sitting here all day. Go." I say holding Peter's arm.

"It's not that. I'm going to May's for dinner and I wanted you to come." Peter says.

"Oh, well, okay then. I can still go." I say trying to get up, but Peter sits me back down.

"Now, now, Gimpy, I don't need getting more hurt. Besides, I wasn't planning on getting a cab." Peter says, standing up.

"Fine." I pout.

Peter smiles and lifts my legs carefully up onto the couch and says, "Maybe another time, Gimpy."

"I thought you said no nicknames, Spandex?" I tease as Peter walks off to the balcony.

"Yeah, except that doesn't really apply to me so..." Peter trails off walking backwards to face me. He then smiles and hurls himself off the balcony.

"Peter!?!!" I shout before I can remember who his alter ego is. Seconds later Peter swings back into view with a smile plastered on his smug, stupid, and adorkable face. As he swings away I shout after him, "Asshole!!"

"Who's an asshole?" I hear behind me. I turn and see Steve in front of the elevator, leaning on a crutch.

"Limp buddy!" I say with a flail of my arms, as he makes his way over to the fridge. I can see a hint of a smile on his face as he walks away.

"I find it ironic that we caused each other's limping." He says opening the fridge. I let out a laugh at the trueness of his comment. "Do you want anything?" He asks. I turn and see he's gesturing to the opened refrigerator.

"Water, please." He tosses me a bottle and then another one for himself. Steve makes his way over to the couch and I shift to make room for him. Once he sits down, I look over his body and instantly feel guilty.

After several seconds of me just staring at him, and probably zoning out, Steve says something. "Jade, Jade, are you okay? You look like you're going to be sick."

"Huh, oh yeah. I'm fine. I just feel really guilty about all this." I say. He looks taken back, or slightly shocked at my reply. "What, I can't be guilty?" I say, defensively.

"No, no... It's just strange seeing you like this. Compared to how we met." He reassures me.

"I know what you're feeling." I say.

"And remember, we said no more apologies." Steve says.

"Right." I agree.

"So..." Steve says, leaning forward and pulling the coffee table closer to the couch. He props his legs up on it and continues. "Any ideas how to spend the next 10 hours?"

I smile giddily for a moment, but compose myself to say, "Steven, have you been introduced to Supernatural?" He gives me a confused look, but I simply smile. "Okay, so do you know where the remote is?" I say looking around me in case I was sitting on it.

"Out of all the people in this tower, I am the last to ask that." Steve replies. I smile at Steve's response and my arrogance, but then get an idea.

"Hey Jarvis?" I ask the air.

"Yes, Jade?"

"Could you turn on the TV, please?"

"Of course. Would you like the Winchesters to inhabit it?"

"Yes please." I say not hiding my excitement. Steve smirks at me as I get situated and the TV flickers on. I turn slightly so my legs are resting angled on the table and I scoot forward to get more comfortable. My feet accidentally brush against Steve's and I quickly bend my legs, but this causes a cringe worthy crack to erupt from my knee. Steve rushes to straighten my legs out again as I hiss in pain. He rubs my legs in a comforting manner, and eases them back into a straight position. He looks at me making sure he's doing right and I rub his arm. "It's okay, I'm okay. Just, forgot I have a bum knee." I say with a smile.

"Good. Now what are we watching again?" He says, neither of us moving and, secretly, I'm grateful. I clear my throat and smile. Being closer to him, I gently push Steve back to the couch so he relaxes and he does so willingly. "Supernatural. Oh, you're gonna love it."

A/N: Ello everyone!! Okay, that was a bad intro, but it's midnight and I should probably be in bed. Oh well! Alrighty, so what do you guys think of the chapter? I had some suggestions on the last chpater, so I tried to work them in. Thank you @Music_Freak_05 for helping!

So now, what do you all think about the flashback?! It was not written originally, so be grateful for my late night thoughts that keep me up at night! Really, I was laying in bed and then got my computer cause I wanted to type it up. Anyway, I want your thoughts on Luc. I tried to make him kinda Loki like, but there's a bit more to him. I promise, it'll take you all back. That was actually another late night thought of mine. But none of you will know for several more chapters! Hee, I'm evil. Oh, and I know that the grammer is a little iffy, but I purpously wrote like that because I figured, yeah they know English, but it's not like they've had much experience talking with it. Oh, yeah, and I'm really hoping you guys are reading that in French accents... Cause, ya know, Jade and Luc are French...

Also, did you guys like the talk between Jade and Peter? Or what about Jade helping Steve with his arm? Well, and then there's Jade and Steve spending the day together watching Supernatural... Let me know how you guys think that will pan out. I hope you all enjoyed reading them!

Okay, well, yeah... I hope you all had an amusing time, and also that you really like Luc! I know he's been kinda nonexistent, but he really is a big part! Okay, I'm done! Love ya! And thanks for putting up with me and my babbling!!

=_= {}":?>