UNKNOWN GUEST

#84 Its getting Messier

I'm standing, leaning against the quiet corridors of the headquarters in Berlin. Sharon dropped me off in the city and drove away, disappearing to who knows where. Now, I'm back at the headquarters, half expecting to get slapped with an arrest warrant. "Jason!"

I heard a voice call out behind me. I turned around to see Mom walking toward me, her steps firm and unyielding. She stopped a few feet away and narrowed her eyes, "Where have you been?"

I ignored her question, deflecting instead. "When can I go back to New York? Or is Mr. Stark still not letting anyone see Wanda?"

Her expression shifted. Her eyes snapped up like she didn't expect me to know that. "What?" I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "You think I don't know why Wanda's in the Avengers Facility, under Vision's watch?"

Mom sighed, her patience fraying. "Listen, it's not your business—"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I lost my cool, just a bit. "Please. Don't remind me. I've heard it enough already. I'm going crazy here. I just want to disappear."

Without warning, she blurted out, "Just like Sharon?"

That caught me off guard. My eyes widened. How the hell did she—?

She nodded, her voice calm but firm. "We tracked Sharon's car. We know where Steve is. But nobody knows you were with her."

She took a step closer, her jaw clenched in anger. "Do you have any idea what will happen if someone finds out?"

I nodded, the irritation building. "Why don't you let them know and hand me over to Ross, then?"

Mom sighed again, staring at me with that furious look she always gives when I push her limits. Then, something shifted. Her gaze softened. "I can't."

I frowned, not understanding. "Why not?"

She looked right at me, those sharp eyes cutting through my frustration. "Because I don't want to see you in trouble."

God. How badly I wanted to just hug her right there. To hold her and let it all out. But I couldn't. I had to keep this wall up. So, I cleared my throat instead and tried to shift the focus. "Cap's mission isn't just about the Accords or Bucky. He's flying to Siberia. There are more Winter Soldiers like Bucky Barnes. Stronger than him."

Mom's expression softened again. "When are they planning to leave?"

I shook my head, feeling the weight of what I knew. "I can't tell you. What if you arrest him?"

She shook her head firmly. "We won't. We'll go there, solve all of this, and bring him back. I promise."

I let out a tired sigh. "Don't promise that, ma'am. You can't bring him back. Mr. Stark's been given an ultimatum, and he's going to chain Cap and his team down. Stark's not even focused on the Accords anymore. See? I told you, this whole thing... the Accords have ruined the team. It's ruined this family."

Her eyes widened slightly, taking in what I was saying. She nodded slowly. "So, you're saying I can't bring Steve back?"

I nodded. "You can get him arrested, though."

She took a deep breath, her expression shifting. "I believe in Tony. I believe he wants to bring Steve back and fix all of this. But if he intends to lock Steve up, I won't let him."

That stunned me. Is that why she let Dad go in Berlin? She won't let anyone put him in a cell. It all clicked into place—Mom was protecting Dad in her own way, fighting a battle I didn't even see.

I nodded, the realization sinking in. "He'll need his partner's help. As always."

She smiled faintly, that small, knowing smile that spoke volumes, then turned and walked away, leaving me there in the quiet corridor.