Cornelia Street - Avengers

Know You Better

"Time, curious time"

Compound, 2017

(invisible string, Taylor Swift)

...

'Good luck on your mission,' were the only words she had heard from Steve Rogers for an two entire months, at least words that were directed at her. She wasn't unjustified in thinking that he didn't like her, who didn't think that? Who couldn't see it? They had known each other for longer than she could recall, and yet that time instead of vivid imagery and memories, all she could remember were feelings.

Lucia sat with her knees to her chest in the living room of the compound, the barren and strangely decorated room that lived up to its name as a government facility. There had been an attempted Avengers Tower breach meaning she was practically here on lockdown until further notice.

It was early evening, and the day seemed to stretch on forever. Her phone rang beside her as she boredly scrolled through meaningless television shows. Her Dad's face popped up on the projection for the fifth time this afternoon, and she ran a hand over her face, swiping the hologram screen to accept the call from him

"She's alive! I saw Rogers leaving the campus for a mission, looking like absolute hell. I'm gonna say it's safe to assume it was probably you again?" He said, looking over her cautiously. She dropped her head, adjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose. She didn't even know what to say. "Am I an asshole for what I did?" Her Dad said, bringing her attention back to his softened expression. "Did I really make things worse for you both?"

Technically they were back to where they were when it all started, but she knew her Dad would be relentless, entirely unsatisfied with that answer.

"You two are all good then?" He asked.

She nodded. "Working on it."

Tony hardened his gaze, not entirely buying her answer, but thankfully he didn't question her further. "Most of us won't be at the compound tonight, are you going to be alright by yourself?"

"That's fine. I might go to bed early anyway."

"Alright, I'll see you later kid," Tony said, tapping his nose. "I love you."

"Love you too," she said, tapping her nose and sliding her hand across the hologram screen to shut it. The projection dropped with a small noise, leaving her in the dark once more. Things were out of hand.

Her powers were becoming uncontrollable, and she hated lying to her Dad more than anything, even to her sister. But how was she supposed to give them the truth when she didn't even know what that truth was? She just had to act like she wasn't losing her sanity, and that she was pretty sure she could achieve.

A soft knock against metal grabbed her attention, and her mind shifted through all the people it could be. She turned to see Beth slowly stepping up the staircase and into the room. "Beth?"

She waited by the top of the stairs, glancing around the space uncertainly with the tracker by her ankle flashing softly in the light. it was nearing curfew time for when she and the twins would have to report back to the exterior facility

"What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" Lucia asked, turning to face the brunette.

She smiled as if it were a silly question. "Everything's fine. But everyone's gone and, I was wondering if you wanted to have a bite to eat. Get off grounds for a little while?"

"Sure," she said, turning to pick her phone up off the couch. "Are you sure they'll even let you leave the grounds with just me?"

Beth just shrugged. "Who's here to tell us otherwise?"