Fire and Ice

•42•

When they were put in choppers, Kate didn't know what to think. They didn't really bother with secrecy, allowing her to see out the sides of the helicopter. She could see the ocean, but she and Sam were in between two guards. She couldn't see what they were descending to, not until they were right up on it, passing through a hole in the top. They were unloaded, then the other choppers came in with the others. All was silent. The air was stale.

They went their separate ways, getting their jumpsuits. Thankfully, they were dark blue, not an orange that grates on the eyes. Her jumpsuit had long sleeves with gloves on the end, to keep from lighting up.

They met up again at their cells. They were in a circle, more than enough for all of them. They had the essentials, and not a whole lot of space. She was next to Sam, across from Wanda. It was only when they were putting Wanda in her completely empty cell that she realized they had her in a blue straight jacket.

"Are you kidding me?!" Kate shouted, jerking herself over to Wanda, but her guard grabbed her and held her back. "Get her out of that thing! And give her a bed! This is cruel!" Her hands began to heat, but the jumpsuit had to be fire proof, likely her own formula. She didn't bother to hold back, sparks lighting off her hands and getting instantly smothered by the gloves.

The others turned and noticed, and soon everybody was protesting. Words become indistinct, there was shouting. More guards ran in, grabbing arms and shoving them all in their cells.

The door locked behind Kate, and she shouted at the guards through the glass. "You're all cruel! Every one of you is heartless!"

They made sure everyone was secure, ignoring their protests, then left, the door closing behind them. Kate turned, instantly spying the camera in the top corner of her cell.

"You hear me?!" she shouted at it, feeling the heat running up her arms. "You have no right to treat her like an animal! I'm talking to you, Ross! This is cruel and unusual punishment!"

"It's because they're afraid of me," Wanda said quietly. Her lips formed into a small smile at the thought, but it quickly faded. "Don't worry about it. I'm comfortable enough. It's like giving myself a hug."

"They have no right-!"

"You better calm down before your hair catches fire," Clint commented. He was next to Scott, on the end near the door. "They'll dunk you in water and put you in a full body suit."

"He's right," Wanda said.

Kate sighed and sat on her bed, then laid down. The ceiling, of course, was gray and dull like everything else there. She briefly wondered what would happen next as her hands cooled down. How Bucky and Steve were doing. When and if she'd get out of there.

She chuckled bitterly to herself. If only Ryan and her dad could see her.

~_~_~_~_~

Ryan's hand felt clammy in Kate's as they walked up the steps to the small front porch. Kate wanted to laugh. "Are you really that nervous?"

"Are you kidding?" Ryan replied, stopping with Kate at the front door. "I'm meeting your dad, in case you forgot. He could've been my boss — but I'm glad he wasn't."

Kate's brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Because this would be ten times more awkward. And I've also heard he was a no-nonsense kind of guy."

"Do you get up to a lot of nonsense on the job?" Kate asked, laughing. "Are you telling me you're irresponsible?" Ryan just rolled his eyes, and Kate laughed again, knocking on the door, knowing how her dad was at work and at home were two very different things.