The Deadly Nightshade | { BOOK 1 of The Flower series }

[59] Letter

Agent Thirty-Three's back collided on the gym mat, Jade hovering over her with a cheeky smile. "Let's try that again, shall we?" Jade held out her hand, waiting for the new trainee to grasp. She had become a trainer for the newcomers instead of being holed up in the lab as she used to when she was focused on inventing a whole variety of Spider-Man suits for Peter. Still, she paused from continuing after what had happened at the Ferry.

Agent Hill suggested that Jade should be the new leader for the agents, considering the two leaders were fugitives and no longer present at the compound. Maria turned to Jade, knowing that she was the best agent they currently had, also believed that Jade was just as good as Natasha and Steve. Jade reluctantly took the position.

Agent Thirty-Three groaned, grasping her hand, and the seventeen-year-old helped her back on her feet. "We've been doing this for two hours. I don't think I'm going to nail it today. . .maybe next month."

Jade chuckled, lightly brushing her brown bangs from out of her amber eyes. "Look, I'm not Natasha or Steve, who were professional trainers, but at least you're actually making some progress."

Agent Thirty-Three sent her a small smile. "Yeah."

Jade started to unwrap her hands from the white boxing strapping. "How about we take a break?"

The new trainee nodded in relief. She honestly didn't think she could take any more of her backbones being smacked onto the ground any longer. She walked out of the training room, and Jade sat down on one of the benches, gulping her water.

The training sessions Jade taught weren't something the new agents expected. She had mixed what she knew from training with Natasha and what she learned on HYDRA grounds. Even if the agents thought the training sessions were brutal, the sessions did get the job done, and the agents came out tougher.

A small knock emitted in the room, causing Jade to glance over her shoulder. Tony's eyes locked on hers as he entered the training room. Clutched in his hand was an envelope, and the nervous expression on his face didn't go unnoticed.

"Dad?" Jade asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.

He swallowed and held out his hand that the envelope was grasped in. "It's for you."

Jade's eyes shifted onto the envelope before falling back onto Tony's dark eyes. She reached for it, the smooth envelope ending up in her own grasp. She read the beautifully written address, knowing that it was for her. She looked up in the corner, seeing no return address. She swiftly sliced the envelope open with her dagger and pulled out the neatly folded letter.

Jade focused her gaze back onto her father, still sensing his nervousness. "You know who it's from, don't you?"

"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who the sender could be, considering there's no return address," Tony admitted softly.

Jade released a deep breath, knowing that Tony was right. Something in her, though, believed that Wanda wouldn't reply. It had been two months since the prison break and going to Wakanda with Team Cap for a short while. She unfolded the letter, her eyes landing on the first sentence;

Dear Kitkat.

I'll admit, I was hurt from the very beginning when you disagreed with Steve. I thought that you would listen to my advice from what had happened in Lagos. . .I assumed incorrectly. As much as I wish I could see that what you were doing was right, I can't. You believe that you're some monster, but you're not. And I don't know how many times I need to tell you that until you finally believe me.

I would've thought that you would agree with Steve because you finally had a say in what you believed in and actually had freedom. Those were the things that were taken away from you for years when you were with HYDRA. I thought you would've fought back for that. Instead, you chose the opposite. My love, the people, feared us, I get it. But we can't control their fears, only our own. Being on the government's side isn't going to give the people any hope of us being less scary to them. Until you see that, I won't understand why you chose the path you did.

I'm sorry too. I wish we could've met halfway as well, but we're far from the same.

And when I saw you in Manchester, I knew right then and there that I need you more than ever. We may not be together anymore, but I would love to change that. Remember our conversation back in Boca? I still stand by those words that I told you. I only have one life, and I want to spend it with you. You're my soulmate, Kitkat, and even if you would like to move on, I'd like to have the chance to change your mind possibly. All I need is a couple of days.

If you want us to have a second chance, you will find me at the coordinates below. If not, I hope you know that you will forever have my heart. . .even if I'll no longer have yours.

I will forever and always love you. ♡

45.4642° N, 9.1900° E

Jade cracked a small smile as she blinked up from the letter. She felt a pang of hurt in her heart when she read that Wanda didn't want to understand why she chose the path that she did when she understood Wanda's decisions. But as she continued on reading, she felt relief and hope that maybe their relationship had another chance.

Tony placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, a sad smile present on his face. "Go."

Jade furrowed her eyebrows together as she looked up at him. "I also made a promise to you. Do you really think I should go? I'm not exactly on good terms with any of them."

Tony sighed. "I know, but there's something special that you and Wanda had. This is an opportunity for you guys to bring that." He sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Tell me, do you love her?"

Jade nodded without any hesitation. "Of course. I don't think I've ever stopped."

Tony smiled, his eyes brightening. "If Wanda sent you this letter, knowing the risk of compromising her location with the others, then she feels the same way about you. She's offering her heart to you again. If I were you, I'd accept it."

She smiled warmly, but it faded away. She had responsibilities now, and she couldn't just throw them away. Even if she cut the internship off with Peter, she still felt obligated to be there for him and watch out for his safety. "What about Peter?"

"What about him?" Tony questioned in confusion.

"I know I pulled the plug with him, but I still brought him in," Jade began with a sigh. "Who's gonna make sure he's okay?"

"You took the suit from him. What could that kid possibly do without it?"

Jade stood up from the bench, gazing down at her father. "He's more than some multi-million dollar suit. Besides, that Vulture guy is still out there."

Tony shuddered, his dark eyes shut. "Can't believe you actually used half of your allowance on that kid, and for what? A suit that he easily hacked?"

Jade bit her lip. "I may have created another suit for him, and it's so much more equipped than the first."

Tony gaped at her. "You didn't?"

She flashed him a cheeky smile. "I did."

Tony laughed, shaking his head in amusement. "Look, don't worry about the kid. I'll make sure Happy continues to keep you updated, and with the whole Vulture guy, the FBI will continue their investigation."

"Okay," Jade walked backward, heading for the exit of the training room. "I'll see you soon." She turned around but stopped halfway and ran back to Tony, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you, by the way," she said with pure gratitude.

Tony's eyes widened at the embrace before wrapping his arms around her, one of his hands cupping the back of her head. "For what?"

"Everything."

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