Chapter 4
The upper floor of the barn, above the hayloft is my little sanctuary. I put up the old couch alongside the open window along with a desk and chest. Dad even got me a telescope for my birthday one year and I set it up in the corner of the window, spending many nights just looking up at the stars and thinking about what went on up there. When Skye came along it became our place. Our favorite spot to hang out, talk or just spend some quiet time doing whatever we each wanted to, but with welcomed silent company. Then she left and it became my own little Fortress of Solitude for a while.
My real one is beginning to take shape in the Arctic.
I was sitting on the couch when I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Looking over I smiled warmly as I saw Natasha come up and take an appreciative look around.
“Nice little space you got here. Even comes with a view.”
“Yeah. I used to come up here a lot as a kid. Then I had to share it with Skye, but I didn’t really mind. It’s a place to get away from everything and just relax.”
“I can understand that,” Natasha nodded as she went and leaned over the window, looking out at the endless green fields and clear sky. A soft smile on her face as she looked over her shoulder at me.
I got up and moved over to join her, leaning side by side, shoulder to shoulder. She slowly reached out and took one of my hands, entwining our fingers as I felt her warm calm presence flow through the bond. She was pumping out soothing vibes and reassurance.
“Have you been listening to what’s been going on since you left?”
“No,” I answered shaking my head, “I can tune things out a lot better these days than when I was a kid. Why?”
“Your sister tore in to Fury about making you relive the loss of your dad. That given how SHIELD treats gifted or powered individuals, it’s no wonder you decided to stay in the shadows for as long as you have,” she explained with a smirk, “Coulson and May were a bit shocked at the way she laid it out to him, how everyone on the Index is reduced to a serial number and description of what they can do. She even went so far as to remind him of another organization that reduced a person to just a number.”
“She didn’t,” I breathed shocked.
“She did,” Nat nodded, her smirk turning in to a proud smile, “She didn’t come right out and say it, but we all got it. Especially Steve. He wanted to hear more about this Index list and if he and the rest of the Avengers are on it.”
I shook my head at my sister, not at all surprised at her rallying to my side and defending me so fiercely. I had to look out for her at school when she first came to live with us, showing her the ropes and introducing her to all the teachers and everything. She was quiet and did her work, even made a few friends. Then she saw the way everyone looked and treated me, and that was before she knew the truth about me. She didn’t like it and was very vocal about it. Telling everyone they should be so lucky to have someone like me as a friend looking out for them. As time wore on it got upgraded to sister. From that day till she left it was me and Skye versus the world. I had her back and she had mine and that was good enough for us.
“Clint and I aren’t on the Index. We’re still technically considered agents more than full time Avengers. But that can change any time we want. We reminded Fury of that. Steve even said he might have to rethink signing up with the strike team Fury had planned for him to work with.”
“I don’t want you guys getting in trouble cause of me,” I told her.
“Believe me, you’re worth it,” Natasha replied warmly.
I blushed a little and looked out the window. Nat leaned in closer to me, pumping out more warmth and giving me a physical reminder of her earlier words. That no matter what she wanted to be with me. Going with the moment and feelings, I laid my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes. A moment later I felt her place a kiss to the top of my head before resting her head against mine.
“I’m guessing there’s more going on in your life than just finding out about your history. Like where you got that amazing suit from.”
“From Jor-El at my other little hideaway,” I laughed, “What about you? When do I get the exclusive on Natasha Romanoff…Romanov? How do you pronounce much less spell your last name?”
Natasha laughed, but I could feel from her body and the bond she was suddenly very nervous about something.
“Either way works, depending on what file you read. My one from SHIELD as an agent. Or the one from my time in the Red Room, the place that trained me and turned me in to the Black Widow. Turned me in to an assassin first, spy second.”
I could see now why she was a little nervous and anxious to tell me about herself. Her past sounds way more intense than mine. Different in a lot of ways, but with a hint of familiarity. She’s an orphan too. With skills that she gained and didn’t always use for good. Until she had a reason to.
“They tried to condition me, along with any of the other girls that carried a soulmark, to kill their bondmate once they said their words to us. But they underestimated the power of the bond. Even if it isn’t fully formed yet…just the presence of it and seeing her there was enough for me to resist it,” Natasha continued softly, though her smile returned there at the end.
“I take it you’re referring to the first of our bond you met?”
“Yeah. It happened shortly after New York, before Thor left to take Loki back to Asgard. He promised once that was done and his work repairing the damage to the other realms was wrapped up he’d come back. Dr. Jane Foster has a lab at the Tower now because of her relationship with Thor. She brought her intern/best friend with her and when we crossed paths…”
“Wait a minute! Our bondmate is an intern?” I laughed.
“She considers herself more as a scientist wrangler/care giver. But…yeah. She is technically an intern. Just don’t call her that to her face. She likes to remind everyone that she brought down Thor with a Taser,” Natasha laughed with me, though there was a warmth and fondness in her eyes that flowed through the bond, telling me how special this person is to her.
“Can’t wait to meet her.”
“Kara,” Natasha began turning to face me, still holding my hand and looking at me seriously, “I know we have a lot to learn about each other still. That we have some things to figure out moving forward. I just hope whatever you decide to do now that you’ve outed yourself as Supergirl, you know I’ll support. Even if it means you don’t come and live with us. Just know we want you to and will respect whatever you decide.”
Wow. She wants me to live with her and our other bondmate. That’s a pretty big step considering we’ve only just met and this is the most time we’ve spent together so far, little own talked. I still haven’t figured out what I’m going to do moving forward. Haven’t really had the time to give it much thought. It’s just been one big reveal after another so far. I mean…
“Hey,” Uncle Clint called out from the bottom of the steps, “Hate to break this up, but we got a situation brewing out here you need to hear about.”
See what I mean.
“Just think about it. I know you got a lot on your plate already, and I hate adding to it. But…you know,” Natasha said, waving her hand between us.
“Yeah, I know,” I replied leaning in and stealing a kiss, knowing that even though we just met I don’t really want to be apart from her either. But one thing at a time.
***
We made it out to see Skye at the picnic table tapping away on her laptop with May and Phil behind her going over whatever she was doing. Steve is dressed for combat and Fury looks to be having a very calm yet clearly aggravating phone call. Mom was on the porch with Laura, clearly keeping an eye on the kids and making sure they didn’t come outside.
“What we miss?” I asked looking down at Skye.
“We found out what caused the power outage. Looks like Justin Hammer is at it again,” Coulson answered shaking his head.
“I thought he was in jail because of what went down at the Stark Expo?” I questioned.
“He was, but then he got out. His lawyers managed to prove some rogue elements in his company acted without his knowledge or authorization. Unfortunately Vanko killed them so they couldn’t argue against the fact,” Natasha answered bitterly.
“He’s been under scrutiny ever since. He lost most of his military contracts, but still has enough to earn him certain favors. Rumor has it he’s also suppling hardware to private security firms as well,” May added.
“Ok. So the guy still makes his money selling second rate guns. What does that have to do with what happened today?”
“Apparently he didn’t learn his lesson trying to copy Stark’s ideas. He wanted to make a better drone that doesn’t require remote piloting. Just program in a target along with orders and it’ll take care of the rest,” Skye began, turning her laptop for me to see a remolded raptor drone that looks like a mini fighter jet. “This thing carries enough fire power to level a small country. High velocity guns, hell fire missiles just to name a few of its weapon systems. The main sell is it carries a modified EMP generator, capable of temporarily knocking out the enemy’s tech long enough for it to strike without being detected.”
“Kinda like what happened here,” I stated more then asked.
“Exactly like what happened here. Only Hammer didn’t know the range on the thing could encompass said small country or in this case half a state,” Skye finished, taking her laptop back.
“That’s really his defense,” Natasha scoffed.
“According to his lawyers it is,” Fury sighed coming over to join us, “Apparently he misinterpreted the range when demonstrating the EMP for his buyers. It apparently slipped his mind Stark’s new shuttle was set to fly over the practice field for both drones.”
“Both?” we all asked in unison.
“There was a second drone flying with the one that took out the Genesis flight,” Fury told us rubbing at the back of his neck, “And it gets worse. The shielding for the other drone malfunctioned and it went off script. It flew off on its own, just now crashing in to a military facility here in Kansas.”
“Not…not Fort Kirby?” Uncle Clint breathed.
“I’m afraid so.”
Fort Kirby is a small military run research facility and weapons depot. Not one of the military’s largest and more important facilities mind you. Except for the fact that is also home to a small nuclear power facility that is thankfully far enough away from the guns to not raise any red flags. But if this thing crashed anywhere near the base it could mean serious trouble.
“What’s the situation?” Steve asked, going in to soldier mode.
“They just now got power back. Fires are broken out all over the base and research areas. Many first responders are still busy with clean up from the plane, but what units they can spare are on route. But it doesn’t look good. Base suppression teams and medical personnel are all they have to work with for now I’m afraid.”
“How long would it takes us to get there in the SUV?”
“Too long,” Fury sighed.
“Only if you drove there,” I countered before looking to Natasha. “You got your gear in there too?”
“Yes.”
“Sadly I left mine in our other car,” Uncle Clint chuckled sadly.
“That’s okay. I think Laura’s worried about you enough for one day,” Natasha assured him before looking to me, “Can you really carry that thing with Steve and me in it?”
“I held up a twelve story building one handed. What do you think?”
“I think you better go get changed,” Natasha shot back before going to the SUV and slipping in the back. The tinted windows gave her plenty of privacy to change in peace. But if I really wanted to get a look at her…
“Hey! Hey,” Skye shouted snapping her fingers at me, “Don’t even think about it.”
I narrowed my eyes at her and ran off to once again suit up. When I got back Steve was wrapping up a talk with Fury before looking at me, dressed in a similar color scheme to him and smiling appreciatively at me.
“I really do like your suit,” he told me with a bright smile.
“Back at you,” I laughed, looking to mom and smiling softly at her. She just nodded at me, understanding this is something I have to do.
“I’ve cleared your involvement with the military onsite. They welcome any help the Avengers can provide,” Fury told me.
“But I’m not an Avenger.”
“Today you are,” Steve declared looking right at me, “And if you want to be one permanently, consider it done.”
“What about Stark and the others?” I asked worriedly.
“Stark didn’t think you were real. I did. That money you saw changing hands was me winning the bet. I think it’s safe to say he’ll be okay with you joining up,” Steve answered with a warm smile.
“And if not Skyenet can always pay him another visit,” Skye declared, earning a few curious looks from everyone but me, already witnessing her playing hacker against SI’s systems and its AI watchdog numerous times.
“Ok then. Today I’m an Avenger. Tomorrow…we’ll work out the rest,” I said holding out my hand to Steve. He nodded and shook it firmly, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
“Ready whenever you two are,” Natasha called out from the back window.
We nodded and Steve went over, getting in back on the other side while I moved to the rear. I waited till I got confirmation they were strapped in before lifting up the back end of the SUV. Getting a better grip underneath it, I lifted it up over my head so I could move in to the center of it. Pushing off the ground slightly, I adjusted my body so that I was lying straight. With the SUV resting on my back. It was a little awkward but it worked. I had a firm hold on the bottom to keep it level as I began flying us in the direction of the base as fast as I could.