Thirty Three (Nineteen Years Old)
"I'll give ten bucks to the guy who can shoot lightning from his fingertips!"
"Twenty for the girl who can change into animals!"
Emily rolled her eyes at the people shouting wages in the background. The DJ had been busy playing music for the last two hours, getting everyone riled up before the big match. The Mutant Fight Club was a hopping place that was recently discovered by SHIELD. After digging into the history of said club, she quickly found out that mutants were being trafficked into fighting rinks across the world.
The mutants in question were usually younger children with nowhere else to go. Since they were technically considered street thugs to authorities, the people operating these types of businesses usually got away with their crimes with a slap on the wrist.
She had been working alongside Professor Charles Xavier for the last few weeks. The professor was less than happy when she discovered the whereabouts of missing students in his school. Said students had been caught on the streets when they were supposed to return before nightfall. The school itself was under a strict schedule that made it so students who were younger than ten had to be back before a certain curfew, and there usually weren't any exceptions to that rule.
She knew if they had been captured by members of the club, they would likely be thrown into the fighting rink. And sure enough, she recognized one of the students as Sliver, or Alexander Grayson. Grayson was a younger kid who had the ability to create electricity from the tips of his fingers. The electrical field was weak, but it was enough to send a shock to anyone who got close enough. And he also had little control over his abilities. That made him a dangerous target in her books.
She glanced at the young woman with curly blond hair standing beside her as the wages continued for another ten minutes. Raven had been tasked to join her after finding out about the missing students. It hadn't exactly been a happy alliance, but they knew they couldn't do this alone. So both women had decided that the best thing to do was work together and rescue the missing student… and then some.
When they first met in person, Emily wasn't sure what to expect from the blond. Raven rarely showed her true self in public, preferring to stay hidden in the shadows. Not that Emily couldn't blame her. She realized with a start that in ways, they were similar. She hated it whenever someone questioned where her scars came from, and why she was so closed off to the rest of the world.
Like the other blond, she had quickly begun to learn that the best thing to do was stay hidden in the shadows. Becoming a public figure was the worst possible thing she could do, especially in light of recent events. She knew people would immediately question where the scars came from… and more importantly, she knew McCoy would find out what she had been up to over the last few months.
The only reason the press got word of her was because she tended to spend time with Tony. Reporters had gotten wind of a young woman being seen with him all the time either at his mansion in Malibu or whenever he made public appearances at his factory. She was lucky they hadn't started talking about her after those incidents, but Emily knew it was only a matter of time before they started asking questions.
"Forty bucks says I can take out the men guarding their prison cells," Raven remarked with a knowing smirk. "These people are nothing more than pushovers compared to some of the assholes I've had to deal with."
"Xavier mentioned something along those lines," Emily rolled her eyes knowingly. Though she was hardly surprised with the woman's need to prove herself. She of all people understood what it was like to be in that position. It had taken years for her to show Coulson that she could successfully pull off missions without getting herself killed. "What do we have for security measures?"
Raven looked around the room skeptically. Cameras were everywhere. There were also heavily armed guards blocking whatever escape routes they had. Emily had backup waiting for her in the form of Clint if things got dicey, though she was hoping to leave him out of most of the fight. Raven pursed her lips together when she realized they were badly outnumbered.
"The bystanders around us don't mean anything," she said dryly. "Knock out the cameras and I can take care of the security guards."
The two women looked at one another before reaching an agreement. Emily moved quickly to knock out the cameras in question. That was the easy part of her task. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see that Grayson was being led into the rink, along with an older looking teen with long hair that was dyed purple and white.
Emily rose an eyebrow at the sight, suddenly wondering if that was her signature look. Before she could dwell on the matter, she suddenly knocked out one of the guards standing closest to her.
She was relieved to find that the crowd was too riled up and intoxicated to notice they were being infiltrated. She glanced up at the rafters in time to see Clint leaning forward, dressed in full-gear as he prepared to fire at anyone who posed a threat. One nod was all it took for him to lean back, knowing full-well that getting involved was the last thing on his mind. Once he was hidden out of sight again, she focused her attention on knocking whatever guards Raven hadn't knocked out.
Her shoulders sagged with relief when she spotted Grayson staring at the scene with a mixture of panic and awe. Those who knew about Raven were quickly amazed by her sudden change in appearance. She wasn't called Mystique for nothing. Her ability to manipulate her cells was something Emily had always been fascinated with, though she never asked how she was in full control of said cells.
It didn't take long for the bystanders to become overwhelmed by sheer force. Those who weren't included in the guards had been thrown out of the club. The man in charge of said club was already knocked out thanks to Clint. Emily hadn't missed how several of the security guards had been looking around in confusion when they realized arrows were being fired from the rafters. She almost smirked at the sight, realizing with a start that this was well within Clint's element.
Once the situation was taken care of, both Grayson and the purple-haired woman stepped out of the fighting rink. The woman just looked confused as hell, while Grayson was grinning like an idiot when he saw Raven for the first time. Emily rose an eyebrow as the two young mutants threw her a cautious look, and as Clint jumped down from his hiding place within the rafters.
"How'd you find us so quickly?" Grayson asked when Raven joined them shortly after.
She shifted back into her human form, looking less than happy with being placed under the spotlight. Not that Emily couldn't blame the other blond. She understood what it was like to hide in the shadows. After months of being on the hunt for the men who'd been responsible for her torture, she was finally free of the threat they once posed. Though that didn't stop the guilt from weighing down on her shoulders. She'd never killed anyone in cold blood before, and the thought left her stomach wrenching.
"Computer data told us that the energy readings were strongest in this location," she explained while Clint threw her a withering glare.
"More like Professor Xavier knew where you were being held," the archer rolled his eyes in exasperation. "He wanted to make sure you had enough backup in case things went south."
"We didn't need the backup," Raven muttered as she crossed her arms and glared at Clint. "You two can come with me; the professor wants to make sure that you're in good health before you resume classes."
Neither mutant argued with the older woman. Emily watched in amusement as Raven led the way out of the building, with them following suit. SHIELD had already sent a cleanup crew to pick up the mess they'd left behind. Though luckily, it didn't look as if any civilians had gotten hurt in the fight. Most of the damage had been reserved for the guards and the man in charge of operations.
"Laura misses seeing you," Clint suddenly remarked. Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise when he threw her a knowing look. "It's been months since you stopped by the safehouse to see her and Lila."
Emily swallowed hard when she caught the underlying tone in his voice. When Coulson found out what she had been up to during her disappearances, he'd been pissed. The worst of it though was seeing the disappointment written across his face.
She knew she would have to live with the guilt of taking those lives. That was why she hadn't told anyone… not even McCoy knew the truth. Though they hadn't exactly been on speaking terms since she left the hospital that awful morning.
She couldn't remember the last time they had a conversation without things falling apart. They'd started talking about wedding dates and other novelties that most normal humans went through at their stage in a relationship. But it seemed like each time they were at a breaking point, things would spiral out of control.
Emily knew it was partly her fault, but it hurt to know that McCoy would never be ready to share a life with her. She knew in the back of her mind that he was likely better off with someone who didn't have the kind of baggage she carried, and that hurt more than she would ever admit out loud.
About the only consolation she had was that she'd learned to push back whatever feelings she had for him. Since her hair had begun growing back, she began throwing herself out into the world with other men. She knew McCoy was seeing another woman. The thought of losing him entirely had left her in pieces. She realized with a start that he was likely better off with someone who hadn't been such a mess. Yet that didn't stop her stomach from twisting in a tight knot.
Over the last year Tony had also designed the suit to better accommodate her needs. But within a short month since she last saw him, he had also been kidnapped. When Rhodes first called her about the news, she wasn't sure what to make of it. He was the first to visit her when he had the chance after Tony was taken. And in that moment he'd seen how much she changed. She didn't miss how shocked he had been at the time, or how he'd pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Tony mentioned something about you being taken, but I didn't realize just how bad it was," he'd said when they pulled apart and walked side-by-side.
Pepper had also sent her several messages along with a 'get well' card. The only thoughts occurring in her mind was how grateful she was that Tony's family still looked out for her to this day. She hadn't done a damn thing to earn the respect and kindness they had to offer, but Tony was always willing to go back and help whenever she needed it.
"It isn't as if you or Tony could've done anything to prevent it," she'd let out a heavy sigh as she caught him looking at her guiltily. "The assholes who took me are likely going to do the same to anyone they are interested in."
"So I've noticed," Rhodes let out a sigh of his own and finally looked down at the ground. "You know if you ever need a friend to talk to, I'm always there, right? Pepper is too. She's been worried about you."
She allowed herself a rare smile when she realized what he meant by that. The last thing she wanted was to feel like a burden to him or to Pepper. They were already busy enough worrying about Tony for them to worry about her as well. And the more she thought about it, the heavier her heart felt as she wondered if that was all people would ever see in her.
I don't want to be seen as a burden, she thought bitterly. Yet deep down, she knew the further she looked into herself, the more of a burden she was to them. Coulson had taken a couple of days off to be there for her those first couple of days at the ICU. Even Clint stopped by whenever he could while his wife was expecting.
She'd spent more time in the ICU than she cared to admit. Clint would always be there for her like a shadow whenever she was on the verge of collapsing. He was also the first to find her when she was at her lowest. At the time, she hadn't cared what happened to her. It wasn't until he dropped a painful reminder of what she had to lose that she was finally brought back to reality.
"I know, and I'm sorry I've been neglecting that part of my life," she admitted guiltily. She was shaken from her earlier thoughts when Clint let out a scoff. Especially since Laura had asked her to be Lila's Godmother. She was in no condition to be anyone's mother, let alone a Godmother. But Laura had insisted after seeing how much she cared about the infant. "It's just that I've been busy taking on missions and such."
"I've noticed," the archer snorted in disapproval. "I've also noticed you haven't spoken to McCoy in a few months either."
She stiffened at the mention of McCoy, and Clint frowned when he guessed something deeper was going on. She didn't want to admit that he had moved on. Or that her own life had been spiraling since they'd stopped seeing each other. She never had the heart to tell anyone just how badly that affected her. The last thing she wanted was to feel like a burden to anyone.
"We haven't exactly been on speaking terms since his father was admitted into the hospital," she muttered. It was Clint's turn to look at her in surprise. "His father sprung onto us that he wanted Leonard to be happy and make his choice before graduating from med school, but I think we both know that's never going to happen. He'd be happier with someone who can provide him with a 'normal' life."
"Em…"
Clint suddenly pulled her into a hug, despite the fact that he was dressed in full gear. It was at that point when she finally broke down. The last thing she wanted was to cry in front of anyone. She'd saved that for when she was alone, wallowing in her self-pity. Emily was well aware that her life would never amount to anything, but the moment McCoy had moved on was when she knew how true that was.
"Sorry," she said after pulling away.
"Don't be," Clint reassured her with a knowing frown. "Come on, let's at least go see Laura and Lila."
.
.
The first thing she did when she arrived at the Barton homestead was receive a welcoming hug from Laura. Emily allowed herself a rare smile when she saw how much Laura had changed in the short time of giving birth to Lila. She had been there during Lila's delivery, knowing full-well that she wanted to provide whatever support she could for the other woman. They'd become good friends over the last couple of years, and as a result Laura felt like family to her.
"It's so good to see you again, Emily," Laura greeted her with a warm smile.
"How have you been handling things since Clint started going on missions again?" Emily asked as she cradled Lila in her arms.
It amazed her at how calm and peaceful Lila was compared to other infants her age. She seemed captivated with the guest who was holding her while she and Laura sat in the living room. Clint was busy tending to the animals on the farm since he returned, deciding to give the two women some time alone.
He knew this was a good chance for them to catch up. Ever since she and McCoy had stopped talking, she tried spending as much time on the farm as she could. It was a good way to recover from the shock and the stress of everything that was happening. And when Lila was born, she'd spent more time with the newborn than anyone aside from her parents.
Emily realized with a start that Lila had filled a void in her heart that was left when she and McCoy stopped talking. She knew nothing would ever fully replace what was left between them. McCoy had been and still was her Imzadi. She didn't know what that term really meant, but it was something that left her gut wrenching with a familiar pain.
God only knows what he would say if I told him that, she thought bitterly.
She had begun imagining worse-case scenarios when it came to telling him how she really felt. A small part of her wished she could have been more open with him from the beginning. Maybe it would have saved them all the grief and aggravation she now faced. And maybe she wouldn't be wallowing in self-pity. Either way, she couldn't take back what happened between them even if she wanted to.
"It hasn't been easy," she admitted truthfully. "I'm always worried something is going to happen to him, and where does that leave me and Lila? I know the agency has placed safeguards around us, but…"
"I get it," Emily nodded in understanding. "Leonard used to say the same thing whenever I went on missions."
Laura threw her a look of surprise when she realized the blond had used past tense. She'd known through Clint that the two had been fighting. She hadn't realized how bad it was until hearing how solemn the other woman sounded.
"Clint told me that you and McCoy were fighting again," she said warily.
Emily cursed under her breath at the fact that Clint had told her everything. She was hardly surprised with the notion, though. He was the type of person who went out of his way to care about others, despite what everyone else seemed to think. Emily swallowed hard and looked down at Lila thoughtfully. She suddenly found herself wishing that she could be as innocent as the little girl before her was.
That part of her life had long-since vanished before the Kelvin incident. She couldn't even remember the last time she had a carefree day. Even on her time off, she was usually busy sending in reports or looking after someone. She rarely had time off like others, though she preferred keeping it that way. Work was more of a distraction than anything else.
"Like I said to Clint, we haven't been on speaking terms for the last couple of months," she explained with a shrug. "I think at this point we're just at different places in our lives…"
The brunette gave a nod of understanding. Though Emily hadn't told her or Clint that she'd heard rumors of McCoy seeing another woman. Or that the woman in question happened to be Pamela of all people. That stung more than she wanted to admit out loud. Pamela had known they were seeing each other, which was why it hurt so much. The other woman didn't seem to care regardless of whether or not she and McCoy had been dating.
It wasn't until receiving a message through her com that Emily's attention was drawn away. Her eyes widened with horror when she saw that it was Coulson who sent the message. Worst still was that McCoy's father had passed away. She glanced anxiously at Laura, who seemed to understand that something terrible had happened. Lila started squirming in her arms, tearing up the moment Laura took her back.
"We'll be fine here," Laura reassured her with a hug.
She couldn't help but wonder at the fact that Laura was willing to put up with her in the first place. She knew the brunette hadn't been happy with her sudden disappearance, but Laura was still willing to let her visit regardless of what she did. She let out a heavy sigh as she stuffed the com back into her pocket and left. She had a feeling that the next few days were going to be draining, both mentally and physically.