Marie's POV:
I realized too late I had neglected to put up the protective barrier around the entire farm. Instead opting to throw up a barrier around the house.
By the whirring that I hear I can take a valid guess on who it is.
"Bitsy? Drop the barrier. We need to talk." He says.
I wave my index finger up and down, making the barrier disappear, and listening to him land.
I don't know how long it was before I hear some whirring and clinking, before I hear footsteps crunch as the make their way up the porch and into the house.
"Bitsy." He says, walking towards me as I lay on the couch, staring at the crackling fire in the fireplace.
"I know what you're going to say, Tony... and to be honest with you, I don't want to hear it." I say, sitting up and staring up at him.
"Do you? do you really, Bits?" He asks, as he sits down next to me.
"No." I sigh, before lowering my head as my lower lip begins to tremble.
I feel as he wraps an arm around my shoulders as he sighs. "Talk to me." He says.
"No." I say, looking back at the hearth.
"Aw.. Come on, Bitsy. Talk to Uncle Tony. Let it all out." He says, opening his arms and patting his left shoulder.
"What do you want me to tell you? So much has happened to me in the past year and a half. I lost both of my parents to a psychotic vampire, who was targeting me for the wrong reasons. I found out I am some sort of freak with all these abilities, half of which I don't know how to control, and my older brother is in some sort of elite team that is constantly helping protect and save the world. I thought I could at the very least catch a break, but I didn't. I feel so...so stupid… I just I'm too tired. I don't want to keep doing this anymore, I want it to be over, I want to disappear." I whisper, tearfully.
"Bitsy, I know what I am about to say is going to sound extremely insensitive, but...life isn't easy. It never will be. The trick is to not let it keep you down. If it knocks you down you go down kicking and screaming. You fight. You do not give up. Ever. You need a break? That's perfectly fine, but you get back up. You continue to fight. I don't ever want to hear you thinking negatively. Can't, won't, didn't and haven't aren't words that should be in your vocabulary, are we clear?" He whispers, looking over at me.
"Alright." I allow, wiping my face clean.
"Now that you've let a bit off of your chest, tell me, how long has this thing with Rogers been "going on?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Oh...you—you know about that?" I stutter, nervously.
"Yeah, I know about that." He mocks. "How long?" He repeats questioningly.
"It happened after we all got home, from Slovakia." I muttered.
"So, what you're telling me is that Rogers and you have been—what exactly is this? A relationship? A friendship? What?" He asks.
"About a week ago, before we received the call from the U.N, we finally decided to put a name to what we have, define it if you will, but I keep stepping back. I'm too scared this will end up in a disaster." I mutter, hiding my face in my hands.
"Don't do that. Not every relationship is the same. That ex of yours? Edwin, I think. He is currently in Juno, Alaska. If you really wish to get over what he did to you all those months ago...go and kick his ass. Or better yet… allow me to do it." He offers.
"Why would I care what that douche is doing?" I question, lifting my head up to look at him.
"Oh, I know you don't, I just wanted to check." He says, offhandedly.
I sigh in exasperation, "Tony, what did you do?"
"Me? Nothing." He says, looking at anywhere in the room but at me.
.
"Tony…" I say again, raising my brow at him.
"Alright, alright. I started keeping track of them, about eight months ago. They might think they're slick but they aren't." He says.
"What happened?" I ask, warily.
"They tried to hack into the S.H.I.E.L.D database again. Left a cyber thumbprint behind." He said as he pulls out a device to show me.
He showed me a few things. My mind seemed to go back to the day Edward informed me of how they managed to stay off the grid if needed.
Alice.
She was always the one who informed them if something was wrong. Something about this situation today me, she was no longer with them. Meaning Jasper, the best hacker in the family wasn't with them either.
It took us a few minutes but a route seemed to be coming out. Which was weird, they have never been this careless.
This bit brought a wry smile to my face. "What exactly did you do to them?" I ask.
The sudden quietness that is submerging the farm is interrupted by a low humming in the distance.
I'm bout to ask Tony when I notice the annoyed exasperation on his face.
Wonderful it looks like we have a guest.