A/N: ...Anyone still out there? I know, I haven't updated in 3 weeks! I just got home late last night from a trip with my family that we had been on for two weeks. I meant to post this chapter up with the announcement of my absence before we left, but I got caught up in major trip prep in the days leading up to when we left. We went to Europe, so there was a LOT of prep to be done. :D But I'm really sorry about abandoning you guys like that!
I'm still, even three weeks later, on the fence about this chapter. We will finally be tackling the serum's effects on Maggie. There will be an explanation of it at the end in an Author's Note. Also, there's something in this chapter that could be seen as copying another author on here, which I promise is not the case. There will also be an explanation of how/why in the bottom A/N.
Thanks for the faves, follows, and reviews. :3 You all are one of the best things to happen to me!
"Uncle Clint, I am so sorry!" The ten year old apologized again.
"Kid, it's okay, I'm okay." Clint Barton reassured her, shaking out his hand. "It's not your fault."
"Yes it is! I hurt your hand..." Maggie fussed, reaching out to grab his hand, but then quickly pulled her hands back, fearing she might hurt him again.
"Mags, it's not your fault the serum is affecting you in these little episodes. They're just growing pains."
"But it's supposed to be my pain, not yours!"
"Kid." Clint tried to reach out to her.
"No, don't touch me!" She snapped, stepping back. She then immediately looked guilty for her outburst, and met his eyes sadly. "I'm sorry..."
"Maggie... Maggie!" Clint called after her as she hurried out of the room. He sighed in frustration.
Tony had walked in at the end of the conversation from the other side of the room. "Legolas, what happened?" He asked curiously.
"Mags had another serum... Thing. Where she accidentally used too much strength while doing something. My hand was the victim." Clint explained.
"Ouch. So that explains why she's so upset." Tony said.
"Yup. She thinks she's just gonna hurt us now." The archer sighed.
"Should we talk to her?" Tony asked.
"I think we should let her cool off for a while." Clint replied. "Or else she might immediately push us away when we try to talk to her."
Tony nodded. "I'm gonna talk to Bruce, tell him what happened." Bruce acted as a secondary pediatrician to Maggie to monitor her for signs of the serum.
"Yeah, that would be good." Clint nodded in agreement.
Maggie sat on her bed with a frown. She always wanted to have super abilities like her father, but she didn't think it would happen like this. Bruce had explained it to her once, but she still didn't really get it. All she could remember was something about it occasionally affecting her muscle memory and causing little accidents to happen every now and then.
She didn't mean to squeeze Clint's hand like the death grip of a woman giving birth; she only intended for a little, playful squeeze. Unfortunately, the former happened for a few moments before he cried out in pain and she realized what was happening.
She also remembered Bruce mentioning it getting worse when puberty came along. Which was in a few years. She sighed.
After entertaining herself for a while by drawing (and not crushing her pencil despite her anxiously tight grip), a knock sounded from her door. "Hey, Queen Elsa, can I enter your little kingdom of isolation?"
"Sure." She called in reply, not as amused by the comment as she normally would've been.
The billionaire walked in. "Hey, squirt, I just came in to bribe you."
"Bribe me? To do what?"
"Well, in my hand, I hold one of the heavily coveted, chocolate chip cookies baked by a certain Russian spy." Maggie realized Tony had a hand behind his back.
"What?! There are some left?" She jumped off her bed and ran up to him.
"Just this one. You can have it, if," He emphasized, holding the cookie just out of reach from the redhead, "you come back out there and hang out with us. Your Aunt Pepper also mentioned something about baking brownies."
He expected that to immediately win her over. But instead, she paused, and looked up at him sadly. "But what if I mess it up? What if I hurt her, or you, or someone?"
"Munchkin, listen." Tony said firmly. "Even if something happens, another little... 'Serum spasm,' if you will, we will be there to help you through it. It's just something we are going to have to live with for a while."
Maggie thought for a few moments, and then finally nodded. "Okay." She said quietly, and he happily handed her the cookie.
"Awesome, now, how about a hug?"
"What if I hug you too hard?"
"Do you really think that'll happen?"
"It's possible."
"You worry too much." He teased, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"Uncle Tony!" She laughed as her face was squished against his side. "I just wanna eat my cookie!"
"You would rather eat a cookie than hug your favorite Avenger? I'm hurt, kid." He mocked a pained expression as he let her go.
"I never told you you're my favorite Avenger!" She said playfully.
"It was implied. Now, come on, then." He led her out of the bedroom as she took a bite of the delicious cookie.
Maggie flinched as glass broke. For whatever reason, her body translated the concept of "grabbing her glass of water" to "hitting it off the table." She sheepishly opened her eyes to meet her family's surprised faces.
"Lady Margaret is truly like one of Asgardian descent! Another!" Thor's loud voice boomed, breaking the momentary awkward silence, as he threw his own glass down on the ground next to him.
That helped break the ice, as they all burst into laughter. Everyone knew Maggie was sensitive after having a "serum spasm," as they all called it after Tony introduced them to the term. The billionaire faked an angry expression.
"Hey, you two, you need to go on time-out and think about what you've done!" He chastised them playfully.
"What is this 'time-out' you speak of? We are out of time?" Thor was confused.
Steve stood up with a chuckle as Tony tried to explain what a time-out was, and crouched down on the ground in front of the broken glass. "I'll clean it up." He announced. "Well, Maggie's that is. Someone else can handle Thor."
Maggie watched her family, amused, but still quiet. Natasha noticed her distant look, and decided to inquire.
"Лапушка, are you okay?" She asked the quiet 11 year old.
"Yeah, just kinda... Startled. And embarrassed." Maggie admitted to her mother quietly, looking down at her guilty hands, which were lying in her lap. She and Natasha looked over to where Pepper was nagging Tony about how to properly clean up the broken glass on the ground. "Are you mad?"
"No, sweetheart, no one's mad." Natasha assured the younger redhead. "It was just an accident."
Maggie didn't look too convinced. Natasha sighed, and placed a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Hey." She called softly, prompting Maggie to look up at her. "You heard Uncle Thor; you're practically Asgardian now." She tried to cheer her up.
Maggie gave a small smile. "I guess so." She agreed. "Does that mean I can go to Asgard now?"
They glanced over at Thor, who was now educated in the definition of a time-out. "No mortal would dare to use such a practice on the Son of Odin!" He declared.
"Uh-huh, sure thing, big guy." Tony rolled his eyes.
"Tony, stop getting distracted and help me make sure there aren't any more shards we missed." Pepper brought his attention back down to the glass he was helping her sweep up.
Natasha smirked, looking back at Maggie. "Maybe one of these days."
"Daddy, is this what being injected with the serum was like for you?" Maggie sat down on the couch beside her father with an exasperated sigh.
"Not really, no." Steve answered honestly. "Though, I am pretty clumsy. I run into things a lot."
"That's not the same." She insisted.
"You're right. It isn't." He sighed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He was pretty much the only person she got physically close to anymore these days, since he had superhuman abilities of his own. She figured she couldn't hurt him as much as her other family. "I'm sorry I passed the serum onto you, Mags. I never thought it would make things so much harder for you."
"It's not your... Well, technically, it is." Maggie corrected herself, causing Steve to smile. "But it's okay. It's just a thing."
"I think it's more than 'just a thing.' You seem more upset lately."
"It's kind of hard to keep it under control at school." The 13 year old admitted. "I can feel when it's coming on sometimes, but other times I'll randomly slam my desk closed, or accidentally crush a pen, or something."
"I'm sorry." He repeated guiltily.
"Don't be." She assured him. "I'm sure it's better than being frozen for 70 years."
"It was worth it to get to meet you." He replied.
"That was cheesy!" She laughed. "Was that the pick-up line you used to ask Mama out?"
"Definitely not." He chuckled, and they fell into a comfortable silence.
"At least it means I won't grow old really fast, right?" Maggie joked a few minutes later.
"I guess so."
"I mean, you and Mama don't really look much different since, well, forever, so I assume both of your messed up genes are gonna do the same to me."
"They are pretty messed up, huh?"
"Yup." Then, Maggie looked up at him excitedly. "Does this make me a mutant?!"
"...I don't think so."
"Darn! I was hoping that that would make Uncle Nick let me join S.H.I.E.L.D. already."
"Regardless of what you are, I think he wants to keep you away from having our jobs as much as possible. As do the rest of us."
"He told me last summer, while I was reading The Odyssey in his office, that I had a choice in what I do in the future. That I don't have to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
"He was right, you don't have to. We all highly discourage it."
"I wanna be an Avenger, though!"
"Technically, you kind of already are." Steve tried.
"By default, not by proving it!" Maggie rolled her eyes. "I wanna be an Avenger because it will mean I am strong enough to help protect people and be strong enough to defend the world."
"Well, at this rate, looks like you'll be getting pretty strong by the time you're old enough to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Uncle Bru-Ah! Crap! Sorry about your door!" Maggie anxiously grabbed hold of the doorknob, pulling the door away from the wall she had just accidentally slammed it against. She glanced back at him apologetically.
"It's fine, Maggie." Bruce chuckled, walking over to the redhead. "What brings you here?"
"Oh, I just wanted to say, 'Hi!'" She said happily, turning to him. "And tell you that Auntie Pep and I are gonna bake soon, so you might wanna be ready for delicious awesomeness that will probably be devoured by a certain archer and genius billionaire playboy philanthropist right away…" She frowned. "Wow, does Uncle Tony seriously say that every time he introduces himself to someone?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he did." Bruce replied with an amused smile. "And thanks for the heads up; I will hopefully not have to threaten to unleash the other guy if I don't get any brownies."
"That was funny that one time you did, though! You scared them so bad." The teen laughed at the memory. "Their faces were priceless!"
"I wish I had a camera."
"Same. Well, I better get back to Aunt Pepper so we can mess up the kitchen for Uncle Tony."
"Try to get more of the ingredients in the bowl this time."
"I think your door is a perfect example of the fact that I can't always control what I'm doing!" Maggie called after exiting the room.
"So, am I on threat watch for S.H.I.E.L.D. and the World Security Council yet?" Maggie asked with a smirk.
"You're starting to sound a lot like your mother." Fury commented, amused. "And no, you aren't, since your abilities are still being kept classified… Right?"
"You don't have to worry, Uncle Nick, I haven't told anyone. I'm generally not really good at the 'friend' thing at school." The 16 year old rolled her eyes playfully. "But, does this mean I can join S.H.I.E.L.D. now? I mean, I'm pretty sure my PE teacher at school is convinced I'm on steroids; some days, I suck, but other days I will randomly outrun everyone. I'm a very inconsistent student."
"Maggie, no matter how many times you ask me, no, you cannot join yet. Not until you've finished high school." He stated.
"But Uncle Niiiiick." She drew out his name in a whiny voice.
"If you keep whining like that, I'll push it back to after you finish college." He warned her.
That shut her up. "No need to get your eye-patch in a bunch! It's just, that, three years is a long time." She said hastily.
"It'll come before you know it. Just be patient."
"Patience has never really been my thing."
"Trust me, I know."
"This is so uncomfortable." Maggie huffed as she walked into the living room in a S.H.I.E.L.D. catsuit, much like her mother's. She held both of her arms out on either side of her, not being able to comfortably move in the leather. "How the hell do you move in this?"
"Does this mean now you'll stop trying to work for S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Steve teased, but there was a subtle hint of pleading in his voice. They were all concerned with the young redhead following in their footsteps of having a dangerous career.
"I don't give up that easily, Daddy!" Maggie assured him. "Someone's gotta carry on the Avengers after you all get old and shrivel up."
"Well, Capsicle and Goldilocks are well over the hill, so you've got a while to wait, munchkin." Tony teased. "Katniss and I might have to retire eventually."
"Never!" Clint disagreed.
Maggie rolled her eyes. "Mama, can I have some words of wisdom for working in leather?"
"It just takes some getting used to; you just have to break it in." Natasha smiled, amused. "You look good, though."
"All of this leather makes me feel like a walking target for PETA." Maggie grumbled.
"I can't believe you're already a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in the making." Steve sighed, feeling nostalgic. "Seems like just yesterday you were putting Thor's hair in pigtails."
"Well, to be fair, I was trying to braid it yesterday, so." Maggie smirked.
"What! Please tell me there is photographic evidence of this." Tony demanded.
"Why can't I kick ass in, say, yoga pants, or, perhaps, a Snuggie?" Maggie ignored Tony. "Why does it have to be tight leather? What do they want me to do, woo the baddies with my butt?"
"Kid, Snuggies are definitely not the way to go with this. Trust me." Clint advised.
"And I think your mom probably had to woo some people with her butt." Tony commented, causing Natasha to glare at him. "Not that I've been looking at her butt!" He added hastily, causing Steve to shoot him a look. "Seriously, though, I haven't been!"
"Ew, gross! I'm sorry I asked." Maggie scrunched up her face in disgust and turned away from them. "I'm leaving now. Goodbye." She waddled out of the room.
"So, that's the future of S.H.I.E.L.D." Clint smiled in amusement.
"I wish it wasn't." Steve sighed honestly.
"At least she's mainly got the serum under control." Bruce commented, walking into the room. "The little glitches seem to be practically nonexistent now; her base strength will just continue to grow with her body."
"Thank God." Natasha sighed in relief. "That won't be stressing her out anymore."
"Hey! Do you think if I ask Uncle Nick to change the dress code away from leather catsuit type outfits, he'll listen?" Maggie called from her room.
"He'll probably just tell you to suck it up!" Natasha called back. Maggie groaned in reply.
A/N: Okay, first, disclaimer: the term "serum spasm" is very similar to "serum attack," which the author Fayth Grimmly uses in their stories "Anna's Life" and "Young Anna" to describe the effects of the serum in Steve and Natasha's daughter. I came up with my term before they posted their stories, so neither of us copied/influenced each other (I've been trying to figure out how to depict my ideas behind "serum spasms" for over almost 2 months now). This is pure coincidence, I promise.
Secondly, basically what's happening with Maggie is the serum's effects with enhancing her abilities isn't just growing with her over time. Instead of being the strongest 10 year old on Earth, then subsequently the strongest 11 year old, and so on, the serum is settling in awkwardly and at no pace whatsoever. It's kind of similar to, say, (lol this is gonna be the most random comparison ever I apologize) in MLP when Twilight Sparkle absorbs a ton of magic and randomly casts spells and flies way faster than normal. For example, when she tried to open her door, she accidentally destroyed it with her magic. Maggie doesn't have magic, but will randomly put too much strength into physical actions, like we see here. It settles down over time, basically after she is an adult and development of her body slows down a lot. I don't actually have much medical/scientific knowledge about how the body develops and such, but hey, this is just a fanfic, so I think it's alright to stray a bit away from normal things. :-)