Thank you to Harliquinn for beta editing.
It was the first day in three weeks where the weather didn't make it feel like they were living in a sauna, and Skye was on a run near the compound with her earbuds in. She had been running for about twenty minutes before she felt like someone was watching her. She looked around and noticed someone she knew from the last group home she was in. She was one of the girls who had attacked her. Skye took a breath before she continued on her run. She had no interest in interacting with her. After running for a few more minutes she noticed someone else she had known from the care system across the street. This girl had been in the first group home Skye had been in. They hadn't been close. Skye just shook it off as a coincidence before she saw two more people she recognized walking towards her, both with sinister looks in their eyes. They were the two girls from the mall with Lila.
They were all teens she knew, mostly from foster care who likely had connections with Civic Max and Hydra. Skye took a breath and started to run back towards the compound and away from the teenagers, but every way she went her route was cut off by other teenagers. She didn't recognize all of them, but it was clear to her they were all trying to trap her and likely trying to grab her. She pressed the button on her earbuds that caused them to connect to the AI on her phone "Call Dad," she said to the AI.
Steve was training with Bucky when his phone went off. He went over to it and answered.
"Hey, Skye, what's up?" Steve asked.
"Hydra, I'm on a run. A bunch of teenagers are closing in on me, I recognize a few from my time in foster care. Two are the girls who I went to the mall with when I was with Lila. I think they are Hydra," she said before telling him exactly where she was.
"Okay, we are coming," Steve said before he hung up and looked at Bucky. "Hydra. Trying to grab Skye."
The two men ran upstairs and grabbed everyone they could find before they headed out to find Skye.
"Please don't make me hurt any of you," she said loudly after the call was ended. She moved towards her route to the compound. But the teenagers all continued to move towards her. Skye took a breath and tapped into her abilities, causing a small whirlwind around her that grabbed the teenagers up in it and thew them far enough away from her that she could continue towards the compound. But when she turned a corner she came face-to-face with Russell Kramer.
"Hello, Skyler," he said.
Skye went to punch him, but he brought his hand up and caught her fist before she could.
"I don't think so, little girl," Kramer said condescendingly.
Before she could react, someone behind her wrapped a rope around her neck and pulled tightly cutting off her oxygen. Skye fought for what felt like hours but was only a few seconds before she heard a commotion behind her and the rope fell. Skye coughed as she slumped forward, catching her breath. She was grabbed again by someone from behind. She looked around at her family, who were there fighting against the group who were trying to grab her. More people came out from corners and side streets that Skye hadn't seen yet. She locked eyes with Loki, who was fighting in hand-to-hand combat with a couple of the teenagers. She tried to fight the person who grabbed her, but whoever it was, was proving to be very strong. The fact that she was still catching her breath made it hard for her to fight.
Loki knocked the two teenagers he was fighting out before he made his way towards Skye. His route was blocked, and he fought against the two grown men who were trying to take him down. Loki took them down as well before he pulled his knife out of his pocket as Skye managed to get out of the grasp of the person who had grabbed her. She saw Loki aiming his knife ready to throw it at the woman, and Skye ducked. Loki's knife was stopped mid-throw by something that seemed like a magical force. Skye quickly created a whirlwind, picking up the knife and pulling it to her hand as she was grabbed again.
"Skyler, don't!" Loki screamed at her. He did not want her to be the one who stabbed the woman.
Skye was surprised by Loki shouting at her. It shocked her enough that she stopped moving. Before she could come back to her senses she was teleported out of the alley they were in and into a dark empty room. The walls were all brick and the floor was dirt.
"Skyler, it's okay. You're safe," the woman's voice said as she let her go.
Skye turned around and came eye to eye with the woman. "You're Victoria," she said as she backed away.
"Yes," Victoria said.
"From Loki's universe?" Skye asked.
"No, from this one," Victoria said.
"No," Skye said. "My mother is dead."
"No. I almost was. But my uncle kept me alive and reminded me why Hydra was the right side to be on," Victoria said.
"No. I don't believe you," Skye said her eyes filling with tears. "My dad told me about the letter you wrote him."
"Yeah. That was before I realized where I belonged," Victoria said.
"If that's true, why did you leave me in care? Why didn't you get me out?" Skye said.
"I didn't know where you were exactly," Victoria said.
"Bullshit. You could have figured it out. Which means you are either not the Victoria from this universe or you don't actually want to be with Hydra and you are being forced to," Skye said.
"You have a birthmark in the shape of a heart at the top of your thigh," Victoria said.
"All my variants probably have that," Skye said.
"Maybe, but I wouldn't know. I only know you have it because I gave birth to you," Victoria said. "I gave you up at the hospital."
"Yeah. The hospital thing wouldn't be hard to figure out," Skye said. "Either way I want to leave."
"I can't let you leave. You have to stay here," Victoria said.
"Why so Hydra can get my blood?" Skye asked. "I thought you said I wouldn't be hurt."
"They won't hurt you to get your DNA," Victoria said.
"I don't care. I want to go home," Skye said.
"This is your home now," Victoria said.
"No. This will never be my home. And even if you are the woman who gave birth to me, you are not my mom. I don't have a mom. I don't need a mom," Skye said.
"Everyone wants both parents," Victoria said.
"I have two parents," Skye said.
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Your dad's friend is not your parent."
"My dad's fiancé is absolutely my second parent," Skye said. "And besides, you are not my mother. My mother gave me up for a chance at a better life. And I got that. Took a few years, but I have a good life. And I won't let some variant of my mother ruin that," she said as she held up the knife. "I have a feeling that if this knife can kill me, it can kill you too," Skye said.
"You willing to kill your own mother," Victoria said.
"I'm willing to kill a variant of my mother," Skye said. "If she doesn't let me go. Also, how did you get me here? Teleportation is not an ability you should have."
Victoria held up a small device that had a few buttons on it. "Teleportation device."
"So use it to teleport me back to where we were," Skye said.
"Come on, I just want my daughter with me. Your dad has had a couple of years. Now it's my turn," Victoria said.
"This isn't some custody exchange. Even if you are the woman who gave birth to me, you gave me up. You gave up your rights to me. And the only way I would ever have a relationship with you, if you are my mother, is if you make the right choice and leave Hydra," Skye said.
"I have given you the chance to get her to pick the right side. Now I will be taking over," a man's voice said before he came out of the shadows.
"Skyler, meet your uncle, Gene Snow," Victoria said.
"Another point to you're not my mother. She didn't have any siblings," Skye said.
"Well, he's technically your great uncle. My uncle. He took me in after my parents died," Victoria said.
"If that's true. How do you trust him? Do you not know that he is the reason your parents are dead? He knew you would have the abilities you do, and he killed your parents so he could get you," Skye said.
"He didn't know about it until after they died," Victoria said.
"Yes, he did," Skye said.
"No, I didn't even know," Victoria said.
"Your mother knew, she probably told him. She had them, too. You got them through genetics. If you come with me, I can show you the documents that prove all these things," Skye said. "My dad found all these documents that prove everything when they stormed a Hydra base."
"Shut up!" Gene yelled at the girl.
Victoria looked at him. "None of that is true. Right?"
"No, it's not. She is getting in your head," Gene said. "She is trying to lead you into a trap."
Skye threw the knife toward Gene, and Victoria stopped it mid-air with the wave of a hand.
Skye's eyes went wide. "Damn. Am I going to be able to do that someday?"
"Of course, I can teach you. If you stay with me," Victoria said.
Skye shook her head. "No. I will not stay with you if it means I have to be with Hydra. He is lying to you. I can prove it."
"Victoria, convince the girl, or I will have to do it," Gene said grabbing the knife that had fallen to the floor.
Skye looked at Victoria. "If you are really my mother and want to protect me, don't let him hurt me."
"If you don't want him to hurt you just agree to work with me. Stay with me," Victoria said.
"Is Hydra really worth losing the daughter you claim to love?" Skye asked.
"Hydra will always come first," Victoria said.
Skye's eyes filled with tears, and she used her abilities to pull the knife out of Gene's hand and into hers. "And I don't need you to teach me anything," she already knew she could do that. She was just playing off that she couldn't, to catch them off guard. "Because my family has worked hard to help me learn my abilities, even though they knew nothing about them."
Just as she was about to throw the knife at Victoria Loki teleported in with Steve and Bucky.
"Oh good. A whole family reunion," Gene said.
"Dad, she says she is my mother. Not a variant," Skye said.
Steve walked over to Victora, grabbed her left arm, and lifted the sleeve of her shirt to find a large scar. He let out a breath and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Skye. She is," Steve said.
The tears that had been pooling in Skye's eyes started to fall. "Are you sure?"
"I was with her when she slipped on ice and landed hard on a broken piece of wood. I was there when she got the stitches for the wound," Steve said, pointing to it before dropping her arm.
Victoria smirked. "Told you."
"How could you do this? I don't understand. I got your letter. You gave her up to protect her from all this. Why would you do this to her?" Steve asked.
"I have made a lot of mistakes in my life. The biggest two were letting you go and giving her up. My uncle helped me see that. Now I'm just taking back what is mine," Victoria said.
Skye shook her head. "You're not my mom. You might be my DNA, but as I said I have two parents," she said looking between her dad and Bucky.
"Loki, get Skye out of here," Steve said.
"No. I'm staying," Skye said.
"Skyler, go. Now," Bucky said.
"No. I am not leaving you two here alone with the two of them," Skye said.
Loki went to grab Skye, but she pulled away and threw the knife at Gene, this time hitting him.
Gene grunted and fell to the ground.
"Skyler!" Victoria said. "You can't just stab people. He is your family," she went over to Gene and pulled the knife out.
"No, he isn't," Skye said. "Dad, tell her about where her abilities come from."
"Genetics," Steve said. "Your mother and many generations back had them."
"That's bullshit. I was hit with some sort of chemicals when a building I was in blew up," Victoria said.
Steve shook his head. "You were lied to."
"No, you are lying to me now," Victoria said before she threw the knife at Steve.
Skye stopped it again and pulled it back to her hand.
"Skyler, you need to realize that the only way you will ever be able to come into your powers fully is with someone who knows about them," Victoria said as she got up and went towards the girl.
Skye pointed the knife toward her.
"Skyler, don't," Steve said.
"I don't want to hurt you Victoria," Skye said.
"Call me mom!" Victoria said.
Skye shook her head. "No. You need to earn that title. And if you ever want that chance, you need to leave with us and come to the good side."
Victoria went to grab the knife, but Loki pulled it away before she could.
"She might not be able to stab you, but I have no ties to you," Loki said. "You have two choices to come out of this unharmed. Choose to be with your daughter, or get that man and walk away."
"He is dead already. I know what that knife is capable of," Victoria said.
"Wow, and you don't care?" Skye asked, holding a hand up to tell Loki not to stab her.
"I care, there is just nothing I can do now except get revenge," Victoria said before she caused a whirlwind and caught Skye up in it.
Skye took a breath as she was caught in the whirlwind. She thought their shared abilities wouldn't work on each other. She tapped into her anger and caused a fire to start behind Victoria. "Loki, this is going to be bad. Please get my dad and Bucky out of here. I will survive what I'm about to do. I don't know if you three will."
"Skyler, I am not leaving you," Steve said.
"What he said," Bucky said.
"Daddy," Skye said in tears. "I can't lose you or Bucky. I might have to lose any chance that I had to get to know my mother. I can't lose my dads too."
"No," Steve said. "You don't have to do this."
"She isn't giving me a choice!" Skye screamed in tears.
"Victoria, do not make our daughter have to do this," Steve said. "Make the right choice and end all this right now."
"Hydra will always be number one," Victoria said as she caused the wind to gain speed.
"Loki! Get them out of here!" Skye screamed.
Loki grabbed both Steve and Bucky and teleported them out as Skye tapped further into her anger, growing the fire bigger. She tapped into her sadness and caused a whirlwind of her own, catching Victoria up in it, causing Victoria to lose her focus. Skye fell to the ground.
Skye grabbed the teleportation device that had since fallen to the ground. "Victoria, this is your last chance. Please!" Skye begged.
"Hydra will always be number one," Victoria said.
Skye shook her head and tapped into her ability to control the ground around her, causing a small earthquake. "Hydra is the root of all evil. I went to another universe where they were in power, and New York was a desert wasteland because of what Hydra did. I will not let that become this universe. Thank you for saving me from this world by putting me in care. I will always be grateful to you for that. I'm just so sorry that you got caught back up in it," she said before she caused the quake to grow, pushed the button, and teleported herself out of the building before it came down around Victoria.
Skye fell to her knees and sobbed. She never wanted to have to use her abilities to hurt anyone, least of all her own blood. She had played it off in there that she didn't care but she did. She cared so much. The air around her was cold, and snow was starting to fall. She knew it was her doing this, but she couldn't stop it. She was so beyond broken that she had to do that.
Loki had teleported Steve and Bucky back to the compound.
"Loki, no!" Steve said. "Take me back right now."
"I am sorry. I can not do that," Loki said.
"What is going on?" Thor asked. "I thought you took them to Skye."
"I did," Loki said. "She told me to get them out of there."
"Victoria was there. Skye could be dead right now!" Steve said.
"Loki, take him back," Thor said
Loki shook his head. "No."
"Loki. Now," Thor said.
Loki teleported himself out back to where the building was and found Skye on her knees sobbing. The building was gone. "Skye, your dad is losing his mind. Can I bring you home?"
"He will never forgive me for this," Skye sobbed out.
"I think he is just worried about you," Loki said.
"No, I can't go back there now," Skye continued to sob.
Loki teleported himself back to the compound. "Where is Steve?"
"He went with Tony to try and find Skye," Bucky said.
"I will bring you to her," Loki said before he did so.
Bucky got down to the girl's level when he saw her.
"Hey, are you hurt?" Bucky asked
Skye shook her head sobbing. "I'm sorry."
Bucky pulled her into a hug. "You don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I killed people," Skye sobbed out.
"You did what you had to do," Bucky said. "I know what it feels like to take a life, but you did what you had to do."
"Did you ever take a life not as the winter solider when you had no control over what you did?" Skye asked.
"When there hasn't been any other choice yes. You didn't have a choice in this situation. If you didn't put an end to what she was doing she would have killed you, and me and your dad and Loki and many more people for Hydra," Bucky said.
"My dad will never forgive me," Skye said.
"Skye, he's not upset with you. Well, he might be a little annoyed you convinced Loki to take us out of there, but you know he will forgive you as soon as he sees you are okay," Bucky said.
Steve and Tony had gone back to the location where the fight had started. Tony flew around the area to try and see her. When he saw her, he quickly went back to Steve and led him to where she was with Bucky and Loki.
Steve got down to the ground and wrapped his daughter in a hug.
Skye clung to him and the sobs started again. "Daddy, I am so sorry."
"She thinks you will never forgive her for doing what she did," Bucky said.
"Peanut, you don't need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. I know that was so hard for you. I know you didn't want to do that. You did what you had to do. I'm just so sorry you had to do it," Steve said. "There is nothing for me to forgive. You did nothing wrong," he told her again.
"You're not even angry I sent you away?" Skye asked.
"I don't like you did that," Steve said. "I was scared of losing you."
"I was scared of losing you and Bucky, and it would suck if Loki died too," Skye said.
Loki shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"I get that," Steve said. "Come on. Let's go home. I want you checked out by Dr. Banner."
"I'm okay," Skye said.
"Let's let the person with a medical degree decide that," Steve said.
Skye got up and whimpered when she put weight on her ankle and fell to the ground again.
"My ankle didn't hurt before," she said.
"You probably just didn't feel it because of the adrenaline," Steve said.
Bucky picked her up from the ground. "I'll carry you."
Skye nodded.
Loki teleported them all back to the compound, and Bucky carried her down to Dr. Banner's lab.
"What are we dealing with?" Dr. Banner asked.
"My right ankle is probably the worst of it. But my neck burns, too," Skye said.
"Yeah, looks like second-degree friction burns," Dr. Banner said.
"Rope burn," Skye said.
Dr. Banner nodded as he carefully took the shoe and sock off her right foot and took a look at her ankle. "It is swelling. How did it happen?"
"Probably when I fell to the ground from a whirlwind," Skye said.
"You caught yourself in your own whirlwind?" Dr. Banner asked.
Skye shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears.
Steve took her hand and squeezed it.
"Her mother did," Steve said.
"What?" Dr. Banner asked confused.
"Guess she wasn't dead. Just working for Hydra," Skye said.
"Wasn't?" Dr. Banner asked looking at Steve.
Skye let tears fall.
"You did what you had to," Bucky said.
"That doesn't make it easier to deal with," Skye snapped at him.
"I didn't say it made it easier," Bucky said.
"Skye, you don't need to snap at Bucky," Steve said.
"Sorry," Skye said wiping at her eyes.
Bucky nodded. "Forgiven."
Bruce did an x-ray on Skye's ankle. "It's sprained," he said when it didn't show a break.
Skye groaned. "It's freaking summer. How is this fair?"
Steve smiled. "You are alive. That's how it's fair."
Skye rolled her eyes.
Steve hadn't seen, it but Bucky had. "Skyler," Bucky said.
"What?" Steve asked.
"She rolled her eyes at you," Bucky said.
Steve let out an annoyed breath and fixed the teenager with a look.
Skye whimpered and pouted.
Steve shook his head.
"I will need to wrap her ankle and also get some ointment on her neck," Dr. Banner said.
"Can I take a shower first?" Skye asked.
"You probably won't want to get the burn wet. It will hurt," Dr. Banner said. "Let me get the burn cleaned and ointment on it and bandaged ,and then you can take a bath before wrapping your ankle," Dr Banner suggested.
"Deal," Skye said.
Dr. Banner dealt with the friction burn, bandaging it when he was done. He pointed to the pair of crutches on the other side of the room. "You will need those."
"It's a sprain. I'm sure I can walk on it a little," Skye said.
"No, you can not," Dr. Banner said. "Use the crutches until you are told otherwise."
Skye rolled her eyes.
"Skyler Sarah Rogers," Steve said.
Skye whimpered.
"I know you have had a hard day, but you do not get to be disrespectful," Steve said.
"Sorry," she said quickly.
Bucky grabbed the crutches and brought them to Skye.
"Use them. If I find out you're not, I'm not going to be happy," Dr. Banner said.
"Yes, sir," Skye said.
Dr. Banner nodded. "You can go take a bath. Afterward you can find me. I'll wrap your ankle for you. Try not to get the bandages on your neck wet."
Skye sat up and took the crutches. "Thank you," she said to Dr. Banner before she got up and crutched out of the room.
Steve thanked Bruce as well before he and Bucky followed Skye.
"Roll your eyes one more time at anyone, and you will be in trouble," Steve told Skye.
Skye nodded. "Sorry."
They got upstairs, and Skye crutched to her room and into her bathroom. She got into the bath when it was filled and just closed her eyes. She was falling asleep, and she started to sink into the tub. She whimpered when her neck touched the water and woke herself up sitting up quickly. She panicked a little. Dr. Banner had told her not to get them wet. And it did hurt. Tears fell as she got out of the bath and in her panic, she forgot to grab her crutches and yelped loudly when she put pressure on her ankle.
Nat heard the yelp and knocked on her bedroom door. "You okay?" she asked through the door.
Skye grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself before she sank to the floor of the bathroom, sobbing.
Nat went into the room and followed the sobs to the closed bathroom door. "Skye, can I come in?"
"Yes," Skye sobbed out.
Nat went in and got down to the girl's level. "Is it your ankle? Does it hurt?" she asked before she noticed the wet bandages around her neck. "I don't think you should have got those wet," she said softly.
"I didn't mean to," Skye said between sobs.
"Oh. Probably hurt a little too, huh?" Nat said sympathetically.
"Dr. Banner told me not to get them wet. He is going to be upset with me," Skye said.
"Oh, Lapochka. No. I'm sure if you tell him it wasn't intentional he won't be upset," Nat said.
Skye smiled a little at the nickname. She knew it meant sweetheart. "I think he is already a little annoyed with me."
"Why?" Nat asked.
Skye shrugged.
Nat tilted her head with a small smile. "I think you do know why."
"I disagreed about the need for crutches. It's only a sprain, not broken," Skye said as she fully calmed down.
"Well, I agree with him. A sprain still needs crutches," Nat said.
Skye bit her lip.
"Okay. I know that look. What just went through your mind?" Nat asked with a raised eyebrow.
Skye giggled. "I'm going to get in trouble if I say it."
Nat chuckled. "Promise I won't be angry."
"I was thinking of course you agree with him, you two are in love," Skye said. That was half the truth of what she was thinking. She was actually thinking that of course Nat agreed with him, they had been spending the night in each other's beds for months. But she knew that they hadn't told anyone about it yet, so she knew it wasn't her business.
"I agree with him because he is correct. And I think walking on it could make it worse," Nat said with a smile. "Now, why don't you get dressed, and I'll go with you to see him to apply new bandages and wrap your ankle? I'll give him a hard time if he gives you a hard time."
"Okay," Skye said with a chuckle.
Nat got up and made sure Skye could stand up before she left the bathroom and went to find Bruce. Once Skye was dressed, she grabbed the crutches and made her way out to her bed and sat down.
When Skye hadn't come out of her room twenty minutes later, Bruce went and knocked on her door with the new bandages, some ointment, and the tensor wrap in his hands.
"Yeah?" Skye said hesitantly.
Bruce went in. "I can't fix it if you don't come and find me."
Skye looked down. "Nat told you?"
"Yes. And I believe it was not intentional. I can fix it here if you want," Bruce said holding up what he had in his hands.
Skye nodded.
Bruce pulled over her desk chair next to the bed. "I'm not annoyed with you, by the way. I will be if you choose not to use the crutches, but I'm not currently."
"You seemed annoyed," Skye said.
"I'm sorry, it was not my intent to seem annoyed," Bruce said. "And you don't need to be afraid to come talk to me, even if you do make a mistake," he told her as he carefully removed the damp bandages.
Skye cringed a little.
"Sorry, I know that can't be comfortable," Bruce said.
"How long is it going to take to heal?" Skye asked.
"In a regular person a week or two. So, for you, at most a week," Bruce said.
He finished by applying new bandages to her neck before turning his attention to her ankle and wrapping it.
"Thank you," Skye said when he was done.
"You're welcome," Bruce said as he got up. "If it gets wet again. Please come find me."
"I will," Skye said, noticing Loki standing by the door to her room.
Bruce left her room, leaving the door open
"I am sorry. I know I distracted you, leading to you being essentially kidnapped," Loki said as he leaned against the door frame.
"It's okay. I figured you did that knowing that, if I stabbed her and found out she was my mother, I would not be happy," Skye said.
"Yes, but you ended up . . . having to make a very hard decision anyway," Loki said.
"Well, this way at least I gave her a chance to change her mind, and I know for a fact that I made the decision that I had to make. I'm still not happy with how it ended, but I had to do it," Skye said.
Loki nodded.
"I just can't believe she had been alive all this time," Skye said.
"Yeah. I could not imagine if I found out my Thor was still alive and on Hydra's side," Loki said.
"But you were there when your Thor died, right?" Skye asked.
"He died in my arms," Loki said.
"I'm so sorry, Loki. And I'm sorry that I look like the person who did that to him," Skye said.
"You are not her. I know that," Loki said.
Skye nodded.
"You almost died to protect him here," Loki said.
"And I'd do it again," Skye said.
"Because you are a good person," Loki said.
Skye nodded. "I just . . ."
"Yeah?" Loki said.
"I'm angry that she had been alive this whole time. And that I don't get to know her. But on the other end of it. I don't need her in my life. I have my family," Skye said.
"That is true. You are very lucky in that sense," Loki said.
"And you know they all have your back, too," Skye said.
"So I have been told," Loki said.
"You don't believe it?" Skye asked.
Loki shrugged. "I know a lot of people are not my biggest fan because of how I treated you in the beginning."
"But you and I have figured it out. We are friends now. I'm sure they are over any issues they had with you," Skye said. "And Thor has always backed you up. Even when I was telling him to send you back to your universe."
"Yes. That is true," Loki said.
Skye smiled a little.
"Have you called Tucker about all this?" Loki asked.
"Not yet," Skye said. "I've been hurt a lot lately, and he is very over-protective."
Loki chuckled.
"And I don't know how I'm going to tell him what I did," Skye said, her eyes glassing over.
"Skye, you did what you had to do," Loki said.
"I don't know if he is going to think that," Skye said.
"Don't tell him that detail?" Loki asked.
"After what happened with you, I promised him no more secrets," Skye said. "Not telling him and risking him finding out elsewhere would be worse."
"Well, I will say that it has reached the media, and they are talking about it on the news right now," Loki said.
Skye groaned. "How much are they saying?"
"Avengers were involved, and a Hydra location was blown up," Loki said.
"Not anything about me specifically?" Skye asked.
"I do not think so," Loki said. "At least not yet."
Skye nodded.
"The Avengers have people who talk to the press and stuff, right?" Loki asked.
"Yeah. It's Pepper," Skye said. "I'm probably going to have to sit down with her and go over things in the next couple of days."
Tony came around the corner and heard the tail end of the conversation. "You will have to, yes. She will be in the debrief tomorrow."
"I heard it's on the news. Has my name been given?" Skye asked.
"No, the media doesn't know exactly who was involved outside of the Avengers. And they won't. No one will tell them. Your dad and Pepper have spoken to the press, but it's been very minimal information. No one is going to give the press your name. Not to mention you're a minor, your name couldn't be revealed as someone who was involved. There are laws that prevent that," Tony said.
Skye nodded. "Okay."
"You are okay?" Tony asked.
"Physically, I'm okay," Skye said. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be fully okay again. I never thought I'd end up in the situation where I had to decide between getting to know my mother and saving the world from Hydra," Skye said. "I never imagined having to end a life like that."
"Yeah. It's not easy. If you said it was easy, I'd be worried about you," Tony said.
Skye smiled a little.
"You're in therapy, right?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, but I worry if I tell them about this, they will contact CPS," Skye said.
Tony furrowed his brow. "Do you really think that, or is it a joke?"
"No. I seriously think that," Skye said. "I don't like the therapist. She has made comments that I shouldn't be worried about these things yet. That I'm just a kid and stuff."
"Does your dad know this?" Tony asked.
"No," Skye said. "And if I was worried about you telling him I wouldn't have told you, so go ahead."
"No, you are going to do it," Tony said.
Skye shook her head.
Tony left the room and went and found Steve. "Your daughter has something she needs to tell you."
Steve got up and went to the room, where Loki was still standing at the door.
"Skye, what's up? Are you okay?" Steve asked going into the room.
"I'm fine," Skye said.
"Tony said you have something you need to tell me?" Steve said.
Loki decided to walk away at that point.
"Nope," Skye said.
"Okay, it's something you don't want to tell me, but he thinks you need to?" Steve asked closing the door.
Skye shrugged.
"Skyler, if I have to go out there and have Tony tell me what it is, you will be in trouble," Steve said.
"I don't care, go ask him," Skye said as she curled her back to him.
"Skye," he said softly, going and sitting on her bed and rubbing her back gently.
"I don't want to talk about it," Skye said, wiping her eyes.
Steve let out a breath. "Peanut. I can not help you if you don't talk to me."
"I don't want to upset anyone," Skye said.
"You think I'm going to be upset?" Steve asked
"Maybe. But I'm more worried about someone else being upset," Skye said.
"Who?" Steve asked
Skye shook her head.
"Well, why don't you tell me what's going on if you don't think I will be upset? I won't tell whomever," Steve said.
"Yeah, you will," Skye said.
"Oh?" Steve asked.
"It's Bucky," Skye said.
"Oh, how about you tell me, and I let you tell him when you are ready?" Steve asked
"What if I don't want to tell him at all," Skye said.
"Things come out, you know that," Steve said.
"I don't want to do therapy anymore," Skye said.
"Okay. Why?" Steve asked.
"My therapist. I'm almost afraid to tell her things," Skye said.
"How come?" Steve asked.
"She seems to think I shouldn't worry about Hydra and things like that. I'm scared if I tell her some of the things I go through, she will call CPS," she said softly.
"Did she say that she would?" Steve asked.
"No," Skye said. "But you know I'm good at reading people."
"Yes, you are," Steve said. "Have you just not been sharing in therapy?"
"Correct, well not talking about anything major," Skye said.
"Well, that is certainly not going to help you," Steve said.
"You don't do therapy, and you're fine, Skye said.
"I have done therapy in the past, Skye. No, I don't do regular therapy the way you or Bucky do, but I have," Steve said.
"Bucky doesn't push it with you like he does with me?" Skye asked.
Steve smiled. "If I was struggling the way you are because of everything you have gone through, I'm sure he would. You are only fifteen, and you have been through so much trauma, Skye. But we can find you a different therapist."
Skye nodded a little.
"Why don't you want me to tell Bucky?" Steve asked.
"He is going to force me to keep going. I wouldn't have started going if he hadn't pushed it," Skye said.
"Because he cares," Steve said.
"I know," Skye said. "I don't want to disappoint him either."
"I don't think he will be disappointed," Steve said.
Skye shrugged.
"I will talk to him," Steve said.
"Okay," Skye said.
"Thank you for telling me," Steve said. "You physically feeling okay?"
"I'm sore, but yeah," Skye said. "Can I be alone, please?"
"Okay," Steve said as he got up and left her room, closing the door behind him. He went out and sat back down with Bucky.
"She okay?" Bucky asked.
Steve shook his head. "No, she really isn't."
"Are you?" Bucky asked.
"Victoria was alive all this time," Steve said. "Skye could have had her mother. But she stood there and told that kind, loving, smart, strong little girl that she would always pick an evil organization over her."
"I know. And Skye had to make a really hard decision. And we will help her through it. And hopefully, therapy will help with that, too," Bucky said.
Steve nodded and let out a breath.
"What?" Bucky asked.
"What Tony had said she needed to tell me was that she doesn't like or trust her therapist," Steve said.
Bucky nodded slowly. "Did she say why?"
"The therapist has made comments about how she shouldn't be worrying about Avenger things, and Skye is worried if she tells her certain things that CPS might be called. She is scared to be taken away," Steve said.
"Well, I don't disagree she shouldn't have to worry about Avenger things, but she is a target, and that isn't her fault. And everyone here has done everything to protect her from harm and train her so when things happen, she can defend herself," Bucky said.
"I know," Steve said. "But I get her worry. She doesn't want to end up back in the care system."
"I get it, too," Bucky said. "I was given a few names of therapists. I can get her into another one." Bucky offered.
"That's something you can talk to her about," Steve said. "When it comes to therapy, you were the one who got her there."
"Yeah, by threatening to take her there kicking and screaming," Bucky said.
"I know," Steve said. "But you do need to talk to her about it. Because she didn't want me to tell you because she didn't want you disappointed in her."
Bucky let out a breath.
"She cares about your opinion of her as much as she cares about mine," Steve said.
"She has told me that before," Bucky said. "I will talk to her."
The following day everyone gathered in the conference room. Skye crutched in and took an open seat next to Clint.
"Hey, Skye," Clint said.
"Hi, I'm surprised you didn't join from home," Skye said. He hadn't been involved in the fight the day before.
"I was told I needed to be here for this," Clint said. "I brought Laura and the kids, too."
Skye smiled. "Lila is here?"
"Yes, and you two can hang out after the meeting," Clint said.
"Of course," Skye said.
The meeting was started and a recap of what happened was shared from a few points of view. Body cam footage was also shared. Skye hadn't been wearing her suit, so she had to give a more detailed recount of what happened when it was just her.
"So, Clint, the reason I suggested you come and bring the family," Steve started, "is the fact that the two teenagers who went to the mall with Lila and Skye were involved."
"Yeah, they were," Skye said.
"And a lot of questions we have had about why things happened the way they did at the mall have been answered," Steve said.
"Was this all a setup? Is Lila at risk?" Clint asked.
"I don't think she is anymore," Steve said. "Turns out Sasha's biological mother was connected to Hydra. It didn't show up on her background check because her father and stepmother are raising her."
Clint let out a breath.
"Who is her biological mother? Is she someone I have come in contact with?" Skye asked.
"Yes," Tony said.
"Who?" Clint asked.
Steve let out a breath.
Skye tilted her head at her dad before it clicked. "Was connected to Hydra? Left Hydra or was killed?" Skye asked, trying to keep her voice from cracking.
"Victoria was her biological mother," Tony said.
Skye started to laugh, trying to hold back the tears.
"I think she's broken," Loki said, causing Thor to smack him upside the head.
"So, you're telling me that Victoria had a child before she would have known you, and you didn't know," she said to her dad.
"I spoke to Sasha's father. He knew Victoria was involved in something bad and took Sasha right after she was born, telling Victoria that if she fought him he would tell law enforcement everything he knew," Steve said.
"Did Sasha know who her biological mother was?" Skye asked.
"She found out. Her father isn't sure when. He didn't know until a couple of months ago and was not aware of what Victoria had dragged her into," Steve said.
"She's my fucking sister," Skye said.
"Yeah," Steve said. He wasn't going to call her on the swearing because he couldn't blame her.
"Do you know if Sasha knows she is my sister?" Skye asked.
"I don't," Steve said. "I do know she has been arrested. If you want to go talk to her I will not stop you."
Skye took a breath. "Is there anything else, or can I go?"
"You can go," Tony said.
Skye got up and left the room without her crutches.
Steve took a breath and shook his head.
"We do not know if your family is at risk," Tony said to Clint.
Clint nodded. This is what he had wanted to avoid. Why he had told no one about his family.
"I'm sorry your family is being dragged into this mess," Steve said.
"Steve, it's not your fault," Clint said.
"Meeting is over, everyone can go," Tony said.
Bruce grabbed the crutches.
"She is in her spot," Tony said. He had set up a silent alarm on the door so they would know when she was out there, and he had gotten a notice on his phone.
"Thanks," Bruce said before he went and found her.
Skye sighed when she saw the crutches. "Just yell at me, get it over with."
Bruce sat down next to her against the building. "Have I ever yelled at you?"
"No, but I don't think I have ever pissed you off before now," Skye said.
"Well, I'm not happy that you didn't take your crutches. But I'm not going to yell, just talk," Bruce said.
Skye nodded.
"Does it honestly not hurt to walk on it?" Bruce asked.
"I think I'm too angry to feel the pain," Skye said.
Bruce nodded.
"I'm putting all my energy into keeping myself from completely losing it," Skye said.
"It's okay to be angry, to scream, punch a bag in the gym, whatever you need to do to get that anger out," Bruce said.
"I'm worried if I let the anger out, I'm going to do a lot of damage," Skye said. "I contained my anger to the best of my abilities at the Hydra base, and well, it's gone. If I actually let it go, I'm terrified of what I could do."
"I'm proud of you," Bruce said.
Skye looked at him confused.
"You used to think you would never be able to control your abilities. Now not only are you able to keep them contained, but when you need to use them, you can use just what you need to stop the bad guys," Bruce said.
"The only reason I can keep them contained right now is because of you. You taught me about controlling them," Skye said.
Bruce smiled. "Well, I'm glad it helped."
Skye nodded. "Someone I consider to be one of my best friends has been put in harm's way because of her connection to me."
"You're talking about Lila?" Bruce asked.
Skye nodded. "And all of Clint's family."
"Does anyone get to pick their biological parents?" Bruce asked.
"No," Skye said. shaking her head.
"And if you could, would you pick who you have?" Bruce asked.
"My dad, yeah. But no, after yesterday and everything she has done, I would not pick Victoria for my mother," Skye said.
"So, if we can't pick our parents, and you wouldn't pick your mother, how is it your fault what she did?" Bruce asked.
"Because if Lila wasn't my friend, she would have never been put in that situation," Skye said.
"I don't know her very well. But I have a feeling that she would say your friendship is worth what happened to her. She wasn't exactly the one they went after. They used her to get to you, yes. But she didn't get hurt the way you did," Bruce said.
"Yeah, but they know where she lives. They are all at risk. Clint kept them hidden intentionally to avoid this," Skye said.
"Skye, why don't you ask when that girl came to Lila's school? I have a feeling that it wasn't after who you are was discovered. I have a feeling that Clint's family had already been discovered, and your mother may have had more to do with Sasha than her father is claiming. And maybe she had a hand in how you ended up here," Bruce said.
"You think my mother sent that guy to attack me at the exact moment my dad and Bucky were walking down that street that night? That she knew I would be there? That she knew that I would ask Peter to check my DNA, and we would find out that Steve is my dad?"
"Hydra has people everywhere. I think maybe she figured if she got you here, somehow it would be found out," Bruce said.
"Well, I guess I will never know," Skye said.
"You could get some answers from Sasha," Bruce said.
"If she would even bother to talk to me," Skye said.
"You never know if you don't try. And maybe she doesn't even know you're related," Bruce said.
Skye shrugged. "I might believe that much."
"Now," he said, pointing to the crutches he had leaned up against the building.
"Sorry. I won't do that again," Skye said.
"Even if you don't feel the pain. It is still healing. If you don't use them, it could make it worse," Bruce said.
Skye nodded.
"I can take a look at it again if you think it is fully healed. But until I say it is, you have to use the crutches. I'm going to let it go this time. If it happens again I won't. Understood?" Bruce asked.
"Understood," Skye said.
Bruce got up. "You want to come back inside? Visit with your friend?"
Skye nodded. Bruce helped her up and handed her the crutches.
Skye took them, and they both went inside. Skye went and sat next to Lila on the couch.
"Hey," Lila said.
"Hi," Skye said.
They were quiet for a minute before Skye asked, "your dad tell you anything?"
"That Sasha and Jessica were involved somehow," Lila said. "He said you would need to tell me anything more than that."
"Want to go talk in my bedroom?" Skye asked.
The two got up and went to Skye's room and closed the door. Both sat on her bed.
"Can I ask you a few questions before I tell you everything?" Skye asked.
"Sure," Lila said.
"When did you first meet Sasha and Jessica? Were they at your school before I started training here?" Skye asked.
"Yeah, we went to school together for several years before," Lila said. "We only really became friends around the time you started training here I think, though."
Skye nodded. "Sasha ever tell you that the woman raising her is technically her stepmother?"
"Yeah. She did. She said her father kept her away from her mother, but that she had been seeing her behind her dad's back for years. She was able to convince her dad to move them where they live because her mother asked her to. I think her mother lives close by maybe," Lila said.
"I think it might have more to do with you," Skye said.
Lila looked confused.
Skye took a breath before telling her everything that had happened the day before and what she had found out in the last couple of hours.
Lila was quiet and let her talk. When Skye was done Lila took a breath.
"Do you think Sasha knows she is your half-sister?" Lila asked.
"I don't know. Knowing what I know about Victoria, I wouldn't put it past her to have not told her," Skye said.
"Are you okay? Like mentally?" Lila asked.
"No. I don't know if I will ever be," Skye said. "It's literally one thing after another. I don't remember the last time I actually felt like my entire world wasn't about to come crashing down around me. I had this image in my head of what my mother was like. I had so few facts because my dad knew so little. So, I made this story up based on what I did know. And that was that she loved me so much that she gave me up to protect me, and there was a letter that she wrote my dad that made it seem like that was exactly what happened. But after what I saw and had to do yesterday, and what I am piecing together from finding out more, she is not who I thought she was," Skye said.
"I'm so sorry, Skye. I can't imagine what that must feel like," Lila said.
"My mother is evil. That means there is evil in me," Skye said.
"I don't think evil or good is something that gets passed down in genetics," Lila said.
Skye shrugged.
"I bet you could ask Dr. Banner. He would know," Lila said.
"I know he will say it doesn't," Skye said.
"Oh?" Lila asked.
"This is not the first time I've questioned it," Skye said. "But that was before I knew how deep in Hydra she was and the things she likely did to hurt me. Like, I get why she might want me for Hydra, and I can comprehend that train of thought coming from someone in Hydra. But to manipulate things to get her other daughter moved close to your family, knowing that one day I would be found by my dad. I believe she might have even told Sasha to set me up for shoplifting. Like why? What did that do?"
"Yeah. What if maybe Sasha knew who you are and was maybe jealous that your mother wanted you? Maybe for some reason, Sasha didn't get the abilities you did. She certainly wouldn't have gotten the super serum," Lila said. "Maybe she did the shoplifting thing on her own."
"Maybe," Skye said.
"You said your dad said you could go talk to her?" Lila asked.
"Yes. I don't know if I want to," Skye said.
"I mean that is valid after everything that happened," Lila said.
"Lila, I am really sorry. My fault or not, all this happened to your family because of me," Skye said.
"You are not allowed to apologize for something that is not your fault. If my dad heard you apologizing for it, he'd be pissed at you," Lila said.
Skye laughed softly.
There was a knock on Skye's door.
"Yeah?" Skye said.
Steve went in. "You have a visitor."
"Who?" Skye asked.
"Think about it," Steve said with a small smile.
"Tucker?" Skye asked.
"Yeah, you haven't called him, have you?" Steve asked.
Skye sighed and shook her head. "I've been avoiding his calls, too."
Steve shook his head.
"What?" Skye said with a whine. "I agreed no more lies after what happened with Loki. So by not answering the phone calls I wasn't lying."
"Skyler, that is not fair, and you know it," Steve said.
Skye let out a breath. "I know. But I don't know how to tell him what I did yesterday."
"You tell him the truth," Steve said.
"He's right. If he holds it against you, he does not deserve you. Now I will let you two talk," Lila said as she got up. "But I'm gonna need to know what happened with Loki later."
Skye chuckled. "I will tell you later."
Steve told Tucker that Skye was in her room, and Tucker went in.
"Close the door, please," Skye said.
Tucker closed the door and let out a breath when he saw the bandages on her neck.
"You were involved in whatever happened, I take it?" he asked, pointing to the bandages.
"Press doesn't know details, but yeah, I was at the forefront of it," Skye said.
Tucker nodded and sat on her bed next to her.
"Have you been avoiding my calls?" he asked.
"Yes," Skye admitted. "I needed time to process what happened before I could tell you everything. I didn't want to lie to you. But I just don't know how to tell you certain details and it not change how you feel about me."
"I don't think there is much that you could do that would make me feel any different," Tucker said.
"I believe that. But this is big," Skye said.
"You kill someone?" Tucker asked.
Skye didn't say anything, but her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh shit," Tucker said as he put an arm around her gently.
Skye buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed.
"Hey, it's okay. I know you enough to know you didn't kill someone in cold blood. I'm guessing you were in a no-win situation. It doesn't change anything," Tucker said softly as he moved her into his lap and held her tightly.
Skye continued to sob into his shoulder.
"I promise this doesn't change how I feel about you. And if you want to talk to me about it when you are ready, I'm here," he told her
Skye slowly calmed down but stayed in his arms.
Tucker didn't say anything, just continued to hold her as she moved her head to lean on his shoulder instead.
"No is an okay answer. Do you want to talk about it?" Tucker asked.
Skye shook her head a little.
"Okay,' Tucker said. "I do want to know. Physically, are you okay? I see your neck and ankle. Anything else?"
"The neck is friction burn. Rope burn, specifically. Ankle is sprained," Skye said softly. "Other than that, some bumps and bruises, but I'm okay."
Tucker kissed the top of her head.
"I promise I didn't intentionally put myself in danger," she remembered the promise she had made to him.
"I believe you," Tucker said as he gently ran his hand up and down her back.
Skye closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms, falling asleep.
A couple of hours later there was a knock on the bedroom door before the door was opened by Steve.
Skye woke up a little and looked up at her dad.
"The door needs to be opened at least halfway when he is in here. You know that," Steve said softly.
"Sorry. Just wanted to have a conversation without the possibility of anyone overhearing. And then I fell asleep," Skye said.
"Okay," Steve said.
"And if we want to have sex, we will find a way," Skye said.
Tucker's face turned red, and Steve tried not to smirk at that.
Steve shook his head and sighed. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Tucker, you are, of course, welcome to stay,"
"Thank you. I will be staying," Tucker said.
Steve left the room, leaving the door open.
"Really, Skye? I'd rather your dad not think we are sneaking off to have sex," Tucker said.
"Tuck, I said if we wanted to. I'm not ready for that anyway," Skye said.
"Okay. But that doesn't mean he isn't going to think that now," Tucker said.
"Okay. I'm sorry," Skye said.
"Thank you," Tucker said.
Skye took a breath, moved off his lap, and grabbed her crutches.
Tucker let her go and got up after her, and the two went into the kitchen to join everyone for dinner.