Chapter 11 – Starting Fresh
I tossed and turned that night, feeling the emotions of everyone around me. I remembered everything from when I was away and the reality of everything I'd done, everyone I'd killed, came rushing back to me. I gripped the sheets of the bed and tried to fight the pain I felt, tried to stop it from entering the minds of the Avengers.
"No, stop, please" I begged my mind. I curled into a ball and began to cry.
"Madeline?" I heard faintly. A hand rested on my shoulder but quickly removed itself and I heard yelling.
"Madeline, stop." There was more than one person in the room, they could feel my pain. I had to stop it.
"Lanie." My eyes shot open and I saw Steve's face inches from mine. "Stop."
"I can't control it" I told him with tears rolling down my face. "Knock me out." I said.
"Maddie, no" he shook his head. I could see the inhabitants of the house all on the floor.
"Do it." Steve shook his head again.
"I'm sorry." He lifted his fast and punched me in the face, knocking me unconscious.

When I woke up again, Tony was leaning against the wall and he was the only person in the room. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, getting his attention as I moved.
"You're awake" he noted, turning to face me. He kept his arms folded across his chest and stayed by the doorway, closing the door.
"Hey" I greeted him awkwardly. I didn't want to invade his mind or his emotions but he felt very intense emotions towards me.
"You caused quite the pain-fest last night" he told me. I sat up and looked across the room.
"I know, I still can't control it properly."
"Why did you come here? Was it Steve? Did you come here because you knew Cap?" Steve was irritated, angry and confused.
"I came here because you're my nephew" I told him and he stiffened before standing up straight and letting his arms fall to his sides. "..And because of Steve."
"Why do you want to be here? Why come to me after all these years?" Tony asked.
"Because I was there." I said it before thinking, how could I explain it without letting him know the truth?
"The accident? You said you saw me after. How did you even know about me?"
"I was told about you by the men keeping me hostage. As for you parents, I came across them and I tried to help, but it was too late" I said. He rubbed his face, trying to hide the pain.
"You were there? Did they- did they suffer?" he stuttered. I took his hands in mine.
"Tony, they loved you. Your father told me to get your mother to a hospital" I told him, remembering what Howard had asked of Buck-the Winter Soldier.
"Why didn't you help them?"
"I couldn't."
"Why not?"
"Because of the Asset." Now I'd done it. I would now have to explain the Winter Soldier to my nephew.
"What is the Asset?" He was now interested, he wanted to know more.
"The Asset was something that HYDRA kept around to kill people" I told him.
"So it was a weapon?"
"Yes."
"And that weapon stopped you from saving your brother?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe you" he snapped and left the room. I sighed and got up, packed a bag and left the house. I could hear Steve asking where I was going, but I didn't want to stop and explain that I didn't want to be where I wasn't wanted.

I started down the street and kept walking until a man appeared in front of me.
"My name is Gordon, I can take you to a place where you can learn to control your abilities" he said. I looked him over and realised he had no eyes.
"Where is this place? How do you know about me?"
"We call the place Afterlife and our leader has a psychic as her advisor. She told me to find you and bring you back before you hurt yourself" he explained. I looked through his mind for a reason not to trust him, but I couldn't find one. His intentions were genuine and I watched as he extended his hand. "Do you trust me?" I looked him up and down again before I took his hand.
"I trust you" I told him and then we teleported to Afterlife. The room we were in had a bookcase, desk and chairs. A woman with scars approached me and I read her mind and feelings to know if I could trust her, all I could feel was an overwhelming pain though and I doubled over, clutching at my stomach and heart.
"Pull away from me" she instructed, I did as she said and the pain lessened. I stood back up again and the woman extended her hand. "I'm Jiaying, you're Madeline?" she asked me.
"Yes" I replied.
"What are the extensions of your abilities?"
"I have telepathy and empathy. I can't control it well, but I can read minds and emotions and push thoughts and emotions on people. I can only do one thing at any one time though" I told them.
"We can help you control it better, and maybe even extend your gifts" Jiaying told me. She looked over to Gordon and he nodded. "Gordon will be your transitioner and he will help you to control your ability." I nodded and walked with Gordon to a room with a view of the mountains.
"This room is furthest from everyone, that way if you lose control, you won't affect others" he told me.
"Thank you" I smiled and he left me to my own devices. I paced in the room for a few minutes before I headed out to explore Afterlife. It was a big place, and quite beautiful too. I introduced myself to as many people as I could and a few had abilities, one girl also had empathy but hers was so controlled that she could tap into other people's abilities by tapping into the emotion they felt when they used it. I was intrigued by what she'd learned and asked her to teach me, she was kind. Maria, her name was. I also met a man named Lincoln, he had the power of electrokinesis; power over electricity. Lincoln was training to become a doctor when his power manifested, he was barely twenty years old.

A/N- I'm thoroughly enjoying writing this story but I feel like nobody reads it, I have very little confidence which is why I ask for reviews. PLEASE REVIEW, it'll make me more motivated! Have a great day/afternoon/evening and I'll try to write the next chapter by tomorrow night
Brazilwolf – Tony and Madeline will obviously have some friction, but it will die down eventually. As for Bucky, he will be back…eventually!