We land in America, my heart racing, my blood pulsing in my ears. We drive to the compound where Shuri takes me inside like a sister. Morgan comes running out yelling "Wolfcry's here!" and wrapping her arms around me. Peter takes his time on his way towards me- but I know it's not because he's scared of me. He's tired, sad, his hair ruffled and still wearing his pajamas. "You ok, Spider-man?" He looks up again. "Yeah. I'm good." I know he's not, but I don't bother asking. I know why. "Come inside. We're having breakfast. Excuse the pajamas, I didn't think you'd come so soon!" I smile as he leads me inside. I take my seat across from Bucky, still mentally pinching myself. "So, how was your t-" Pepper begins. "Wait," Bucky cuts her off. "I know you," I sit there, wide-eyed and deep in confusion. "From where?" I asked tentatively. "Never mind that- do you remember any words like one, seventeen, freight car," he says as I join in, the memory of the words flooding back. "Daybreak, homecoming..." His eyes widen. "You- you were a Spring soldier," he recalls. "I remember the day Hydra sent your force to kidnap Tony- Did anyone else hear those words?" he asks. "No." He sits back in his chair, hand over his mouth as if he were surprised. "They got you too- do you remember being kidnapped?" I think for a moment. "Oh my God. They actually used you." He says, gawping. "You were given orders to take Tony, weren't you."
Peter suddenly gets angry and lashes out at me. Sam has to hold him back. "Tell me it wasn't her. Please, tell me it wasn't her. Of all the agents-" Sam nods. "Peter- it was. But she wasn't who she is now then. She wasn't herself. The mission obviously failed, but-" Peter gets up and leaves the table.
"Ignore him, hun. He's just- yeah, he's just a bit shaken. Don't worry." Pepper puts her arm around me. "We all are in a bit of- hm, denial at the moment." She smiles weakly at me. She shakes her head slightly as if to dissipate the thoughts and feelings. "So, what would you like for breakfast?" I begin to think of home, where my friends would probably be eating dinner right about now. I laugh a little. "I'm- I'm good." She nods and shrugs. "So, what's going on here?" I ask. "Well, we all live together, now. You know, Peter and Harley are like big brothers to Morgan. And Shuri's the perfect big sister. Buck and Sam drop by sometimes, and the Guardians- well, god knows where they are," she snorts. "A little support network, I guess. Morgan's having a hard time coming to terms with what happened a few weeks ago. She's too smart for school, just like her father, and she gets bored easily. So Peter and Shuri take Morgan down to Tony's old labs to teach her practically," she smiles. I nod. "Look, I should probably take you back home now. Your parents must be worried." she said. I flinched at the word 'parents'. She noticed. "Oh- I'm so sorry. Anyway, come this way. Your carers must miss you so much!" she tries to rebound.
We hop in the black Audi for what feels like an eternity, silent and unsure.
When we land, it's nighttime, and I run to my foster parent's house. I knock on the door. My foster mum opens it. "Oh, my Lord- where have you been?" she asks nervously. "I had homework," I reply, the lie forming on my lips so easily. "Oh, dear, we've missed you so much. Come on in, have some dinner. Take a break, ok? You're going to be very tired at school tomorrow." she says. I smile. "Thanks Melissa. I will." I bound up the stairs, filled with a mix of emotions bouncing around in my head. I change into my pajamas, brush my teeth, and get to bed. Wow. That- that just happened. I think happily with a tinge of sadness- I was sad to leave Peter in that state. I suddenly imagine this situation but with me as Bucky and Peter as Ironman. Civil war. I think to myself. Civil war- sleep drags me under. Then my nightly dream begins. I'm walking through a desolate world, bare and stripped, cold and dark, without a light to follow. I wander around, the sound of wolves howling filling my head. Suddenly Peter is standing in front of me, though not facing me. He's facing a shadowy, caped figure with a circular head. Yet the Peter in my dream talks to me. "How did they get to you?" His image flickers red then stills. "You didn't- you couldn't have-" his image glitches again before it starts running at me, eyes full of a swirling green mist. I run as fast as I can away from him- but he catches up and soon we're eye to eye. The shadowy figure rises up behind possessed Peter and reaches for me-
YOU ARE READING
1nn0c3nt
AdventureWhen a fourteen-year-old Australian shapeshifter is recruited for the NextGen initiative, she's shocked. But now she has the power to do more than she ever thought she could- Can she prove herself to the NextGen Avengers and the world despite her ow...
