South Korea was different than the rest of the trip. The other places were marked by Tony doing what he had to do as quickly as possible then trying to be a 'normal vacationing dad' (his words) while fighting the boredom that came with normal vacation activities.

South Korea was Tony, as a father, preparing himself for the next months without his youngest daughter while she was with her mother. And Helen Cho, as a mother, finally seeing Abby in person after months of video calls, holographic bed-time talks, and artificial ways of keeping in touch.

And the grandparents overjoyed about having their grandchild back where they could spoil her and smother her with their affection.

Ava, Nine, and Marina expected that Phebian and Bubbles would be treated like family, due to their blood connection to Tony. They didn't expect the grandparents to greet them ALL as Abby's family.

"It's so nice that the whole family came!" Said Yun, Helen's mother, smiling at them when they all arrived at the house, Dae, her husband, already walking over to Andrea and picking up Abby.

"Yes, our little grandbaby blossom looks so happy about it." Said Dae, tickling the baby's chin.

Helen, fortunately, greeted them only with a smile and hello. Probably because Tony told her more about how the other experiments were.

"I know you're probably very tired from the trip, so the guest rooms are prepared." Said Yun, walking over to her husband to greet her grandchild. But she could do that and be the host her culture expects her to be. "You can all take a shower and rest for the night. We'll be making some warm tea with some snacks so you can eat something too." She said, taking her grandchild in her arms and affectionately calling her lotus blossom in Korean.

Helen, though very accepting of her parents' possessiveness of her daughter, had enough already and came over and picked up her child, Abby squealing 'mama' in the woman's native language.

For a woman who didn't express her desire to be a mother before knowing of the Maternity, the woman seemed to have grown into the role. But the same could be said for Tony.

"If you want to stay here, of course." She said, looking over the other children.

"Yep." Said Tony, smirking. "Corny family time all around. The kiddos and the weirdoes will love it."

Ava exchanged a look with Nine, this was an unusual place to sleep. But they would, no reason not to.

Very soon after that greeting in the living room, they were led to the guest rooms. Yun had divided them into 'girls' and 'boys' rooms. Tony had his own. But as soon as the woman left Marina just pushed Bubbles and Phebian to the room with the three beds.

"Like I'll wake up in the middle of the night because my brother wants to climb in bed with Ava. Or just so you two can stare at each other and have only half vocal conversations." She said, then stopping at the door of what would be her and the two Betas' room. "No offense, though." She added, looking at them.

"None taken." They said together. It was true they did want to talk a little at night now that they weren't in a small metal tube with Tony.

"Do you want to shower first?" Asked Nine.

"No, you two can have it. I think the discussion of who sleeps where in this room will take a while." Said Marina, walking in the room and joining a conversation that Phebian and Bubbles had started on who would have to be near the window and by consequence in the least safe sleeping space.

Ava took a shower first, while Nine did a sweep of the room they would occupy. After she got out, she assembled the weapons they smuggled in the country as he took a shower. There weren't many of them, just the basics. Things they were sure they could get pass through the airport's securities.

She was lying on top of the bed when he got back, drying his hair with a towel. The first thing he did was check his bed for his weapons, that Ava had already hid there.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He sat on his bed, silently.

"There are advantages to this deal we made with Tony." He said.

"Yes, there are." She agreed.

"Curious thing. Allowing control to be taken from our hands." He said.

She turned to lay on her side, facing his bed and him.

"Not a pleasant feeling." She added to what he was feeling.

"No, but perhaps it will be a good one. Parker was taking a lot of our time." Said Nine, the silence the followed didn't feel natural to Ava, but like he was questioning his next words.

She sat up, the movement catching his attention, making him look into her eyes. He recognized the 'what is it?' question.

"Did you enjoy training him?" Asked Nine.

Ava paused to think about it.

"There is satisfaction in the improvement of our skills as leaders, trainers. Yes. Frustration at how slow he improved, obviously, but given the parameters and rules we set for ourselves, I think he improved as much as to be expected." She said, not having truly thought about her 'enjoyment' of that particular part of their responsibilities. Honestly, though she did start thinking more of enjoying things, it was not natural for her to do so.

"I enjoyed crafting with the sessions according to what he knew already and what he needed to learn." Said Nine, cocking his head to the side in curiosity. "I also enjoyed having the routine of leaving the Tower to do so as well. Given the things we are considering currently, I wonder if it's that the part I enjoyed."

"Yes, makes sense. I have a similar experience with that. But I also leave the Tower to attend the live drawings lessons."

"I leave when I have to meet Louise."

"Not as often. And the nature of your mission with her has proven to be aggravating to you. If we are to start to account enjoyment as a relevant part of our routine, perhaps we should find another activity off current residences for you as well." She offered.

A moment of silence passed. They enjoyed training together, competing with each other, or even just training alone. But they were created and 'trained to train'. Enjoyment of that may as well be programmed in their DNA and therefore something HYDRA planned for them.

"We have reached a point where a decision must be made." Said Ava, still holding his gaze. Like when the Accords became an issue, and they and the other experiments who chose to do so, became their own side taking care of their own issues and needs. "Are we, am I, are you, going to make enjoyment a relevant part of day-to-day life? It is our own choice after all."

He nodded and looked out the window.

"No matter how much time passes, the concept of choice still feels curious to me." He said, with the ghost of a laugh passing his lips. "We were trained to be able to make them at the same time as not. Taught to make choices who affected soldiers and armies, but not a single one over the nature of our existence."

Ava nodded in agreement, he wasn't looking, but she knew he noticed. She towards the window too. Wondering if she could afford to enjoy things.

"After the tea and snacks, would you like to go on a walk?" She then asked, looking at him.

He seemed curious.

"Yes." He said, though.


The agents in Seoul were not as relaxed as those in India, but they were not the ones from New York, so they had a little more privacy, but not as much.

Nine was learning that though not despising big cities per se, he did not enjoy them. Enjoyment was on his mind that day and he could not stop his mind from making those kinds of judgment calls apparently.

When they finished eating and started making their way out, Tony questioned them on where they were going (unusual for him, but honestly, the man was barely ever aware of their location) and smirked at their honest explanation that they were taking a walk.

"Alright. Make smart choices." He said.

"When have we not?" They asked, confused about the specific meaning of what he said.

But that wasn't really important. It was Bubbles and Phebian's job to understand their father to that level, not theirs.

Nighttime in a big city did not mean a peaceful environment. There were fewer people around, absolutely, especially in the residential neighborhood where they started the night.

Nine also did not like light pollution. It was a reality, he knew, no place on Earth it was not so. But big cities had interfered with the sky so much, that barely any stars could be seen on an ordinary day. Not that it mattered that night, it was cloudy.

Ava, as he expected, was silent. He enjoyed that. Her freedom from the horrible habit of 'filling silences with useless, aggravating blabber.' He was like that too. Which made their time together so much better than time with others.

Hours passed and they walked through several areas of the city. They did not have the patience for crowds at that moment, so they avoided bohemian areas.

They stopped at the entrance for a park, seeing the nighttime joggers run by.

"Willing to try enjoyment of food despite us not 'needing' food at the moment?" Asked Ava, breaking the hours of silence, on their part at least, the Korean agents talked amongst themselves at times, not as disciplined as the HYDRA experiments in long silences. And the physical toll of walking on foot for hours was apparently getting at them.

Nine ate with her at the Cho residence. But their appetite was not something normal humans were ready for. Still, they were trained HYDRA super-soldiers, it was more than possible for them to go on without food for a while.

They weren't starving, but they COULD eat.

"I am willing." He said. "How are you planning to decide on a restaurant?"

"Smell."

He smiled at that; he knew she said that smiling too.

"That actually sounds interesting."

Walking around a city following any smell of food that caught their attention in a positive way resulted in a path that made their guards confused, but it was not important. They were 'tourists' in a foreign city, it was an excusable thing to do.

Chemical smells were common and unappealing. Natural ingredients had a more satisfying and 'natural' (for lack of a better word) feeling to them. Their noses and tongues were not fooled by the tricks of industrially made food that counted on chemicals and addictive salts and sugars.

More expensive restaurants had a pleasant smell, but also dress codes; and Nine and Ava were not interested in buying clothes to change into. Which left small financially more accessible restaurants that counted on a clientele formed by years of existence. Family-owned most likely and old enough to be making traditional food as their identity as an establishment.

A small door in the middle of the block was their choice. Residence above the restaurant, a young man old enough to be in university who looked like the older man who could be seen walking in through the kitchen door. His son, tired, probably working there on his time off as he also studied. A small paper with handwritten notes on his back pocket showed that he was working on ideas for improving the management of the place. Studying Business or something similar then, but planning to take over the restaurant.

The guards looked inside the place but then left.

The place was small, not a lot of tables, and at that hour, not a lot of people were there. After their order, they would probably close the kitchen.

The only other client was a man in a suit, an ID card shoved in his jacket pocket, indicating he worked at a big company. Ruffled appearance indicated he had a sexual encounter earlier that night. Cheated on his wife, he had a ring.

Funny how often they found cheaters as they walked around the world. Their so-called 'sacred bond' wasn't so strong in reality.

They asked the young man to bring whatever he deemed their best dish, and he went to the kitchen to place the order.

"Food without need." Said Ava, making him look at her. "What whimsical creatures we have become, Nine."

He chuckled.

"Yes." He said, nodding. "How is this feeling like, to you?"

She held his gaze as she thought about it. It was something they did. He knew eye contact was uncomfortable to many, even with people familiar to them, ordinary people didn't usually hold their gaze while in a conversation.

Nine and Ava both did. He didn't know if this was something he enjoyed. He didn't dislike it, and it was part of his and her behavior and he already knew that from the rest of the world, hers was the presence he enjoyed most.

Perhaps he liked that she didn't hide the very few almost invisible tells she had. He didn't try either.

"I enjoy it." She finally answered, he followed her in the small smile. "We chose it and did it and, despite the guards, were independent in the process. I enjoyed that. And if we like the food, even the unnecessary eating can become enjoyment as well. Not sure to what extent."

"We both know what Marina would think of the whole thing." He said, keeping the small smile.

"Your sister will always be more whimsical than both of us combined." Said Ava.

"My sister." He said, as a question.

"I am wondering if it will be helpful to participate in using the term. To give you more data. But if I overstep my bounds, I'll stop." She explained.

It could be helpful. And it would give him more data to help him understand his relationship with Marina.

"It is always appreciated." He said, nodding once. "You don't need to stop, but any changes will, of course, be communicated."

She nodded. She expected it to be the case, obviously.

"Would you like something similar from me?" He asked.

"For data collecting purposes, it would be appreciated." She said, then smirking. "Any changes will, of course, be communicated."

He smiled a bit more and nodded his agreement.

A moment of silence passed.

"I don't believe I enjoy too bright and saturated colors." She suddenly said.

"Based on the neon signs in more bohemian areas in the city?" He asked.

"They were also taken into account." She said, looking thoughtful. "I remember, after escaping the Hydra base in Sokovia, the first time I stopped and observed my surroundings and found it… beautiful."

"You're speaking of forming of a preferred aesthetic sense."

"Yes." She said, looking a bit confused. "I'm collecting data about what that means and what these preferences are."

"Bright colors and Neon being what you already don't like." He said.

"They're not… subtle. The way they communicate their messages is the visual equivalent to screaming instead of using more specific and intelligent vocabulary."

He laughed. He was surprised by the reaction, but not as much as once he once would be.

The look in her eyes showed she wanted an explanation.

"That makes a lot of sense, given your personality." He said. "Though you would be able to skillfully use such type of communication."

"Obviously. But I believe I don't like it."

"Me neither." He said, considering her arguments. She made complete sense to him. "I haven't considered the colors though. I'll add it to my list."

"Have you noticed anything on our walk?" She asked.

"I don't like light pollution." He answered.

"Yes, with your interest in astrology and dislike of using screens to see stars, that makes absolute sense." Said Ava.

"Yes. And I noticed from the people on the streets, the tricks they use to make others believe they are different than they are. Makeup, perfumes, colognes. Cheap tricks that they all know are being used, which should make them futile, still, people fall for it." Said Nine, explaining what he was thinking. "I don't enjoy that. I can use these tricks and manipulate those who use them, but to pretend those buffoons with painted faces fool me in any way is irritating. And those sweet perfumes are revolting."

She nodded.

"I see. I can understand that."

"If not smelling of soap, they should just own up and smell of sweat. Everyone sweats, so why pretend? Just do what's necessary for the sake of hygiene and go about your day." He asked.

She pondered his question.

"I think these touches rituals that form human societies all the way to their beginning. And normal humans don't have our sense of smell. What is revolting to us, can be acceptable and even pleasant for them."

"Poor fools."

She laughed.

"You don't pity them." She said.

"No. Because apparently, I don't 'enjoy' them." He said, smiling.

They chuckled, shaking their heads. A silence falling between them again.

"We are doing this then?" She asked, looking out the window, he followed her gaze, it had started raining a few minutes ago, the agents getting closer to the building to protect themselves from the water that was now pouring. A thunder sounding.

He thought about it for a moment.

"I don't want these things to be on my mind anymore. It's bothering me and I want it to stop." He said. "Perhaps this will make it go away."

She looked at him, he was still looking out the window.

"Your enjoyment of clear skies and people who don't smell… they don't feel like you changed, to be able to feel that." She said, he looked at her. She was serious, confused.

"You're thinking that this falls under what your parents talked about." He said, using the term parents for Steve and Natasha, as she was now using 'sister' when it came to Marina. "These are things that were part of us but we didn't realize it until now."

She nodded.

"It makes sense, no matter how much I despise the suggestion that we missed these things about ourselves." She said.

They fell silent as the young man approached with a tray full of bowls of food. Once he was far enough, they kept grabbed their spoons to eat the bowl of soup first. It smelled pleasant and the taste was made of flavors that weren't chemical, they felt natural.

They ate fast, always. Food was a precious thing in the Maternity. And in such a competitive place, it could be taken. Ava and Nine didn't have theirs stolen, but only because they were too good to let anyone do it.

But this wasn't about sustenance.

"Wait." He said, pausing in his fast eating.

She stopped and looked at him. Her gaze asking him 'what?'

"We are experimenting with enjoyment. To be able to judge that, we should perhaps slow down."

She looked down at the food.

"Yes, that seems wise." She said, then looking up at him, confused. "I don't think I ever done that before. All the foods we have tried; we have never slowed down."

He thought back. She was right.

"Yes. You're right. How slow should we be eating? If this is too slow it will take too long and the food will be cold and the flavors not at their optimal state."

They thought about it.

"Slower by 35%." Proposed Ava.

"I agree."

They didn't talk again as they ate. The flavors were complex. A result of the long list of ingredients. But there were those in common between the dishes that made it possible to say they belonged together to the same group.

They were the last clients in the restaurant once they finished. They could hear the kitchen had closed and the two cooks were cleaning up. They talked about the necessary amount to be able to pay for their meal and left.

They walked, the rain pouring on them getting them soaking wet. The agents following them didn't seem to like that, but the two experiments didn't show that they heard the mumblings and complaints.

It took a long time for them to walk back to the Cho's residence and when they got there, the lightning and thunders were constant. Indicating a storm that would not go away any time soon.

They didn't have a key, so they had to ring the doorbell. Mr. Dae Cho had clearly been sleeping. When the old man saw them at the door his expression changed from confused to worried.

"You were still out? In this storm? You'll catch a cold!" Exclaimed the man, letting them in. His instincts from years as a parent speaking louder and making him forget that Ava and Nine weren't normal humans. "It's so late too. I can't believe Tony didn't send someone to pick you up. I thought you were asleep already."

"Mr. Cho, our apologies for waking you at this hour. Since we had not planned this walk; we did not think to ask for a key to your house." Said Ava, the two experiments getting the area of the front door wet as the man closed the door. "But you should not concern yourself with our health, we physically cannot get sick. As for Tony, he knows we can take care of ourselves and, obviously were surrounded by agents the whole time. He did not fail his responsibilities as our guardian."

Ava used a tone that told the man that Tony was their guardian, not him. It was polite, and not harsh enough to disrespect him in the man's own home, but enough to remind him that Abby was his grandchild, not them.

"Oh. Alright. Well, you should both take a shower anyway. Do you want something warm? I can make tea." Said the man.

"It will not be necessary, Mr. Cho. We do not wish to keep you up any longer." Said Nine. "We will accept the shower, but we do not wish to drink any tea."

"Are you sure, it will not be a problem." Said the man, his caretaking personality clear.

"You have a baby who will be adapting to another time zone in your home, Mr. Cho. You should take all the sleep you can have." Said Ava, with a charming smile, soaking wet or not, that smile never failed.

The man chuckled, even tired, his happiness at having his granddaughter there was clear.

"You are right. But please, if you need anything, do not hesitate." He said, turning around and walking back to his room.

Ava and Nine stayed put a bit more so that more of the water fell there so that they did not spread it around too much. Fewer areas for them to dry later. Then they went to the room they were using, grabbed clean clothes, and went to the bathroom to shower.

Clean, dry, and warm they left the bathroom and met with Tony in the hall. Tired, but awake.

"Seriously?" The man asked, looking them up and down. "You two even shower together?"

"Abby refusing to fall asleep?" Asked Nine, avoiding to answer a question that had an obvious answer.

"Yeah. It takes a few days for her to get completely used to the new time zone." He said, then frowning. "You guys just got here now?"

"Long enough to take a shower." Said Nine.

"In this weather?" Asked the man.

"We do not mind it." Said Ava.

"I bet the guys following you did." He said, pointing to the nearest window and the storm. "It's best not to push their buttons too much."

"You're speaking of not pushing people's buttons?" Asked Nine.

"I know, I know weird." Said Tony, rolling his eyes. "But I'm a Dad now. And my kids' freedom is in great part dependent on the goodwill of the people who employed those agents. So, unless you have to, don't push it, okay?"

Ava and Nine exchanged a look.

"Our situation may be politically unstable, but we ARE free, Tony." Said Ava.

"And if they insist on following us, they need to see what kind of situations the agents fall into. And what a waste of resources this might end up being." Added Nine.

"Look, it's late, so I just tell you to watch the line between 'you're not my boss and 'willingly pissing them off.' Okay? Just… say you'll do it." Said the man.

"Of course." Ava and Nine said together.

"Good." He said, breathing in relief. "Good night."

"Good night." They said, seeing Tony walk away, in direction of his daughter's room.

Later, in their beds, hearing the sounds of the rain outside, they were still awake.

"Nine, I have noticed something."

"What?"

"I do not believe I would be doing any of this if you were not going through the same situation." She said.

He turned his head, looking at her as she lied on her bed, facing the ceiling.

"Perhaps because you're currently the person I like the most." She added.

He looked back at the ceiling.

"I understand." He said, thinking back to all the moments when they made the decisions that led them to that place together. "I feel the same."

Silence filled the room.

"Good night."

"Good night, Ava."