Author Notes.. will start being posted at the bottom. So enjoy the chapter and then hopefully read what I have to say, haha.
In the days that follow after Camille learns of her impending relocation- Coulson, Barton, and Romanoff realize that the mutant's become more subdued and not as welcoming towards guests, and watch as she dejectedly pulls down all her drawings from the walls. But instead of every drawing being tossed or shredded, Coulson is quick to reappear with a binder and sheet protectors so Camille can keep the drawings she most likes.
Phil had then taken some more time to assure her that all would be okay living at Avengers Tower (Stark Tower, really), even going as far as inviting Clint and Natasha inside the room so they could tell her all about what living at the Tower was like.
They told her pretty much what Coulson told her about Stark but also informed her that more often than not, she'd find the man's shenanigans funny- just don't tell him that because it'll only inflate his ego. They also told her about JARVIS- the three agents mentally cheering when they realized she was intrigued by the AI and learning about everything it controlled in what was soon to be her new home for the mean time.
And when Coulson realized that Director Fury expected that Stark would willingly let them drop the mutant off with them and hadn't asked, he was quick to schedule an appointment with Ms. Potts who found some free time two days before Fury expected Camille to be relocated.
Since S.H.I.E.L.D's ground headquarters were in New York- well, at least this one- Clint and Natasha join Phil in an unmarked black SUV back to Stark Tower.
It's less than a twenty minute ride and when they make it inside the building, Phil's the only one who needs a visitor badge before he can follow Clint and Natasha into a private elevator. And since this meeting isn't really formal, the lot of them are meeting on the Communal floor of the building so they would all be comfortable with what Phil needed to tell them.
When the elevator opens up on the ninety-second floor, Phil can't help but be impressed. Sure he's surrounded by everything S.H.I.E.L.D has to offer but being in Stark's tower is by far better, though he'd never tell that to Tony's face. Where S.H.I.E.L.D is all muted colors and cold, Stark's tower is usually lit up and with Pepper's touch, everything seems warm and welcoming.
Though everything is very modern, from the stainless steel kitchen appliances in the kitchen and bar to the black, white, and chrome furniture in the sitting area, Phil thinks that this is a place where Camille can grow when his eyes also take in the flat screen TV above an unlit fireplace that's flanked by two built-in floor to ceiling bookcases filled with books.
There are no walls dividing the sitting area, bar, and kitchen- the floor being one big open expanse room with the only wall being that of the glass window that runs floor to ceiling along the side of the building giving off one amazing view of the city.
Pepper is the first to greet him- padding barefoot towards him in a loose beige sweater and jean shorts- a smile gracing her lips. "Phil! It's been too long," she says as she gives him a brief hug.
"Indeed, Ms. Potts," he chuckles, returning the embrace with one arm- his other holding onto a briefcase- before letting go. Clint and Natasha have already left his side, joining Steve and Bruce at the bar as they watch Tony shake himself up a drink. "Do you mind if we take a seat? I have some news that I don't think is going to sit well with you," he practically grimaces when Pepper frowns. "But please, keep an open mind. I need- S.H.I.E.L.D needs the help," he quickly corrects himself.
"Uh oh," Tony grins from his place at the bar. "This must be good if the suits need our help. Please, do continue."
Phil doesn't bother hiding the annoyed stare he sends at Stark, Pepper's frown faltering as she nods. "Yeah, sure. Come on," she says before leading him over to the others.
Phil gestures for Pepper to take the last remaining stool, he opting to stand near the end of the bar while placing the briefcase atop of said bar. "What's the damage, Agent," Tony smirks Phil's way. "What was so important that you called in for a round up?"
Phil takes a moment, eying each person sitting at the bar and assessing their composure. They're all rather a close-knit group and adding to that- especially when not having been asked for permission- could either be good or bad.
Natasha and Clint offer no help whatsoever so taking a deep breath, Phil tells them what's going on. "I know each and every one of you are aware about mutants being added to the list of weird that is every day life." There's nods all around so he continues. "But what you don't know is that a little over a month ago, agent Romanoff and I helped break up a anti-mutant kidnapping ring that was just in our backyard."
"They were being kidnapped, drugged, and put on display for other human's to ogle," Natasha finally speaks up with a sneer, earning a soft gasp from Pepper. "Others were murdered before we got there- murdered when these so-called extremists didn't deem them fit for entertainment anymore."
Steve and Bruce and both frowning as is Clint even though he knew all this, and Tony is the only one who's waiting for the reason of the meeting. "We sheltered the mutants down at Headquarters, let them clean up and fed them properly before contacting any families that we needed to. Others who didn't have family were assessed by therapists and released back out onto the streets though they're going to have a tail for a little while longer to make sure they stay out of trouble."
Sighing, Tony sets his empty tumbler down and leans forward on the bar. "This is great and all," he boredly interrupts. "But get to the point. Why are we all here?"
Phil, Clint, and Natasha all stare at Tony- Phil's stare boring the hardest before he reaches for his suitcase and opens it up. Pulling out dossier after dossier, he slides each person except for his two agents one and nods for them to open it up. "Meet Camille Saunders. Your new tower guest."
"Uh, excuse me," Tony immediately splutters. "I didn't sign off with S.H.I.E.L.D about taking in a new stray."
"I'm well aware, Mr. Stark," Phil nods in understanding. "But hear me out, will you?" Tony opens his mouth to protest but Natasha levels him with a glare that has him faltering in his slight anger. "As you can see, Camille Saunders is twenty-one years of age with no living family. She was one of the few mutants who had been held with the extremists the longest and she's the only one who we've yet to figure out."
"It says here that you don't know what her powers are," Steve says, his eyes scanning more of Camille's information. "Are you sure it's wise to let her live here with us? She could be a threat."
Pepper lays her dossier down, nodding along with the Captain though it looks as if it pains her to turn away someone.
"She's been under surveillance since we've rescued her," Phil admits. "She was assigned to me and I've been working with bringing down her walls. We know she used to speak, she just-"
"She was traumatized by a group of jealous woman who made her feel like shit just for existing," Clint deadpans. "If you need someone to vouch for her, I'll do it. I'll help keep her in line."
"As will I," Natasha says, standing straighter so she's taken more seriously.
Pepper's gaze darts between the two assassins, her bottom lip being chewed on nervously. "Well.."
"Does she know about us," Bruce suddenly blurts, closing the file he had and pushing it back towards Coulson. "Does she know who she's going to be in close quarters with?"
Tony looks down right scandalized that Bruce is already saying the girl's going to live with them and Phil can breathe just a little bit easier. "Yes, Doctor Banner. She was given her own files on every one of you though hers didn't hold too much personal information. She knows your names, job descriptions, and what floors she'll be able to roam freely without an escort."
"But does she know about-"
"She knows about the Hulk," Phil nods. "In fact, she was rather intrigued by your transformations. She watched every video she could find on the Hulk from the alien invasion."
"What," Tony suddenly yelps, all thoughts of not accepting the girl completely flying out the window. "Bruce is already her favorite?!"
Bruce actually blushes and Steve huffs a laugh before clapping his shy teammate on the shoulder.
Steve and Bruce are seemingly on board with whatever happens next- the two of them letting Pepper and Tony decide for them since it is their Tower. However, Tony's already muttering about trying to win the new girl over and Pepper's left alone with actually thinking everything over.
"I- I don't know, Phil," she frowns, still nervous about the unknown. "Are you sure this is the best place for her?"
"It will be," he assures her. "She's real gentle and has only started to be comfortable with Clint and Natasha. Given time, I think she'll open up to you and well, if anyone's going to get her to talk it will be this group," he says while gesturing to everyone standing around.
Tony suddenly stops rambling aloud his plans to win over Camille, a smug grin taking over his features and Pepper's near cracking. "If anything," Natasha suddenly jumps in, seeing Pepper's weak spot and clinging to it. "She'll be more scared of you than you are of her. She hasn't had a good experience with humans in the last three years so she won't bother you."
There's a moment of hesitation on Pepper's part and then her shoulders slump in defeat. "Excellent," Phil grins now, seeing no-one is going to put up a fight. "She'll be here in two days. Try not to overwhelm her when we get here."
Phil starts collecting dossiers and sliding them back in his briefcase but as he makes his way back towards the elevator, he notices that his two agents aren't following him. Turning on heel and raising an eyebrow at them, Clint shrugs.
"Nat wants to go shopping for Camille."
And turning to Natasha, she nods. "The girl needs a couple of outfits to choose from," she says. "She can't exactly wear S.H.I.E.L.D clothing while she stays here."
Phil completely understands so he leaves his two agents there, Pepper quickly finding some shoes so she can see Phil out of the building while asking him a few questions that she still has. And the moment both Phil and Pepper disappear behind the elevator doors, Tony rounds on the agents.
"So really, what's so special about this Saunders girl," he asks. "Out of everyone, I figured you two would have been the most worried and paranoid over a mutant who you have no idea what she can do."
Clint immediately looks to Natasha, the redhead's face closing off as she catches Tony's gaze. "You didn't see her like I did. You didn't see those vile women electrocuting her with a shock collar or see her cowering and whimpering in a cage when Coulson tried to free her."
"She's a good kid," Clint mutters when Natasha doesn't offer anything else up. "Just give her a chance."
Without another word, both of them leave Tony, Steve, and Bruce speechless at the bar while they go prepare for a shopping trip.
Clint and Natasha made good on their shopping trip, Natasha easily picking out a couple of outfits for the mutant that she would feel most comfortable in. And the only thing Clint picked out was a pair of purple and black Hawkeye socks that he found and nearly kept for himself but figured Camille would get a laugh out of them.
On the morning of Camille's moving day, Natasha and Clint showed up to her room with their bag of purchases, the both of them dressed in civilian clothing and leather jackets though where Clint's is black, Natasha's is brown.
The redheaded assassin quickly explained that S.H.I.E.L.D clothing would not be best to leave in, hesitantly handing over Camille's new clothing and smiling briefly as Camille took the bag and disappeared into the bathroom.
Several minutes later, the bathroom door opens and Camille steps out in a slouchy blue one-shoulder sweater that states What's Your Damage?, a black tank top underneath, and black leggings that stop above her ankle. The Hawkeye socks cover her feet and when Clint catches sight of them, he chuckles in victory only to have Camille stare at him with her best unimpressed stare that has Natasha finally chuckling.
Handing over plain black sneakers, Natasha watches as Camille slips her feet into them and then fidget with her hair.
"There's some hair products at the very bottom of your bag," Natasha tells her. "Some frizz relief that'll keep your hair looking sleek for the rest of the day if you want."
Camille eyes Natasha briefly- the redhead keeping her gaze steady and just realizing how the blue of the sweater brings out the blue of the mutant's eyes. Without so much as a peep, Camille goes back into the bathroom and comes out moments later with her hair combed and looking far more sleek and healthy than it had been looking for weeks- the bag of clothing and hair products hanging from her right hand.
"Alright, well, you ready to go," Clint finally blurts, clapping his hands rather loudly in the room.
Taking one last look around the room she'd been able to call home for the past month, Camille picks up a thick binder from her bed that has the drawings she was going to keep. Dropping it into her bag of clothes, she briefly nods and follows behind Clint who leads the way out of the room and lets Natasha bring up the rear.
Some agents stop and stare at the mutant that only a few had access to but Camille keeps her head hanging low so she doesn't catch anyone's gaze. She keeps her eyes glued to Clint's feet and only ever briefly feels a hand on her shoulder to steer her in the right direction when she's not really paying attention.
All too soon, Camille hears the bustling of the city around her, and then the fresh air hitting her face and ruffling her hair. As she chances a glance upward, she finds that she's being led to a blacked out SUV and stumbles in her steps.
"It's okay.. it's fine," Natasha instantly murmurs very close to her ear. "Agent Coulson is inside. This is just our ride to the Tower."
And before Camille can panic any more, the back door opens and Phil's smiling face greets her. "Ms. Saunders."
The mutant practically melts under Natasha's touch at seeing Phil, she easily climbing into the back seat of the SUV without much of a fuss and scoots towards the middle when she realizes Clint's jumped in the front with their driver and Natasha still needs a seat.
The drive to the Tower is tense and silent, and Camille grips her bag tightly in her lap. Since there's early morning traffic, it takes longer than expected to get to the Tower but once there, Clint and Natasha easily lead Camille and Phil to the private elevator without a need for visitor badges.
And as the elevator doors slide close after Clint punches the button for the 92nd floor, Camille watches as a small panel opens up beside the buttons and Clint then punches in a four-digit code.
Natasha digs out a yellow post-it note and hands it over to Camille after slightly nudging her shoulder. "The Tower isn't really called Avenger Tower," she clues her in as softly and gently as possible as to not spook her. "It's still Stark Tower and Stark Industries but we call it Avenger Tower since we live here. So this," she points out to her neatly printed handwriting. "Are what the floors hold."
Camille holds the tiny note between her forefinger and thumb, eyes scanning Natasha's handwriting and letting the redhead tell her what needs to be said. "Floors one through eighty-three are completely off limits- those floors belonging to Stark Industry employees. Floor eighty-four is the shooting range, eighty-five is Medical, and floor eighty-six is Stark and Banner's candy land- their labs in which only JARVIS will allow you access if granted." Camille nods, letting Natasha know she understands and that she remembers who JARVIS was from Coulson's earlier briefing. "Floor eighty-seven is a game room and library, floor eighty-eight is the gym, floor eighty-nine are guest rooms, and ninety and ninety-one house our rooms and apartments. Ninety-two is the communal floor where everyone hangs out, and ninety-three is Tony and Pepper's personal loft. Got it?"
"And if you're worried about people having access to our floors, don't," Clint chips in. Floors eighty-four through ninety-three are all personal floors and you need codes to access them." Camille turns wary eyes to Clint and the archer grins. "You'll get your codes soon enough. But until then, either Tasha or I will escort you to the places you can go."
Camille only has time to hesitantly nod before the doors are sliding open and JARVIS robotized voice greets her. "Good morning, Ms. Saunders, and welcome to your new home."
The mutant has no time to process JARVIS' words before Phil's gently pulling her out of the elevator with Natasha and Clint at her back. She also has no time to process what the floor looks like before she spots Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Bruce Banner, and Captain Steve Rogers making their way towards her.
She does, however, have time to hold her bag out in front of her- lifting it up so it shields her chest and acts as a barrier.
"Wow, you're not what I was expecting," Tony blurts and then smirks. "Nice hair-do."
"Tony," Pepper hisses, shoving her elbow into the man's ribs. Camille blinks rather owlishly at the willowy female and mentally grins at seeing Tony Stark grimace and mutter something about pointy elbows.
"Hello," the blonde CEO cheerily greets, regaining her attention. "It's so nice to meet you. Phil's told us much about you."
Pepper holds her hand out, waiting patiently for a handshake that suddenly has Camille's heart hammering against her rib cage. Since this morning, she's noticed that Phil, Natasha, and Clint have been more touchy-feely than usual but now that someone new is trying to shake her hand, she doesn't know how to feel about it.
Gulping, Camille's gaze lands on Pepper's hand and then up to Pepper's faltering smile before she chances a terrified look at Phil. "It's okay," he assures her. "Ms. Potts is perfectly safe."
"Oh.. oh my goodness," the blonde frowns. "I'm sorry. I forgot all about-" her hand falls and Tony's there to squeeze her shoulder reassuringly but Camille shocks everyone by hesitantly lifting her own hand and reaching forward for a shake as she stares on curiously and warily. Pepper eyes the mutant's hand before glancing at a grinning Phil and clasps the mutant's hand gently in her own. "I'm Ms. Potts," she then murmurs softly. "But everyone calls me Pepper."
Camille gives Pepper a shaky grin and then Steve steps closer to her. "Ma'am," he greets, he too holding his hand out for a shake that Camille hesitantly takes. "Feel free to call me Steve," he casually says before his mind catches up to his tongue, eyes widening slightly. "Or not," he grimaces before slinking off with a blush on his cheeks, and Natasha and Clint snickering at him.
Bruce Banner fidgets from foot to foot, he standing a little off to the side and making no move to shake her hand. He does offer her a tentative wave before his hand pulls off his glasses and he's left fidgeting with those. "W-welcome to the Tower," he tells her. "I apologize in advance for anything offending Tony might say or do."
That earns a solid slow smirk from Camille, Pepper and Steve grinning at seeing their interaction, and a squawk of protest from Tony. "I resent that," he says a little louder than necessarily.
As he moves forward, Camille spots a sleek black laptop that he's holding near his hip before her eyes slide up to meet his assessing gaze. "Agent's done told us you already know who we all are and we already know all about you so here," he says rather flippantly and shoves the laptop towards her. When Camille doesn't take it, Tony huffs. "It's only a laptop," he says and then shoves it in her hand so she has to hold onto it. "It's hooked up to JARVIS so anything you need, just click on J's icon and you can message him instead of asking aloud like everyone else."
Camille's eyes widen at Tony's thoughtfulness, her wariness and forced shaky grin now smoothing out into something more fond. "Wow, Stark, that was really nice of you," Clint says as Tony starts to feel uncomfortable under Camille's gaze.
"Yeah, well," he huffs as if it's no big deal. He stands back with his other teammates, Steve chuckling at him while Pepper's hand searches out his to squeeze as a job well done. When his eyes land back on Camille, though, they've taken on a rather mischievous glint. "So, Camille," he drawls. "What exactly can do you?"
Everyone suddenly groans and Camille visibly tenses, Clint muttering about that not lasting long, and Tony's grin widens into a smirk. "Can you talk to animals? Bend metal with your mind? Ooh, oh, how about read minds? Here, read mine," he blurts before falling silent, eyes boring into a now panicking Camille before waggling his eyebrows. "Nah, you can't read minds," he suddenly leers. "'Cause if you had, what I was just thinking would have had you blushing."
"Mr. Stark, can you not," Phil sighs.
"See," Steve smirks down at her. "This is why Banner apologized in advanced. He'll keep it up for about a week before calming down and forgetting all about it."
"No, but really," Tony jumps back in. "Can you run faster than the speed of light? Teleport? Are you secretly blue and covered in scales?"
"Alright, that's enough," Phil cuts off Tony's questions, positioning himself in front of Camille and turning to face her. He's quiet long enough to hear a slap of skin on skin contact and a muffled ow from Stark. Placing his hands atop her shoulders, he smiles down at her. "I really have to get back to Headquarters so this is where I leave you."
Camille's eyes widen, her shoulders tensing and Phil frowns. "I'll visit as often as I can and if not, Barton or Romanoff can give you my email. If anything's wrong, I'll come running." He smiles briefly at her, his hand coming up to curl her hair back behind her ear. "Fear not, Ms. Saunders. This isn't goodbye for good."
Phil takes one last moment to silently assure her that she's in good hands before glancing up at agent Barton- said agent clearing his throat. "Aright, Phil, time to go."
And with one last reassuring squeeze to her shoulder, Phil's stepping around Camille's tense frame and stepping back into the elevator with Clint who's apparently seeing him out. The second the doors close and the light indicates that the elevator is moving downward, Natasha steps in before things can get too awkward or scary for their new guest. "Guys, don't you have work to do?"
Tony opens his mouth to most likely protest but Pepper is quick to pinch his side and then start dragging him away all with a smile plastered on her face. Steve smiles politely before taking his leave and Bruce sheepishly rubs at the back of his neck before scampering off to wherever it was that Pepper dragged Tony off to.
When it's just Camille and Natasha standing there, the redheaded assassin actually slings her arm around Camille's shoulder and tucks her into her side. "Come along, little one, I'll show you to your room."
..
..
Once they had settled back into the elevator, Natasha pressed the button for the ninetieth floor followed by an access code and explained to Camille that her room was stationed on the same floor as Steve and Thor's. But since Thor was away for the time being, she'd be sharing a floor with only Steve, and that she and Clint were only a floor above her.
"You'll have your access codes by tonight," Natasha had told her just as they stopped outside the door at the end of the hall. "And today you get a freebie. Either Clint or I will be bringing your food here but starting tomorrow, you're expected to socialize on your own."
Natasha opens the door and Camille's treated to a room that was way larger than the one at S.H.I.E.L.D. The walls here are a cornflower blue and there's an actual queen sized bed with even darker blue sheets and numerous pillows sitting up against the headboard. It's pretty much the same layout as her other room, only she expects the closet and bathroom here to be a lot larger than what S.H.I.E.L.D gave her and there's beige carpeting beneath her feet.
There's also furniture in this room, two polished wood night stands standing on either side of the bed with a black and white lamp sitting on the left night stand. Two windows give off a spectacular view of the city- lacy white curtains being tied open to give off said view- a polished wooden chest of drawers stands to her right in the corner of the room, and to her left sits yet another polished wood piece of furniture- this being a desk and a very cozy looking desk chair.
"The bathroom is through that door over there," Natasha points to the door to their right. "And it's every bit as fancy as Stark could make it so have fun messing around with whatever buttons you find in the shower stall." Camille gulps with wide eyes, her eyes scanning over anything and everything as she stumbles up to her bed and sets the bag in her hands down before moving over to her desk and setting down the laptop. "We purposely gave you only a room and not an apartment like everyone else because you're supposed to socialize here. Like I said before, you get a freebie today but starting tomorrow, you're expected to be on the communal floor if you want to watch TV or make yourself something to eat in the kitchen."
Camille breathes shakily, her knees feeling a bit weak after all that's happened since she woke up. Pulling out the desk chair, she takes a seat and Natasha sinks into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. "I'm going to be honest with you here, Cam." The nickname catches Camille's attention instantaneously. "We don't know how long you're going to stay with us. If it were up to Fury, he'd have set you loose on the world again since he's interviewed all the other mutants already but Phil's gotten attached. Hell, if I'm being honest you, Clint and I have gotten attached as well," she shrugs.
"You'll be staying until we deem you fit which means until you start talking and start living life like you used to before you were taken. We're going to help you get back on your feet, Saunders, and if you're lucky, you might just find yourself your own apartment here if you can put up with Tony's taunting."
Camille nods so Natasha knows that she understands, feeling a bit of relief that she wasn't really being kept by S.H.I.E.L.D anymore but rather just being kept so they knew she was okay. "You have everything you need plus more when you need it. As Stark said, your laptop is hooked up to JARVIS' system so you can type to him instead of talk as is your new tablet that's sitting in one of the drawers." Camille's eyes widen at Natasha's words, the redhead grinning back. "They're welcome to the tower presents. When the others found out you like to draw, Stark made it so you can sketch electronically and if not, then Steve purchased several sketch books and drawing utensils. They're scattered in the drawers of your desk."
Camille's eyes now suddenly water and Natasha chuckles at the reaction. "Those better be happy tears," and at Camille's brilliant answering smile, Natasha relaxes.
Maybe the Tower would do the mutant some good.
Thank you to everyone who left a review for the previous chapter to let me know that you were reading :) Since I know you people are reading, I will continue this. Sadly, though, I'm going to keep spacing out the updates. Sorry!
And about this chapter, I'm very aware that Fury just wouldn't let go so easily but for my fics, I mellow out the characters. If that's not your cup of tea, I'm terribly sorry but that's how I'm comfortable writing. But fear not, Fury's not totally over not knowing just what it is Camille can do. He'll still be getting updates from Coulson and then when Camille finally does show them her talent, well then he'll of course bring her in to make sure she's not actually a threat after learning what she can do.
What do you guys think little Ms. Camille can do? You can guess all you want but you'll just have to wait for the answer.
Check my polyvore for Camille's outfit. Link's up on my profile!