The Ghost Initiative (Avengers Next Gen)

Book 2 Chapter 9

Pepper's P.O.V 

Tony made no effort to move, I took a step towards him in anticipation. My heart broke as he moved away, purposely placing a table between us. He stood behind someone who looked like a more feminine version of Captain Rogers. 

"... I bags not telling Lex. And on the topic of the walking, talking accident report... I'm going to go to the lab and work on... something" Tony promptly turned around and walked out into the hallway, the moonlight reflecting on his face. 

"Can I see my daughter yet?" The Avengers and their friends all shared a look of apprehension before Steve spoke up. 

"Casey, maybe take Miss Potts to her room for the night. She can get the grand tour tomorrow morning." Casey nodded before leading me out of the room. 

As we walked along the endless hallways I started to see more signs appearing with the same familiar symbols. Were we back at the front of the building? 

"This is the older section, where the Ghost Initiative is housed. We're kind of the same as The Avengers but like... their next generation? It's really the best way to word it. When the facility was repaired a few years ago we kept the old door signs but changed the names. If you take a look it's pretty easy to tell which one is which." Casey motioned to the door next to us. 

"This is Cap's room, Amelia that is. She's Captain Steve Rogers's twin sister and team captain. A bit abrasive at times but what can you expect from someone who has been through so many decades right?" Casey seemed to stare at the door a bit too long while talking, her cheeks turning red slowly. 

I saw the shield image I had designed with Tony beside the 'Captain America' nametag. A stark colour difference. Turning my head I could read the other sign, A star engraved beside it. 

" And this is Becky's room. She's Barnes's twin and grew up alongside the others in the 40's. Becky didn't have the easiest path to now so she can be a bit cut off at times. Normally if you ask a question about ye olden times she'll come out of her shell a bit. Just don't make her cry... No one wants a pissed-off Steve Rogers after you." She walked further down the hallway. 

The next two doors had Natasha and Clint's logos on them. Bullseye and Widowmaker were written next to the respective signs. 

"Ah, me and my brother Nate. We grew up in SHEILD, we were basically living weapons while the rest of the team was learning to say the alphabet. Nate is a bit off at the moment because he recently broke up with his girlfriend and they haven't had a chance to talk and work stuff out yet. Personally, I think she needs to grow up... but that's just me" With a huff Casey continued on. 

"We have Bree Banner, she's the resident doctor. Most of the time you'll find her in the med bay reading new research papers... or at the moment following after an angry Alex telling her to sit down or rest. We've learnt to tune out those two bickering by now." she let out a laugh turning her head across the hallway. 

"Then there's Taylor Foster, daughter of Thor. She's not really around much since taking on being Queen of Asguard. Word of advice, if you see a really big hammer... don't try to pick it up. There's a 50 - 50 chance it's Thor's but occasionally it'll actually move. You DO NOT have to rule Asguard if you pick up Taylor's hammer." 

"Next up is Melody, she's our resident speedster. At the moment she's struggling a bit so you probably won't see her much... and to be honest, she'll probably avoid you specifically. We don't mean to be rude, we've just seen what you did to Alex and it's gonna take longer for the rest of us to forgive you... even if Alex is ready to move on. "

"And finally we have Alex. She's probably hiding from Bree in her lab at the moment, or trying to get her body to listen. If you see her walking around at all hours of the night ask R.O.B.I.N to activate the boy toy protocol. Alex has no idea this exists but it's the best way to make her take a break." Casey turned towards the doorway right at the end, her arms spread wide. 

"And now we have your room! Alex designed it herself over the last week since she heard about your release. Specially located where the rest of us can keep an eye on you." She swung the door open and it was almost like stepping back into Malibu. 

There was a separate bathroom off to the side, and resting in the middle of the room was a double bed with a pale pink comforter. Two books piled onto the pillows. 

" A cleaner will be coming in every day to straighten things up, and until Alex is comfortable none of your cupboards have doors on them. Oh! and those books were made by Alex while you were in the facility. Part of an Amnesia research project she was heading." Casey turned and waltzed away from the door without another word. 

I sat my bag beside the bed and looked at the two books. One read 'Howie and Lexie Stark' in bold golden letters across the leather cover. The other was host to a picture of teenagers outside a broken-down Avengers Campus. The words "My Family" are in Silver letters below with 'Alex Stark' curled above the image. 

Slowly I opened the first book, smiling back at all the memories. I tried to ignore the teardrops that kept falling onto the book as I looked at my perfect babies, so excited and full of life. They were completely oblivious to what was going on around them, with no clue of how devastating their futures would be. The book ended too quickly, an imperfect image of the twins fighting on the last page. 

I brought the second book to my lap, trying to think of who everyone on the front could be. Confused I opened to the first page. The same image was printed out, with neat handwriting printed beside it. 

"Mum, 

They sent you away today. I tried to stop them, convince them that you were getting better. Uncle Nick put his foot down though, he said it'll be good for you. I hope it is, carrying around all of this grief without letting someone help isn't healthy. 

Anyway, Nick decided that he'd give some of us a challenge. He wants us to fix up the old Avengers compound together! I even managed to find some of Dad's blueprints. I'm not sure how well I can work with the Bartons though, they seem a bit too mean. Melody really likes the brother though, She says he's rugged. 

I hope you start to feel better soon, I miss you already. I'm sorry I couldn't protect Howie, I understand why you blame me. 

I love you,

Lexie" 

Tears dropped onto the page again, Lexie must have been heartbroken! and she thought I blamed her? I looked beneath the letter, seeing the names of her friends below. 

I turned to the next page and could see them all together again, clothes dirty and a couple of cuts on her cheeks, like the last picture Lexie's hair was this odd shade of Black with a red highlight. There was writing beside the picture again, shorter this time. 

" First Training week done! Uncle Rhodey and Agent Hill took us out to a paddock, we had to camp out for the entire week! I won Capture the Flag though, Melody was so annoyed." 

Another page, they still looked so young. Wearing fancy dresses with make-up on. Lexie was standing next to a girl with silver hair, a wide smile on both their faces. A caption was scribbled underneath. 

"College Graduation Day! Mel and the team came to celebrate and watch. It's been a year since Mum was admitted, and I still miss her every day." 

I flipped the page, seeing a collage of pictures on each side, each showing Lexie in that same dress with a different person. the words "conGRADulations" across the top of the pages. 

How much had I missed? I drank away her entire life. I was only two pages in and she had found a whole new family. I needed to see my daughter, to apologise for everything I had missed, to apologise for everything I had done.