Annette

Annette watched as Safia and Maya made pancakes for breakfast. Well...they were mostly bickering about how many chocolate chips they could add. Is there a such thing as too many chocolate chips in pancakes?

She took a bite of her pancakes, savouring the sweet taste.

Rayan was next to her, filling in the colours of a colouring book with some crayons. He had moved on from solving Rubix cubes and now was concentrated fully on colouring books.

Maya bought this one at the gas station when he had stared at it for four straight minutes without saying a word.

Annette peeked over his shoulder, watching as he picked up the red crayon and coloured between the lines.

The picture was half complete but she could make out the details. Blonde hair, a long red cape, and a hammer.

It was a colouring book on Norse mythology.

She thought it was strange since the book only Norse god she knew was Thor who was an Avenger. Everyone knew that.

"Rayan!" Maya yelled from the kitchen. "Come get your breakfast!"

"Hurry it up before I eat them, pipsqueak!" Safia threatened, waving her spatula in the air.

Rayan put down his crayon as his nostrils flared. "You better not, Safi!"

"Then move your butt!"

"I'm coming!" He said. "They better be an even number of pancakes."

Rayan left the colouring book unattended. Annette glanced behind her and reached out for the book. Maya always said that if you wanted to snoop around, you would have to wait for an opportunity.

"That's a bad idea," Carlos said as he flipped through his newspaper. "You know how he is about his stuff."

She stuck out her tongue. "He won't know anything if you say nothing."

"I'm capable of minding my own business, unlike a certain someone."

"Why are you reading a newspaper?" Annette asked, ignoring the previous statement.

He flipped another page without looking up. "Because they're unbiased and I like to be informed about the world."

Annette rolled her eyes. Sometimes she wondered if Carlos was secretly an old man or something. He talked like he was from a different generation.

She flipped through the pages of the colouring book.

There was a man with a horned helmet and a long cape flowing from his shoulders. He grinned maliciously as held an arrow in his hand and a snake in the other.

The picture was a little too on the nose.

He didn't look very nice. But then again, Annette reserved her judgments.

"That's Loki," Carlos commented.

"Who's that?" Annette tilted her head, studying the picture. She had heard that name before but she couldn't remember when.

Carlos finally put down his newspaper. He folded it neatly and tucked it under his plate.

He glanced behind her, his eyes looking for something. Annette turned to see Maya fiddling with the radio as Safia and Rayan bickered over the whipped cream can.

"The God of Mischief and Lies," he said. "A few years ago he destroyed New York. It was all over the news channels when I lived in Mexico."

"That's a weird thing to be the god of."

"He was also an Avenger." Annette's eyes widened. Carlos glanced behind him. "Or he worked for them? I'm not sure."

"Do you think Maya fought against him?"

Carlos hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip. "Maybe. She doesn't really talk about the Avengers." He shrugs. "Maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. Who knows?"

"If they fought, I'm sure she would've won."

Annette turned the page again. This time it was a picture of an old man with an eyepatch and two ravens seated on his shoulders.

He looked...unpleasant to be around.

Carlos cleared his throat. Rayan was coming back with a plateful of pancakes. Annette quickly turned the pages and pretended to be interested in her food.

"What did I miss?" Rayan asked. The corner of his lip had a smear of chocolate.

Carlos picked up his newspaper. "Nothing much."

—

Maya

I watched as Safia swung down the bow staff.

I stepped to the side, raising mine in return to block her blow.

"Watch your back foot," I gritted out, pushing back. "If you're going to attack directly, you need to be balanced."

"I know!" She growled.

Safia pushes off, keeping her staff in front of her. I watched as we circled each other.

She readjusted her grip as she aimed at my side.

It was easy to block her attacks. Safia wasn't subtle but she was raw power. I blocked her next blow easily, redirecting her energy to the side.

"Want to use your powers?" I ask, twirling my staff. "Or do you want to keep doing this?"

Safia had a delighted look on her face. She dropped the bow staff like it was lead.

"I've been waiting all morning." She said, sparks glimmering through her fingers.

I step aside.

Carlos and I had found an old bench in the shed. It had seen better days but it was useful. I placed it in the clearing, lining up several tin cans.

What better way to practice than target practice? I've seen Clint do this with his kids. Unless Tony Stark decided to drop a state-of-the-art combat simulation room then I would have to train the kids my way.

"Remember," I said. "This is about control. You can't rely on anger to fuel you, it'll make you reckless and you could hurt a bystander."

I take out my pocket knife and slice to the tip of my finger.

Both of them watch me, Safia in wonder and Carlos with worry.

I draw a line of blood from my wound and let it hover above my hands. It doesn't unsettle me anymore, I just view it as an extension of me.

I flick my hand towards the tin cans, and a cord of blood whips out, letting out a sharp crack and splitting the first can into two pieces.

I draw the blood back and snap my wrist, forming a knife and sending it flying in a quick arc to the second can. It makes contact and a sharp metallic sound rings out as it pierces it.

The third can is easier to hit. I throw another knife and watch as the can is ripped in half.

This is as easy as breathing for me. Years and years of practice and careful control. I don't expect Safia to get it right away but I know she can learn over time.

Rayan picks up the cans and sets them up again before flying off.

"Got it?"

Safia nods.

She holds out her hand. Small sparks light up her hand, dancing big between her fingers.

I see her take a deep breath in and out as the electricity in her hands jumps, eager to be free. It travels up her arms till she's covered in it like a human wire.

I motion for Carlos to step back. He ducks behind the shed, happy to be out of the way.

"Easy, Safia," I said, staying still. I could hear her heartbeat going wild. "You control it. It doesn't control you."

Safia throws her arm back and aims at the bench.

A bolt of blue lightning shoots out of her hand. The first one misses completely, leaving a small crater in the ground.

The second one is closer.

The third one hits the bench sending it flying several feet before landing in the woods. A few birds scatter from the trees, squawking indignantly.

"Well," I said, kicking the ground. "That's a start."

"I'm sorry—"

"Don't. It's fine." I pat her shoulder. "You just need some fine-tuning. Remember, it's a matter of control. You'll get it."

Safia sighs, running her hands through her hair in frustration.

Carlos pokes his head out from behind the shed. "You hit it. I'm not getting the bench."

Safia puts her hands on her hips. "Well, I'm not going into the woods alone."

He grinned. "Why? Scared of the big bad wolf?"

"I'm not scared of anything, Chico!"

"Wanna bet?" Carlos's grin widens.

I snort but don't interrupt. I find it easier to let them bicker and get it out of their systems.

Safia takes the bait immediately. "You know what? I'll go get it myself since you're so scared."

Safia groans and stomps past the crater she made. Ugh, I'll have to fill those later.

Carlos grabs a log and places it down on the tree stump. "Are you alright?" He asks me.

The question catches me off guard. "What?"

He slings the axe over his shoulder, dark eyes staring at me. "You're not sleeping." He said. "Sometimes I hear you pacing downstairs."

"Oh, it's nothing." I rub the back of my neck. "Just some insomnia."

"Is the recent deaths?"

Sometimes it's easy to forget how perceptive he is. I have to look past his age and remember that he's seen more than an average child.

Death is a natural part of life but it doesn't mean we have to accept it so easily.

"I'm worried," I replied.

"Is it going to be a problem?" He slams his axe down, splitting the wood.

"I hope not," I say, watching him. "I'm keeping an eye on it."

"Will you tell us if we're in danger?"

"I will." It's a promise I can make. "My job is to keep you safe. Nothing will happen to you guys as long as I'm here."

He looks away, satisfied with my answer and places another log on the tree stump. "Any news about mama?"

I felt my stomach tighten.

Five months later and not a single word from his mom. SHIELD was still looking for her but I knew deep down that she was long gone.

It's a terrible thing for a child to lose their parents, especially at such a young age.

Carlos slams his axe down in the log again. I see him swallow, blinking over and over till he can school his features.

"I'm sorry, kiddo," I said. I stuff my hands into my pockets, resisting the urge to wrap my arms around him. "There's not a trace of her."

He puts down the axe and pulls off his gloves. I watch as he gathers the logs that he has chopped, carefully stacking them next to the shed.

The wind ruffles his hair.

"I know I'm just a kid but I had a feeling she was gone." He shook his head. "I don't know why but I just knew. I...I don't know how to feel about it. I'm angry then I'm sad and then I feel like nothing. I remember the day the cartel members came for me. My mother screamed at me to run and I tried but I got caught anyway. I just—I blame myself. If it weren't for me then she would still be—"

Ah, screw it.

I grab his arm and pull him towards me. He shatters into pieces immediately. Carlos grips me like a lifeline as he lets his grief pour out of him in waves.

He cries quietly, letting his tears fall as he tries to muffle his sobs. I feel his body shudder.

I place my hand on the back of his head.

When I was 14, Raza took me away from my mother and I didn't see her until a decade later. I had cried and begged and screamed but nobody cared. Nobody held me and told me it was going to be okay. All I had was grief and rage—and look where that led me.

"I wish I hadn't been born," he whimpered. "It's all my fault."

"You did nothing wrong!" I held his face in my hands, wiping away his tears with my thumb. "Nothing is your fault. Raza is the one to blame. The people who took your mother away from you are the ones to blame. Not you. Never you."

He sniffled. "But...what do I do? I don't know what to do. I have these powers but they can't save anyone. I couldn't save her."

"Carlos, no. You're just a child. It's not your fault." I said. "Your mother did her level best to protect you. She loved you so much. Don't say such things and let her sacrifice be in vain."

"I don't know what to do." He repeats.

I see Annette and Rayan chasing each other around the clearing, laughing freely. They're completely oblivious to what's going on.

"You survive," I tell him. "Find something and live for it. For yourself and for her."

Carlos looks at me, the edges of his irises turning silver. I felt as if Miriam was staring at me from the afterlife, silently begging me to save her.

I could smell the scent of something sweet baking and wildflowers, the sound of a woman's voice humming a folk tune.

I didn't really mind that he was using his powers on me. He wasn't Miriam, she was dead and Carlos was here.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I shake my head. "You have nothing to apologize for. I'm always going to be here."

—

Safia

Where was that stupid bench?!

Safia kicked a pinecone, watching as it skidded into the underbrush.

She hadn't meant to use that much force but she was still learning how to control her powers.

But it felt amazing. It was like moving a limb that had been asleep for far too long. The power surging through her veins felt euphoric. Safia felt like she could take off from the ground and fly through the clouds.

She kicked another pinecone.

She was only a few yards into the forest but it felt like the trees were closing in around her. She could Annette and Rayan bickering from here but the cabin was obscured.

It was quiet here.

Carlos would give her the stink eye if she didn't bring back the bench. She had no patience to deal with that. He would whine the whole week.

She walked further into the woods.

Something smelled strange. Like something had died.

Safia felt her boot slide as she stepped on a patch of ice. She fell backwards, hitting her head hard.

Safia stared up at the cloudy sky, her head aching. She got up slowly, feeling her back and neck protest. The back of her head felt painful, and throbbing when she prodded her fingers against her scalp.

She let out a hiss as reached back feeling for a bump. Her hand came out red.

For a moment she thought it was her blood but then she looked down at where she slipped.

It was only then that she noticed the pool of blood that she had landed in.

Safia stifled a gasp, stumbling back with her bloodied boots.

The bodies of two wolves lay on the ground. Their chests had been torn open and Safia could smell the scent of death from where she stood. They were long dead and the crows were circling above, cawing loudly.

Safia noticed one of the bodies was still moving. A great big silvery wolf with bloodied paws lay curled up at the base of the tree, its chest still moving.

She glanced back. She should go back. She should go and get Maya.

But it's almost dead. What can it do to her?

Safia formed a small bolt of electricity in the palm of her hand. She takes a step forward and recalls Maya's words.

It's all about control.

She takes a deep breath in and lets it out through her nose, watching as the sparks in her hand become small balls of light dancing between the tips of her fingers.

Good.

That's some progress.

Safia takes a careful step forward and raises her hand.