Operation Frostbite

*PART FOUR*

"Can you tell me the next spice to put in here?" Wanda was stood beside a boiling pan in the communal kitchen. She watched as Anya sat with the book in her lap, on top of the kitchen counter, brow furrowed as she tried to read the next ingredient

Vision had become obsessed with learning about the small country where Anya was found, and had brought them a book with the countries famous dishes and Wanda had found that to be a good way to entertain the girl. The small girl had followed her around like a puppy, which to be honest, Wanda liked very much. She smiled when the girl was only a few steps behind her. Steve had introduced them earlier that day and Anya had been taken with the young female. Especially when Wanda moved her fingertips and red lights streamed from them. Anya tried to copy her movements, and a similar blue light appeared. It was like a silent understanding between them, that they had both been the subject of something inhuman to get those powers. Now Anya tagged along with Wanda almost as much as she did with Steve.

"Pap...papareek?" The girl squinted at the word. Her reading level was higher in some areas than others. But words she'd never seen before were difficult for her to read.

Wanda smiled fondly and looked over at the word. "Paprika." She read alound, and called the small glad container of spice over to her. Anya slowly nodded. The girl watched as Wanda gently spread some of the spice into the pot of soup. It was a strange colour, and so far Anya was only excited by the foods that were brightly coloured. She'd gone wide eyed when she found a pack of strawberry Pop Tarts at the back of one cupboard.

The two girls were comfortable in the silence of each other kitchen, but both looked towards the ceiling as shouting could be heard.

"What is going on up there?" Wanda muttered to herself. At that moment, Vision walked into the kitchen.

"How goes the culinary experience in here?" He asked, smiling as he sat at the breakfast bar.

"Fine. Vis, what is happening up there?" Wanda frowned. She noticed the way Anya moved uncomfortably at the sound of raised voices.

"I'm not too sure. I do believe that Clint was looking for Miss Romanoff urgently for something."

Wanda's ears pricked, and she noted how Anya definitely became more uncomfortable at the mention of Nat. The older girl couldn't understand why Anya seemed so skittish around her. She herself had started to look up to the assassin, who could be rather protective of her when times called for it.

*

"Don't lie to me about this, Stark."

Natasha's eyes had become very dark.

Clint had found her in the shooting range, letting off some steam in training. She'd turned around to find her best friend, out of breath as he had sprinted across the campus to her. His eyes were wide with shock and strangely soft.

"It's the kid, Nat. It's Anya. You need to know..."

Clint had barely been able to speak. She'd tilted her head to the side and watched as he struggled to find the words. They soon came out in a garbled rush.

Anya

Blood test

Genetic match

Avengers Database

Anya

Her

A match

Natasha couldn't remember the exact way Clint had phrased it. Her eyes had peered uncertainly at her best friend, before putting the training guns down, and sprinting from the room. They both rushed through the halls of the base, not meeting a soul as they walked into one of the various meeting rooms. Tony was pacing the room, hands in his pockets. Steve was sat in a stone-like silence, staring at his hands.