Winter's Sister

6

I woke in a panic, screaming and crying out for help. In seconds, Wanda had burst into my room and was by my side.

"Shh," she whispered, holding me to her side. "Shh, little sister. It's me, Wanda. I'm here." She had kind of adopted me as her little sister. Just three years younger, I only came to her shoulders.

I wrapped my arms around Wanda, reminding myself that I was free from Hydra and Mr. Killicks, and had been for a few months. I had nightmares nearly every other night. Wanda was usually the one to wake me, or Steve, when he was at the compound.

"S-sorry," I stuttered. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Wanda shook her head. "I was already awake," she assured me. "We've got a hit on Rumlow. He is in Lagos. We are going after him today. We may be gone for a little while. Don't forget to eat. Or sleep. And you had better-"

"Work on the math papers you assigned," I finished. When Wanda had learned I had never had the chance to go to school past seventh grade, when I was kidnapped, she had become my private teacher.

Wanda gave a wan smile. "Yes," she confirmed. "Also, Stark has a speech to give later. He may want you to go with him."

I nodded. I had already known that one. Word travels fast in a scarcely populated compound. Besides, I couldn't help take down Rumlow. I wasn't trained, was deemed too young, and all I could do was heal the bad guys if we came into contact. It had been getting harder to control when I healed others. It was less of a choice and more of a reaction to skin contact. Most efficient when I had a hand on the person I was healing.

After Wanda, Steve, Nat, and Sam had left, it was just me, Stark, and Rhodey. Then, Rhodey left, not saying where he was going. It was just me and Stark. When we left for the speech, he didn't say anything. I'm not sure he noticed I was with him. He had been acting strange since he and Pepper decided to 'take a break'.

The MIT students were all very excited to hear that they had all been accepted into the September Foundation, meaning all their expiraments were funded.

After the speech, I silently followed Stark as he escaped the people vying for his attention. But when we got down the hall, a woman was just standing by the elevator.

The woman began telling Stark about her son, Charles Spencer. She claimed that Stark had killed him. Even I didn't necessarily believe that. Stark was rude, but he had fought to protect people. Not kill them.

Finally, we were able to get away. But on the TV in the jet, we saw the result of the other Avengers in Lagos. Wanda hadn't been able to hold an explosion long enough, and it destroyed part of a building. I then noticed we weren't headed towards the compound.

"Where are we going?" I asked nervously. He had been way out of it since we left MIT.

"To pick someone up," he sighed.

"Who?" I questioned.

"The secretary of state," he answered. "Maybe he can get us under control."

"That wasn't Wanda's fault," I defended. "She couldn't hold it. That's not on her. She's only a few years older than me."

"Look kid, I have an electromagnetic headache, and you are not helping," he groaned. "I get it, she's your best friend or whatever. But she is dangerous. Maybe after everything with your brother, you just think everyone is harmless, but that's not how the world works."

With tears in my eyes, I walked to the back of the jet and sat down by myself. I didn't even acknowledge Secretary Ross, though I heard him mutter a question to Stark, asking if I was also enhanced. Stark told him of my abilities, and also that I was never in the field. I wasn't a safety hazard to anyone except myself, in his eyes. He didn't seem to worry about my claws.

When we reached the compound, the Avengers and the secretary went to a meeting room. Steve let me tag along, upon the secretary's request, and I squeezed in between Wanda and Vision.

Secretary Ross began by telling us about his heart attack, and how it had given him perspective.

"The world owes the Avengers an unpayable debt," he continued. "You have fought for us, protected us, risked you lives. But while a great may people see you as heroes, there are some, who would prefer the word vigilantes."

"What word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Natasha questioned.

"How about dangerous," he answered. "What would you call a group of US based enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders, and inflict their will, wherever they choose, and who, frankly, seem unconcerned about what they leave behind?"

Secretary Ross began showing footage of the damage left behind by their battles.

"Ok, that's enough," Steve said when the footage of Lagos came up.

I took Wanda's hand, and a small cut on her arm vanished. I wanted to comfort her, but all I could do was take away the physical damage. She squeezed my hand, to let me know she understood my point, but didn't let go. Secretary Ross watched as her wound transfered to me. He seemed to be considering something.

"For the past four years," the secretary continued, "you've operated with unlimited power and no supervision. That's an arrangement the governments of the world can no longer tolerate. But I think we have a solution." He put a large booklet of papers in front of Wanda. "The Sokovia Accords. Approved by 117 countries, it states that the Avengers shall no longer be a private organization. Instead, they'll operate under the supervision of the United Nations panel, only when and if that panel deems it necessary."

"The Avengers were formed to make the world a safer place," Steve stated. "I feel we've done that."

"Tell me, Captain, do you know where Thor and Banner are right now?" Secretary Ross asked. When Steve didn't answer, he continued, "If I misplaced a couple of thirty megaton nukes, you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. There's an enhanced in this room that the world doesn't even know exists. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

I took the jab at my being there without showing offense, but Wanda had narrowed her eyes in anger. I was kept secret for my own safety.

"So, there are contingencies," Rhodey assumed.

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna," the secretary said, "to ratify the Accords. Talk it over."

"And, if we come to a decision you don't like?" Natasha questioned.

"Then you retire," Secretary Ross declared.