~Avengers Tower, New York~

June, 2016

Bianca looked up as two pairs of footsteps, one more brisk and one more shuffling down the hall stopped at the door of the room she was in. There was no knock, but she supposed it didn't matter, not when they all knew she could hear their arrival long before they got there.

The conference room's door slid open to reveal a stoic, stern Stark and a sheepish, slightly worried looking Spider-Man. The boy had a bag in his hands. Her bag, the one she'd been given by Haven. She'd shrugged it off in her shift towards Rhodes, and the other teen must have held onto it while she was in the medbay for the past day and a half.

Stark entered the room, taking a seat across from her. Spider-Man hesitated next to the man, then rounded the table to sit next to Bianca. The older Avenger's eye twitched, but she appreciated the silent support from the boy. He set the bag on the table in front of her, but she made no move to reach for it, not yet.

"Secretary Ross wants you thrown in the Raft with the other rogues." Stark's voice was flat, betraying little emotion. Bianca straightened and lifted her chin. She'd made her choices, and would stand by them. Stark dragged a hand over his face, letting out a sigh. "Ross wants you imprisoned, but you helped Spider-boy over there and also saved Rhodey's life. I can push back on this, I just need to know you won't turn on us again."

Bianca was silent. Could she guarantee that? Not if any of her family was on the line. But would she run into a situation like this again? It wasn't likely, that was for sure.

"I don't think she will." The boy beside her said softly. Both she and Stark turned to him. "That man, he called you little stowaway, and you called him old man. It was affectionate."

Bianca looked down at the table in front of her. "He was the one that found me." She looked up to Stark, who would understand the meaning behind her words far more than Spider-Man would, knowing more of her history. "He was family."

Realization dawned in the man's eyes, and his features softened. "From before you came here?" He confirmed. She nodded. He let out another sigh. "I'll let Ross know that you ran into an old contact and were swayed for a portion of the fight, but that you came to your senses and can still be trusted. He won't be happy, but you're not eighteen yet and he can't get you for obstructing the Accords without a bigger fight than's worth it right now."

Spider-Man stilled beside her. "What is that going to mean for our work in the city?"

"Neither of you are eighteen so you can't legally sign yet. But you've done too much good for him to push back against your work, so as long as you work only within the U.S. and don't take on more than the level of crime you fight now, you should be fine." the man told them. "If you want to keep doing this after you become adults, you'll have to sign and give the UN your identities and some biometric data. Considering your abilities, you'll both also have to wear trackers like the ones they gave Natasha and I."

"Speaking of abilities," Bianca started, trailing off.

Tony shook his head. "Ross doesn't know about them, and I won't tell him." He answered. "As far as I'm concerned, you're the only one who's doing any hero work, and they're not breaking any laws anymore, other than some forged paperwork, which really, I'm the one who set up. All things considered, you're just a family of immigrants, who happen to not be from earth."

"Not from earth?" Spider-Man questioned, looking between the two.

Bianca smirked at him. "Where did you think I went when I left Hydra? I certainly didn't stick around where they could find me easily." She looked back to Stark. "Thank you. They deserve to get to be normal."

"Just don't make me regret this." Stark sighed.

"Oh, you already regret knowing me." Bianca teased.

"Don't I know it. You're making me go grey, kid, both you and the Spider-kid." He stood from his seat. "I'm going to go order some pizza for everyone. Mirage, you're welcome to stay as long as you like, but kid, your aunt's expecting you back tonight so I'll drop you off."

"Thanks, Mr. Stark." Spider-Man said, and Bianca just nodded. Judge knew she'd gotten back, she'd facetimed him for a while after they left her alone for the night in a bed in the general area of the medbay, the private room left for Rhodes once he got out of surgery. She'd told him about Germany, skipping over the parts about Haven and her switch in sides, glad his mind reading didn't work over technology. She wouldn't be able to hide it from him forever, but this would give her more time to process it on her own before she had to tell him, and to decide if she would even tell Specter and Dragon. Having mentioned her injury at the end of the battle, Judge had wanted to come check up on her, but she insisted he stay home. She'd be back within the next day or two, anyways, and the tower had too many extra people around right now, people who might connect Mirage to Bianca if they saw both with Judge at the tower.

Spider-Man bumped her shoulder with his own, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Did you want to take a look at what he gave you?" He asked her. She looked at the bag, reaching for it hesitantly. She had no idea what could be inside. "I can leave if you want to be alone."

"No." She shook her head. "No, it's okay. I just… I thought he was gone, forever, and then to learn he's not but have to leave him behind anyway?"

"He was like a father to you, wasn't he?" The boy asked her. She nodded minutely. "I get it. My parents died when I was really young, so I was raised by other family. When my uncle died, it wasn't like losing an uncle, it was like losing a father. To get that back, only to not know if you'll get it back again? It's a lot."

Bianca took a deep breath, then unzipped the bag in her hands. It was fairly light, and contained only two items. An unmarked envelope, and a tube of red liquid. She set both on the table, then picked up the envelope.

My little stowaway,

It's been awhile since I last saw you. I'm sorry that I hid myself from you all, but I could not let them find you again, not after such a devastating loss. I could not come back then, and I still cannot, not until they are no longer a threat.

Your older brother knows I am alive - it would not do to show myself to you and let him glimpse it in your mind unexpectedly. I have asked him not to tell your other brother and sister, just as I am now asking you not to tell them. The less who know I still live, the better. I am who they want the most, so as long as they believe you have no more connection to me, the longer they will leave you alone as they chase me down.

I picked up a little something for you in the middle of nowhere. The man has such a collection he will not miss it for some time just yet.

I did some reading, while my ship was fixed up during the festival on your home planet, (though I know you well enough to know what you're thinking now - no planet has ever truly been home to you, only the vastness of space drifted through in the ship.)

Bianca was a master at playing roles and hiding her emotions, but she couldn't hold back a hiccuping laugh when she read that line. Tears were silently tracking down her face, and she realized she didn't even know when they'd begun. Spider-Man was sitting beside her in quiet support, hand resting on the back of her chair but not touching her.

I spent a good many hours in the libraries of the manse. Your history was only vaguely documented, likely on purpose as a closely guarded secret, based on what you were told of the family's newer political power. After all my years of travel, however, I believe I know where your gift has come from.

It is called the aether, and it holds power over reality. Even just a drop added to your bloodline could explain your gift. Generations down the line have diluted its power, but your people's magic has sustained your ability to shift. Perhaps you can learn more about your abilities with the source of your gift in your possession. Hydra could only train you so much without a full understanding of your blood. But do be careful - the aether is dangerous, and would just as soon kill those who tried to wield it as work in their favor. It takes a strong host not to fall to it, one who understands it intrinsically.

I will not be able to write again, not for a long time, if at all. But I will be back home one day, I swear to you that.

Safe and sound,

Captain

"Safe and sound." Bianca echoed quietly. She carefully folded the letter back up, replacing it in the envelope. She glanced at the tube, the red liquid sloshing around inside almost angrily.

The two of them sat in silence for a few moments, before the boy spoke softly. "Sounds like the pizza's here. Do you want to head to the kitchen with me?"

Her gaze snapped to the door. She hadn't been paying attention, hadn't heard Stark's return to the kitchen with the newly delivered pizzas. Bianca took a deep breath, then swept the items from Haven back into the bag as she stood. "I could eat, after all this excitement."

Short chapter, but I wanted to get this one out while I continue to work on the next bit. Happy reading!