Beginning Again...
***NEXT MORNING***
"Where is she?" Natasha asked as she stepped through the door.
"Eating breakfast." He spoke quietly. "Tread carefully. She is on edge. She had a gun next to her and pointed it at me when I walked in to wake her up for breakfast this morning."
"Eh, it's second nature to her, it's fine. So, what's her name again?"
"Veronika Preston, she's 14, turned that last month, and that's all she's shared in depth." he started walking towards the hallway to the dining room.
Natasha walked with him when she saw at the end of the hall at the dining room a girl eating pancakes. She was basically eating like she'd never eaten before, and with Natasha's knowledge it's basically like that in that place.
"Are those my pants?"
"Only thing I could find on short notice sorry. I mean you left them for "just in-casers" this was one of those."
She shrugged and chuckled. "Let's meet her."
Steve nodded and walked ahead of her and looked at Veronika.
"Hey kid, there's someone here I want you to meet." Steve said and Veronika looked at him. Her mouth was full, from having just taken a bite, and her black and white hair was braided and tied back to keep syrup out of it.
"Who is it?" Her mouth full, making her accent sound funny.
"Just someone who's also in your corner, kid." Nat stepped into the room as she spoke.
The girl just stared, once she swallowed, she exclaimed, "Natasha Romanoff!" She stood quickly. Natasha tilted her head. "Wow, have you already talked about me Steve?"
"What- I-"
"No. I knew about you...they talked about you a lot; you were the first...only, well before me I guess, to escape."
Natasha sighed, she thought she'd taken down the Red Room. But this girl proves she didn't, and that broke her heart. She looked at her eyes and the way the girl stood.
She's about 5'4, her hair is black with white streaks, it's also pretty long. Her facial structure was taught, eyes green, with dark circles under them. Her skin was pretty pale. But other than that, she seemed to be in pretty great shape.
"They put you through a lot didn't they," she went up closer to her and saw the scars on her face and tilted her head. Looked down and saw some scratches on her arm. Natasha sighed.
"Well, I mean I was favored a bit, but pushed harder." she just shrugged. "How did you escape so easily?" she didn't like attention to her, liked being in the shadows of someone's thoughts. I mean she was used to that, that was her job. Maybe it's a bad habit but she had to.
"Had a little help. Wasn't easy but Barton helped me."
"Barton?" She asked, her accent making it come out weird.
"Our other friend, he's usually called Hawkeye." Steve answered.
"I've heard that term, the Hawkeye, another assassin, yes?"
"Usually." Nat smirked with a shrug.
"Is he going to help too?"
"Well, maybe it's best to keep you on the down low, you've been through a lot already." Nat reasoned.
"We just want you to feel safe before you meet more of our friends. Is that okay?" Steve asked.
Veronika shrugged. "It's fine with me. Now excuse me, I still have food." She looked at her pancakes and sat again eating them happily.
***
After breakfast Nat sat with her in the room Steve gave her. Nat wanted one on one time to figure out what happened to Veronika, so she just sent Steve to the store so they could talk.
"Okay so you were raised in the Red Room but not your whole life? They still have the family unit programs going?"
"No, I was never in a "family unit". But I... I was somewhere before they took me back in."
"Can you tell me where they had you Veronika?"
She sighed, "A place called HYDRA, they were working together on me and a few other girls, but they all died...I was the only one left. The power was too much for them, too malnourished I guess." She looked at the floor.
"So, you're truly a tough one. I'm sorry you went through this."
"It's not like you caused it. He just wanted certain ones in the top ranks. And I happened to be one of those ones." She sighed.
"What did they do to you in HYDRA?"
Veronika raised her eyes to look at Nat.
If she told them about her powers, what would happen? I mean they're Avengers, right? They won't just give her back, right? Everything in her head screamed not to trust her, or anyone for that matter, but one part of her wanted to.
"If I tell you, you won't send me back?"
Nat looked at her tilting her head sympathetically.
"No, I won't send you back, Steve and I will make sure you don't have to go back. I promise." Nat looked at her eyes.
Veronika nodded, trusting the thoughts she read.
"They tested on me. Gave me some abilities...when I was four...they were-" she took a breath and put her hand out in front of her. "Just watch." She said to Nat, Nat paid attention. Staring at the girl's hand when a small moon and stars in purple and blue clouds swirled around her palm, Veronika put her other hand above it and made it bigger. Then stretching her hand to the ceiling, the stars and moon went across it.
Natasha's jaw dropped, she smiled as she watched.
"Lots of practice huh?" Natasha joked.
"You have no idea." She closed her fist shadows came over the purple and blue clouds. Then trickled to Veronika's hands and suddenly it swallowed her, she vanished and while she was hidden Veronika moved to a corner.
"Veronika? Veronika! What is that?!" Natasha got worried standing up and that's when she heard a laugh and suddenly Veronika was standing there again.
"Sorry miss Romanoff. That is one of my favorites. Easy to sneak up on people. That's why he sent me, to get more use and tricks out of us." She said, sounding sad at the end. "But also, I have those, telekinesis, telepathy, manipulation of sleep and dreams, I can materialize the stars into daggers as well, leaves less of a trace." She sighed, "A lot, I know he just wanted us unbeatable."
Natasha tilted her head.
"Well, these powers are a hell of something, and you're incredible with them. But the question is, what do you want to do with them?"
"I don't want to hurt people, I remember what it does. I don't want that anymore."
Nat knew that feeling well. That's why Barton helped her. She gave Veronika a smile.
"I understand where you're coming from. So, here's another doozie. How would you feel about helping people with your powers, your skills?"
Veronika tilted her head. Help people, switch a whole new leaf.
"How?"
"Well, Steve and I can train you here...keep you secret, teach you about the world to help you. Just for a while longer so it's not too much. But, how would you like to be an Avenger?" Nat asked. "Once we've set you up and you're ready for the task, of course. But I'll teach you, Steve and I will take care of you. What do you think?"
Veronika stared in disbelief. Her being an Avenger? A hero...?
"You think that would be okay...? Can I do that?"
"You escaped the Red Room, by yourself, and kid, that isn't an easy task. You also have abilities to help people. I think you would be a fantastic addition to the team. I also wouldn't be the only girl anymore." She smirked, nudging Veronika's arm a bit.
Veronika laughed at the joke. A genuine laugh, had she ever had one of those before? Eh not really, but maybe this was her chance to prove she isn't a monster...that she isn't what they made her into.
"When, where and how do I start?"
***BROOKLYN ALMOST A YEAR LATER, 2015***
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Was the rhythm of her swings at the bag.
She had been at this for thirty minutes, but it was pent up nerves as everything flowed through her mind.
Veronika has been with Steve and Natasha for almost a year, it's currently the end of April. They have taught her how to focus her power into what she wanted. Figuring it hadn't been that way during her years at the places she'd been trapped in.
For six months they've been teaching her about the outside world, how to be a teen again, in a way. Basically, they've just been her support system; physically, socially, and emotionally.
They've had six months of just taking care of, training, and teaching her, readying her to meet the rest of The Avengers. Thor was supposed to be coming the day after tomorrow, so they decided together that'd be the day to introduce her. That's what scared her.
But while they'd waited, they just wanted her secure beforehand. Gave her some things she missed as a kid; Nat learned stuff to tell her about her generation. They even set up days for like movie nights, Steve almost always picking old 40's movies. Veronika didn't mind, she liked them usually and thought they were fun. Nat picking action and some romcoms so that Veronika could see what her generation was into. They were kind of funny.
When they did these, she couldn't help but compare it to the Red Room. They taught her how to kill, how to blend.
But this was all new.
Before this, Veronika never knew what having a family was like. She had a "family", but they were never that to her... But, with Steve and Natasha, part of her felt like the two had become just that. She wondered if they felt the same.
And yes, I said "Wonders if". That's because the young girl of nearing fifteen, by the end of the week, vowed off the use of her powers on them, after she caught Steve thinking about something she promised to never discuss (he was thinking about Natasha).
She laughed to herself remembering it as she hit her bag.
"Ver?" The nickname they'd both called her. "You almost done? Your waffles are ready." Steve's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
She paused her movements. "Yeah, thanks, I'll be right there Mr. Rogers." She sighed; a bit tired you could hear it in her accent. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. She looked at her stand where her towel was and using her powers brought it to her. She wiped her sweat off and grabbed water and left the room to where Steve was with her breakfast. Veronika smiled as she took her plate. "Thank you."
"No problem kid. Did punching that bag help you clear your head?" He knew she usually did that first when she needed to think things through. It's been a short time together, but they all knew each other's systems.
They told her that is the best way to build trust. Trust, not her strongest suit still but they're getting there.
"You could say that." She shrugged as she started eating. "Is Ms. Romanoff coming today?"
"Yeah, she'll be here in an hour. And kid you can call us Steve and Nat. We've been around each other long enough for the first name basis."
Veronika nodded. "Okay, if that's what you want then sure. Is Natasha coming today, Steve?" she asked, rephrasing her words, making her accent sound a bit more perky and happy, and he laughed.
"You're a funny one Veronika."
She shrugged, "it's a gift." She smirked as she ate some more.
Her and Steve talked when they heard the door open, and slam shut.
"Wow you came early I thought-" Steave started but Nat cut him off.
"Steve, I have to tell you something." Natasha said urgently. He stood and went over to her.
"What is it?" He asked, and she pulled him away from Veronika. The girl raised a brow as they walked away and moving quietly followed. Hiding behind the wall to listen.
What can I say? She likes to be in the loop.
"Tony found another HYDRA base, with very high defense, and he thinks they may have Loki's scepter. But we have to go pronto. Thor is already at the tower."
"Where is it?"
"A place called Sokovia. It's a pretty small country."
"Okay, wait what about Veronika though? We can't just leave her here by herself, for who knows how long."
Natasha sighed and looked at the ground.
"Well...you might not like this, but I think it's time the team meets her."
Veronika's stomach dropped.
Meet The Avengers? Earlier than expected...
Well at least she had time beforehand.