Time passed and as it did, my powers became more stable and more controlled. Pietro visited at least once a week to join Wanda and I on our visits to what we started calling the DCU after the comic company that the Young Justice team were portrayed in in our universe. Days turned to weeks turned to months and September soon came. Clint had decided, with my input of course, that sending me to school in New York was not a good idea. They still didn't know about my powers, but word about me being the Avenger's ward got out and brought attention my way. We decided that Bayview in the next town over was a good choice. It was near enough for a daily commute but far enough to avoid immediate recognition.

When the first day of school came, I was up early and in the kitchen by 4:30 getting breakfast. Heh, a teenager willingly getting up at 4:30, weird, I know. I just wanted to get my jog in before class started at 7:30. I needed to get there early and it was a 30 minute drive to the school, thus, getting up at 4:30. After breakfast, I went to the training room to run on the treadmill as the adults would freak if I went outside to run at that time of day, even if I was heavily trained by Black Widow herself.

I finished running and took a shower, taking my time. I was ready by 6:15 so I sat on the couch and pulled out my phone, passing the time until Clint came downstairs by playing a game. I was doing well, passing my high score, when Clint came up behind me.

"What are you doing?" He asked suddenly, making me scream and throw my phone in the air.

"Clint!" I yelled, "I just passed my high score!" I turned around to face him and give him a glare as he started laughing. I turned my back to him and stood up, walking to the elevator, a slight pout on my face, admittedly.

"Sorry Rae, couldn't resist. You looked so focused." He said, smiling and following behind me. I groaned at his laughter as we made our way to the garage. We spent most of the ride just chatting randomly. This is until Clint got really nervous and kept glancing my way. "Hey Rae?" He asked, shifting slightly in his seat.

"Yeah?" I responded confused.

"How would you feel if I were to tell you that someone wanted to adopt you?" I felt my heart sink. I was going to have to leave the people who became family.

Pull yourself together Raven, you knew this wouldn't last. It never does. I told myself as I looked over to Clint and forced a smile on my face. "That's great!"

"Yeah, I discussed it with the others, and they agreed. We want to make it permanent." I froze. He meant that he was adopting me? My fake smile turned into a real one that turned into a grin. "I registered you at school as Raven Phillips-Barton. I didn't know if you wanted to keep your original last name or not." He said somewhat nervously.

"Thank you. It wouldn't have felt right losing my parents name." I told him smiling. Pulling into the driveway of the school, he smiled back at me before putting the car in park. I leaned over and pulled him into a hug.

"Have a good day Rae." He said with a smile. "Bruce is going to pick you up after school. Nat and I have work." I nodded and stepped out of the car.

"Bye!" I said, still grinning, before turning away and walking into the school.

I walked into the school a bit nervously, like the rest of the freshmen until I saw a head of silvery-white hair. Squealing, I ran towards the boy and jumped on his back.

"PIETROOOOOO!" I yelled laughing as he stumbled a bit before grabbing my legs and regaining his balance. He looked over his shoulder to see me and a look of confusion and slight panic washed over his face.

"What, is the brotherhood recruiting kids now?" A voice asked. I looked in front of Pietro to see a redhead girl with a brown haired guy with glasses on. He must have been the one who spoke. I wrinkled my nose at the two. Ignoring them, I looked to my friend and dropped my head on his shoulder.

"Pietro~~" I whined, "Why didn't you tell me you went here? I wouldn't have been so freaked out."

"Raven Phillips why didn't you tell me that you were going here?" He asked with a mischievous grin.

"Actually, it's Phillips-Barton now." I told him smugly. He dropped my legs and I fell to the ground, landing on my feet. He turned to face me, a grin on his face.

"They finally decided to go through with the adoption?" He asked. I nodded in reply.

"Clint told me on the drive here." Suddenly I was picked up and spun around, making me giggle.

"Maximoff-" A voice interrupted, causing both Pietro and I to turn to the speaker and glare.

"What do you want Summers?" Pietro asked in a voice that didn't sound like the boy I had gotten to know. It sounded like all snark and slightly bully-esque, no kindness left from when he was talking to me. Looking over at him, I connected our minds, something that I had been practicing with Megan.

"Whats going on?" I asked mentally. He looked shocked for a second before relaxing.

"I'll explain later Rae, but be careful. Gray has mental powers too." He replied. I assumed that Gray was the redhead as he called the boy Summers. Nodding to him, I disconnected our link. The girl looked at me strangely, like she recognized me. I felt a pushing pressure in my mind. Sighing, I let her in.

"Are you, by chance, a mutant?" She asked. I looked over at her strangely.

"I guess." I replied.

"Then what are you doing with this guy? He is not a nice person." She said sweetly, as if talking to a young child. I burst out laughing at that, getting me worried look from Summers, A bored look from Pietro who was used to me laughing randomly, and a confused look from Gray. I shrugged it off and pushed her out of my mind as the bell rang.

"I gotta go find my first period," I said giving Pietro a hug. "Can't wait to tell Wanda where you have been hiding out and why you hardly come home." I said before walking down the hall. Before I left, I connected our minds.

"Don't you dare tell her where I have been Rae!" He shouted after me. Chuckling, I looked back at him.

"You are so terrified of her, it makes things interesting." I said with a smile before heading into class.

During the class period, I forced him to tell me what was going on. SHIELD had decided that there was something fishy going on at Bayview so they sent Pietro in to figure it out. When he showed up, he got recruited to a group called the 'brotherhood'. SHIELD thought that having him in the group as a double agent was a good idea. Now he had to pretend to be a bad guy. Or, basically, a douche. Apparently, me hanging out with him was not a good idea and I should hang around Summers, Gray, and their group as they are the X-Men or so I am told. He also made me swear not to tell Wanda what was going on as the mission was top secret and that I shouldn't have even been told.

We chatted on and off the entire first half of the day, mostly about the ridiculousness that is high school classes. When lunch came around, Pietro suggested that I attempt to make friends with the X-Men. Walking into the courtyard, I saw Gray and Summers. I quickly made my way towards them and their group, but paused by the table.

"Hey," I said, startling the group. "Do you guys mind if I sit with you?" I asked. A sophomore girl from one of my advanced classes, Kitty, I think her name was, looked up at me.

"Of course! You can sit-" She started, only to be interrupted by Summers.

"Why don't you go sit with your friend Maximoff?" He asked quite rudely, getting weird looks from the rest of the table. I scoffed.

"I would, but his friends kinda creep me out." I stated, staring him in the eye. "God, Summers is soooo annoying!" I told Pietro over the mind link. I could feel him smile. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and looked up to find a spot made between Kitty and a pale guy with shaggy black hair whom I learned was named Kurt. I smiled slightly and moved to sit with them. We made small talk for a bit, with me just listening. I felt awkward around them, we didn't know each other, so I stayed quiet and just listened. That is until Jean, Gray's first name as I learned, brought up my powers. She explained Xaviers institute for gifted youngsters and how it was designed to assist mutants with learning to control their powers. She invited me to visit the manor after school.

"Sure," I told her. "I just gotta tell my ride that he doesn't have to pick me up." I said quietly. Kitty looked over at me and smiled, pulling out her cell.

"Wanna use my phone?" She asked. I smiled slightly but shook my head.

"He is a very cautious person. He won't answer unknown numbers."

"Then how will you tell him? She asked, confused. I stood up.

"I'll be right back." I walked over to where Pietro was sitting, avoiding the looks I got from his friends as I made my way over. Coming up behind him, I threw my arms over his shoulders, causing him to jump and me to laugh.

"Twice in one day! That's a record!" I said with a smile on my face now.

"What do you want Rae?" He asked grumpily, pouting now.

"I need to borrow your phone. I gotta call Bruce and you know how he is."

"Why don't you use yours?" He asked and I slapped him upside the head.

"You know my dad said I couldn't have one until my birthday." I exclaimed. Grumbling, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to me.

"You calling him dad now?" He asked me.

"Yeah, that's what he is now." I told him with a smile. I placed a kiss on his cheek before walking back over to my table to make the call, already dialing the number. Reaching my table, I was met by looks of shock. "What?" I mouthed and the group shook their heads as Bruce answered.

"Pietro? What's wrong? You never call." Bruce's worried voice came on the phone.

"No problems Bruce, It's Raven."

"Rae? Why do you have Pietro's phone?"

"Cause I needed it to talk to you and I don't have my own phone to call you on. Turns out we go to the same school now."

"Oh, well what did you need to talk to me about?"

"Well, dad said you are picking me up from school today?"

"Dad?" He asked, seemingly confused.

"Clint, Bruce, he adopted me, remember? So I'm going to call him dad now."

"Oh, well, yeah, I'm picking you up. Why?"

"I was just letting you know that I got invited to a new friend's place after school." I told him.

"Ok. Just text me their number so I know who's calling. Kay?"

"Yep. Got it uncle Bruce!" I said with a smile. I heard a chuckle over the line.

"Be good Rae."

"Will do. Bye!"

"Bye." He said and hung up. I looked over to Kitty.

"Hey Kitty, can I have your number so I can send it to my Uncle?" Kitty simply nodded and handed her phone over. I sent the number and put Pietro's phone in my pocket but not before taking some random selfies on it first. I handed Kitty back her phone.

"Aren't you going to give his phone back?" Jean asked me. I shook my head.

"Nope! He has to ask for it first." I told her with a smirk. They blinked and focused behind me. I felt movement behind me and turned to see Pietro creeping up on me like he was going to scare me. Seeing the jig was up, he stood and crossed his arms.

"Give me my phone back." He stated. I shook my head.

"Come and get it from me." I taunted. "No powers." I added quickly. He huffed but came at me at a normal speed. I ducked out of the way and pulled his phone out and waved it around.

"You are just as bad as Wanda." I heard him mutter.

"Who do you think taught me?" I asked laughing freely. Finally, he rushed forward tackled me, causing my new 'friends' to gasp but me to laugh harder. "Here, here's your phone back!" I said between laughs, pushing the device into his hands. He stood up, smirking triumphantly. I shook my head at him and held out my hand for him to help me up.

"Why do I let you hang around my sister? She is a bad influence on you. What happened to the polite girl I first met?" He asked, feigning sadness.

"She became best friends with your sister." I stated and sat back in my seat. "Now bye." I said, shooing him off.

"What the hell was that?" Practically everyone at the table said as soon as Pietro sat back down at his table. I shrugged.

"His twin sister is my best friend. Means I get free reign to pick on him."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard Pietro start yelling, "RAVEN!" Chuckling, I finished off my food and stood up, heading for my next class, ASL.

"See you guys after school" I threw over my shoulder. Today had been a good day.

I honestly wrote this story with this chapter in mind. No joke, I wrote it almost first thing and then had to back track to get to the beginning. Fun fact there. Have a wonderful day! ~LTF