Maya

There are certain moments in your life where you have nothing but clarity.

This was definitely one of them.

I'm surprised the guards were keeping me in Fury's office alone. If I were anyone else, I would've gone snooping for secrets. Fortunately, I'm well aware of all the necessary safety measures and I don't have a death wish. Not anymore, at least.

I close my eyes and reach out once again.

I've been doing this ever since I got back to the command centre. I can't help it.

There was a swarm of activity below me and on the level below that she was in the infirmary. Her heartbeat was slowly improving, no longer slow and faint.

I feel my relief is short-lived.

I'm not quite sure what happens now.

Raza, that old bastard full of secrets, was correct. I hated that he was correct. If this girl was real, then that meant there were three other children out there. Children. That monster had other children. I should closed my hands around his throat and choked him to death. What would it matter? Just another splash of red on my ledger.

Regicide was nothing new to me.

Miriam and Amir weren't my only victims.

The door slid open. Fury came through with Nat firmly on his heels. She wore her usual jumpsuit with a black leather jacket over her shoulders. Her hair was trimmed short just parallel to her jaw and ironed out straight. Her face was hard, eyes flaming dangerously. Our eyes met and I resisted the urge to apologise.

I leapt up to my feet, an explanation on my lips.

Fury was not amused. He raised his hand, his index finger pointed at me. "Save it, Agent." He said, sitting down behind his desk. "Barnes told us everything."

I sit back down, sagging forward with my elbows braced on my knees. "Shit."

Nat took the other seat, sitting down more gracefully than I as she crossed one leg over the other. "Boy, you really enjoy getting into trouble, don't you?"

"I resent that fact," I mutter darkly.

She looked momentarily taken aback by my darker tone but hid it quickly. A wave of guilt washed over me which I quickly pushed down. Fury was glaring at both of them—honestly, I'm not sure if he's glaring. It's his default mode to glare so I'm used to it by now.

"Did you know?" He asks me.

That shouldn't have even been a doubt.

"No," I say.

"Not even a single bit?"

I bite back a scathing remark. "No, Director."

Fury leans forward. "You do realise how this looks, Agent?"

I lean forward, mimicking Fury. "Suspicious, I assume. What's the council saying?"

Nat speaks up. "The usual. Daughter of a known international bio-terrorist. Possible security risk. May or may not want to put you in a cell. Their concern is almost touching."

Despite my best efforts, a laugh escapes my throat. I don't know why but I can't stop. For the first time in a very long time, Fury looks at me with concern. He glances at Nat who just shrugs.

"That's so fucking rich!" I say between laughs. I wipe a tear from my eye. I'm not sure if I'm crying or laughing hysterically. "All these years and they start this bullshit now!"

Nat places a hand on my shoulder. If she was concerned about me she would knock me out.

"Are you done?" Fury asks, rubbing his temple.

I take several breaths in and out, trying to regain some semblance of sanity. "Sure," I say, wiping away another tear. "I think I'm good now."

Fury didn't waste any time. "I've got good news and bad news." He said. "Because I'm such a saint, I'll tell you the good news first. The good news of that we've recovered some data regarding the rest of your...siblings. Looks like your father—"

"He's not my father," I corrected out of habit.

"Fine, the motherfucker who created you left you some files. Three to be exact." He said. "I've sent several teams out to recover them. And yes, Agent, I will keep you updated."

That's a lot of information to process in 30 seconds.

I rub my temple too, feeling a headache pool at the base of my skull and spread to my eyes. "And the bad news?" I ask hesitantly.

Nat mercifully took over. "You'll be in protected custody."

'Protected Custody.' Sure and I'm a pink bunny rabbit with a tutu who goes around giving cocaine to children.

(Give me a freaking break!)

I scoff. "For how long?" Neither of them answered. "Right, of course. Protocol I assume?"

"Yes."

"Great."

Fury holds out his hand. "I'll need your badge for the time being. You'll also turn in your gun. Agent Romanoff will be keeping an eye on you till the other three are found and processed. Don't take this personally, Agent."

Yeah, right!

I can't help but feel bitter about it. I grit my teeth and push those emotions down, I could work them out later when I spar with Nat.

"I'm not." I pull off my badge and place it in his waiting hand. "You know I hated him. I'd never help him. Never."

"I have never doubted you, Maya," Fury said as he got up and locked away my badge. "You're an Avenger and you're one of my best Agents. We'll protect you."

"Do you put your best agents in 'protected custody' or does that just come with the territory?"

Fury doesn't bother to give me an answer.

—

Nat and I are alone in the elevator, heading down to the infirmary.

We don't say anything for a while. I know Nat is struggling to say something, comfort me or hug me or I don't know...something. Her heartbeat accelerates slightly and returns to normal.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around for a while," I said, rubbing my arm. "Things have been...weird."

"We miss you." She says. "I know it's not the same anymore but the tower isn't the same without you."

I chuckle. "I miss you guys too. I was supposed to be away for a week but then..." I trail off, not sure how to explain it.

There was an emptiness inside of me that threatened to consume me. A small part of me wonders if my father had sensed it despite me blocking the bond between us. All I had left was my mother and then the Avengers and...him until I couldn't. I swallowed hard, staring at a random corner of the elevator.

Nat wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me a bit closer. She smelled nice. "I should've gone after you. We shouldn't have given you so much space. I know what loneliness is, I know how it can kill you. I don't want to lose another friend, Maya. I want you to remember that."

"I know that," I said softly. "It's just been...difficult. Ever since—"

"He shouldn't have done that."

I lean against the wall. "No," I sighed. "It just wasn't meant to be. I'm over it."

Nat gives me a look, I'm certain it's pity. "You know...we haven't had a movie night in a while."

"Natasha Romanoff going soft on me? I didn't expect that on my bingo card."

She snorts. "Still sarcastic as ever I see. Good. I'm glad you haven't lost that."

I open my mouth to say something but the elevator dings. The door opens and the smell of antiseptics hits me in a nauseating wave. I hated hospitals, they weren't my favourite place. If I ever got injured on a mission, I would go to Bruce rather than an actual hospital.

Nat leads me to a door at the end of the hallway. Bucky sits outside on a stool, polishing his detached arm.

He looks up. "I thought you were in—"

I shrug. "I am."

Nat opens the door and I walk in. I'm alone in the room. I'm thankful for Nat for letting me see her alone.

She's young, probably around 14 or 15. The same age I was when I got my powers. Her skin is a dusky brown and her hair is a wild mess of blonde, brown, and red. Her face is heart-shaped and her nose is sharp like mine, her lips are chapped and I can see bones peaking out from underneath her hospital gown.

Anger hits me irrationally. I can see the resemblance between her and Raza. His nose, his chin, and even that annoying mole just under his left eye.

I wondered what colour her eyes were. Would they be like her mother's or would Raza also take that too?

I placed my hand on her arm, feeling her pulse steady.

Our heart rates synced, beating as one.

My blood called out to hers.

I didn't need any test to know.

The monitor next to her beeps loudly and I can hear the door opening as Bucky and Nat run it.

"What happened?" Nat barks, her hand going to her hip.

There was a flutter of her eyelids and finally, after an eternity, they cracked open revealing a stunning shade of brilliant green. Like a pair of cut peridots. It almost takes my breath away.

Her eyes go wide, her lips trembling to speak. Her hand curls around mine, holding on in a vice-like grip.

I keep her heartbeat steady.

She tries to say something but it comes out in a raspy whine.

Bucky takes a step forward but I hold my hand out, asking him to wait.

I lean down, turning my cheek so she can whisper into my ear. She breathes harshly, her breath coming out in hot puffs of air.

"What is it?" I ask.

"F-F-" She stays silent for a moment and opens her mouth once again. "F-Fuck off..."

Her grip slackens and she faints once again in my arms. I catch her before her head can hit the hospital bed.

There's nothing but silence between us. Nat is stunned into silence, her eyebrow quirked up. Bucky's lips twitch, the corners of his mouth struggling not to turn upwards.

"You know..." Nat starts.

I glare at her. "Don't."

Bucky smirks. "I can see the family resemblance."