America's Prism

Chapter 22

Over the next few months, life went on as usual.

Nora got bigger every day and in what felt like a blink was physically a teen and almost as tall as Prism, at 5'2. She'd begun doing her hair with shape-shifting, leaving the golden blonde alone but keeping it only long enough to dance on her shoulder blades.

Her magical abilities blossomed under her mothers guidance. She worked out and trained with the team several times a week, very proud that she could nearly keep up with Steve's sprint. Clint and Bucky gave her weapons training, Tony and Bruce were more than happy to teach her some things while her parents went on missions and they were left with her.

Steve thought she looked more like her mother everyday, particularly when he angered her and her silver eyes fixed him with a glare.

Just. Like. Her. Mother.

Bucky was doing well and was living full time at the Compound. When the others were out on missions, he wound up babysitting Nora. Though now it was more like just hanging out; usually watching a movie or sparing. Much like Steve, the blonde had a knack for hand to hand, eager to learn whatever knife tricks he would share.

That was something Bucky liked about his niece, she was always looking to better herself and learn. So it came as no surprise when she asked him if he could plant the idea of her attending high school into her parents heads.

"Can you stay the same age long enough?" he asked, with a chuckle.

"If I want to." She stuck her chin out defiantly, making him laugh more.

"If you can stay this age for a month, I'll support this weird desire to go to a normal high school."

He offered his hand.

"Deal!" she beamed, shaking it.

A couple of weeks later, Tony introduced the group to a boy he called a JR Avenger.

Nora happened to be heading back from her training with Steve when she saw a boy about her age sitting on the couch doing homework.

He looked up at her as soon as she entered and was taken back for a long second. Her shoulder blade length blonde hair was in a Dutch braid with a couple of loose strands framing her face. Features were lovely and feminine, steel grey eyes and dark lashes, lips a dusty pink that matched her cheekbones. She reminded him of an Italian Renaissance marble statue; even in her gym clothes with her knuckles still wrapped.

Though they were the color of steel, her eyes were soft. They brought back memories of ice skating at Christmas time with his aunt and uncle.

She was the most beautiful girl Peter had ever seen.

Big doe eyes filled with surprise then sadness as he looked between she and her dad who kept walking after giving the boy a nod in greeting.

Peter had been loosely briefed on what was codenamed The Silver Shield Incident, and sworn to secrecy. Prism had even managed to enchant him to forget that he knew the information, but continue to think and act like he does- just to be absolutely sure because Tony warned them the kid can't keep his mouth shut and would blab the moment she said something.

Nora had never been informed of the circumstances she was conceived under, but was mildly perplexed at her parent's relationship. She believed the same love story as the press, with several pictures on Instagram to prove it. But what she felt at home didn't match the image painted.

Peter couldn't believe such an absolute angel could be born from such awful, barbaric acts.

He stared at her for too long.