Julie clapped her hands together, calling us all to attention.

"Okay, this tour is taking place during the museum's open hours, so there will likely be other visitors. Please treat them with respect, and try to keep your chatter to a minimum to avoid disrupting their experience of the exhibits. Since this is the museum, your tour will be led by a member of the museum stuff, Andy. Aside from that, this section of the tour is no different than any of the rest, I expect you all to stay with the group, and for there to be no wandering off, understood?"

We all nodded our assent and she led us through the double doors. The museum opened with an overview of The Avengers, giving a brief description of S.H.I.E.L.D., an unnamed Director (Fury) who had led to the inception of the Avengers Initiative, and then a timeline showing how it had changed from then until now. There was also a large wall mural depicting all of the official members. I grimaced at seeing the painted version of Dad staring down at me from the wall. It was soulless and creepy. I shivered and quickly moved past, yanking Peter's sleeve to pull him away from where he stood mesmerized by the image of Spiderman in his signature crouch.

Andy led us around a panelled wall into the next space. Here, the individualized member exhibits began. It started with Carol, because she had been the inspiration for the group. Then it went to the main 6: Steve, Dad, Nat, Clint, Bruce, and Thor, before going into the next level, including Wanda, Pietro, Vis, Rhodey, and Sam. Next, was the grouping with T'Challa, Uncle Bucky, Scott and the Pyms, Dr. Strange, Loki, the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (who I had heard the others talk about before, though I had to meet them—though no one had ever mentioned that one was a raccoon), and Spiderman. I don't think Peter had realized there was a section for him, because he looked like he was trying very hard not to freak out. Flash also took the opportunity to boast about knowing Spiderman personally, and I noticed Ned and MJ share a knowing glance at his words. At the end was even a special memorial for S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson. Dad had mentioned him before too, when him and Pepper had gone to attend some memorial event for him awhile ago.

Next, there was an exhibit about their foes. I chuckled to myself when I saw Loki and Uncle Bucky also had exhibits here, with drastically different image styles. They were accompanied by Hydra, Ultron and a collection of smaller threats the Avengers had faced.

In each grouping, once Andy gave an introduction, we'd been given several minutes to look through on our own. It had been just as weird as I expected, seeing blown-up images and wax statues of those I was quickly considering to be family. Though while the replica weapons and equipment paled in comparison to being able to see the real deal, it was pretty cool actually getting to look closely at the details for once instead of being forced to keep a "safe distance." I'd already known all of the rather vague information in the biographies, and it was weird to see the same stuff that had been presented so nonchalantly to me, being presented here with strong tones of worship and amazement. And a lot of exclamation marks. I actually found the villain exhibits (Aside from Loki's and Uncle Bucky's) to be the most interesting because they covered material I had never really been told about.

It was as I was leaning down to read the caption on an image where Nat and Clint were fighting off aliens (from a separate invasion than Loki's), that I noticed movement in the mirrored surface of the display. I sighed, recognizing the hair and the navy baseball cap. What was he doing here!? There were literal pictures of Uncle Bucky all over the wall—he was going to get noticed! I tensed as I also noticed Flash wander over to me, adopting a casual stance as he gazed at the display in front of him.

Without turning his head, he spoke to me, "So, Y/N, how's it feel to be surrounded by so much accomplishment—and know you'll never do anything as important?"

I took a quick scan of the room, realizing that somehow my friends had migrated to the other side of the room and were deeply engrossed in hushed whispers near an exhibit about a battle against genetically mutated creatures from Oscorp, one which Spiderman had participated in—a large blow-up of him swinging across the street taking up an entire display panel.

Sighing, hoping the low hum of chatter in the room was enough to keep Uncle Bucky from overhearing this conversation, I kept my voice even as I responded to Flash, saying, "I could ask the same of you."

He huffed, "Please, I'll accomplish great things. I'll get an intern with Stark Industries the second I enter college, they'll see what a genius I am and regret not hiring me instead of Peter for their high school position, and before long I'll be Stark's righthand guy and heir to the company, making it bigger and better than ever before." He gave me a scathing side glance, "And you'll probably still be repeating science classes trying to graduate from Midtown."

I gave a small laugh, trying hard to hide how amused I really was by that prediction, knowing that there was no way in hell dad would ever hire Flash, or that any of the rest of that would ever happen even if he did. "If you say so."

He grinned smugly, "I do say so. So maybe you should treat me with more respect now, Y/N, maybe I'll be inclined to help you out later."

"Not that I will, because I'm passing my classes just fine thank you, but I think I'd rather repeat high school eternally then ever accept help from you."

"That just shows how stupid you really are, no wonder your mother died, probably couldn't stand being around your stupidity."

I heard the last few words through a haze, a heavy weight settling on my chest making me feel like I couldn't breathe, never mind respond. When I didn't answer back, Flash looked over at me, his arrogant smile dropping instantly, replaced with fear.

I took one step towards him and he scrambled backwards. Right into Uncle Bucky.

I watched numbly as Flash mumbled an apology and went to try and move around him, but was stopped by Uncle Bucky's hand clamping down on his shoulder. That's when Flash looked up to see who he'd run into, his face paling at the anger on Uncle Bucky's face, paling even further as his eyes widened, his head turning between the furious man in front of him and the image of the Winter Soldier on the panel across the room. I would have laughed if I wasn't being choked by anger and despair.

Flash's voice squeaked as he spoke, "I'm sorry, Sir, I wasn't watching where I was go—"

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her." Uncle Bucky's voice came out hard and low, matching the stormy look in his eyes.

Flash looked over at me with a bewildered look, then back at Uncle Bucky and forced a look of innocence, "Apologize for what?"

Even through the wavering feeling in my vision like I was watching everything through clear molasses, I could tell Uncle Bucky's expression darkened even more, something I wouldn't have thought was possible.

"I heard what you said to her. How dare you speak that way to someone who has suffered a loss?"

Flash was trembling now, his lips gone white with the fear and his eyes wide as saucers as he turned back towards me, flinching once more when he saw my own expression. I wondered what was on it, but couldn't focus through the haze to figure it out for myself.

"I'msorry." He mumbled.

The hand on his shoulder tightened, "Better than that."

"I'm sorry, Y/N, I shouldn't have said that."

Flash? Apologizing? I was shocked until I remembered again that Uncle Bucky was standing behind him threatening him. Still, it was enough to somewhat break through the haze. I forced a jerky nod of acknowledgement, before glancing up and catching Uncle Bucky's concerned gaze. I gave him a much slighter nod before turning back to the board. Uncle Bucky released his hold and Flash darted off. As the weird state I'd been in began to fade, I could now feel the overwhelming urge to break into tears.

Peter and the others must have finally clued in that something was going on as they came over with concerned expressions.

Rose gently touched my shoulder, "You okay?"

I gave another stiff nod, "Yep. I'm just gonna go to the washroom for a moment." And I walked away, avoiding eye contact with everyone, knowing it would set me off.

As I left, I vaguely heard Uncle Bucky explaining the situation to my friends. I passed by the museum washrooms, instead re-entering Stark Industries and taking a right down a side hallway that I knew led to a barely-used stairwell. I paused before entering and looked up at the ceiling,

"FRI? Pause Trip Protocol, deactivate my bracelet and please don't alert the tour grip that I'm going out of bounds."

"Of course. It is done."

I nodded and entered the stairwell. It was the first level for this particular stairwell, so it had the little nook behind the stairs, providing the structure for the ascending stairs above. This is where I went, curling into the corner and tucking my knees up to my chin as I buried my head in my arms and began to cry.

I knew Flash was a jerk but where did he get off saying crap like that? And of course he had to say it on this trip! Now the Avengers would know that Flash was a bully—but at least he'd slipped up with me and not Peter, that would have been even worse. And at least it was only a verbal taunt, not him getting physical, otherwise Bucky would probably have broken him instead of just scaring him. But it had still been such a cruel thing to say.

I didn't hear the stairwell door open, but I felt Uncle Bucky kneel down beside me and I gratefully turned towards him, sobbing into his shoulder as he held me close, rubbing my back and murmuring comforting words.

A few moments later there was a bunch of thudding on the stairs above us, then a voice asked from next to us, "What happened?! Fri said you were in distress!?"

Uncle Bucky and I looked up to see dad standing there, his face flushed.

I tried to answer, "Th..thi—" but my voice cracked slightly and I gave up, re-burrowing my head into Uncle Bucky's chest.

I could feel the rumble of his voice as he explained to dad, "Some cad in her class insulted her and made a joke about Mary's death."

Dad grumbled something I couldn't fully hear, then I felt his hand run over my hair and a kiss pressed to the top of my head before he walked away.

I looked up to watch him go, confused as to why he was leaving. Uncle Bucky rubbed my shoulder, "He figures I've got it handled for right now, he's just going to take care of something really quick and then he'll be back."

He did indeed return moments later, Uncle Bucky and I shifting over slightly so he could sit next to me on my other side. I was starting to calm down now, and after a few moments of resting my head on dad's shoulder, I sighed, "I should probably go back to the group now. Else they'll think I've fallen into the toilet since I said I was off to the bathroom."

They chuckled slightly at that, Dad chucking the underside of my chin as he peered at me, "You're sure you're okay?"

I nodded. "Yes, thanks to you two."

I hugged them both and got up, reactivating my bracelet and returning to the group. They had made it to the end of the exhibit and were doing a Q&A, though there was a rather hushed vibe to the group now. I rejoined my friends, Peter whispering animatedly to me, "Ohmygod, it wasGREAt, at the group becauseapparantlyFRIDAYtoldhim that Flashwasbeing abullyand sohe got KICKED OUT for not followingtheS.I. code of conduct!"

Ned nodded along enthusiastically, even MJ almost smiled, and I could see the beginnings of Flash's face sketched in the notebook she was carrying. Though they tried to hide it with their joy over Flash's comeuppance, I could also see the concern lurking in their eyes. Rose was the most obvious, but she covered it with a flippant remark about the tour guide when I gave her a questioning look. I appreciated their behaviour, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

Soon enough, the tour wrapped up, and we made it back to the bus with no further incidents. Flash was sitting in the front seat scowling, and Mr. Harrington stood next to him to supervise the boarding students, thankfully meaning I didn't have to risk making eye contact as I passed by.

A quick bus ride later we were dropped off at school just in time for the last bell of the day. I chuckled, just in time to turn around and go right back to the tower. Rose lived in the opposite direction, and the others had to stay for decathlon practice, so it would be a solo train ride on the return. I didn't mind though; it gave me a chance to text Taylor and update him on how the day had gone- with some minor edits of course, since he didn't need to know about the waterworks.