Hello all! Just a warning for this chapter, there is mentions of bullying. Nothing too graphic but we thought we'd warn you anyway.

Ezra POV

I just stood there staring at her in complete bewilderment, though none of it showed on my face. I felt Tony look at me in worried confusion, and tighten his grip around my waist. I gave him a comforting look to tell him that I'm ok, that Rachel hadn't and would not hurt me, well at least not in the way he was thinking. Looking back at her, I was struck by how little she had changed, she was still 5"4, tan skinned with intelligent chocolate eyes and curly dark brown hair, though she now wore it short where as when I met her it was just below her shoulder blades.

Seeing her brought up the memory of when we first met, in those days I was new to my powers and had a hard time controlling them. Sometimes I would have fox ears appear on top of my head, or a tail appear out of nowhere, sometimes both at the same time. You see, I'm a mutant, and as we all know, our powers don't develop until puberty. So at the worst possible time because of high school. My power, now that I know how to use it, is the ability to transform into and communicate with animals.

The day we first meet I was in the middle of one of my daily occurrences...

They were all surrounding me, saying horrible things, and the bolder ones started to kick and hit me, while the others cheered them on. I was terrified, it was worse this time than any other in the past. I had accidently grown ears and a tail, along with a nice pair of fangs. I didn't ask for this to happen, nor did I want this stupid power. I just wanted to be normal, not that they cared as they continued to beat me and I begged them to stop.

"Freak! You should be happy we only beat you,"

"Yeah, you and your kind should all die!"

"Even your parents knew that. That's why you're an orphan, no one could or ever will love a freak like you!"

"You're the most ugly thing I have ever see, and I've seen a lot!"

"Devil Child!"

I started to tear up. My whole life I've been alone, first it was because I was moved from foster home to foster home, and now it's because I am a mutant. I've never had a friend and I never will, it hurts so much, the physical pain and emotional. They say that in Australia everyone is accepted, well if that's true I would hate to see how they treat mutants in other countries.

"STOP! You foolish and nasty mortals!"

Huh? No one's tried to help me before not even the teacher. Maybe they just want to hurt me themselves, it did does seem to be the favourite thing for everyone to do. So I curled into a tighter ball in preparation of more strikes.

"You can't tell us what to do girly, why don't you go play with some dolls?"

"I will give you one more warning,"

"Or what?"

"Or this!"

Next thing I feel a painful heat surrounding me and hear the screams of the students that were bulling me as they ran away. I wished I could do the same thing, but the red fire as I take a look, is still surrounding me, so I just tighten myself in to a smaller ball and await more pain.

The flames and heat suddenly disappear. I flinch as a hand is placed on my shoulder and let out a whimper, I can't take any more pain, please make it stop.

"It's ok little one, I won't hurt you. And the vile mortals have gone."

I slowly uncurl, not sure if this is a trick or not, and look into the face of another girl. Well, she looks more like a woman to me. I watch her suspiciously, ready to bolt at the first sign that she will harm me, but she just smiles down at me and offers her hand to me.

I take it asking "Why did you help me? Don't you think I'm ugly and a freak of nature?"

She looks at me sadly and answers, "No I don't. In fact, I think your ears and tail make you look cute. As to why I helped you, they had no right to treat you that way. The fact you have powers means your better than them! Also I was hoping you'd be my friend, I would like to look out for you, you seem like a nice and very cute girl."

I shyly looked up at her and asked, "Really?"

"Really, I will even do my best to help you learn to control your powers." She smiled at me as she helps me up, "You know I think that we'll be the best of friends, and you can help me too."

"With what?"

"You can teach me how to be human, and of all things in your realm."

We did become best friends and were together for the 5 years of high school. She helped me with my powers, protected me and was my first real and best friend. We even made plans of what we'd do after we graduated. We had planned to go to Uni together, but that all changed when she disappeared without a word of goodbye.

I join SHIELD after that and went on many dangerous and difficult missions. All the while, I was looking for her, wondering what had happed, because surely she would leave me on purpose without saying something. Seems like I was wrong and, as I look at her now; married to one of our past enemies and happy, I'm filled with disgusted. What was I to her? A specimen to be studied, maybe a part of her schooling of the nine realms? I never meant anything to her I was some projected for her, something she took pity on, well not anymore.

"Welcome, I'm glad you could make it. Thor will be very happy!" I say to Loki and Rachel while smiling my fake simile, not that they could tell, me being a spy and all. Before they get the chance to reply, I turn to Tony and say, "I'm going to check on Bruce, with Loki around Hulk will be trying to get out."

I kiss him on the cheek and walk away.