They call her Human Torch! Chapter 13
1 week later. Monday August 8, 2011
It had been one week since the Stark Expo disaster. That is what they were calling it on the news. Jane and Darcy decided to stay a while longer, Jane had no project for work and Darcy just called the school and asked to be sent the work so she was doing is all online. Tony and Pepper were still here as well and they were still staying in my apartment, we had all been going back to the scene everyday as well as hundreds of volunteers, to help clean up the damage done outside of the arena and on the streets towards the Oracle center. We finished cleaning up yesterday and now it was up to the city to repave some areas of the city. The news stations had been there too, did they help? No of course not. They just filmed us. They made it seem as if we were being humble in helping with the clean up, as if it were below us. I had just finished cleaning the kitchen and went to sit in the living room with Tony and Darcy. Jane was tinkering up in the lab and Pepper was using my second office to do some work from there. Tony and I had convinced her over the week that she should get the ball rolling on expanding the company over here, he told her all about the new element and how they could rework it to try and make the first self-sustained energy building. Tony was working on plans for the top couple of floors and leaving the rest to Pepper. They said they would leave some floors empty for future expansion to the company or to the personal floors above.
"Hey what time are you leaving?"
"Around 2:30. Why?"
"Can I use your observatory tonight? I want to set up a dinner for Pep."
"AWW Iron Man is showing a romantic side! Can I help?!"
I just laughed as Tony rolled his eyes at Darcy. He nodded yes though and I knew he liked her, she was silly and he understood her quirkiness just like I did. She loved Tony, she had a little freak out moment when he showed her the suit and literally shed a small tiny tear when he let her touch it.
"Good luck with that one. I'm gonna go get ready."
Soon I was on the road to the school. I had promised Kitty that I would go over during the weekend but the clean up had taken longer than expected. I called ahead of time and Charles had given me permission to pick her up and take her off school grounds. He did warn that she had to be back no later than 7 pm since she did have homework. School should be out by 3, so I timed it to get there 10 minutes after that. I pulled up and once again saw the huge mansion door open to reveal some staff and a whole lot of students. I was about to get out but Kitty ran out through the kids and got in the car.
"Hey! How are you doing? In a rush?"
"Yeah, I wanted to see how you were doing."
"I told you on the phone, I am 100% fine."
"No, I mean with the latest news. Everyone at the school is so mad and upset. Even the teachers and the professor, he wanted to ask you to come in and talk about it before we left but I got Logan to convince him to let me go first then you might agree to come in after."
"Kitty what are you talking about? Why would you guys be upset over anything the news said?"
"Haven't you seen the news today?"
"I saw a little part of it in the morning. What did they say?"
"Uh, well they said that the military forces want to give Tony Stark and James Rhodes medals for their service. They announced it less than 2 hours ago. Reporters at the conference asked about you and they said that you would not get one because your powers made it easy for you as a mutant. They said Mr. Stark and Colonel Rhodes are human and put their lives at risk so they deserve the honor. People started protesting right away in Washington. It is mutant discrimination!"
I drove for less than a minute in silence until I found an empty lot and pulled into it, turning off the car I took a deep breath.
"Kitty, I don't need that medal. If I saved people to get attention and to be recognized then it would have not been for the right reasons. I-"
"That is not the point Bella, I know the medal probably doesn't mean anything to you but it's what the medal represents! It's so unfair that they are publicly thanking 2 humans and not you. Why? You are the one who saved all the people in that room! They would have all died Bella! You saved them!"
"No, the reasons behind it are not fair. You are right. But how would it make me look if I went out in public fighting this? It would look like I just want to have that medal. Mutant rights is something that is so rarely talked about. Some are aggressively against it while others fight and protest everyday, everywhere for it."
"What are you going to do then?"
"I don't know that there is something I can do. The humans have to figure it out on their own this time."
I could tell by the look on her face that she was conflicted, she as a mutant wanted equality. She wanted to go out in public and not be careful about what she could do but at the same time, she understood that any move I made would be frowned upon by one side or the other. If I were honest with myself, I didn't know how to really feel. I was a mutant to humans, but I don't have the gene. I was stuck in a very public matter and I did not like it one bit.
"How about we just go eat somewhere and forget about this for a while?"
"Okay. Where are we going to go eat?"
"Have you ever tried Persian food?"
"No, what type of stuff do they have?"
"I don't know, I have never had it. Lets go try it together."
"Cool!"
I laughed at her enthusiasm, she really was a joy to be around. The place I saw was about 20 minutes back so I sped up a little. I loved driving away from New York City. The rest of the state had normal traffic that I was use to. Once we got in the place, we were seated quickly by an elderly woman, she hardly spoke English and I let out a sigh of relief that she did not recognize me. She gave us flimsy menu's and left. Thankfully the strange names to the plates had an English translation, albeit not good ones.
"It's kinda worrying that this place is so empty."
"Well, who knows, I mean they had a yelp sticker on the window so at least we know it has some good reviews. Plus it is not even 4 yet, I'm sure late dinner it their rush hours."
"That's true. Bella, what is yelp?"
"Oh it is an app where almost all businesses are on. You can see pictures that people post and reviews. There are even tips and stuff like that. It is really helpful when you don't know what is around you."
"That sounds awesome!"
"Yeah, m friend Darcy showed me how to use it. Here."
I handed over my phone with the app open and she started exploring, she was very quick to pick up on it and soon she had found this restaurant. We looked through the pictures and saw that the Kabobs were their most talked about thing, the place itself only had 3 stars but all the people said it was because the service was so bad. True to the reviews, the lady came back out with waters 10 minutes later. She took our drink order and we both asked for lemonades. She came back with them 5 minutes after that and finally she came back a 3rd time to take our order.
"Can we both have the special please?"
"Joojeh and Koobideh yes?"
"Uh, yeah? That is the chicken kabob and the ground beef kabob right?"
"Yes, yes. House special."
"Oh then yeah. We will both have that."
She went to the back again and Kitty let out a laugh.
"Do you know what we ordered?"
"Honestly? No, not at all. I'm sure it will be the special though."
"Sure" She giggled a bit more before I got my water and flicked some her way.
"Hey!" I laughed when she tried flicking some back at me but she had drank too much and couldn't get her had to reach the water in the thin cup.
"That's not fair. These glasses are so tiny! I swear the toilet paper cardboard in the middle is thicker!"
She settled for sticking her tongue out at me instead but soon her eyes lit up and she used her mutation to stick two fingers into the water through the plastic of the cup. My eyes widened at the sight but I smiled her way before she flicked water back with a laugh.
"So, Kitty how old are you?"
"Oh I am 15! I just had a birthday 2 months ago on June 19th."
We talked about her favorite shows and music. It was very typical for a girl her age but then when it came to books she liked all the classics, every single book I named, she had already finished. I was proud of her for that. This generation does not do enough reading. Our food came 40 minutes later but we did not mind. We were having a very good conversation and getting to know each other.
"This chicken is sooo good! I've never tasted anything like this!"
"Me either. I am going to look up a recipe as soon as I get home. The beef is okay but this chicken is my favorite. Next time I would get 2 of these instead of the combination."
"I like them both. I would get this exact thing!"
We finished eating less than 10 minutes later, it was good and our hunger caught up with us fast. The older lady came back out to refill our lemonades then and take away our plates.
"Dessert?"
"What kind of desserts do you have?"
She went towards the front counter and brought back the menu and pointed to the dessert section.
"Is there something you recommend?"
"Makhloot very delicious. We make it fresh."
"Oh what is it?"
"Combination of Bastani and faloodeh."
Well that clears things up. I exchanged a look with Kitty and I know we were both thinking the same thing.
"We can share it if you want."
"Yeah that sounds good. Can we get that makl- um that, what you said please?"
"Okay. Makhloot."
"Yes, thank you."
She went back and we laughed again at the absurdity of not knowing what the hell we ordered. So far everything was great though. The woman came back with a frosted glass and inside was 2 scoops of ice cream. One was yellow, it had chunks of pistachios and tasted like rose water. The second scoop looked like ice with noodles.. noodles. I wasn't sure if I wanted to taste that one but when I did, it was so great! It tasted like rose water as well but with a lemon kick to it. Both of them melted together and made an even better taste. I could understand why they put these 2 together.
"I am coming back here! This is so good! Even if I have to walk here after school!"
"Oh yeah! You tell me when you are coming and I will meet you here. This is great."
"Can we make this our like special place? You know how everyone has that one place that they don't share with anyone?"
"Sure. That sounds like a great idea Kitty."
"I kinda wanna ask what these little hairs are though. They look funky."
"It smells like saffron. Maybe it's what makes the ice cream yellow."
We finished it off even faster than the chicken and I quickly paid. I drove until we passed a park that had a full set of swings.
"You wanna stop there? I love swings!"
"Yeah!"
We spent about an hour just relaxing and swinging. The sunset was beautiful from here without the buildings blocking it like in the city. We didn't talk much, I think we both had a lot to think about and this space was perfect, especially since we were together. Coming to a park alone would have been depressing.
"We gotta go hun, it's already 6:24."
"Aw fine. Can we hang out again soon though? Maybe next time we can take those donations or you can help me send them? I have everything in perfect piles now and packed back in boxes. They are in my room. Oh and I counted the money, it is 2,568 dollars."
"Wow. What are you going to do with it?"
"I don't know. I reserved a spot to use the library computers next week. From there I can look up veteran places and see which one needs it the most?"
"That's wonderful of you to do. What do you mean by reserve a spot though?"
"Yeah to use a computer."
"Don't you have a laptop or any electronic device?"
"Well no, I told you about how my parents didn't want anything to do with me after the professor told them I was a mutant. They even changed their address when I was 13. I sign up for a bunch of chores at the school so that I could earn money to spend when I get invited to movies or to the mall but I don't need anything else. The school helps a lot too, they buy me shampoo and all the essential stuff."
"Is that how they help everyone else too?"
"Well yeah, Rogue ran away from home and other students have problems at home too but most of them get visits and allowance from their parents."
"Kitty who is your guardian?"
"I'm not sure. My parents handed over all my documents to the school, I think Storm or Jean took care of some legal aspects"
That did not sit well with me at all. I felt all of today's revelations were starting to weigh on me. I would talk to Charles about this right now, how is it possible that she did not know who her guardian, this was hitting a little too close to home. I took care of Renee but she still mothered me once in a while and provided me with anything I needed. Same with Charlie. I mean this girl needed a phone. What if she got lost again and I was not there to pick her up? What if she needed something that the school did not cover and she did not have enough for it?
"Kitty are you happy at the school? I mean do they really treat you right?"
"Oh yeah, they are great. I mean, I don't always fit in but that's not really their fault.."
"What? You can tell me."
"They are all like a family. Everyone is so close to each other. I am close to them too but it just bothers me that I can't get as close as they are. I consider myself part of the team and all but I don't really feel like they are my family you know? And the girls are like best friends with each other, I hang out with them too but I leave very quickly because their interests just don't match mine. I only have 1 interest in common with Rogue and well you saw how that went. I do have my friend Peter, we always stick together since both of us have a harder time bonding with the others."
"You don't feel like you fit in."
It was not a question. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I had felt like that for years in school and today it has all crashed back. I wanted to help her but I really didn't know how. I can't just buy her everything she needs, she is just like me and I knew that would not make her feel good, I had to sneak things in with excuses. But first I had to get her to truly trust me. I had to show her that I was not just going to leave her later after coming in and changing everything about her. I had to prove to her that I was not like the Cullen's, she did not know them but the same thing happened to her when her parents left her. I had to show her that she could consider me family because I would not leave, not like they did. That was why she couldn't fit in with anyone. No one had ever shown her how to really trust because no one had ever been there for her unconditionally.
Once we pulled up in front of the mansion, she grabbed my hand and dragged me to her room. We had agreed that I would take the items and donate them and then next weekend I would come and help her split the money and send checks to donate. Her room was really small, it was just a twin bed, a dresser, a desk, a bookshelf, and her closet. No wonder she wanted to get rid of the boxes! They took up so much free space. I used my strength to carry 6 boxes and that left Kitty with 3 of the smaller ones. With the car loaded I asked her to take me to Charles, I almost felt like sweating with the thoughts running around in my head but I was determined to at least ask.
"Hello Bella, it is good to see you again. We were all worried after watching you fight on the news, although I must compliment you on your skill."
"Thank you very much. I know it is a little late but could I speak to you privately?"
"Of course. Please step in."
We sat across from each other and he must have seen that I was nervous.
"Charles, Kitty explained to me how some things worked around here in regards to earning money, that started another conversation and if I am being honest, I was not pleased to find out that she is not sure who her legal guardian is. I'm sure you can understand why that is troubling."
"Yes I certainly can. If I remember correctly, Jean put her name on the form."
"Okay, so is that all that it means? Is it just a form to legally make decisions for her? I really hope that I am not overstepping my boundaries but a child that only recently turned 15 years old needs personal guidance. She needs someone to take care of her and is responsible for her."
"We understand that and we do try with every student but there are many students and a lot of them are in the same situation as Ms. Pryde. I am sure that you have been able to tell that she is not like the rest of our students, we have a harder time getting her to join us for activities."
"I completely understand that about her, I was just like that in school and that is why I know that she needs someone that she can depend on, that she can look up to. She needs to feel like she can make mistakes and fall while having someone that can catch her. A school system is good and all but it is not enough to scold her and punish her when she messes up, she needs someone that will simply comfort her after the punishment."
"Bella, I think we both know where you are headed with this. You understand that we are not able to provide that for her. You would not be here arguing about it if you did not have a solution. The question is, are you responsible enough to take on such a serious commitment? I can't simply make up some paper work and hand her over as if she were a pet."
"I would NEVER see her as pet!"
I could feel my body shaking, struggling to control myself. I narrowed my eyes at him and threw every image of the Cullen's that I could. I didn't stop, not when the memory of what they were came up, not when they talked about gifts, not even when I passed on the memory of James and the torture and pain I endured. I was being stupid and I was being irresponsible. Yet I did not stop, it was too late now and even if he used all this against me I still did not stop, it was worth it to drive the point across. I have been taken in as a pet and left behind as nothing. I would never do that to anyone, much less someone like Kitty who I felt so protective of in such a short amount of time. I forced myself to stop before anything about the pack came up. The last image I left him with was of me curled up on the forest floor. I did not trust that he would not use this against me in some way or form but still I couldn't regret it, not if I could care for Kitty. She was worth it. I could feel a headache coming on from putting so much pressure on my head but still the shock I saw on his face was the only true indication that he had gotten those images and memories. He moved his wheelchair closer and put his hand on top of mine.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"I understand now that my words greatly insulted you. I am sorry for my words and for the things you have gone through in your short life. I see now that no one would understand and care for Kitty better than yourself. You know that and now I do too. I am very glad that she could finally find someone like you. I wish all my students could find someone to fill that void that we simply cannot. As for those thoughts that I caught behind the memories, I promise to you that I could never use that against you. One day you will seize to see that part of your life as a weak low point and you will begin to see it as an incredible stepping stone that got you to life's happiness."
"You don't seem very shocked."
"Well, although I have never interacted with one, I have been alive for enough time to have come across 2 or 3 vampires in a crowd. Maybe there have been more but thought's about being thirsty for the blood of someone else in the room stood out to me as a youngster. I knew of their existence but not of what they were capable of."
He squeezed my hand and I smiled at him softly as he retreated. He went to a closet in the office that was full of files. Quickly he plucked one out and handed it over.
"Get your lawyers to make up all the paperwork that is needed. When the time comes, we will sign anything necessary."
I took the file and put it in my bag.
"Thank you. First I have to ask Kitty if this is something she would even want."
"Well I will not wish you luck because the answer is very plainly obvious."
"Hah, yes that is what I am counting on. Have a good rest of your night."
"You too Bella. I hope to see you again soon."
I shut the door behind me and leaned on it. Now I was nervous again. She wanted me as her mentor right? So she should be okay with me being her guardian. I opened my eyes to find Logan leaning on the wall opposite of me. Smirking.
"I have heightened hearing."
Great.
"I think what you are doing is perfect for her. That kid needs a mom."
Mom?!
"uh- n- no I am not adopting, I am- I am hoping she will agree for me to be her guardian."
The bastard laughed at me and spoke as he walked away from me.
"Sure, you keep telling yourself that."
I smirked back at him and walked away as well but not before burning off all his nose hairs. I didn't burn him but he must have startled more than Tony because he yelped loudly before he started sniffing out to try and clear his nasal airways. I ran up the stairs laughing, that is until I knocked on the wall by the study hall. She was sitting on her own but I saw more books and a backpack that showed there was someone sitting there with her before, away from the tables filled with kids her age. They were all chatting while working but she was silent and concentrating on something. When I knocked and they all looked up at me. All the kids widened their eyes and started whispering among themselves. Kitty saw me and her eyes lit up. She shoved her books aside and came at me quickly, we stepped a few feet away from the door to gain more privacy.
"Hey, how is your homework going?"
"Good. I am almost done, just doing my reading and summarizing. I thought you were leaving right after talking with the professor?"
"I was but I talked to him about you and I wanted to tell you about that."
"What did he say?"
"Well I said that it was not okay for you to not know who your guardian is. Then we chatted a bit more and I told him that you needed more attention."
"No I really don't, I don't like being the center of attention."
"I know that, but you need someone to take care of you as guardians not just teachers. I suggested a solution to offer you something that the school cannot. I just don't know how you will feel about it. This is a very serious matter that I want- no, I NEED you to answer honestly."
"I understand."
"How would you feel if we went through the legal system and I became your guardian? If I took responsibility for you?"
She had been bouncing her leg but as soon as the words left my mouth she froze. I watched in horror as her eyes filled with tears. What did that mean? Then a smile broke out and I smiled back in relief. She yelled out loud enough to make all the students inside turn and look at us in shock.
"You want to adopt me?!"
Oh shit. There's that word again. Can I do that? Mentor? Yes. Guardian? Yes. Mother? I don't know. I mean if Renee kinda managed it then surely I could right? I knew what not to do. I decided that I had already been irresponsible with Charles by showing him about the Cullen's. Why not top the day off with the cherry? I could do this. I had all that money in my bank account and a kinda stable job. Yeah I can do it. Shit. No I don't know if I can. Her excitement wavered as I took too long to react back and my mouth opened before consulting with my brain.
"Yes, I do."
She jumped so high and into my arms that I had trouble keeping up right. She sobbed into my shoulder and I teared up once I felt the wetness on my shirt. I promised myself that I would die before I failed this girl in any way. I looked up and saw Storm wiping her eyes before smiling at me and turning to walk away. Kitty released me and just looked up into my eyes.
"I would love it if you adopted me. Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Don't thank me yet baby girl. You need to know that you won't be able to see me every weekend if I am on a mission. You are going to be my priority and I am going to try my best but you have to remember that I am going to mess up sometimes. I need you to always be honest and open about what you need. Even if what you need is new hairbands that are trending."
That got a laugh out of her. She nodded and took me to her room again to talk more about this. I found out that the school ran Monday – Thursday. The students who had parents around here usually left Thursday night and came back Sunday night so I told her I would pick her up Thursday after school and go to my apartment to pick out which room she wanted. She seemed really happy and I hated to leave but my phone had been ringing nonstop since I had picked her up. I knew they were calling to see how I felt about the medals but I could not let myself focus on that. I drove home slowly and the 40 minute drive turned into an hour and a half drive. There were dozens or reporters by the garage of my apartment but once I pulled in, they could not follow me inside since it was a private garage. I took the elevator straight up to the observatory, glad to see that Pepper and Tony were not in here anymore. I opened the roof and just laid on the floor looking up. My eyes started to water and began to cry. The tears disappearing into my hair or evaporating because of the heat on my face. I was happy and euphoric that I got to care for Kitty. I was hoping to give her the world. I was scared I would fail, scared that my focus to take Victoria out could somehow put her in danger. I was hurt, I was not willing to tell anyone or make anyone believe that I needed recognition but honestly it hurt my heart so much just thinking that I was not worthy of something just because I was not human. It's like it didn't matter what I did, even as a stupid pathetic human girl way over her head with vampires or as a maybe mutant that could stand on her own, I was never enough it seemed. I never heard the elevator ping but I felt 3 pairs of arms hug me. Jane, Darcy, and Natasha. Pepper put a hand on my thigh while Clint and Tony just sat on the floor across from me and Fury stood a few feet behind them, taking in the scene. I saw the concern in their eyes and the feeling of comfort that I had just took me over the edge. I started crying for everything. Jane spoke trying to comfort me.
"Bella we will all fight this, you deserve to be honored too. We will fight for mutant rights with you Bella."
I let out a shaky breath and shook my head.
"That's not what this is about Jane. I am not saying anything to the public. They can keep the damn medal."
"What are you saying Bella? Of course you have to fight against it. If you don't then what kind of message does that send other mutants?"
"I'm not a mutant! Stop saying that!"
They all froze in silence, not really knowing what to say.
"Bella-"
"Don't Jane! You have seen my DNA. I have spent night after night in there testing everything I can think of! I don't match with humans, I don't match with Mutants. Hell I have even tested it against animal DNA and nothing! I have no clue what I am, I don't fit in as this. I didn't even fit in as a human or with the pack, with the Cullen's. I never fit in anywhere and still I have to listen to those fucking ass holes on the news criticize me and expect me to fight for mutant rights when I am still trying to figure out what I am! If I do then people will think I just want the glory, if I don't other mutants will criticize me. Nothing I do is going to be right."
I just curled up in a ball and felt the tears still streaming. Breathing had become a problem and I just felt like I was losing it. I took a minute to just hope that no one would ask who the pack or the Cullen's were.
"Bella why hadn't you told us that this was bothering you so much? Yes the results are not giving us answers but Bella you don't have to fit in anywhere. You can't feel like an outcast, just look around. We have all been here all day waiting for you to come home just to see if you were okay. We love you and you are our friend. We don't want you to be feeling like this. We want you to live your life and be happy, we want to share happy memories with you. Do you trust us enough to open up to us? I know I am not always here but when I am, I want to be down there in your lab doing all the tests with you, I want you to talk to me and tell me how you feel about all the results. You don't have to shoulder this on your own anymore Bella. You have us to talk to."
"That's right. I have not known you very long Bella but you are a good person, I can see that. I want to help anyway that I can. I hope you trust me enough by now to be with you as well and to help with anything I can. I know how scary it is to not know anything about yourself. Hell, this thing in my chest is the only thing keeping me alive. How normal is that? But you helped me figure it out. I will stick with you until we figure out some answers. Science buddies remember?"
I had to snort out a laugh at Tony, he was trying for serious but he just had to put his humor into it too. I was feeling embarrassed for totally losing it in front of all my friends and my freaking employer but I did feel lighter. I had such a great day with Kitty. I never felt this pressure in my emotions until they bubbled over and spilled out but I am glad they did because although I would always be afraid of someone somehow using my DNA against me, I was looking forward to having Tony and Jane in the lab with me. I looked around at each of their faces and I felt even lighter. I knew these people, they were my friends and after tonight, I had a whole new appreciation for each and everyone of them. I knew the pack was there for me but I was so focused on making it on my own without their help that I figured no one else could ever understand me and be there for me like them.
"Thank you."
Natasha held me and helped me get up. She was the last person that I was expecting to show affection but after last week when I woke up to her stoking my hair, I feel like something shifted in our friendship.
"You don't have to thank us Bella, why don't we go downstairs and you can tell us what happened. We have been calling you all day!"
I nodded and we took the elevator down. Darcy cornered me in the living room after everyone sat down, she hugged me tight and whispered in my ear.
"I love you so much Bella, you are my best friend."
"I love you too Darcy."
Pepper made coffee and once everyone was settled they turned to me expectantly. Fury raised an eyebrow at me.
"Well?"
I sighed and started explaining to them about driving 3 mutants home. I didn't give out dates or locations so that no one would catch on to the fact that Barton and I had finished the mission early. Clint gave me a look though that told me he knew exactly when this all took place.
".. So I have been in contact with her and today I went to visit the school again and took her to eat. She told me about what had been said on the news but I ignored it since I was spending the day with her."
I talked to them about how she was raised and I told them everything about her except her ability. They were sad for her and outraged at her parents. I told them about my talk with Charles about guardianship and they were surprised but accepting. I knew I was just buttering them up for the ending but so far it was working.
"So after that I went and talked to her about it. I asked her how she would feel about me being her guardian. She thought I meant adoption. And I didn't correct her. I am adopting her and she will live here Thursday's to Sunday's."
Collectively all the voices around the room shouted at the same time.
"WHAT?!"
