Once A Warrior Princess

Chapter 3~ Finding a Balance

Melody's POV

"Oh look, she lives," Sam said as I joined the team in the living room, Wanda at my side. She had pleaded with me to spend some time with the rest of the team and I couldn't say no to that adorable accent. So I'd agreed to join her. A decision that every fiber in my body was punishing me for.

"Be nice, Sam," Wanda scolded him.

"Yeah, be nice, Bird Brains. The kid can turn into a giant dog. I'm sure she'd have no problem eating a nice partridge like you," Tony added.

"That goes for you too, Tony. She's uneasy enough as it is. Don't make it worse," Wanda glared at him, her powers misting ever so lightly around her hands.

"It's ok, Wanda. He can't help if he's too chicken to be in the same room as me alone. We all know wolves can't be domesticated. Oh, wait. That's where literally every domestic dog came from. Domesticated wolves and lots of breeding. Huh. Go figure," I shot back at him. He blinked in surprise before he smirked.

"Maybe you're worth keeping around, after all, Fido."

"I'm not a guy, Tony. I'm a bitch through and through. In every sense of the word."

"You should hang out with us more often, Melody. It's nice seeing someone putting Tony in his place," Sam chuckled.

"Being a sarcastic bitch is easy enough. And Tony's an easy target," I smirked.

"Hi, Melody," Steve smiled as he entered the room.

"Hey, Steve," I smiled softly, my heart beating a million miles a minute. He had that effect on me from the moment we met. The piercing blue eyes, the plush lips, the blonde locks, and the physique. But the thing that really drew me to Steve was the fact that he was nice to me, but he seemed to understand that I needed some space to adjust. He'd nod in acknowledgment in passing and he'd say hi to me when we were in the same room, but he never pushed me to start a conversation or to discuss our lives stories. I knew I was blowing things so out of proportion and he probably only saw me as a kid he had to work with; I knew this was a one-sided crush but that didn't stop the daydreaming. At least, not when I was alone.

"Careful, old man. She's feisty. I dunno if you can handle her," Tony warned causing both Steve and I to blush.

"He's just mad that Melody put him in his place," Sam sniggered.

"You did, did you Doll?" Steve asked.

"Yeah," I shrugged.

"Good. Someone needs to."

"Cap!" Tony whined.

"Don't you 'Cap' me. Someone needs to make sure you stay in your place."

"You guys suck," Tony huffed, leaving the room.

"Not as much as you do," I called after him.

Time Skip

Melody's POV

The day had come and gone, and I was once again alone in my room. I didn't mind being alone, but I couldn't help but feel a little alienated from the rest of the team. Sure, they all had their powers and training but they knew how to work together as a team. I didn't know their fighting styles or how to fit in with them, At least not yet.

"Knock, knock," Nat said, coming into my room.

"Hey, Nat," I smiled softly.

"Hey, kiddo. I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure, what's up?" I asked, patting the spot next to me.

"Why do you never join the team if Wanda or I aren't there?" She asked. I took a breath, I was wondering when someone would notice.

"I have a harder time trusting guys, even though they've done nothing to me because when I was five I was molested and almost raped. It continued for four years before someone found out and I still have difficulty befriending guys. I have been trying to ween myself off from needing you or Wanda to be social with the guys but I'm just not there yet," I explained, shaking a little from the memories and emotional pain.

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Nat said, visibly going a little emotionally numb. It takes one to know one.

"It's not your fault. Please don't tell anyone though. I hate it when people treat me like I'm made of glass. It just takes me some time to adjust to new people."

"Of course I won't tell anyone. This is your story to share. But you know, the guys all think they've done something."

"I just haven't warmed up to them is all. They've all been really nice, except for Tony but I have a feeling he's always an asshole."

"Usually, yeah. You get used to it. It is funny watching you put him in his place though."

"It's not hard. I think the same way he does; completely sarcastic about everything to mask the pain."

"You are really smart for your age, you know that?" She asked, cracking a small smile.

"Yeah. It runs in the family," I responded.

"Do you have a big family?"

"Huge. I have five siblings and several aunts, uncles, and cousins," I told her, rolling my eyes.

"You have five siblings?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yup. Two brothers and three sisters."

"That must have been interesting growing up."

"Yeah... I spent a lot of my time in my room growing up too. I've lived in fear for the majority of my life."

"And yet you've found yourself on a superhero team," Nat said.

"Yeah. I'm not scared of what's out there, I'm scared of what's in here. I'm scared of myself," I said.

"What do you mean? I haven't noticed anything strange about you," Natasha said, curious.

"I've gotten good at hiding it. And I'm sure you'll figure it out one day. But I really don't like to talk about it," I shrugged.

"Ok, but I'm watching you," She told me, eyeing me suspiciously.

"You won't find anything," I smiled.

"If there's something to find, I'll find it."

"Well, Natalia Alianovna Romanoff, you have met your match," I smirked.

"We'll see," She answered, walking out of my room. Will we?