UNKNOWN GUEST

#109 An Undercover Life

Mom dragged me outside, her grip firm and unyielding, like I was a kid caught with my hand in the cookie jar. I half expected her to scold me for misbehaving.

Once we reached the edge of the farm, she finally released me and turned to face me, her expression a storm of anger and confusion. "What the hell was that? What sample? What file?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool, though my heart raced. "As if you wouldn't know," I shot back, but I could see the irritation simmering beneath her surface.

She clenched her jaw, her lips forming a tight line. "Don't beat around the bush, kid. Answer me straight. What did you mean?"

I sighed, realizing this wasn't going to be a simple conversation. It was like trying to peel an onion—layers upon layers of complexity. "Before meeting you here a few days ago, I was in Madripoor. There, I found a scientist who was halfway through recreating the super soldier serum. And... apparently, someone from SHIELD handed him a file. A file that had Dr. Erskine's formula from World War II, along with Cap's blood sample."

Her eyes hardened, narrowing into slits as she processed what I was saying. "And... someone from SHIELD? You mean that's me?"

I shrugged, frustration bubbling up. "I'm not sure. But that guy said the one who handed him the file was a woman, and she went there to meet him many times. Each time, she wore a different face—just like Melina is wearing yours, and you've worn many faces in our past missions. So, I just want to know if you were the one given Cap's blood—"

She cut me off, her voice low but fierce. "You weren't asking. You were accusing."

My breath hitched in my throat, a lump forming as her words hit home. She stepped closer, her expression void of any warmth, only ice. "You know, right now, you're more likely a stranger to me. That doesn't mean, that I believe you're from the future, or that you're my own future version's son, so you can accuse me of anything."

Oh god, what have I done? I shook my head, desperate to explain. "Mom, I—"

"Don't!" she snapped, cutting me off again, anger bubbling to the surface. "Don't you dare call me that. You don't mean anything to me literally. Apart from this strange connection, I have no emotion for you. But I—I love Steve."

My eyes widened, the confession hitting me like a punch to the gut. She continued, her voice fierce. "I would never do anything like that to him. And how dare you question my loyalty? Hey, in the future, do you see your own mother as a double agent too?"

I stood there, utterly speechless, my heart sinking. Her words stung more than I could have anticipated, but I deserved it.

She swallowed hard, a flicker of something—hurt? Regret?—passing through her gaze as she looked away. "I wouldn't want a child who would judge me for my past doings."

And just like that, the air between us thickened with tension, each word like a brick wall rising higher. I shook my head, my voice desperate as I tried to bridge the chasm forming between us. "Mom, please—"

But she slapped my hand away, the gesture sharp and final. "I said I'm not your mother." Her tone brooked no argument, like a judge delivering a verdict.

She glared at me, her eyes fierce, but I could see a flicker of pain behind her anger. "You're not coming with us. I don't need you."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked back inside, leaving me standing there at the edge of the farm, my heart heavy and my thoughts racing. I watched her go, a swirl of emotions crashing inside me like waves on a rocky shore. It felt like the ground had shifted beneath my feet, and I was left with the echo of her words ringing in my ears.