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5. 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯

The room was dark, filled with pipes and a stench of something awful, something burning. I can see myself running through the small hallway of pipes, saw two people fighting, one of them looks like they were trying to stop the other one from stabbing them.

My hand touched the cold metal and gasp as the one who tried so hard to fight to stay alive was stabbed through the chest, the two were just staring At each other. I felt like everything was taken from me. I had to wake before this became real. I need to wake up.

I never sat up so fast, holding my scream in because I didn't want to let it happen. Steve was still asleep, facing me. I wiped the sweat off from my forehead. Taking a couple of breathes before I headed downstairs to the kitchen.

I opened the cabinet to pull out some wine, how else am I gonna calm down. It was still dark outside, didn't even pay any attention to what time it was. I made my way to the sofa, bringing my legs to my chest, trying to stay awake by staring at the dark wall of photo frames.

This hasn't happened in years, what was going to happen? I had to get this off my mind, I don't want this to happen. Why now?

The sun was peaking through the blinds, how long was I sitting here for? My head was pounding but hid it as I heard the kids coming downstairs with Steve.

"Morning mom!" The kids yelled as they tossed their backpacks to the side and started to eat. Steve caught how spaced out I was and headed to me.

"Doll?" I snapped out of it and stood up. "You okay? You weren't in bed." His tie was undone and I fixed it. I avoided the question.

"Im fine." I smiled as I patted his chest and made my way to the kitchen. He frowns, but walks behind me.

"Oh! Mom, im going to hang with Morgan today, so im going to stay with them for dinner." Nat mumbled as she shoved cereal in her mouth.

"That's fine, just be back home by 10." Steve told her and she nods. Tony stares at me because he knew something was wrong.

"Tony!" I said to make him stop. "Remember that you have practice today after school so ride with Nico and Ill pick you up."

"I'll get my bag then." He runs back upstairs. There was a honk outside and Natalie looks at her phone.

"Well, thats me. Bye!" She didn't hug us or anything and was gone like that. Steve and I didn't even get to see who was here to pick her up.

"Crystal-" i kissed him before he finished. I really didn't want to talk about it, honestly.

"I have it under control." I kissed him again.

"Ew, please can we go?" Tony taps his foot as he covers his eyes. I handed Steve his case.

"We'll talk later." He places another kiss on my cheek and oats Tonys back and left. I dropped my head and sighed. I rubbed my temples and sat back in the couch and stared at the picture of me and my dad.

He played it off when he was dying, and I didn't know until later. It was because he didn't want me to worry. I can't even get it together for 5 minutes.

FRIDAY came in, scaring me. I held my hand over my chest.

"Reminder, go grocery shopping, submit latest project."

Lucky me. I scuffed my way upstairs, taking a shower. Every time I closed my eyes all I could see were the pipes and some how the smell of something burning. Its gonna one of those dreams, the 'I have to actually scream for it to happen'. Well, im guess I'm going to lose sleep.

I heard the door closed and saw Happy as I put on my purse. He waves and heads to the kitchen.

"You know Happy I can go by myself."

"I don't care, I promised your father I would take care of you." I didn't want to fight him. Happy Hogan, the most fun person to be with. "Lets go, I heard that traffic is bad." He opens the door for me and got in the car. The ride was silent, I trued to keep my eyes open. "I know that look."

"What look?"

"Your father used to have when something is bugging him." He looks at me as he stops at a red light. "So?"

"Just didn't get enough sleep." He hums.

"Another dream? Vision?" I nodded. He stayed quiet. We made it the store and Happy dropped me off at front. "Let me park, ill find you in a bit." I headed in and started shopping around. Snacks, food, drinks into the cart. As I looked up, I saw Nat. My blood boiled, she is supposed to be at school.

"Natalie Sarah!" I shouted. The look in her face. She turned white, reminds me of when Thor and I used to prank Bruce and when one prank went wrong, Banner skin started to turn green and Thor passed out. I left the cart and charged at her. "What are you doing here!" She looks behind me, waving her hand to let the person to leave. I turned back to see nobody. "You are in deep trouble young lady!"

"Its just-"

"I don't care! You're supposed to be in school, where it is safe! What if something happened to you?" Happy found us.

"Natalie, what are you doing here?" Nat crossed her arms and looks away.

"We're going home now, and when we get home, you and I will have a long chat." Natalie storms out of the store while the two of us tried to catch up with. "Natalie!"

"It was just this one time! God mom!" She turns around. "Why do you always have me on a short leash? Do I make you that worried? Am I that bad of a kid that you dont trust me? Or is it because you are scared that im going to turn into this evil thing, and thats why you and dad won't let me use my powers!"

"No! It's because you are my child! Everyone knows who you are and will hurt you to get to me. Do you-"

"Just because you had a shitty life, doesnt mean you have to make mine shitty too" Nat turns around and starts going to the car.

"Natalie!" I ran to her, just as I grabbed her arm, the car blew up. I quickly covered her and protected her from the debris. I slowly picked myself up and watch the car, the one I was just in, in flames. Happy ran to us, checking if we were okay. Who was targeting me now?

✩───────✩───────✩

Happy called Steve and Bucky and Sam went to pick Tony up from school, meeting us at home. The house packed, and a very upset Steve came in.

"Where are they?" Happy points at me in the living room. He dropped his stuff and ran to me, kneeling down, looking up at me. "Are you okay? Wheres Nat?"

"Natalie is upstairs in her room, shes fine, she just has a scratch." I ran my fingers through my hair. He holds my hand and sighs.

"What are we thinking?"

"HYDRA?" I gulped. Steve stares at me. "You know its true. We can't push it away."

"We don't know that for sure."

"We have to list out possibilities." We stood up as Bucky and Sam came in with Tony. Tony couldn't careless about the situation and just went to his room.

"Everyone safe?" Sam comes in and gives me a hug.

"Yeah, we're good."

"The kids can't go back to school, its too dangerous now." Bucky said.

"Lockdown? I cant keep my kids in here, it's a home, not a prison." The men looked at me. I lost it. "Whoever did this, I want that person dead. My kid goddamn it. She was right there!"

"Doll, why-"

"Dont you dare tell me to calm down Steve!" I shrugged him off and went to the bedroom. My head started to pound even harder. Not again. Can this day get any better?