Hey, everyone! Finally have another update up! And I also have an important announcement. Don't worry, this one isn't a prank. XD My apologies for scaring anybody, especially with my slow update here, but don't worry, there's still a lot to do with this story. I'm just here to let you know that soon Summer will be here, and I'll be able to update much more often once it arrives. However, I will also be getting a new puppy coming this July, and I'll be taking time off of writing to train her and take care of her. I'll be working towards finishing Permanent Scars before that time, but if this isn't finished by then, I'll be delaying updates for a while. Just to let you know.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this update! :D

"Who's the visitor?" my scientist asked bitterly, "Who has the audacity and authority to interrupt one of the most important parts of our testing?"

"Her family," the burly newcomer said, "And personally, I wouldn't keep him waiting."

The scientist opened his mouth to protest, but I had already leaped out of the chair and was beside the muscular escort in ten seconds flat. "Steve's here?" I asked hopefully.

"Of course I am," I heard Steve's familiarly warm voice say.

I looked up at him with wide eyes and ran to him, giving him a big, tight hug. Well, as tight a hug as a tiny girl like me could manage. "I missed you, Steve! Why did you come visit?"

"They let me have a leave of absence for a little bit," Steve said with a chuckle, his blue eyes filled with the warmth that I had missed for so long. "Better question is, though," he continued, his eyes turning into a more questioning expression, "why are you being interrogated by a scientist?" He gave the man in the white lab coat a hard look, "Why are you questioning Robin?"

The scientist who I had so lovingly nicknamed "Sir Annoying", looked at Steve with a flabbergasted expression and scoffed, "Why? Why? Isn't it obvious? She's a scientific anomaly!"

"What do you mean?" Steve asked, pushing me behind him protectively, "Are you testing her? Are you experimenting on her?"

"Better question is, Mr. Rogers," the annoying scientist retorted, "are you aware that your daughter-"

"Sister!" I corrected quickly. Both Steve and the scientist looked at me with perplexed expressions at my sudden outburst, "S-Steve's more like a brother to me," I said quietly, looking downcast. I had not experienced much with fathers, but if my creator, the Headmaster, could be considered a father, I did not want one. If I ever called Steve my father, I feared he would become a monster like the Headmaster. I couldn't let that happen. I preferred calling him my brother instead, that was much safer.

The scientist sighed, "I'm sorry, sister," he corrected himself, "Are you aware that she's able to control fire at will?"

"What?" Steve looked very confused at this and laughed softly, "You must be crazy."

I nodded, "Yeah, he's kinda psycho." Honestly, I just wanted to make sure Steve didn't find out about my power. I couldn't bear to have him look at me like everyone else, excluding Peggy, looked at me.

"Also," the scientist continued, "Why does she have violet eyes? Do you know why that is?"

"Violet eyes?" Steve questioned. I guess he confused my eye color for another one. It was understandable; my eyes were pretty clouded up when he found me. They'd become much more vibrant as my health started to improve.

I glared at the scientist, "Shut up," I mumbled.

"Where did you find her?" the scientist continued, ignoring my mumblings, "Why does she have these powers?"

"Shut up," I repeated, my voice slightly rising.

"And why didn't she tell you about them if you really don't know about them?" Sir Annoying continued, my hatred for him growing with every word he uttered from those camel lips of his, "Doesn't she trust you?"

"I said SHUT UP!" I said, my voice turning into a vehement shout. My fury blew out of proportion and the nearby equipment, filled with a flammable liquid, combusted out of nowhere into a huge spire of flame. Shit, shit, shit! I thought, looking with dismay at the fire licking at the ceiling, threatening to bring the building itself down if it was left alone.

Steve and Sir Annoying jumped back in surprise, my brother pushing me back behind him and looking at the large fire, "Stay back, Robin!" he said, his protective side showing through.

I stared at the flame with wide eyes and then glanced at Steve's expression. He was concerned about my safety. I couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the whole thing. He really had no clue, even after Sir Annoying told him about my powers. My brother probably didn't believe him, since he seemed really angry about the scientist trying to experiment on me. I sighed. I really had no choice here. The choice was either showing Steve my powers and risk him viewing me as a monstrous freak, or let everything burn down. Honestly, I would have loved to just let everything burn down, but I couldn't do that to Peggy or Steve. Forgive me, Steve.

I pushed myself away from Steve, making my way towards the fire. Both Steve and the scientist were frantically trying to find a way to stop the fire, so none of them noticed I had walked towards the flame until Steve looked back to check on the fire. "Get back, Robin!" he cried, "You'll get burnt!"

I shook my head and ignored him, standing before the great spire and taking a deep breath. I held my hands out and closed my eyes to help me concentrate, focusing on bringing the roaring flames towards me. I smirked softly at my success as I felt the welcoming warmth of the fire gently licking my skin and swirling around my arms. With a great deal of shaking effort, I took a deep breath and moved my hands closer together, slowly but surely moving the fire into a compacted fireball. I grunted with the effort of the movement, I had never pushed myself with my abilities this much before, but necessity outweighed any possible consequences of this exertion over my frail frame. Many moments passed where I was trying to keep the fire together in a controlled ball, my nose was starting to bleed with the effort and I tasted the coppery tang of blood in the back of my throat. Finally, I managed to extinguish the flame by depriving it of the oxygen it fed upon, clasping my hands together and dispersing the problem entirely. Then, there was only silence.

I turned around on unsteady legs, gaging the reactions of the two who had witnessed my show of power. Steve looked at me with wide eyes, eyes that were filled with bewilderment, concern, and even a bit of fear. The scientist was slightly joyed by me proving him right, and he was impressed by my show of power, but he also regarded me with the fear that Steve seemed to regard me with. I panted softly, my energy was drained to a point it had never been drained to before. Steve's eyes became even more concerned and worried, and his mouth moved to speak. I heard no sound. In fact, my vision was getting really blurry, and my head was pounding. My nose was still bleeding, and I found it hard to keep my eyes open. Steve was making his way towards me, his hands outstretched to grab me. And then everything went black.