Part 5: Permission and Purpose
Location: Avengers Compound, Private Cafeteria Time: Evening
The gym was no longer enough.
Riven stood in the center of the space, surrounded by reinforced flooring and walls designed to take a beating—and yet, he knew.
If he pushed harder...
If he let even a fraction more of that strange, building pressure loose...
This place would crack.
He couldn't risk it.
So he did something simple.
He asked.
The private cafeteria was quieter than the main mess. Reserved for the core Avengers and staff, it offered peace, privacy, and arguably better food.
Riven stepped in slowly.
They were all there. Steve reading something on a tablet. Tony talking tech with Vision. Wanda sipping tea across from Natasha. Sam scrolling through something with a half-eaten sandwich in one hand.
Conversations dimmed a little as he entered. Heads turned.
Riven hesitated, then stepped toward Steve.
"Captain," he said quietly.
Steve looked up. "Riven. You alright?"
Riven gave a small nod. "I need to test something. My power. I don't want to do it here… in case I break something."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You break it, you buy it."
Riven ignored the comment and kept his eyes on Steve. "I want to go outside. Somewhere with space. Just for a little while. I can stay in sight."
Steve studied him, then glanced at Natasha and Wanda, who both gave faint nods.
"Alright," he said. "We'll clear the north field. Sam can keep an eye on you from above. Sound fair?"
Riven nodded once. "Thank you."
He turned to leave.
Tony, now curious, leaned forward. "Kid, just don't level the mountain. We've got PR problems as it is."
Riven didn't answer.
He just kept walking.