𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 | 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

Allies

"Is it so hard to believe that I would want to help you?"

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

"So you're leaving again?" Liana said, her expression disappointed and more than that, sad. Beside her, Brooks was more or less in a similar state.

Seren sat across them at the kitchen table, feeling quite guilty with her parents' reactions. This time, however, she was determined to make her departure very differently than the first time she left home. She had talked about it with Steve for a long while before deciding that it was what she truly wanted. Now here she was breaking the news to her parents who clearly got very used to having her home again.

"I am leaving, yes," she nodded then reached for each of their hands across the table, "But not the way I did the first time. When I was 18, I just got up and left in such a hurry to finally be who I thought I needed to be. This is different, I promise. Our friend, Tony Stark, he's got an idea for us and I like it. I like the idea of forming my own team with people that I can completely trust. Steve would be right by my side and together we would lead this new team."

"But to fight again? How many times have you almost lost your life doing this kind of work?" Liana said, glancing at her husband for some support. "Tell her she's crazy, Brooks."

Brooks gave a tilt of his head as he considered his words. It was not uncommon to be placed under the same stare. He'd been outnumbered his whole life.

"Brooks," Liana's voice gained a hard edge at his lack of input.

"Seren," Brooks cleared his throat as he set his sights on his daughter, the latter reading herself to hear what she thought would be another disappointed line, "If you're serious about making it different this time then I trust that you'll call us more often—"

"What!?" Liana exclaimed, flabbergasted.

"—and, most of all, visit us more often," Brooks said with a soft smile on his face. "Please."

Seren's face lit up at his acceptance and immediately promised that she would call and visit. She got up and hurried around the table to hug her father and kiss his cheek. "I won't disappoint you again, I promise!"

"Hey," Brooks grabbed her arm as she intended on backing away, "None of that. You have never disappointed us, Seren. Don't ever think that, not even for a second."

Seren's eyes flickered over to Liana who had yet to properly react. "Mom..."

"No, you've never disappointed us," Liana said, letting out an exasperated sigh, "But would it really kill you to stay here with us?"

"Liana..." Brooks gave her a deadpanning glance, "Would you have stayed with your mother?"

"Well, no—"

"And I definitely wouldn't have stayed with my parents, not if I had the world at my fingertips," Brooks said, reaching out for Liana's hand, "I did, by the way...and I got it." Liana rolled her eyes but a smile was trying to break across her face. "Now it's only right that Seren goes out to do the same." He looked up at their daughter and pointed a warning finger at her. "But I'm gonna hold you to your promise, young lady. Call, visit...just make it different, alright? And we'll make an effort too to not be the way we used to be."

"I will, I totally will," Seren said and grabbed her seat again. "You have no idea what this time here has meant to me. I don't think I've ever enjoyed my home so much."

"We have too," Liana said earnestly. "And that's why I'm afraid of you leaving. You'll get swept up in your work again and...you'll forget about us again."