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When Marie entered her and Steve's apartment later that Friday night Clint was sprawled out on the couch with a beer in his hand. Marie crossed her arms but smiled nonetheless. "Don't you have your own place?" She asked him. Clint sipped his beer. "Yeah, but I prefer it around here." He replied then eyed the Styrofoam tray in her hand. "Anything good?"
Marie sighed and placed the tray in front of him. She then brought him a fork from the kitchen before dumping herself down next to him on the couch. "Only the best gumbo I've ever had in my life." She said seriously. Clint started digging in.
The two of them spent the next hour watching some crappy movie that neither one of them paid any attention to. Do you guys really spend all your time moping around, whenever Natasha or I aren't there? The Steve in her mind asked her and Marie startled. Clint looked at her surprised. "Everything okay?" he asked her concerned and Marie nodded. They went back to the movie. "I completely forgot you were still there, I'm sorry Steve. "Marie replied embarrassed. It's okay, in case you haven't noticed I'm only really here whenever you're not with the real me. Marie froze at the sudden realization. "Oh my gawd!" She thought excitedly. "Is Cody still around there somewhere?" She asked Steve as a theory began forming in her mind. Yeah, but it's like he's a stuck in the back of a room while I'm filling up the rest of it. Steve tried explaining to Marie. "That's brilliant! Steve do you understand what's happening here?" she asked him excited. No, not really. He told her honestly while confused.
"I think you may have solved the mystery of why I could never dissolve Cody from my mind." she thought happily while forming a plan. She poked Clint who looked at her with tired eyes. "We're going to Mississippi tomorrow. There's something I need to test back home." She told him. Clint raised an eyebrow at her. "Why are we going back the place you were run out from, by the people who claim to be your parents." He asked her seriously and getting angry on her behalf. "We won't be visiting them, I need to visit Cody." And Marie explained her plan to him.
"So you think that because you never saw or spoke to Cody after the traumatic event of your first kiss, that you were never able to dissolve him from your mind, because you deep down wanted him to be alright, and this was the way of your mutation and mind were doing it. Keeping him alive inside you..." Clint summarized and Marie nodded excitedly. "That's fucked up…" he said shaking his head. "We'll leave by plane tomorrow morning." He told her while ordering tickets to the two of them, on his cell phone. Marie grinned excitedly and leaned over to kiss him on his cheek. "You're the best!" She exclaimed happily. Clint snorted. "I know."
The fresh air, hot afternoon sun and small town atmosphere triggered several old memories that nearly brought Marie to her knees. A heavy and reassuring hand on her shoulder kept her grounded. Marie smiled at Clint who nodded at her.
"I'm fine… I'm just trying come to terms with the fact that it's been six years since I stepped foot in this town… I'll be okay." She lied and she could tell Clint wasn't buying her act. Marie stood in front of the house she'd spent so much time in as a child, playing with her friends.
"A seven year old Marie ran around the front yard, avoiding Cody who was chasing her. He was getting closer, and Marie's heart pumped harder and faster. "You won't get me!" she yelled out while laughing. She ran over to Sarah who wasn't as quick as her, and Cody caught the younger girl. "You're it!" Cody yelled out as he ran in the other direction, away from Sarah who took chase after him."
"I'll be here if you need me." Clint told her, and Marie walked up to the door. She took a deep breath and knocked. An old woman opened the door. "Mrs Robbins, I'm Anna-Marie. I was wondering if Cody was here, I'd like to speak to him if possible." She asked gently and the woman narrowed her eyes at Marie. "I remember who you are, girl. You've got some nerve showing up here after all this time." The old woman barked out angrily. "I know, and I would have visited earlier, but college held me back." Marie lied. The woman looked her up and down and then stared Marie in the eyes before calling out. "Cody!"
"What is it Ma?" a male voice called back and Marie felt her heart clench at the familiarity of it. "There's someone here to see you!" Mrs Robbins called out, before leaving Marie hanging at the door. Marie felt like running away and looked over her shoulder. Clint was leaning against a street sign smiling at her. Her nerves calmed a bit.
The heavy steps of someone approaching brought back Marie's attention to the empty doorway. Then Cody stood in front of her and Marie was speechless. "Anna-Marie? Is that you?" He asked her surprised. Cody had matured very well Marie thought as she took him in. "Yeah… I was hoping we could talk." She told him nervously. And Cody sprang into action "Yeah! Of course! Come on in." And Marie joined him inside the living room.
Marie was offered a drink but she declined. The two looked at each other, reminiscing their happy childhood memories. "I came to say." "I want to say…" They began simultaneously and they laughed. Cody, ever the gentleman, told her to go first.
Marie sighed. "I want to apologize to you." She said looking at him with big green eyes. "Marie," He began. "You have nothing to apologize for. I don't blame you for anything that happened." He said seriously. He leaned over and took her hand in his, and Marie absorbed a tiny bit from him before pulling back her hand. Cody looked hurt, but she ignored it. "That doesn't change the fact that I feel like it's my fault Cody." She said while thinking "Because it is."
Cody shook his head no. "It isn't, it was a freak accident. And besides, I'm here now, healthy as a horse." He replied happily. "I'm happy you decided to come visit. I was hurt when I woke up and you weren't there." He admitted and Marie's heart clenched from the guilt. "I wanted to be there, I honestly did Cody, but my parents kicked me out and my only option was college unless I wanted to be homeless. You know how they are..." She explained honestly. "I know, I found out when my mom explained to me what happened. Have you visited them?" He asked her concerned.
Marie shook her head no. "I don't have any plans to. They didn't want me Cody, they kicked me out and told me to never return. That hurt more than anything." She admitted to her childhood best friend. "It would only bring me more heartbreak." Cody nodded understanding her. "Where are you living now?" he asked her. "New York." She said with a grin and Cody laughed. "You finally got your big adventure huh?" He asked her. "Not adventure. More like a once in a lifetime experience." She thought back to Sabertooth and the first time he chased her down. Marie shivered slightly. Cody didn't notice. "I'm glad you left Mississippi. You were always destined for greater things than the small town life." He told her. "Yeah, but sometimes I do miss the simplicity of a small town life." She admitted happily. "You could always come back here. If you want to." Cody offered and Marie knew that what he offered was more than he was putting out there. "I have a life now in New York. I'm a teacher, starting Monday, and I've made a family there." She said thinking about Steve, Natasha and Clint. She didn't notice the way Cody's eyes widened in surprise. "Congratulations." He said and Marie only responded with a "Thank you." She didn't realize that Cody had misunderstood her.
Marie rose from the sofa. "I gotta go, I have a friend waiting for me outside." She said and Cody only nodded and followed her out.
Clint was checking his watch before he caught her look from the doorway. The boy, Cody, gave Clint a look of death. "Geesh, what's his problem?" Clint thought shaking his head lightly. Marie gave Cody a light kiss on the cheek while she said something Clint couldn't hear, before she made her way over to him.
"Everything alright Marie?" He asked her while slinging an arm over shoulder. Marie smiled at him with that million-dollar smile. "Yeah, everything's gonna be alright now." She admitted to him, and the two made their way back to the rented car they'd parked a few houses down. "Good. You sure you don't want me to make a visit to certain someone's while I'm here. It would be a waste of opportunity to let it go." Marie shook her head no. "I don't want you to hurt them, It wouldn't make me any better than them." She said and Clint grinned. "I know, which is why we are going to extract our revenge in a non lethal way." He told her with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Clint popped the trunk of their car. With a giant smile Marie looked at him with childish glee. "You didn't? Did you buy out the entire store? And what's inside the balloons?" She asked him taking in the massive amounts of eggs and toilet paper rolls. There were several balloons filled with some heavy liquid. "Maybe, and they're filled with paint. Have I convinced you yet?" Clint asked her grinning. Marie smirked. "Definitely." Clint closed the trunk and the two of them left on a mission.
The car was parked on the front yard, the trunk open and facing the house. Marie threw another balloon angrily at the house. She watched as the neon green colour clashed horribly against the pale yellow brick facade. Clint cheered her on before firing off several eggs at the two-story house. No one was home, but it didn't matter to Marie. "That's it! Let out your aggressions!" Clint yelled when she accidently smashed a window with an egg. The house was covered in different coloured splats of paint, like a skittles bomb had fallen on it, and it was egged violently while the front yard trees were covered in toilet paper. Her old neighbour Mrs Thomas looked at her surprised. "Is that you Anna-Marie?" The old bat called out. "Yup!" Marie yelled back before throwing another balloon at the house. This one was purple. "You should be ashamed of yourself! Acting like delinquent…" The woman began but Clint threw several eggs after her and the woman screamed and ran back into her house hiding, while yelling out that she was getting the police. Marie threw the last egg she had at the house, and she and Clint jumped into the car laughing like maniacs. They sped off towards the freeway.
They laughed all the way towards the airport in Jackson, when Marie suddenly began crying. Clint pulled over the car in the emergency lane and hugged her tightly. "It's gonna be okay now. Everything will be okay." He reassured her and Marie apologized. "I'm sorry." She said and Clint shook his head. "There's no need to apologize. They hurt you and they should be punished harshly. They don't deserve your tears." He calmed her.
Clint's phone rang and he put it on speaker, not wanting to let go of Marie. "Barton," He was greeted. "Do I wanna know why there's a bill on my personal credit card, for several dozens of eggs, toilet paper rolls, balloons and different buckets of paint." Phil's voice asked him. "Or why there are two plane tickets to Mississippi, one for you and one for Marie, who I'm pretty sure your orders were to bring back to S.H.I.E.L.D. when you found her again?" he continued.
"Hi Phil." Marie piped out. There was a silence on the other end. "Hello Marie, I'm glad you're alright." Phil replied honestly. "There's a completely logical explanation to that, and I'm not bringing her back to S.H.I.E.L.D. Phil." Clint said possessively. Phil sighed. "I can't come back Phil, I'm a liability right now," Marie explained and sniffled lightly. "My powers are sort of going haywire, but I'm getting help." she finished. "I'll have to inform the Director." Phil said and Marie smiled.
"I know, tell him he can find me at the Xavier's Institute of higher learning, if he needs me… Oh, and that I've moved in with Steve. If he has any objections to that he can take it up with Steve." Clint high fived her for her diplomatic fuck off aimed at the Director. Marie could imagine Phil; folded arms, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. She grinned and could see that Clint was imagining the exact same thing.
Clint started driving again, a smile on his face. "I'll be sure to inform the Director," Phil said. "And Clint, you and I are gonna discuss the rules of having my emergency credit card... again. Emphasis on the Emergency." Clint laughed. "It was an emergency. We had to go to Mississippi on short notice, and I didn't have my wallet with me. That's an emergency." Clint countered. Another sigh was all they heard from Phil before the man hung up. "Ready to head back?" Clint asked Marie while grinning like an idiot. "Yeah." She said still sniffling a bit, but feeling relieved, like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.
By the time they'd made it back to the apartment Clint had been called in by S.H.I.E.L.D. and he'd left Marie to her own devices. Marie didn't waste anytime and jumped into bed to meditate. She started searching her own mind for Cody, and after what felt like an eternity had passed, she found him. Marie hesitated but knew that her mind was her own, and that she shouldn't share it with others if she ever wanted to find peace and quiet. She dissolved Cody from her mind with a clean conscience now that she knew he was alive and well back home in Mississippi. What about me doll? Steve asked her from within her mind. You need to do it to me too. Marie shook her head. "I don't think I can sugar." She told him. You have to; it's not healthy for you that I'm here… You need to stand on your own legs, you can't rely on my company when the real me isn't around. You'll end up confusing us, and even though we're the same person, your relationship will never be as honest with the real me, when you only share your thoughts and concerns with the "me" inside your head. You need to switch our relationship.
Marie didn't want to listen to his reasoning. "What about the consequences Steve?" she countered. What consequences Marie? There are none. He told her knowingly. "Yes there are." She told him stubbornly. Like what? Steve questioned her. "I'll get your healing factor, your strength, everything that you are because of the serum, I'll be too." she said. Steve was quiet for a minute. Are you sure? I'm not a mutant Marie you might not. Maybe your powers won't be able to latch on to mine after all this time. He wondered. "But it will Steve, otherwise I wouldn't have healed that night on the statue." Marie told him. She could feel Steve's whirling emotions at the mention of that night; anger, pain, fear, surprise, acceptance and… love. Marie took a deep breath and stored away the meanings of the multitude of emotions, which surprised her. Then do it, I'll be much happier to know you're safe in case anything happens again doll, then to be stuck in here unable to help you. "Stuck…" Marie thought bittersweet. You know that's not how I meant it Marie. Steve said trying to explain, but it didn't do much to reassure her.
"I'm growing into this great powerhouse Steve, and it scares me. What if the powers one day become too much? What if I go crazy and hurt someone, or someone gets hurt because of what I can do? You know Xavier's was attacked because they wanted to experiment on the children and do only God knows what to them." She told him worried and ashamed.
You can't spend your life in fear Marie, if that day does come, you know you'll have people by your side to help you... and stop you. Steve said accepting the truth, and thinking back to her conversation with Natasha. Do it Marie.
Marie sighed. She knew she was being selfish keeping him there, and a part of her didn't want to do this, but in the end he was right. She couldn't keep him here just so she had company whenever the real him was gone. Marie concentrated, a frown on her face, and started to dissolve him. "I love you…" she admitted to him surprising herself. I know… But I'm not the Steve you need to tell that to. Tell him when you're ready Love, 'cause I know I feel the same for you.
And with that last thought, the Steve in her mind disappeared forever.
Marie opened her eyes, and found herself crying. She went to bed and fell into an exhausted sleep, thinking that this Saturday had been far too eventful a day. "I seem to only have those."
Marie woke up Sunday morning feeling emotionally drained and exhausted. The bright sun blinded her, even through the curtains, and the noise from the streets below their apartment irritated her. She grumbled as she got up tiredly and readied herself for the lazy day of reading. The quiet in her mind felt odd and it made her feel lonely. She'd always had company, ever since she'd hurt Cody, and having no one now was going to take some getting used to. She walked out of the bedroom not noticing that the alarm read twelve thirty a.m. nor the fact that she'd overslept more than she usually did. She finished her morning routine before finding an old blanket that smelled like Steve, and cuddled down in to the couch still wearing her nightclothes. She, unnoticed by herself, spent three hours reading slowly through the material that the professor had borrowed her, memorizing it all without difficulty before she sighed from boredom.
She placed the last book on the coffee table and Marie looked at the clock on the wall and froze. "It can't already be three o'clock! I just woke up!" She thought startled. "What the…" She didn't finish the sentence but decided that she wasn't going to waste the rest of her Sunday away inside the apartment. She felt a bit upset that this was a Sunday that she and Steve weren't able to watch movies on together. "As long as he's safe. That's all that matters." She thought only slightly worried, as she always was whenever one of her friends was shipped out.
Marie dressed in a long sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans before going grocery shopping.
Inside the small grocery store, between the aisles of different breakfast cereals Marie was holding a box of Captain Crunch chocolaty crunch. Marie giggled childishly before placing the box in the basket she carried. "The ideal cereal for the ideal captain…" She thought happily. She wandered through the rest of the store piling up different items, vegetables, fruits and of course chocolates. She was contemplating the quick and rather positive turnabout of her life in front of the different brands of milk when someone walked up next to her. Marie sighed never taking her eyes of the milks.
"Yeah, I find choosing between the million brands annoying too. Should I choose Dairy Maid Dairy, Trumoo or heck even Keller's! You know what else I find annoying?" The familiar and authoritative voice asked her. Marie didn't reply. "Wasting my valuable S.H.I.E.L.D. resources on tracking down rogue scientists." Marie picked up a gallon of milk, placed it in her basket before walking over to the cheese section. "Who," the voice continued as the man speaking to her followed her around the store "I'm pretty sure had no real reason to go rogue to begin with. And now I had to hear from Phil! Phil damn it! That my best damn interrogator is back in town because she can't control her powers. I don't buy it D'Ancanto, I want answers, real ones."
Marie turned and glared at the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. "Look," She told Fury as she threw more packages of cheese than she would need in the basket. "I'm not coming back to S.H.I.E.L.D. as your scientist." She told him annoyed. Marie felt the humming of metal slowly starting to change into a tingle in her fingers. "Deep and long breaths Marie, deep and long breaths."
"But you are coming back as my interrogator." The black, bald and eye-patch wearing man rightly concluded. Marie nodded. "That's my plan. I need help with my powers, that's the truth," she said not telling him about her new and troublesome powers. "And I'm getting it. I'm guessing Phil informed you of my newest place of employment." she said and Fury nodded before speaking. "Yeah, about that…" Marie groaned knowing she wasn't going to like what followed. She placed the heavy basket on the ground before turning her attention back to him again. "What?" she asked dejectedly. "A small heads up. Logan used to freelance for S.H.I.E.L.D. You should be careful around him, he worked with the Cap on several missions back in Germany." Marie gaped. "As in world war two Germany?" She asked him, and Fury looked at her amused. "Yes, as in world war two Germany. Logan is older than even the cap." Marie was surprised. "Why are you telling me this?" she demanded, knowing the director would have an ulterior motive. "His ulterior motive, has ulterior motives…" She couldn't help but think.
"Because," The director began "with you inside Xavier's it'll be much easier to make an assessment of him." Marie stared at the director disbelievingly. "I'm working inside a mutant school, filled with potential threats or allies, and all you want me to do is make an assessment of him? Mr Growly-pants..." The director lifted his eyebrow at her. "Yes. I don't care much about the rest of the school; Xavier and I already have an … understanding from an earlier disagreement. Unless of course you notice someone turning into a threat against world peace. Then you report it back to me." He finished firmly.
Marie nodded and picked up the basket and made her way to pay for the groceries. "Why do you need a assessment of him? And why do I need to do it? Can't you send in Natasha? She's more suited for this kind of work." She asked him right before they made it to the counter. Fury stopped her. "One. Natasha and Logan have some bad history between them, and he would recognize her by her scent. Two. You're already inside, it makes easier and less suspicious if you get close to him than if we send in someone from the outside. Three. Confidential." He said leaving no room for arguments. That didn't stop Marie.
She held up her bare hand. "Wanna try again sugar?" She asked him narrowing her eyes at him. Fury stared at her hand then at her. He glared but started talking. "I'm working on putting together a team of the best out there. People who can handle threats that not even the military or united nations can. Otherworldly threats. I want the Wolverine on my team." he finished firmly. Marie nodded understandingly. "I'll see what I can find out. From what I've already gathered, he's not on the best terms with some of the people at Xavier's, so convincing him might be easier than you think." She assumed. Fury sighed. "Don't assume anything about the Wolverine D'Ancanto, it'll only get you killed... And don't lie to his face either, he can smell when a person is lying to him. I expect a report back soon on your assessment." With that said the director left her and Marie had a bad feeling in her gut. She frowned and pulled her basket with her the remaining way towards the counter to pay.
With five heavy grocery bags she carried in her hands, Marie entered her apartment still thinking about the job Fury has given her. She laughed having walked up four flights of stairs and not felt that gasping and heaving feeling she always did when she carried grocery bags home... "Second trips are for losers!" She remembered Jess once telling her in college. Marie smiled as she placed the bags on the kitchen counter, making a mental note to call Jess soon.
She was feeling upbeat and energized like she'd never done before, and decided that the best course of action was to start dinner so she could burn some of it off. She placed the different groceries where ever she thought would be an obvious place for them, not yet feeling at home or familiar with the small kitchen. She worked the next half hour completely focused on the task at hand, not noticing the door to the apartment opening.
The sudden feel of a hand on her shoulder surprised Marie, and she instinctively turned and punched the figure behind her, sending him flying back a several paces. Steve was on the floor grunting out in pain. Marie, though shocked and startled, ran to him and started to apologize. "Steve I'm so sorry! You surprised me sugar!" she helped him off the floor and Steve smiled through the pain. "It's alright doll, I didn't mean to scare you." He said while looking at her surprised' "You pack quite the punch, I wasn't expecting that - or expecting to feel it." He joked as he embraced her and then kissed her lovingly.
"About that…. We need to talk Steve." She said and immediately saw the fear and concern on his face. "Nothing to worry about, I think, but you said I needed to be honest with you and I'm about too." Steve nodded but the gulp didn't go unnoticed by her. Marie released herself from his embrace and returned to the stove, keeping the pots from boiling over. "What is it doll?" He asked her when she remained quiet.
Marie bit her lip, a nervous habit of hers, before telling him what that had happened since he and Natasha had left Friday. Everything from her realization about the Cody in her mind, to her and Clint's impromptu trip to Mississippi, and finally her dissolvent of the Steve in her mind though she left out her meeting with the Director. That was a discussion for a whole other time. Steve was quiet during her explanation, but smiled when she mentioned her and Clint's payback at her birthplace.
Marie felt nervous and she was afraid that he would be angry with her, for having his powers now too. She waited for the angry blow up or disappointed sigh but it never came. Instead, Steve took her hands in his. "Doll, you look like you're expecting me to be angry with you?" he questioned her, and Marie felt embarrassed. "I kind of was…" She admitted. "Why?" "I don't know Steve, it's irrational. I'm an irrational person. I'm scared you'd hate me for it. I feel like I've stolen something from you, and I can't give it back or make it up to you." She said and Steve leaned in to kiss her.
"Don't be foolish Marie." Steve told her as he smiled against her lips. Marie instinctively felt better and couldn't stop her own smile. "I understand how your powers work, and I would never blame you or hate you. It actually makes me feel a lot better knowing you'll be safe, even though I'm not there ensure it for you." Steve admitted and Marie felt relieved.
"The extra strength certainly does come in handy when I have to carry the groceries up the stairs and you're not here to help me." She joked and Steve chuckled. "I can imagine. Anyways, what are we having?" He asked as he grabbed the lid of the pot. Marie smacked his hand away. "Keep your hands to yourself if you value them." She warned him while replacing the lid onto the pot. "And I'm just making some tomato soup, I didn't know whether or not you'd be back home so early." She said and Steve grinned at her happily.
"What?" She questioned him. "Nothing… It just makes me happy that you think of this place as home." He admitted and blushed. Marie giggled and thought back to her last conversation with the Steve inside her mind. "Steve, wherever you are, that's where home is to me." She told him honestly before kissing him. "Are you ready for the big day tomorrow?" He asked her concerned.
Marie shrugged. "I'm still not sure whether or not I'm teacher material, but I'll guess I'll find out by the end of the day tomorrow." Steve nodded understandingly. "Do you need help setting the table?" "No." "Alright, I'm gonna go grab a shower then." Steve and kissed Marie again. Marie smiled as Steve walked out the kitchen. "How I hate to see you leave, but love to watch you go…" She murmured lovingly. She blushed embarrassed as she heard Steve's laughter as he entered the bathroom. Marie shook her head as she started setting the table for the two of them.