"What?" The loud voices could be heard through the padded walls into the cell before turning into such a jumble of words that even with enhanced hearing Three couldn't make it out. She had been in here for at least a day and they were already discovering things.
That was for the best. It meant sooner she would get out of this place. One way or another and to one place or another. Her neck was fully healed and, though they'd neglected to feed her, she knew she'd be able to get through it for a few more days before succumbing to the inevitable process of starvation. She would be able to escape if needed. Yet another reason not to move much. More than likely, they had forgotten about food for her. Especially since she had yet to show any signs of hunger. The characteristics charts she read didn't show them to be the sort to intentionally starve her. However, charts were never extremely accurate and often not to be fully trusted.
She wondered vaguely what they had discovered. Was it anything she knew? Three wasn't fool enough to assume she knew everything about the program. Just the basics.
Born to parents who abandoned her for her abilities as an infant, taken in by Hydra for a program not long later, and became the only surviving prodigy of the program. The rest had died off by the time she guessed when she was 5 or 7.
Only one 'brother' could she truly remember out of the ten who survived infancy. He was Subject 5. His bright red hair and freckled nose, that smile he would sneak to her in class when the teacher wasn't looking. Her favorite person on base. They would eat meals together and occasionally share a cot if the training sessions had been particularly harsh. Squabbling over who could count to 300 the fastest in German. He was brother in everything but blood.
He was eliminated when he failed to show potential to thrive in several areas of study. Subject 5, her only friend and her first kill. She could still remember his fearless smile and laugh as she put the gun to his head. Her favorite person. Dead.
After that, it was training and more training. Training missions, training sessions, training lessons. No valuable information about the program given lest she was caught on a mission. The goal of earning a name.
That was all her life was. At least now there was a bit of a plot twist. Maybe things would change. Maybe. Just maybe.
--
The chaos from the proclamation had finally calmed and everyone was frozen in their various forms of shock. Steve and Natasha had sat where they had been standing. The rest just looked at the pair. Waiting.
Steve had his back against the wall and knees up. Much like the girl - no - his child had done. How was it even possible? He was still in the ice when she was born! Bruce had rambled out several theories that he didn't understand any of and ended with a shrug saying they had no idea how exactly it could have happened. Now here he was… a father to a young girl who didn't even have a proper name.
"If there was even a chance of you taking her before," Natasha started, her face devoid of emotion. The one thing she had thought for certain was impossible was sitting in a padded room not 600 yards away from her. What the hell was she supposed to do?
"There's absolutely none now." Steve finished for her.
Agent Hill pursed her lips but didn't press any further, not having come across this situation before, and made the executive decision that this was the sort of mess for Fury to deal with. "Send us any information you get from the girl and the data." With that she left.
The door closing shook everyone out of their stupor. Steve stood slowly, crossing his arms, "We need a plan." His Captain's voice was back and everyone let out a silent breath in relief.
"Wanda, what did you learn?" Steve asked. If he told himself this was like a mission and put his mind to it like it was then maybe it wouldn't be so overwhelming.
"She can be trusted in that she hates Hydra." Wanda stated, eyeing both of the newly discovered parents with hesitation. Them? Parents? It didn't seem possible. Steve wasn't much older than herself and Natasha was far from a motherly figure. How were they going to take on a teenager raised by Hydra? "Her greatest fear is never truly escaping them." No need to tell them the horrifying vision she had seen. They were mad enough at her for doing what she did.
"So, in a sense, we can trust her."
"She'll make a run for it as soon as we just let her go free." Natasha countered from the floor. It was what she would do if in the girl's position.
"We could offer her something." Clint sat, perched on the table, "Protection from Hydra and Shield if she stays."
Steve nodded, "We can offer for her to stay with us for her protection. If she's away from our care then it would be out of our hands. If she agrees, we'll see if she can adjust to as normal of a life as we can give her." He stopped before glancing at Tony, "Assuming you're okay with her staying here? If not I can get-"
"Cap, of course she can stay here." Tony held up a hand to stop further comment, "As long as she's potty trained I'm fine."
Steve just nodded again, ignoring the joke, "What do you think, Natasha?"
"It's as good of a plan as we can get." She brought herself up to sit beside Clint, "But I think it would be best to tell her straight out that we discovered we are her parents. See if we can find any data from what we salvaged to back up what we're saying. She might not trust us without proof."
Tony topped off his whiskey glass and started off, "I'll see about getting it to you by tonight."
Steve looked around at the hagard group left in the room. Subject Three had been brought in nearly 2 days ago and they had only slept while she was in recovery. So it had been over a day of no sleep for any of them.
Glancing up as if the AI were somewhere in the ceiling, Steve said, "Friday, send an alert when Subject Three starts moving or tries anything." He started towards the door, "Everyone get some rest. Standing here isn't going to make Tony work any faster. She'll be approached when we find out if we can give solid evidence from Hydra."
With that, he set off to the gym. He slept for 70 years. He could sleep another time.
