The moment the lift doors opened Luna saw everyone around her freeze. The room in front of her was filled with people, who had evidently all been running around.
"There she is!" Spoke the voice Luna recognised as Tony Stark's from across the room, "Good to see you up kid," he continued, with what Luna thought looked like an actual smile. Sure enough, the bunch of people in front of her, laughing and joking about in front of her carried on with what they were doing. Luna felt Bucky's metal hand on her lower back, gently pushing her out of the lift and into the room filled with people. It was a lot for Luna to be with so many new, noisy people at once, but she was determined to get this done. They all deserved an explanation, most of all Bucky. They had saved her, and she was determined to get along with them all. If they were Bucky's friends, maybe they could even become hers.
She felt Bucky guiding her towards a long table across the room, and whilst her body quickly followed suit she couldn't bring her eyes away from the view out of the floor to ceiling windows. It was simply stunning. Luna had been to New York before, of course she had, but she'd never gotten to see it like this. Before it had always been either crappy side streets, dodgy neighbourhoods and taking down crime rings or fancy ballrooms, elegant dresses and assassination attempts. To look at it from so high above, see the lights and lives of people going past below. It was breath-taking. So breath-taking in fact that Luna didn't see the Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist walking up behind her earring a bottle of what she could only assume was very expensive wine, until she walked straight into him, knocking him straight towards the ground. But he never hit it. In a matter of seconds Luna had caught Tony's arm, pulling him back up to his feet and simultaneously threw her other arm out to catch the bottle of wine before it shattered.
"Wow, great first impression" Luna muttered to herself, feeling her cheeks heating up.
"I'll say" the billionaire smirked at her, "You have no idea how many bottles I've lost to this clumsy lot over the year. You save anymore of my bottles of wine and I'll have to pay you for your services." He chuckled.
"It's true," another voice called, this time from in front of the enormous TV. Luna automatically profiled the man as Clint Barton aka Hawkeye, another person that Luna apparently had information engrained into her brain on. In fact a she looked around the room she realised she could name everyone in there. Great, she thought, thats something else were gonna have to go over. "Everyone in this room has broken more bottles of Tony's booze than anyone could count." He continued.
"Well, apart from Steve and Buck, god knows they gave up trying to get pissed years ago" This time Sam Wilson spoke and Luna cocked an eyebrow up at Bucky, unaware of the fact that she herself had calmed down extensively amidst the jokey, friendly atmosphere the team around her created. She found herself laughing, it was an unfamiliar sensation to her, not something she remembered herself doing for a long time, and unbeknownst to Luna, behind her Bucky's eyes lit up like that of a Childs at Christmas. Getting to see Luna happy, relaxed enough to let herself laugh in front of a bunch of strangers. It made Bucky feel alive. Whole. He finally had everything he needed. He had his brother back, Steve was back with him, he had a home, he had friends that were becoming his family, and now, he had his младшая сестра back too. Sure, her recovery was going to be long, they would have to look out for her, help her. But this was a good start. He knew better than to dwell, instead taking the opportunity to guide Luna towards the table and get her sitting down next to her. Tony took up the head of the table, on his right was Natasha then Clint, and opposite them was where Luna and Bucky were sat. On the other side of Bucky was Steve and then Sam, while opposite them, on the other side of Clint was Wanda and Bruce. There were a few empty seats past that, knowing Peter wasn't at the tower this weekend, Vision was still off who knows where doing god knows what, Thor was off world, T'Challa was in Wakanda and that Pepper was busy working tonight at a dinner meeting it added up in Bucky's mind. It was a shame that Luna didn't have the chance to meet Peter, he was her age and he figured they'd get on well, but Bucky was a little relieved that Luna wouldn't be too overwhelmed with new people, as much as he trusted her control, they didn't need another 'incident'.
Sam was the last to sit down, bringing with him the last of the food they'd prepared. Granted normally they'd just eat take out, order a pizza or something, but they'd just had a tough mission, and as per, after the missions they'd all rather forget, Sam would cook, with help from whoever felt like it, cook mountains of food and they'd all get together and eat. Tonights work was a random mixture of whatever people felt like making. Sam had made a mountain of carbonara, while Steve had cooked a beef stew with dumplings and Bruce had cooked Mac and cheese and made breaded chicken. Admittedly it was an odd mix of food, but the avengers never minded, there was always something for everyone to eat and with the amount of food the two super soldiers on the team, plus the extra now that Luna was there, no one seemed to mind.
Light chatter was buzzing around the table, Luna could hear Tony talking to Bruce about something science related and made a mental note to join in on one of their conversations, Clint was checking in with Wanda about how she was feeling, and general conversations were going on. And Luna loved it, she found herself sinking into her chair, relaxing into the happy go-lucky vibe of the team. It had been so long since she was able to just be. No one expecting anything of her. No one telling her to do this or that, go here or there. It was practically heaven to Luna, and whilst she didn't know these people from Adam, she found herself relaxing in their company, a small, contented smile forming on her lips. Bucky quickly noticed, nudging he leg with his own. "о чем ты улыбаешься, малыш" (what you smiling about kid) he asked her quietly.
"ты знаешь, я даже не знаю Бака, я думаю, я просто счастлив" (you know, i don't even know Buck, i guess I'm just happy." She replied honestly.
"хороший ребенок, давай надеяться, что мы сможем так и дальше" (good kid, lets hope we can keep it that way) spoke another voice from across the table, momentarily shocking Luna into silence as she simply stared at the red haired super spy across the table, her shock catching the attention of everyone at the table.
"я не знал, что ты говоришь по русски" (i didn't know you spoke Russian) Luna replied quickly, a small smirk appearing on her face at the realisation that she would have someone else to speak the language with in the future.
"и все же я думаю, что ты сделал" (and yet i think you did) Natasha replied, a smirk of her own mirrored on her face.
"I hate to change the topic" interrupted Sam "from whatever this is" he said, motioning towards Natasha and Luna, a momentary look of fear on his face at the prospect of another Russian speaker on the team to plan pranks and talk dirty about everyone else, "But could we maybe do introductions and sort out what were gonna do next." The team all nodded, smiled reassuringly, despite knowing the dark corner the conversation of the evening was about to turn. Luna nodded, putting down her knife and fork and starting with "to begin with, and I know it's kind of an odd one, I already know who all of you are." She paused, unsure of the best way to go about carrying on with he story. "When Hydra had me as the Black Moon, they had me learn about each of you, I guess that one day they were planning on having me fight you guys. It's why she came out earlier. I saw Nat and wasn't expecting it. The training they have engrained in my brain brought her out."
"Hey," Nat said, catching Luna's eye from across the table "I still don't blame you for that. Remember, you're not what they made you."
Luna gave a small smile at Natasha's reassuring words and carried on. "I can get triggered by certain stuff that makes me switch, most of the time I can control it, but if not Bucky knows how to bring me back, I'm sure you'll all get a rundown at some point. But for the basics, my names Luna and I'm 17. I don't have any memories from before Hydra got to me, I know I was about 5 when they took me and they've been training me ever since."
At this point Tony but in, saying "Later, when you're more comfortable here, I can help you look if you want, see what we can find out about you." Which brought a brief smile of gratitude to Luna's face before she carried on.
"I know Buck here told you about our time together, and there's not much to say for the 2 years after that. They were pissed, after all they'd lost their beloved Soldat. They were harsher, stricter. They punished me more often and more harshly and sent me out on more missions. I don't want to go into details. All you need to know is that I killed a lot of people and I have a lot to make up for."
A silence had settled across the room at this point, a heavy one, one that told Luna just what she needed to know. They were judging her. Blaming her. They were pissed. And she didn't blame them, she had done terrible things. She would say her piece and leave them be. Maybe Bucky would stay in touch. She hoped so.
"But there's a big problem. I don't remember much information, in my last days at Hydra I was swapping in and out of the Moon more and more, trying to protect myself I guess, not that it did much good in the end. They have a new weapon. I don't know what it is, if its an it or a who, im sorry I cant be of much help. I know it's based in Russia at the moment and I know its being moved. In two weeks time it's being brought to New York and they're planning to centre the attack on the tower."
"How do you know this Luna, I mean respectfully, why would they tell you." Asked Steve. Luna drew in a shuddery breath whilst Bucky shot him a sharp glare and sam kicked him under the table.
"Because," replied Luna, "I was meant to be the person using it." She looked down at her hands, knowing the team would need more of an explanation. "I came back from a mission in Romania. It was successful but I don't know, I guess I messed up somewhere," spoke Luna, shuddering as she carried on. "They were in the middle of punishing me," Luna heard a sharp intake of breath from her right, seeing Clint place a hand on top of Natasha's, who looked furious, and felt Bucky place one of his own hands on her shoulder. She briefly tensed at the sudden contact and whilst Bucky realised this, he kept his hand there in an attempt to give her comfort, which he believed he was successful in as she relaxed again quickly. "I overheard them questioning if I would be ready in time for New York. They um, they would sometimes tailor the punishments they game me. In the middle of the 'process' they were talking about the fact they had three weeks for me to be fully recovered. That was a week ago now." She trailed off, not really knowing where to go from there. She leaned into Bucky's touch, taking the comfort she needed from it, as he wrapped another arm around her forearm, giving her a hug. It was quiet for a minute, until Wanda spoke up from the other end of the table.
"Im sorry, Luna" she started, "I know from experience how cruel Hydra can be." She spoke softly.
"We all do" carried on Natasha and as Luna looked up, she didn't see the angry or accusatory faces she was expecting, but instead warm smiles of reassurance on the faces of those around her.
"So" broke in Tony a cheesy grim plastered over his face, "if we have two weeks before everything goes down, that means we have plenty of time to get you settled in Luna!".
Shock ran through Luna. "I can stay?" She asked quietly. "I thought, after what I told you, you'd want me out."
"Never маленькая луна" spoke Natasha, "everyone here has done stuff we aren't proud of. Stuff we didn't want to do. None of us hold it against each other. We help each other instead. You're staying kid."
"Damn right you are" added Clint, and before Steve had the chance to say anything, the whole team called out "We know, language !".
Luna sat quietly through the rest of the meal, a warm feeling having settled in her stomach at the idea of these people not wanting to kick her out for what she'd done. Before she knew it Luna was being lifted from her chair and slung over Bucky's shoulder as Tony had declared a team movie night. She was promptly thrown down onto an enormous sofa Bucky on her right and Wanda smiling at her, before motioning next to Luna's left checking to see if she could sit before she did. As the opening credits for the matrix rolled on the screen Luna felt Wanda lean in, as she spoke quietly, saying, "I mean it, I know how rough Hydra can be. Nightmares are always a problem here. If you ever need any help sleeping, just come grab me, I'd be happy to help."
"Thank you" Luna whispered back gently but evidently gratefully from the watery eyes Wanda could see. Wanda didn't reply, simply slung her shoulder over Luna's shoulders as Luna relaxed into Bucky's side. Before she even knew it, Luna was drifting off to sleep head rested on Bucky's chest and Wanda's arm over her shoulder. She was content, and for the first time in forever, luna felt herself dozing off to sleep in the company of her older brother and a group of people she hoped would one day become her friends.
-AN-
Hi lovelys ! hope you've enjoyed this new chapter ! reviews are as always more than welcome xx
love as always
ERS 3