Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

26. Safehouse

I spent over a month with Sylvia in Cape Town and got acquainted with Zak and Letta. While in town, I discovered Craig, which made me suspect he was still following me. Figuring that he defied orders to stop tracking me, I booked a flight to Manila with Zak's help.

 To throw Craig off my trail, Zak helped me fool him into thinking I was heading for Madrid, Spain. Sylvia would head there and try to convince him to stop what he was doing.

I ended up spending a week in the Philippines. I stayed with a family that Mom was well acquainted with whenever she visited the country. Like Clint's family and the Kemps, they were off SHIELD's radar. 

After a week, I saw no sign of Craig. Sylvia had probably kept him occupied or convinced him to stop following me. Soon, I discreetly arrived back in the States. 

The plane landed in Kalispell, Montana, after I switched flights in Denver. My parents had a safe house just outside of Missoula. My late maternal grandparents owned a ranch, which Mom and Dad converted into a safe house if they needed to lay low for a while. Additionally, Brett and Gunner took care of it, as they were entrusted with it since it was off the grid, and SHIELD had no idea who they were; only Fury, Hill, and Phil knew of the Kemps. 

I had contacted Gunner, letting him know of my arrival. Since I was in a rural state, I needed a ride somewhere. Second, Brett hated smartphones as he was more accustomed to flip phones. 

I arrived at the airport lobby, where Brett and Gunner waited. I hadn't seen them in person since meeting up with them in Stockholm when Gunner was flown from Afghanistan after accidentally stepping on a landmine attempting to help evacuate some villagers during an enemy attack. Gunner was discharged due to having to have his legs amputated. He ensured it didn't get him down, especially having to use a wheelchair and metal legs. 

I ran towards my adoptive father and brother and hugged them both.

"You've changed a lot! Did you grow some more?" Brett smiled as we headed outside.

"A ton. I've got a lot to tell you guys," I nodded as I wiped my eyes with my sleeve after crying a bit.

I followed the guys to the parking lot, where we got into a rusty red pickup truck. I tossed my backpack onto the bed and got into the center seat.

Before driving to Missoula, we filled up the truck with gas and picked up a few burgers at Five Guys, as I had only snacked during the flights. Pretzels and trail mix can only work for a short while. 

"We saw you on TV fighting an alien army with Stark, Captain America, and the Hulk," Gunner turned to me as I bit into my bacon cheeseburger.

"Mm-hmm," I nodded as I had my mouthful before sipping some cherry/vanilla Coke to swallow it down, "It's no surprise. My friends and I often had to disguise ourselves so we wouldn't get run down like an all-boys band."

"Hope you had bodyguards," Brett chuckled as he drove.

"Did you wear a mustache?" Gunner asked jokingly.

"And a toupee!" I joked along with him, "I wore a wig."

"Was it a clown wig?"

"Yeah, right!" 

The three of us joked like we did in the old times when I lived with them before leaving for the Academy. I felt uncomfortable telling the guys about the further details that led up to the Battle of New York, mainly about Loki's lusting for me, all because I resembled his dead wife, and the constant dreams about him. 

A couple of hours later, we arrived in Missoula, where we picked up some necessities. 

"Dad and I've been looking after the 10/22," Gunner pointed out.

"You mean my other half," I smirked.

The 10/22 was handed down from Mom because it was lighter and easier to shoot with. Brett, Gunner, and I would spend a lot of time doing target practice in the backyard. 

"If your crazy ex ever shows up at the door, he'll get a barrel to the face," Gunner remarked after buying the bullets.

"That'll make him turn the other way and leave," I nodded as we headed out to meet Brett. "Only it would make you sound like a total recluse who hates visitors."

"Not a recluse. Just an older brother looking out for his little sister."

Soon, we arrived at the ranch. Nostalgia got to me as I thought about my time there. I remembered Mom and Dad bringing me there as a little kid. Gunner and I used to chase each other around the yard, explore the nearby woods, and climb a couple of trees as if they were a jungle gym. Our parents often had us be wary whenever we were out, since bears were frequently seen.

Getting inside the main house was exactly how I had left it: creamy yellow walls with white trim, a brown couch with too many grease stains, and a blue recliner that had been heavily used. The kitchen was an open room that connected with the main living room. The door next to the stairway was a small restroom. The stairway led up to the bedrooms and bathroom.  

However, there were a few new additions, including a medium-sized flatscreen TV and an Xbox console, alongside a DVD player. 

"Welcome home, Case," Brett said with a smile on entry.

"It feels like old times, doesn't it?" I sighed.

"Pretty much, though a lot has changed," Gunner nodded. "By the way, I forgot to ask, do your friends know that you're here? It'd be a relief for them to know you're safe."

"I haven't, but I will do that right away," I replied. I pulled out my phone and texted Peyton, knowing that she would tell the others, as they were the only ones who knew about the safe house. Brett and Gunner would look after them if they needed a place to lay low. I trusted them with it all.

I felt jetlagged from the trip, so I decided to crash into bed. I made my way to my old bedroom. Again, it was just as I had left it. Posters of emo and rock bands that I often listened to as a teen, from My Chemical Romance to Panic! At the Disco, were plastered on one of the walls. A bookshelf filled every shelf with many series of novels, and there was no room for more hardback or paperbacks. A giant bulletin board with photos of everything I did with Mom and Dad, from camping trips to theme parks. Plus, a small nook with many plushies, mainly several of my favorite Pokémon, and a giant Kirby plushie that could be used as a cushion. 

The bed was full-size with a black comforter and purple sheets, my favorite colors from my teen years. So, I took a quick shower, slid into a pair of sweatpants and a sports bra afterward, and fell asleep once I got under the comforter.