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in silence, waiting for someone to speak up. Bruce decided to do so.

"So, let's recap."

"You singlehandedly took all the power that Stark Tower had, while also knocking Bruce and I out. Arguably, the more powerful ones of the avengers." Tony added the last part under his voice, earning a "damn straight" from Bruce.

"Now, how the hell did that happen?" Tony finished.

"I literally blacked out. I don't know,"

"Well, we know now that the chemical mixture in that serum can do some serious damage,"

"You, Alex, are a walking atom bomb. An asset, no doubt. Remind me to never get on your bad side,"

"Who's to say you're not already on it?"

"Well then you're going to love my next statement," He grinned. "I'm setting you up with a new trainer."

"But I like Monty," She protested.

"A combat trainer."

"Is she ready for that?" Bruce said.

"I think she could potentially be a part of the team. In order for that to fly, she'll need to be able to fight."

"Psh, I can fight,"

"No you can't."

"No I can't."

"It's settled." Tony stated. "She'll take combat lessons."

"Tony, I don't even know if I want to be an Avenger." She huffed. "That's a huge responsibility, and I'm just starting out my life. I have a fiancé for Christ's sake, who I will now have to keep lying to until I die."

"Which may or may not be soon," Tony tried reasoning.

She groaned. "Not everyone wants to be a hero,"

"Not everyone can be a hero. Look, kid, you've got something special. And I'll be damned if you don't use it,"

"Thanks, Tony."

"Uh, huh. Now, enough tears, let's get you some gloves."

She nodded, getting up from her special chair. The leather was worn from her constantly occupying it, and it almost formed to fit her shape. No one else was permitted to sit in the chair, for its only use was to run her tests.

Tony, Bruce, and Alex all descended the stairs to the private gym, where a trainer was indeed waiting. It was almost as if Tony knew she'd give in.

"Alex, this is André, he'll be teaching you combat."

A tall, muscular man stood in front of her. She confidently stepped onto the mat, but her nerves settled in as she walked toward him.

"Nice to meet you, Andrè."

"The pleasure's mine, Miss Clark."

He was young, and could've possibly have been her type back in high school. As she got older, brains became more important to her than brawn. If you couldn't stimulate her mind, good luck stimulating anything else.

"He'll start with the basics, and once you've mastered those, you can adjust your powers to fit your technique."

"Let's begin, yes? Punch me."

"I beg your pardon?" She asked.

"You heard me,"

She lightly punched his arm. He scoffed.

"I mean, really punch me."

She shrugged. How hard could this be?

She wound her arm back, swinging it to meet his face. In a split second, he caught her knuckles, twisting them. It took him one motion to twist her arm behind her back, following it with a kick to her ankles. This sent her tumbling to the ground face first, with him still holding her arm behind her. He triumphantly had her pinned.

She blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Well that was entirely unnecessary,"

"I'm preparing you for the worst,"

"Show-off." She muttered.

"Come on," He lifted her to her feet. "Let me show you the technique first,"

He took her hand, tucking her fingers the correct way.

"Now, when I throw a punch at you, you'll block it. You can do this a number of ways, but first, I want you to just grab my hand. Stop it in its tracks." He demonstrated.

He sent a slow-motion punch so she could try it out.

Suddenly, he sends one at full power, catching her off guard. He follows through, and gets her right in the nose. She falls backwards, and Tony rushes over to help her up.

"Miss Clark, I'm so--"

"No, no, I'm fine," She groans, standing up.

"Well, free nose job," Tony says, as she wipes blood off.

"I can do better," She says, determined.

"Alright!" Tony says enthusiastically. Meanwhile, Bruce nervously bites his nails."Run it again,"

"I'll warn you this time. I'm about to punch you," Andrè says cautiously.

He then sends another punch, and she quickly ducks. He looks at her after basically punching the air, raising his eyebrows.

"Sorry, sorry, I got nervous."

"Let's try again,"

For the third time, he throws a punch at her face. She meets his fist in the air, locking eyes with him. She tries to turn his fist, but instead, he grows limp. He steps back, falling to the mat. Her mouth fell open, looking to Tony and Bruce.

They stared at Andrè, dumbfounded.

"Did she just--" Bruce started.

"--Take his energy? She did." Tony finished, blinking.

"I did what now?"

"Someone fucking write this down,"

"Tony, I'm remembering something," She said.

"Hold it," He held his finger up. "Laboratory, now."

They rushed up the stairs, leaving Andrè in his daze on the mat. Alex got in her chair, hooking up her finger clamp.

"Go ahead,"

She held her wrist, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Don't you fucking dare say that to me!" A woman screamed.

"You know it's true. You're not committed to this family."

"And how about you? How about the whores you screw on the weekends? You really don't think I notice all that?"

Alex inched toward the door, cracking it a bit.

"I can't deal with this anymore."

"No one is making you."

"We have a child together, Ron!"

"I don't give a fuck, Jackie! As far as I'm concerned, the both of you are dead to me anyways." He scoffed.

The woman slapped the man across the face, and he held his cheek in shock. He charged at her, gripping her wrists tightly.

"Don't you touch me--ow!"

Alex ran out of the bedroom, watching the destruction unfold in front of her young eyes. Her parents were fighting, physically.

"Stop it!" Her small voice squeaked.

"Go to your room, Alex," Her father boomed.

"Don't hurt mommy!"

"Sweetie, please go to your room," Her mother pleaded.

The lights began to flicker as Alex kept screaming at her parents. Her father had her mother in a corner, ready to strike. She ran over to him, pulling on his arm.

In an instant, the lights went out, and the three of them were on the ground.

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