Bextley is perched above the lab, observing the room. I had to force my body to remain still and not flinch whenever someone approached me with a needle. Bextley wouldn't do anything without making sure nobody hurt me first. Tony sits before me, removing the BP machine from my arm. I keep looking at him, trying to pick at his brain, wondering what sarcastic thing he would say to me while Bruce's back is turned.
There's nothing though. He looks up at Bextley as she comes down from her perch and sits down beside me, "Does it hurt?" She asks in Russian. I shake my head, pulling my hands back to my chest. Bruce stands in front of us, followed by Helen.
He rubs his neck, huffing, "How do you feel?"
"Like I did a few months ago," I shrug. Bextley kicks her legs back and forth, picking up the scalpel and holding it to her side, "Am I fixed yet?"
Bruce pulls up a chair, and hands over a tablet to me. Empathy and bodily manipulation. It's a vague conclusion and something I already knew, I figured I could feel and manipulate them, it's why they're all wearing gloves if they touch my skin. Except Bextley, she didn't seem to mind. I roll my eyes placing the tablet down, "Can you fix it?"
Silence.
Utter, frustrating silence. Bextley looks at the group of adults, and stands up, "Why not? I thought you guys were smart."
"The serum is now running through Milana's blood. Nothing can be done, her body is feeding on it and she won't..." Helen looks at me, frowning, "We have discovered that it's the missing piece. Your metabolism was something we were concerned about and now, we believe that it has saved your life."
"Excuse me?" I whisper.
Teague saved me. I feel the tablet being snapped in my hands and I look down at the broken pieces, shuddering. I slowly raise my head, noticing my dad by the door. Bextley stands up, and holds onto my arm, "Let's just go." I nod, discarding the tablet on the floor and stepping over it. Bextley glares back at them, forcing the elevator open, continuing to hold my arm. Bextley and I both go back into the apartment and she lets me storm off, into my room.
I hear a slight rustling sound, and then she comes into the room with Lunch in her arms, "I have the cat." I look at her over my shoulder, then feel Lunch brushing up against my hand. Bextley remains against the door, holding the scalpel up, "He saved me too, you know."
"Bext."
"He did, Lana." She drags the scalpel around the carpet, frowning, "We had no money when I was little. I lived in Sweden, my father sold me to my uncle in Berlin. I spent my childhood hiding underneath my bed, hoping he would be too drunk to find me...I got better at hiding, so good that he didn't find me for three days and decided to leave me in the house."
She picks at a scab on the end of her hand, swallowing hard, "Eight men came into the home, took me out and then I went to Russia. It was so...cold in the basement. I remained there, being treated like a...like a woman..." She faces me for a brief moment, and I quickly face my lap, "Teague found me. He gave me a chocolate shaped like a rabbit, and then...I was in the compound. Training...He took me into town one day and brought me my first crossbow. I'd never..had a father before..."
"He's a bad person."
"But he wasn't the worst," She whispers. I slide off of the bed, looking at her carefully, She gulps, slowly moving her hand up to me. I carefully hold onto her hand and feel her intertwine her fingers with mine. I felt it again.
Instead of sadness, it was something warm. It felt like a hug. She...I moved closer to her, pulling her so she was close to me. She... "I'll keep you safe." She smiles at me and lets me sit beside her. It's finally nice, and quiet and I enjoy feeling the emotion she gets around me. Something like a butterfly going in circles around my heart.
She makes me feel...I finally let go of her hand when there was a knock at the door. I stand up, opening the door to Steve. He pauses, looking at me carefully, "Um," He peers at Bextley, then me, "Dinner upstairs. Family time. We're going to spend time with everyone upstairs. Both of you are coming up, I won't take no for an answer."
Steve kept the door open, smiling at us. I glanced back at Bextley, she was anxious but nodded, "For a few minutes," She mumbled. I agree, and follow Steve to the elevator. Bextley has her back to the elevator wall, looking at Steve, "You're tall. I thought you would be shorter."
I smile at her, "Bextley this is my godfather, Steve Rogers. Please be nice to him."
She rolled her eyes, "I could take him." She says quietly.
Steve faces me, but I don't tell her that he also understands Russian. When the doors open, everyone is upstairs. They're all talking with music playing in the background. Bextley stands behind me, watching as I walk in front of her and go to the table.
Dinner is somewhat normal. No agents are circling to make sure Bextley doesn't hurt anyone, Natasha is having a heated discussion with Barton in Russian, likely about his poor sportsmanship. Dad and Steve are talking about 'the good old days.' Tony is with Pepper overlooking the view and Bruce is burning our food with Bextley. I look at them, almost smiling, but there is still a feeling that I'm being watched.
It's as if someone still has their musky hand on my shoulder, holding me back. I just...I can't seem to truly embrace the idea of being with my family. Dad breaks my stare by helping me to a share of food, smiling at me, "Are you alright?"
No. I nod, picking at the food on my plate. I could never tell my dad that I still feel Teague with me. I can't shake the thought of someone watching me, he's waiting for me to come back to him. He's going to come back for us, I don't think I'll make it out alive the next time I see him.
Dinner is blurry as I look past everyone and stare at the wall. Teague is going to find us soon, this whole..family is going to disappear again. I know it will. I turn to Dad, "I love you, Dad."
He smiles, putting his arm around me, "I love you too, Milano."
I forced a smile, "It...that's a boy's name." I choke out. He chuckles.
