Chapter Eighteen:

Blue stayed by Steve's side for the rest of the day. After resting for an hour or so, they hung out with the other Avengers. Tony ordered pizza, which tasted gooey on Blue's tongue. Still, the different flavours of the combined ingredients ― that Clint described as cheese, tomato sauce, and pepperonis ― were delicious. Blue sighed in content when he tasted it, his fangs popping out.

The others laughed to themselves at Blue's expressive reactions. Blue was nearly quiet, despite the savage way he ate with his hands. He usually sank into the background of conversations, the training of being seen and not heard drilled into him. Blue wasn't quite used to being asked questions, being involved. These were all people things, things that Blue knew wasn't something he was supposed to do.

He looked at Steve who had been laughing at something Bruce said. Their mannerisms were so much different than his Master's had been. His Master had laughed, yes, but he didn't laugh like this ― he didn't laugh with friends. He laughed at Blue, he laughed at his men. His laughter was cruel and usually at the expense of others. His laughter was cold and exclusive, theirs was warm and inviting.

Blue didn't know how they did it, but he didn't complain. A part of him liked being in this group, pretending to be a person. It was like a game, almost. Like when he would play pretend with his Ma.

Blue blinked, looking down, his eyebrow ruffling. His Ma. There she was again, in his thoughts. Blue had so rarely thought of her. She was just a memory, nothing important to him. He didn't even know what this woman he called 'Ma' looked like! He bit his lip, frowning a bit. He remembered playing pretend, eating brownies, and windchimes ― what were windchimes, anyway?

Blue let out a small growl in frustration. Half of the things he remembered about her, he didn't even know what it was himself! "B?" He looked up, Natasha was watching him, curiously. "Everything okay?"

Blue nodded, and suddenly the eyes were on him. He flinched instinctively, usually when everyone watched him, he was fighting a dog or being disciplined. He reminded himself that he wasn't in the ring anymore ― he wasn't with his Master anymore.

This was a lot to take in, he realized. Everything was happening so fast. One second, he was with his Master and now he was with Steve and the others ― and he trusted them! "Blue?" He looked up again ― Natasha asked him question.

"Fine," Blue replied shortly. But then he frowned, remembering his inquiries from a few minutes ago. "What. . . what chimes?" He asked the room at large. They exchanged looks with one another at the sudden question.

"You mean windchimes?" Tony clarified and Blue nodded a bit. "Well. . . they're. . ." He made a hand gesture, but it didn't exactly answer Blue's question at all. "Anyone wanna help?"

"It's an instrument," Clint replied. "They jingle when a breeze pass through." Then, he shrugged, "I dunno what else to say ― I'm deaf." This made a chuckle spread through the room, the others amused by his words ― Blue didn't know why.

"They sound like bells," Bruce said. "JARVIS, can you play some windchimes?"

"Right away," a voice answered, and Blue jumped. He knew that there was an invisible man they all spoke to called JARVIS. Blue could never hear him or smell him, but he was always seemed to be following them ― he wondered if he could meet him.

Suddenly the laughter of his Ma rang through the room. Blue looked around, something twisting his chest, but he hadn't been injured. He felt his arms shake a little, he felt his eyes water. He whined, his lip trembling. He wasn't scared, he wasn't in trouble, but. . . his Ma. He could hear her in his head, he could feel her in his bones. He could feel the gentle touch of her fingers on his head, brushing the hair out of the face. She always did that ― she always moved the hair out of his face.

"Move those hairs so I can see those beautiful eyes, baby."

"Blue?" This was Steve. Blue blinked, rubbing at his face, the tears absorbing in the sleeve of his shirt. The windchimes had faded away, leaving the room silent and empty. Leaving the room vacant of his Ma. Steve smiled gently, "Hey. You alright?"

"Ma," He whined. He wanted her here. He wanted to see her again ― he wanted to see her again. "Where ― Ma?" This caused an uncomfortable shift in the room. He frowned, sensing their discomfort.

"She's alive," Steve began slowly, and Blue's eyes widened. His Ma was alive!? Did she remember him? Or, was he reduced to merely playing pretend and brownies and windchimes in her head too?

"See ― Ma?" Blue asked, and Steve exchanged glances with Tony, who had a raised eyebrow. He took a sip of his alcohol, slowly, deliberately.

Steve frowned, and Tony chuckled. "If you want, Blue," Tony began, setting the glass back down. "You can go see your mother tomorrow morning."

Blue stared at Tony, his mouth falling open. "Tony―"

"What?" Tony looked at the man, and they began to argue with their eyes and eyebrows again. "If you want to see your mother, we'll take you," Tony said and Steve cleared his throat. "We'll go with you," Tony amended, waving his hand at Steve, as if to say, 'are you happy'?

"Your mother is sick," Steve said gently, and Blue turned to look at him, frowning. "She wants to see you too, but it'll be best if one of us," he waved to the himself and the others. "Were there with you. Just so that you are safe."

"And that she is," Tony muttered, and Steve sent another glare his way.

"Do you want to go?" Blue nodded eagerly. His Ma ― he was going to see his Ma. "We'll head out tomorrow morning, then. We should go to bed early tonight then, huh?" Blue didn't need to be told twice. He scrambled off the couch, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. Steve got up too, and they said goodbye and goodnight to the others before going to their room.

Blue hardly slept at all that night. He was so excited, he was so happy. He couldn't stop thinking about his Ma ― what she had been like, if she knew if, if she loved him. It wasn't until late into the night that Blue finally rested. But, even then, his mind was full of playing pretend, the sound of windchimes, and the taste of brownies.

p•o•l•ū

Blue was excited to get to his Ma. He was excited to see her and hug her again ― after all this time.

He wasn't excited for their mode of transportation. It was a the size of a big car. Steve and Blue drove twenty minutes to get there. They stood outside, and Blue was a bit worried. The big car had strange adjustments poking out of the sides, and blades standing still. Steve led Blue up the stairs, and Blue followed tentatively.

The inside of the big car was shiny with nearly a dozen chairs. In the front, was a man who turned around and smiled at him. Steve spoke a few words to him before waving to Blue. He sat Blue down on one of the seats, strapping a seatbelt over him.

Steve sat beside him, smiling gently. "The jet will be taking off soon, I'm going to sit right here, okay. If you get scared, you can hold onto my arm, alright?" Blue frowned, confused, before he could ask, the door they came through opened again revealing an out of breath, Tony.

"Just finished the transfer!" He announced, and pulled something out of his pocket, pointing it at Steve and Blue. "I wouldn't miss his first plane ride for the world."

"Tony," Steve warned, but Tony was too busy laughing to himself.

"You can go, Austin!" Tony announced. The man in the front took this as a go ahead.

Blue felt his surroundings rumble a little. Then, he was lurched forward, before being tilted back. Blue's eyes were wide in confusion and terror. He clutched the arm rests and gritted his teeth. Then, he made the mistake of looking out the window.

Blue's stomach rolled, he felt like he was going to be sick. "Steve!" He breathed, staring at the ground as it began to get smaller and smaller in the distance. What was going on!? "Steve!" He cried again, he was terrified.

"Hey, I'm right here," Steve eased him, placing a hand over his own. "It's okay―" As soon as the words left his mouth, Blue felt a sharp stabbing in his ears. He groaned, holding his head, his arms shaking.

"You should've gave him some sleeping pills," Tony commented, but made no attempt to help.

"Too risky." Steve said, still helping Blue. He drew his knees up to his chest, trying to breathe, in and out. In and out.

Steve smiled, rubbing his arm comfortingly. "Sorry, B. How are you feeling?"

"Air ― flying," he said, still shocked. "How ― flying?"

"Well," Tony said with a mischief grin, but Steve stopped him.

"It's hard to explain," Steve said. "But don't worry, we'll land in a few hours." Blue nodded, assuming he meant that they would be back on the ground. Would they be at home? Would they be with his Ma?

Now that Blue wasn't quite scared anymore, he looked out the window. He could see the tops of the clouds and opened his mouth in wonder. The sun was bright and made the fluffy looking masses glow. It was beautiful!

x•i•a•v

For the next few hours, Blue took his time sleeping or looking out the window. Tony showed him the video he took of himself freaking out ― Blue didn't appreciate it very much.

When they were finally beginning to land, Blue got scared again, but it was fast, and Steve assured him that they were fine.

They got out of the big car, and Blue frowned. They were in a new place now. He couldn't smell the sharp smoke the cars let out like he did in New York. Now it was different, it was weird.

Blue sat near the window, Steve let him put it down as they drove. He was a little scared at first ― the wind pressed into his face and messed up his hair ― but then he grew to enjoy it. It was refreshing and warm. He liked how it felt, the dry taste in the air. He smelt. . . Salt. Watery-salt. It was familiar ― why was it familiar. He didn't understand.

Confusion littered his face as they continued to drive for a couple more hours. He watched as they pulled into a block of small houses. Blue has never seen houses like this before. They were all the same with metal gates in their yard ― like the ring in his Master's basement.

The car stopped in front of a house. The grass inside the yard was high, and the house itself was a very pale shade of blue. The sun had stolen the colours over the years. Blue stared at the house, confused ― shocked.

Steve got out and opened his door. Blue followed him, "Steve ― where?" Blue asked, as Steve walked up the plant-ridden path, and knocked lightly on the door.

"You're about to see," he replied. Then, the door opened and a woman stood there.

Blue stared at the curly mane and the dark eyes. He stared at her thin frame and feeble hands. Blue stared and stared and stared. The woman stared back, but she was getting tears in her eyes. She smelled familiar, but Blue couldn't quite place it. She was sobbing and holding out her hands.

She stepped forward towards Blue and Blue jumped back hissing. His fangs slid over his teeth threateningly, he didn't know this woman. Why was she crying? What did she want?

The woman was stunned, but Tony and Steve quickly came to the rescue. "It's okay, Blue." Steve assured to Blue while Tony spoke to the woman.

"Let's go sit down. We need to talk."

A few minutes later, they were on the couch. It was broken and messy. The house smelt like mould and trash. The woman didn't seem to mind. She bustled around, setting glass drinks down in front of Steve and Tony. They thanked the woman, and glanced at each other.

Finally, Steve spoke. "As. . . I explained, for the past decade, Blue had been in a very bad environment," he began. "The people who took him. . . changed him. He's not quite the Blue you remember."

"But he's still my child," the woman argued.

"Yes," Steve agreed. "But―"

"I want him here," the woman said. "I never lost custody of him! I never gave him up to no one! He belongs here ― with me." Her voice cracked a little, and she continued to stare at Blue. He wanted to hiss at her, but Tony stopped him.

"For your best interests and his, it would be better if you two. . . eased back into your lives," Tony said. "We're not saying you can't keep him here, it would just be better for both of you if you took it slow." The woman was shaking her head.

"No. He's been gone for ten years! I want him to stay here."

"Ma'am, Blue is―"

"My baby can speak for himself!" She snapped and Blue blinked, confused. She looked at him, smiling again. "Go on. Tell them, baby. Tell them you wanna stay with your ma." Was this an order? He blinked, he didn't have a Master ― was she his Master? Was that why they brought him here?

Blue had to follow orders given to him, that was a rule. "Me ― stay?" Blue asked, a bit confused. Did she say she was his Ma?

"You can if you want to, Blue," Steve said. "These aren't orders. You don't have to stay here―"

"Stop lying to him!" The woman snapped and Blue turned, was she threatening Steve. "He's gonna stay here ― he just said it!"

"Ma'am―"

"Get out!" She jumped from her seat, about to grab Steve hand. Blue narrowed his eyes and hissed, ready to jump on her.

Tony, however, held him back. "No, no, Bad B. You can't jump on her. Don't do that," he scolded.

"Ma'am, I am sure we can arrange something," Steve tried to say. She stopped trying to get them to leave ― Steve was too heavy anyway. She pressed her palms to her hands and began to sob. Blue blinked and Steve rose to his feet, rubbing her back. She kept saying, my baby, my baby.

Blue squirmed, rubbing his lip, his fangs sinking back into his gums. Both he and Tony looked out of place, unsure what to do or where to go.

"Can I. . ." the woman sniffed looking at Blue. He looked away, "Can I see him? Please?"

Tony patted his arm, "Can she come closer, B?" He asked and Blue felt a bit uncomfortable. The woman was still crying and he felt something twist in his stomach.

He nodded and the woman stepped forward, kneeling in front of him. She put out a hand and touched his face. Blue tensed his eyes darting towards Steve in a blind panic. "My baby Blue," she whispered, and Blue looked at her. "You're still beautiful," she murmured, rubbing his cheek with her thumb.

Blue did not like this. She was too close. She could kill him too easily ― would she kill him? Blue swallowed, trying to lean away ― he didn't want to he this close. Nobody was helping him. Nobody was stopping her.

"Do you remember me?" She laughed tearily. "I'm your mother, remember?" Her hands pressed harder. Was she going to discipline him?

Blue nodded and the woman let out an airy laugh. She suddenly grabbed his shoulders. Blue tried to move, but she pulled him close to her chest. Blue let out a cry of alarm, his eyes wide and darting around. She rubbed the back of his head, whispering softly in his ear.

"I am your Master now. Tell these men to leave us alone." Blue stiffened, but did as he was told.

"Alone?" He asked Steve. Steve rose an eyebrow, but nodded.

"Or course, B." He and Tony watched them for a minute, "We'll be right outside, okay?" Blue nodded his eyes darting to his Master for orders.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly as the door opened and then closed again. His Master looked at Blue and smiled. "You had orders," she said slowly. "Kill Steve Rogers at the first chance you get."

"Hard," Blue said. "Steve. . . friend?"

The woman let out a scoff, sneering. "'Friend'?" She repeated, disgusted. "Pets don't have friends. Friends are for people." She advanced on him, and Blue moved back. "Doesn't matter now. You failed your mission. I'm taking you back to base for dissection."

Blue's entire world froze. He stared at the woman, then turned to run. She grabbed him by his hair, yanking him back. Blue slashed his claws at her, cutting her arm and making her let go.

He ran again, sprinting into another room, closing the door and pressing his back against it.

Blue breathed, tears coming to his eyes. Then, he stopped, smelling something metallic and strong. He heard the buzzing of flies and looked over.

He saw a woman on the ground, her throat was cut open, attracting the attention of flies and other bugs. Her eyes were wide in betrayal and shock. She was wearing fine, blue clothes stained with red down her chest. She was dressed up for an occasion. She had curly dark hair that was dripping, soaked from her own blood.

He stared and stared and stared. Then, tears began to roll out of his eyes. He stared at her eyes. Her dark eyes, so dark they looked blue.

Blue let out a sob. This was his Ma. His Ma, with brownies and playing pretend and wind chimes. He wanted to hear her wind chimes.

He stumbled over to the corpse and sobbed, arms trembling. He lightly touched her face. It was as cold as ice. The door opened and the woman appeared, "Get up," she ordered and Blue shook his head. His Ma. . . his Ma was dead.

He heard a gun click and turned around. His entire front was covered in her blood. He stared dully at the woman who was pointing a gun at him. "Unfortunately, they decided that you will not be dissected in the traditional sense ― pity. You will be decommissioned."

Blue snarled and pounced at the woman. Her gun went off and he felt it soar through his collarbone. He didn't care. It went off again, and it missed. Blue jumped on her, his teeth bared and claws sharp. She stared up at him, terrified as he sank his teeth into her neck, tearing out her throat, ripping up her face. She killed his Ma. That's why she smelled familiar. She murdered her wind chimes.

He was going to make sure they didn't even recognize her body.

He mauled her squirming, gurgling body, he heard shouting and someone yanking him up, but he growled at them, wanting her to be reduced to nothing more than mass and blood. "Blue! Get off of her!" Steve screamed and Blue hissed, his eyes blown and dangerous. Steve stopped, staring at his eyes, his face going blank.

"Oh, no Rogers, don't you dare!" Tony snapped, and slapped Steve. He shook his head and realized what was still going on.

He felt something wrap around his face and he was pulled back. Blue let out a cry, falling on his back as Steve and Tony examined the body.

"Shit," Tony breathed as Blue clawed at his face, ripping through the jacket, getting it off. He wasn't finished.

He jumped back on her, but Steve intercepted him, wrapping his arms around his waist, yanking him back. Blue howled and moaned, trying to do even more damage to the quite unrecognizable body.

"Blue! What the hell!?" Steve hissed, holding him tight.

Blue breathed heavily, his words slurred from anger and grief. "Ma!" He growled.

"Yeah, you killed her, smartass," Tony fired back. Blue shook his head, pointing to the room behind Tony.

"Ma!" He said and the tears were coming back now. Tony turned and his eyebrows went high.

"Oh." He said, realizing what he meant. Then, he looked at the fake-Ma. "Oh. . ."

"What?" Steve loosened his hold on Blue and stood. Blue came behind him, and squirmed into the room. "Oh. . . Oh, no. . ." he said and Blue ran to his Ma's body. He whined, holding her head to his chest, his tears mixing with blood.

"Ma!" Blue sobbed, anguish clenching his heart. "Ma!"