Bextley, as always, has her gun raised as the ramp is lowered. Bruce offers to appear at the door first and we're greeted by agents with guns. I hold onto her gun and press it down, "Banner?" Someone yells. He nods, reaching for my arm to help me down, "Mila?" I still feel an ache when someone says my name. Bextley keeps her hand on my shoulder, raising the gun up and glaring at them.
"Mila?" Someone says and quickly wraps me in their arms. I shiver when I hold them back, listening to her heart get faster and then look at her. Pepper. I stare at her, then look at her hands when she holds my face, "Sweetheart, are you okay?"
"Where's my dad?"
"He went to DC with the others. They've been looking all over for you," She smiles, noticing Bextley over my shoulder. Pepper keeps me under her arm, offering me a motherly hug. "Are you hungry? Did they hurt you?"
The agents that greeted us were inspecting our jet, then approached Bextley with handcuffs, "No, don't," I warn them, standing in front of her. Bextley lets me take her gun and surrender it to them. Feeling vulnerable, she stands between Bruce and I.
Pepper dismisses them, pulling us into the tower, and towards the common area, "Honey, you must be freezing. Bruce can I—."
"I'm fine, Pep," He smiles at her, standing in front of me, holding me still, "Mil, how do you feel?"
Confused. There's something inside of me that doesn't feel right, it's...it's a little bit empty in here, "I want my dad." I mumble, "I...I want to see my dad."
"He'll be here soon," Pepper assures me, "Would your friend like something to eat?" Bextley ignores her.
"How does it feel? It might take some time to get used to the idea of being here." I don't want to wait, I want to feel like this is where I should be. I don't want to feel fear anymore, "Maybe you should rest until they come back. We can figure this out once you're settled."
Pepper smiles at me, hugging me once more. I ignore the others as they speak, just forcing myself to move towards the elevator. It hasn't hit me yet. I'm waiting to wake up and be greeted by Teague shoving me into the wall. I still believe once these elevator doors open I'll be in the dining room.
He'll force me to hurt another person. Bextley awkwardly follows me as I forced myself into the old apartment, it seems untouched. Once I was gone, it seemed that my dad was gone too. Maybe he never came down here once I left.
A familiar face is waiting for me, Lunch. Her little furry head perked up and she happily brushes against me. Bextley jumped as Lunch pawed at her trousers, "What is that?"
My cat. She was my first friend. I pick her up from the floor, letting her climb up onto my shoulder. I keep walking through the apartment holding Lunch on my shoulder as I sit down by the window. Bextley copies me, peering down, "You live like this?"
"We got lucky. I think we lived in a motel for a while."
"Are you sad?" She blurts out, "I thought you would be happy."
"I am." I whisper, "But I'm confused and it feels so empty now. I think I want everything to go back to normal. I want to pretend it didn't happen."
Bextley pets Lunch as she crawls onto her lap. We sit together in silence, staring down at the city. We both hear people knocking on the door, but neither of us moves to answer it. Bextley just kept looking at me, "You're sad." She whispers.
"I am," I whisper.
"He said it would take time."
"I don't want to wait. I want to be me again. Noah was right, there's something wrong in my head, it won't let me accept that I'm here. At any moment he could come through that door and make me hurt another person. What if he—."
She cuts me off, kicking my leg, "Stop doing that. You're making my stomach hurt."
I roll my eyes, "Sorry for annoying you with my feelings. You know, normal people have them." Lunch lays in my lap, burrowing her face on my neck. I cuddle her close to me, staring outside of the city. Bextley was soon asleep, tucking herself into a tight ball and snoring.
She must finally feel safe. She has no gun by her side and stayed balled up even when I got up to get myself some water. Lunch slowly pads over to her, and laid on her arm.
The apartment is so bare now. I push open my bedroom door and look inside. It's still the same mess that I left that day. All I wanted was a break, I just wanted to spend one day away from everyone. I didn't want to be poked with medical tools and I wanted to go with my dad on his missions. Now it all seems so stupid, I should've stayed with my dad.
He must hate me so much. He risked his life to get me away from Teague, only for me to go back. If he kicks me out at least Bextley will be with me, I wouldn't be alone. They still knocked at the door, even Bruce begging for me to come out but I remained seated on the bed.
I don't want to see anyone else. I just want my dad.
Soon there was a faint sound like a gush of wind, and I could see a jet perch on the helipad. It was only a few minutes before the door was forced open. Dad. I hear him moving throughout the house and found me on my bed.
He looks different. I stare at him, trying to put it all together. The new arm was designed by Tony. His hair is shorter now. He's out of breath, with red eyes as if he's been crying. I gulp, looking at my lap, "Mila." He whispers.
It makes me feel even more sick as he said it. I face him for a moment, then my lap again, "I didn't mean what I said," I tell him. He slowly moves closer, sitting in front of me, "I didn't really want to leave...I didn't mean to hurt you either. I—I'm really sorry, Dad."
Dad holds onto my face and smiles at me, I still feel his sadness and relief when he touched my face, "мы Милана. You have nothing to apologise for. You're here now, and I will never let anyone take you again."
I let myself hug him. I wrap my around my dad and ignore the anxiety in his heart. He squeezes me in his arms and breathes out. He says nothing else, just holding me against his heart, "I didn't want to do it, Dad, he made me hurt you."
"I know," He mumbles, "I'm here. You're okay."
