Beautiful Ruins

Chapter 56

"Did you think it helped?" Natasha asks once we're sitting down. It helped me feel better, but I won't know if it helps with the nightmares triggering my powers until I wake up tomorrow, it would be nice if my room wasn't on fire or flooded or whatever.

"Yeah, I think so" I answer, taking a bite of the salad sandwich Natasha made me. Tony doesn't say anything, but I can see he looks a little relieved by my answer. I turn to face Natasha. "Are you and Steve, like, together?"

"Yes" Tony snorts, rolling his eyes. "Everyone knows it but them." I laugh slightly at Tony's words; Natasha rolls her eyes and looks away from the both of us.

"It's complicated" Natasha answers, still not looking at either of us. I think maybe love is always complicated, it's not some magical fairy-tale, you have to work for it and you have to put up with bad times to get the good times. Sure, I think I love Clover, but we've certainly had bad times together, but the good times are what I think about.

"That's not a no" I say, glancing at Natasha.

"It's not a no" Natasha agrees, glancing at me with a small smile on her face. The two of them are bound to get together, I've heard rumours going around about them since I was eight or nine, and when I met them, it was obvious. Even in Magneto's stupid simulation the two of them had something going on, Natasha can't honestly say no.

"I'm in love with a girl" I say randomly, causing both of my parents to look at each other and then at me. I don't think they'll be too surprised, I'm sure they sensed me, and Clover are a little more than friends, why else wouldn't they want us sleeping in the same room? "I'm in love with Clover."

"I think we already sort of knew that" Tony says, causing me to smile. We weren't exactly discreet. "We're okay with it, we're more than okay, we're happy for you. Clover seems like a good fit for you."

"She does" Natasha agrees, sharing another look with Tony. "We're proud of you for telling us." Natasha leans forward and gives me a hug.

"Don't say anything to Clover, I want to tell her I've told you first" I say, I can't really imagine Clover having a nice conversation with Natasha and Tony about her sexuality or feelings, she's too closed off for that. She hasn't opened up with anyone that isn't me, aside from Peter but that's only if he happens to be there.

I glance at a picture on the wall of Steve and Bucky, Steve was willing to risk everything for Bucky when he discovered he was alive, maybe the reason I don't like Steve has something to do with the fact Scarlett didn't do that for me. Sure, Steve has called me a traitor and is generally annoying, but people seem to like him and bend over backwards for him. I guess I wish Scarlett or Ashton had done that for me. Ashton's been avoiding me since he got released, spends most of his days trying to help the avengers by giving them information, or otherwise he's training or in his room. I don't blame him for it, I don't know how much we have to say to each other.

"Are you thinking about Scarlett?" Tony asks, seeing me looking at the photo. I nod in response and look away from the photo, the past should stay in the past, I won't find any peace if I'm bringing up the past every five seconds.

"She was complicated, but in the end, she saved my life" I reply, I remember the conversation in the car ride. Scarlett didn't have much of a choice except to work with the x-men, she was right when she said not everybody had avengers as parents. If I tried a little harder to understand where she was coming from, maybe things would be different today. But Scarlett is dead, and I don't think my friendship with Ashton or Henry is going to be repaired.

"It's okay to miss her but remember she did try to kill you" Natasha says, that's not exactly something I might forget. Your best friend bashing your head in typically stays with you. "Clover and Peter are better friends."

Peter and Clover are great friends, Peter befriended me when all he'd seen was my worst side, he saw the darkest side of me and decided to give me a chance anyway. Clover risked her life for me when she hardly knew me, I think we sort of developed a connection immediately when we met at the x-men institute. From the second we met I knew I wanted to meet Clover, I didn't want her to leave Stark towers.

"I'm really glad I got to know you both, I just wish I could've had a childhood being raised by you" I say, there's been thousands of times where I've wondered what would have happened if I grew up here. Tony would have been an amazing, doting father and I think Natasha would've told me heaps of stories about the avengers and probably trained me when I was old enough, she wouldn't have wanted me to fight but she would've known the day would come where I'd have to protect myself – the daughter of two avengers would have gained the wrong people's attention.

"You have us now, we'll always be your parents, I promise" Tony says, placing his hand on top of my mine. Natasha places her hand on top of his and nods. Natasha's phone goes off and she gets it with her other hand.

"Do you want to go hang out with Clover? Fury needs us" Natasha tells me, we all stand up and Natasha picks up my plate.

"Sure, I'll see you after" I say, heading towards the door.

*Author's Note* I wish Natasha and Steve ended up together in the films, but I do also love Steve and Peggy.