FALLEN ─ marvel ⁵

VI. Finding Out The Truth

Chapter Six
Jade

"I thought you would never arrive," Ross says in a passive aggressive tone as we get out of our car. We're right outside of his office building, he's here with a few other agents to pick the kids up. I expected him to be angrier given the scolding we got on the phone earlier, but this is actually a normal level of hatred coming from him. "You're lucky that no one was killed."

After sticking up to Litvin and hearing what the kids said on the plane, I'm not feeling as shy and timid around Ross. I don't stop myself from saying: "We did our best, sir. We apprehended the children and brought them here, please just take them and leave."

Ross raises an eyebrow my way, pointing a warning finger my direction. "I don't know why you've all of the sudden developed a tongue, but knock it off or else I'll suspend you."

It felt really good to talk back to him, but I don't want to push my luck, especially given what we're about to do. John and Sam haul the kids out of the car and bring them over to Ross. We told them to not be too aggressive or antagonizing, so they're staying silent, solemn expressions on each of their faces, selling their defeat beautifully to Ross. I can tell he buys it, he has a smug grin on his face, filled with triumph.

"Take them away, make sure they don't escape this time." Ross orders the agents standing next to a large black truck. The agents nod silently to him, grabbing onto the kids much more forcefully than we did, practically shoving them through the double doors of the cargo area of the truck. Once the kids are out of sight, Ross returns his attention to us, his grin subsiding. "You three are going back to Denmark to clean up the mess you made, and don't think I don't know where you got those fancy handcuffs, I'm not stupid. The next time you pay a visit to Wakanda without asking permission, you'll be punished."

"We went to Wakanda to find a solution that wouldn't hurt the kids and would stop the destruction they were causing. We achieved both of those goals." I argue, feeling empowered every moment I stand my ground and speak up to him. Every previous time I've faced him I've felt like I was locked in the same cage, the same chains I was in HYDRA, forced to listen to him treat me like a monster, an animal. But no more. I promised myself I wouldn't let Litvin control me by fear anymore and I'll be damned if I let Ross continue to do the same.

Ross scoffs. "You HYDRA agents are all the same. You're willing to do anything to achieve your own agenda, even put innocent lives at stake. You make me sick."

"The feeling is mutual." I respond, and though my voice isn't as firm as I'd like it to be, my point is still made. It makes Ross's mustache twitch, he isn't used to me sticking up for myself, it's aggravating him.

Ross doesn't say anything else, he just stalks towards his car parked on the other side of the truck. Both vehicles start their engines up, so I know it's time we go as well. The boys and I walk back towards our car and start up the engine as well, waiting for the truck to leave.

"I'm proud of you." Sam tells me with a smirk.

John gives me a firm nod. "I can't believe you got the last word, he never lets anyone else get the last word."

"It felt good, really good," I say through a sigh. "I'm sick of letting people like him make me feel inferior. I've been letting him push me around and rule me by my own insecurities, which is exactly what HYDRA used to do, what Litvin did to me. I guess that should have given me a clue that I was serving yet another corrupt government. I think I just wanted to believe that by serving them I was making up for what I had done in HYDRA, that I was repenting, so I ignored all the red flags."