From Worlds Apart - Marvel FanFiction

VIII - Explanations

I had to report back to Fury as soon as I could. I ran back, all the way to the Avengers Facility, feeling awful. I thought I had stopped it – all of the murders and attacks – but I hadn't. The other vampires were still out there.

And the thing was, they weren't doing anything wrong. Under our rules, you can hunt wherever you wish. Well, I assumed so, that's what Leanna used to say.

I went up into the building and opened to door to the kitchen and living room area.

"Tony, I'm back," I called as I went in. I ripped my wig off and threw it to the sofa, but froze when I looked up.

"You're home early," Fury said, standing before me. Two other agents stood next to him.

"Why are you here?" I asked, a little worried. I was toast. "Where's Tony?"

"Hmmm, let's think... Oh yeah! How was your party?"

I laughed nervously. "Oh, about that-"

I saw one of the agents move. When he realised I had seen, he immediately stood still, but his gun he was trying to hide behind his back didn't go unnoticed. I understood then.

"You think I murdered the girl?" I asked incredulously.

"I'm sorry Miss Fell," Fury replied, crossing his arms, "but we have no evidence you didn't kill her."

"And you have no evidence that I did," I seethed. I gritted my teeth.

"Tell us what happened. I don't believe it was you, but you can't trust anyone."

I sighed. I looked into his dark eyes, and he returned an anticipating expression.

"I got some information on the murders," I explained. I walked over to the window and looked out of it, the city's building illuminating the night. Cars drove around everywhere, some beeping at each other in various places.
"It's a gang of vampires, recruiting innocent teens to kill their prey. That's why three people died tonight, if you want to call the other two people."

"Who died? It better be good, Dakota, because we need a good cover story for the mess you left, and, correct me if I'm wrong, there was boy at the scene." He looked at me sternly. "Now he knows about you. How are you going to fix that?"

"I can't! I don't know!" I replied, agitated. "It was a heat of the moment choice! Peter and yes, another boy was there, but it was either kill or be killed."

I thought I was going to cry when I pushed past him to sit on the sofa. I bit my lip, and Fury came to sit on the sofa opposite me.

"Two vampires, one male, one female. I killed them, and had to burn their bodies." I managed to look Fury straight in the eye. "And one...one girl. Another vampire came and killed her when we couldn't protect her so she would keep quiet."

It was silent. I had no idea what I was going to do about any of this.

"What do you propose we do about this, then?" Fury asked. I stood up, taking a deep breath.

"We kill every. Single. One of them."

******

"Someone else was there too?" Nat asked. I was sitting on the sofa, eating a bowl of cereal, watching the news.

"Yeah," I said between mouthfuls, "But he could fight nearly as good as any SHIELD agent." I put my bowl on the table and turned to face her, sitting at the breakfast bar.

"Don't worry about it," She soothed. "He clearly has secrets of his own, that I'm sure you can get out of him," She added with a smirk.

"Breaking news: teen missing in Queens..."

We both span around at that. It was just another story about a teen said to have been kidnapped near School. I watched, nervously fiddling with a strand of my hair. It changed to a reporter interviewing his parents. His mum burst into tears, while his dad spoke. I blurred his words and looked down to the floor for a moment. Then I heard his mum, crying into the microphone.

"We want our son back..."

I got up and went to my room.

"Dakota..." Nat called after me.

*****

My phone started to vibrate, making my whole desk do the same. I looked and saw the silly picture of Ned come up on the screen, making me smile to myself. I answered it.

"Hey, Ned-"

"Where the hell were you?!" He exclaimed down the phone. "You just left the party, then so did Peter! I mean, I understand Peter cause he's Spiderman but-"

He stopped. Just stopped. I furrowed my brows, waiting for him to continue.

"...Ned?"

"OH. MY. GOD." He sounded mortified. "I am so dead! Ariana, don't tell Peter I told you! And don't freak out! And don't-"

"Look, Ned," I laughed. This was the perfect time for Ned to find out. "I already know Peter is Spiderman."

There was another silence. I was about to say something, but Ned finally answered with a quizzical, "Huh?"

"My name isn't Ariana," I said. "It's Dakota."

"What?"

"Dakota Fell. My name is Dakota Fell."

He exploded at that.

"WHAT THE HELL? YOU'RE AN AVENGER TOO?! YOU'RE THE CRIMSON SHADOW! YOU'RE-"

"Look, Ned?" I said, very amused. "We'll talk on Monday. You can ask questions then."

I heard my door open, and Tony stood in the doorway.

"Who's that?"

"Just Ned, my friend."

"Oh my g- was that Tony freaking Stark?!"

Me and Tony laughed at that.

"Ned, gotta go, see you Monday."

"No wait-"

And I put the phone down, laughing my head off, Tony joining in too.

At least now some weight is off my chest. Ned knows, and my moods have been lifted.