From a Witch's Perspective

Chapter four: You have entered the twilight zone.

I know what you're thinking. What? Why would someone drag one of their students from a clearly traumatic event, to the principle's office?

And you know what? I haven't the faintest, foggiest, little freaking clue as to why. I was just following Coulson down the hall, in shock at the injustice of it all. None of the teenaged Heroes said anything in my defense; they stepped back and gave me a pat on the shoulder. Traitors.

Nothing was being said, it was deathly silent as we passed through the bare rows of lockers that were usually bustling with loud, obnoxious, teenagers like myself.

As we walked I silently went over my course of bad luck over the past hour or so. I mean I woke up to an explosion, crashed my broom, flunked my test, became a bystander in a battle between good and evil and with the cherry to top it all off, I was getting sent to the principal's office!

And while this did not seem fair nor did it make any sense to me, apparently it was making sense to Coulson, because he wasn't wasting time going down to the office, I had jog to keep up with him when we hit a cornor.

At least I'm pretty sure it's Coulson.

There were a couple of things different that stood out from him, like how he was walking with great purpose, how the air around him seem to intensify with authority, as if it wasn't enough already.

Or it could be the fact that he was rocking a FREAKING KEVLAR VEST. With large, block print, bright white lettering that read S.H.I.E.L.D. on the back.

But you know it was just little things.

"So…uh…" I began after falling in stride beside him.

"I'll take it that Shield isn't some super-secret principle club where you get where special vests in case things ever 'gets real' on pop quiz day?" I asked with a big 'I'ma kiddin with ya' grin followed by a few chuckles.

He didn't reply. He didn't even blink, just kept walking.

"I knew you were in there somewhere, Coulson."

"What?"

"Never mind…"

We reached our destination in record time. After Coulson herded me inside I could see that the medium sized room was pretty much empty. The only ones around for company were the chairs in front of Coulson's large wooden desk next to a double window, along with a couple of timid looking bookcases.

I turned and opened my mouth prepared to ask some questions I probably should have earlier but Coulson had already backed out with a quick "Wait here." and shut the door before I could get anything in.

"Well that wasn't weird or ominous in anyway what so ever." I muttered to myself and wandered over to the window and briefly glanced outside.

I was expecting to see police cruisers and a massive group of people behind yellow tape but no I was greeted with a giant metal ship. I blinked once, twice, three times but the ship was still there with an open hatch and hundred or so guys in black suits much like Coulson's gathered around it with automatic weapons.

I leaned so far forward the side of my face was flat up against the window pane with three words in mind.

No. Freaking. Way.

In the distance I would see each member of the frightful four being escorted in metal arm cuff things around the corner and into the hatch of the ship. All except Trapster who was being carted there, still stuck in glue and plaster, and Wizard who was still twitching with electricity in his veins.

I giggled quietly to myself but stopped short when I saw the balding head of Principle Coulson bringing up the rear of the escort and barking orders to his Kevlar vest brothers.

What?

I was confused, how can a high school principle get away with bossing around what looked like an S.W.A.T but with more swag? The only conclusion I could come up with was that he had to be one of them.

Then my brain went "You know what time it is? Conspiracy theory time."

Coulson was a spy. He was spying for the government on the school. That explains his vest, the Taser and his 'rabbit out of hat' techniques.

I frowned. Why would he spy on a school? What's so interesting at the school? So I pondered on this for a moment while the hatch closed.

Well apparently we have a junior league of heroes, that's interesting, but now that I think of it Coulson didn't look too surprised to see them and they didn't seem to shocked either. They just kinda glanced at each other and offered me up like a sacrificial lamb.

Then my brain decided to take a more hysterical route.

Witch. He always appears around me when I'm witching about. Is that it? Is he studying me? Is he waiting for the moment where he catches me in the act!? Then when he does he'll have proof of what I am and that's when they hunt me and they catch me and they lock me up so that they can dissect me like a frog in biology class!

I felt sick to my stomach; my head was floating on a cloud.

And Coulson did catch me in the act. The cafeteria, I was casting spells, using my own personal ties to magic very publically.

"This is it. I'm dead." I whispered. My uncles were going to kill me if the government didn't. I broke the mother of all magical being rules. I might as well write out my will.

I clawed at the latch on the window like a rabid animal "It'll be fine I'll just fly home, grab the cat, fly to Mexico, I'll put my Spanish lessons to good use." I told myself calmly even though I was trying to rip the window sill from the wall at this point.

The door to office opened during my escape. I froze, slowly turning around to see Coulson standing in the doorway with another man who was dressed all in black like he just came off a set of The Matrix. He was dark skinned, standing tall like Coulson with his hands folded behind him and looking at me with one eye. The other was hidden behind a pirate patch.

A moment of awkward silence passes before the Matrix Pirate steps inside and asks "Daphne Dwyer?"

I wanted to say something cool like "whose askin?" but all that came out was squeak that might have been yes in the language of Mice. He must have been up on his mice-ese because he nodded in acknowledgment and walked over to Coulson's desk while Coulson himself shut the door quietly behind them.

I remained by the window while he sat behind the desk and Coulson started gesturing me to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk. He was even smiling at me. He was smiling.

"I hope you don't mind Miss Dwyer, I asked for you to be brought here because I thought it might be more comfortable than out in the commotion." Eye patch said and waved at the scene outside.

More comfortable? The principal's office?

"Who are you?" I asked

"Nick Fury." He responded. I blinked at him.

"I'm the director of Shield. You can think of us as Homeland Security." He explained further. "Please, take a seat."

I stared at him then at Coulson who took the second seat in front of the desk. Slowly I detached my nails from the window and walked over to sit next to Coulson. I folded my arms and my legs, the chair felt too big and I felt way too small. I just didn't know what to do and wondered if it was going to be a regular thing for me.

"Thank you." He said and I nodded in return.

He went on, leaning back in the chair "Agent Coulson has been telling me good things about you."

"Agent? Good things?" Conspiracy was no longer a theory. I cut my eyes to Coulson who glanced silently at me in return.

Fury nodded "Now I understand that you have certain abilities…"

"All of its rumors because of the tights!" I shouted out of reflex before groaning and slapping my palm to my forehead, just realizing how pointless that was. Fury raised an eyebrow; I waved a hand for him to continue.

He gave me a long look before doing so. "As I was saying… And with these abilities, Coulson said that you managed to handle yourself in the situation and control some of the collateral damage. Congratulations."

My eyes widened and I straightened up to look over at Coulson again. He really said I did well? Does Coulson actually like me? Was I wrong all this time?

"Of course he also said that you were slow in reaction, poor tactical skills and though your powers were effective they lacked certain strength."

There it is.

I slumped back in my seat again and rest my head on my palm.

"But for your first time in such a circumstance, you did fine. You could do better." He said and leaned forward on his elbows, giving me an even stare.

"Right…Thanks?" I asked, feeling much like I was missing something important in all this.

"I'd like to offer you better."

Wut

"You've seen my team in the cafeteria; they have certain abilities as well."

"The teen supers are spies too?" I asked, avoiding letting on that I knew about their identities. Or at least Luke's. The guy helped me when I was down, I'm not gonna rat out on him.

"Agents." Fury corrected me. "They joined us to better themselves. They're there to protect and fight the battles that others can't. We help them achieve that."

I listened quietly as I replayed the fight in my head. He was right; they threw themselves into danger because they have the ability to do something about it. And they did it without hesitating, without a second thought. They could act and so they did, and they did it well.

It gave me a whole new respect for them.

"That's what you were doing, weren't you?" Fury asked, bringing me back to the present. "You were helping them to fight and protect?"

"I, well…." Was I? No I wasn't.

"You were determined and that is what pulled you through, but I'm here to tell you that determination won't always be enough. Shield can help you."

I shook my head "You don't understand I was…" Trying to save myself.

I couldn't voice my thoughts. I did help but all I was doing was trying to get out of there, I wasn't like them, I didn't just jump right in. In fact all I did was sit there in the face of the enemy…

I raked a hand harshly through my hair, glancing to the side out the window as I tried to straighten the jumbled mess in my head.

"Listen, I was only…" I trailed off when I saw something in the distance. It was a black streak ripping across the parking lot towards a lone Shield dude who was standing innocently in the parking lot across the window.

I narrowed my eyes at it "Moon?"

The poor guy didn't even see him coming. I could hear the growling and the yelling from inside the office as he launched himself onto the agent and kicked off him hard enough that the guy stumbled away. I couldn't help but be proud for my psychotic little fur ball.

He tore across the school lawn at alarming rate considering his tiny legs and threw himself at the window pane. Both Coulson and Fury had knocked their chairs back at the thud of his body hitting the glass and stood training their guns on the spiked demon.

I leapt up "NO WAIT! DON'T SHOOT!" I screeched and ran to the window, opened it up and scooped up my cat. I held him at bay since he was squirming and hissing and turned around to face Coulson and Fury.

"He's with me, He's with me, he's my cat!" I explained

"COME ON, COME ON, I'LL HAVE YOU FOR BREAKFAST!" Moon spat at them though I'm sure all they heard was some intense snarling since I'm the only one who will ever understand his gibberish.

"Your cat?" They repeated and exchanged a glance that probably said 'Getting too old for this.'

"Comforting to know that a five pound feline can stun and evade out agents." Coulson muttered putting his gun away.

"Really? Because all I feel is bitter disappointment." Fury replied curtly.

I turned Moon around to face me "What are you doing here? How did you get here?" I asked

"You were in trouble so I ran here." He responded like he was explaining a very simple subject to a two year old.

"Awwww!" I grinned feeling all warm and fuzzy knowing that my cat would run across the city to save me.

"But I had to find a way to get out of your room and you don't need to know the details on that and I got lost a few times."

My grin was gone but I still thought it was sweet.

"You should probably also know that somehow your uncles made it here before me but they were held up by the guards. They don't have my skill." He announced with a smirk.

I decided not to inform him that my uncles have longer legs and a thing called a car. I didn't want to rain on his parade.

But my uncles are here. They're here.

Coulson's phone rang. I looked over at him and Fury who were politely keeping quiet during my conversation with Moon. Or judging by their expressions was just too engrossed with the fact that they were witnessing this conversation with a feline.

Coulson blinked and took out his phone before excusing himself and stepping away and take the call. As he did so Fury blinked to himself and rubbed his face before asking "Is there anything I should know?"

"Uh…"

"Sir." Coulson called from the other end of the room. Fury glanced at him.

"We have two white males outside asking for her." Coulson reported and I slammed my palm to my face again.

"I'll take it you know these men?" Fury asked when I pulled my hand away.

"Yeah, my uncles. They're gonna kill me." I mumbled.

"Well we might as well go say hello." He said

"Ack."

"Step aside or I will have you singing 'what does the fox say' for the rest of your natural life!"

"Oh move over I'll show you how it's done."

I could see Uncle Maverick toss some powder at the agent which suddenly went very still. I was halfway down the parking lot with Fury leading the way and Moon yawning in my arms. Coulson decided to forgo meeting my uncles.

I knew they meant business when I saw them, not because of how light around them seemed darker and their eyes looked like they could rip out your soul, but because they had proper foot wear on.

I'm walking to my execution.

"Da na. Da na Danadanadana-HISSS!." Moon protested when I pinched his tail.

"Good evening, Gentlemen." Fury called out.

Both their heads snapped in our direction, Uncle Casper moved first by shoving the agent a good five feet from him and practically flew over in our direction. Moon abandoned ship and I yelled holding my hands up,

"I can totally explain-!"

He had me in a bone crushing hug.

I didn't move, didn't make any wise cracks, and just stood there because he began shake and mutter thickly "It would have been my fault." Over and over again into my hair.

Over his shoulder I saw Uncle Maverick coming over with a frown. "Foolish girl, are you alright?" He asked gruffly. I didn't respond because it felt like I had a rock in my throat.

"For love of… Casper she can't breathe." He said but didn't make try to move him.

After a silent moment uncle Casper let go and held my shoulders. His eyes were rimmed with red as he glanced over me for injuries. I desperately hoped he wouldn't cry because if he did, I would cry with him.

"We..." He cleared his throat "The bugle had a live feed and… We saw you through that hole." He said hoarsely.

It felt like he threw me in an oven.

"The…hole?" I asked. I was fixing the ceiling right in front of the hole in the wall.

"Yes, the hole. The bugle made a meal out of it in the live feed." Uncle Maverick said.

Live feed?

"Gentlemen, I'm sorry to interrupt." Fury finally spoke up.

We turned our attention to him. I watched Uncle Casper cough a few times to clear his throat but kept one hand firmly on my shoulder. While Uncle Maverick looked at him up and down like he was sizing them up before folding his arms across his chest. I stuck to looking like hell.

"I'm Nick Fury." He introduced himself again.

"We know." Uncle Maverick replied curtly. Fury raised an eyebrow at him.

"Word gets around the community." Uncle Casper was quick intervene. "Please excuse my brother and thank you for looking after my niece." He said with a polite bow of his head.

"It's not a problem; she did most of the looking after herself." Fury replied and looked over briefly at the metal ship that all the Shield people were piling back into.

He turned back and looked down at me saying, "You should get home and rest."

I stared back at him and nodded slowly, is that it? That big whole speech and he says go home?

He returned the nod and said "Gentlemen." Then left. I shook my head in disbelief when he just walked away.

That can't just be it.

"Um… Mr. Fury, sir!" I called out and carefully shrugged off Uncle Casper's hand and ignored Uncle Maverick's hissing as I jogged after the super spy. Fury paused long enough to wait for me to catch up.

"Uh…what about…you know?" I asked while scratching the back of my neck, trying not to talk too loud.

"It's been a big day. Go home, rest, think about it. We'll talk again soon." He replied simply and continued to walk.

"Uh…Right…" I said to myself and waited until he boarded the mother ship before turning back around. Moon came back finally and hopped onto my shoulder. I glared at him

"Oh so now you give moral support?" I asked as I began my trek back to my uncles.

"When it comes to emotional Warlocks it's everyone for themselves." He mewed with a flick of his tail.

Couldn't argue with him on that one. I looked up to the said Warlock's faces which were scrunched together, both confused and suspicious. We were going to have a 'family discussion' I could feel it.

"We need three sodas, ten tacos and a pie." I grumbled

"Fine by me but what are you having?" Moon asked and I rolled my eyes, too tired to come up with a retort.

He's on too much catnip though if he thinks he's getting my pie.

Thanks again for reading yet another chapter! I hope it put a smile on your face even though it was a bit more serious than the others.

I probably wrote this thing five separate times and then when I was happy with it I didn't save it right and I lost over three thousand words. But after a good cry and some rocking back forth for a while I decided it was a good thing because I'm actually happier with this version.

And also to those who might have not gotten a reply from me for your reviews, PLEASE KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU AND THINK YOU'RE AMAZING. I get all emotional over your reviews and I'm grateful for each one of you.

I think that's all that should be said. Don't forget to be awesome and I'll see you whenever the next chapter comes around.