The closest thing to a daughter

Season 3 Episode 23

Several days had passed since the incident in the study room and even if not immediately everything was peace and quiet again between Steve and Abigail, they already got along much better than a few months ago. But with Natasha nothing was fine. But conflict made way for the once again heavier grief, because today was the third anniversary of Danny's death and thus a dark cloud of the already grieving lay over them. Novanoff had already barricaded herself in her room all morning and didn't want to talk to anyone. Not even Natasha had managed to get through to her, but two surprising visitors were to change this quickly.

Two brunettes managed to get past Steve Rogers after announcing their request and were now standing in front of the redhead's room. At the sound of long forgotten voices, she sourly yanked open the door and couldn't believe her eyes. Sadie Arkst and Elisha Ersrog, her former classmates who had teased her day in and day out at school, were actually standing outside her door, grinning falsely at her.

"What are you doing here?" asked Abigail in shock, with considerably less enthusiasm in her voice. These were people she had hoped to never have to see again, and now they were standing outside her bedroom door on a day like this, of all days. "We wanted to offer you our condolences and cheer you up a little on this sad day." Snorting, Abi laughed at them not believing a single word they said. Whatever reason they were warning here had to have another reason as well. Only, unfortunately, she had to leave them here to find out. Reluctantly, Novanoff opened the door a crack more and allowed the two best friends to enter her room.

"Nice place you have here," Sadie commented, wrinkling her nose. There was no mistaking that this statement was built on irony. In their identical pink knit sweaters, however, they so didn't fit in the orange painted room and that was just fine. "As hard as it seems for you to be you need to distract yourself with positive and happy thoughts." Puzzled, Abigail raised an eyebrow. Was this just some well-intentioned advice from Elisha. But of course, that assumption turned out to be just as wrong as their artistic fingernails. "Like the day your mommy was proud of you for winning the pageant in elementary school?"

Aggrieved, Abi lowered her head and tried desperately to block out her nascent memories. She went to a public elementary school for only one year before she was dragged into the Red Room. And neither was she interested in any pageants, nor did her birth mother pay any attention to her in any respect, if it wasn't for punishments. "No, wait. That probably doesn't count, does it? After all, Natasha isn't your real mom." With fists clenched, she faced Sadie just seconds before a huge burst of her powers. There wasn't an uncontrolled outburst for a long time, but if anyone could make it happen. Then it was these two. "Shut up," Abigail gritted her teeth while already hearing them dangerously seething heat in her body. "Am I wrong, then? Do you even care what your not-mom says anymore? After all, you're not even adopted and I'm assuming she never will. Someone like Romanoff could never love you."

"It's come to our attention that you not only made an assassination attempt on your now dead sister like best friend but you also tried to do so on her-"

"If you say one more word-" Her warning came too late. The surging force, caused Abigail to drop to her knees and a wave of blazing flames erupted from her. Everything within three feet caught fire instantly and blazed. Sadie and Elisha had moved away from her, screaming, and were filming with their handheld cameras as the fire spread furiously. Only when the entire room was engulfed in fire did the two run down the stairs, possibly fleeing the headquarters compound as fast as they could.

Muffled screams reached her ear but she was not able to react. Tears streamed down her cheek but she was unable to feel anything. The heart was as if it was no longer a part of her body unable to process all the feelings and left her only silently crying producing more and more flames. Natasha, Steve and Pietro appeared at the door frame and called out to her but nothing made her stop. It was impossible for the three to get to her just one foot into the fire would kill them all instantly only Abigail was spared by her own gift.

The sudden bubbling heat, had caused a short circuit and prevented the instantaneous extinguishing system from kicking in. And when it did, her powers had already completely disintegrated her entire room, including the hallway to the west wing. Access to most of the rooms was thus closed off but this was not to be her only concern.