New York

Tony knocked on his office door wondering why he did so as he walked in. Peter was staring out the window and didn't acknowledge his entrance. The kid was still dressed in his Spiderman suit which struck Tony as amusing. He probably should have let the kid change.

"You must have a good maid," Peter said finally as he turned on his heel and looked at the billionaire.

Tony furrowed a brow. "What?"

Peter pointed to the closest corner. "No cobwebs."

Tony smirked. "Funny kid." Then he deadpanned. " Sit." Tony pointed to the nearest chair and Peter obeyed, sitting down and staring at his feet. Tony shook his head. He hadn't expected the kid would stand in the corner anyway; he really sucked at parenting. Five years olds stood in corners, not teenagers, although Tony never expected he would have physically disciplined Peter either and he had. Wonders never ceased in this very strange parenting journey he had signed up for.

Tony pulled up a chair and straddled it. He reached out and grabbed Peter's wrist releasing the tracker. Peter pulled his arm back and rubbed his wrist.

"How do you do that?" he asked, perplexed.

Tony looked at the watch carefully, tinkering with it. "Touch ID."

"Figures."

Tony popped open the back of the watch and peered inside. He looked up at Peter with a puzzled look on his face.

"So, how'd you hack it?"

Peter shrugged. "I didn't."

Tony raised a brow. "She wasn't able to tell me your location."

"What can I say? I guess she likes me."

Tony fingered the watch in amusement. "Huh. First Karin, then Friday and now Jocasta. You live a charmed life, Kid."

Peter shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "When you've got it, you 've got it."

Tony's face darkened a little. "Oh, trust me, kid, you're gonna get it."

Peter's face paled and his chin dropped. "I'm sorry, Mr. Stark."

Tony's brows found each other. He wasn't used to Peter giving in so easily. The teenager had been giving him so much attitude lately that he immediately got his back up before listening to the kid. Tony sighed and grabbed the kid's wrist, attaching the watch once again. A tracker that alerted him of something was better than no tracker at all. He'd think of a way to charm Jocasta himself later.

"Why'd you go off grid? You have boundaries, and I happen to think they're quite generous."

Peter chewed on his lip, looking very remorseful, again throwing Tony off his game.

"Got a lot on my mind, Mr. Stark. I'm sorry but I wasn't paying attention to where the train was heading."

"Pete, I'd like to believe you but you also told Friday not to tell me where you were going. I've warned you about this…."

Peter held up his hands in surrender. "Please, Mr. Stark…"

Tony softened and sighed. He couldn't be even a little angry when the kid was being so repentant and compliant. This was a whole new Peter Parker.

Peter stood up and walked towards the window once again. "Can I go home? Aunt May is already ticked off. When she freaks out, I freak out."

Tony frowned and walked over to Peter, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You've said that before, kid. What does that even mean?"

Peter sighed. "It means I need to go home, Mr. Stark, and I can't come tomorrow either. I'm kinda grounded."

Tony looked at him in concern. "How did you get kinda grounded?"

Peter's face took on a pained look. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Tony dropped his hand to his side and was quiet for a few minutes. He stared at the kid trying to figure out this new Peter attitude.

"What?" asked Peter, squirming under the scrutiny.

"I'm not used to you being so damned apologetic."

Peter smirked. "Yah, I know. I'm off my game." Then Peter's face grew more solemn. "Seriously, Mr. Stark, I didn't go off grid to piss you off. I just have a lot on my mind. I guess—I guess I don't know why you care, anyway."

Tony frowned. Peter seemed so stuck on that point, and it didn't seem to matter how many times he told the kid he cared. Peter just couldn't wrap his head around it. But the fact remained that Tony did care about the kid. He cared a lot, and He didn't know why any more than Peter did. Maybe he saw a bit of himself in the kid. He'd already tried to explain it to the teen boy before. Peter had caught a rough deal in life—just as rough as his own—Tony knew what it felt like to lose his parents. He might have been a bastard but he still loved them. Peter had lost so much more, and his aunt struggled to make ends meet. Tony had never wanted for material goods. He couldn't even fathom it.

"I care, Pete. "

"Are you pissed?"

"No," admitted Tony. He had been, but now he wasn't. "I can't believe you hexed Jocasta too. Geez, kid. I don't have any more AI's up my sleeve. And Dum-E and U already worship you. So, who's next? Pepper?"

Peter smiled a toothy grin. "She's pretty hot, Mr. Stark. Who is she?"

Tony shook his head." Ah, nope, you don't get to change the topic that easily." He put his hands on his hips and thought a moment. "Okay, so Aunt May grounded you. Makes me think she has a good reason, and you don't want to tell me which is fair enough. So, since you were out tonight on patrol that tells me you weren't keeping your grounding. Am I correct?"

Peter's face gave him away.

"Yah, that's what I thought. Grounded means grounded, kid. You don't have to tell me why, but you do have to obey the terms of it. How long did she ground ya for?"

"Until mid-terms are finished."

"Uh huh, okay, so no patrolling until then, got it?"

Peter puffed out his cheeks in annoyance, but he wasn't in the mood to fight with Tony about anything. He just wanted to go home.

"Fine, okay. Can I go home now?"

Tony tilted his head and looked at the teen boy. No fight, no argument, no attitude. It was actually quite disconcerting considering what he knew of the kid.

"Pete, are you okay? Don't get me wrong, I kinda like this new obedient thing you've got going. It's weird but refreshing at the same time, only it makes me think something is wrong."

Peter groaned in annoyance. "Nothing's wrong! Mind your own business, okay?"

Tony scratched his goatee for a moment. Something was definitely not right with the kid, but he didn't feel he had the right to pry too much yet. "Okay, Pete, have it your way. Are you good with Happy taking you home?"

"Yah, whatever."

Tony hesitated a moment as he continued to stare at Peter. Something was seriously off and Tony wasn't feeling super comfortable with letting Peter leave without telling him.

"You sure everything is okay, Peter?"

Peter grimaced like he was in pain but then nodded. "I'm fine."

"Okay. Get changed and I'll call Hap." Tony went to walk from the room and then stopped. "So, since you can't come to me, how about I stop by tomorrow with supper? You're aunt working or is she home?"

Peter stared at his feet. "I dunno."

"Okay, I'll call you. How does that sound?"

Peter looked up, surprised. "You'll call me?"

"Yah, I'll call you."
Peter looked unconvinced but nodded.

Tony turned to walk out the door.

"Mr. Stark?"

Tony stopped once more once he reached the doorway. "Yah, Kid?"

Peter looked like he wanted to say something but remained silent. Tony frowned as he stared at Peter. Something was definitely not right.

"Never mind," he finally said.

Tony nodded and walked from the room.

Wakanda

Steve grimaced as his head spun him in circles. He looked up at Clint and Wanda, blinking a few times to clear his vision, and shuddered. Clint looked furious and Steve walked towards him hoping to defuse the situation. Wanda's face was bewildered as she stood pinned between Clint's strong legs.

"Clint, I'm okay," he assured his friend.

Clint ignored Steve and sternly shook Wanda. "Do you remember what happened the last time you tried to do the whole mind control thing on me? In case you don't remember, I'm not a fan!"

Wanda's eyes enlarged in both recollection and fear. She remembered quite well. Clint had shot her with an arrow that time too. Only that time the arrow had given her a shock like none other. It had taken her a long time to gain her equilibrium after it.

"Clint, it's okay; I'm okay." He tried to calm his friend as he stepped closer and looked into Wanda's eyes. "What were you trying to show me with that vision, Wanda?"

Wanda blinked back tears but remained silent. As much as Clint was angry, Steve was more interested in the girl's thought process. He didn't feel like it was a malicious attack but rather that she was trying to show him something he'd missed before.

Just then a knock was heard at the door.

"Not now," barked Clint, still wanting to deal with Wanda's abuse of her powers.

Steve shot Clint a look to behave as he opened the door to see Shuri standing there.

"Hello," she said, her face lighting up with a bright smile when she saw him. She held out something in a jar and handed it to Steve. "My mother asked me to bring this for Wanda. It is ancient healing balm known for its accelerated healing properties. It helps with pain, healing and scarring." Shuri looked over at Wanda and her face grew concerned. "Is everything okay? Did I interrupt something?"

Steve accepted the ointment kindly. "No, no, everything is fine, Shuri. Please thank your mother for us."

Shuri nodded looking uncertain. "Wanda, I was wondering if you might like to come to my home this afternoon. Classes are finished for today, and it can get kind of boring on my own."

Steve smiled at her knowing that Shuri was being compassionate. Shuri was not a typical teen girl with tons of time to flutter away. Steve knew that she was a brilliant young lady with a full lab at her disposal. Shuri did not get bored. "That's very kind of you, Shuri. I'm sure Wanda would enjoy that. Unfortunately, at the moment, Clint and I need to talk to her."

"I can speak for myself," groused Wanda from behind him.

Clint closed his knees on her just a little tighter and Wanda scowled at him, openly struggling to get away.

"Let me go!" She snapped at him.

Steve began to feel the energy in the room build up again. "Please tell your mother that we are very thankful for the balm. I'm sure Wanda would love to take you up on the offer another day." Steve tried to gently encourage Shuri to leave them. Shuri seemed unsettled, not catching the cue that Steve wished her to leave.

"Wanda, you'd best dial it down or you're not gonna like the consequences." Clint's voice left no room for misunderstanding. Steve silently winced at the threat. He definitely needed to have a talk with Clint as well.

Steve smiled at Shuri once again. "If you would excuse us, Shuri." His voice sounded very tactful and gentile. He was used to being diplomatic in the worst of situations, but he definitely needed the young teen girl to leave.

Shuri blinked a few times, "Oh, yes, of course." She turned to leave the room, stopping for a few seconds to stare back at Wanda before disappearing out the door.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief as he shut the door and locked it.

Clint stood to his feet as soon as the door closed and pulled Wanda with him. He forcefully propelled her towards the bed with a sharp, stinging swat to the backside, being mindful of her injuries but meaning business nonetheless. Wanda yelped and spun on her heel with indignation written all over her face. Her uninjured arm flew to her backside and her eyes were wide in astonishment mixed with outrage.

Steve shook his head in discouragement, having tried his best to defuse the situation and clearly realizing he had failed.

Clint stuck a finger in Wanda's face, his paternal instincts in full-blown mode. "I've reached the end of my patience with you, Wanda. Consider that your one and only warning from me. I will not put up with belligerence and rebellion from any kid…mine or anyone else's…"

"Clint," began Steve, in an attempt to be a mediator.

"No, don't even try and sugar coat this, Steve," warned Clint, turning his annoyance towards his friend. "Frankly, I'm surprised you put up with what you do from this kid, considering you grew up in a time where no one put up with shit from their kids. What gives, man? Did being on ice somehow make you a wimp?"

Steve raised a brow in amusement. He couldn't be angry with Clint at this moment. He was finding Clint's patriarchal outburst to be endearing because he knew it was coming from the spirit of love that Clint had for Wanda. Clint was as attached as he was to the lost girl.

Clint turned back to Wanda, his face still firm. Wanda stood shell-shocked, still rubbing her stinging behind. "I can't even pretend to know what's going on in that head of yours, nor can I pretend to know what it was like for you to be manipulated by HYDRA. I'm sorry about all that. It must have sucked royally, but it's over and in the past now. I'm sure it haunts you but you know what, kid? You're not alone anymore. You have me and you have Steve. We're here to help you if you want it. If you don't want our help then that's fine too, but hear me well. I will not put up with your drama, not now and not ever. You understand me?"

Wanda blinked but remained quiet. Tears silently tumbled down her cheeks as she stared intently at Clint, her eyes wide and unreadable.

"We want to help, Wanda," echoed Steve, his voice much softer and less intense than Clint's.

Clint raked a hand through his hair. "What happened in Nigeria wasn't your fault. I get how you feel like it was but it's not. It just happened, and we have to deal with that now. It sucks big time but if you hadn't reacted how you did, Cap would be dead and that would have been pretty crappy for all of us." Clint took a step closer to Wanda and for once she didn't step away. Her bottom lip trembled but she remained still and observant. Clint reached for her hand still behind her back. Her other hand rested securely in the sling at her waist. "We care about you, kiddo, probably more than we have a right to. We don't want to see you hurting and in pain. You need to let us into that pretty little head of yours so we can help you deal with the crap eating away at you. You can't deal with on your own."

Steve moved closer and placed a soothing hand on Wanda's shoulder. "Clint's right, sweetheart, we worked so hard together to help you overcome your feelings of guilt and despair. I promised you that I would protect you and be with you; I meant that, Wanda."

Wanda's face contorted into a cry of anguish as her knees went out from beneath her. Clint was quick enough to grab her to keep her from falling. He helped her onto the bed.

"P-people died and it was m-my fault," she sobbed. Clint wrapped an arm around the girl and hushed her gently, his entire stern façade melting into a puddle around him. Steve sat close by stroking her hair.

"See, that is where you're wrong, honey," said Clint, his heart beating quickly, grateful for the breakdown and the glimpse into the teen's heart. "Yes, people died, Wanda and it was awful." Clint's voice broke up as emotion took over. He cleared his throat several times before continuing. "Like when Pietro made a snap decision to save me and that child. It wasn't fair in any way but he made that choice just like you did." Clint cupped the girls face in his hand, looking intently in her green teary eyes. "You made a choice too, sweetie, and it was every bit the right one. What happened as a result was not your fault. You couldn't have known the outcome; you couldn't have anticipated any of it..."

Wanda pulled her face away from Clint and shook her head fiercely. "Y-you've lost your friends and your lives b-because of me," she sobbed.

Steve frowned. "Because of you? Wanda, do you mean?"

Wanda hiccupped and leaned into Steve, exhausted from her emotions. She looked at her hand, playing with the red energy, snaking it around her fingers absentmindedly.

Clint placed his hand on hers firmly, receiving a jolt for his troubles.

"When we talked…about the Accords…" Wanda stumbled over her words as she tried to calm herself down and speak coherently. "I said they would come for me…once they knew…"

Clint frowned and looked at Steve inquisitively.

"It's a long story, but it was when Tony told us about the young man who was killed in Sokovia when the buildings fell. Tony was mourning the losses pretty badly. The thing is, it's not just the loss of life that bothers him; Tony carries all of it on his shoulders, much like you are trying to do, Wanda, and it colours your choices. We can't make decisions from your guilt."

Wanda trembled.

"This is a war we are fighting, Wanda," said Clint. "It's a war against supreme powers and beings that we know nothing about. Those Accords are wrong for so many reasons, and revealing our identities is such a small part of it. There is no way in hell I would sign anything that put my family in jeopardy but I'm okay with retiring and staying out of things if I thought the Accords were the right thing to do, but they're not. The Accords make the Avengers puppets. And ultimately, it will make us criminals."

Steve nodded his head. "Much like we are now."

"I thought you were fighting because you wanted to protect me and others like me," said Wanda, beginning to calm down and really listen. "I-I thought it was m-my fault."

Clint smiled. "Girl, you seriously need to talk about things because you couldn't be more wrong."

Steve stood up. "Wanda, I don't even know where to start when it comes to the Accords. I know you only heard a little about them and I have to admit, I came very close to signing them until I realized what that meant."

Wanda looked up at him, wide-eyed and for once listening and not assuming.

"By signing the Accords, we would have been signing away our right to choose. We would have been deferring that decision to the UN who could potentially take weeks to make a decision about anything. Imagine what it would be like if we had to wait for a governing body to give us the go-ahead when some superpower is already doing their best to obliterate us? It would be mayhem. I couldn't sit by and allow it to happen. So what does that make me? A guaranteed criminal."

Clint stood up as well, looking agitated once again. "Tony was wrong to go about things the way he did. He screwed up because he let his emotions control him which is no surprise because the guy tends to make decisions without thinking things through. My wife assures me that Stark is doing his best to negotiate things in our favour so we can go home but it was a dick move on Stark's part in the first place. If anyone is at fault, it's Stark."

Steve's face darkened considerably as he became lost in his own thoughts. "Let's not place blame, Clint, okay? It doesn't help matters."

Clint sighed and nodded.

"The point is, the Accords are complicated, and they should have been negotiated from the beginning and not just dumped on us out of the blue. It was wrong, and whatever happened, as a result, is something I have to live with. I am the leader, and I accept full responsibility for the outcome. You, Wanda, are still a young girl…"

Wanda looked ready to protest but Steve raised a finger.

"You're a minor is all I meant. A lot of things happened that you didn't even know about and I don't wish to talk about..."

"Prison was no picnic either, Captain," stated Clint simply.

Steve shook his head, looking remorseful. "I know that, and I feel like that's on me too."

Clint heaved a sigh and went to sit down by Wanda again. "Anyway, Wanda, we've been granted asylum here in Wakanda which means we need to obey the laws here. You can't be losing control of yourself and having these huge meltdowns. What if some school children had happened to come across you? "

"I-I never meant any harm. I purposely went off the beaten path…I just needed some place to release…"

Steve put his hands on his hips, his voice becoming stern. "Wanda, you were completely out of control when I came along. You attacked me!"

"I wouldn't have hurt you," Wanda said in her defence, tears shimmering in her eyes.

"How do you know that? I'm not even sure you had any control at all. How much control did Hydra give you over those powers? Do you even know? How much is out of your control when you're angry? When we were training at the compound, I never once saw you lose control like that but since these nightmares…"

"I have no control over my dreams!" Wanda shouted back.

Clint groaned and placed a hand on Wanda's knee kindly. "No one said you did, kiddo. Steve's trying to tell you…"

Wanda sprang to her feet and spun to face the two men. "I don't care. Get out! Leave me alone!" Tears fell down her cheeks once again.

Clint stood to his feet and pointed a finger in Wanda's face. "Look, if you don't get control of yourself, T'Challa is going to do it for you! Wakanda has the technology to strip you of your powers. If that's what you want then keep up this bullshit."

Wanda's face paled.

Steve's shoulder's dropped as he cast a glare in Clint's direction.

Clint lifted his hands up in frustration. "Don't give me that look, Steve. Pussyfooting around the obvious doesn't help anyone. She learns to control her powers or she loses them. It's that simple!"

Wanda glared at them for a few moments before raising her hands in the air and flinging both men out the door, slamming it in their faces.