The Experiment ✪

On the Run

I woke up on the floor of the plane with a blanket draped over me and someone's coat folded as a pillow under my head. God my head, it was on fire. I had used far too much power over the span of a few seconds and I was more than paying for it with the huge migraine ripping through my skull. I groaned and sat up. Bruce was huddled in the corner, another blanket draped over him. Clint was just turning off a call with Maria Hill and the others... well they looked like they had been through absolute hell. Whatever had happened was a lot worse than what they had been prepared for. Tony was the first to notice I was awake,
"What the hell were you thinking? I told you to stay put."
"But-"
"No. No buts Freya. You could have died. You are too young to be here. We should never have let you come with us in the first place."
"Tony-"
"You are our responsibility. This isn't just about you Freya, because what happens if you actually get hurt? Huh? We all care about you kid and..."
"I have a responsibility Tony."
"No you don't. We do. Not you."
"Last time I checked you couldn't save people from the brink of death and you're clearly not incredibly bothered about protecting them."
"That's not fair Freya, you have to understand things like this, there will always be collateral damage."
"They are not collateral damage." My voice broke slightly as I said it, "they are people with families, people who love them, they all have dreams and hopes and we have no right to take that away from them. If we have the ability to stop them getting hurt then why don't we use it?"
"You're a kid Freya."
"So? There are kids far younger than me dying when I could have saved them. And don't tell me there aren't because I've felt them die and it kills me every time. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I've been doing it since I was a toddler and I cannot stand by and let anyone go through what I went through."
"Hydra is gone. No one is going to go through what they went through."
"I meant watching your family die. I lost my parents, I lost my friends, I lost everyone I ever grew to care for and Hydra made sure it all happened right before my eyes and I couldn't save any of them so please, please let me try and save the people out there suffering because of us." No one said anything for a while. I knew they had all heard and were all processing what I was saying. Clint surprisingly was the first to speak up,
"You come in after it is done okay? If we tell you to run. You run. If we tell you to stay. You stay. If we deem it too dangerous you listen to that and if it is between your life or theirs then you save yourself because you aren't the only one who can help them." I nodded. That was good enough for me. Steve looked like he wanted to complain but didn't say anything and Tony just sighed but nodded and spun around to face the front of the plane,
"Any ideas on where to go, it doesn't look like the media will be welcoming us home any time soon."
"I know a place. A safehouse." I had a feeling Clint wasn't being entirely truthful but no one complained.

Well it wasn't a safehouse. But it was a house, and given that it was in the middle of nowhere it seemed relatively safe. So maybe it was a safehouse...
Anyways, Clint led us up the dirt path, he was supporting Nat the entire way. I walked next to Steve, he was ever so slightly annoyed at me and made me recite my times tables. How that was a valuable life lesson I still don't know but given that I had adamantly refused to go to school I had no choice but to sit through his annoyed times table lessons. He stopped when we walked in. I'm pretty sure a safehouse shouldn't have its door unlocked but what do I know. Clint called to someone and a pregnant woman walked around the corner and into the room. Everyone stopped and stared as they kissed and hugged. I leant over to Steve who bent down slightly to listen,
"Since when was he married?"
"I have no idea..." his words faded as two children came barrelling down the stairs and jumped into Clint's arms. I raised an eyebrow. So that's why he went all Dad on me all the time. Next to me Natasha plastered a smile onto her face and stepped out as the girl asked after her. Her entire demeanour changed as she was drawn into the family. It was as if whatever had shaken her up so bad had never happened. Steve was naturally the first one to talk,
"Sorry for coming in like this but uh..."
"We didn't know you existed." Tony was blunt and sarcastic as always.
"Fury helped me keep it a secret when I joined, kept it out of S.H.I.E.L.D's files so I uh figured it would be a good place to lay low." We all smiled slightly awkwardly and stood around until Thor suddenly walked out, Steve gave me an encouraging pat on the back and went after him and so I was left standing there on the opposite side of the room from Tony who was still pissed at me. Clint's wife, Laura came over,
"You must be Freya. Clint's told me a lot about me." She smiled at me and I at least made the effort of returning the gesture, "if you need anything, just ask. I'm sure Cooper would be happy to show you round, I hear you're the same age."
"Sure." It was short and snappy and probably a bit rude but I was feeling incredibly uncomfortable. This was the life I was meant to have had, living with my parents in Romania. I was meant to look and feel as young as Clint's son did but I didn't. I had never had this and I somehow hated those kids for getting to have so much without even knowing their privilege.