Avengers: Daughters

Chapter 8: Libby POV

"Let us start with Miss Barton," the voice continues. I glance at Ally. She looks unconcerned like she couldn't care less about what these secrets could be about.

"I know everything about my parents," she says defiantly. "I know every dirty little secret. They told me or I found out."

"Do you know about your mother's past?" The voice asks. I sit on the floor. Ruby raises her eyebrow at me then sits down as well. Sam follows suit. Ally remains standing up. "The Red Room? Her training? All those people she killed? Those children she killed?"

Ally winces and I automatically reach out to comfort her. Ruby grabs my arm and pulls it back. "Don't," she whispers. "She wouldn't want you to."

"But-"

"Stop."

"And do you know who trained your mother?" The voice asks. Ally wraps her arms tighter around herself. "And how are your grandparents?"

"Shut up!" Ally snaps and I am almost guilty to see tears in her eyes. "Just shut up!"

"So you know it all? Interesting. Miss Stark? How about you?" Ruby stands up but doesn't say anything. "Your father, Anthony Stark, was once a weapons maker. He made the weapons that killed thousands of people. He was then tortured by terrorists. There he was forced to make a missile but he made the first Ironman suit and thus began the life that led him to Bruce Banner."

"I know all this. Listen, whoever you are, I don't care what you tell me. I know it all already. But don't tell her, okay?" Ruby gestures to me. I stare at her. Don't tell me what? I start to say this but the voice interrupts me.

"No deal, Miss Stark. Now, Miss Barnes-Rogers, please stand up and listen to all the family secrets."

I stand up on shaky legs. Ruby sits back down, dragging Ally with her. I look up at the speaker, my confidence fading but I try not to show it. "Tell me then. Tell me all the secrets. I doubt you have anything on me. I love my parents. Nothing you say can change that-"

"James 'Bucky' Barnes was an assasin."

My heart stops. I can't help the muttered no of horror that escapes my lips. Ruby sighs and I guess this is what they were hiding. They kept this from me. Why? No. My father wasn't an assassin. He is a kind man...please no.

"Bucky Barnes allegedly died during the Second World War from falling off a train during a mission."

"I know that. He was frozen in the snow like Steve got frozen a few months later. He got unfrozen about twenty years ago. Two years before I was born," I say.

"He was captured by HYDRA. He wasn't frozen. HYDRA turned him into an assassin. He killed thousands of people over the years. Do you want to know the exact figure?"

"Yes." I say but Ruby quickly says, "no, she doesn't. Leave her alone."

"He shot Natasha Romanoff. Scarred her on her stomach," the voice continues. It has no malice in its tone of voice. It's speaking like we're having a conversation about the weather. But I've seen Natasha's scar. She's never told me how she got it. I dig my nails into the palm of my hand as I worry. "Then HYDRA were taking over SHIELD. The Winter Soldier was hired to kill Director Fury. He tried. He failed that mission although everyone thought the Director was dead. He was then hired to kill Captain Steve Rogers."

"No," my voice is weak and barely carries across the room.

There's a low chuckle. "Yes. They fought various times and the Winter Soldier killed people, as assassins do. There was a final fight. Captain Rogers was trying to save the world from HYDRA. Your father was a coward. He refused to fight the Soldier and he was almost killed. One parent almost killed the other; doesn't that sound delightful?"

"Just stop," Sam snaps. She can't seem to move from her position on the floor. It's like she doesn't want to draw attention to herself so she doesn't get targeted. In spite of the horror having secrets revealed brings, I want to find out hers. I guess that makes me as bad as my father then. Both of them.

"Then they both went down. Down. Down." The voice cackles and I hold back a sob. "Of course they're both alive now but for how much longer?"