CHAPTER 1 - 'HOME'

*Trigger warning*

'Veronica, hey," Natasha greets me as I enter the building.

"Mhm," I reply as I pass her in a rush. Although looking back, I should've known I couldn't do that to the black widow.

Quickly she grabs my arm and held me back before inspecting my face.

"What's wrong?" she asks, just a snatch of motherly concern to be found in her voice.

"Let go," I order her quietly.

"Not until you tell me what's wrong," she answers sternly. I look at her.

"Do you really think that's how it works?" I ask her, my voice only a whisper; "We haven't talked for almost a week, Nat."

"I was on a mission. I told you that," she argues.

"I don't care. You don't just get to be the cute and fun auntie assassin who gives boy advice when you want to. Decide whether or not you guys want to be in my life, then get back to me," I add dryly before pulling my arm back.

"Is this what this is about? Your dad?" she asks. I look at the clock.

"It's 9:30, Nat. I've been gone for almost 20 hours. This is where parents are supposed to react," I explain.

I feel tears forming in my eyes, and decide to leave it. I turn around and go into the elevator, pressing the button to mine and my dad's floor.

To no surprise, I was home alone, which fitted me fine. I went into my room before realising I'd forgotten my hoodie at James. I go my bathroom and turn on the shower before stepping in fully dressed. I sink to my knees, finally allowing the tears to catch up. I lean myself against the cold tiles in there as I quietly sob.

How could I have done that.

I put my still wet hair in a messy bun and my hands in the pockets of my dolce sweats before heading down to the shared floor.

I enter as the elevator doors open and walk in to see earths mightiest heroes in an intense game of Twister.

"Hey kid," Steve greets before spinning the wheel; "Clint, hand green."

"Hey Steve," I reply as I let my body fall down in the couch.

"You're gonna fall," I inform Clint.

"Please, I am a trained assassin, I am no-"

That was how far he got in his sentence before falling over, knocking Natasha with him.

"Called it," I say proudly.

"You slept in today, huh," Natasha asked me while folding the mat. I roll my eyes at her hint.

"Actually, I should tell you guys... I broke up with James," I tell.

"Oh no, that's so sad!" Clint exclaim.

"Horrible," Natasha agrees.

"Oh shut up, we're not together anymore, just be honest," I advise them before rolling my eyes.

"Phew. Good one avoiding that one," Clint corrects himself.

"I never liked him," Steve agrees.

"You never like anyone I go out with," I point out in annoyance.

"Sure we do. I liked that.. What was his name? Peter?" Natasha asked, looking to Steve and Clint for help.

"Peter, yes, Peter Parker, I believe it was."

"But I didn't like Peter, yes, Peter Parker," I mocked before shaking my head; "It doesn't matter. I just thought you should know."

"Have you told your dad yet?" Steve asks as he sits down next to me.

"My dad? Right. I haven't even spoken to him since, what, last week?" I guess; "And that was only because we happened to be in the same room."

"You know he loves you," Clint argues.

"He doesn't know me. He once called me Vanessa," I argued.

"You should be flattered. It's a pretty name," Clint jokes before Steve sends him a death threat by the mere use of his eyes.

"I don't think he knows I dated James, to be honest," I admit, looking down at my comfortable pants.

"You haven't told him?" Natasha blamed.

"Oh, I told him, but at that point, he was very busy with his suit and all he said was 'Good for you, kid'," I mumble; "Anyway. I'm gonna go for a run."

"No, you're not," Steve quickly decides.

"What? I need exercise! It's healthy!" I argue; "For once, I actually want to do something healthy. You should be proud, really."

"You can use the gym," he suggests. I look at him.

"Don't you dare," he warns me.

"I'm not doing anything!" I argue angrily.

"No, I know you, you were about to do that thing," he claims.

"...No?"

"Fine. Gym. But you're bringing someone. Nat?" Steves' eyes seeks to Natasha, who was shaking her head.

"Can't. Meeting with Fury. Remember? All the Avengers are meeting," she added. Steve sighed.

"I'm gonna get Bucky to watch you."

"Bucky," I greet as I catch sight of him in the hallway.

"Hey Veronica. So, the gym?" he asks. I nod happily and start jumping my way down the hall.

"Hey, how come you weren't going to that meeting today?" I ask curiously as I open the door to the gym.

"Ah. I'm only an honorary Avenger. The meeting is for heroes," he explains as he closes the door behind us.

"Exactly why I'd expect you to be there," I mention before jumping excitedly and shaking my hands.

"Good one. Do you wanna try some fighting?" Bucky offers.

"See, this is why you're my favourite Avenger," I claim as I move to the mat and get my stand ready.

"Am I allowed to cheat?" I ask.

"Making use of your natural abilities isn't cheating, it's strategic," he corrects, causing me to smile.

"I make use of the fact that I'm an enhanced supersoldier as well," he jokes happily; "Now come on. Attack me."

Before I got a chance, an interruption appeared. I looked up at the door where Maria entered.

"Fury wants to see you. Meeting room 118," she explained before leaving just as quickly.

"Guess you gotta go." Bucky looked doubtingly between the door and me.

"I'm watching you, though," he argued unsurely.

"Then bring me," I suggested happily. He looked at the door again before nodding.

"Bucky, good to see you could join us. And... Veronica." Fury looked at Bucky who quickly started explaining and excusing while I found myself a seat in the back of the room.

"What is she doing here?" my dad asked Bucky.

"I was watching her when I got called in here and there wasn't anyone who could take over!" he apologised while I rolled my eyes.

"It's fine, Barnes. Actually, we meant to bring her in any way," Fury admitted.

"What? Why did you plan on bringing her in? She's not an Avenger," my dad argued; "I've always said she had no part of this. I don't want her to be a part of this!"

"Ohhh nooooo," I said sadly; "If only that would stop me!"

I looked at Natasha just in time to see her hide her smile.

"We've previously discussed the situation, Stark. We need all the help we can get. This isn't an easy enemy. We're even bringing in the twins," Fury explained.

"Ohh, the twins, that sounds intriguing. Do tell," I advised and rolled my chair to the oval meeting table.

"Do not, she's a kid!"

"She is 17. Nearly legal," I argued.

"Stark, we've been planning on recruiting her," Fury told honestly.

"You have?!"

"You have?" I asked in a chorus with my dad, who continued with a 'Why?'.

"Her abilities could easily prove practical. She's an asset, and she's not being used," Fury explained reasonably. My eyes widened.

"Her what?"

"When he says abilities, he means my abilities to breakdance. I'm an excellent breakdancer," I quickly lied. Steve facepalmed and Natasha once again looked away to hide her smile.

My dad finally looked at me.

"Your abilities? What are they talking about, Veronica?" he asked me in all seriousness.

"They're not talking about anything, because they all promised they wouldn't," I accused and looked at my friends.

"Wait, you guys all know?" Tony Stark accused his friends and looked between them, his glace shifting between them and me.

"Someone better start talking and tell me what the hell is going on," he warned angrily. He looked to his me again.

"Veronica?"

"I..." my eyes went down.

"They're talking about this," I admit as I take my hands out my pocket.

"Throw me something," I order. He looks at me blankly.

"Just do it, Tony," Natasha advises. My dad looks at her, taking her word for good (unlike mine) and grab a pen from the table. He gently tosses it to me.

As it flows through the air, I lift my hand instinctively and freeze it.

"You have powers?" he asked me quietly.

"Well, it's hardly a power. I just kind of... Freeze things in the time they're in. When I let that go it'll go where it's supposed to be," I admit.

I collect my fingers in a fist before opening my hand at once, the pen suddenly lying on the table near me. 

He looks coldly at me.

"You... You have powers?" he asks quietly, now staring directly at me. I nod slowly.

"Little bit," I admit.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks, looking almost... Hurt?

"When should I have, dad? When did we last have a proper talk?" I ask quietly, not looking away from his piercing eyes.

"You could've talked to me. Like I expect you to if something like this were to happen," he adds.

"No, I couldn't, because every time you look at me, you see her. And while I honestly couldn't care less about looking like some drug addict who got knocked up and didn't want a kid, I can see it on you. Even looking at me hurts you. I disgust you," I inform, tears forming in my eyes. I quickly wipe my cheek.

"And that's fine. Because I might not have a mum or dad, but I have a family." I look to Steve who sends me a comforting smile.

"I have Steve, who's practically my dad. I have my weird survival uncle who lives in a cabin in the woods with just his gun and doesn't trust the government." I smile to Bucky who looks annoyed at my description.

"I have Auntie Assassin over there, who's always been ready to help me if I needed to know how to beat someone up. And if I needed to take a more calm approach, or needed help with my homework, or someone to talk to or even someone to braid my hair, I've had Bruce."

"And I have Clint, too. And Laura, and Cooper and Lila and even Nathaniel even though he doesn't do much but pull hair yet, which I'm honestly not too fond off but he's still part of this family. My family. I would include Thor, but he's not as much family as a family friend also he's like a thousand, so he'd have to be my great great great granddad. Which would be cool because that'd make The Allfather my great great great great granddad."

How cool would that be though?

"But that's not the point. I told my family. I've told my friends. I had no reason to tell a stranger I just happen to share a name with," I state while boldly looking into my dad's eyes.

"Now, you must enjoy your meeting. Fury, you can get back to me so we can further discuss this in private, as I will retire to my room now," I state as I stand up and turn my back to my dad.