Eighteen

A couple of weeks had passed since the incident at the circus. Coulson was still furious with how she handled the incident, and Emily could see it written across his face. She'd gone out of her way to investigate the Circus of Crime, and in doing so, she not only put her life at risk, but she also put McCoy's life at risk. That was what had pissed him off so much. Her reckless choices had nearly gotten them killed, and she knew it would take time for him to forgive her for said incident.

Emily swallowed hard as she nervously followed Coulson to the main building of the Treskellion. He'd taken a trip to Washington D.C. after her incident revolving around the Circus of Crime. McCoy had offered to go with her, but the moment Coulson took him aside was when he changed his mind. Still, he offered whatever support he could. His endless support for whatever choices she made was what she admired the most out of him. McCoy cared about her, and in doing so, he showed that there were people outside the agency who looked after her.

It isn't as if I've ever done anything to help him, she thought.

She tried pushing the uneasy thought aside when they finally got inside. To her surprise, Maria was already waiting for their arrival. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she and Coulson made some silent exchange. Emily nearly rolled her eyes, suddenly aware that the two of them had their own body language. She knew she wasn't out of the woods just yet, but at least Coulson was willing to let her sign the paperwork.

"There's a lot of paperwork that needs to get signed," the brunette warned her once the exchange was over. "Once we're finished with that, we can see what area you'll be placed in."

For a moment, Emily thought of asking what she meant by that when she thought better of it. She glanced over her shoulder as Coulson slipped away. The lump in her throat suddenly returned full-force as she realized she was on her own. And in that moment, she suddenly wished that she could have gotten everything off her chest.

Ever since the incident at the circus, she refused to make eye contact with him. Coulson hadn't missed that behavior change himself, though he had been too busy to mention it out loud. She knew in the long-run that he was pissed with her. And the thought left her stomach rolling as she tried figuring out how to make things better.

"He hates me," she muttered as they walked side-by-side. Maria threw her a look of surprise, though she didn't bother cutting her off. "I made one stupid mistake and he hates me for it."

A shiver swept through her as she recalled how furious he had been that evening. She hadn't been able to sleep for weeks after that. Anytime she did try to sleep, her dreams were usually filled with nightmares revolving around her father. She knew Coulson wasn't anything like her father - she was grateful for that notion - but his shouting had only brought back memories she would have rather kept buried. The only person she ever talked to about said nightmares was McCoy, who didn't even know the full scoop revolving around her parents.

They'd spent most of that night talking until it was too late for McCoy. She knew keeping him awake wasn't fair. But she was grateful that he'd chosen to stay up for as long as he could with her. To know that she had someone she could talk to whenever she suffered from a nightmare meant more than she would ever admit out loud.

She didn't have the heart to talk to Coulson about her nightmares. After that experience at the circus, she was terrified of facing his wrath again. He never seemed to mind it though, having been busy for most of the next couple of days. Avoiding him was far easier than she wanted to admit out loud. Though she supposed that also stemmed from the fact that he was working on the Circus of Crime cases.

"Emily, he doesn't hate you," Maria reminded her with a pointed look. Emily flinched when she felt her cool gaze bore through her. "Look, Coulson cares about you. He was terrified he might lose you that night."

"Sure didn't seem that way when I asked him about the agency," she said under her breath.

Maria nearly rolled her eyes in exasperation, "What would have happened if they got a hold of you? Or if they managed to hurt McCoy? Both of you were stupid enough to go after the criminals, and those choices have consequences that not everyone will be happy with."

Emily paused in her stride when she realized what Maria was implying. She knew that those men had been interested in her the moment they found out she had powers. She was also well aware of the fact that they would have tried taking advantage of her if she allowed it. She was lucky they had been distracted by McCoy, though it also put his life at risk. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach at the thought of losing him. She hadn't realized until then that losing him was a real possibility, especially in her line of work.

"God, I'm an idiot," she sighed after recovering.

The brunette offered a rare smile, "Yes, you are. But you had good intentions, and I am proud of you for proving yourself. I was wondering how long it would take for you to convince Phil to join the agency."

She couldn't hide her own smile as they finally reached the office where the paperwork was waiting for her. Getting praise from Agent Hill was like getting praise from her father by birth. It was a rare occurrence, and she knew Maria meant it when she said she was proud. She let out another sigh as they took their seats.

"Leonard was still willing to talk to me, even after the stupid crap I pulled off," she admitted.

"Well, considering the two of you have been dating for the last two years, I'm not surprised." Emily grimaced when she realized what Maria was implying. The brunette merely gave her a wink as she saw Emily's reaction. "Even from across the room it's been obvious the two of you are into each other."

Is it that obvious? she suddenly wondered.

"Papa wouldn't be happy if he knew," she muttered. "And I'm not sure what I'm going to do now that I'm joining the agency."

"There are ways around those rules," Maria reassured her as pulled out the data PADD. Files were already brought up, along with dozens revolving around the rules and regulations of the agency. "Some agents working for the company have families outside of work. There's always protective clauses around them."

Her brows furrowed together as she thought of what Maria informed her. She knew it wasn't easy having to deal with someone who was involved with the agency. She had a feeling McCoy wouldn't be so keen when he saw the risks that were involved. Though to be fair, he'd taken her by surprise on more than one occasion.

Neither of them said a thing as she went through the paperwork necessary for joining the agency. For now, she tried focusing on the path looming ahead. But she knew what her heart wanted. And in that moment, she had no regrets in telling McCoy everything about the agency.

.

.

Coulson watched them disappear with a heavy weight on his shoulders. The guilt from earlier suddenly came rushing back as he pictured how solemn she looked over the last couple of days. He knew she was likely suffering from nightmares, but she was too stubborn to admit it out loud. At least to anyone at the agency. It seemed McCoy was the only one she was willing to talk to regarding the way she really felt. The bond they had was unlike anything he'd ever seen between brother and sister. He knew it was more than that. She had this strange connection with the people she met, and while she didn't know what she was doing, it meant their friendship was stronger than anyone could have expected.

He knew full-well that McCoy and Emily had been seeing each other for the last two years. And while it irked him to know that someone had stolen Emily's heart, in ways, he was grateful that someone had been McCoy. Sure, the kid had some rough edges around him, but he cared about Emily. And that was what mattered the most. Even if it had taken Doctor McCoy weeks to convince him that it was a good idea to see where it headed. He still found himself wondering if it was safe for her to be in a relationship with anyone. When he first found out she had been talking to Tony Stark of all people more often, he'd known nothing good would come out of that. But time and time again had proven that Stark was a good kid with a bad history and influences. He'd proven to be a good friend of hers, if not an irritating thorn in the side to him.

"Sir, we've managed to apprehend another member of the Circus of Crime."

He stiffened when a voice sounded through the earpiece. Over the last couple of weeks, they had been nabbing people related with the Circus of Crime from the streets. Facial recognition had worked like a charm, and it wasn't long before the string of robberies dissipated as well. Their biggest target had been the leader of the group - Ringleader. Ringleader was a master of deception though; hiding in plain sight was one of his biggest assets. Catching him was easier said than done. Almost all the members they caught had either refused to mention Ringleader's name or bring up his last location. He hoped this thief would prove better than the rest, otherwise they were at a dead end.

Shaking his head at the thought, Coulson made his way towards the room where they held people who were under arrest.

The interrogation rooms were designed with a one-way wall. Each room was windowless to make the criminal nervous. Nervous people tended to do stupid things such as give their names and information away. He had been hoping that the people connected with the circus would be more cooperative. But all of them managed to elude them of information, refusing to give in.

He was hoping for an easier investigation this time around. Though nothing was ever easy. And when he finally reached the room in question, Coulson's heart nearly skipped a beat. The newcomer in question was young, probably around Emily's age if not a little older. Not for the first time, guilt stabbed him in the chest at the thought of what might have happened had he not taken her in. He knew she would have likely been out on the streets or in worse condition had he not adopted her. She had changed so much within the last ten years he brought her home with him… he still had no regrets in adopting her.

"The only thing he kept saying was that some freak told him about the agency," Agent Rumlow explained after catching the look of surprise written across his face. "Guessing this has something to do with our little kid joining the agency."

Coulson threw him a scathing look, and Rumlow immediately backed down. There were more than a few people he would've rather avoided than crossed paths with. Rumlow happened to be one of them. The man didn't seem to care who he pissed off, and he had major anger issues. He was also one of the many reasons Coulson wanted to keep Emily away from the agency. He knew Rumlow wouldn't hesitate to strike back or hurt her if he could get away with it. But, Rumlow was good at knocking the information out of criminals when they were desperate.

"Let me talk to him," he sighed.

Rumlow was ready to argue when he seemed to think better of it.

Rolling his eyes at the man's stiffness, Coulson made his way inside. The kid looked as if he was pouting at the fact that he was caught. Though what really set him apart was how thin he was. Coulson lifted a brow as he took notice of this. Not for the first time, he found himself wondering if Emily would have been in the same state had he not adopted her.

"If you're tryin' to get me to talk, you can save your breath," the kid said flatly. "I've already told your friend there that I ain't talkin'."

"Who, Rumlow?" Coulson almost laughed at the idea that they were friends. Coworkers, maybe. But definitely not friends. "Look, I'm here to have a casual talk. Maybe get to know you a little better. I'm guessing you've been at this longer than most people we bring in."

The kid eyed him suspiciously as he took a seat across from him. His shoulders sagged as he finally sank further into the cold metal chair.

"Yeah, I guess so," he muttered crossly.

"I have a daughter of my own who would've been in the same place if I hadn't adopted her," he went on. That seemed to catch the kid's attention. "You mentioned something about running into 'some freak'. That happened to be her."

For a moment, the kid almost looked stunned into silence. But it only lasted for a few seconds before his face morphed into a look of contempt.

"Yeah, Ringleader was interested in her too," he shrugged. Coulson stiffened at the mention of Ringleader, the crime boss. "Said if she does have powers, then she should be introduced to the family."

"He'd have a hard time getting his hands on her if that was the case," he remarked dryly.

The kid just shrugged again and crossed his arms.

"Once he has his mind on something, he never lets it go until he has it," he explained. "Barney and I tried getting out while we could, but Ringleader doesn't let go so easily."

Coulson's brows furrowed together as guilt swept through him once again. This kid had clearly been through hell during his time in the circus. But he was acting as if nothing had happened, pretending like the world didn't matter to him. Though he could tell deep down that the kid was terrified. As much as he would never admit it, the kid knew he would be thrown in prison once this was all said and done. And with his background revolving around the circus, he would likely be thrown into the Freezer.

A shiver of dread swept through him when he realized that Emily could have just as easily become their victim. He knew in the back of his mind that adopting her had been the best choice he could make. After everything she'd been through in the short four years of her life, she deserved a better life.

"Alright, let's cut to the chase," he sighed after rubbing the temple of his forehead. "Ringleader won't get anywhere near her; the agency would make sure of that. I'm gonna give you an offer, one that could work in your favor."

"Does it involve acting like a guard dog towards that kid? Cause I'm not about to—"

"Go anywhere near her," Coulson cut him off before he could finish. The kid's mouth clamped shut as he glared back defiantly. "Join the agency."

The kid was caught off guard by his last statement. He knew it was a huge risk letting an outsider join the agency. But it wouldn't be the first time he made that call. Director Fury would more than likely understand that this kid would make a valuable asset with the right training. Heck, the agency was well-known for taking in those with strong skillsets. He knew Emily would have likely fallen under that category if he hadn't interfered with her enrollment.

"You must've lost your marbles after adopting her," the kid finally burst out laughing. "What sort of agency would want someone like me joining it?"

He nearly rolled his eyes in exasperation before thinking better of it, "The kind that prevents you from being thrown into the Freezer. Do you know what they do to people who are thrown into the Freezer?"

"Turn them into hotdogs?" the kid shrugged once again.

"People never see the light of day," Coulson snapped. The kid stared at him for a few seconds as if he'd grown wings. "Once you're incarcerated, you're in for life. You may be able to switch prisons and be moved to the Kyln up in space, but that's about it."

He watched as the kid seemed to contemplate the fate of being locked in prison for the rest of his life. It was a harsh punishment, but for the crimes that he and his gang committed, it was a light one. He was lucky they hadn't declared something as harsh as the death penalty… although that was rarely used these days. Since the Federation came into place, people who were under punishment were usually sent to some of the harshest colonies they could think of.

The kid finally let out a sigh, "You're not giving me a choice, are you?"

"I'm giving you a choice, kid," Coulson reassured him with a small smile. "Whether or not you make the right one is up to you."

That seemed to solidify his answer, "Where do I sign up?"

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.

Relief swept through her when she finished signing the last of her paperwork. After that, she was taken through a series of exercises meant to decide what field she would be placed in. The problem was, she'd memorized just about everything before the test. So she was qualified to work in just about every field possible. A few of the scientists who worked on said program had been more than annoyed with her eidetic memory, saying it wasn't fair that she was allowed to take the test. Luckily, Maria stepped in for her and explained the situation to them.

Emily's shoulders sagged as she followed Maria to the main lobby. She was thankful that she had been able to keep in touch with McCoy during those hectic three hours. He was the reason she hadn't gotten bored beyond belief throughout the waiting process. Though he was well aware of where she was at the moment, he didn't seem to mind entertaining her while he was in study hall. He still had a few more weeks before graduation, and then he was free to decide what to do with his future.

By the time they reached the main lobby, she was surprised to see Coulson standing there with someone oddly familiar at his side. Emily rose an eyebrow when Clint stared at her with equal surprise. Then he had the audacity to eye her up and down with renewed interest. Emily refused to let her disgust show, especially since she could see this was a challenge to Coulson's authority.

"Who's this?" Maria asked before he could say anything.

"This is the kid they picked up the other day," Coulson explained without looking at either Clint or Emily. "He's joining the agency."

She crossed her arms in annoyance when she realized what he was implying.

"Really? So you're willing to let some random kid off the streets join the agency when you gave me hell about joining it?" she quipped, sounding unamused.

Coulson's gaze hardened at the accusation in her voice. Emily refused to back down from the challenge, eyes narrowing with renewed determination. She was annoyed enough that he'd allowed some random stranger to join. But his reluctance to allow her anywhere near the agency was what really took the cake.

"The paperwork is all filled out," Maria cut in before an argument could begin. "Placement testing needed to be rescheduled since she's already infuriated the programmers."

Emily watched in amusement as Coulson's mouth twitched in the form of a smile. Try as he might to hide it, he was proud of what she was able to accomplish. Pissing off the engineers and the programmers had been quite the feet, especially since most of the agents joining had to go through the same test every year.

"Good. It's about time they do something about that test," he remarked. "I'm assuming the two of you already met?"

Clint had been silent throughout the exchange, though his interest peeked when they mentioned reprogramming the test. His eyes met hers, and not for the first time, Emily found herself wondering what he had been through to join the circus in the first place.

She recalled how he was arguing with his older brother before the fight ensued. The two of them had clearly been trying to figure out what to do with their lives if anything happened to the circus. She doubted they would get a Scott-free card if one was offered to them. But, Coulson took her by surprise in allowing him to join the agency.

Though, she had a feeling he was probably going to regret his decision after seeing how they were squaring each other off. Emily crossed her arms and studied him warily, knowing full-well how skilled he had been in archery. Any other field though, he would likely need work in.

"She kind of kicked my ass that night at the circus," he admitted sheepishly.

Her brow rose with a look of amusement as Coulson let out a sigh.

"And I'll gladly do so again if you cross the line," she retorted without missing a beat. "I still haven't forgiven you for the way you treated my friend."

Or for the fact that you called me a freak, she added silently.

After spending a few years living at the School for the Gifted, Emily quickly learned that the mutants were often mistreated while out in public. She hated the fact that they couldn't defend themselves. They had to hide either in plain sight or just from the public in general because they were different. Meanwhile aliens from space were often given the same treatment just because they looked a little different.

"I was just gettin' warmed up," Clint scoffed as if that was the most ridiculous statement he'd heard. "I'm willing to bet I could take you down in round two."

"I'll take on that bet."

It only took her a few strides to reach him, her eyes refusing to waver from the challenge. Meanwhile, Maria was stifling a fit of laughter while Coulson pinched the bridge of his nose. Watching her square off with someone who was twice her size gave just about everyone in the lobby a good laugh. Though most of them didn't realize she was being serious. She had a tendency to take on a bigger challenge than she should. Coulson tried weaning her off of that habit, but it was easier said than done.

"Mind your location, Emily," Coulson finally snapped.

Emily just glared back at Clint as he returned the favor. She knew she would hold her own in a firefight when it came down to that. If Clint was willing to take her on in a sparring match, then she certainly wasn't going to back down from the challenge.